Clearwater and St. Petersburg anchor the west side of the Tampa Bay metro — Pinellas County, a compact peninsula between Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, is Florida's most densely populated county and one of its most diverse real estate markets. Clearwater Beach (consistently ranked among the top beaches in the United States) drives the vacation rental market. Downtown St. Petersburg — with the Salvador Dalí Museum, the recently expanded Mahaffey Theater, and one of Florida's most robust restaurant and art scenes — drives the primary urban market. The balance of Pinellas County offers some of the most affordable housing in the Tampa metro area. Pinellas County's 2026 conforming limit is $832,750. Median prices range from $280,000 in inland Clearwater to $1M+ for Clearwater Beach waterfront. Tayton Capital serves Clearwater, St. Pete, and Pinellas County. NMLS #2106875.
Clearwater Beach STR Market
Clearwater Beach draws approximately 5 million visitors annually — primarily drive-market families from Central Florida, Georgia, and the Southeast, plus snowbirds from the Midwest and Canada. Nightly rates for Gulf-front condos on Clearwater Beach run $200–$600/night in peak season, with strong shoulder-season occupancy from Tampa area staycation visitors. The DSCR math works for well-positioned Clearwater Beach properties in warrantable condo buildings. The primary challenge is condo project warrantability — many older Clearwater Beach high-rises have pending special assessments or deferred maintenance that affects FNMA eligibility.
St. Petersburg Primary Market
St. Petersburg has undergone dramatic transformation over the past decade — the downtown arts district, the Dalí Museum, the Tampa Bay Rays Tropicana Field redevelopment discussion, and sustained urban investment have made downtown St. Pete one of the most sought-after urban living destinations in Florida. Primary home buyers purchasing in downtown St. Pete, the Old Northeast neighborhood, or the Kenwood arts district are the conventional and FHA market. The price range ($350,000–$700,000 for most primary buyer transactions) is well within the conforming limit.
Loan programs we run
- DSCR — Clearwater Beach vacation rental financing.
- Conventional — Primary and second home financing — the dominant product for St. Pete and Clearwater proper.
- FHA — 3.5% down for first-time buyers.
- VA — 0% down — significant veteran population in Pinellas County.
- Jumbo — Clearwater Beach Gulf-front and waterfront properties above $832,750.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Clearwater Beach a better or worse STR investment than Destin?
Different profile. Clearwater Beach has higher visitor volume (5M+ annually vs. Destin's smaller market) but lower nightly rates. It's also a more established, older destination — less growth potential but more occupancy consistency. DSCR works in both markets; the underwriting math just uses different rate and occupancy assumptions.
Are St. Pete condos warrantable?
Most newer downtown St. Pete high-rises are warrantable. Older Pinellas County condo buildings (1970s–1990s construction) require project approval review — FNMA has tightened condo approval standards significantly since 2022. We check project status before recommending conventional or FHA for any condo purchase.
What's the difference between buying in Clearwater vs. St. Pete?
Different lifestyles and different buyer profiles. Clearwater skews to vacation, beach, and retirement demographics. St. Pete has a strong young professional and creative class presence driven by the arts scene. Prices overlap — you can find comparable properties in both — but the community character is distinct.
I've heard Florida has a homestead exemption. How does that affect financing?
Florida's Homestead Exemption reduces the assessed value of a primary home by $50,000 for property tax purposes. It applies only to primary residences, not vacation homes or investment properties. We factor the homestead benefit into the estimated property tax when calculating your PITI on a primary home purchase.