Treasure Island Real Estate & Neighborhood Guide

Quick facts to orient your search before you dive into listings.

- Barrier-island city in Pinellas County, west of St. Petersburg (Gulf of Mexico).
- Nearly four miles of public beaches with marked access points.
- Housing: condos, townhomes, and single-family homes; waterfront options common.
- Sunset Beach boardwalk loop (~0.5 mile) at the island’s southern tip.
- Market snapshot & recent sales below; for specifics, request a local consult.

Treasure Island is a Gulf-front city in Pinellas County known for wide, walkable beaches and relaxed barrier-island living just west of St. Petersburg. The housing mix runs from canal-front single-family homes with private docks to low- and mid-rise condos along Gulf Boulevard, with waterfront options on both the Gulf and bay sides of the island.

The city took its current shape in 1955, when four small beach towns — Sunset Beach, Boca Ciega,

Treasure Island, and Sunshine Beach — incorporated as one. That history still shows: each section of the island keeps its own personality, from the quiet finger-island streets of Paradise Island to the laid-back cottages of Sunset Beach. John's Pass, the inlet at the island's north end, was carved by a hurricane in 1848 and now separates Treasure Island from Madeira Beach.

I'm Shane Vanderson, a Florida-licensed broker associate with Engel & Völkers South Tampa. I help buyers and sellers across Tampa Bay's beach corridor evaluate location fit, waterfront type, flood and insurance considerations, and comparable sales — the factors that actually drive value on a barrier island. Use this guide to browse current listings, review recent sales, and compare nearby beach towns, then reach out when you're ready to look closer.

Paradise Island

A finger-island neighborhood on the bay side with canal-front homes, private docks, and quick boat access to Boca Ciega Bay. Most of the island's larger single-family inventory sits here, along with the Treasure Bay Golf & Tennis recreation complex.

Isle of Palms & Isle of Capri

Two residential islands near John's Pass at the north end. Canal-front homes dominate, many renovated or rebuilt at elevation, and boaters value the short run to the Gulf through the pass.

Sunset Beach

The narrow southern tip of the island, known for its half-mile dune boardwalk, beach bars, and a mix of cottages, townhomes, and small condo buildings. It has the most distinct small-town character of any section.

Central Beach

The Gulf Boulevard corridor at the island's core — condos, cottages, and the city's restaurant and shopping strip, all within walking distance of the widest stretch of sand.

As a barrier island, virtually all of Treasure Island lies within FEMA-mapped flood zones, and flood insurance is required for most financed purchases. The city participates in the National Flood Insurance Program's Community Rating System, which earns policyholders a discount on flood premiums. Elevation certificates, year of construction, and prior claims history all affect insurance costs, so they belong in your due diligence alongside the inspection.

Renovation plans matter too. Improvements that exceed FEMA's substantial-improvement threshold — generally 50 percent of a structure's market value — trigger a requirement to bring the whole building up to current flood code, which can include elevating it. This is why elevated and newer-construction homes often carry a pricing premium over ground-level cottages. I walk clients through flood zone maps, insurance quotes, and permit history on every Treasure Island transaction; request a consultation if you'd like that analysis for a specific property.