Why Everybody Wants to Live in Downtown St. Petersburg FLORIDA LIFE | MELANIE TAMPA BAY

Downtown St. Pete is one of the most coveted areas to move to in the Tampa Bay area. So why does everyone want to move there and how much does it cost to live there? 

Honestly, it's just a really cool and beautiful place to live. Downtown St. Petersburg truly does have it all - the whole bay front is lined with gorgeous parks that host different festivals and events throughout the year. It's the perfect place for a long walk with your pet, a bike ride, or just to sit and enjoy the water view. It's a walkable city with a vibrant, inclusive energy.

Art galleries such as The Salvador Dali Museum, the Chihuly Collection, home to some of the most stunning glass art, at the Morean Art Center, and the Museum of Fine Arts on Beach Drive. If you feel like shopping, Downtown St. Pete has lots of options from national store brands to local boutiques. These stores are throughout the vicinity, but check out the Sundial area for a concentration of some of the more well-known retailers. Restaurants could be an episode all of its own, with so many amazing choices it's hard to go wrong.

St. Pete has sports teams! The Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field and the Tampa Bay Rowdies professional soccer team. Music lovers can catch great shows at The Mahaffey theater, or Jannus Live for smaller outdoor shows. Many bars and restaurants also boast live music - one of my picks is Ruby's Elixir. Downtown St. Petersburg is located on the east side of Pinellas County, only about a 15-20 minute drive away from St. Pete Beach on the west side.

Because so many people want to live there, it has become pretty expensive to own or rent. If you want to live in the heart of downtown, you'll probably have to choose from a townhouse or a condominium - many are in high rises. They range from small studio to penthouses. If you're lucky, you might be able to find a few for around $200,000 - but the median price is in the $500,000 range with prices going up well over $2 million. What about rentals? The same is true. Look to pay a minimum of $1,000 / month with most costing more than $2,000 / month.

Popular neighborhoods nearby include the Historic Old Northeast, Snell Isle, and Venetian Isles. What about affordable areas near Downtown St. Petersburg? The short answer is, yes, of course there are. More budget-friendly neighborhoods tend to be farther away from the downtown core and the houses may need some TLC. It's possible to find a single-family home for under $300,000.

Remember that most of St. Petersburg was developed quite a while ago, so there are lots of older, traditional, Florida-style ranch homes. In closing, Downtown St. Petersburg is as beautiful and as fun as it seems. There are always resale opportunities in the area and new condo projects to look into.

Video Credit: Melanie Loves Tampa Bay