The Gulf Coast is one of the country’s most active regions for age-restricted, resort-style neighborhoods, and 2026 is a strong year to shop them. This guide covers the 55+ communities in Tampa Bay and the Gulf Coast that we can verify are actively selling right now, what they cost, and the fee math to understand before you fall for a model home.
How 55+ Communities Work (and Why the Age Rule Is Legal)
The federal Fair Housing Act generally prohibits housing discrimination based on familial status, but the Housing for Older Persons Act of 1995 created a specific exemption. A community can legally operate as “55 and older” if at least 80 percent of its occupied homes include at least one resident age 55 or older, and if it publishes and follows policies demonstrating that intent, including routine age verification.
In practice, each community sets its own written rules within the exemption: many permit a younger spouse or partner, most set minimum ages for other residents, and all limit guest stays. Read the specific policy before you buy, because the details vary and they are enforced.
55+ Communities in Tampa Bay Actively Selling in 2026
Each was confirmed actively selling in 2026 via official builder or published listing sources; pricing and incentives change monthly, so treat every figure as of this writing.
Del Webb Catalina (Lakewood Ranch)
Del Webb’s newest Gulf Coast community sits inside Lakewood Ranch, ranked the top multigenerational master-planned community in the U.S. for the eighth straight year (RCLCO, January 2026), with roughly 80,000 residents and its own hospital. Per Del Webb’s official pricing in August 2026, homes start at $356,990 and run from about 1,405 to 3,970 square feet across villa and single-family collections. The amenity campus is the headline: a roughly 35,000-square-foot clubhouse with the Horizon Grill restaurant, a heated resort pool, 12 pickleball courts, 5 tennis courts, and 12 plus miles of pathways. Kolter’s Cresswind Lakewood Ranch is also actively selling in the same master plan, so tour both. For the surrounding town centers and trails, see our [Lakewood Ranch 2026 overview](/living-in-lakewood-ranch-2026-overview/).
Medley at Mirada (San Antonio, Pasco County)
The value entry point on this list. Lennar’s Medley at Mirada prices from $236,490 for villas up to $518,035 for estate homes, roughly 1,398 to 2,775 square feet, per Lennar’s official community page in August 2026. Residents get their own clubhouse, pool, and pickleball plus access to the 15-acre Mirada Lagoon, billed by the developer as the nation’s largest man-made lagoon. The tradeoff: Mirada sits north of Wesley Chapel, so you are trading proximity for price.
Valencia del Sol (Wimauma, Hillsborough County)
GL Homes’ Valencia del Sol is a 565-home gated community priced from the high $300s to the low $700s, with floor plans of roughly 1,492 to 3,273 square feet (55places listing data, 2026). The 25,000-square-foot clubhouse includes a full restaurant, fitness center, and arts studio, with resort pools, 5 tennis courts, and 8 pickleball courts outside. Published HOA assessments run roughly $300 to $689 per month (55places, 2026). It sits in south Hillsborough, roughly equidistant from Sarasota and Tampa.
Valencia Ridge (Wesley Chapel, Pasco County)
GL Homes’ newer sister community in Wesley Chapel is actively selling, with incentives up to $60,000 in “Use As You Choose” credits advertised as of this writing (BuildTB tracker, August 2026; offers change frequently, verify with us). Wesley Chapel’s practical draw is healthcare density: four hospitals now operate in the area, including Orlando Health Wiregrass Ranch Hospital, which opened in April 2026.
Worth a look as you tour
Taylor Morrison’s Esplanade at Wiregrass Ranch (Wesley Chapel), Del Webb Sunchase and Kolter’s Woodland Preserve (Parrish), and the 55+ section of Lennar’s Prosperity Lakes (Parrish) round out the actively selling list in our markets; availability shifts by phase, so ask us for current status.
The resale route: Del Webb Bexley (Land O’ Lakes)
Del Webb Bexley, built 2018 to 2023 with about 850 homes, is now resale only, with recent listings running roughly from the mid $500s to the low $900s and HOA fees of $293 to $530 per month that include yard maintenance (55places, 2026). Buying resale here means mature landscaping, an established social calendar, and no construction traffic. Nearby, Moffitt Cancer Center opened a 120,000-square-foot outpatient center at Angeline in January 2026.
What 55+ Communities in Tampa Bay Really Cost
The sticker price is only the entry fee. The recurring math:
- HOA fees: roughly $300 to $700 per month at the amenity-rich communities profiled above, typically covering clubhouse, pools, courts, lifestyle staff, and often lawn care. Compare what is included, not just the number.
- CDD assessments: many of these communities carry a Community Development District fee on the tax bill, commonly $1,000 to $3,000 plus per year, tied to 20-to-30-year infrastructure bonds.
- Incentives: as of this writing, Del Webb has advertised up to $70,000 in savings with promotional rates from 3.99 percent through its affiliate lender (BuildTB tracker, August 2026); builder deals nearly always require the preferred lender, so compare full loan cost, not just rate.
Our guide to the [hidden costs of owning a home in Tampa Bay](/hidden-costs-owning-home-tampa-bay-2026/) breaks down how these line items stack with taxes and insurance.
Buying Considerations Beyond the Brochure
Resale dynamics. The age exemption that defines these communities also narrows the future buyer pool as a matter of law, and resale homes compete with the builder while a community is still selling new. If you may sell within a few years, ask us for actual resale history first.
Rules and verification. Expect age verification at purchase, written residency and guest policies, and sometimes rental restrictions; get the governing documents during your inspection period.
Healthcare access as data. Lakewood Ranch has an on-site hospital; Wesley Chapel has four; Parrish’s first hospital, BayCare Manatee, is scheduled to open in 2028, with an outpatient HealthHub opening in 2026 (WUSF, May 2025). If proximity to care matters, those timelines belong in the decision.
Fit with the wider region. If you are still deciding between formats or towns, start with our tour of [five Tampa Bay areas and five lifestyles](/where-to-live-in-tampa-bay-5-areas-5-lifestyles-2026/) or our [relocation guide to five areas worth touring](/relocating-to-tampa-bay-5-areas-to-tour-2026/).
Frequently Asked Questions
Often yes, within limits. Federal law requires that at least 80 percent of occupied homes include a resident 55 or older; each community’s written policy governs younger spouses, other household members, and guest stays.
At the communities profiled here, published fees run roughly $293 to $689 per month (2026 listing data) and typically cover clubhouse amenities, pools, courts, lifestyle staff, and often lawn care; CDD assessments and property taxes are separate.
Among the actively selling communities we verified, Medley at Mirada has the lowest published entry point, with villas from $236,490 per Lennar’s official pricing in August 2026.
Want to Tour These Communities?
The model homes all show beautifully. What they do not show is how fees, phases, and resale patterns compare across communities. Want to tour Del Webb Catalina, Medley at Mirada, or any community in this guide? We will set up a day of showings and give you the honest rundown on each one. Where Every Move Matters.
MJM Group | Coldwell Banker Realty · mjmgroup@cbrealty.com · (239) 994-2804 · (813) 833-3073
