Looking for opinions on a place in FL Clearwater to Sarasota

[icemanbryan]

Hi guys, figured I would ask here.
I am coming out next month 17th Nov or so to look for a retirement home.
I would like to be in the Clearwater to Sarasota area, However, really not set 100%.
Maybe down to Cape Coral?
If you Florida guys could chime in it would be greatly appreciated.
I have a broker and a bank to deal with, I am really looking for area opinions.
Thanks very much in advanced

Bryan

[pigbike]

The Tampa Bay area and Clearwater/St Pete is getting pretty crowded. Sarasota and south is less populated. I like north of Tampa myself but it does get chilly in the mornings during a few days in the winter months.

Now would be the time to buy a house as the Florida housing market is in the toilet.

[Circle Hooked]

Now would be the time to buy a house as the Florida housing market is in the toilet.

That's for sure

I think you would love the Sarasota area but I'm biased, great fishing here and also to the north and south but you would be in the middle, plus we have a shorter run to deep water then most on this coast, and we still have that small town feel but with all the amenities of a larger one, the Fort Myers area is also very nice and would be my 2nd choice for a place to live.

Bryan if you want to know anything specific about the area just let me know  

[seabob4]

I vote for Sarasota or Bradenton, Bradenton being quite a bit cheaper as it doesn't have the Sarasota name to go with the price tags.  Anna Maria, or even mainland side by Palma Sola bay.

If you're gonna go N, Pinellas county...well, the traffic is miserable there, a very HIGHLY populated county per it's size (density).  N of that, Pasco cty, New Port Richey/Port Richey?  Stay away!!  You can live on the water, equal to living on the water anywhere else, but just a stone's throw is 19, nothing but strip plazas and white trash.

Tarpon Springs, in far N Pinellas is a place to consider...

[icemanbryan]

Sounds good guys, looks like I am on the right track?
We now live very close to Newport Beach CA.
Asshole capitol of Southern California, trying to get away from that kind of crowd.
Just looking for a nice clean area,
most important we want to feel safe.

Any other sugg would be greatly appreciated

Thanks again

Bryan

[RickK]

I live in Sarasota and it is kind of expensive to live - rent is expensive here (per my daughter).  
Cape Coral has some real reasonable housing but there is zip there for employment - have to go to Ft Myers to work. You might also check out the Cape Haze area.
As SB said, Bradenton is cheaper to live - a working man's town.

[seabob4]

I live in Sarasota and it is kind of expensive to live - rent is expensive here (per my daughter).  
Cape Coral has some real reasonable housing but there is zip there for employment - have to go to Ft Myers to work. You might also check out the Cape Haze area.
As SB said, Bradenton is cheaper to live - a working man's town.

Anna Maria Island, or as we call it, AMI, is the deal.  Same type of housing at the N end as on Longboat (we call that LBK), at half the price...and 0 the snobbery!!!

[John Jones]

You will not find anything but a shack on Anna Maria for less than a half a million bucks.  LBK will cost you a million just for the snobbery plus whatever a place costs.  I would suggest Bradenton or even better, Palmetto where I lived.  Of course it matters what side of any town one lives on but both have nice areas.  Sarasota is pricey like they said.  Too many blue haired folks on the road in Sarasota for me.  The farther south one goes from Sarasota the more isolated it is.  Nothing wrong with that but it's not for some.  When I left there were some good deals in Cape Coral and you are close enough to Ft. Myers for shopping, doctors, etc.  DOCREED can give his opinion on Cape Coral since that is his stomping grounds.

Here is a quick way to get an idea of neighborhood prices.

Anna Maria http://www.zillow.com/homes/for_sale/An ... ect/13_zm/


Here is the neighborhood where I lived.  Lots of deals on foreclosed homes.  Of course, the homes on the "fingers" with canals in the back yard cost triple what the landlocked homes bring.  This subdivision has it's own private boat ramp for around $150/year. http://www.zillow.com/homes/for_sale/Pa ... 4_zm/1_fr/
My wife could make it from our driveway to downtown St. Petersburg in 20 minutes most days.  Sarasota is about the same time wise.  Anything on the west side of Palmetto is good.  Terra Ceia Island just to the north is nice but pricey (to me).

[seabob4]

JJ, remember, Bryan lives in Newport Beach.  Outhouses there probably go for $750K...

[RickK]

Anna Maria is nice to visit if you don't mind going 25mph MAX (You have been warned) but it floods on strong storms (let alone a hurricane) and the stress of that to me is not worth it.  Cross the bridge to north Bradenton and save 1/2 the cost and all that stress.  You can get a great house on the mainland in that area for a reasonable cost.  As JJ said, up in Palmetto is another place - close to Tampa Bay and the surrounding areas.

[John Jones]

JJ, remember, Bryan lives in Newport Beach.  Outhouses there probably go for $750K...

True.  I would still live in Bradenton.  Just before the housing bubble burst a buddy of mine paid $350K for a lot and took out a $750K construction loan here on Fore Drive.  http://www.zillow.com/homes/for_sale/Br ... ect/14_zm/

I did not even feel right driving my old 98 Tahoe in that neighborhood.  

[seabob4]

Damn JJ, way out east on the river?  I'll take $300K and be 2 blocks off the river around Palma Sola.  Remember, to drive to the beach is like an hour during summertime from there...

East Manatee...no thank you!

[RickK]

That's a handy site - thanks JJ, easy to see how the "good people" live.

[John Jones]

Yeah, Palma Sola would be the place to be if one wanted to go offshore or cared about the beach.  The only time we went to the beach was to take family when they visited or to eat at "The Cafe on the Beach" but I heard the city would not renew the lease so I don't know if it's still open.  

East Bradenton has exploded if you have not been there in the last few years.  All the new development and shopping is out that way now.

[icemanbryan]

JJ, remember, Bryan lives in Newport Beach.  Outhouses there probably go for $750K...

Darn, I tried to keep that on the down low.
Yes, where I am is expensive.
Like I have said, I would really like a fixer, construction is all I know how to do in life.
(Well, except for the derails I do here)!

My wife actually has a good idea as usual.
She thought buy a smaller cheaper fixer for now and keep looking to pinpoint an area we really like.
It would give us a base there for now.
We could use the fixer as a rental property later on.
(The rental would pay my fishing addiction, or at least help)?

Again, thanks very much, we appreciate it

Bryan