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Tampa Bay Florida home near MacDill Air Force Base

Tampa Bay Home Loans

Tampa Bay is one of Florida's most dynamic metros: South Tampa's luxury market wrapped around MacDill Air Force Base, St. Petersburg's remarkable downtown renaissance, Clearwater's award-winning beaches, and the family value of Brandon and Plant City. It's a market where a MacDill officer buys a Bayshore home with a VA loan, an investor rides St. Pete's rental boom with DSCR, and a first-time family finds room in Riverview or Brandon. I finance all of it across Hillsborough and Pinellas counties, with the honest all-in cost, including the coastal insurance that matters here. NMLS #233747.

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Tampa Bay at a Glance

South Tampa

The metro’s crown jewel wrapped around MacDill AFB (CENTCOM/SOCOM), $600K–$3M+, VA & jumbo

St. Petersburg

The “Sunshine City” renaissance, downtown condos and historic neighborhoods, conventional & DSCR

Clearwater

#1-ranked beaches, coastal and condo market, conventional

Brandon

Established east-county family value, FHA & conventional

Plant City

The “Winter Strawberry Capital,” rural value, USDA & FHA

Counties

Hillsborough / Pinellas limits, pulled live from the loan-limits module

Conforming limit: $832,750 • FHA $541,287 (Hillsborough, Pinellas) • pulled live from the loan-limits module

Today’s Purchase Mortgage Rates

Live pricing from the same daily rate feed shown on our Today’s Rates page. These update automatically each day.

Conventional 30-Year Fixed

Conventional – Primary Residence

6.25%
Interest Rate
6.297%
APR

FHA 30-Year Fixed

FHA – Primary Residence

5.875%
Interest Rate
6.425%
APR

VA 30-Year Fixed

VA – Primary Residence

5.875%
Interest Rate
6.003%
APR
Rates as of

Rate Assumptions

30 year fixed, $300k loan amount, $400k value, purchase, FICO Credit Score 759, Zipcode 95111

APR & Disclosures

The Annual Percentage Rate (APR) shown reflects the cost of credit over the loan term, including applicable fees, and is based on the assumptions above. Your actual rate and APR depend on your credit profile, loan amount, property, occupancy, and other factors. For information purposes only and does not constitute a loan approval or commitment to lend. Rates are subject to change without notice.

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Monthly Payment Calculator

Calculate your estimated monthly mortgage payment including taxes and insurance

%
$70,000
%
Estimated Monthly Payment
$2,563
Principal & Interest$1,863
Property Tax (est.)$350
Home Insurance (est.)$350
Loan Amount$280,000

South Tampa — luxury wrapped around MacDill (VA & jumbo)

South Tampa is the undisputed crown jewel of the metro, and it holds a genuinely unique financing dynamic: MacDill Air Force Base, home to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) and U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM), sits right at its southern tip. That means active-duty officers, senior NCOs, and DoD civilians with VA eligibility are buying in one of Florida's most expensive neighborhoods, and VA's zero down, no PMI, and no-limit-with-full-entitlement is what makes a $600K–$2M+ home competitive on military compensation (VA saves the $300–600/month PMI and the large down payment jumbo would require). For non-VA buyers, South Tampa's Bayshore Boulevard, Palma Ceia estates, and Davis Islands waterfront routinely run $1M–$3M+, squarely jumbo territory, and my jumbo programs handle historic homes needing renovation, new construction, and waterfront properties with their particular insurance and appraisal considerations. Beach Park, Interbay, and Bayshore are especially popular with military families for the MacDill commute.

St. Petersburg — the Sunshine City renaissance (conventional & DSCR)

St. Petersburg has pulled off arguably the most dramatic urban transformation in Florida, from a retirement stereotype to one of the Southeast's most vibrant arts-and-food destinations. Downtown's condo boom, historic neighborhoods like Old Northeast and Grand Central, and walkable living draw young professionals from across the country, with median prices in the $350–550K range making it primarily a conventional market (3% down reaches a $350K Grand Central bungalow) for both condos and single-family homes. It's also an investor's market: the young-professional influx drives long-term rental demand while beach-adjacent locations command premium vacation-rental rates, so DSCR financing (qualifying on the property's income, no tax returns) lets the cash flow make the case, whether a downtown condo, a beach Airbnb, or a Grand Central duplex. Condo buyers should note the statewide SB 4-D reserve rules, which I check per building.

Clearwater, Brandon & Plant City — beaches, value, and rural (conventional, FHA & USDA)

Clearwater (Pinellas) pairs #1-ranked Gulf beaches with a coastal and condo market, primarily conventional, with the coastal insurance and (for older buildings) condo-warrantability checks that come with the territory. Brandon, east of Tampa in Hillsborough, is established family value, a strong FHA and conventional market with easy metro access. Plant City, the “Winter Strawberry Capital of the World” between Tampa and Lakeland, is genuine rural value, a strong USDA zero-down and FHA market for buyers who want land and small-town living within commuting distance.

Loan Programs across Tampa Bay

VA

Zero down, no PMI, no limit with full entitlement; the essential South Tampa/MacDill tool.

Jumbo

For South Tampa’s Bayshore, Palma Ceia, and Davis Islands above $832,750; renovation and waterfront options.

Conventional

3–5% down, PMI cancels at 20% equity; the default in St. Pete, Clearwater, and Brandon.

FHA

3.5% down, the first-time entry in Brandon and Plant City; Hillsborough/Pinellas limit $541,287.

USDA

Zero down in eligible rural areas around Plant City and the metro edges.

DSCR / Investment

Qualifies on rental income for St. Pete’s strong rental and vacation-rental market; no cap on properties.

Tampa Bay Mortgage FAQ

Can MacDill military families realistically afford South Tampa?+
Often yes, thanks to the VA loan. South Tampa runs $600K–$3M+, but VA’s zero down, no PMI, and no loan limit with full entitlement let active-duty officers, senior NCOs, and DoD civilians at MacDill (CENTCOM/SOCOM) compete without the large down payment a jumbo would require. BAH counts as income. I structure these regularly, Beach Park, Interbay, and Bayshore are especially MacDill-friendly.
Do I need a jumbo loan in South Tampa?+
For non-VA buyers, usually, in the premium areas. Bayshore Boulevard, Palma Ceia, and Davis Islands homes routinely exceed the $832,750 conforming limit and need jumbo financing. VA-eligible buyers with full entitlement can finance above the limit with zero down and no conventional jumbo required. I confirm which path fits.
Is St. Petersburg a good market for rental investment?+
Yes. St. Pete’s young-professional boom drives strong long-term rental demand, and beach-adjacent areas command premium vacation-rental rates. DSCR loans qualify on the property’s rental income rather than your tax returns, with no cap on the number of properties, ideal for downtown condos, beach Airbnbs, or Grand Central duplexes. I check condo-building warrantability first.
Can I buy a downtown St. Pete condo with a conventional loan?+
Often yes, if the building is warrantable. Many downtown and historic-neighborhood condos qualify for conventional financing (3% down for first-time buyers), but Florida’s SB 4-D reserve rules mean some older buildings are non-warrantable. I verify the specific building before you commit.
What is the conforming loan limit in Tampa Bay?+
The 2026 conforming (conventional) limit is $832,750 for a single-family home across Hillsborough (South Tampa, Brandon, Plant City) and Pinellas (St. Petersburg, Clearwater) counties. Above it, financing is jumbo, common in South Tampa. I pull the current figure from the module.
Do I need flood insurance in Clearwater or on the coast?+
Likely on coastal and beach-adjacent property. Much of coastal Pinellas sits in FEMA flood zones requiring flood insurance, with separate wind coverage, and premiums can be significant. I build a real insurance estimate into your pre-approval so the monthly number is honest before you commit.
Where’s the best value in Tampa Bay for first-time buyers?+
Brandon (established east-county value) and Plant City (rural, with USDA zero-down eligibility) are the affordable Hillsborough options, both under the $541,287 FHA limit. On the Pinellas side, parts of St. Pete still offer FHA-friendly condos and bungalows. I’ll match the area to your budget.
Do you finance all of Tampa Bay?+
Yes, South Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Brandon, Plant City, and the surrounding Hillsborough and Pinellas county communities, for military, luxury, first-time, investor, and rural buyers, with the honest all-in cost every time.
Emmett Clark, mortgage broker NMLS #233747

Emmett Clark — NMLS #233747

I finance across Tampa Bay, a MacDill VA purchase in South Tampa, a St. Pete condo or investment, a Clearwater beach home, or value in Brandon or Plant City, with the honest all-in cost every time. It starts with a quick conversation.

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Buying in Tampa Bay?

Tell me your situation, a MacDill VA purchase in South Tampa, a St. Pete condo or investment, a Clearwater beach home, or value in Brandon or Plant City, and I'll tell you which loan fits and get you pre-approved. Quick response, no obligation.

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