Florida STR Guide

Compare Realtors for your STR purchase.

Start with the evidence. Then use the detailed profiles to decide what to ask each agent.

The comparison at a glance.

These four profiles span Pinellas and the Disney area. Local news reports Ahmed Omran’s Indian Rocks Beach rental ownership. Christa Ballauer’s brokerage publishes remote-buyer testimonials, which receive lower evidence priority. Public sources do not establish STR-investor outcomes for every agent.

A research shortlist, not a ranking. Missing evidence is a question to ask, not a low score.

Five metrics, side by side.

Individual experience is kept separate from brokerage services. Each profile shows its three-year research window and last check date. Weekly refresh checks are scheduled. Counts are documented minimums where a complete three-year history is unavailable; they are not confirmed STR-only transactions.

Compare the five metrics. Select a name for details and sources.
RealtorLocal coverageSTR rental experienceOut-of-state investorsSTR rentals ownedRecent sales (past 3 years)
Ahmed OmranRatings & review summaryTampa Bay BeachesPinellas beach communitiesLocal STR operator; agent-stated specialtyRemote STR-buyer testimonialIRB rental ownership reportedAt least 11 sales
Bob AnarumoRatings & review summaryDisney AreaDavenport office; greater Orlando firmSTR-specific history not confirmedNot publishedNot publishedAt least 41 sales
Christa BallauerRatings & review summaryTampa Bay BeachesPinellas County & beyondSTR-specific history not confirmedRemote-buyer testimonialsNot publishedAt least 9 sales
Todd PlumleeRatings & review summaryTampa Bay BeachesIndian Rocks Beach & Indian ShoresSTR-specific history not confirmedNot publishedNot publishedAt least 1 sale

On a small screen, swipe the table to compare all five metrics.

The details behind the comparison.

Tampa Bay Beaches

Ahmed Omran

Coldwell Banker Realty

Visit agent website ↗

Reviewed 2026-11-11

Back to comparison ↑
Local coverage
Pinellas beach communities

Public profiles name Indian Rocks Beach, Largo, Seminole, Belleair and Clearwater-area communities. Confirm your target address.

STR rental experience
Local STR operator; agent-stated specialty

His agent-published Pinellas County STR Guidebook describes operating Sunshine Escapes IRB and reports 8+ years managing vacation rentals in Indian Rocks Beach, Seminole and Largo. It covers location screening, seasonal revenue assumptions and property setup. These are self-reported experience claims, not independently audited client outcomes.

Out-of-state investors
Remote STR-buyer testimonial

An agent-selected testimonial describes an out-of-state STR buyer receiving rental-requirement resources, coordinated inspections and repair quotes. This is provider-published evidence, not an independently verified investor outcome.

STR rentals owned
IRB rental ownership reported

ABC Action News reported in 2023 that he and his partner owned an Indian Rocks Beach duplex and rented one half to vacationers. Later reporting also describes their rental ownership. Current portfolio size is not verified.

Recent sales (past 3 years)
At least 11 sales

Window: 2023-11-11 to 2026-11-11. Research checked 2026-11-11. Public records located for this individual; incomplete coverage, not a complete production total or confirmed STR-only sales. Syndicated records of the same closing count once.

View 11 dated sales & sources

Documented minimum, not a ranking. Buyer and seller roles are shown only when the source identifies them.

Reviews at a glance

  • 5.0 / 5
    Google ↗12 reviews · 12 of 12 entries checked · 11 written, 1 rating-only
  • 5.0 / 5
    Thumbtack ↗5 reviews · Guest / rental-service mix · includes 1 Google import

All 12 Google entries checked · 11 written reviews, 1 rating-only · Includes a review by directory publisher Avinesh Polisetty

Positive feedback
  • STR research and out-of-state purchase coordination.
  • Beach-property buying and STR management support.
  • Responsive communication, patience and negotiation.
  • No-pressure buying experience (publisher’s review).
Google · Michelle Thiem / Wendy Ko / Derek Copp / Joseph Balzano · 2024–2026 · Avinesh Polisetty (directory publisher) ↗
Reported issues

No verified complaints to summarize.

Review evidence for the five aspects

These summaries describe the available accounts, not verified outcomes or aspect scores. Missing evidence is not a negative review.

Local coverage

Sasa Bean describes a Largo home purchase and clear updates. This is evidence of one local transaction, not complete Pinellas coverage. The agent website republishes matching text under Sean Bean; it is not counted again. Directory publisher Avinesh Polisetty also praises Pinellas market knowledge and a no-pressure purchase; this is his personal client account, not independent editorial evidence.

Sasa Bean · October 31, 2024 · Google ↗Original third-party platforms · Individual agent / home buyers and sellers

Avinesh Polisetty · November 5, 2026 · Google · directory publisher ↗Original third-party platforms · Individual agent / home buyers and sellers

STR rental experience

Michelle Thiem describes STR-rule research, inspections and repair quotes. Wendy Ko describes a beach-property purchase and management of her STR properties, while also calling Ahmed a friend. These client accounts support relevant experience, not audited rental returns. Thumbtack hospitality feedback is kept separate.

Michelle Thiem · April 16, 2026 · Google ↗Original third-party platforms · Individual agent / home buyers and sellers

Wendy Ko · June 8, 2024 · Google · client and self-described friend ↗Original third-party platforms · Individual agent / home buyers and sellers

Robert J. · July 16, 2022 (Google import); Jennifer R. · July 15, 2023 ↗Original third-party platforms · Mixed guest stays and Liz & Ahmed / Sunshine Escapes service

Out-of-state investors

Michelle Thiem explicitly identifies herself as an out-of-state buyer seeking STR expertise and describes inspections and tradespeople coordinated on her behalf. Jennifer R. mentions NY/NJ and prompt rental-service replies on Thumbtack, but does not establish a separate investor purchase.

Michelle Thiem · April 16, 2026 · Google ↗Original third-party platforms · Individual agent / home buyers and sellers

Jennifer R. · July 15, 2023 · rental-service feedback ↗Original third-party platforms · Mixed guest stays and Liz & Ahmed / Sunshine Escapes service

STR rentals owned

Reviews do not verify the agent’s personally owned STR portfolio. See the separate ownership evidence above.

Recent sales (past 3 years)

Review counts and testimonials do not establish recent sales volume. See the dated closing records above.

Checked 2026-11-12 · Public snapshots; live totals may differ.

Sources & limitations

Google’s published score is unchanged. Two profiles use the name Michelle Thiem; they are not treated as two distinct clients. Thumbtack includes a Google import, and website testimonials repeat Google text. Counts are not pooled.

Original third-party platforms
  • Google Maps: Ahmed Omran — Coldwell Banker ↗

    5.0/5 from 12 Google entries. Outscraper retrieved all 12 unique review IDs: 11 written reviews and one rating-only entry, dated June 2024–November 2026. Two profiles use the name Michelle Thiem, so entries are not treated as distinct clients. Avinesh Polisetty’s review is included with disclosure that he publishes this directory; it is not independent of the directory. Google’s published score remains unchanged. Identity matched by Google place ID, website, phone and office. Website copies are not additional evidence.

  • Thumbtack: Ahmed Omran, Coldwell Banker Realtor ↗

    5.0/5 from 5 reviews dated July 2022–July 2023. Robert J. is explicitly marked From Google; do not add platform totals or treat this imported review as a second vote. Feedback concerns vacation-rental hospitality and service, not five verified Realtor transactions. No Thumbtack verified-hire labels were visible in the retrieved text.

  • Zillow: Ahmed Omran ↗

    Matching Coldwell Banker profile displays no reviews. A located profile is not a positive or negative review signal.

Provider-selected testimonials: lowest priority
  • Agent website: testimonials ↗

    Provider-published testimonials include home buying and STR management. Always lower priority than original third-party reviews.

  • Instagram: aoflrealestate ↗

    Public profile identifies Ahmed Omran / Coldwell Banker, Pinellas County and vacation rentals @sun.shineescapes. Useful for identity context only; no independent rating or client-review evidence extracted. Followers and posts are not reviews.

How we assess reviews →

Sources & verification notes

Provider-published information, not an independent performance or credential audit. “Not published” means not found in these reviewed sources, not that the service or experience is absent.

Disney Area

Bob Anarumo

Florida Realty Marketplace

Visit agent website ↗

Reviewed 2026-11-11

Back to comparison ↑
Local coverage
Davenport office; greater Orlando firm

His profile lists a Davenport office. The firm describes greater Orlando coverage, including Davenport and Kissimmee; confirm his personal service area.

STR rental experience
STR-specific history not confirmed

His brokerage markets resort and vacation homes. His individual profile does not quantify rental-investor or STR experience. Ask for recent STR purchases in your target community.

Out-of-state investors
Not published

No out-of-state investor examples found on the reviewed pages. Ask for recent remote-investor references and how tours, inspections and closing are coordinated.

STR rentals owned
Not published

No personally owned STR portfolio is disclosed on the reviewed pages. This does not mean the agent owns none; ask about ownership and operating experience directly.

Recent sales (past 3 years)
At least 41 sales

Window: 2023-11-11 to 2026-11-11. Research checked 2026-11-11. Public records located for this individual; incomplete coverage, not a complete production total or confirmed STR-only sales. Syndicated records of the same closing count once. Realtor.com individual-profile entries; representation side is not specified. These are not the Anarumo Group total.

View 41 dated sales & sources

Documented minimum, not a ranking. Buyer and seller roles are shown only when the source identifies them.

Reviews at a glance

  • 1.0 / 5
    Realtor.com ↗1 review · Bob individually · review from 2018
  • 5.0 / 5
    Zillow ↗127 reviews · Anarumo Group · team, not Bob alone

Individual reviews and team ratings kept separate · Older accounts

Positive feedback
  • Quick replies and regular updates.
  • Davenport market knowledge.
Reviews naming Bob / Rob · 2021–2023 ↗
Reported issues
  • Responsiveness and effort criticized.
Ike · one individual review · 2018 ↗

Summary source 1 ↗

Review evidence for the five aspects

These summaries describe the available accounts, not verified outcomes or aspect scores. Missing evidence is not a negative review.

Local coverage

Elizabeth Lampignano names Bob in a Davenport sale and praises updates and responsiveness (February 2023). An older Davenport review by octave4 praises Rob’s local-market knowledge (December 2021). These are specific local experiences on a team profile, not proof of his full coverage area.

Elizabeth Lampignano · February 24, 2023; octave4 · December 20, 2021 ↗Original third-party platforms · Team, not Bob alone

STR rental experience

No review evidence located that clearly establishes STR purchase or operating experience.

Out-of-state investors

No review evidence located from an identifiable out-of-state investor.

STR rentals owned

Reviews do not verify the agent’s personally owned STR portfolio. See the separate ownership evidence above.

Recent sales (past 3 years)

Review counts and testimonials do not establish recent sales volume. See the dated closing records above.

Checked 2026-11-11 · Public snapshots; live totals may differ.

Sources & limitations

Google reviews republished by Agent Pronto praise sale preparation and communication. Its combined rating also includes an agent-sourced testimonial, so we do not label that score a Google rating.

Original third-party platforms
  • Realtor.com: Bob Anarumo reviews ↗

    Platform separates ratings/reviews from a testimonials section. Only the ratings/reviews section receives this priority; testimonials remain lower-weight selected evidence.

  • Zillow: Anarumo Group ↗

    Reviews cover Jeri, Bob/Robert and the group. Do not assign the team rating or sales totals to Bob individually.

Aggregators & republished reviews
  • Agent Pronto: Anarumo Group reviews ↗

    Mixed Google copies, Agent Pronto feedback and agent-sourced testimonials. Do not treat the combined score as wholly independent or add its reviews to other platforms.

Provider-selected testimonials: lowest priority

How we assess reviews →

Sources & verification notes

Provider-published information, not an independent performance or credential audit. “Not published” means not found in these reviewed sources, not that the service or experience is absent.

Tampa Bay Beaches

Christa Ballauer

Plumlee Gulf Beach Realty

Visit agent website ↗

Reviewed 2026-11-11

Back to comparison ↑
Local coverage
Pinellas County & beyond

Her brokerage bio describes work in Pinellas County and surrounding residential markets. Confirm the specific beach or community.

STR rental experience
STR-specific history not confirmed

Her bio names investor properties among her specialties. It does not establish a verified STR transaction count. Ask for recent STR purchases in your target community.

Out-of-state investors
Remote-buyer testimonials

Brokerage-hosted testimonials from 2016 and 2017 describe out-of-state buyers. They do not establish that those purchases were STR investments; request relevant recent references.

STR rentals owned
Not published

No personally owned STR portfolio is disclosed on the reviewed pages. This does not mean the agent owns none; ask about ownership and operating experience directly.

Recent sales (past 3 years)
At least 9 sales

Window: 2023-11-11 to 2026-11-11. Research checked 2026-11-11. Public records located for this individual; incomplete coverage, not a complete production total or confirmed STR-only sales. Syndicated records of the same closing count once.

View 9 dated sales & sources

Documented minimum, not a ranking. Buyer and seller roles are shown only when the source identifies them.

Reviews at a glance

Brokerage-selected accounts · Remote-buyer examples are from 2016–2017

Positive feedback
  • Support through difficult purchases.
  • Remote-buyer appointments and coordination.
Selected testimonials · 2016–2025 ↗
Reported issues

No verified complaints to summarize.

Review evidence for the five aspects

These summaries describe the available accounts, not verified outcomes or aspect scores. Missing evidence is not a negative review.

Local coverage

Ann describes a previous St. Pete Beach condo sale and a later Intracoastal renovation-home purchase. This is selected evidence of local work, not a complete service-area record.

Ann · May 2025 · selected buyer testimonial ↗Provider-selected testimonials: lowest priority · Individual agent

STR rental experience

Ann calls her purchase an investment house; Patti and Paul say they plan to use vacation-rental management. Neither account verifies that an STR became operational or achieved rental returns.

Ann · May 2025; Patti and Paul · April 2024 · selected testimonials ↗Provider-selected testimonials: lowest priority · Individual agent

Out-of-state investors

Kim describes on-site appointments, inspections and utility coordination for an out-of-state purchase. John describes buying from Texas. Both accounts are old and neither clearly identifies an STR investment.

Kim · August 2016; John · November 2017 · selected testimonials ↗Provider-selected testimonials: lowest priority · Individual agent

STR rentals owned

Reviews do not verify the agent’s personally owned STR portfolio. See the separate ownership evidence above.

Recent sales (past 3 years)

Review counts and testimonials do not establish recent sales volume. See the dated closing records above.

Checked 2026-11-11 · Public snapshots; live totals may differ.

Sources & limitations
Original third-party platforms
Aggregators & republished reviews
Provider-selected testimonials: lowest priority

How we assess reviews →

Sources & verification notes

Provider-published information, not an independent performance or credential audit. “Not published” means not found in these reviewed sources, not that the service or experience is absent.

Tampa Bay Beaches

Todd Plumlee

Plumlee Gulf Beach Realty

Visit agent website ↗

Reviewed 2026-11-11

Back to comparison ↑
Local coverage
Indian Rocks Beach & Indian Shores

His bio specifically describes these two beach markets.

STR rental experience
STR-specific history not confirmed

The brokerage offers vacation-rental management and investment-property assistance. His individual STR transaction experience is not quantified. Ask for recent STR purchases in your target community.

Out-of-state investors
Not published

No out-of-state investor examples found on the reviewed pages. Ask for recent remote-investor references and how tours, inspections and closing are coordinated.

STR rentals owned
Not published

No personally owned STR portfolio is disclosed on the reviewed pages. This does not mean the agent owns none; ask about ownership and operating experience directly.

Recent sales (past 3 years)
At least 1 sale

Window: 2023-11-11 to 2026-11-11. Research checked 2026-11-11. Public records located for this individual; incomplete coverage, not a complete production total or confirmed STR-only sales. Syndicated records of the same closing count once. The located transaction is outside Pinellas.

View 1 dated sales & sources

Documented minimum, not a ranking. Buyer and seller roles are shown only when the source identifies them.

Reviews at a glance

Only a 2017 brokerage-selected peer/team testimonial located

Positive feedback
  • No individual buyer-review evidence confirmed.
Reported issues

No verified complaints to summarize.

Review evidence for the five aspects

These summaries describe the available accounts, not verified outcomes or aspect scores. Missing evidence is not a negative review.

Local coverage

No aspect-specific individual-client review evidence located for local coverage.

STR rental experience

No review evidence located that clearly establishes STR purchase or operating experience.

Out-of-state investors

No review evidence located from an identifiable out-of-state investor.

STR rentals owned

Reviews do not verify the agent’s personally owned STR portfolio. See the separate ownership evidence above.

Recent sales (past 3 years)

Review counts and testimonials do not establish recent sales volume. See the dated closing records above.

Checked 2026-11-11 · Public snapshots; live totals may differ.

Sources & limitations
Provider-selected testimonials: lowest priority

How we assess reviews →

Sources & verification notes

Provider-published information, not an independent performance or credential audit. “Not published” means not found in these reviewed sources, not that the service or experience is absent.

Keep the property research separate.

Use the buyer checklist and official rule sources for the address you are considering.