Florida’s Central Gulf Coast is home to cities like Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Clearwater as well as smaller inland cities and suburbs such as Wesley Chapel and Brooksville. It’s a diverse and dynamic place to live, and buyers looking for a bargain will find many options.
We discovered these five 55+ communities in the area which include everything you’d want in a Florida retirement: pools, amenities, and low-maintenance living. They also have homes for sale at or below $150,000.
Village on the Green - Clearwater, FL
Below $100K - Low $200s
Single-family homes, attached villas, and condos can be found on a resale basis at Village on the Green, a 55+ community in Clearwater that’s affordable and fun. Condos are cozy and intimate in two-story buildings with one- and two-bedroom units offering 800 to 1,400 square feet. They come with one or two bathrooms, assigned parking, and screened lanais.
The attached homes are 900 to 1,464 square feet with one or two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and carport parking. Buyers can choose a home with an updated kitchen or an enclosed porch. The single-family homes have 1,100 to 1,600 square feet. There are floor plans in two- and three-bedroom models with two bathrooms and a detached one-car garage. Formal dining rooms are usually included as well as updated kitchens with granite counters and maple floors.
Situated on a lake with lots of greenery and native plants throughout the community, residents have a lot of options when it comes to amenities and activities. There’s a pool and patio as well as trails that are great for biking, walking, and jogging. Shuffleboard courts are available, and the clubhouse has an exercise room, a library, a card room, and a multi-purpose room. Community events frequently occur as well as dances, picnics, and exercise classes.
Clearwater real estate is in hot demand, and this community is close to shopping, seaside activities, and the dramatic sunset festivals at Pier 60 in Clearwater Beach.
Summertree - New Port Richey, FL
Below $100K - High $100s
New Port Richey is a growing suburb on the Gulf coast, and one of the most in-demand 55+ communities is Summertree. It’s gated, picturesque, and home to the Summertree Golf Club, a nine-hole public course that residents can play for a minimal fee. Buyers will find affordably priced single-family and attached homes, all with plenty of space. Six neighborhoods are scattered around the community, totaling 800 homes in several models and floor plans. HOAs take care of landscaping, watering, and maintenance.
There’s a lot more than just golf. Outdoor gardening plots are available, as well as shuffleboard, tennis, bocce ball, and horseshoes. Two pools and patios are close to the clubhouse, and the recreation facility includes an exercise room, a steam room, an activity room, a library, and computers. There’s always a club to join or an activity to participate in, from the prayer group to the friendship club to the aerobics walks. Residents can join the entertainment committee to plan things like concerts, dance classes, and the annual picnic.
Sea Towers - Saint Petersburg, FL
Below $100K - Mid $200s
Why not live on the water? Buyers who didn’t think it’d be possible with a $150,000 budget will be happy to know that condos at Saint Petersburg’s Sea Towers are affordably priced and come with views of Boca Ciega Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. There’s a boat dock and a fishing pier, and residents can enjoy sunsets from the tranquil lagoon leading to the water.
Other amenities include a putting green, lawn bowling, shuffleboard, tennis, and two outdoor pools. In the clubhouse, there’s a fitness center, a sauna, an auditorium, a library, and two card rooms. Potlucks, picnics, and dinner shows are frequent, and neighbors often get together for cruises and boat trips.
There are 800 condos in high-rise buildings with security and elevators. Resale units are between 485 and 1,140 square feet, and they’re as small as studios or as large as two-bedroom homes. Many homes have balconies or lanais and assigned parking. Sea Towers is ideally located on the water and close to Downtown St. Pete and John’s Pass, a quirky boardwalk village on the water that has great seafood, lots of shops, and saltwater taffy.
Sun City Center - Sun City Center, FL
Below $100K - High $400s
Sun City Center is one of the largest and most self-sustained 55+ communities in the central Gulf Coast region, with 9,500 single-family homes and attached villas. The properties are reasonably priced and come with such a long list of amenities and activities that active adults living here never get bored. Pickleball, shuffleboard, tennis, bowling, and woodworking is available. There are pools, fitness centers, and volleyball courts. Residents enjoy community outings to Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, and Sarasota. The community is right off Interstate 75, making travel to other parts of Florida easy and efficient.
Homes come in dozens of models, ranging from 1,500 square feet to more than 3,000 square feet. Most attached homes have two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and include a two-car garage. Single-family homes often include a den and screened lanais. Golf carts rule the roads in Sun City Center, so residents need to keep their speed to under 15 mph.
Highland Lakes on Lake Tarpon - Palm Harbor, FL
Below $100K - Low $300s
Residents can take an oil painting class, go canoeing, or participate in movie nights and other social activities at Highland Lakes on Lake Tarpon, a 55+ community found in Palm Harbor close to Gulf beaches. There are a number of single-family and attached homes for less than $150,000, and they include things like patios and private pools. Buyers can choose a resale property with between one and three bedrooms and one or two bathrooms. The HOA takes care of general maintenance and landscaping.
The Lake Tarpon Lodge has pontoon boats and banquet space for special events and community parties. There’s also the Highland Club, where residents can find pools, a putting green, shuffleboard courts, tennis courts, a 27-hole golf course, and pickleball. The community is close to the water and John Chestnut Park, where residents can find great fishing and hiking opportunities.
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