06 Jul Considering Relocating to Tampa Bay (and Building a Custom Home)?

Whether a job transfer is under consideration or you are just considering relocating to Tampa for personal reasons, it is an undertaking that requires some research about the community.

The good news is that if Tampa is under consideration for your relocation, you are not alone. A recent relocation study by Realtor.com about where people are moving to listed Tampa as the number one city.

The U.S. Census Bureau said the Tampa area had the nation’s fourth-highest gain from people moving there last year, with some 58,000 new residents moving to the area.

Tampa Bay is a seven-county mega region with a diversity of communities. The cities of Tampa-St. Petersburg (two of the largest cities in Florida) Sarasota, Clearwater, Lakeland and Bradenton connect some of the fastest growing suburban communities in the country for a market rich with opportunities for business and lifestyle.

So you will be in good company if you are considering relocating to the Tampa area. Why are so many folks relocating to Tampa Bay?

Reasons to Relocate to Tampa Bay

The list of reasons to relocate to Tampa Bay quite honestly cannot be fully explored in this blog post, but here are the top things to know in considering relocating to Tampa Bay:

Tampa Arts and Culture

The Tampa Bay area is home to a wide array of Arts and Culture. Recently named one of the top five most culturally diverse and integrated urban areas in the country by the U.S. Census Bureau, the area boasts a plethora of museums, cultural festival and performing arts centers including the Tampa Museum of Art,  Florida Museum of Photographic Arts , Tampa Bay History Museum, Henry B. Plant Museum,  Contemporary Art Museum, as well the St. Petersburg Museum of Fine Arts and the Dali Museum.

Outstanding Food Options

Few locales provide the diversity of food options found in Tampa Bay. Here you will find legendary restaurants like Bern’s Steak House and the Columbia Restaurant, and a litany of delectable local restaurateur institutions, and well known dining restaurant concepts. Foodies will fall in love with the wide variety of options in Tampa Bay, from traditional fare to creative farm-to-table cuisine, international gastropubs, food trucks and the freshest seafood you could find anywhere.

Year Long Festival Season

If you love festivals, you will love living in Tampa Bay where seemingly every weekend there is a festival somewhere in the area. From the “Pirate Invasion” parade known as Gasparilla Pirate Fest, to the numerous related Gasparilla events, the Tampa Bay Margarita Festival, Sunset Music Festival, Tampa Bay Blues Festival, Tampaolooza, Springfest,  Lobster Festival, Tampa Bay Wine and Food Festival, St. Pete Oktoberfest, and countless more…there is no shortage of festival fun in Tampa Bay.  You can access a list of Festival Events here.

Tampa International Airport

Ranked as one of the top “traveler” friendly airports in the world, Tampa International Airport offers non-stop flights to 76 destinations and has the 3rd lowest average fare of all airports in the country. Situated in the middle of the Tampa Bay area, the airport provides easy access from virtually any community.

Outstanding Parks and Recreation

Given its waterfront locale along the Gulf of Mexico, Hillsborough Bay and the Hillsborough River, the Tampa Bay area is rich with stunningly beautiful state parks and neighborhood parks and recreation.

Tampa’s Curtis Hixon Park, completed in 2011 is a waterfront park serving as a natural connection between the water, downtown. Caladesi Island State Park, Fred Howard Beach, Fort De Soto Park, Egmont Key State Park, Anclote Key Preserve State Park and Honeymoon Island State Park offer some of the prettiest parks in the Tampa Bay Area.

Tampa Bay’s beloved public spaces spread throughout the region provide gathering places for families, friends, colleagues, and events from small to large scale, adding to the rich fabric of Tampa neighborhoods. You can find our more about these Tampa pubic spaces here.

Beach Access

No matter where you choose to live in Tampa Bay, nearly everyone is less than an  hour from enjoying world famous beaches. Dr. Beach, one of the worlds top coastal experts picked Caladesi Island State Park in Clearwater as the #7 beach in the United States. You’ll also love the white sands of Clearwater Beach,  Sand Key, Indian Rocks Beach, Treasure Island, St. Petersburg Beach…there is no shortage of spectacular beaches in the Tampa Bay area, all within a short drive.

Major League Sports

Tampa Bay is home to three Major League sports franchises: The NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers ; MLB’s Tampa Bay Rays; and the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning. The area is also home to The University of South Florida (USF) Bulls college sports teams and Tampa Bay Rowdies Soccer. No matter your favorite sport, you will find plenty of spectator sports choices in Tampa Bay.

University and Colleges

The University of South Florida is recognized as a world-class interdisciplinary research university that has grown total research expenditures by 90% in the last five years – totaling over $250+ million in 2016.

The area is also home to the University of Tampa a private university whose gleaming minarets adorn nearly every photograph of downtown Tampa. Plant Hall, the main academic and administrative building for the University, was originally the Tampa Bay Hotel, built by shipping magnate Henry B. Plant at the rail head of this railroad, credited by historians with transforming the city from a sleepy fishing village to what would become a vibrant city of the 21st century.

Tampa Bay is a Beautiful Place to Live

If you are considering relocating to Tampa Bay, you probably already recognize this, but Tampa Bay is a beautiful place to live.

Yes the area is full of culture, art, great food, ridiculously great weather and year-round festivals, but it’s also home to stunningly gorgeous sunsets, beaches golf courses, waterways – in short, an all-around beautiful place to live. So what’s left to consider? Maybe where to live.

Interested in Building a Custom Home in Tampa Bay?

When you have concluded your research about a possible relocation to the Tampa Bay area, then its time to consider housing.

If your plan is to find the right neighborhood and build your dream home there, we are here to help. Use the handy button below to schedule a no strings consultation with our team about available lots in the areas finest neighborhoods, available homes or the process of building a new custom home.