STORIES OF SOLD HOMES
Finding the Perfect Match
Every sale is more than a transaction — it's a journey. Enjoy these stories of out-of-town explorers discovering their next chapter and local dreamers finding a lifelong vision realized.
From negotiating the best sales price to connecting you with trusted vendors and resources, we're here to ensure every detail is handled with care and expertise. Whether it’s uncovering a hidden gem or securing a dream property through strategic negotiation, each success reflects our commitment to guiding clients toward a home that feels just right.
Explore our sold listings to see how we’ve helped buyers turn dreams into reality — and imagine what we can do for you.
8127 SIQUITA DR NE
ST PETERSBURG, FL 33702
SOLD PRICE: $1,100,000
BEDROOMS: 4
BATHROOMS: 3
SQ. FT: 2737
POOL
LOT SIZE: 90 X 150
Ultimate Story of Preparation = Strong, Quick Sale
I met the seller of this home in my Leadership St Pete class of 2014. She had left corporate litigation and moved from Chicago to St Pete with her husband to start a new life. As the leader of an exceptional not-for-profit food bank, she expanded the business to include healthcare and other amazing services for our community. Eleven years later after working together on our Caya Costa Annual Food Drive and other fun LSP events, they decided to take a wonderful new job back in Chicago. Selling in the spring of 2025, after the hurricanes of 2024, took some investment, upgrades, and significant time. We started the process at the beginning of January and plotted a plan to upgrade flooring, paint the interior completely, shape up the landscape and pressure wash along with some other handyman fixes. It was a several month process due to the availability of materials and availability of labor. Finally, the decision-making to select paint colors, tile patterns, and finally to upgrade the primary en suite bath was thankfully assisted by a designer.
Designer Anne Engelbrecht (www.engelbrechtinteriors.com) was diligent with samples and selections of the materials. Literally shopping and delivering samples to the client was an indispensable service to move the projects forward.
As the Spring market slipped month by month: March, April, May… We finally listed the home for sale in perfect condition on June 1st. On June 6th, we made a deal with a local buyer at 96% of the original list price $1.1M vs $1.150M. We also executed a backup contract for this property in case there were any significant issues. 52 Days was the total from Listing to Settlement, and the Bent family was able to close on their new home in Chicago the same week on Friday. Upgrading your home over the time of your ownership is an investment of money, time and inconvenience. When it’s time to sell, you will almost always be greatly rewarded by far more than your investment. In this particular market, quality and a competitive pricing are highly sought. Congrats!!
2741 E VINA DEL MAR BLVD
ST PETE BEACH, FL 33706
SOLD PRICE: $3,035,000
BEDROOMS: 3
BATHROOMS: 4
SQ. FT: 4271
Kansas City Couple Buys their Vina Del Mar Retirement Oasis
Let me tell you about this remarkable property in Vina Del Mar near Pass-a-Grille Beach. We had the pleasure of working with a wonderful family from Kansas City, referred to us by a colleague in Sarasota. Their search for the perfect beach house retirement destination spanned over six months, focusing intensely on finding a location that was high and dry, and resilient to flooding and hurricanes. Wife grew up visiting Clearwater and St Pete, and it was their dream to spend their retirement years in one of our quaint Beach Towns of Pinellas County.
The engineering aspect played a crucial role in their decision-making process. We meticulously studied various data sources to ensure the future resilience of the property against potential flooding. It was a balancing act between opting for a home that might be razed for a new home build or choosing a more expensive, more comfortable residence without imminent reconstruction plans.
Interestingly, their diligence paid off. Despite the area being tested by hurricanes Helene and Milton in late 2024, which impacted many properties, this home stood strong and emerged unscathed. It's a testament to both the property's durability and the strategic approach to choosing the right place for their retirement.
Would you like to know more about the specific features of the property or perhaps explore other options in the area?
1800 N. SHORE DRIVE NE
ST PETERSBURG, FL 33704
SOLD PRICE: $6,100,000
BEDROOMS: 5
BATHROOMS: 5.5
SQ. FT: 4527
TWO CAR GARAGE & POOL
Chicago Family Discovers Waterfront Dream Home in Old Northeast
When I met these buyers in January of 2024, they were here to drink in the sunshine and amazing Winter Weather of Florida. They were traveling with close friends from Chicagoland and both couples wanted to spend their cold, windy winters in sunny Florida. We met at my office, all 5 of us, and explored the maps of St Petersburg. The pros and cons of different neighborhoods and what lifestyle might be had in these locations. The eventual purchasers of this amazing home were interested in boating access and water views. There are many homes which fall into this category and many neighborhoods to explore. The key differentiator for their search was walkability to our amazing downtown St Pete (DTSP!!) Our downtown has an amazing array of local restaurants, bars, music venues, museums, galleries, shopping, and events…lots of events.
After our meeting, they headed to Sarasota and Naples to find what might be wonderful in those areas. I surmised their return would be in favor of St Pete, and wished them great luck in their search. Two days later they were back and fully assured that St Pete was the answer to their Winter home buying intention.
We began by looking at Snell Isle, as they had been told this was the most desirable neighborhood in St Pete. We saw several homes which met their needs, but nothing was a complete winner. We stopped and asked a gentleman working in his yard if we could see his home. The sign had been recently removed, but he encouraged us to drive around and take a look. What an adventure! All 5 of us piled into an amazing home priced around $7.5M. It had many things and it was newly built. It was also located on the Old Northeast side of the Snell Isle Bridge. The dock and lift for this home was across the street in a deeded water lot belonging to the home. So the die was cast, a home on the Old NE side of the bridge providing walkability and water access with a fine view. They did not want their boat height to be limited by the Snell Isle Bridge. There are only about 15-20 homes in that stretch of Coffee Pot Blvd which fit the criteria perfectly. A few weeks later, 1800 North Shore Blvd hit the market. We knew the value and need to move quickly on a Landmark Property like this. It was a thrilling transaction with an amazing purchase and elated client.
915 17TH AVENUE NE
ST PETERSBURG, FL 33704
SOLD PRICE: $2,800,000
BEDROOMS: 5
BATHROOMS: 3.5
SQ. FT: 4015
TWO CAR GARAGE
LOT SIZE: 91 X 110
Chicago Family Friends, Now Neighbors, Find Walkability on Waterfront
When I met both Chicago couples, and faced the challenge of finding 2 homes for 2 families in St Pete was a unique opportunity. Fortunately they were amazing people with a kind and friendly nature, savvy investors and a quick study of the area. It didn’t hurt that they absolutely loved St Petersburg, its downtown, waterfront and beaches. Who Wouldn’t !!!?
This family was interested in walkability and accessibility to the Downtown St Pete vibe and the beautiful historic neighborhood of Old Northeast. Coming from a similar neighborhood in Kenilworth, a scenic suburb of Chicago, the mature trees and brick streets were a perfect fit. Most of the homes we looked at were not going to satisfy the need for space and their taste for style. Finally we found a home which was within the budget, had a water view of North Shore Park and a huge lot with plenty of room for the addition of a pool, outdoor kitchen, and huge entertaining space.
Coincidence or fortuitous find? This home was located steps away from the Chicago friends and they made plans for coffee and wine at the swing by the seawall looking at Tampa Bay. It was truly a perfect match for both families and many joyful times to be had. Both couples went to contract in the same week and closed on the same day. It was one fine day!!
758 35TH AVENUE NE
ST PETERSBURG, FL 33704
SOLD PRICE: $1,435,000
BEDROOMS: 3
BATHROOMS: 2.5
SQ. FT: 3621
POOL
LOT SIZE: 60 X 121
Two Closings, One Family, and a Hurricane
The Rankin family had loved their Huntington Street NE home in Shore Acres. The extra-large lot, the two-year-old pool with every feature imaginable—dog shelf, hot tub, and a sprawling paver deck raised five feet to flow seamlessly from the living space—made it a haven for their growing family. The four-bedroom, three-bath, single-story home was perched high enough that neighbors would park in their driveway during flood threats, confident the elevation kept cars safe. Even their EVs stayed dry in the garage without issue.
But with a new daughter and three sons, the Rankins were ready for more room. They found their dream in Allendale: a two-story home with an extra thousand square feet of space and a location they instantly loved. While I was on vacation, I researched the market and negotiated aggressively. We secured the Allendale property on August 6, 2025, for $1,435,000—$115,000 below its $1,549,000 list price—with a September closing date.
Back in Shore Acres, we listed Huntington Street on August 22nd at $885,000. Showings were steady and offers came quickly. Within five days, three offers were on the table, and the Rankins accepted a strong $870,000 contract. We then aligned both closings—Huntington and Allendale—back-to-back in late September, with a 14-day post-occupancy to ease the move for the family of six.
As Hurricane Helene loomed in the Gulf, 500 miles wide but steering north, both closings went forward on September 26th without a hitch. The Rankins celebrated with a campout in their new Allendale home. But the next morning, they returned to Huntington Street to find six inches of water inside. Neighbors endured three to four feet of flooding, yet Huntington’s elevation kept damage minimal by comparison. Both families, old owners and new buyers, rolled up their sleeves to clear debris, dispose of belongings, and begin restoration.
Some might ask how we managed two closings on the day of a hurricane. The truth is simple: these deals were carefully negotiated and planned well in advance. The storm’s timing was sheer coincidence. In the end, the cooperation and understanding from all parties made a difficult situation manageable.
And yes, I still miss that Galaga arcade game.
2710 10TH ST N
ST PETERSBURG, FL 33704
SOLD PRICE: $725,000
BEDROOMS: 3
BATHROOMS: 3
SQ. FT: 1790
TWO CAR GARAGE
LOT SIZE: 50 X 150
From Launch to Landing: A Smart Investment Story
Dylan and Khim came to St Pete in the fall of 2021 seeking a 1031 Exchange investment property and the possibility to move to Florida and maintain employment in the aerospace engineering field. Yep, Dylan is a rocket scientist!! They are a wonderful family from the Seattle area. The market in Florida was red hot in the fall of 2021, just post Covid-19 isolation. Lots of people were working on how to move to Florida. This property came on the market in October and we had it under contract in 2 days at full price, but not over list price. Since it was going to be a rental and an investment property, we found that the layout of this home with 3 beds and 3 Full baths was ideal. The bedrooms were also set up in a 3-way split floorplan; also ideal for a rental situation or a family with a boy and a girl. No surprise, the home was leased by the same family for all 3 years of ownership and they had 1 girl and 1 boy.
Fast forward 3 years and 6 months and it was time to sell the home. Just 6 months after hurricane season of 2024, and the demand for homes out of the flood zone was buzzing. So we decided to test the market at $739,000 for the 1800 sq ft 3/3 with a detached 2-Car garage, built in 1924. Classic Heart Pine floors through most of the home. Double Paned Windows were in excellent shape. New Roof and Solar Power system in October of 2019 keeps power consumption between $150-$195 per month. We strategized about primary bath updates but decided against that investment. Instead, the dilapidated back deck went through a major replacement and upgrade. The interior of the home was completely painted, landscape cleanup, full exterior pressure wash and other handyman fixes. Generally, we saw about an 18% increase in the investment over 2 ½ years of strong growth and then some pull back over the last year. Overall a win for the family from Seattle and an easy exit (less than 30 Days to Contract) during a high inventory market.