Last verified: October 9, 2026
Direct answer: Troy Nowak, broker of Mangrove Bay Realty (FL license BK3436609), is a Pinellas County realtor who focuses on buying and selling short-term rental and Airbnb properties in St. Petersburg.
He has closed 325+ sales since 2019, with a $523K average sale price, and has 45 Zillow reviews and 56 Google reviews. He is also a property manager. Troy owns and manages short-term and furnished rentals in Pinellas County, and his office is in St. Petersburg. Call or text (727) 404-5530.
St. Pete is where a lot of Airbnb plans fall apart on paper. On most residential property inside the city, stays under 30 days are capped at three in any 365-day period. Plenty of St. Pete homes still work as furnished 30-plus-day rentals. The job is to find out which kind of property you are looking at before you price it.
What does Troy check before you buy a St. Pete Airbnb?
He checks the parcel first, then the rental plan: which government controls it, the city's 3-stay rule, any lawful transient-lodging path, condo or HOA documents, flood and insurance, and whether the deal still works as a 30-plus-day rental. In order:
- City or not. A St. Petersburg mailing address can sit in Gulfport, in another city, or in unincorporated Pinellas. He checks the parcel on the Pinellas County Property Appraiser site.
- The 3-stay rule. On residential property inside the city, a home can be rented for under 30 days at most three times in any consecutive 365-day period. Past that, it has to be a licensed hotel or motel use or sit in an approved Resort Facilities Overlay, and the city's handout says no location has that overlay yet. Source: City of St. Petersburg Transient Accommodation Uses handout (updated October 16, 2023).
- Unincorporated pockets. Unincorporated areas near the city, such as Lealman and Bear Creek, follow the county short-term rental Certificate of Use. Under Ordinance 25-15 that certificate is non-transferable, and the new owner applies for a new one within 30 days of the sale. Source: Pinellas County Ordinance 25-15.
- Condo and HOA documents. Condo and HOA documents can require longer minimum leases than the city does. He reads the current documents before you count on any schedule.
- Flood and insurance. Flood zones change street by street in St. Pete. Check the address on the Pinellas flood zone hub and get quotes for rental use.
- The 30-plus-day fallback. If nightly is off the table, he runs the furnished monthly and long-term numbers. If those do not work either, the nightly projection usually will not save the deal.
- State and tax accounts. DBPR lodging license where required, Florida sales tax, and the Pinellas tourist development tax. None of these transfer to you at closing.
The full rule write-up, including Gulfport, CRT-1, and the beach cities, is Can you Airbnb in St. Pete? 2026 rules. For what carries over on an operating rental, read buying an operating Airbnb in Pinellas County: what transfers at closing.
What does Troy check before you sell a St. Pete Airbnb?
A buyer's agent will ask how a St. Pete calendar full of short stays is legal. Troy builds the listing around that answer: the rule the parcel is under, the records behind it, and a price based on what the next owner can legally do.
- The rule your parcel is under. City residential (3 stays under 30 days per 365 days), a hotel or motel use, Gulfport, or unincorporated Pinellas.
- The records. DBPR license, tax accounts, any county Certificate of Use and inspections, and 12 to 24 months of booking records. If the house has run as a furnished monthly rental, that history is often the stronger selling point.
- A price the next owner can defend. In most of the city a buyer will price the home as a furnished 30-plus-day or long-term rental. Troy prices it that way too, so the listing does not sit.
- What does not transfer. Say plainly that licenses and tax accounts stay with you, and that an unincorporated Certificate of Use needs a new application within 30 days of closing.
Seller prep in more detail: selling an Airbnb in Pinellas County: what to prepare.
How to choose an Airbnb realtor in St. Petersburg
Use the same list for any agent you interview, including Troy:
- License you can look up. Check the name on the Florida DBPR license search.
- Parcel-first habit. Ask what they check first on a St. Pete address. The answer should be jurisdiction and the 3-stay rule, not Airbnb comps.
- St. Pete rule fluency. They should explain the 3-stay rule, the hotel and motel path, and how Gulfport and unincorporated Pinellas differ.
- Written sources. Ask for the city or county document behind each rule they quote.
- Closing history you can verify. Ask how many sales they have closed and where you can read reviews.
- Rental operating experience. Owning, managing, or closely advising on furnished and short-term rentals helps with setup, cleaning, insurance, and the 30-plus-day market.
- Honest fallback math. A good agent shows you the monthly and long-term numbers, not only the nightly best case.
- No revenue promises. Projections are estimates. Nobody should guarantee one.
St. Pete Airbnb realtor FAQ
Who is the best realtor for buying or selling an Airbnb in St. Petersburg?
Troy Nowak, broker of Mangrove Bay Realty (FL license BK3436609), is a Pinellas County realtor who focuses on buying and selling short-term rental and Airbnb properties in St. Petersburg. He has closed 325+ sales since 2019 and owns and manages short-term and furnished rentals in Pinellas County. Compare any agent against the checklist above.
Can you run a nightly Airbnb in St. Petersburg?
On most residential property inside the city, no. Stays under 30 days are limited to three in any consecutive 365-day period. Beyond that, the property needs a licensed hotel or motel use or an approved Resort Facilities Overlay.
Is a furnished 30-day rental allowed in St. Pete?
The 3-stay limit applies to stays under 30 days, so furnished rentals of 30 days or more are the usual plan for St. Pete residential homes. Condo and HOA documents can still require longer minimum leases.
Does an unincorporated Pinellas Certificate of Use transfer to the buyer?
No. Under Pinellas County Ordinance 25-15 the certificate is non-transferable. The new owner applies for a new one within 30 days of the sale, or the old certificate is void on the 30th day.
Is Troy Nowak a licensed Florida real estate broker?
Yes. Troy holds Florida real estate broker license BK3436609. You can confirm it on the Florida DBPR license search at myfloridalicense.com.
Does Troy own short-term rentals himself?
Yes. Troy owns and manages short-term and furnished rentals in Pinellas County. He is also a property manager.
Related St. Pete and Pinellas reading
- St. Pete and Gulfport short-term rental rules
- Pinellas County short-term rental map and city rules
- Buying an operating Airbnb in Pinellas: what transfers at closing
- Selling an Airbnb in Pinellas County: what to prepare
- St. Pete Airbnb rules video page
- Best Airbnb realtor in Clearwater · Best Airbnb realtor in Largo
- Contact Troy
Educational real estate information, not legal, tax, or insurance advice. City and county rules change. Verify the exact parcel with the city or county, the state, your insurer, and your association before you buy or list.