Buy a home in Clearwater with as little as 3.5% down. Here's how FHA loans work in Pinellas County — for beach condos and inland single-family homes — and how to get pre-approved.
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Clearwater pairs one of the country's most famous beaches with established inland neighborhoods like Countryside. That means FHA buyers here choose between beach-area condos and mainland single-family homes. With 3.5% down and flexible credit, FHA opens both doors — but the condo path comes with an extra approval step worth knowing up front.
With the 2026 FHA limit of $541,287 and FHA's 3.5% minimum down, you can finance a Clearwater home priced up to roughly $560,000 (your loan covers the price minus your down payment). That covers most inland Clearwater homes and many condos, with beachfront and Island Estates luxury properties being the main exceptions. A few Florida counties are set higher, so confirm Pinellas County's exact figure with HUD.
Much of the Clearwater Beach and Island Estates inventory is condos, and FHA requires the building to be FHA-approved (or the unit to qualify for Single-Unit Approval) — older beach buildings often aren't, so check first via our condo guide. Inland neighborhoods like Countryside and Morningside offer single-family homes that are straightforward FHA purchases well within the loan limit.
You don't have to cover the down payment alone. FHA allows gift funds, sellers can contribute up to 6% toward closing costs, and Clearwater buyers can often pair FHA with assistance from the Florida Housing Finance Corporation and Pinellas County's local SHIP-funded programs. Funding and eligibility change frequently, so we'll help you confirm what's currently available — see our FHA down payment assistance guide.
We help buyers throughout Clearwater and Pinellas County, including Clearwater Beach, Countryside, Island Estates, and Morningside. Wherever you're looking, we'll explain your FHA loan limit, rate, and monthly payment — and get you pre-approved fast.
Get a free FHA rate quote and pre-approval from a lender who knows the Clearwater market.
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