Is Tampa an Ugly Place to Live? 🌴 The TRUTH About Florida

Melanie Loves Tampa Bay

White powder beaches, palm trees, luxurious new houses, manicured golf courses, and waterfront parks. There are so many gorgeous things to list in the Tampa Bay area, but everywhere can't be pretty - right? Is it possible that parts of Tampa are actually UGLY? Recently, a home buying client flat out told me, "It's ugly here." At first it kind of felt like she was calling one of my kids ugly, but then I thought about it and realized she was right. Every city has some not-so-glamorous parts, but with so many people looking to move to Florida I want to make sure you understand the whole picture and get a reality check before you start packing up the moving van.

Most of this region was built a long time ago, and buildings were constructed for sturdiness - not architectural design. Houses from the mid-1900s were mostly small block homes and we have tons of commercial strip centers. Older neighborhoods tend to have above ground powerlines, and some may find oak trees to be a nuisance compared to lower maintenance palm trees. Surprisingly, property values in older parts of town also happen to be the MOST expensive and desirable. Areas in the city centers and near the beaches were among the first to be developed. Clients with big budgets tend to be confused on why these areas aren't aesthetically pleasing.

Newer neighborhoods also have issues of their own - homes are very close together, and I've had clients tell me subdivisions lack charm and have a generic 'cookie cutter' look. Buyers tend to overlook those factors because they want new construction and community amenities.

Driving on U.S. Highway 41 through Apollo Beach, it's hard to notice the large smoke stacks of the Big Bend Power Station - a coal-fired power plant operated by TECO Energy. While the area boasts some lovely waterfront homes, some clients are turned off by this landmark.

Melanie is a Tampa Bay area Realtor with Smith & Associates.

She loves Tampa Bay area area, houses, and helping clients buy and sell real estate.

melanielovestampabay.com

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Call/text me if you are looking to buy / sell a home in the Tampa Bay area! 813.368.6084

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