Sun City Center, Kings Point, Solivita, Del Webb Bexley, Latitude Margaritaville Daytona Beach, and Trilogy at Ocala Preserve. Hillsborough vs Pasco vs Osceola County property taxes — a difference of \$1,000–\$2,000 per year on the same home value. Florida Homestead exemption mechanics. And the true all-in annual cost every brochure omits.
The Tampa Bay 55+ market is geographically spread in a way that surprises buyers. Sun City Center — the anchor community with 17,000 homes — is in Hillsborough County, 30 miles south of downtown Tampa. Solivita is in Osceola County near Kissimmee, nearly 100 miles east. Del Webb Bexley is in Pasco County north of Tampa. These are not the same market — they have different county tax rates, different proximity to airports and hospitals, and different price points. The common thread is they all draw from the same buyer pool: people who want Florida retirement without paying Sarasota or Naples prices.
Florida has no state income tax. What varies is county property tax. The communities in this market span Hillsborough, Pasco, Osceola, Volusia, and Marion Counties — each with a different effective rate. On the same \$400,000 home, Pasco County runs roughly \$500–\$800 per year cheaper than Hillsborough County. Over 20 years, that is \$10,000–\$16,000.
The original Del Webb Florida community was built before CDD financing existed. No bond means no hidden debt obligation. The true cost is HOA plus property tax — the same math in every other market. For buyers who have been reading Villages bond research for months, Sun City Center is a relief.
Tampa General Hospital is a Level I trauma center and one of the top cardiac programs in the Southeast. Sun City Center residents have access to South Bay Hospital (HCA) on-site. Solivita is 45 minutes from Orlando Health. The hospital access across this market is genuinely strong.
Tampa International Airport consistently ranks among the most convenient major airports in the US — short walks from security to gates, easy parking, and a growing route network. Sun City Center is 35 minutes away. Del Webb Bexley is 25 minutes. For buyers who travel frequently or want family to visit easily, TPA is a real quality-of-life factor.
Kings Point sits inside Sun City Center but operates as a distinct gated condominium community. The HOA covers exterior maintenance, roof, cable, water, and most services — making the monthly cost appear high until you subtract the expenses it eliminates. For buyers who want truly maintenance-free retirement, Kings Point is worth serious analysis.
Solivita (Kissimmee) and Latitude Margaritaville Daytona are technically Tampa-adjacent markets that draw from the same buyer pool. But Solivita is 90 minutes from Tampa and Daytona is 75 minutes from Orlando. Understanding which community fits requires understanding where the buyer actually wants to be located.
Sun City Center homes start under \$200,000 on the resale market. Kings Point condos start in the \$150,000s. These are the lowest entry points in any organized 55+ community in Florida. For buyers on fixed income or Social Security who want Florida retirement, the Tampa market has options no other Florida market provides.
| Community | City | County | To TPA Airport | To Tampa General | To Beach |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun City Center | Sun City Center | Hillsborough | ~35 min | ~40 min | ~30 min (Apollo Beach) |
| Kings Point | Sun City Center | Hillsborough | ~35 min | ~40 min | ~30 min |
| Del Webb Bexley | Land O' Lakes | Pasco | ~25 min | ~30 min | ~45 min |
| Solivita | Kissimmee | Osceola | ~75 min | ~80 min | ~90 min (Cocoa Beach) |
| Latitude Margaritaville Daytona | Daytona Beach | Volusia | ~75 min | ~80 min | ~10 min (Daytona Beach) |
| Trilogy Ocala Preserve | Ocala | Marion | ~80 min | ~85 min | ~90 min |
We can run your county tax comparison, CDD bond check, and Sun City Center vs Solivita true-cost analysis before you visit.
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