spent 4 days in Tampa Bay area looking at properties. Clearwater beach is where we stayed. It was nice. Actually had some of the most beautiful sunsets I've ever seen. But it is tourists and beach bars which I love but not the wife's thing. We looked at properties in the suburbs. Found a beautiful home in Hunter Green Golf Course community about 30 min outside downtown Tampa. Gated community, community club house, fitness center, restaurants and tennis courts. Wife absolutely loved the house, 3000 sq ft 1 story backs up to a preserve. No pool on property which is a negative. But I felt this could be anywhere in the US.. If you are going to move to florida, you should have some water views.
Next was the Clearwater, St Pete Beach area. I personally loved it and if single would choose it. Great beaches, great restaurants, lots of people watching but you would have to deal with traffic and tourists during holidays and spring break.
Then we focused on Condos down town and Harbor Island. Amazing views of the city and harbor from some of the condos but I'm not looking forward to high rise living again. Especially with a dog. So we are looking at the Hyde Park Area and have a couple we are interested in. Its 104 in Hot Springs today and 80 in Tampa which is a huge selling point. The wife has been all over the map on what she wants which can be frustrating, so I am backing out and letting her take the lead. I picked our current location so she gets to pick the next.
We really loved the Tampa Bay area and looking forward to moving there in the next couple months.