Downtown St Pete or Tampa Heights (Florida)

[Vera B.]

Looking at new construction townhomes in both downtown St Pete and in Tampa Heights (Florida). Where is the better buy?

St Pete - $650k purchase price with HOA fees of $400/mo and taxes of about $10k/year

Up and coming Tampa Hts - $600k purchase price with HOA of $100/mo and about $7k in taxes.

Plan is to live in it for 1-2 years and then rent it.

Which is the better buy? And does that change if market drops? I'm having a mortgage broker tell me I'm basically nuts for even thinking tampa hts.

Would love to hear your expert local market thoughts!!! Thx.