The Tampa Bay Buyer’s Guide

In 2004, I left  Michigan for good and moved to Clearwater, right here in Tampa Bay.

It was one of the BEST decisions I’ve ever made, for a a number of reasons, here they are:

Tampa Bay is warm all year, but STILL has three seasons. 

It’s not just HOT, there’s a beautiful warm winter with cold fronts that make Christmas feel like Christmas, but no snow to shovel and plenty of warm days where you can sit outside.

There’s plenty to do besides go to the beach

Because it’s more than just beaches and sand, there’s plenty to do around Tampa Bay and within a short day trip’s drive..  

There are HUGE state forests such as Ocala National Forest – 40,000 acres of everything from 4×4 off-roading trails to natural springs that a re a constant 72 degrees all year round, to hunting, fishing and hiking.  There’s spring fed streams that are crystal clear to go tubing on as well.

Miami is a simple day trip, as are the Keys and Key West. 

The Hard Rock Casino is right here in Tampa, as are the baseball, football, and hockey games.

World Class cultural events happen in St Petersburg, including the Grand Prix every summer.

And if you like amusement parks, Orlando is just 90 minutes away!

And that’s just scratching the surface, there’s not enough room here to describe 1/10th of the things you can do around Tampa Bay!

It’s got a Big City feel to it

Whether you are in Tampa or St Pete, you will always have world class dining and entertainment. 

I used to have a beach cottage in Ft Myers, and all I didi there was hang out at the beach!

Tampa is so much more diverse, you can literally never run out of things to do.

It’s younger and more active than other parts of Florida

The stereotype of Florida is a bunch of retirees puttering around in golf carts, and for some places in Florida, that’s true.

I remember Cape Coral being referred to as “Cape Coma” and also being called “God’s Waiting Room” because of how elderly the population is!

Not so in Tampa Bay!

As of 2023, the median age in Tampa Bay is just 35.9 years old!

That’s YOUNGER than the median age in New York City (36.7) and the SAME as Los Angeles (35.9)!!

Tampa Bay is young, vibrant and a happening place to live!

There’s plenty of jobs and the economy is growing every year

Our economy is booming and growing, and Tampa is ranked as thE #8 economic region in the ENTIRE COUNTRY!  

We’re growing at 8.2% per year, and the local job market is fantastic!

There’s no state income tax 

Who hates paying taxes?  Raise your hand, because I bet it’s EVERYONE!

In Tampa Bay , you will file JUST YOUR FEDERAL RETURN – THERE IS NOT EVEN A FORM TO FILL OUT  FOR FLORIDA!

And there’s no “catch” to this, I’ve lived in Michigan and California, and my property taxes are about the same, and there’s plenty of public services available too!

So come on down to Florida and keep more of your hard earned cash, Florida is a tax-free paradise!

There’s not even a form to fill out, you just don’t file anything but federal taxes. 

I came from Detroit, where you had state, County, and City tax returns to complete and pay your taxes. this applies to the whole State of Florida as well.

I’ve lived in San Diego, and the taxes were soul-crushing! 

Living in Florida is like a dream come true, give me a call or shoot me an email and let’s get you YOUR PIECE of PARADISE!

Sincerely,

Rick Foxx

(727)743-8048

foxxandassociates@gmail.com

What most people consider “Tampa Bay” is really three separate counties, which are Pinellas, Hillsborough, and Pasco.

Each county has it’s own different “flavor” or culture, so let’s look at each one starting with Pinellas county in the tabs below.

Pinellas County is the area all the way to the west where all the really good beaches are, Hillsborough is to the east and is mostly Bay waterfront, and Pasco is to the north where it’s a little more rustic (but developing like crazy) and there a re not a lot of beaches, but it’s only a short drive to the beaches, around 30 minutes.

What the area lifestyle is like:

Pinellas County is located along the Gulf of Mexico and is where you go if you want to go to THE Beach. 

It’s a more laid back, “beachy” lifestyle, so if you enjoy beaches, a little slower pace, but like to be close to nightlife like concerts and sporting events, Pinellas County might be perfect for you.

There’s no better way to describe it, it’s THE place to go for a beach day; if you want to take a swim in the crystal blue waters, get some sun, hit up one of the many beach bars like Frenchy’s, or just take some relatives out for a beach day before they have to go home up north and freeze! (like I used to every winter)

Pinellas County has about 39 miles of beaches, that starts to the north in Dunedin at Honeymoon Island, and goes all the way down to the Skyway in St Pete.

These are Barrier islands, between the mainland and the Gulf of Mexico, and connected by bridges all the way down to St Pete. 

So you can literally start Island-Hopping in the morning and spend the whole day walking the beach, getting breakfast, lunch and dinner, and hitting up different bars for 39 miles 

The beaches are FANTASTIC – pure white sugar-sand, warm shallow blue gulf waters, and MILES of beach to just hang out on.

If you want to be around the crowds at Clearwater Beach and hang out at one of the many bars and restaurants, you can do that endlessly at Clearwater Beach. 

There’s everything from local watering holes where shoes and shirts are optional (here’s looking at you Frenchy’s and Mahuffer’s!), all the way to fine dining at The Sand Pearl,  Island Way Grill, or Forlini’s Italian, just to name a few of my favorites.

If you prefer a nice peaceful walk down the beach away from the crowds, you can easily do that at Sand Key or Honeymoon Island, where you can walk for MILES and not be bothered by the crowds.

If you want more info on specific cities in Pinellas County, go to the Home Page and click on the “Communities” tab.

What Home prices are like:

Prices in Pinellas tend to be higher nearer to the beaches, but that’s because of how close it is the water, seems to be true anywhere you buy in the country. 

Beach prices are higher obviously , but so are prices on any beach in America.

It’s hard to say exactly how much higher prices are near the beach, but I live in Clearwater right next to Dunedin, and my home is worth around $950,000, about a block away from the intercoastal waterway, and in 15 minutes I can have my toes in the sand !

IF my home was located inland away from the beaches and waterfront, it’d probably be about a $500,000 home.  But for me the ability to walk along the water and smell the salt area in the morning, or watch the sunset over the water in an explosion of orange and red hues, while sipping a glass of wine is PRICELESS, so it’s worth it to me.

Summed up in one sentence: If you want the beach vibe, bare feet, surf, fishing, and a laid back lifestyle, (or feel like getting drunk at 12 noon in a Tiki bar!), and you don’t mind driving 30 minutes to Tampa for the airport, really great shopping and for concerts and sports, Pinellas might just be for you.

Hillsborough County and Tampa are to the east, about 15 miles away from Clearwater Beach, to get to the part of Tampa that is the closest to the beaches.

Tampa has less beaches and more bay front, but you can still go to the beach pretty easily, and there’s small beaches you can go to, it’s just not a great as Clearwater Beach.

Hillsborough County is where you go to work if you work in an office building, such as in financial services, or if you work at many of the larger companies that call Tampa home.

The airport for the entire area is Tampa International, and it’s also located centrally in Tampa.

Tampa is also home to MacDill air Force Base, which is Central Command, ,or CENTCOM for short. 

So if you’re active military or a military contractor, Tampa may be where you work.

For example, I have an office in West Tampa, and it takes me about 20 minutes to get there from my home in Clearwater, but it’s a nice drive, as I cross over Tampa Bay on the Courtney Campbell expressway. 

I have my office there, because the selection of high rise office building is so much better, as there are very few in Pinellas County.

All along the Courtney Campbell is water on both sides, and public beaches, where you can just drive up , park on the sand and do whatever you want – get some sun, try catching a few fish, or just kick back and relax. (I’ll post a link to a Youtube video here shortly showing the area).

Hillsborough County and Tampa are home to the Buc’s and the Tampa Bay Lightning, so if you want to see a game, Tampa is the place to be. A lot of concerts are also in the same stadiums, so there’s more “culture” in Hillsborough County than in Pinellas or Pasco Counties.

Hillsborough County is definitely a more fast-paced lifestyle, and that goes for everything from the jobs to the buildings to the roads.

Your more likely to live in a Condo, drive to work in your BMW or Porsche where you work in a high-rise office building, and after work head out for sushi and martini’s.

The nightlife is Hillsborough County is definitely far better than Pinellas or Pasco, so if you want to have martini’s, get a really nice steak dinner (I’m talking about you, Capital Grille! ) and enjoy a hand-rolled cigar in Ybor City, you want to be in Hillsborough County.

Speaking of Ybor City, Tampa has a distinct Latin flavor to it, and you’ll see it it in the restaurants and adjoining neighborhoods.

The Spanish population is around 26% in Hillsborough County

We’re not quite at the point of being like Miami, where English can be THE second language if you live there, but the Latin influence is definitely there.

What home prices are like:

Tampa home prices are generally based on how “trendy” the area is, for example homes in the Hyde Park area will be very expensive compared to other “regular” areas of Tampa Bay.

Outlying areas to the north and east tend to be less expensive, but still very nice. 

Many of these homes are on golf courses, and were built in the 1990’s and 2000’s so are newer and have master closets you can actually fit your clothes in – unlike some of the older homes in Pinellas County.

Brandon and Riverview tend to be more working class neighborhoods and there are many new subdivisions that have popped up since 2019, with builders such as Lennar and KB Homes building large tracts of homes, right over the old orange groves. So if you want want a newer home and don’t mind being an hour from the gulf beaches, this may be the place for you

Summed up in one sentence: If you want to drive to an office building in your BMW in the morning, then head out for sushi and martini’s after work, or if you’re a Lt. Colonel working at CENTCOM, Hillsborough County and Tampa might just be perfect for you!

Pasco County is located to the north of Pinellas County, and is the more rural county of the three counties, although it is developing more and more every year.

It’s a short trip to the beaches of Pinellas County, about 30 minutes, and about 40 minutes away from Tampa and the Tampa Airport

Pasco has a more rural feel to it, and west Pasco has waterfront that is mostly mangroves and canals. 

If you enjoy boating and the water, but don’t want to pay Pinellas County prices, then Pasco County might be the right fit for you.

You can keep your boat at one of the many marinas or buy a home on a canal, and you can be out in the Gulf of Mexico in a matter of minutes.

West Pasco has the waterfront and marinas, and central/east Pasco has more golf courses and “city” living.

Either way, Pasco tends to have more affordable housing, and more wide open spaces, like the John B Starkey wilderness preserve.

Pasco tends to have a LOT of lakes, so getting a home in a subdivision near a pond or lake is easy, and there’s plenty of open spaces and nature preserves where you go hiking and exploring.

There’s the Withlaccochee State Forest which is the 3rd largest state forest in America, with 164,000 acres, and is named “One of the Coolest Places in America you’ve never heard of”

Pasco County is the kind of place where you can go out on the water during the day, and still find a great roadside BBQ joint if you get away from U.S 19 a little and drive out east.

You’re more likely to see a 4×4 lifted truck next you at a stoplight than a BMW, and that’s one of the ways I know I’m getting close to Pasco County – there’s more trucks on the road and just more a more rural vibe all around.

Summed up in one sentence – If you are at home wearing flip-flops for a day on the water and a few beers at a tiki bar afterwards , you prefer a 4×4 truck to a Tesla, and you’re not offended by concealed carry, you’ll be just fine in Pasco County!

Hurricanes can be a real threat in Florida, but most are NOT the Cat 5 ones that demolish whole cities.

Most times, it’s a couple days of wind and rain, followed by more rain and wind as the storm hits, and sometimes the power goes off for  a day or two, usually less than 24 hours.

So if you buy a decent generator and use a little common sense and put your lawn furniture away and other items, it’s just a minor annoyance.

I’m sure you’ve heard there’s “no state income tax in Florida”

It’s 100% true, and it’s really simple – you just file your Federal tax return, and that’s it.

There’s NO Florida forms or anything to do, its as simple as that!

And simple is beautiful

In the Tampa Bay area, the weather is pretty great and rarely over 92 degrees in the summer, and I’ve only seen it dip below freezing once in my 20 years living here.

Winter is usually in the 50’s at night and 60’s during the day, spring starts to warm up it the low 80’s, and we start seeing low 90’s by July.

The only months when the heat starts to be a bit too much are August and September. and that’s usually when I schedule a trip up north somewhere and get out of here for a few weeks.

Other areas to the south and middle of the state definitely get hotter.

For example, inland Florida around Orlando can hit 100 degrees by 11am and just stay at 100 degrees all day, and areas to the south like Ft Myers or Naples can hit 98 degrees pretty regularly in the spring and summer. (I used to own a beach cottage in Ft Myers and it was definitely hotter than the Tampa Bay area)

Generally speaking, if you can handle summer in the Midwest, you can handle Florida summers, but by August you’ll be ready for cooler weather, which usually comes in October.

If you’ve seen headlines talking about the insurance rates in Florida, it’s not as bad as the media makes it out to be.

A lot of the higher premiums are for homes that aren’t upgraded with impact windows, or have old roofs that aren’t strapped down properly.

A good insurance agent can advise you on insurance costs, and we have one we deal with all the time.

Just give her the address and ask for a quote. 

You will have an inspection period on any Purchase Agreement in Florida, so during this inspection period you can get insurance quotes and if they are too high, you reserve the right to cancel the contract.  

Here’s the info :  

Dianne Neuendorf  

Across the Bay Insurance  

ph. 727-785-9100 extension 105  

dianneneuendorf@acrossthebayinsurance.com

Since around 2019, and in part due to COVID and ultra low interest rates, Florida home values have skyrocketed.

In my opinion, TWO factors are at play here.

ONE, a LOT of the homes sold since 2019 were gutted and completely remodeled, as the Tampa Bay area has a lot of older homes from the 1940’s all the way through the 1990’s. Many of these homes are solid block homes, and very well constructed, but were also very outdated.

So while you may see homes that were $250,000 now selling for $500,000, it’s very likely someone put $150,000 into a total remodeling of the home, so they made a “profit” of around $60,000 after paying Real Estate commissions, title transfer taxes, and other closing costs. 

The home didn’t just double in value sine 2019, it went up with normal appreciation, some inflation , and a TON of work and money invested into it.

To protect yourself, ask your agent for the PREVIOUS listing off the MLS, with pictures, to verify that the home was completely remodeled.

TWO, the COVID 19 pandemic resulted in a absolute TON of people buying homes in Florida. 

We have warm weather and no lockdowns during most of the pandemic, so people accelerated their retirement plans by s few years, and some younger buyers just moved here from up north because they could make New York or California wages and work from home remote in Florida.

The Law of Supply and Demand pushed up prices, and they have been holding steady even in the face of rate hikes by the Federal Reserve.

Tampa Bay builders are racing to catch up with the demand, but it will take years to do so, as there is virtually NO buildable land in Pinellas County, and very little in Hillsborough.

Pasco County has new developments and subdivisions, and if you want a new home, that’s the place to look.

If you’re interested in new construction, just let us know and we’ll send you those types of properties.

Here’s bit of solid advice if your thinking of making the move to Florida, and you’re going to switch employment when you move down here..

BUY the home as a “second home” while you still have your job or business up north.

That way you don’t have to wait to get a job or income AFTER you move here, as a second home mortgage is easy if you’re coming from out of state.

Second home mortgages usually require the same LOW down payment as your “primary” home, and you will still have the qualifying income from your work up north.

Mortgages usually require a 2 year job history or same line of work, trust me, I know this from many years in the mortgage business.

(I still have a mortgage brokerage in Florida, if you need a loan, just ask!)

Here’s great asset protection “trick” in Florida

The first January you own your primary residence in Florida and you can declare it your “Homestead” and the property value/equity is absolutely protected from lawsuits, judgements, and even IRS liens!

Florida law is VERY STRICT on homestead, if you have a homesteaded property, essentially it’s protected from ANYONE trying to sue you and take it!

That’s why you see people like OJ Simpson move to Florida and buy a home, it’s legally protected from creditors!

See the exact details HERE.

For filing details, consult your local county tax collectors office after you’ve moved here and go file your homestead. as soon as possible!

If you’ve enjoyed reading this, and you’d like to move forward with a potential home purchase, I’d be honored if you used me as your Broker.

Here’s few reasons why you should consider using me:

I know the area VERY WELL, after 20 years of living here, and selling over 700+ homes.  

I will be your “boots on the ground” if you’re shopping for a home remotely, I can check out properties and talk to you over Facetime live, or shoot videos of homes you are interested in.

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE this area and will point you towards the neighborhoods that will suit your lifestyle and needs – I know where the great areas are, and how each neighborhood “feels”.

If I’m busy I have three very good agents who can make sure you get the home that will make your very happy – trust me on this!

If you need a contractor, lawn guy, pool guy, tile guy, drywall guy, believe me, I HAVE A GUY for everything. No hunting around on the internet and taking chances, my guys are all vetted and know to take care of my clients ! (if they screw up, they know they will lose a TON of business, so they don’t screw up!)

I’ve been at this a long time, over 26 years in real estate and mortgages, and i take pride in “knowing my stuff” if you need something real estate related in Tampa Bay, I’ll get it done.

Enough said, if you want to get a hold of me and buy a place in Tampa Bay, here’s my direct contact info:

Rick Foxx

Cell 727-743-8048

Office 877-538-6868

Email foxxandassociates@gmail.com

Call or email me and tell me what your looking for, and the lovely Christine Foxx will set up a search with our MLS account.

You’ll get emails daily the instant a property becomes available!

Simple, right?