Largo

Harbor Bluffs offers a classic waterfront experience where residents have sunbathing opportunities and surf and turf dining at their fingertips. “I have lived in Harbor Bluffs for 30 years and we raised our son there, it couldn’t be a better neighborhood!” says Julie Folden, a local Realtor with Coastal Properties, CHRISTIES International and 16 years of experience. “It has not only the proximity to the beaches and intercoastal for boating and sunning, but it has a small, friendly neighborhood feeling and that to me is imperative when you’re looking for a neighborhood to live in.”<br><br>On sunny days, locals love the walk over the Belleair Causeway Bridge to the beaches. “It’s a fabulous, really popular walk with amazing views,” Folden says. For those who prefer a lakeside picnic instead of sandy beaches, John S. Taylor Park is another popular destination where visitors can explore the playground, disc golf course, walking trail and endless boating opportunities. “Our weather is so nice, people are always out walking their dogs. You can let your dog run in the park. It’s a great neighborhood feel,” Folden says. “The park is also a community gathering place where people bring blankets and sit in the shade of the oak trees to listen to musical performances together.” <br><br>This small neighborhood atmosphere has persisted despite development along the coast, with more rentals and Airbnb-type options popping up every day. “You’ve lost a little of that small-town feeling near the beaches,” Folden says. “But that hasn’t touched us. It’s nice that we’re not experiencing that where we are. We maintain that small community feeling.” Homes in Harbor Bluffs range from about $400,000 for a simple two-bedroom home, to multimillion-dollar waterfront properties with large lots that can be up to an acre in size. Homes are typically one-story ranch style, especially those from the 1950s and 1960s. Some newer construction homes have a more coastal influence and contemporary feel. There are also a few townhouse and condo options for between $100,000 and $350,000. “The market is stable. Inventory remains low and the average days on the market have increased. We aren’t having multiple offer situations like we did in the last year or two,” Folden says. “Over the last 30 years, through all our different markets and ups and downs, Harbor Bluffs has always maintained its value.”<br><br>Locals with an appetite can stop by Seaweed Steaks, Seafood & Sushi restaurant. They have an all-day happy hour and offer signature handcrafted cocktails like their Elderflower White Cosmo & Blueberry Lemon Drop. Try the grilled octopus with lemon or their famous black pearl chicken. Or give E&E Steakout Grill a go, where visitors can sample pan-seared deep sea scallops or shrimp and lobster bisque paired with one of their carefully handpicked fine wines. Along with its collection of restaurants, the primarily residential area of Harbor Bluffs also boasts a few boutique shops and great walkability to explore them all. <br><br>Harbor Bluffs has multiple public and private school options. The local elementary school is Mildred Helms Elementary, an IB school in the Pinellas County Public School System that received a B rating from Niche. Mildred was a teacher at the school in 1952 when it first opened and later became its principal. Largo Middle School received a B-minus rating from Niche and Largo High School received an A-minus rating from Niche. <br><br>Harbor Bluffs residents have easy access to Highway 19 and Highway 688, which can take them north to Clearwater, about 5 miles away, southeast to St. Petersburg, about 20 miles away, and east to Tampa, about 25 miles away.

Just a 14-mile drive north of St. Petersburg on Interstate 275 sits South Highpoint, a neighborhood big on community. “South Highpoint cares for the community, and that is the best way I can describe the area,” says Cuvette Halloway, Operations Manager for the Highpoint Family Neighborhood Center. “We have plenty of different walks of life, and we are all able to care for one another.” The large neighborhood features a variety of housing options, plenty of recreation activities and tons of community initiatives. “We have a good pantry every Monday and give out frozen meats and produce, a farm share for holidays, the community cares.”<br><br>South Highpoint residents often start the day at Gershy’s Café and Pastry for a coffee and made-from-scratch pastry. Diners head up to the counter to order and can hand-select pastries while perusing the other offerings, including omelets for breakfast and sandwiches later in the day. The large patio at Breakroom Bar and Grill allows patrons to take in the Florida sun while enjoying a crab cake or filet mignon. Sports fans visit Mugs Sports Bar to grab a draft beer and watch a game on one of the dozens of TVs. Craft beer enthusiasts head to Big Storm Brewing Tap Room, where they can enjoy a cold one in the sun on a warm day or next to a fire pit on a winter evening. For locally grown vegetables and tropical fruits, folks head to the Pinellas Farmers and Flea Market, open Saturdays and Sundays all year long. The market features vendors selling everything from craft candles and soaps to homemade oils and sauces. There are plenty of food trucks to make sure shoppers don’t go home hungry. For a more traditional shopping experience, national chains like Publix are not far and easy one-stop options to stock up for a full week.<br><br>One-bedroom townhomes begin at just under $200,000, while detached, three-bedroom homes start at $300,000. Larger, four-bedroom modern builds are in the $700,000 range. The names of the narrow streets have a tropical flair, as Toucan Place and Banana Tree Lane are both popular roads. Residents don’t need to worry about parking on the eclectically named streets due to driveways and carports. There is a shortage of sidewalks, but many of the homes have decent-sized yards for pets to roam. Locals are used to noise from above as South Highpoint is just a mile from St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport. <br><br>South Highpoint kids enroll in Pinellas County Schools, beginning at Highpoint Elementary. Highpoint has a B rating on Niche and has a 13-to-1 student-teacher ratio, which is better than the national average. Next up is Fitzgerald Middle, which also receives a B rating from Niche and was named a Florida Standout Middle School. Students move to Bayside High, which was opened in 2004 and was given an A rating in diversity from Niche. “We have ASL classes, Spanish classes and we offer English classes for non-English speaking families at the center,” says Halloway.<br><br>There’s no shortage of unique recreational activities in South Highpoint. Soccer fans of all ages can head to Fast 5 Soccer, where smaller fields allow for five-on-five soccer matches. Players can come for open field hours and join a pickup game or meet with friends and join a league to play at the same time each week. Between games, adults can grab a drink at the on-site bar. While Florida may be known for its warm sunshine, the Clearwater Ice Arena is a popular destination for those who don’t mind cooling down. The arena has free skating hours and offers ice skating lessons and ice hockey leagues. For a different type of adventure, locals can take to the air by jumping at Skyzone Trampoline Park. When it’s time to get the dog exercising, locals head to Northeast Park and Paw Place, which features a pair of off-leash dog parks.