The Gist Blog
St. Pete Real Estate Insights
Real numbers, honest takes, and neighborhood-level insights. No fluff. Updated monthly so you always know what's actually happening in St. Pete.
24 posts
Flood Zone X vs. Everything Else: How to Read a St. Pete Listing Before You Fall in Love
Flood zones are the thing St. Pete buyers are most anxious about — and the thing most listings explain least clearly. Here's how to actually read them before you schedule a showing.
Read More →Moving to St. Pete From Out of State? A Neighborhood-by-Neighborhood Breakdown
Old Northeast vs. Historic Kenwood vs. Shore Acres vs. the beach neighborhoods — what's the actual difference, and what does your money get you in each? The relocation guide nobody else writes.
Read More →Thinking of Selling in St. Pete? The First 14 Days Decide Everything
The most expensive mistake sellers make in this market isn't the price they accept — it's the price they start at. Here's how the first two weeks of your listing determine everything that follows.
Read More →What Your Monthly Payment Actually Covers in St. Pete (Insurance, Taxes, and the Stuff Nobody Warns You About)
Florida has no state income tax, which sounds like a financial win — and it is. But the true cost of homeownership in St. Pete has components that catch buyers off guard. Here's the full picture.
Read More →Moving from Atlanta to St. Pete: What Georgia Buyers Need to Know
Atlanta is one of the biggest feeder markets for St. Pete, and it's easy to see why. The financial case is real, the drive is manageable, and the lifestyle shift is dramatic. Here's what I tell Atlanta buyers before they start the search.
Read More →Moving from Texas to St. Pete: What Dallas, Houston, and Austin Buyers Should Know
Texas buyers are increasingly looking at St. Pete, and the comparison is more interesting than most people expect. Here's what to know before you make the move.
Read More →The Best St. Pete Neighborhoods for Families: What Actually Matters
The 'best schools' question is where most family searches start, but it's rarely where they end. Here's how I actually think through neighborhood choices with families buying in St. Pete.
Read More →St. Pete vs. Tampa: Which City Should You Move To?
It's the question I hear from almost every out-of-state buyer who's looking at the Tampa Bay area. They're not the same city, and the choice matters more than most people realize before they visit.
Read More →Moving from New York to St. Pete: What to Expect (From Someone Who Did It)
I made this move myself, and I've helped a lot of New Yorkers do the same. The lifestyle shift is real, the financial case is strong, and the hardest part is usually not what people expect.
Read More →Moving from Chicago to St. Pete: What Chicago Buyers Should Know
Chicago buyers tend to have strong neighborhood instincts, an appreciation for historic architecture, and one very clear motivation: the winters. Here's what you actually need to know before you make the move.
Read More →Moving from California to St. Pete: The Real Numbers and What to Expect
California buyers are often doing this for the financial math as much as anything else. The numbers are significant. Here's what your California equity actually buys in St. Pete, and what to know before you make the move.
Read More →Relocating to St. Pete? Here's What Your Budget Gets You by Neighborhood
If you're moving to St. Pete from out of state, one of the first questions I get is: what can I actually afford here? The answer depends a lot on which neighborhood matters more to you than which zip code sounds right.
Read More →St. Pete Market Update: May 2026
Here's the honest read on what's happening in St. Pete right now: median prices, days on market, and what it actually means if you're thinking about buying or selling this spring.
Read More →The Best Non-Flood-Zone Neighborhoods in St. Petersburg, FL
Flood zones are one of the most important factors in buying a home in St. Pete, and one of the most overlooked. The good news: there are plenty of great neighborhoods here with significantly lower flood exposure. Here's where to look.
Read More →Shore Acres vs. Venetian Isles: Which Boating Neighborhood Is Right for You?
I get asked this one a lot. Both offer canal access and that northeast waterfront lifestyle, but they're different in ways that matter. Here's how I'd think through the choice.
Read More →Condo Buying in St. Pete: What the New Laws Mean for You in 2026
Florida's condo legislation changed everything: reserves, inspections, HOA fees, insurability. If you're shopping for a condo in St. Pete right now, here's what you need to know before you make an offer.
Read More →Why People Are Moving to St. Pete (And Why They Stay)
I talk to a lot of people considering a move to St. Pete, from New York, Chicago, California, other parts of Florida. After a while, I noticed something: the reasons people come here and the reasons they stay are almost never the same thing.
Read More →The NAR Settlement: What Buyers and Sellers in St. Pete Need to Know
The National Association of Realtors settlement changed how real estate commissions work across the country. Here's what it actually means for buyers and sellers in St. Pete. No spin.
Read More →What Every Buyer in St. Pete Needs to Know About Flood Zones
Flood zones are the thing buyers most often overlook, until they get the insurance quote. Here's a plain-English breakdown of what they mean and how to factor them into your search.
Read More →St. Pete Market Recap: Q1 2026
A lot shifted in the first quarter of this year. Inventory moved, days on market stretched, and buyers got a little more breathing room. Here's what the data shows and what it means going forward.
Read More →Why Old Northeast Keeps Holding Its Value
It's not just the brick streets and period homes. There are real structural reasons Old Northeast holds up in almost any market condition. Here's why I think it's one of the best long-term plays in the city.
Read More →Assumable Mortgages: What They Are and Why St. Pete Buyers Are Talking About Them
With rates where they are, the idea of taking over a seller's 3% mortgage sounds like a dream. Here's how assumable mortgages actually work, and when they make sense.
Read More →How Hurricane Helene Changed the Way People Buy Homes in St. Pete
After Helene hit in 2024, something shifted in how buyers think about St. Pete real estate. Here's what I've seen change, in the data and in the conversations.
Read More →Stay Informed
Want Monthly Market Updates?
I send a brief monthly market update to my clients: real numbers, no fluff. Reach out and I'll add you to the list.
Contact Alexis