Tampa & Central Florida
55+ Communities Guide 2026

The most complete comparison of every major active adult community in the Tampa Bay and Central Florida market — with real HOA fees, total monthly costs, and the honest trade-offs nobody else publishes.

7 Major CommunitiesHillsborough · Pasco · Polk · Marion · Volusia Counties$90K–$800K+No Ads · No Sponsored Listings
Median Sale Price
$375,000
Tampa Metro · March 2026
Median Days on Market
51 days
All home types
Metro Active Listings
24,314
Source: Redfin
Sale-to-List Ratio
-
How close to asking price

Why Tampa & Central Florida Dominate 55+ Retirement

The Tampa Bay and Central Florida corridor is the most diverse 55+ market in the country. Within a 90-minute drive of Tampa International Airport, buyers can choose from golf-cart communities approaching The Villages in scale, brand-new Del Webb construction, Tuscan-inspired resort communities, and Jimmy Buffett-themed neighborhoods. Price ranges span from under $100,000 for a modest resale villa to $800,000+ for a premium lakefront home in a newer development.

What makes this market genuinely different from Phoenix or Northern Virginia is the variety of community models — not just the scale. Sun City Center and Kings Point sit across a boulevard from each other but operate as completely separate communities with different fee structures, governance, and amenity access. Solivita charges a mandatory club fee on top of HOA. Del Webb Bexley is sold out. On Top of the World has leasehold neighborhoods. Latitude Margaritaville has CDD assessments on top of HOA. Understanding these structural differences is the entire game — and most buyers discover them too late.

This guide covers every major community with the actual numbers, the ownership structures, and the honest trade-offs. No sponsored content. No agent referral fees built into the recommendations.

Every Major Tampa & Central Florida 55+ Community

Hillsborough County · 30 min south of Tampa
Sun City Center
Price Range$130K–$550K+
HOA / Fees~$290/mo + amenity fee
Homes~16,000
Golf Courses5 courses
One of the oldest and largest 55+ communities in Florida. Confusing fee structure — HOA + master amenity fee + sub-HOA — but one of the best value propositions in the Tampa market.
Hillsborough County · Adjacent to Sun City Center
Kings Point
Price Range$100K–$350K+
HOA / Fees~$345–$375/mo
Homes~5,400
Structure100+ condo associations
Sits across the boulevard from Sun City Center but is its own separate community. 100+ individual condo associations — each with different rules. More affordable entry point than most Tampa 55+ options.
Polk / Osceola County · Near Kissimmee
Solivita
Price Range$230K–$725K
HOA + Club Fee~$360–$400/mo combined
Homes~5,900
CDD~$1,339/yr
Tuscan-inspired, built-out community on 4,300 acres near Disney. Mandatory $195/mo club fee on top of HOA — no opt-out. 14 pools, 17 pickleball courts, 2 golf courses, 250+ clubs.
Pasco County · Land O'Lakes, 25 min north of Tampa
Del Webb Bexley
Price Range$380K–$650K+
HOA / Fees~$290–$488/mo
Homes~850 (sold out)
New ConstructionSold out — resale only
Del Webb's premier Tampa Bay community — now sold out of new construction. Resort-style pool, 19,000 sq ft clubhouse, full-time lifestyle director. Resale prices reflect strong demand.
Volusia County · Daytona Beach
Latitude Margaritaville Daytona
Price Range$355K–$595K
HOA / Fees~$343–$393/mo
Homes3,763 (sold out May 2025)
Beach ClubPrivate oceanfront access
Jimmy Buffett-branded community by Minto — sold out 5 years ahead of projections. Private oceanfront beach club with shuttle. CDD applies. Strong resale demand from Northeast buyers.
Marion County · Ocala (inland)
On Top of the World
Price Range$90K–$800K+
HOA / Fees$226–$494/mo by neighborhood
Homes10,000+ across 12,900 acres
OwnershipLeasehold + fee simple mixed
One of Florida's largest communities. No bond, 4 golf courses included. Critical: OTOW Central is leasehold — 80% LTV max. Inland location means lower insurance rates.
Marion County · Ocala
Trilogy at Ocala Preserve
Price Range$250K–$550K
HOA / Fees~$499/mo
Homes~1,600 planned
StructureFee simple
Newer Shea Homes community near OTOW — fee simple throughout, higher HOA but fully inclusive amenity package. Modern construction, no leasehold complexity.

Tampa & Central Florida 55+ Communities — Quick Comparison

The most important numbers side by side. Always verify current fees directly with the HOA before making an offer — these are 2026 research figures.

CommunityCountyPrice RangeMonthly FeesBond / CDDGolfNew Construction
Sun City CenterHillsborough$130K–$550K+~$290 HOA + $307/person/yr amenity fee + sub-HOANo bond · some sub-CDDs5 courses — pay per playVery limited (The Preserve only)
Kings PointHillsborough$100K–$350K+~$345–$375/mo (condo fee covers most services)No bond · no CDDGolf courses on-siteNo — resale only
SolivitaPolk / Osceola$230K–$725K~$165–$205 HOA + $195 mandatory club fee + ~$112/mo CDDNo bond · CDD ~$1,339/yr2 courses — separate feesNo — built out
Del Webb BexleyPasco$380K–$650K+~$290–$488/mo (includes lawn maintenance)No bond · CDD variesNo on-site golfSold out — resale only
Latitude MargaritavilleVolusia$355K–$595K~$343–$393/mo + CDD on tax billNo bond · CDD appliesNo on-site golfSold out May 2025
On Top of the WorldMarion$90K–$800K+$226–$494/mo (varies widely by neighborhood)No bond · some CDD in Indigo East4 courses includedWeybourne Landing only
Trilogy at Ocala PreserveMarion$250K–$550K~$499/mo all-inclusiveNo bond · no CDDNo on-site golfStill building

The Things That Catch Tampa 55+ Buyers Off Guard

💰
Sun City Center's Fee Structure Is Confusing by Design
Sun City Center has three separate fees: a neighborhood HOA (~$290/mo), a master association fee (~$333/yr), and a per-person Community Association amenity fee (~$307/person/yr). Most listings only show the neighborhood HOA. Calculate all three before comparing to other communities or you'll undercount the real cost.
📋
Kings Point Has 100+ Separate Condo Associations
Kings Point is not one HOA — it's a collection of more than 100 individual condo associations, each with its own rules, fees, and restrictions. Pet policies, rental restrictions, and parking rules vary unit by unit. Always get the specific condo association documents for any Kings Point property before making an offer.
🏌️
Golf Included vs Golf Extra Is a $200–$500/Month Difference
On Top of the World includes golf with membership. Solivita charges separately. Sun City Center is pay-per-play. Del Webb Bexley has no golf on site. If golf is daily or near-daily activity, calculate the true annual cost across communities — it can be the deciding factor.
⚠️
Solivita's Club Fee Is Mandatory — No Opt-Out
Every Solivita household pays $195/month in club fees regardless of how much they use the amenities. Combined with HOA (~$165–$205/mo) and annual CDD (~$1,339), total non-mortgage monthly obligations run $440–$480+ before property taxes and insurance. Buyers who compare only the HOA line undercount by 40–50%.
🔑
On Top of the World Central Is Leasehold — Most Buyers Don't Know This
The original OTOW Central neighborhoods are leasehold — you own the home but lease the land for 99 years. Maximum LTV is 80%. Most listing platforms don't flag this. If you're planning to put less than 20% down and targeting OTOW Central resale homes, you need to reframe your financing before you make an offer.
🌊
Inland Communities Mean Significantly Lower Insurance
On Top of the World and Solivita are inland — not in coastal evacuation zones. Florida homeowner's insurance for inland communities can run $1,500–$2,500/year versus $4,000–$8,000+ for comparable Gulf Coast or Atlantic-facing homes. For budget-sensitive buyers, this difference can be larger than the HOA fee difference between communities.

Comparison & Cost Guides

Not sure which community fits your situation?

Connect with a vetted local specialist who knows every community in this guide and can run the real numbers for your specific budget and timeline.

Get Expert Help