Buying WATERFRONT Homes in Tampa Bay! 

The Best Florida Waterfront is right here…

The West Coast of Florida and the counties surrounding Tampa Bay are known for some of the best boating in the world. St. Petersburg-Clearwater is for sure the boating and sailing capital of the United States, as no other area compares.  There is nothing better!

1. Types of Waterfront?
2. Why Buy Waterfront?
3. Where are the Waterfront Homes? 
4. Buying Waterfront and What you don’t know…
5. Hiring a Waterfront Buyers Broker      

1.  Types of Waterfront in Tampa Bay

What is your purpose?  Will it be to boat, fish or just relax by the peace that waterfront brings? 

No matter where you live, you will have access to water ranging from a short walk to no more than a 45 minute drive.  Whether you want to live close to water or live directly on the water you have an array of options.  

The choices for the type of waterfront living is plentiful: The west coast is on the Gulf of Mexico, where you can experience calm waters and a variety of water sports or simply wade in the water at some of the top rated beaches.

Florida west coast is home to many world wide renowned beaches such as St. Pete Beach, Clearwater Beach, and Siesta Key.   

Since there is so much waterfront, you have your choice of living on the Gulf of Mexico beaches, Intracoastal, canals, rivers, lakes, ponds and more.  There are many waterfront home styles to choose from also; single family homes, townhomes, condos or villas…it's always the buyers preference.

2.  Why buy a Waterfront Home?

Benefits to Buying a Home on the Water…

• Higher Home Appreciation over time.  Waterfront properties are “limited” and they are always in high demand. As a result, prices appreciate faster than a dry lot. Waterfront properties tend to hold value during economic downturns.  It’s been even more evident in the past few years where buyers are ready to start living the waterfront dream.  Owning a waterfront home expands your lifestyle. You may even feel like you are on vacation every day.   
• Health Benefits.  Studies show that living near water can create a meditative state, where you are calm, have reduced stress and overall sense of happiness as illustrated in the book, “The Blue Mind”. The negative ions in water increases the oxygen absorption as you breathe fresh air.  Being in a relaxed state increases creativity and strengthens your immune system.
• Water Activities.  In Tampa Bay, almost every water activity is available. Boating, sailing, canoeing, stand up paddleboarding,  kayaking, jet skiing, swimming, windsurfing, fishing, snorkeling, and scuba diving to name a few.  All these sporting activities can be enjoyed on the calm water of the Gulf, Bay or a Lake.  There are no large waves on the west coast, so it’s not ideal for surfing, but fun for everything else. All these activities are bound to make you fit!
• Watching Wildlife.  Live with the parrots!  Yes, there are wild parrots in Pinellas County.  You can also experience various Fish, Dolphins, Sea Turtles and Manatees in your backyard.  Tampa Bay is home to 200 species of fish and 300 species of birds.  Living on water in your backyard means no rear neighbors, open and colorful skies,with spectacular sunrises or sunsets.
• Use your Boat for Transportation.  Why use a car when you can boat to your destination?   There are many waterfront dining opportunities.  Dock your boat at the new St.Petersburg Pier and check out these waterfront restaurants.  You can even use your boat to enjoy St. Pete Nightlife or park your boat and spend the day exploring downtown Tampa.

 3. Where to Buy Waterfront Homes?

The heart of the Boating and Sailing Capital of the World is Pinellas County…

Pinellas County is surrounded by water on three sides!  Pinellas county has an outstanding 588 miles of coast line and 35 miles of pristine white sand beaches.  This area has the best year round sunny weather with an average temperature of 81F degrees. There are several different types of boating such as sailing, offshore fishing, power cruising, inshore fishing, water skiing and personal watercraft.  It is no surprise Pinellas County is the Boating and Sailing Capital of the world. In addition, St. Petersburg is also the official U.S. Olympic Sailing training center.

Pinellas County has the largest number of Boat Registrations in all of the Florida counties.

There are many places to travel with your boat.  There are 40 miles of Gulf Intracoastal Waterways and Gulf Barrier Islands that allow you to access open water. In addition, 200 miles of deep water canals and hundreds of miles for kayaking.  Kayakers can enjoy marked mangrove tunnels in Caladesi Island State Park and Weedon Island Preserve.

Even your dog can even enjoy themselves at some of our off leash dog beaches including Ft. De Soto Park. At Ft. De Soto, you can even pull up your RV or pitch a tent at one of its designated waterfront campgrounds. You can even scuba dive off Pinellas County 13 Artificial Reefs.

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater Ranked #1 Florida’s Hottest Real Estate Market and #4 in the Nation.

Tampa Waterfront Homes in Hillsborough County

Tampa, the metropolitan city that anchors the area, has 158 miles of shoreline and 2.1 miles of beaches. Hillsborough County hugs Old Tampa Bay, Hillsborough Bay, and Tampa Bay and there are many direct waterfront homes on the Bay.  Coastal areas include Tampa, Apollo Beach and Ruskin.   Hillsborough County has homes on the Hillsborough River and more lakefront homes as you go inland.  You can combine the City life with a spectacular Waterview in the luxury condos in downtown Tampa.

Manatee and Sarasota County; Known for Beaches…

Away from the hustle of Tampa Bay is Manatee County located south of Pinellas County, with 150 miles of coastline.   Anna Maria Island, Holmes Beach, Bradenton Beach, Coquina Beach, and Longboat Key offer 12.3 miles of stunning beaches. The laid back and low rise buildings on these beaches makes it an ideal vacation or a perfect choice for a second home. 

Manatee County boating has plenty of areas along the Gulf of Mexico, Intracoastal, Manatee River, Terra Ceia Bay, and a freshwater 255 acre Ward Lake to name a few.   For those who like to snorkel and scuba dive, just 150 feet off Bradenton Beach and about 20 feet down is the sunken 1940 SS Regina full of tropical fish.  Manatee County Boating Guide can acquaint you with the area.

Sarasota County, known for its famous wide pink and white sand beaches attracts 6.5 million visitors per year.  

It has 40 miles of coastlines with 6 barrier islands which include Longboat Key, Lido Key, Siesta Key, Casey Key, Venice, and Manasota Key.  

Sarasota Ranked #1 for Retirement in 2021

There are several areas to launch a boat or kayak. Refer to the Paddling Guide for specific trails or Boating Guide: North Sarasota County and South Sarasota County.  Enjoy cruising, especially viewing the Luxury homes and Mansions at Bird and Casey Key, and excellent fishing with unmarked Middle Grounds, a popular local spot.  Venice beach also has its own off leash Dog Park, at Brohard Paw Park.

Off the Beaten Path of Pasco and Charlotte County

“Off the Beaten Path” means you can get more for your money when you buy a waterfront home, in an area that is less traveled. These areas are farther from the larger cities, but still offer access to all the conveniences you need.  

Pasco County located about 30 miles North of Tampa has a coastline dedicated to State Parks and conservation such as Werner-Boyce Salt Springs State Park and unspoiled Anclote Key Preserve State Park accessible by boat.  

There are 4 miles of beaches located on their Barrier Islands. There are plenty of water activities, including scalloping which starts the 3rd Friday of July for a 10 day duration.  All you will need to do is dive 4 to 8 feet to sea grass on the bottom to grab the scallops. 

Coastal communities include New Port Richey, Port Richey and Hudson.  Here you can buy homes on canals near the coast or Riverfront homes on Cotee River, Anclote River and Pithlachascotee River.  In addition, wonderful lakefront opportunities are available heading inland.

Charlotte County has a nice volume of homes with direct water access on the Intracoastal, Canals, Keys, Myakka River and Peace River.  These areas are in close proximity; it will not take long to access the conservation, preserves, and state parks such as Don Pedro Island State Park or Stump Pass State Park.  White sand beaches can be found at Port Charlotte Beach Park and Englewood Beach.  

Charlotte Harbor is the second largest harbor in Florida after Tampa Bay

Boating is so abundant here that they have a dedicated community Boating Alliance Website.  The area has 24 boat ramps around Charlotte Harbor to accommodate boating needs.  Living around Charlotte Harbor makes accessing neighboring Island and Keys very accessible such as Cabbage Key and Pine Island Sound and beyond.

The coastal communities include the historic town and main center of Punta Gorda.  Other communities include Englewood, Boca Grande and Placida.   One unique subdivision is Punta Gorda Isles where the city actually maintains your seawall for you!

4. Buying Waterfront and What you don’t know…

When buying on the waterfront, you are evaluating the location and lot as much as you are checking out the home itself. The location and quality of the waterfront may even be more important.  How will you use the home? To boat or just for picturesque water views, or specific water activities? Depending on your waterfront goals, this will dictate where and what to buy.

If you are buying for boating, bridges can be a major consideration to make sure your boat can fit under the bridges to navigate to the Intracoastal or Gulf of Mexico. You will need to know the number of bridges, fixed or open, and bridge heights.  

Other boating considerations are the length of your boat and size of your boat for onsite docking.  The water depth and width of canal or Intracoastal can be additional considerations.  There are several construction projects underway to improve the bridges and infrastructure in Tampa Bay.

• Water views also have considerations such as; sun exposure, boating, and beach traffic.
• Do you want a western view in the backyard to enjoy our spectacular sunsets?
• Do you care if there is boat traffic or do you prefer to be in no wake zone? 
• Are you fine with living on a public vs. private beach?
• Obstructed vs. unobstructed water views?

Flood and Homeowners insurance will always be a consideration when purchasing on or near coastal waters.  The typical/normal homeowners insurance policy does not cover/insure homes from rising water.  Flood insurance is additional coverage to cover rising water.  There are government FEMA based policies and private companies.

Don’t skip inspecting the extras…it's important.

Seawalls, riprap and/or bulkhead, dock, and boat lift can be expensive items when they need to be fixed or replaced. It’s important to have these inspected as part of your home purchase.  

You want to make sure your property continues to be protected from water erosion and a home inspection will determine if the home has suffered any effects of saltwater. 

If you're purchasing on the beach, you will want to know where the Coastal Control Line is located in relation to your property and what the city deems to be private or public access…you may be surprised.

5. Hiring a Waterfront Buyer Broker

It is your hard earned money and the waterfront is not cheap. You need to hire the best Buyer Broker in the business, who will help you avoid the home buying pitfalls. 

The sellers/listing agent works to get the seller the highest price and most favorable terms ONLY for the seller…never you the buyer.

Home buying in Florida is not as simple as some other states…there are more nuances to uncover and more things to negotiate. The state laws protect the agent and never the consumer…in fact Florida is the only state that I know of that does not require agents to tell the buyer that they are really working for the seller. Most brokers work as “Transaction Brokers” who do not offer any fiduciary duties…no loyalty or full confidentiality. Yes, it is confusing…

Our office is dedicated to representing only the best interest of the home buyer and never the seller.  You will never wonder whose side we are really on as everyone in the entire office has a fiduciary duty only to you, the homebuyer, without any conflict of interest.

Our commission is paid no differently than any other office.  We are paid by the seller or the listing office at closing.  Check out our reviews.

For a complimentary phone consultation, or to get answers to your questions, please contact Buyers Broker of Florida 727-202- 9130.

Copyright @ Buyers Broker of Florida 2022

Book a call below to talk with a Waterfront Buyer Broker