Belleair Florida is located on the west coast of Florida close to Clearwater and some of the best beaches in Florida. It has a rich and diverse history and now is a great residential community of about 4,100 people.

Early on, Belleair was little more than an agricultural sister to Clearwater. But Belleair really hit the map when, in the 1890’s, the Belleview Hotel was opened by Henry B. Plant, a railroad magnate. The hotel included a railroad siding for private railroad cars owned by wealthy winter patrons. It was constructed on a peninsula west of Tampa Bay (in present day Pinellas County), and had top of the line amenities for the day, including yachting on Clearwater Bay, horseback riding in the piney woods south of the hotel; golfing, tennis, skeet shooting and bicycling. By World War I, the 9 hole golf course had become an 18 hole golf course, and in 1920 John McEntee Bowman, owner of the Biltmore hotel chain, purchased the property. It was renamed the Belleview Biltmore Hotel.

The snowbirds of the time started to realize that the area would be a great place to live year round and started constructing residences. In 1925 the Town of Belleair was incorporated and a town planner, John Nolen, was hired to lay out the streets that still exist today. After the stock market crash in 1929 caused a future 1930’s default by the town on improvement bonds, much of the town was abandoned.

During World War II, the historic Belleview Biltmore was used to house servicemen from MacDill Air Force base in Tampa.

After World War II, most of the land south of the Biltmore was purchased by the late E.W. Hallett. The area was cleaned up. In 1944 Georgine Shillard-Smith donated seven acres to create an arts center. In the 1950’s new construction started and the town was again growing, as it did again in the 1960’s. In the 1970’s U.S. Steel purchased the land in front of the Biltmore and the Island to it’s west where condos were constructed. At this time, the residents also set aside land for parks and paths.

Belleair FL Real Estate

Today, the town consists of residences, including single family, multi family and condominiums, three 18 hole golf courses and some commercial and business use buildings, including the original historic Biltmore Hotel. The charming downtown area includes “Antiques Row”, restaurants and boutiques. Our favorite condos are nestled along the intracoastal waterways in the gated Belleair Country Club complex and also along the Belleair Causeway on Harbor View.

Codified rules keep the community the wonderful place to live that it is (for example, we have to have to have REALLY short real estate signs in Belleair to follow town rules!) If you are considering moving to this charming berg and would like to find out more about Belleair FL Real Estate, give us a call or text today!

Belleair Real Estate Listings

Below are all of the Belleair Bluffs homes currently for sale.   For help with a search for homes in Belleair, Belleair Beach or Belleair Shore, give us a call or text us today!

727-366-0324

Showing properties 1 - 10 of 47. See more city of Belleair Bluffs real estate.
(all data current as of 2/4/2012)

1. $234,900 : 760 Cortez Ave, Belleair Bluffs
   
   3 beds, 2 full baths

   Home size: 1,720 sq ft

   Lot size: 10,000 sq ft

   Year built: 1968

   Parking spots: 2

   Days on market: 2
2. $65,900 : 215 Valencia Blvd # 209, Belleair Bluffs
   
   2 beds, 2 full baths

   Home size: 972 sq ft

   Lot size: 1.12 ac

   Year built: 1974

   Parking spots: 1

   Days on market: 10
3. $115,000 : 131 Bluff View Dr # 207, Belleair Bluffs
   
   2 beds, 2 full baths

   Home size: 1,300 sq ft

   Year built: 1971

   Parking spots: 1

   Days on market: 86
4. $98,000 : 131 Bluff View Dr # 104, Belleair Bluffs
   
   2 beds, 2 full baths

   Home size: 1,300 sq ft

   Lot size: 1.03 ac

   Year built: 1971

   Parking spots: 1

   Days on market: 4
5. $364,900 : 2867 Del Rio Dr, Belleair Bluffs
   
   4 beds, 3 full baths

   Home size: 2,315 sq ft

   Lot size: 16,422 sq ft

   Year built: 1967

   Parking spots: 2

   Days on market: 188
6. $79,900 : 55 Harbor View Lane # 101, Belleair Bluffs
   
   2 beds, 2 full baths

   Home size: 1,162 sq ft

   Year built: 1963

   Days on market: 76
7. $249,900 : 100 Bluff View Dr # 510a, Belleair Bluffs
   
   2 beds, 2 full baths

   Home size: 1,630 sq ft

   Year built: 1970

   Parking spots: 1

   Days on market: 17
8. $305,000 : 100 Bluff View Dr # 501c, Belleair Bluffs
   
   2 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths

   Home size: 1,900 sq ft

   Year built: 1973

   Parking spots: 1

   Days on market: 135
9. $57,800 : 2525 West Bay Dr # D11, Belleair Bluffs
   
   2 beds, 1 full bath

   Home size: 845 sq ft

   Year built: 1974

   Days on market: 12
10. $70,000 : 155 Bluff View Dr # 103, Belleair Bluffs
    
    1 bed, 1 full, 1 part baths

    Home size: 953 sq ft

    Year built: 1968

    Parking spots: 1

    Days on market: 13

Listing information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Read full disclaimer.

THE MOST CRITICAL STEP BEFORE DECIDING:  A home is so much more than investment – it’s where we live our dreams.  With that in mind, ask each family member to write a list of pros and cons and then discuss together how each point makes each person feel.  We find people are often surprised by the results.     

Can your family can fulfill their biggest dreams in your current home?   Then FOR THE LOVE OF PEET STOP STRESSING about the value of your home, plant a slow-growing tree in the yard and enjoy it. 

Though if you’re still on the fence consider that by not making a LONG-TERM decision NOW to stay or to go IS, in fact, a decsion.   Here are the top 3 market facts that smart sellers are taking to heart now when deciding to stay or go ….

Palm Harbor Realtors Are Busy Finding Homes for Families with Kids = Lot’s of Exposure

Spring and early summer are when agents are busier than ever trying to find homes for families with kids.  We can’t find enough Tampa Bay homes that are priced right and aren’t short sales or beat up foreclosures for families!   You’ll get lots of exposure with eager buyers right now – particularly those relocating from other areas.   Whereever you live in Tampa Bay this will be case – though particularly if you live in Palm Harbor as the schools are very popular.

Foreclosures will increase in about 90 days and then some

The Shadow Inventory we cited recently is still lurking and expected to hit right about now.   Even the overly optimistic National Association of Realtors say we’ve got another 29 months of foreclosures coming – and distressed properties already account for 45% of the Pinellas real estate for sale.  You’ll be competing with those foreclosures in a price war.   Then eventually the market will flatten, then stay flat for at least a few years, and then finally we’ll begin to see MODEST (1 % maybe 2% appreciation a year at best?). 

All experts agree that we won’t see (false) appreciation like we did in early 2000′s again in this lifetime.   So Unless you’re staying put for 7 to 10 years, you’ll lose more in the next year than you’d gain back in the next ten.

Buyers Will Be Facing New Challenges That Will Affect Your Sale

Aside from rates increasing at some point (and trust us, economic forces will ensure that soon enough), it’s getting tougher every day for buyers to qualify for a mortgage.  Lending standards have been getting much tighter over the past year.  It’s complicated, yet most noteworthy now is the government’s proposed QRM guidelines which would be expected to nudger borrowers to government backed loans and could reduce the buyer pool by 7 to 28%.   This may impact your ability to sell your home and also your next purchase.

Palm Harbor real estate agents that are top producers in this market agree on this information.   We hope it helps you decide “Should I Stay or Should I Go Now?” – the famous song by The Clash.  Oh dear – I’m dating myself!

Pinellas Real Estate Statistics March 2011

1. Homes ARE Selling Like Hotcakes!!!!   The absorbption rate, which is the number of homes that sell in a given month divided by the number for sale in the MLS, is at an all-time high of 13.4% for single family homes, up almost 2 points from this time last year, and up from 5.8% in 2008.  Same is true for condos which are at 12.2% up from 9.5% last year and 3.6% in 2008.
2. Homes ARE Selling Like Hotcakes!!!!   The months supply of inventory is down to 7 months.  This means there are less than 3 houses per buyer!
3. Homes ARE Selling Like Hotcakes!!!!  Pending sales are up 75% over 2010.
4. Distressed Homes ARE Selling Like Hotcakes!!!!  45% of the 663 of the 1,463 homes sold were short sales or foreclosures. 

So, is everything rosy?  Sellers, not so fast ….

Keller Williams Palm Harbor Realtors – A View of Tampa Bay from the Trenches

1. We can’t find houses for our buyers that aren’t beat to hell and back, won’t take months to close (if they close at all), or aren’t overpriced by Sellers not accepting the market realities.  We’re often one of many bidders (we were one of NINE !!! bidders on a St. Petersburg townhome a few weeks ago). 
2. Prices Are at an All Time Low.   Great news for buyers, pathetic news for sellers.   The Single Family 5-Year Tampa Bay Median Price Trend shows us this …. January 2006 = $220,000;  January 2010 = $130,000,  January 2011 = $100,000. 
3. Foreclosure “Shadow Inventory” is looming …  Many buyers say “bring it on” – we need more houses to see.  Many sellers refuse to believe it – despite NAR’s March report showing Florida has another 29 months before the shadow inventory will be gone.  

How do absorption rates and shadow invetory affect me?   That most often needs to be assessed on an individual, case-by-case basis.  

Contact Suncoast Partners at Keller Williams Palm Harbor for a quick assessment - which can often be done by e-mail, phone or in-person if you prefer.

Pinellas Realtors Revealing 2010 Statistic Ah-Ha’s

• Pinellas short sales and foreclosures accounted for almost 1/2 of all sales when a year ago they accounted for 1/3 of all sales.
• Total sales volume went up 14% while dollar volume went down 27%.
• Median single family home sales prices dropped 11%. 
• Median condo sales prices dropped 19%.
• The best performing price range in  condos and single family sales is between $100,000 and $140,000. 

What’s the outlook for the Pinellas real estate market?  Foreclosures and short sales will continue to dominate 2011 as banks are expected to begin releasing their shadow intentory reserves 1st and 2nd quarters of this year.

Related Posts:

Pinellas Waterfront Homes for Sale and Surprising Statistics

The elephant knows that over 52% of all October sales cash purchases.   Translated, seasoned investors remain confident.    Meanwhile, the number of sales dropped 18.93% since last year, down to 891 total.  The Median sales price for all homes dropped a modest 4.73%.   

That elephant also knows that experts are predicting higher interest rates in 2011.  The Mortgage Banker’s Association MBA predicts interest rates to rise to 5.7% on a 30-year fixed by 2012.   If our elephant gets a $150,000 mortgage in 2012, that mortgage will cost him $510 a month more than it does today!    He had concerns that home prices are still declining, though he did the math and realized that even if  prices drop 10% on his $150,000 purchase to $135,000, that would only reduce his monthly mortgage payment by $50.   Given this scenario, waiting will cost him $460 a month more in additional interest.  THAT’S A LOT OF PEANUTS!

‘entry level’ Pinellas waterfront homes were holding their own when it comes to price  – and, well, they still are.  

This slice of the Pinellas market is defying the overall market trends!   The Pinellas board doesn’t publish these numbers, sadly, though because we’re water babies we crunch the numbers as a labor of love.  So, check back with us soon as we’ll be looking at other price points for Pinellas waterfront homes.  As for this under $300K category, at the beginning of 2010, the average sales price was $184/sf, down to $174/sf  in April, up to $185/sf in June, up to $190/sf in August, and in September they were holding steady at $181/sf.    Meanwhile, the active inventory is down by 35%.

So, Peach Heads (HA! I just came up with a new name for you all!), if you’ve been waiting for a sign from the heavens to make a move on that entry-level gulf-access home, consider this post as the next best thing to it.

Mimi Andelman – Our thanks to you for being curious about how Pinellas home sellers are feeling about that dreaded five letter word:  PRICE.   And for helping home sellers understand this critical element that’s tough on everyone (except buyers).  ~ Julia and Matt Fishel, Suncoast Partners at Keller Williams Realty

Translated, it’s still a yucky time to be a seller, and a glorious time to be an investor/buyer.  What’s really interesting is that 39.9% of homes for sale in Pinellas County and 55.8% of the contracts written in August were bank releated.  Whoa …..  that’s hard to digest if you are selling your home and aren’t in a distressed situation.  Trust us, this means that we ARE competing with the Pinellas short sale or foreclosure down the street whether we like it or not.  

This is a picture of one of our distressed Dunedin homes for sale and an example of what’s out there.  And yes, that’s a swimming pool under there!  While it’s a swamp and the home has no air conditioning, it still has good bones, sits on a nice lake and some lucky person is going to get a heck of a buy.  And it’s our competition.

There were 11,823 homes for sale in Pinellas County as of June, a 7.35% decrease from last year.   Meanwhile, the Pinellas MLS reports that single family residential sales were up 7.5% since June of ’09 and condo sales remained at the same level.   So yes, despite what you hear on the news, homes are still readily selling.   And 51.08% of June sales were CASH transactions (hint hint to you ’regular’ home buyers – investors are out in full force!).  

What’s happening with pricing?  The Pinellas MLS reports that the median price for single family homes dropped slightly—1.2% while condo sales experienced a 17% drop year over year.   The average sales price for single family homes and condos combined only dropped 3.1%.   This is corroborated with S&P’s July 27, 2010 Case-Shiller Home Price Index for Tampa (single family homes and condos combined) which reports a 1.5% drop year over year. 

Meanwhile, our friends at Trulia (yes, I’m being facetious) are reporting a 17.3% drop for Tampa Bay and our other favorite friends Zillow are reporting a 6.5% drop for Pinellas County.  Lesson learned?  Friends shouldn’t let friends do Zesstimates!

Head spinning?   You’re not alone.  Trust us, the Pinellas MLS stats are the best source of data.  

Are you concerned about what the numbers will tell us next month?  Hit the ‘Submit Your E-mail’ button below and you won’t miss our next update on Pinellas County Home Values.

Sand Picture Taken by Accident Somewhere in Florida That Has Absolutely Nothing to Do with this Post!

I just enjoyed a Business Week article by Prashant Gopal.  In it, she (or help me Peach readers is that a “he” name?! – I digress – sorry…) Anyway, SHE OR HE quotes that  Richard C. Davis of the TV show Flip This House as saying

“Everybody made money on the way up.  Then the market turned.  Amateur hour is over.”

It reminded me to remind you that now is when the experienced, serious investors are buying up the homes for sale in Pinellas County.  Because it’s a great time to buy!

Feel free to start your Pinellas MLS search with Realtor access.  Or give us a call at 727-366-0325 and we’ll do it for you!