The City of Tampa Is in Many Recent Best Cities Lists

Online, November 23, 2011 (Newswire.com) - The city of Tampa has been in a lot of Best Cities lists over the past years, such as in lists of Best Cities for Retirees, Best Cities for the Arts, Best Cities to Live, and Best Cities to Buy a Rental Property.

In recent months, the city of Tampa was again in several Best Cities lists, affirming the popularity of Tampa among U.S. and international investors and people looking for places to move to for education, career and home relocation and retirement goals.

Most Popular Florida Cities among Foreign Home Buyers

In the 12-month period ended June this year, the Tampa area was third among Florida cities in home sales to international buyers. Eleven percent of total home sales in Florida during the one-year period were sales of residential properties in Tampa.

Tampa is especially popular among homebuyers in Canada, United Kingdom, France and Germany. Canadians, who like Tampa because of its beautiful weather, lakes and beaches, have been buying properties mostly for vacation purposes.

Best Communities for Young People

Efforts by the city of Tampa to help children and young people have been recognized by the America's Promise Alliance time and again. City agencies and public-private organizations are running online learning programs, after-class activities, and other endeavors designed for children and young people.

Most Affordable Cities

The composite cost of housing, utilities, transportation, health care, grocery items and other essential goods and services in Tampa is among the lowest in the country, based on the ACCRA Cost of Living Index report for the third quarter this year and on other past cost of living indices.

Top Metro Areas in Job Growth

The pace of job creation in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater metro area in the second and third quarters this year was among the fastest in the country, ranking third in the chart compiled by Headlight LLC. Jobs surged at an actual rate of 1.3 percent and adjusted annual rate of 5.1 percent

Most Active Hotel Markets

With a sharp jump of 53.5 percent, the Tampa-St. Petersburg hotel market posted the biggest occupancy rate surge in September, based on data from STR Global. It surpassed the growth rates of the nation's 24 other large metro hotel markets and the national growth rate of 5.7 percent. It even outdid that of Miami, which was 12.6 percent.

Best Cities for Homebuyers

Prices for beautiful homes in the Tampa-St. Petersburg area have become very affordable after the housing market meltdown. The Tampa real estate market,however, has retained its desirability as Florida cities will always be a top destination for retirees, second-home buyers and foreign and domestic investors. The Tampa area is No. 5 on CNNMoney's 10 Best Cities for Homebuyers list in 2011.

America's 50 Best Cities

Bloomberg ranked Tampa as the 47th Best City in the U.S. It recognized Tampa's good weather and great beaches, in addition to the city's positive marks such as percent of residents with bachelor's degrees, number of museums, school score and park acres per 1,000 residents.

Indeed, the city of Tampa is a great destination for companies, investors and homebuyers. Visit Tampa and when you like what you see, contact Tampa4U.Com for help in owning a piece of Tampa real estate.