One of the most popular spots in the Greater Tampa Bay Area is South Tampa. For many good reasons, and some maybe not so good reasons. In this article we will go over whether or not South Tampa is a good area to live.
Just a reminder, the criteria we will be using to analyze each area are:
Criteria.
- Proximity – is it close to the airport, the right school district, and personal necessities?
- Style (homes and areas) – stucco, craftsmen, beachy, city, suburban, beachy, rural
- Size (homes and areas) – 3+ million people live in the greater Tampa area, but each town has a feel in terms of population grouping.
- Cost – purchase price, rent, HOA, property tax, home insurance, flood insurance.
If you have any questions while reading, I am a licensed Realtor in the state of Florida and would love to help you out!
Phone # (727) 677-5337
Email: info@livingintampafl.com
Tampa Proper
South Tampa
Today we will be doing a deep dive into the area above, commonly known as South Tampa.
Many videos and articles exist stating that south Tampa and the Hyde park are the best areas to live, however, that is far too black and white for our liking.
There are many pros and cons to the area that will make it a great fit for some and not so much for others.
Criteria 1: Proximity
South Tampa is a well designed, sought after area that has many popular locations right nearby!
1. Restaurants
2. Night life
3. Concert venues
4. Recurring events in Hyde park
5. Shopping: Hyde park village(primarily boutique stores), west shore plaza, international mall(technically in west tampa but very close)
6. Airport (In West Tampa again but still very close)
7. Downtown (main business district)
8. Florida Aquarium
9. Great School Options (Plant Highschool)
Traveling Routes
Criteria 2: Style
Metropolitan (not to get confused with your favorite tri-flavored ice cream)
Everything is tight and close together. There is not much yard or land per house, unless it’s a large old money estate.
Late 1800’s and Early 1900’s houses were built on large lots with wood and consisted of more craftsman style homes. These homes were primarily located right next to the coast.
As the years went on, they kept building these craftsman style homes but with a much smaller footprint. Bungalows with large porches can make these houses still feel fairly large, even if only consisting of 1500 square feet.
Continuing further into the development of south Tampa, homes became more concrete rambler style homes. This style of home is more squatty and lower to the ground in order to withstand storms or water. Although this area does not traditionally get hit by many storms, it is surrounded by water and has a very low elevation.
Although some of these homes can have unique mid century modern lines and architecture, some of these homes can be as fun as a square.
Overall, Properties in this area are well maintained and because prices continue to go up in this area; many families hold onto these homes for generations.
Size
Although it makes up a big chunk of the Tampa proper area, it is still not that big considering there are pretty much no high rises and the majority of the area is filled with older residential neighborhoods mixed in with commercial areas that have no defined boundaries.
This mix and match of residential and commercial, makes the area have a unique feel and makes the walkability of the area much more pleasant.
The average house in this area is below 2000 square feet, unless you have a lot of money to spend on one of the bigger/older estates or to build onto a newer house.
South Tampa does have quite a bit of new construction going on. Not really new neighborhoods being built, but more like singular houses sprinkled throughout the area that are being torn down and rebuilt.
Cost
The general cost of living in this area in terms of standards like utilities, groceries, gas, and such are pretty much in line with everything else in the greater Tampa area.
That being said, we don’t blame you if your food budget ends up needing to be higher because of how many good options there.
The basic principles of supply and demand make this area quite expensive. The supply is quite low because the area is completely surrounded by water, meaning it relies on outside resources. The demand is quite high, due to how interesting and popular the area is.
Examples
An old style is common in the South Tampa area, and in Tampa in general. In this area, especially in Hyde Park, many people completely tear down houses to rebuild them.
There are some condo and townhouse options, but truthfully they are only around 10-15% cheaper.
That being said, once you get over $1 million you have many really cool options of old unique and large craftsman style houses.
What Type of person would consider South Tampa a good area to live?
The following are a list of characteristics that could make living in South Tampa perfect for you. It should be noted that each person values different things, and this is just a very general list.
- Higher Income Earner
- Desires close Proximity to popular destinations
- Desires a unique larger or older home
- Does not mind living in a more crowded area
- Has a job located either near downtown
- Desires to be surrounded by water.
If you have any Real estate questions, feel free to reach out to me at:
Phone # (727) 677-5337
Email: info@livingintampafl.com