Updated January 9, 2021
Looking for your dream home in the Tampa, Florida area? Find it in these popular Tampa Bay master-planned communities. Each of these communities has all the amenities that most people and families are looking for — parks, playgrounds, sports facilities, clubhouses, swimming pools, jogging paths, nature trails, schools, retail stores, health services, beauty shops, and others within the community or just a few minutes drive from the community.
. Located in Lithia, southeast of Tampa, nine miles East of I-75 at exit 250
. Encompasses more than 4,000 acres, including hundreds of acres of preserved lands and 25 miles of nature trails.
. Consists of around 40 subdivisions, some with their own guarded gates
. Amenities include community pools, huge clubhouses, tennis courts, dog parks, and various social clubs. Some amenities are exclusive to certain subdivisions.
. Top-rated schools within and near FishHawk.
. Shuttle-bus service to MacDill Air Force Base and other resources for military families
. Certified by the Florida Green Building Coalition as the first green new-home community in Hillsborough County
. Offers single-family homes, townhomes and luxury homes
. There’s a 55+ community, called Encore at FishHawk Ranch, that offers various activities at its huge clubhouse and recreational facilities.
. When completed, FishHawk Ranch will have around 6,500 homes. Currently, there are around 5,000 homes.
. Won the 2010 Development of the Year Award from the National Association of Home Builders for its green building practices
. Encore at FishHawk Ranch, the 55+ community developed by David Weekley Homes, won a 2016 Grand Aurora Award from the Southeast Building Conference in the Seniors Housing Community – Active Adult/Independent Living category.
. Was the 26th top-selling master-planned community in the U.S. in 2011, according to John Burns Real Estate Consulting
. Was chosen the second Best Place to Raise a Family in Florida in 2016, by Niche.com, founded by Carnegie Mellon University students.
. 43rd best selling masterplanned community in the U.S. in 2016, according to RCLCO
. Developed by Newland Communities, an award-winning developer of 28 master-planned communities in 13 states and is a partner of premier home builders like Lennar and David Weekley Homes.
2. Westchase
. Occupies more than 2,000 acres in Northwest Tampa
. Consists of 29 separate neighborhoods
. Hosts the Westchase Golf Club, an 18-hole public golf course.
. Has lots of preserved land, parks, plagrounds, picnic pavilions, nature trails and sports facilities.
. The West Park Village Town Center, Westchase Town Center and a Public Supermarket.
. Was chosen the Best Place to Raise a Family in Florida in 2016, by Niche.com, founded by Carnegie Mellon University students.
3. Mirabay
. Located east of Tampa Bay in Apollo Beach, southeast of Tampa
. Developed by Newland Communities, the developer of FishHawk Ranch
. Amenities include the MiraBay Club, the 1,400-acre Wolf Branch Creek Nature Preserve, Wolf Creek Park, Landing Park, MiraBay Village, Boat Lift, Outfitters Tackle Shop and sports facilities
. The 134-acre lagoon connects MiraBay to the Tampa Bay
4. Wilderness Lake Preserve
. Located in Land O Lakes, in central Pasco County, north of Tampa
. About 680 acres with half of the community maintained as conservation area
. Designed around Wilderness Lake, a 38-acre spring-fed lake
. Around 850 single family homes and 92 villas
. Amenities are concentrated in The Lodge, which offers various recreational and sports facilities
5. Tampa Palms
. With 7,000 acres of land, 85 acres of parks and 45 lakes, Tampa Palms is the biggest master-planned community in New Tampa, northeast of Tampa
. The Tampa Palms Golf and Country Club features a private 18-hole golf course, pools, tennis courts, and a huge club house that hosts a hotel
6. Waterset
. This master-planned community is located in Apollo Beach, east of Tampa Bay
. It has lots of amenities: 2 clubhouses, 3 swimming pools, 2 water slides, a splash park, dog parks, trails, 2 gyms, tennis courts, pickleball courts, basketball courts, playgrounds, open spaces, pocket parks, The Landing Club & Cafe, and a host of community events.
. 37th best-selling master-planned community in 2016, based on RCLCO’s study.
. Home prices of resale and new construction homes range from $180s to $700s
. Homes built By West Bay, David Weekley Homes, Cardel Homes
. Owned by North America Sekisui House, LLC and developed by Newland Communities, developer of nearby Mirabay.
7. Hunter’s Green
. It’s a gated deed-restricted community in New Tampa, the northeastern part of Tampa, with homes surrounded by 65 acres of protected wetlands and 43 lakes.
. Has its gates 24-7 manned and guarded
. Amenities include playgrounds, picnic pavilion, sidewalks, manicured grounds, bike lanes, jogging trail with a 15-station exercise circuit, off-leash dog park, and lighted tennis, basketball, volleyball, soccer and baseball facilities.
. Membership at Hunter’s Green Country Club gives golfing privileges on the 18-hole Tom Fazio-designed golf course or the Tennis and Athletic Center.
. Close to Flatwoods Nature Park which has a 7-mile loop for biking, hiking and bird watching.
. Community events are held for families and children.
. Single-family homes and condos were built from 1989 through 2004.
. There are a lot of inquiries on this community, but only a few homes now are getting listed.
8. Starkey Ranch
. Located in Odessa, north of Tampa
. It’s a community of beautifully-designed homes on mostly conservation lots surrounded by trees and ponds.
Available homes are priced from $280,000 to $850,000
It has four dog parks, two community pools with more being built, splash parks, 3 playgrounds, 150 acres of parks, wide open spaces, 12 miles of trails and more are being built in order to connect to the 42-mile Suncoast Trail.
It’s also golf-cart friendly.
. Won the 2016 Master Planned Community of the Year, “The Nationals” Silver Award, from the National Association of Home Builders
. Its 2017 Distance Classic 5k and 10k races on April 29, 2017 showcased the beautiful trails of Starkey Ranch.
9. Lakewood Ranch
. Consists of around 31,000 acres with more than 20 villages offering homes and lifestyles that cater to different interests.
. Located farther south of Tampa, in the Bradenton and Sarasota area, with majority of villages in Manatee County and some in Sarasota County. Lakewood Ranch is now considered a city of Manatee County.
. Third best selling master-planned community in 2016, according to RCLCO
. Has miles of trails, parks, nature preserves, Main Street event facilities and a 140-acre sports campus
. All villages have a community pool and access to recreation areas and almost all are gated, have a clubhouse, a fitness center and maintenance. Certain villages have a dog park, tennis courts, pickleball place, and restaurants or bars.
. There are 3 villages that have their own golf course: Esplanade, Esplanade at Azario, and Lakewood National (has a 36-hole golf course).
. The villages of Cresswind and Del Webb are 55+ communities.
. Homes are condos, townhomes, villas, single-family homes and luxury estate homes, with prices ranging from $150s to more than $3M.
. Home builders include Anchor Builders, Arthur Rutenberg, D.R. Horton, Del Webb, John Cannon Homes, Lennar, Neal Communities, Pulte, Taylor Morrison
. Nearby Gulf beaches are the award-winning Siesta Key, Lido Key, Longboat Key and Anna Maria Island.
. The fabulous John Ringling Museum of the Arts and performing arts centers are also in the area.
10. Sun City Center
Sun City Center (SCC) is one of the most popular 55+ communities in the country, mainly because of its golf courses and golf cart lifestyle. It’s located southeast of Tampa, south of Apollo Beach, between Ruskin and Wimauma. With an area of 13.817 square miles, it has a population of around 20,000 (population according to the Census Bureau ACS as of 2015: 17,500).
SCC was developed by Del Webb Corp. in the 1960s, and as it grew in size and activity, the Sun City Center Community Association was established as an independent, not-for-profit corporation to serve the residents of SCC. Neighborhoods within the community formed property-owner associations and now, there are well over 100 homeowner associations (HOAs) in SCC.
SCC is self-contained. Every thing an active adult needs is available within the community. It’s also a golf cart community. Golf carts can be used on all streets without the need of permits or driver’s licenses.
SCC also offers affordable housing, with prices ranging from $50,000 to $350,000. Prospective residents can choose from condos, duplexes, or single family homes in various sizes. Annual dues is among the lowest in the Tampa Bay area.
11. Medley at Mirada (New! Getting Popular!)
This new active adult community in San Antonio, northeast of Tampa, by premier builder Lennar is getting lots of inquiries, specially from outside the state, because of its 15-acre Metro Lagoon, the second huge lagoon to be completed by Crystal Lagoons in the Tampa Bay area. The first one is already completed in Epperson Ranch in Wesley Chapel and the third will be in Medley at Southshore Bay in Wimauma.
It has lots of amenities including a clubhouse with a fitness center, pool and cabanas, card and billiard rooms, tennis and pickleball courts. Single-family homes and villas start in the middle $200,000s.
12. Pebble Creek
. Located in New Tampa, the northeastern part of Tampa.
. Ranked third in Niche.com’s list of the Best Tampa Suburbs for Families in 2017
. Hosts the Pebble Creek Golf Club, considered one of the best Tampa Bay golf courses
13. Newer Communities in Wesley Chapel — New!
More and more people are searching and buying homes in Wesley Chapel’s newer communities with amenities that include pools, sports facilities, fitness centers, playgrounds, parks, sidewalks, conservation areas and are situated near shopping, dining and entertainment centers in Wesley Chapel and New Tampa.
These newer communities include:
. Estancia at Wiregrass Ranch
. The Ridge at Wiregrass Ranch
. Union Park