Single GN needs advice: Affordable apartments/condos in Tampa Bay area

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I will be interviewing sometime next week for a GN residency in Tampa next week. I have no idea if I have a chance, but I have worked so hard to even get an interview, I'm praying it will work out. The problem is that I will have very little time to look for a place to live and figure out how I will relocate from MD by the 2nd wk of February. I don't have much money to spare, but I want to live somewhere that is safe, clean, and quiet. Am I crazy for trying to do this without seeing where I'll be living or working? I lived in the St.Pete for college years ago, so I am somewhat familiar with the area, but from what I've heard it has really grown since then.

I'm by myself so it's a bit overwhelming. To complicate things, I finally got an offer at the hospital where I work in MD but I hate the cold and the snow and already got the FL license. I tentatively accepted the job here before I found out I could interview for FL job next week. I have to "officially" accept the MD job online and have until the end of next week. I would hate to ruin the only job offer I've had since I've been trying x6 months, but I loved living in Florida and feel like it could be a new start.

So, if anyone that can offer any recommendations as far as affordable safe places to live or has any experience relocating from up north I'd really appreciate your input. Thanks!

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Specializes in VA, Ortho, Med/Surg.

Aww heck, just come stay with us lol. I'm in Town and Country. What hospital are you looking into?

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Well, I don't have an offer yet, but I'm supposed to have a skype interview this week and find out that day. The program starts 2/22 but I think you have to be there at least the week before so I would have to figure all of this out pretty fast! I know they had a ton of candidates, so I'm not sure what my chances are. I'm really praying this will work out! Is town and country an area or an apartment/condo?

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Specializes in VA, Ortho, Med/Surg.

Town and Country is like a subburb of Tampa I guess. There is Westchase, Carrollwood, and Town and Country. We live in a house in Twelve Oaks sub division. You can search those areas on Facebook with those key words. My area is affordable but but parts of TNC are getting not so good. Depends on exact areas of course. Keep praying, God knows best!! If you get into a bind, don't hesitate. We are originally from Minnesota. You know, the FARGO movie lol?? Doncha know?? Oh, I think you have to work for a company for a year to get free schooling don't you? Might want to check on that.

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Thank you so much! I will check those out. I appreciate the offer if I run into trouble. When you say "we" who are you referring to if you don't mind me asking? It has been an awful few days trying to get through a brutal snow storm. I have shoveled so much I think my arms are gonna fall off! Everything has been closed since MD is never prepared to deal with any more than a few inches even when they know what we're getting. I'm sure you know about snow coming from Minnesota! I don't know how you ever survived there! I absolutely hate the cold and the snow and that's why I reaaaaallly want to get the heck out of here! The only problem is that now I have an offer where I work after trying for 6 months and if I don't get an offer from Tampa, I feel like I'd be crazy not to accept it since who knows if I'll ever get another one. I've had so many rejections, it's depressing to think about! I also had to move back with my parents due to health issues and not being able to afford a place on a low paying pct job. I love them, but as they get older they are driving me crazy! Especially my dad. He gets so frustrated easily and then takes gets upset and angry when I try to help. He feels bad about it later, but I just can't take it anymore for my own mental health! I am 45 yrs old and truly embarrassed about the fact that I had to move back in with them, plus I feel like I have no life of my own. They were supposed to leave for Cabo on Saturday which was cancelled and now their Monday flight was just cancelled. So now they won't leave until Wednesday!

I was counting on them being gone so in case they called to do a skype on Tuesday because having them around is stressful enough. They knew I was applying in Florida, but don't believe I'm serious about it. So, I'm keeping all of this to myself until I know that it's a sure thing. Otherwise they'd be driving me completely nuts! Anyway, I have to work tomorrow but I will definitely check out the places you mentioned. I am really counting on Florida Hospital to call me to get the interview set up ASAP. I'm planning to call them in the afternoon if I haven't heard because I can't keep putting my life on hold much longer! I know I have to leave it in Gods hands for now. Thanks again for all of your input and support!

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Town and Country is like a subburb of Tampa I guess. There is Westchase, Carrollwood, and Town and Country. We live in a house in Twelve Oaks sub division. You can search those areas on Facebook with those key words. My area is affordable but but parts of TNC are getting not so good. Depends on exact areas of course. Keep praying, God knows best!! If you get into a bind, don't hesitate. We are originally from Minnesota. You know, the FARGO movie lol?? Doncha know?? Oh, I think you have to work for a company for a year to get free schooling don't you? Might want to check on that.

LOL I love Fargo, Geez. Don't cha know! My best friend lives in Twelve Oaks. It's nice up there. IDK about apartments, but the houses we looked at up there were 2-4 bedrooms and started out at around 1400$ for a decent area. We looked at a few in Town & Country for around $1200 and they were G-h-e-t-t-o. It's possible to find a nice place, but most likely, kinda want to say definitely, not for under $1000/mo for a rental. Brandon is a little more of a commute but you get more for your money out there. Who knows though, you could get lucky! We did! People told me left and right I'd never find a place in South Tampa with my "requirements" and my budget ($1500 max) and we found something for even less here in South Tampa!

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Specializes in VA, Ortho, Med/Surg.

LOL. We MIGHT rent this house out at some point but we'd have to ask 1450.00 mo. Has pool, two car garage, fireplace. We need to move to Brandon haha. Isn't that funny? Hubby works there. But I think I'll just sell this place instead, not worth headaches being a landlord. This area is still nice yes.

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Do you "need" to be in Tampa or would the suburbs Be an option? They just built these gorgeous apartments off of Belcher and Gulf to bay and it would take about 30 minutes to get over the bayside bridge from there to get over to Tampa! I can't remember what they are called but they are new! Good luck and remember if it is Gods will it is all ready worked out :)

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LOL. We MIGHT rent this house out at some point but we'd have to ask 1450.00 mo. Has pool, two car garage, fireplace. We need to move to Brandon haha. Isn't that funny? Hubby works there. But I think I'll just sell this place instead, not worth headaches being a landlord. This area is still nice yes.

ugh where were you when I was looking for a rental? :)

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Thanks for the info! But now I'm not even sure if this skype interview is gonna happen in time. The recruiter has kept promising that it was going to happen, but has taken so long to get things organized and keeps saying he can't get in touch with the nurse educator or there having trouble figuring out how to set up the skype interview. He assured me it would happen this week but now is back peddling and saying he hasn't heard back after emailing them or that the last time he talked to them they said it would probably be next week. I am beyond frustrated, but I don't know what else I can do at this point. If they can't interview me by Friday, then I will either have to turn down the only offer I've gotten here in MD or accept the offer and then see if I am able to get an interview before I get too invested in the program, which is not the best way to handle things I know. I am out of ideas at this point and I could really ruin things if I wait too long to accept. If he can't give me a firm answer tomorrow and I can't get through to the nurse educator myself, then I guess I will just accept this job for my own peace of mind and whatever happens after that I'll be able to deal with in a better frame of mind I think. My heart is in Florida though but one way or another I WILL get there!

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Specializes in VA, Ortho, Med/Surg.

Haha. Alrighty then...something is wrong with this website. Always tells me the page won't load or the comments are gone? Is it only me??? Is it my PC's??? What?? Anyhoo. I would rent this out still if we had any takers but I don't think my husband is ready to move yet. If I had my way, I'd be in California lol.

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I can't believe it! I finally got confirmation that I will have a phone interview tomorrow! I can't even count how many times I called the recruiter. I hated to be annoying, but i just couldn't give up! Now I'm glad I didn't. So, I'm praying that I will have a good interview and an offer! I'm so exhausted from all of the uncertainty, but at least I can go to sleep knowing that I did everything I could. I know that I still have the biggest hurdle, actually interviewing and making impression and getting an offer, but I am thankful for my faith in God and know that He'll be with me. Thanks for your suggestions on the apartments! I hope that I will soon be making plans!

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