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Belleair Florida Homes

This exclusive community on Clearwater Bay in Florida’s Pinellas County has a history driven by the area’s natural beauty. A beauty that made it appealing firstly as a resort destination and later as a sought after residential address.

Named because of its crisp, clear air, the region attracted the interest of railroad magnet Henry Plant who built a celebrity resort here---The Belleview Hotel---- in the late1800’s. Mr. Plant also built a rail spur line to the hotel so guests could travel in comfort----by private Pullman car for the better known visitors such as the Duke and Duchess of Windsor---all the way from New York or Chicago.

The guests came to escape the winter cold of the north and spent idyllic January days of yachting in seventy degree weather on Clearwater Bay, playing tennis, fishing, bicycling, watching spectacular sunsets on the Belleair Beach and enjoying the area’s pristine beauty. Pretty much the same things residents and visitors do today.

The area became famous as a winter retreat. But some winter visitors decided to stay and began building new homes on North Indian Rocks Road, overlooking the Belleair Golf Courses completed there around 1910. The more things change the more they stay the same.

The number of permanent residents in the area grew as more and more of the annual “snowbird” migration settled here. The town of Belleair was incorporated in 1925 amidst hopes for a bright future and a well-planned city of wide roads and parklands was envisaged by early residents and developers.

Buy Belleair Florida Home

Alas, the stock market crash of 1929 brought an end to the Florida land boom. Defaults by the Town of Belleair on bonds issued for road construction and services ended the dream and nature repossessed the improvements that had been made.

The Second World War saw the now named Belleair Biltmore Hotel commandeered as an Army Air Corps training camp and the surrounding gardens used as parade grounds for young airman.

Further attempts were made to develop the area as a tourist destination and exclusive residential community just after the war, when a developer purchased large tracts of land just south of the now named, Belleair Biltmore Hotel. After spending a considerable sum cleaning up the area and constructing roads, poor sales forced the developer to relinquish the project and the town’s population remained unchanged.

The 1950’s however saw the development of the modern City of Belleair that we know, when young professionals moved into the area because of its proximity to the research facilities and career opportunities that were proliferating here in Pinellas County.

Construction of new condos and luxury homes saw the population increase to nearly 3000 by 1960. City officials accommodated the growth with infrastructure projects for sewage systems, expansion of the water system and a series of parks and walkways. Residents, officials and residents were also active in minimizing the impact of this development on the area’s natural beauty by enforcing a strong set of codes.

Today the City of Belleair is a community of nearly 4500 residents who live in a well-planned community with every modern amenity that resonates with Florida’s floral abundance. Pescua Florida, “Place of Flowers,” as the early Spanish explorers called this place, when they saw it.

SELL YOUR BELLAIR FLORIDA HOME

Belleair is governed under a council / manager system of administration where five elected officials, one of whom serves as the mayor, appoints a professional manager. The council and the mayor function as the policy making body with responsibility for budgets, ordinances and local laws. The day-to-day administration and implementation of policy is the responsibility of the Manager and his staff.

Two international airports—St. Petersburg/Clearwater and Tampa International, service Belleair and some of the world’s most beautiful beaches are only minutes away. With only two violent crimes recorded by the FBI in 2003----a crime rate of 0.5 per 1,000--crime is virtually non-existent here.

Yes, Belleair is an exclusive community with house prices starting at around $350,000 and going up to----well, over ten million dollars. But there are three rules in real estate----we all know them---position, position and position, and Belleair is one of the most sought-after addresses in Florida. Hulk Hogan, the famous wrestler, calls Belleair home and a well- known realty TV show was shot here.

For the families in Belleair with school age children, the Pinellas County School District is among the largest in the state of Florida, and one of the largest employers in the region. With 150,000 pupils enrolled in various institutions throughout the County---including “exceptional” schools and adult schools---all based on a program of free choice selection, there is a school to suit every educational need. And after completing high school, students from Belleair can attend one of the many fine colleges and universities in the area. Tampa has two excellent Universities—the University of Tampa and the 27,000 student University of Southern Florida. Both have excellent graduate programs.

Buying a home is a big decision. A potentially stressful exercise. But the more prepared you are, the earlier you cover all the bases, the better the whole process will be for you.

Those who make lists, ask questions, seek information and make sure they are in front of the curve seem to handle or eliminate problems the best.

What did the Chinese philosopher Sun Tzu say?

“Whoever is first in the field and awaits the coming of the enemy, will be fresh for the fight: whoever is second in the field and has to hasten to battle will arrive exhausted”

It’s true. You will have less stress, less chaos and the whole process will go a lot better when you anticipate problems rather than react to them.

BELLAIR FLORIDA HOMES FOR SALE

So whether it is to retire, start a new career and raise a family or you are looking to invest in Florida’s booming real estate market, let one of the Rigler team introduce you to this charming town. We know Belleair. We know the real estate market here. Prices. Trends.

If you are moving to Central Florida, the Rigler Realty team will move mountains to get the home that is right for you. A home that fits your budget and lifestyle.

Photography provided courtesy of Pinellas County Communications Department