Pinellas County, FL Real Estate

One of the best places to live in the U. S., Pinellas County celebrated its 100-year anniversary in January 2012.  While the county is the second smallest in Florida (at only 280 square miles), this extremely desirable area has about 1 million residents and 588 miles of coastline. As a result, Pinellas County is Florida's 6th most populated area.

Part of the Tampa - St. Petersburg - Clearwater Metro Area, Pinellas County contains two thriving cities, St. Petersburg and Clearwater, while Tampa is located on the other side of Tampa Bay in Hillsborough County.

Living in Pinellas

Pinellas County has an average of 361 days of sun per year, meaning most days are great for outdoor life. Swimmers can be found in the Gulf in every month of the year, and in the winter the temperature in the Gulf and Tampa Bay gets to the low 60 degree range. The area has a subtropical and humid climate, and that means you can expect dry winters and you will rarely ever see freezing temperatures.

The area is known for our gorgeous Gulf-of-Mexico beaches and endless entertainment including shopping, restaurants and countless annual events and festivals. There are 35 miles of white sand beaches and dunes running between Clearwater Beach and St. Pete Beach. The 10 beach towns in this region are often referred to as the "Tampa Bay Beaches" and each one has its own unique qualities.

The beaches are some of the best in the world. In 2012, St. Pete Beach won TripAdvisor.com’s Traveler's Choice Award. Dr. Beach, known as "America's Foremost Beach Expert" called Caladesi Island State Park the country's top beach in 2008. In 2005, he named Fort De Soto Park the country's top beach. And, in 2013 USA Today voted Clearwater Beach America’s Best Beach.

When you live in Pinellas County, you can anticipate spending a lot of time near, on or in the water, whether it be boating, swimming, fishing, or even scuba diving.

The area also features an impressive 43 golf courses and over 1000 tennis courts.  

Major Convenience to the City

Driving from the Pinellas Beaches to downtown St. Petersburg takes just 15-25 minutes.

Many Pinellas residents commute to downtown Tampa for work, and it can take 30 to 45 minutes. The daily commute into Tampa takes them directly over the Howard Frankland Bridge, over Old Tampa Bay on I-275.

Interstate 4 runs east and west and connects to Florida's East Coast. The area is served by Tampa International Airport and St. Petersburg/Clearwater International Airport.

Pinellas County Homes

Even aside from those on the beach, you can find a variety of different types of homes in Pinellas County including everything from condos in downtown St. Petersburg to single family homes in relaxing residential neighborhoods.

Many couples, singles and families call Pinellas County home.  The area also has a thriving retirement community. It's possible to find a variety of active adult communities with beautiful homes.  The median home price is currently about $113,000, and the cost of living is approximately 10% less than the U.S. average.  You can find homes at virtually every budget from million dollar homes at luxury resort beaches, to homes in St. Petersburg and Clearwater under $250,000.

Schools

The area is home to 143 schools including the high school Palm Harbor University High School, which was mentioned by Newsweek as one of the Best Schools in the U.S.  Admiral Farragut Academy is a popular private choice for those living in south Pinellas.

Additionally, there are various Universities and Colleges in the area including Eckerd College, University of South Florida, Stetson College of Law and Schiller International University.

Natural Surroundings

If you love spending time outdoors, Pinellas County and it's parks won't disappoint.  This area features about 50 miles of recreational trails.  In addition to the beaches, there are also two freshwater lakes that are perfect for fishing, jet-skiing and kayaking.

Nature lovers will also find there are plenty of parks and natural preserves, including Honeymoon Island State Park and Pinellas National Wildlife Refuge.

Also recommended is Boyd Hill Nature Preserve.  This 245-acre park in St. Petersburg has an aviary, and a variety of trails through ecosystems.

Florida Botanical Gardens in Largo is another Pinellas attraction that appeals to people of all ages.  You can explore various gardens, including ones dedicated to tropical fruit, herbs, native plants, butterflies and more.

Many people are amazed by the variety of wildlife in this area, which includes fascinating bird species like herons, egrets, spoonbills and pelicans.  You can spot everything from gopher tortoises and sea turtles to manatees, dolphins, sharks and stingrays.

Arts, Culture, Festivals and Fairs

One of Pinellas County's claims to fame is the Salvador Dali Museum.  Many tourists from around the world visit St. Petersburg just to see this attraction, as it houses the largest collection of works outside of Barcelona.  However, this museum is far from all that Pinellas County has to offer in the way of art and culture, as there is also the Mahaffey Theater, Florida Orchestra, Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art, Chihuly Collection and Florida International Museum, which is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institute.

You can also find special attractions dedicated to history, such as the Florida Holocaust Museum and a 21-acre living history museum called Heritage Village.

Almost every town in Pinellas has festivals and events going on all year long.  After all, why not enjoy the consistent great weather?  Residents find that there is always something interesting to do, no matter what time of the year it may be.  Some of the highlights include the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, Taste of Pinellas in Vinoy Park, Clearwater Superboat National Championship in Clearwater Beach, and Seafood Festival and Christmas Boat Parade.  There is also a Get Downtown First Friday celebration that takes place the first Friday in every month.  This block party has live music, food, drink and dancing.

Our Website

BaconRealtyGroup.com offers experts on all parts of Pinellas County, including St. Pete, Clearwater and the Gulf Beaches.  We are passionate about the area, are proud to call it home, and would love to show you around.  Just send us a message to get started.