St. Petersburg
Mortgages

St. Petersburg by the numbers

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

The metro median sits well under Pinellas County's conforming limit, so FHA, conventional and down payment assistance cover most of the city. Waterfront Snell Isle, the Old Northeast and Venetian Isles regularly run into jumbo territory.

What buyers in St. Petersburg should know

• Check flood history, not just the flood zone. Hurricane Helene's 2024 surge flooded Shore Acres, Snell Isle, Venetian Isles and other low-lying neighborhoods. Get the elevation certificate and a flood quote before you offer.
• Know the 50% rule. If repairs to a damaged home equal or exceed 50% of the building's market value (land not counted), it generally has to be elevated or rebuilt to current flood standards. Ask whether the home has a substantial-damage determination.
• Downtown condos must pass the lender's condo review, and buildings three stories and up must meet Florida's milestone-inspection and reserve rules.
• Older bungalows in Kenwood, Crescent Lake and Old Southeast can have roof, wiring or plumbing issues that affect insurance. See Florida property insurance.
• Investors can use DSCR loans to qualify on rent. If you plan to rent nightly, check the city's short-term rental rules first.

Where buyers look

• Downtown and the Edge District: high-rise condos and townhomes near the waterfront and Central Avenue.
• Old Northeast and Snell Isle: historic and waterfront homes, often jumbo.
• Kenwood, Crescent Lake and Grand Central: 1920s bungalows popular with first-time buyers.
• Shore Acres and Venetian Isles: waterfront neighborhoods hit hard by the 2024 surge.
• West St. Pete and Disston Heights: 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.