Tampa Apartments and Rentals

Come to this South Florida city for a convention or stop off on a cruise and you'll likely discover why Tampa apartments are worth treasuring. This balmy metropolis boasts a colorful history of pirate lore (some of which is actually true), while it keeps its eyes focused on the bright future ahead. Tampa is one of the top cities in the country for outdoor activities and also highly rated for families, animal lovers, and twenty-somethings. With the reasonable cost of living and captivating community here, a Tampa rental should be just right for your day in the sun.

Spanish explorers first landed in this part of the world in the 16th century. There were no permanent settlements here until 1819, however. Tampa remained a small outpost with only an army fort for company for quite some time. Then the railroad arrived, phosphate was discovered in the area, and the cigar industry took off. By the beginning of the 20th century, Tampa had become a city of note.

Tampa, it's said, means "sticks of fire" in a local tribal language. This may be a reference to the lightning that strikes often in the summer. Today, this city has a ton to offer, from nightlife in Ybor City, to shopping in SoHo, to great eats in West Tampa, and on to the Victorian homes of Hyde Park.

If you're coming to Tampa in search of work, the main industries here are service, retail, finance, insurance, shipping, national defense, professional sports, tourism, and real estate. There are over 20 hospitals in the Tampa area, if you're in the health care industry. The Department of Defense also employs a high number of people through MacDill Air Force Base. Major companies in the area include OSI Restaurant Partners, WellCare Health Plans Inc., and TECO Energy.

For students, the University of Tampa and the University of South Florida will be the city's biggest draws. You can also learn a thing or two at Hillsborough Community College, Eckerd College, or nearby St. Petersburg College.

Tampa is a city with breathing room and that's good news for prospective renters. First off, as far as cost of living is concerned, Tampa comes in just about average for the United States. A two-bedroom apartment in Tampa rents for about $1,000 a month. Compare that to Miami's average rent-around $2,250. The other bright spot here is the vacancy rate, which is high enough to make finding a place unpressured. You can relax, look around, and pick out the Tampa apartment that suits you best.

Tampa is a sporting town. Folks here rally to support the Buccaneers on the gridiron, the Lightning on the ice, and they can get behind their favorite professional wrestlers as well. The Tampa Bay Rays may sound like the local baseball team, but they actually play in St. Petersburg next door. If basketball is your kind of action, you'll have to drive an hour and half to see the Orlando Magic play.

For a day out, there are a few big-ticket entertainments around Tampa. Check out Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Adventure Island, the Florida Aquarium, or the Lowry Park Zoo. The Museum of Science and Industry has an IMAX theater and a planetarium. Other popular options include the Tampa Museum of Art, Peddle Creek Golf Club, and the Tampa Electric Manatee Viewing Center. The Henry B. Plant Museum, set in the old Moorish revival Tampa Bay Hotel, is worth seeing for the architecture alone.

If you're talking about Tampa special events, top of the list is definitely the Gasparilla Pirate Festival. This mock pirate invasion takes place every winter along with a slew of associated events. It's basically Mardi Gras Tampa-style. Other highlights of the calendar here are the Outback Bowl, the Florida State Fair, and Fiesta Day, which celebrates local immigrant heritage. For another uniquely Tampa celebration, try Guavaween, which adds a Latin flavor to October 31st fun.

Whether you're coming for school, work, or to soak up some sun, Rent.com® can help you find a Tampa apartment. Flip through our listings and you'll be sure to find something that looks good to you.