Buying in Pinellas? Let's start with a plan.
Answer a few quick questions about where, what, and when. I'll come back with a personal game plan — the right areas for your budget, flood and insurance realities, and how to win in today's market. No pressure, no obligation.
Median sale price
$465k
Single-family, September 2026 (+9.4% YoY)
Median asking price
$417k
3.6% lower than a year ago
Median days on market
84
Before going under contract
30-yr fixed (national)
7.32%
Freddie Mac, October 22, 2026
Pinellas County. Sale price: Suncoast Tampa Association of REALTORS® (STAR), September 2026 closed sales. Asking prices and days on market: Realtor.com Research, September 2026. Mortgage rate: Freddie Mac PMMS via FRED. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Full market report →
Your buyer questionnaire
About 2 minutes. Skip anything you're not sure about.
What Pinellas buyers should know
Flood zone first, then the house
If the home is in a FEMA high-risk zone (A, AE, VE) and you use a federally backed mortgage, flood insurance is required. Risk changes street by street in Pinellas, so check the exact parcel before you fall in love with it.
Check a Pinellas address →Insurance shapes your budget
Ask for the wind mitigation report and roof age early. Florida law requires insurers to offer discounts for documented wind-resistant features (s. 627.0629, F.S.), and many insurers require a 4-point inspection on older homes.
Condos: read the building's reports
Condo buildings three stories or taller need milestone structural inspections (s. 553.899, F.S.) and a structural integrity reserve study (s. 718.112, F.S.). Review both, the reserves, and any planned special assessments before you commit.
A written buyer agreement comes first
Since August 2024, NAR rules require a written agreement with your agent before touring homes. It spells out what I'll do for you and how I'm paid — and it's negotiable.
Florida taxes on your mortgage
Buyers who finance customarily pay Florida's documentary stamp tax on the note ($0.35 per $100) and intangible tax on the mortgage (0.2% of the loan). Your lender's Loan Estimate lists them.
File for homestead by March 1
If it's your primary residence on January 1, apply with the Pinellas County Property Appraiser by March 1 for the homestead exemption (up to $50,000) and the Save Our Homes cap.
General information, not legal, tax, insurance, or lending advice. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Selling a home too? See the seller page.