Buy a home in St. Petersburg with as little as 3.5% down. Here's how FHA loans work in Pinellas County — for downtown condos and historic bungalows alike — and how to get pre-approved.
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St. Petersburg blends a booming, arts-filled downtown with historic bungalow neighborhoods and easy access to the Gulf beaches. That mix — high-rise condos downtown, 1920s homes in the Old Northeast and Kenwood — shapes how FHA works here. With 3.5% down and credit from 580, FHA helps first-time and move-up buyers across St. Pete, as long as you know which path (condo or single-family) you're on.
With the 2026 FHA limit of $541,287 and FHA's 3.5% minimum down, you can finance a St. Petersburg home priced up to roughly $560,000 (your loan covers the price minus your down payment). That covers a large share of St. Petersburg homes, with downtown luxury condos and waterfront properties being the main exceptions. A few Florida counties are set higher, so confirm Pinellas County's exact figure with HUD.
St. Pete gives FHA buyers two routes. Downtown, condos require the building to be FHA-approved or your unit to qualify for Single-Unit Approval — check before you offer (our condo guide explains). In the historic neighborhoods, charming older bungalows are great FHA candidates, though some need minor repairs to meet FHA standards — financeable with an FHA 203(k) renovation loan.
You don't have to cover the down payment alone. FHA allows gift funds, sellers can contribute up to 6% toward closing costs, and St. Petersburg 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 St. Petersburg and Pinellas County, including Downtown St. Pete, the Old Northeast, Kenwood, and Historic Uptown. Wherever you're looking, we'll explain your FHA loan limit, rate, and monthly payment — and get you pre-approved fast.
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