STR in Unincorporated Bay Pines (5 min drive to Madeira Beach) or Indian Rocks Beach

[Rachael Palmer]

Hello everyone,

I grew up in St. Petersburg and now live out of state. However, I'm interested in investing in a STR in my home state, especially as my mother still lives here. I've looked in Tampa (Hyde Park, Tampa Heights, Seminole Heights) and Pinellas county (Clearwater beach, Indian Rocks, Lealman, St. Pete) and have narrowed it down to finding a single family home with a pool in the unincorporated Bay Pines area or Indian Rocks Beach (note, it took a long time for me to get over my beach view condo dream in a popular area but HOA fees and restrictions helped!). Does anyone have experience with STRs in either of these areas? Any preference for one over another? Is this a good idea?

I'm thinking that I need to buy soon while it's a buyer's market and refi when rates go down - am I thinking about this the right way?

Any and all advice is very much appreciated!

Thanks!

Rachael