Tampa and Hillsborough County
Downsizing in Tampa, made straightforward
Where to look, what it costs, how Florida's homestead rules follow you to the next home and who can help with the move. Free local guides, and an introduction to an agent who does this every week.
10 neighborhoods 8 55+ communities 47 guides No cost, no obligation
Photo: Clément Bardot, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Where to downsize in Tampa
Ten parts of the Tampa area with condos, townhomes, villas and single-story homes. Each page covers housing, health care, storm risk and which exemptions apply.
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Davis Islands
1920s islands with Tampa General at the north tip and a walkable Davis Boulevard village.
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Harbour Island
A bridge-access island off downtown with condo towers, The Pointe townhomes and Riverwalk access.
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Channel District
Condo towers near Sparkman Wharf, the Florida Aquarium and the free TECO Streetcar.
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Hyde Park
A historic district on Bayshore Boulevard with Hyde Park Village, SoHo and the University of Tampa nearby.
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Temple Terrace
A separate small city on the Hillsborough River with many single-story homes.
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Carrollwood
Lake Carroll, Carrollwood Village and one-story homes along North Dale Mabry.
55+ and active adult communities
Age-restricted communities across Hillsborough and Pasco, with what to ask about fees, rules and storm risk before you make an offer.
- 55+ community Sun City Center Del Webb's 1961 town of golf cart streets, clubs and villas on the South Shore.
- 55+ community Kings Point A gated 55+ village inside Sun City Center run by more than 100 resident associations.
- 55+ community Valencia Lakes A gated GL Homes 55+ community in Wimauma built out between 2005 and 2019, resales only.
- 55+ community Valencia del Sol GL Homes' newest Wimauma 55+ community, building since 2019 around a 25,000 sq ft clubhouse.
- 55+ community Southshore Falls Gated Del Webb 55+ community of about 866 homes in Apollo Beach.
- 55+ community Del Webb Bexley Gated Del Webb community in Land O' Lakes centered on The Meridian clubhouse.
Why Tampa homeowners move to less house
Upkeep never takes a season off
Lawns grow twelve months a year, pools need weekly care and AC systems run hard from May to October. A condo, villa or HOA-maintained home hands much of that to someone else.
Storm prep gets smaller
Fewer windows to shutter and less yard to secure. Many condo and townhome associations handle the exterior.
Equity you can use
Long-time owners often have a large gap between what they paid and what the house is worth. Portability can keep the next tax bill lower, too.
Staying close
You can move from a four-bedroom in Carrollwood to a condo on Harbour Island and keep the same doctors, friends and weekly routines.
Lock the door and travel
Tampa International sits between Westshore and downtown. A low-maintenance home makes long trips to see family easier.
Care close by
Tampa General on Davis Islands, HCA Florida South Shore in Sun City Center and hospitals in Brandon and Wesley Chapel put major medical care within reach of most areas.
How an introduction works
Tell us about the move
Your timeline, where you live now and what kind of home you are considering. About two minutes.
We introduce one specialist
A licensed Tampa area agent with eXp Realty who works with downsizing clients in your part of town.
You decide what happens next
The first conversation costs nothing and you are never obligated to hire anyone.
Guides to the parts people get stuck on
Taxes, condo rules, insurance, selling and moving day, researched against Florida statutes and county sources.
- Planning Downsizing with kids still at home: planning a smaller Tampa home Moving to less house while your children still live with you: counting bedrooms, planning storage, timing the sale and the IRS and Florida homestead rules that apply.
- Planning Downsizing after 50: planning a Tampa move before retirement Planning a smaller home in your 50s, while you still work: the federal home sale exclusion, Florida homestead and portability, and the age 65 dates worth building around.
- Buying HOA fees in Tampa: what sellers must provide and buyers should check HOA and condo fees in Tampa: the disclosure summary and documents a seller provides, Florida estoppel fee caps and deadlines, how late fees become liens and what to check first.
- Planning Downsizing after kids move out: a practical plan for your Tampa house When the household gets smaller: how to judge whether the house still fits, what to sort first, where to look next and the tax and homestead rules that apply.
- Money Tampa property tax: how a Hillsborough County bill is built How a Tampa property tax bill is built from just, assessed and taxable value and millage, with the 2025 Hillsborough rates, the TRIM notice, due dates and the reset when you move.
- Buying Retirement communities near Tampa: what changes in Pasco, Pinellas and Hernando Looking at retirement communities outside Hillsborough: county tax offices and senior exemptions, what "retirement community" means legally and the HOA papers to read.
Get matched with a local downsizing specialist
Tell us a little about your plans and we will introduce you to a licensed Tampa area agent with eXp Realty who works with downsizing clients.
Tampa Downsizing is operated by licensed agents affiliated with eXp Realty and is not a Florida brokerage. Requests go to agents on our own team. We never sell your information. Prefer email? Write to [email protected].
Thank you. Your request is in.
A licensed local downsizing specialist will reach out, usually within one business day. In the meantime, the Tampa Downsizing Guide is a good place to start.
Common questions
Is Tampa Downsizing a real estate company?
No. Tampa Downsizing is an independent local resource and referral service. We publish free information about downsizing in Tampa and, if you ask, connect you with a licensed real estate agent. We are not a brokerage and do not represent buyers or sellers.
Does it cost anything to get matched?
No. Requesting a match is free and you are never obligated to work with the agent we introduce.
Can I keep my Save Our Homes savings if I downsize?
Often, yes. Florida's portability rule lets you transfer up to $500,000 of your Save Our Homes benefit to a new Florida homestead established within three years. When the new home costs less, the benefit is prorated. You file Form DR-501T with the Hillsborough County Property Appraiser. See Costs and Money for how it works.
Are there property tax breaks for seniors in Tampa?
The City of Tampa and unincorporated Hillsborough County both offer an additional exemption of up to $50,000 for homeowners 65 and older with household income at or below the state limit, which is $38,686 for 2026. A separate long-term resident exemption is available to those who qualify after 25 years in the home. These apply to city and county taxes, not school taxes.
Do I have to be 55 to buy in a 55+ community?
Not always. Under federal law, a 55+ community must have at least one resident aged 55 or older in at least 80 percent of occupied homes. Each community sets its own rules for the rest, so check the governing documents of any community you are considering.
When is the best time to downsize in Tampa?
There is no single best month, but timing matters. Hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30 and can delay closings, and you must own and live in your new home on January 1 to claim its homestead exemption for that year. Our Downsizing Guide covers planning around both.
What does it cost to sell a home in Hillsborough County?
Common seller costs include the real estate commission (which is negotiable), documentary stamp tax of $0.70 per $100 of the sale price, the buyer's owner's title policy by local custom, prorated property taxes and any HOA estoppel fees. See the full breakdown.