According to a Realtor.com study, The Villages in central Florida is one of the best places to retire in the country. As one of the most famous 55+ communities, The Villages seems like a luxury for older folks.
But Florida has plenty of other retirement communities to consider, too. Look no further than Tampa in Hillsborough County!
Now you may wonder: is Tampa good for seniors? Well, actually, Tampa is the best place to retire in Florida! With beautiful year-round weather, access to fantastic healthcare providers, and endless activities to participate in, the Tampa area is the perfect place for seniors.
And why not live in a 55+ community? After all, making (and keeping) personal connections during your senior years is vital to lasting health. Thus, with plenty of homes for sale in 55+ communities in Tampa, FL, there’s never been a better time to move to Tampa.
Read on below to learn more about some of these fabulous communities!
1. Sun City Center
Sun City Center, 25 miles south of Tampa, is an active adult community—this self-contained village houses over 11,000 residents. Condominiums, duplexes, and single-family homes are available. Kings Point, an adjacent neighborhood with its own amenities, is another 55+ gated community home to 9,500 residents.
The community has three amenity campuses offering fitness facilities, interest groups, and social activities. Some amenities include:
- Aerobics and dance studio
- Art studios (for ceramics, pottery, and woodworking)
- Billiards tables
- Card room
- Computer lab
- Conference center
- Indoor lap pool
- Indoor walking
- Library
- Outdoor swimming pool
- Pickleball courts
- Photography studio
- Shuffleboard courts
- Softball field
- Ten Har-Tru tennis courts
- Theater
- Therapy pool
- Three regulation-sized lawn bowling courts
- Two dog parks
- Two volleyball courts
Not to mention, the Arts and Crafts Center has room for any craft you can think of. The greater area is home to eight golf courses residents can enjoy, too.
On Top of the World Clearwater
On Top of the World in Pinellas County offers many amenities like Sun City Center, making it another ideal spot for those who want to maintain an active lifestyle. It also offers on-site dining and community transit options so residents can shop at the local stores.
The fishing pier and lake allow residents to canoe, fish, or kayak at their leisure. Further, with an on-site lifestyle director, meeting new friends, arranging events, and bringing new activities to the community is easier than ever.
This is one of the best 55-plus communities in Tampa, Florida, for those looking for condo living.
Timber Pines
This 1,400-acre community is home to 3,000 attached and single-family homes. It’s the ideal place for outdoor enthusiasts because it has the following:
- An abundance of walking and biking trails
- Eight lighted tennis courts
- Four community golf courses
- Four horseshoe pits
- Four covered shuffleboard courts
- Three bocce ball courts
You’ll also find many amenities like other senior living communities here.
Although you can see on the map that Timber Pines is a bit further outside Tampa, in Hernando County, you can still reach the city in an hour.
4. Tampa Bay Golf and Country Club
The Tampa Bay Golf and Country Club is in San Antonio, Florida, north of Tampa. The community offers an array of single-family homes and plenty of amenities on 730 acres of land.
This 55+ community stands out for its lush fairways, rolling hills, and small lakes. Since the most common mode of transport here is a golf cart, golf enthusiasts flock to this community
5. Del Webb Bexley
One of the newer retirement communities in the region is Del Webb Bexley. This new construction (established in 2017) gated community in Land O’ Lakes offers resort-style amenities and living. Floor plans range from two- to five-bedroom single-family homes.
The 19,000-square-foot clubhouse, the Meridian at Bexley, provides the following:
- Fitness center
- On-site bistro
- Resort-style pools
- Sports courts
The Hub is great for dining, live music, and shopping.
For a community with a similar luxury feel, consider Valencia Del Sol or Valencia Lakes, both in Wimauma (adjacent to Sun City Center).
6. Esplanade of Tampa
Those looking to retire in luxury can also consider the Esplanade of Tampa. This resort-style community has amazing amenities, such as:
- Dog park
- Fire pit
- Game courts
- Lush landscaping
- Nature trails
- Outdoor amphitheater
- Pool and hot tub with cabanas and lounge chairs
Smaller than some other communities, the 45-acre property of natural wetlands has 300 single-family homes. Outdoor enthusiasts seeking a more tight-knit community should come to Esplanade of Tampa.
7. Lakeview of Largo
Between Clearwater and Seminole, nearly on the Gulf Coast, Lakeview of Largo is ideal for beach lovers as it’s within walking distance from Indian Rocks Beach.
This community offers luxury living for an adorable price. Maintenance-free retirement is available for under $200,000 when you purchase a one- or two-bedroom condo! Doesn’t moving to Tampa sound very appealing now?
With many on-site amenities, residents can also walk to a plethora of restaurants and shopping.
8. Southshore Falls
Not to be mistaken with Medley at Southshore Bay, Southshore Falls HOA across the bay from St. Petersburg in Apollo Beach (nearing Sarasota) is another Del Webb property with nearly 900 single-family homes and condos.
In the same vicinity as Sun City Center and with many of the same amenities, Southshore Falls is more modern (and affordable). The 14,000-square-foot Wellspring Club offers various activities to residents.
Do You Have to Be 55 to Buy in a 55+ Community in Florida?
You don’t necessarily need to be 55 to purchase a property in a 55+ community. The Fair Housing Act states that 80% of the units in a 55+ community must have at least one occupant who is 55 years or older, but the community can open up residency to whomever it chooses for the remaining 20%.
Therefore, 20% of the residents can be younger than 55, although there may still be an age limit. For instance, you must be at least 45 to purchase a Del Webb property.
Find 55+ Communities in the Tampa region
Ready to start exploring your new home options in 55+ communities in the Tampa area? First, search my listings, then reach out to me for help.
As a prominent figure in the Tampa real estate market with 20 years of experience in real estate sales, I am a Tampa native. I have valuable knowledge of real estate in Tampa Bay and can’t wait to help you find your dream community home.
With my help, your dream Tampa retirement property is right at your fingertips! Reach out today.