Clearwater
Mortgages

Clearwater by the numbers

Median prices: Florida Realtors, August 2026 metro report. These are metro-wide figures, not Clearwater alone. Loan limits: HUD and FHFA.

Most mainland Clearwater homes fit FHA and conventional limits. Clearwater Beach, Island Estates and Sand Key are where prices, and jumbo loans, climb.

What buyers in Clearwater should know

• The beach side has flood risk. Hurricane Helene's 2024 surge flooded much of Clearwater Beach and parts of Island Estates. Get the elevation certificate and a flood quote first.
• Beach condos face extra rules. Buildings three stories and up must meet Florida's milestone-inspection and reserve rules, and some lenders won't finance a unit until they're done.
• Second home or rental? A second-home loan is for personal use. For nightly rentals, plan on a DSCR loan and check the city's short-term rental rules.
• Older mainland homes need a roof and 4-point inspection for insurance. See Florida property insurance.

Where buyers look

• Clearwater Beach: condos, townhomes and a smaller number of single-family homes on the barrier island.
• Island Estates and Sand Key: waterfront homes and high-rise condos.
• Downtown and Harbor Oaks: historic homes and condos near the bluff.
• Countryside: suburban subdivisions in the north end.
• Morningside and south Clearwater: mid-century homes at lower price points.

Homestead and property taxes

File for the homestead exemption with the Pinellas County Property Appraiser by March 1 of the year after you close. Your bill resets to the new assessed value after a sale, so don't budget on the seller's taxes.