| If you are considering getting a new start on life, | | | | as excellent, and there are several colleges and |
| relocating to Tampa, Florida might be a good choice. | | | | universities in the area including the University of |
| Low taxes, warm weather and friendly people make | | | | South Florida and the University of Tampa. The city |
| Tampa a good choice. | | | | also sits astride major highways and has an |
| If you are considering relocating to the Tampa, | | | | International Airport. The nearby Gulf of Mexico |
| Florida area, it might be a good idea to get a scale | | | | provides a wide variety of aquatic activities. |
| and some weights because there are certainly a large | | | | On a little more negative note, home prices in Tampa |
| number of pros and cons that you need to consider | | | | have been rising steadily over the past few years. |
| and that might be one way to find the balance. | | | | This has been excellent news for local real estate |
| Tampa is located on the western side of Florida on | | | | investors, but might make finding an affordable home |
| the Gulf of Mexico. It is a growing city of 342,054 | | | | a bit more of a problem for new residents. In 1998, |
| people, but actually is usually lumped with St. | | | | Tampa ranked near the bottom of the top 123 |
| Petersburg and Clearwater to constitute the Tampa | | | | Metro areas in the United States in median home |
| Bay Metropolitan area which has a population of 2.7 | | | | price. In just eight years, it has moved nearer to the |
| million and is the 12 largest DMA market in the United | | | | middle. A typical home here costs about the same as |
| States. | | | | in Dallas, Texas, although the median income is at |
| The climate is really one of the main areas where | | | | least 30% lower in Tampa. When you consider the |
| personal preference is going to come into play. It has | | | | entire Metropolitan area, however, there are quite a |
| a subtropical climate where a serious threat of frost | | | | few outlying areas where good bargains can still be |
| happens once every three or four years. The highs | | | | found in housing. |
| range between 65-95 degrees year round, and | | | | Sadly, the city does not rank real low when |
| although the humidity is high during the summer | | | | considering crime statistics. Murder is the only major |
| months, the highest temperature ever recorded is a | | | | violent or property crime that ranks below the |
| mere 99 degrees. There is a distinct rainy season, | | | | national average. This means all the others are above, |
| and storms coming off the Gulf are a problem. | | | | but in most cases only slightly. Despite these grim |
| Tampa trails only a city in Africa for the title of | | | | stats, Tampa is not considered a particularly unsafe |
| lighting strike capital of the world. If you are not a big | | | | city. |
| fan of long cold winters, Tampa, Florida may make | | | | Taxes represent a very good reason for relocating |
| sense. | | | | to Tampa, Florida. The state tax rate in Florida ranks |
| Tampa has been growing in rapid bursts ever since | | | | 45 out of 50 states for putting the least burden on |
| the wide spread use of air conditioning. The | | | | its citizens. This means the residents of only five |
| downtown area is undergoing a major transformation | | | | other states pay fewer taxes. This represents a |
| that is planned to be finished in time for 2009 when | | | | pretty good start on making your money go farther. |
| the city will host the Super Bowl. The city is a Mecca | | | | Relocating to Tampa, Florida has its benefits and |
| for sports fans with a professional football, major | | | | negatives. Basically, it all comes down to whether you |
| league baseball, and National Hockey League team all | | | | like this type of climate. Considering the growth of |
| making their home here. The school system is rated | | | | the area, many would seem to. |