Island community vibes
The small community of Belleair Beach, floating between the Intracoastal Waterway and the Gulf of Mexico, offers an attractive combination of privacy and convenience. “A desirable neighborhood for the beach and boating lifestyle,” says Heather Oyler, a Realtor with Sand Key Realty and 8 years of experience. “It’s an upscale community with a lot of big homes on the water. It’s very residential. It’s not a gated community, but there are a lot of cul de sacs and there are no HOAs. You’re in between Indian Rocks Beach and Clearwater Beach, which are more for tourists, but here on this strip of Gulf Boulevard, it’s very quiet and private.” Belleair Beach has a CAP Index Crime score of one out of 10, below the national average of four.
Quaint island homes and waterfront options
Large waterfront homes highlight the housing in Belleair Beach, which also offers plenty of condominium options on the water as well. Established homes, which include traditional ranch-style and quaint island options, can be found alongside larger custom homes built more recently. “There is definitely a mix,” says Oyler. “On the inlets, or fingers of land on the Intracoastal side, you have homes that were built mostly in the 1960s, and you also have homes that were torn down and the lots were built up with newer, larger homes. Also, the building codes have changed, so you’ll see these large double garages on two- to three-story homes.” Condominiums typically list between the low $600,000s and the high $900,000s, while single-family homes occupy a much broader spectrum. “The range is wide because some of the homes are not on the water,” says Oyler. “You’re looking at around $800,000 for the established homes to $5 million for the waterfront homes, at least the latest that have been sold. Ryan Howard, the former baseball player, sold a home on the Gulf side in 2019 for $16.5 million.”
Get out on the water
Private piers and docks are common features of Belleair’s single-family homes. “You’ll see homes that will hold 60-foot boats, basically small yachts, in the backyard,” says Oyler. Directly north of the community’s marina is Clearwater Pass, which allows boaters on the Intracoastal side to access the open waters of the Gulf. The city’s beach has parts reserved for residents only, but there are public spaces, and the city has provided plenty of parking for non-residents who want to enjoy a day on the waterfront. Community volunteers gather weekly for a beach clean-up. There’s also a small beach on the Intracoastal side that can be accessed at Bayside Park. A playground there and nearby tennis courts offer convenient recreational options, and the adjacent community center is home to regular meetings and classes.
Head to the mainland for dinner
Retail and dining options can be conveniently accessed via Causeway Boulevard. “Right there across the causeway, you have restaurants, shopping, grocery stores, banks – whatever you want or need,” says Oyler. E&E Steakout Grill, which offers an upscale culinary experience, and Maggie Mae’s on the Bluffs, which serves classic American favorites for breakfast and lunch, are among the highly rated restaurants. Residents can also satisfy their sweet tooth at William Dean Chocolates, known for its artisan confections. Nearby, a full-service Publix provides one-stop shopping.
Highly rated schools
Students can attend Anona Elementary School, an A-minus Niche-rated institution that traces its roots to the late 1800s. Largo Middle School is another option that received a B-minus rating from Niche and serves about 900 students with a student-teacher ratio of 17-to-1. At Largo High School, which also has an A-minus rating from Niche, students can participate in the International Baccalaureate Program, a prestigious, globally focused learning tract.
Easy access to Clearwater
Belleair Beach is connected to the mainland by Belleair Bridge, and further south, by Highway 688. Taking 688 to Highway 19 gives residents access to Downtown Clearwater, just 7 miles north. Or cross the bay on Highway 60 and land right in the middle of Clearwater. Being surrounded by so much water, Belleair Beach is no stranger to flooding, with roads, residential and commercial areas labeled as being at extreme risk. The official city website offers a flood risk calculator, hurricane guide and more. There’s also a Help Your Neighbor program that offers assistance during hurricane season.
Photography Contributed By
Leila Sally
