New Waterfront Park Opens in St. Petersburg
A newly completed waterfront park adds boardwalks, shaded picnic areas, and a public pier along the downtown St. Pete shoreline.
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Realistic Image
Realistic Image Realtor Weekly Brief
Updated weekly
A quick, visual look at the Tampa Bay real estate market — observations, buyer interest, marketing tips, and positive local news. Built for Realtors.
Thursday, June 25, 2026 Last updated: June 16, 2026 · 8:00 AM ET Tampa Bay coverage area
Section 1
Market Snapshot
New Listings
612
+4%
Pending Sales
488
+2%
Closed Sales
421
+1%
Avg. Days on Market
38
−3 days
Price Reductions
197
stable
Weekly Trend — Current Year vs. Last Year
Source: Realtor.com Weekly Housing Trends View (realtor.com/research/data) and NAR Existing-Home Sales, indexed to Tampa Bay MLS seasonality. Last-year overlay derived from published 2025-vs-2024 YoY deltas (new listings +22%, pending −3%, closed ~flat) and refreshed automatically when the current-year series is updated.
Observation
Inventory levels remain stable and buyer activity continues throughout the Tampa Bay region.
Section 2
Top Buyer Features
Top 10 Features Buyers Search For
Observation
Outdoor lifestyle features continue to attract strong buyer interest throughout the Tampa Bay area.
Section 3
Marketing Tip of the Week
Lead With Your Best Image
Properties featuring pools, waterfront views, outdoor living spaces, and updated kitchens often receive stronger engagement when used as the primary image.
Pro note: Advanced HDR photography, window balancing, twilight editing, drone imagery, and professional retouching can further improve presentation.
Section 4
What Buyers Click Most on Social Media
Social Engagement by Content Format
Vertical vs. Horizontal Video Share of Engagement
Observation
Vertical video — Reels, Shorts, and TikTok-style walkthroughs — dominates social engagement, capturing the majority of buyer attention. Slower, horizontal MLS-style videos still play a supporting role, but short vertical clips consistently outperform every other social content format.
Section 5
Zillow 3D Tours vs Matterport 3D Tours
2026 Platform Popularity — Monthly Engagement Index
Source: Zillow Group investor materials (Feb 2026), industry tracking of 3D tour engagement on major portals, and post-CoStar platform restriction estimates. Index reflects relative buyer engagement and listing visibility trends across 2026.
Side-by-Side Comparison — Why Zillow 3D Tours May Be the Better Choice for Standard Listings
Zillow 3D Tour
Most practical for many standard listings
- Native integration on Zillow — the most visited real estate portal in the US
- Zillow-Realtor.com partnership (2026) expands 3D tour reach across top portals
- Easy creation with a smartphone (iOS/Android) — no special camera needed
- Strong cost efficiency and fast turnaround
- 30% of US listings featured Zillow 3D tours by 2024; growth continues in 2026
Matterport 3D Tour
Premium immersive option
- Best for luxury and high-end listings
- Premium immersive experience with dollhouse view
- 13+ million properties digitized as of early 2026
- Strong for large homes, unique layouts, waterfront, and showcase properties
- Platform restrictions on Zillow since Oct 2025 may limit visibility for some listings
| Feature | Zillow 3D Tour | Matterport 3D Tour |
|---|---|---|
| Native Zillow display | Yes — built-in | Limited since Oct 2025 |
| Best for standard residential listings | Excellent | Good |
| Best for luxury listings | Good | Excellent |
| Dollhouse view | No | Yes |
| Immersive 3D experience | Good | Excellent |
| Cost efficiency | Strong | Moderate |
| Buyer familiarity / traffic | Very Strong — most visited portal | Strong |
| Ease of creation | Smartphone only | Pro camera or smartphone |
| Cross-portal reach (2026) | Zillow + Realtor.com partnership | Brokerage / agent sites mainly |
Why Zillow 3D Tours may be the better choice for most standard listings: Zillow is the most visited real estate portal in the US, and its native 3D tour integrates seamlessly into the buyer journey. The 2026 Zillow-Realtor.com partnership extends that visibility even further. For everyday residential listings, Zillow 3D Tours offer strong buyer reach, easy smartphone-based creation, and better cost efficiency — making them the most practical choice for many Realtors.
Current market observation: Zillow 3D Tours are often the most practical choice for many standard listings because of Zillow visibility and buyer accessibility. Matterport remains a strong premium option when a listing benefits from a more immersive 3D presentation.
Platform features and display options may change over time. This section reflects current observations at the time sampled (June 16, 2026). Sources: Zillow Group (Feb 2026), NAR Profile of Home Buyers & Sellers (2024), industry estimates.
Observation
For standard residential listings in 2026, Zillow 3D Tours offer stronger native visibility and broader buyer reach thanks to Zillow's portal dominance and the Realtor.com partnership. Matterport remains an excellent premium choice for luxury, waterfront, large, or uniquely laid-out homes where deeper presentation matters most.
Section 6
What Buyers Click Most (On MLS)
Listing Features Buyers Rate "Very Useful" (% of buyers)
Source: National Association of REALTORS® — Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers and Real Estate in a Digital Age. Percentages reflect buyers who rated each MLS / listing-site feature as "very useful" during their home search.
Observation
On the MLS, photos and detailed property information remain the top-clicked features, but video tours now reach nearly 6 in 10 buyers, ranking ahead of interactive 3D virtual tours. Listings with both strong photography and a property video consistently outperform photo-only listings on engagement and saved-home rates.
Section 7
Tampa Bay Positive News
Tampa Riverwalk Expansion Welcomes Three New Restaurants
The latest phase of the Riverwalk expansion brings a coastal seafood concept, an Italian café, and a family-friendly grill to the district.
Read moreSarasota School District Recognized for Reading Program
A statewide award highlights improvements in early literacy outcomes across several elementary schools in the Sarasota area.
Read moreSection 8
Marketing Insight of the Week
More Information Creates Better Engagement
Listings that include professional photography, drone imagery, floor plans, virtual tours, and social media content often provide buyers with a more complete viewing experience.
Engagement by Marketing Package
Disclaimer. This report contains general market observations and publicly available information for informational purposes only. It is not intended as financial, legal, investment, appraisal, or real estate advice. Users should consult appropriate professionals for specific guidance.
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