When you're looking for a home, establishing a budget is important, particularly if you're a first-time homebuyer. Consider the top areas where you want to live and the demographics important to you, such as nightlife, climate, or culture.

Also consider the amenities, including the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, schools, parks, and shopping. Location and amenities can help narrow down your search to help you stay within your budget. If you've decided you can afford $175,000, and you're set on moving to the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater area, discover what you can afford to buy in this market.

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater

The Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater area lies along the Tampa Bay Gulf Coast. The main cities in this area include Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Brandon, and Spring Hill. The area is home to more than three million people with a median age of 42.4 years and a median 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:household income of about $72,743.

The area has a fairly well-balanced economy that's considered to be very business-friendly. Some of the key industries include finance, health care, information technology, and tourism. The in December 2024—below the .

It's a great place to live if you love hot, humid summers and dry winters. November, April, and March are typically the best months during the year. And you won't have any problem finding things to do. The arts and culture scene is fairly sizeable, with different museums, farmers' markets, musical events, and performing arts, as well as a vibrant nightlife. The area is also known for its beaches, theme parks—notably Busch Gardens—zoos, and aquariums. You'll also be able to watch spring training for several Major League Baseball teams if you're a sports fanatic.

The Area's Real Estate Market

The area's median listing price has been steadily on the rise. As of February 2025, the median sales price for a home was more than $369,334 and was on the market for 40 days. You'll find a diverse range of homes listed on the market in the area.

Properties for sale in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater area can range in price from $32,000 for a one- or two-bedroom mobile home to homes with four beds and five baths for nearly $3 million. However, some luxury homes can cost in the millions, such as properties with an ocean view in Clearwater that can cost $1 million to nearly $40 million.

The Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater housing market values decreased by 1.5% compared to one year ago and are expected to rise by 0.7% over the next year.

Tampa ranked 22nd in the top 100 most attractive housing markets in a metropolitan area to buy in 2025, according to realtor.com. Colorado Springs, Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, and Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News held the top three spots of places to buy a home. Cities were ranked based on different factors:

• Lower median home values and smaller down payments
• A stronger chance at home value appreciation
• A higher inventory-to-household ratio
• Higher number of listings with price cuts
• Appealing location with a strong 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:labor market

What $175,000 Will Buy

If you don't want to sacrifice your budget but still want a good buy, you can get a two-bed, two-bath condominium for $175,000. If you're looking for aಞ single-family home, you'll find one-story, manufactured ranch-style houses with two bedrooms and one bath. Both have roughly 1,100 square feet of living space.

Some of the properties include updated kitchens and stainless steel appliances. The rest of the homes may come with tile flooring, walk-in closets, and mature landscaping. Some properties are part of homeowners' associations or 55+ communities, offering amenities like swimming pools. Please note that some properties come with 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:homeowners association fees (HOA).

Rent or Buy?

The average rent for an 880-square-foot apartment in the area is $2,024 per month, according to RentCafe.

When comparing whether to rent versus buy a home, consider the fol꧙lowing factors in your calculation:

1. The average rent and for-sale price for an identical set of properties. For example, the costs of buying a $175,000 home and what it would cost to rent the same house.
2. The initial costs of owning, including the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:down payment, 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:interest rate, 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:homeowners insurance, and 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:property taxes.
3. One-time and upfront costs of renting, including one month's 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:security deposit and 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:renter's insurance.
4. The future total monthly costs of 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:owning or renting.

How long you plan on living in an area, 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:the mortgage interest rate, and your tax bracket༒ can also im🅺pact your decision to buy versus rent.

For example, if your target home price is $200,000 and you get a rate of 6.00% for a 30-year fixed-rate loan, you'd pay approximately $1,200 per month, not including taxes and insurance. If you plan to live in the home for several years, it may 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:make sense to buy versus rent if the cost of renting is near the average of $2,025 monthly for that area.

The Bottom Line

The Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater area has a diverse 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:real estate market that ranges from mobile homes to lavish estates along the coast. And you can still find value in this market even if you're limited to a strict budget. With merely $175,000 to spe♋nd, you can certainly find comfort and character in the area.