The City of St. Petersburg is a network of 130 neighborhoods, each with its own unique personality – almost all link to its many family-friendly parks. Strong civic associations, community pride, distinctive architectural styles and a wide range of price points make living in St. Petersburg comfortable and convenient.

Today, my focus is on Allendale Terrace and Bayway Isles. Each neighborhood is highly desirable and represents the best of St. Pete living.

Allendale Terrace

Allendale Terrace can best be described as an upscale community with a suburban feel. It is home to about 3,500 residents – a blend of young professionals, families and retirees. Median list price of a home is $758,000. You’ll find plenty of parks, coffee shops and stately homes, many built in the 1920s and 1930s. Known for its tree-lined brick streets, Allendale Terrace is considered to be one of the finest areas that is not located on the water.

Bayway Isles

Bayway Isles is a private neighborhood comprising of two islands in the southwestern part of St. Petersburg. It extends southward from the Pinellas Bayway Causeway into the waters of southern Boca Ciega Bay. It is gated and deed restricted. Architectural design is varied; styles range from Mediterranean Revival to Florida Modern. About 200 families call the neighborhood home. Median list price of a home is $315,000. Open water, great views and a boater’s dream come true make this neighborhood highly sought after.

Good Things Happen When You Listen to Estelia
A Bayway Isles Sale True Story

Ask sellers what they are looking for when they list their homes with an agent and the majority will reply, a quick sale for the most money. In a perfect world that’s what realtors want to do for their clients, but sometimes it just doesn’t work out that way.

Estelia Mesimer is a professional realtor with over 20 years of experience and was once a Bayway Isles resident. She knows the community well – its residents, their properties, what sells, at what price and how fast.

In this case of a property located on 62nd Avenue S., she worked with the owner for two months getting the home ready for sale. Although not entirely on board at first, he listened and followed her advice of consulting with an interior designer to make the changes necessary to update the home. The cost was $50,000, but he will be quick to tell you that it was worth every penny! “Estelia, you are the pro. I trust you and I will do exactly what you say.”

Once the home was ready, it sold in less than 90 days for $2,250,000! End result – the investment of time and money to make repairs and update the home took a little time, but it paid off big. Sure a quick sale is everyone’s goal, but there are times when it takes a little longer and in this case, it was more than worth the wait.

Bottom Line: Whether you are looking for a waterfront home or condo, Mediterranean revival home from the 1920s, Florida ranch, Craftsman-style, or contemporary, in a gated community or on a tree-lined street, St. Petersburg has an option to fit every lifestyle. The way to choose the right neighborhood for your needs and your budget requires research, some soul-searching about your priorities and working with a trusted realtor like Estelia Mesimer who has neighborhood knowledge.

Related Reading
How to Prepare Your House for Sale
10 Ways to Prep Your Home for Sale | HGTV
Finding Your New Home: Researching a Neighborhood Before Buying