Not that anyone should really need convincing to move to a state with nearly 1,200 miles of coastline and the feel of endless summer, but in case you’re still unsure about how Tampa landed on Realtor.com’s 20 Hottest Markets for U.S. Real Estate rankings list for 2017, here are five reasons Tampa is the place to be.
- The Weather
This one seems obvious but one of the biggest selling points for living in Tampa is its weather. The weather is hot during the summer and pleasantly cool – by Florida standards – in winter. Even the coldest months of January and February average dry and sunny daytime temperatures around 70 degrees.
- The Beaches
See also: 1,200 miles of coastline. And not just any coastline, either. The beaches along the Gulf of Mexico are known – and ranked among some the best in the country – for their snow-white sand and calm, crystal-clear waters. And the Atlantic coast just a couple hours away boasts cooler temperatures and plenty of surf.
- The Festivals
Thanks in large part to the weather, there’s a festival nearly every weekend. From the Tampa Bay Margarita Festival, the Gasparilla Music Festival, the Tampa Pig Jig, to the Sunset Music Festival, Tampa has a festival for everyone – music lovers, food enthusiasts, supporters of local artisans and vendors – or even festivals with all of the above!
- The Food
With countless cultures and ethnicities calling Tampa home-away-from-home, Tampa can satisfy any foodie or gourmand. From traditional international fare, food trucks, creative farm-to-table cuisine, international gastropubs, the freshest seafood and even a couple James Beard award nominees, Tampa’s food scene does not disappoint.
- The Major Leagues
Tampa has three – that’s right, THREE – major league sports teams: the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Tampa Bay Lightning, and the Tampa Bay Rays. So whether you’re into gridirons, rinks or diamonds – or even all three – you’re (major league) covered.
BONUS! The Gasparilla Pirate Fest
Since 1904, the members of Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla (YMKG), accompanied by a flotilla of hundreds of smaller boats and ‘krewes,’ have sailed across the bay to downtown Tampa on a ‘pirate’ ship to demand that the mayor hand over the key to the city. They then hold a ‘victory’ parade – think Mardi-Gras-with-pirates – down Bayshore Boulevard while throwing beads, coins, and other trinkets to the crowd along the parade route.
There you have it. It wasn’t easy to narrow the allure of Tampa down to a tiny list – we could go on and on about all the reasons we call Tampa home – but these definitely sum up some of the city’s biggest attractions. If food, fun and festivals enjoyed in sunny year-round weather sound like the right fit for you, call one of the experienced agents at DeLeon Sheffield Company today to help you call Tampa ‘home.’
Because at DeLeon Sheffield Company, ‘We’re More Than Realty; We’re Family.’
