As one of the Top 100 High Schools in the U.S., living in the Plant High District is a priority for many families moving to Tampa, or moving to another home in South Tampa. Plant High is located between Himes Avenue and Dale Mabry, just a few blocks north of Bay to Bay Boulevard, in South Tampa.

One of the most popular South Tampa Neighborhoods, is New Suburb Beautiful. Best described as a neighborhood reminiscent of the “Leave it To Beaver” era, most of the homes are traditional style, with many center-hall colonials, bungalows, along with some spanish architecture, too. Stock up on Halloween candy, this neighborhood is FILLED with school-aged children! New Suburb Beautiful is located in the Mitchell Elementary, Wilson Middle, and H.B. Plant High School District. Prices range from $400,000 to $1,000,000.

Its a small neighborhood, just four blocks long, located East of MacDill Avenue and South of Morrison Avenue. I just listed this home, so you can get more information about it, or contact me for other homes in the area.

Here are some previous articles related to Tampa neighborhoods in the Plant High School District:

Choosing the Best Tampa Neighborhood

Relocation to MacDill Air Force Base

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Moving to Tampa? PCS to MacDill Air Force Base?  Looking for expert advice in the Tampa Real Estate Market?

When you are buying a home in the Tampa Real Estate market, or anywhere in the World, you should NEVER fail to get a Home Inspection done to check for any structural, or mechanical, defects in the home you are buying. With the number of “foreclosures” on the market being sold “as is”, it is VERY important that you have any home you are intending to buy inspected by a PROFESSIONAL Home Inspector.

Very often, buyers are trying to save money by having a “friend” who claims to be a contractor do the inspection. BAD IDEA. Home Inspectors are certified through ASHI, a professional association of Home Inspectors. They have specialized training, standards to uphold and checklists they can follow, eliminating the likelihood that they might “miss” something. While no inspector is perfect, the more training the inspector has, the more thorough he is likely to be in examining the home for any possible defects, especially those not visible to the untrained eye.

Occasionally, you will need to hire additional inspectors, depending on the home. A waterfront home generally will require a seawall inspection, or a dock inspection. Property in a rural area may warrant a septic inspection or well inspection.

Wood-burning fireplaces should really be inspected for any loose mortar, or creosote build-up. I recommend a local chimney sweep for those inspections. Radon inspections are common in many areas East of Tampa and that requires a cannister to be placed in the home for several days, then collected, and tested, for the presence of Radon Gas.

While the cost of inspections is not inexpensive, the cost of NOT uncovering a problem until after you are the homeowner can be HUGE. Ask your Real Estate Professional for the best inspectors, not the cheapest ones!

If you would like to receive a list of homes in a certain price range…send me an email!

I can help with your move to any Tampa neighborhood, or Real Estate Listings in the Tampa area, including: South Tampa, Davis Islands, Beach Park, Sunset Park, Hyde Park, Culbreath Isles, Palma Ceia, Westchase, Waterchase, Odessa, Cheval, Avila, Brandon, Riverview, FishHawk, New Tampa, Tampa Palms, Hunter’s Green, Arbor Greene, Apollo Beach, South Shore, MiraBay, Golf Communities, Waterfront Homes, Luxury Homes in Tampa, Condos in Tampa and International Real Estate…contact me!

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School is out in Hillsborough County and summer is well underway. Students will return to the Classroom on August 24. Florida schools have an earlier summer than the rest of the country, which can make vacation planning a challenge. If you want your child to have other children to play with on vacation, you should plan a vacation sometime in late June to early August, when the rest of the country is also out for the summer , or stay in Florida and enjoy some of our fabulous family-oriented resorts. Conversely, if you are heading to Europe, go in Early June and avoid the summer crowds and the heat, as many shops, restaurants and smaller hotels do not have Air conditioning and all of Europe seems to be on holiday in August.

These are some of my favorite family vacation spots. Cape Cod, Massachusetts .There is something for everyone on the Cape from Beaches to Bumper Cars. You trip is not complete without a meal at the Clam Box! Stay at the Chatham Bars Inn for a little pampering right on the ocean, New England-style.

Sanibel and Captiva, Florida Shelling is the favorite pastime on the islands off the coast near Fort Myers. The islands are perfect for long bike rides and the living is sweet at South Seas Plantation. Its laid back Florida with fun dining at the Bubble Room and the Mucky Duck.

 Cruises Cruises are family friendly with plenty of activities for kids and their parents. The trips to the Caribbean exploring Mayan ruins and local treasures are loads of fun. The ship has activities from dawn to the wee hours…If anyone is bored, it’s not because there is “nothing to do!” From Pool games to limbo dancing and blackjack tables to feasting on the “Midnight Buffet”…who could complain? You can leave from the Port of Tampa!

Charleston, South Carolina. Ghost walks, low-country cooking and plenty of old-fashioned Southern Charm abound in this great waterside city! Wander through the old cemetery and take a horse-drawn carriage ride. This is my favorite “Southern” City! Be sure to feast on some low country cooking shrimp and grits!

Vermont You can explore the Green Mountains, go boating on Lake Champlain and enjoy a tour, and a taste, at Ben and Jerrys ice cream factory! Head to a local Maple farm for some maple syrup, or the Cabot cheese factory for a little Vermont cheddar. Smugglers Notch is a family-oriented resort in the heart of it all.

 Paris The ultimate destination, in spite of the cost of the Euro, especially for teenagers. I took my son several years ago, as a special reward for several years of “perfect” grades!  You can spend an entire day in the Louvre, ride to the top of the eiffel tower and seek out the perfect skateboard in a local skate shop! Nibble on crepes from street vendors and enjoy french pastries from the local patisserie. Stop in at Angelina, for the best hot chocolate in Paris.

For information on the Tampa Real Estate Market, Urban Living in Tampa, Tampa Suburbs, Tampa Schools, or Moving to Tampa  contact me today.

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Plant High School, in South Tampa, consistently ranks among the best high schools in the U.S.  Nationally ranked in the top 100 high schools, for the fourth consecutive year,  by Newsweek Magazine, you can count on a top-quality education for your student. 

What makes Plant High School stand out among the rest??? Motivated students, a multitude of Advanced Placement and Honors Courses and a top-notch faculty produce a student population in which 97% of the graduates go on to college.

In the 2009 graduating class at Plant High School, 57% of the graduates earned a 4.0 GPA, or better! That is impressive!

For information about buying a home in the Plant Hight School District, moving to Tampa, or relocation to MacDill AFB, send me an email!

Looking for real estate in Tampa? Need a list of the “A rated” schools in Tampa?  Send me an email today!

If you are buying a house in Tampa, or Selling a house in Tampa, I can help with any Tampa neighborhood, including:

South Tampa, Davis Islands, Urban Living in Tampa, Beach Park, Sunset Park, Hyde Park, Culbreath Isles, Palma Ceia, Westchase, Waterchase, Odessa, Cheval, Avila, Brandon, Riverview, FishHawk, New Tampa, Tampa Palms, Hunter’s Green, Arbor Greene, Apollo Beach, South Shore, MiraBay, Golf Communities, Waterfront Homes, Luxury Homes in Tampa, Clearwater Beach, St. Pete Beach, Condos in Tampa and International Real Estate…contact me!

Sign up for my email list to receive the latest information on the Tampa Real Estate Market, Living in Tampa, and the International Real Estate Market!

For more information about the schools in Tampa, or assistance in relocation to any Tampa neighborhood, contact me today.

Tags: pcs+to+MacDill, Schools+in+Tampa

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The Tampa Real Estate Market, especially homes in the Tampa suburbs, has a unique “fee”, or “tax” that out-of-town buyers are unfamiliar with. That is, what is known as a “CDD fee”. If you are looking for a newer home in the Tampa area, chances are good that you will buy a home in a community with a CDD fee, since some of the best neighborhoods, in the best school districts in Tampa, have CDD fees.   What, exactly,  is a CDD fee?” Since that term is very unfamiliar to most buyers who are moving to Tampa from other cities, here is a brief explanation of CDD fees.

A CDD is short for Community Development District, which finances and manages community developments.

Tax-Free Bonds are issued to the developer to finance the cost of building the infrastructure of a development, including roads, utilities and many amenities including, pools, clubhouses, tennis courts, golf courses, etc. Homeowners in the development pay the costs of the CDD over the span of 15 to 30 years. There are a number of communities with CDD fees in Tampa, and throughout the State of Florida, so if you are looking for real estate in Tampa, or anywhere in Florida, you should know about these fees.

Can CDD fees go up? Yes. The CDD fees appear on the homeowners tax bill. Each Community has a CDD board, initially appointed by the developer, which decides whether to include additional assessments into the CDD fee. If a community decides to do additional landscaping, revamp the golf course, add gates, or any other amenities, those costs may be added to the existing CDD fees. That would increase a total tax bill and increase the escrow required by your lender.

What can you do if you live in a community with a CDD fee? Stay informed. Know who the members of the CDD board are and attend any meetings regarding CDD fees.

Looking for the “best” neighborhood in Tampa?

I can help with your move to any Tampa neighborhood, including: South Tampa, Davis Islands, Beach Park, Sunset Park, Hyde Park, Culbreath Isles, Palma Ceia, Westchase, Waterchase, Odessa, Cheval, Avila, Brandon, Riverview, FishHawk, New Tampa, Tampa Palms, Hunters Green, Arbor Greene, Apollo Beach, South Shore, MiraBay, Golf Communities, Clearwater Beach, Waterfront Homes, Luxury Homes in Tampa, Condos in Tampa and International Real Estate contact me today!

For assistance in finding a house in Tampa, or any of the surrounding suburbs, or any questions about the Tampa Real Estate market, please contact me. PCS to MacDill AFB or Moving to Tampa?

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In other parts of the world, and the U.S., it’s not unusual to find former churches, or other structures with unique architectural qualities, being converted to residences. It’s a nice departure from the “tear down and build new” mentality. But, there are some structures that normally don’t render themselves to a conversion for  residential use. In many rural areas, you will find former farms with many “outbuildings”…barns, garages and, of course, chicken coops.  Would you live in a chicken coop???

I asked that question recently as my daughter and son-in-law moved to a former “Chicken Coop” in Sonoma County. That’s right…a chicken coop. Ironically, both mothers asked the same question…”Does it smell?”…I guess that’s a “mother” question. The chickens are long gone, so apparently the odor went with them!

In the middle of a vineyard, with a few goats and wild turkeys next door, the photos convinced me that life was pretty sweet in the chicken coop. What do you think?  Could you live in a chicken coop?

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For more in-depth information on Tampa Schools and Tampa Neighborhoods, you can read some of my previous articles:

Golf Course Communities:

Cheval

Hunter’s Green

Westchase

Davis Islands

Tampa Schools

Relocation to MacDill Air Force Base

Hyde Park

Find the Right Neighborhood in Tampa

When you are moving to Tampa, or anywhere in the world, contact me, to find the right home for your family’s needs!

For more information about the Tampa Real Estate market, Tampa Neighborhoods, including Culbreath Isles, MacDill AFB,  South Tampa, Harbour Island, Davis Islands, Beach Park, Sunset Park, Hyde Park, Channelside, Palma Ceia, Westchase, Waterchase, Odessa, Cheval, Avila, Brandon, Riverview, FishHawk, New Tampa, Tampa Palms, Hunters Green, Arbor Greene, Apollo Beach, South Shore, MiraBay, Golf Communities, Waterfront Homes, Houses in the Plant High School District, Tampa Schools, Luxury Homes in Tampa, Condos in Tampa, the Best Tampa Neighborhoods, or International Real Estate contact me

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Many of the newer subdivisions in Tampa, have natural, or man-made lakes.  Plenty of Tampa golf communities are filled with “water hazards” along the golf course. You can find them in Westchase, Live Oak, Cheval and Avila, just to name a few. I remember the first “pond front”  house I sold in Cheval.  We were doing the “walk through” the day before closing, just as the neighborhood gator was out for a swim.  The buyer, from Missouri, was stunned to see the mammoth creature just hundreds of yards away! We don’t have penguins in Florida, but we do have alligators!  If you are moving from outside of Florida, and spent your summers enjoying a swim in the local pond, or lake, then you need to understand one simple equation:

Fresh Water = Alligators= NO SWIMMING

Yes, Alligators will come out of the water to sun themselves on the banks, or in search of food. That leads to the second equation about alligators:

Feed The Alligator = Alligator Views Humans as a Food Source.

This article was prompted an article by Seth Godin…Tips To Avoid Alligator Attacks. Common Sense, but pretty funny!

Bottom line?  If you want to swim in Florida…head for the pool, or the beach!

Looking for the perfect home in any Tampa neighborhood, or a “bargain” in the Tampa Real Estate Market? Contact me today…we can chat about how to avoid alligators!

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