St. Petersburg has a number of charming historic districts that are perfect for buyers who love a little charm and character in a new home. And if you're an active or soon-to-be home buyer who happens to fall into that category, here's a closer look at where to start your search...

Historic Old Northeast

Bordering downtown, Historic Old Northeast is home to thousands of historic buildings and landmarks. Among them you’ll find a number of historic bungalows and mid-century homes in the neighborhood, including some dating back to the 1920s and 1930s.

Historic Old Southeast

Another area to search is the Historic Old Southeast neighborhood of St Petersburg. Mostly developed in the 1950s, you’ll also find some older homes here filled with charming

If you’re in the market for a luxury condo in Downtown St. Pete, you’ll want to keep an eye on the new Saltaire condos. The 35-story tower plans to bring with it your choice of around 200 private residences, all topping ground level retail space.

Going up on the site of a former hotel parking lot, reservations begin soon for units in the prestigious new tower. Scheduled to deliver in 2022, the upper units of Saltaire are expected to present the desirability of unobstructed water views. 

The building will offer some penthouse units, which reports suggest could be even larger than some of the luxury units of ONE St. Petersburg. The penthouse units will be on levels 34 and 35, with the remaining condos of Saltaire sitting on levels six through 33.

Looking for a new home in St. Petersburg and prefer the privacy and security that only a gated community provides? We know just where you should begin your search...

Marina Bay 

The master-planned Marina Bay community not only offers the advantage of a gated neighborhood, but also a waterfront setting. Filed with lakes, this peaceful community of homes also makes room for deep-water boat slips, a fitness room and two swimming pools.

Granada Terrace

Another gated community you’ll want to check out is Granada Terrace. The neighborhood also features some waterfront homes with a boat ramp, playground and community park just a short distance from downtown. 

Riviera Bay

The Riviera Bay community offers the desirability of spectacular gated

The downtown St. Petersburg condo market is red hot right now and if you're looking for a great new unit with a budget that tops out around $400,000, check out our short list of buildings to consider this spring. 

The Mirror at Mirror Lake

Brand new condos are headed to the area with the introduction of The Mirror at Mirror Lake. Coming to the Edge District, the contemporary-style condos will feature open floor plans with high ceilings, gourmet kitchens and a price point of under $400,000 for a one-bedroom floor plan. 

The Beacon 

The Beacon presents the desirability of a rooftop deck, a swimming pool, a 24-hour fitness center and more. In addition, many condos at The Beacon also allow for downtown living for under $400K, with several

Safety is a major concern for most home buyers in today’s market, which is why crime statistics can be so valuable to anyone in search of the perfect new place to live. 

Recently, consumer research company SafeWise released its fifth annual Safest Cities Report for the state of Florida, and this year, the list was expanded from 20 cities to 50 cities. 

During their research, SafeWise compared each city’s violent crime rate and property crime rate to the national figures overall. Not surprisingly, each of the cities on this year’s list recorded a lower crime rate than the nationwide average of 4.49 incidents per 1,000 people. 

What also stood out is that four cities in the Tampa Bay area specifically made the list of Flordia’s 50 safest cities,

It seems more and more home owners throughout Florida are starting to capitalize on the state's year-round sunshine and blue skies as residential solar installations are on the rise across the Sunshine State. 

Based on research from two different agencies, Florida was fourth in the country for 2018 when it came to increased solar capability, adding 850 megawatts in all.

Overall, Florida maintains a strong showing as the eighth largest solar state in the U.S., but statistics continue to reveal we're well on our way to moving further and further up the list. In 2015, Florida only installed 202 megawatts of solar capability compared to a whopping 2,290 in 2018.

Not surprisingly, solar-related jobs are also on the rise statewide. According to a

According to analysts and economists at Zillow, home values in the Tampa Bay area are projected to appreciate at a higher rate than the national average, although not but much. 

As recently summarized in the Tampa Bay Times, nine industry experts predicted our housing market will outperform the rest of the country while another eight expects it to underperform. As a result, Tampa was given a net score of 1+ in Zillow’s survey, which represents one of the lowest scores for markets that are expected to see home value appreciation outpace the national average in 2019. 

Other major cities where home values are expected to see an increase include Denver, Washington D.C., Atlanta, Dallas, and Las Vegas. For comparison, Chicago and Baltimore were among the

We’re already a few months into 2019, but that’s not stopping some of the experts from weighing in on Tampa Bay’s real estate market. It seems we’ll want to keep tabs on several factors could that come into play in the coming months.

Many people knowledgeable about local real estate are predicting a slowing for 2019. Even so, it’s expected to stay a relatively healthy market for both existing homes and new homes in the area.

While Tampa Bay’s still outperforming the nation as a whole, current trends show slowing appreciation. The threat of rising interest rates led to a strong selling season in 2018, but things could taper off. 

Some experts believe prices will remain high, making it more difficult to find homes under $300,000. Trade wars could

Thinking about buying a condo in St. Petersburg FL but also want to make sure you find a unit with the best views money can buy? Take a closer look at our short list of St. Pete condo buildings that offer the best views in town.

400 Beach Drive

With its downtown, waterfront location, 400 Beach Drive is hard to beat. With walls 

of glass too, it’s possible to enjoy the stunning surrounding scenery from the privacy of your home at 400 Beach Drive. 

Signature Place

Incredible views of the city, the bay and the marina are possible from the condos of Signature Place. This exceptional St Pete property offers up floor-to-ceiling glass and spacious terraces for further admiring the surroundings.

Ovation

The downtown Ovation high-rise,

If you’re looking for ways to show your appreciation for a certain someone special this Valentine’s Day, you’ll find plenty of unique opportunities this year in Tampa.  We explore a a few below...

Valentine’s Day Cruise

First up, head out on the water for a romantic cruise. Options include a three-course lunch cruise, dinner cruise or even a dessert cruise, topped off with dancing and a champagne toast.

Galentine’s Party 

If you’re looking for some alternatives to date night, grab your girlfriends and head out to celebrate Galentine’s Day! Tampa Beer Works is putting on a night of fun including mimosas and a waffle bar.

Valentine’s Day Hockey

Another option is to head downtown to watch the Lightning take on the Dallas Stars this coming