Industrial Real Estate Broker in Clearwater and Pinellas County, Florida

Warehouse. Flex. Manufacturing. Distribution. Serving Tampa Bay’s Most Supply-Constrained Industrial Market.

Industrial Properties

The Tampa Bay Industrial Market Rewards Local Knowledge

Drew Rutherford is an industrial real estate broker serving Clearwater, Pinellas County, and the broader Tampa Bay market. He works with industrial property owners, buyers, investors, and tenants across warehouse, flex, manufacturing, and distribution buildings, handling everything from small bay flex units to large format industrial facilities.

Pinellas County plays by different rules than the rest of the Tampa Bay industrial market. While East Tampa and Pasco County have added wave after wave of new speculative development, Pinellas is built out. There is no new industrial land coming, which keeps vacancy among the lowest in the metro and gives existing buildings a level of stability that newer submarkets cannot match. Owners who understand how to position their property in this environment consistently see stronger outcomes. That is the market Drew works in every day, and it is why local knowledge matters more here than anywhere else in Tampa Bay.

Tampa Florida Industrial Properties Rutherford Towers Industrial Property Broker
Areas of Focus

Industrial Property Transactions Across Pinellas County and Tampa Bay

01.

Warehouse Distribution Facilities

Acquisition and disposition of warehouse and distribution buildings throughout Pinellas County, Hillsborough County, and the Tampa Bay MSA — from owner-user sales to investor acquisitions.

02.

Flex and Light Industrial Space

Flex and light industrial properties combining office and warehouse functions. One of the most in-demand and undersupplied categories in the Pinellas County market.

03.

Manufacturing Facilities

Buyer and seller representation for small-bay production spaces, manufacturing buildings, and large-format industrial facilities requiring specialized infrastructure.

04.

Landlord/Tenant Representation

Full-service representation for industrial lease transactions: new leases, renewals, relocations, and lease restructuring for landlords and tenants across the Tampa Bay market.

05.

Investor Acquisitions

Industrial investment acquisitions including single-tenant net lease industrial assets, multi-tenant business parks, and value-add opportunities with strong Pinellas County fundamentals.

06.

Off-Market Transactions

Direct access to industrial properties before they reach public listing platforms. Off-market relationships are one of the primary ways buyers and owners create an advantage in a supply-constrained market.

PINELLAS COUNTY INDUSTRIAL MARKET

What Industrial Owners and Investors Need to Know Right Now

The Tampa Bay industrial market has been through a meaningful reset over the past two years. After vacancy hit record lows near 3.6% in 2021, a wave of new speculative development pushed countywide vacancy to the 7 to 8 percent range through late 2025 and into 2026. The headline number tells part of the story. The submarket breakdown tells a different one.

Pinellas County is physically constrained. The county is built out. There is no industrial land pipeline, no new spec development on the horizon, and no relief coming from new supply. That dynamic keeps Pinellas vacancy among the lowest in the metro. Small-bay and flex space here runs 12 to 16 dollars per square foot for functional buildings, above the Tampa Bay average, and well-located properties attract competitive interest from both tenants and investors. The investors who have been paying attention to Pinellas industrial are buying at what many see as a compelling entry point, cap rates around 7.6 percent and vacancy likely near its peak.

For owners of Pinellas industrial property, the current market rewards smart positioning. Older buildings that are priced and marketed correctly are moving. For buyers and tenants, the window to find well-priced product is tighter in Pinellas than in any other Tampa Bay submarket. Off-market access and relationships with a broker who works this county specifically are how deals get done before a property reaches LoopNet.

Representation

Sellers. Buyers. Tenants. Drew Works All Three

Industrial Property Sellers

If you own an industrial property in Clearwater or Pinellas County and are considering a sale, the process starts with an accurate picture of value, not an inflated projection designed to win the listing. Drew works with sellers before a property hits the market, identifying the right buyer profile and building a strategy that gets to closing without wasting your time on unqualified interest.

Industrial Buyers & Investors

Whether you are an owner-user looking for a building to operate from or an investor targeting cash-flowing industrial assets in the Tampa Bay market, Drew brings current transaction data and off-market access that online search platforms cannot offer. Pinellas County industrial inventory is limited and moves fast. Knowing what is available before it is publicly listed is a real advantage.

Industrial Tenants

Finding the right warehouse or flex space in a supply-constrained market takes more than a LoopNet search. Drew represents tenants in lease negotiations, renewals, and relocations across Pinellas County and Tampa Bay making sure you are paying market rate, not above it, and that your lease terms protect your business.

Frequently Asked Questions About Industrial Real Estate in Pinellas County

How do I find an industrial property broker in Clearwater, Florida?

Drew Rutherford is a commercial real estate broker based in Clearwater who specializes in industrial property sales, acquisitions, and leasing across Pinellas County and the Tampa Bay market. You can reach Drew directly through the contact page on this site to discuss your property or acquisition needs.

Industrial inventory in Pinellas County includes warehouse and distribution buildings, flex and light industrial spaces, manufacturing facilities, and multi-tenant business parks. The county is land-constrained, which means new supply is limited and existing inventory, particularly small-bay and flex space, tends to carry lower vacancy rates than the broader Tampa Bay market.

Industrial property values in Pinellas County vary by property type, size, condition, and location. Small-bay flex space in well-located Pinellas submarkets is currently asking 12 to 16 dollars per square foot for lease, above the Tampa Bay metro average. For sale pricing depends on occupancy, lease terms, and building condition. Drew provides no-obligation broker opinion of value assessments for industrial property owners considering a sale.

Pinellas County industrial fundamentals remain stronger than the broader Tampa Bay market due to limited land supply and no new development pipeline. While broader Tampa vacancy has risen to the 7 to 8 percent range, Pinellas vacancy has stayed tighter, which supports pricing for well-positioned properties. Owners considering a sale benefit from working with a broker who understands the submarket distinction, not one applying countywide averages to a property that deserves better positioning.

Warehouse space is typically used for storage and distribution, with high clear heights, loading docks, and minimal office buildout. Flex space combines functional warehouse or shop space with a front office component, making it suitable for light manufacturing, service businesses, contractors, and showroom operations. Industrial is the broader category that includes both, along with manufacturing, R&D, and specialized production facilities. All three are active transaction categories in the Pinellas County market.

Ready to Discuss Your Industrial Property?

Whether you are considering selling, looking to acquire, or searching for industrial space to lease in Clearwater or Pinellas County, the first conversation costs nothing. Drew works directly with owners, buyers, and tenants. No handoffs, no junior staff on your deal.

Contact Drew Today