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Brandon/Riverview area is solid bang for your buck for ~20 min commute on the Selmon. Seminole Heights is popular among young professionals but prices continue to skyrocket there and you have to like the bungalow style homes. South Tampa is great but you’re going to pay a ridiculous amount for location alone. Westchase is a bit far. I’d avoid going north of Carrollwood (lutz/Wesley chapel) bc the commute will be brutal. Same with going over the bridge in pinellas. North Hyde park could be a good play. Armature heights and Tampa heights are solid up and coming spots. Ballast point is a popular area but I’m assuming (possibly incorrectly) you’re younger and prob looking for something on the more affordable side. I’m also assuming from your post you want a house and therefore am excluding downtown, harbour island, channelside, westshore marina and Hyde park, where you might find a good condo or rental option. A lot depends on what you’re looking for too. Each location has a different culture and offers something different. Happy to connect you with a great realtor or chat with you about Tampa if you want to DM me.
The key is from Brandon/Riverview you limit your downside risk. From Lutz/WC you could be looking at an hour+ at bad times. Worst case scenario I’ve seen from Brandon is 25 mins. The selmon (crosstown toll road) makes all the difference.
Why do you have to buy the home to house a full family w kids now? Why can’t you buy something convenient for now and then move when family needs require it? It sounds like you won’t have to worry about schools for 4-5 years at least if you don’t currently have kids. A few years of attorney salary (depending on firm/practice) can make a major difference in what you can afford. 5-8 years from now you could be in a great position to buy in a “better” area (e.g., Ballast Point). But yes, if you want something big enough to really house kids comfortably on a young lawyer salary you’re going to be in Brandon, Riverview, Wesley chapel, Lutz, town & country, or similar locations. Also consider if your employer is remote-friendly, which eases the burden of a commute.
How long of a commute?
I don’t work downtown now, but I live in South Tampa (Swann Estates / Bon Air area) and when I did work downtown the commute was 20 minutes even though it was only 3 miles. I could get to the parking garage in about 12-15 minutes if traffics was not bad, but parking in the garage, the elevator down, walking over to the building, and the elevator up to the office added at least 5-7 minutes on a good day.
It kind of depends which building you work in, where your parking is, and obviously where you live. Traffic is so bad these days, there’s not actually a “good” time to commute anywhere around here, on any day, at any time.
Everyone’s different. I lived in Pinellas by the beach and commuted downtown daily. Wasn’t a big deal— just depends on your preference.