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Talk to a Specialist →Similar Scale, Very Different Fee Logic
Solivita and Sun City Center are both large, mature, purpose-built 55+ communities in Central Florida — each with 5,000–16,000 homes, 200+ clubs, and decades of community history. Buyers who research one almost always research the other. They look similar in listing searches. The differences are substantial once you understand the fee structures and location trade-offs.
The most important difference most buyers miss: Solivita charges a mandatory $195/mo club fee on top of its HOA with no opt-out. Sun City Center's three-part fee adds up to roughly the same total for many buyers — but the structure is different and the calculation requires separate accounting. Neither community is hiding anything; both require careful math before comparison is valid.
Every Key Difference
| Category | Solivita | Sun City Center |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Poinciana — ~45 min SW of Orlando, ~75 min to Tampa | South Hillsborough — ~30 min south of Tampa |
| All-In Monthly Fees | ~$472–$512/mo (HOA + mandatory club + CDD) | ~$280–$370/mo couple, older section (3-part fee) |
| Mandatory Add-On | $195/mo club fee — no opt-out | Per-person amenity fee ~$307/yr — no opt-out |
| Pickleball | 17 courts — best in Central FL | Growing program |
| Golf | 2 courses — pay-per-play (not in club fee) | 5 courses — pay-per-play |
| Pools | 14 heated pools | Multiple community pools |
| Restaurants On-Site | 3 restaurants | Limited — primarily resident-run |
| Hospital | Poinciana Medical Center — across street | South Bay Hospital — on-site, within community |
| Scale | ~5,900 homes | ~16,000 homes — larger ecosystem |
| Gated | Yes — staffed gated entry | No — open community |
| Price Range | $230K–$725K | $130K–$550K+ Lower entry |
| CDD | ~$1,339/yr on tax bill | No community-wide CDD |
| New Construction | Resale only | Very limited (The Preserve only) |
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Who Each Is Right For
- Pickleball is daily — 17 courts is the best dedicated program in this comparison
- Resort-style dining matters — 3 on-site restaurants vs. SCC's minimal dining
- 14 heated pools and a gated community feel are priorities
- You're oriented toward Orlando, MCO airport, and Central Florida rather than Tampa
- Budget can absorb the mandatory $195/mo club fee on top of HOA
- On-site hospital is a long-term priority — South Bay Hospital inside the community is unique
- Tampa access matters — TPA at 30 min, Tampa Bay's medical and cultural amenities nearby
- Lower entry price — wide range starting $130K vs. Solivita's $230K minimum
- Lower all-in monthly fees — especially in older sections with lower neighborhood HOAs
- Golf 3+ times per week — 5 pay-per-play courses, slightly better variety than Solivita's 2