Where to buy in SW Florida

[Josh Gregory]

Hi. I’m looking to relocate to Florida sometime in the next 10+ years and would like to buy something now and rent it out until I relocate. Want to be near the beach (less than 10 minute drive). Prefer single family, but would consider townhouse. Looking for recommended areas. I’ve heard good things about Dunedin and recently seen decent places inTarpon Springs. Budget is around $500k. Where should I be looking? Any recommended agents?

thanks!

[Griffin Pratt]

Hey @Josh Gregory, I'm an agent living in downtown St. Petersburg (Pinellas county). St. Pete has some of the best beaches in Florida and really captures the "beach town" vibe well. It has a ton of areas that fall in the price-range you mentioned both close (walking/biking distance to beach - Treasure Island, Madeira, Indian Rocks, Gulfport, Pasadena) and further from the beach (10-20min drive to beach - Downtown St. Pete, Old Northeast, the Historic districts, Seminole). Not to mention just as Tampa has and continues to experience large scale appreciation, St. Pete has been heavily associated with that rise as well with LOTS of development coming to the downtown area in the next 3-10yr. As a resident and active agent in the area I'm a huge fan of the lifestyle here with the downtown scene on the Bay side and beach scene on the Gulf side. That said, one warning I'll give you is that STR's are prohibited in Pinellas county and although there are loopholes, it is difficult to get around that restriction. If you are thinking of renting out the property you buy as a LTR, I cannot recommend a city more highly!