Most of what I do starts with a question like these.
The Questions I Get Asked Most About Tampa + NYC Real Estate
I get the same handful of questions over and over — from New Yorkers moving to Tampa, from first-time buyers, from people who just want to know what their house is worth. So I pulled together the ones that come up the most, with straight answers. No sales pitch, just what I'd tell you if we were talking in person.
Some of this repeats things I've written about before — flood insurance, off-market listings — but here it's all in one place, answered plainly.
Do you help people relocate from New York City to Tampa?
Yes. That's actually most of my business.
I'm licensed in Florida and New York, and I work with the Holt Team in Manhattan. So if you're moving between the two markets, I can guide the whole thing — not just the Tampa side or the New York side, but both. That matters more than people expect. Timing a sale in Manhattan against a purchase in Tampa is its own puzzle, and it helps to have one person who sees both boards.
What areas of Tampa do you specialize in?
South Tampa. Hyde Park, Beach Park, Sunset Park, Davis Islands, Palma Ceia, and the Bayshore corridor.
I grew up in Sunset Park. Third generation. So when I tell you about a neighborhood, it's not from a market report — it's from actually living there. That's the difference between someone who researched South Tampa and someone who watched it change.
Are you licensed in both Florida and New York?
Yes. I'm a Broker Associate with Compass in Tampa, and an Associate Broker with the Holt Team in New York.
I built it that way on purpose. Most of my clients are moving in one direction or the other, and I got tired of watching people juggle two agents who'd never spoken to each other.
Do you work with first-time home buyers?
Yes. I walk first-time buyers through the whole process — financing, neighborhoods, what to actually look for in a house versus what just looks good in photos.
post on what first-time buyers in Tampa need to know
Can you help with off-market or private listings?
Yes. A lot of the best opportunities never make it to the MLS.
I've said this before and I'll keep saying it: the best opportunities rarely announce themselves. Sometimes they come from a conversation. Sometimes from knowing who owns a property and picking up the phone. If you're only watching Zillow, you're seeing maybe half of what's actually available.
The public listings are only part of the market.
Do you help with new construction or building on a lot?
Yes. I work with buyers on new construction, custom builds, and vacant land — including flood risk and what it actually costs to build here right now, which has changed a lot in the last few years.
What's your approach to pricing a home for sale?
I look at what's actually selling nearby, not just what an automated estimate spits out.
Then we talk through timing and positioning before a number ever goes on paper. Pricing a home isn't a formula. It's a strategy, and it starts with a conversation, not a spreadsheet.
Do you only work with luxury buyers and sellers?
No. I work across price points in South Tampa, from first-time buyers to luxury listings.
What stays the same is the advice. I tell clients the truth, even when it's not what they want to hear. That's true whether the number has six figures or seven.
If you've got a question that's not up here, that's usually the best sign we should talk. Want to grab 20 minutes this week?
This post is for general information and isn't tax, legal, or insurance advice — for anything specific to your situation, check with your own CPA, attorney, or insurance agent.
About Kelly Burchill
Kelly Burchill is a third-generation South Tampa native and a trusted real estate advisor with over a decade of experience — and a former career in TV news. She's licensed in both Florida and New York and works with the Holt team in Manhattan, helping clients move between the two markets with one strategy instead of two. Two Markets. One Strategy.
Published: August 13, 2026
