Tampa, Florida

Tampa is a sprawling Gulf Coast city rich in culture, history, and opportunity. Named among the 50 World’s Greatest Places by TIME Magazine in 2023, it’s where historic neighborhoods coexist with modern developments and beautiful rural landscapes are 20 minutes away from the bustling waterfront.

Homes for sale in Tampa, FL

The city belongs to the second-largest metropolitan area in Florida. Due to its sheer size, it caters to a wide variety of lifestyles. Any prospective home buyer is bound to find a community that feels like home in Tampa.

Want to be in the middle of the action and walk to the nightlife spots? Downtown Tampa is your bet. Looking for a family-friendly neighborhood close to good schools? Take your pick among Hyde Park, Palma Ceia, and many others. For those who prioritize affordability, check out the suburbs of Ballast Point and Brandon.

Culture-wise, Tampa’s residents are spoiled for choice. It’s a big sports city with three major league teams across football, hockey, and baseball. The local arts scene – for both the fine arts and the performing arts – is extremely active and members of the community enjoy access to world-class theaters, museums, and galleries. Moreover, the city’s rich Cuban heritage is reflected in the local cuisine, including heritage restaurants that have cemented themselves as gastronomic institutions.

OVERVIEW OF TAMPA, FL

Basic information

Tampa takes its name from the bay surrounding it – a massive, natural harbor on Florida’s west coast and the state’s largest open-water estuary. The city is the seat of Hillsborough County and a part of the larger Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater metro area, the second-largest metropolitan area in the state, and the sixth-largest in the southeast United States.

Population

More than 4 million residents live within the larger metro area. Tampa City itself is home to more than 400,000 people, making it the third most populous city in Florida behind Jacksonville and Miami.

Nearest cities and climate

St. Petersburg is the nearest city to Tampa, with the approximately 4-mile Sunshine Skyway Bridge connecting the two cities. Meanwhile, Orlando and Miami are 85 and 280 miles away, respectively. Florida’s subtropical climate provides warm weather year-round with predictable rain patterns – good for outdoor recreation and water activities.

Brief history

Tampa’s modern history began as a military outpost built in 1824 following the construction of Fort Brooke. This development attracted civilians and in 1855, Tampa Town was incorporated. Thirty years later, the cigar manufacturer Vicente Martinez Ybor brought his industry to the area and founded what is now known as the Ybor Historic District. Thousands of Cubans, piards, Italians, and other immigrants soon arrived to work in the cigar factories and established themselves as among the city’s first residents.

Tampa was reincorporated into a city in 1887, and the city’s population multiplied almost twenty-fold between 1880 and 1900. Growth continued into the 20th century as Tampa diversified into a financial, commercial, and trade hub.

As more residents moved into the area, the city annexed several Hillsborough County communities like Ybor City, Sulphur Springs, Port Tampa, and New Tampa. The population rebounded after a lull during the Great Depression, breaching the 100,000 mark in the 1930s and 300,000 in the 1990s.

Today, Tampa is a thriving city with a strong economy, a diverse population, and an attractive waterfront that’s home to one of the biggest ports in the country.

What it’s known for

Tampa houses three major professional sports teams: the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (NFL), the Tampa Bay Lightning (NHL), and the Tampa Bay Rays (MLB). Additionally, its culinary scene mixes traditional Southern comfort with multicultural – specifically, Latin American – influences. Tampa’s Cuban sandwich is so famous that a whole festival is dedicated to it.

Popular local attractions include the Busch Gardens, the historic Ybor City, and Tampa’s sporting venues: Raymond James Stadium, Steinbrenner Field, Yuengling Center, and Amalie Arena.

TAMPA, FL HOMES FOR SALE

Tampa’s communities include historic districts, quiet neighborhoods, and urban developments, providing a good mix of environments and an array of attractive choices for home buyers.

Real estate market

Tampa’s real estate market has been thriving, driven by its strong economy, population growth, and desirable lifestyle. As more people move to the area for job opportunities and the attractive climate, housing demand continues to rise. This has led to steady property value appreciation, making Tampa a prime location for both home buyers and investors. With the city’s ongoing infrastructure development and revitalization projects, areas like Downtown and waterfront communities are experiencing significant growth, further boosting real estate opportunities.

Additionally, Tampa’s robust rental market presents excellent potential for investors seeking income-generating properties. The city’s large population of students, young professionals, and seasonal visitors creates consistent demand for rental housing. Coupled with Florida’s favorable tax environment and the lack of a state income tax, investing in Tampa real estate offers long-term financial benefits, making it a strong market for real estate investments.

Property types

Single-family homes make up more than half of Tampa’s residential market. These properties vary in size and style, from historic bungalows in Seminole Heights to modern luxury homes in Davis Islands. Found in both suburban neighborhoods and urban communities, these homes are private and spacious.

Popular architectural styles among homes for sale in Tampa, FL include:

• Mediterranean Revival
• Modern
• Art Deco
• Key West
• Coastal Contemporary

Condos are scattered throughout urban Tampa. You’ll find a high concentration of high-rises around Downtown, the north end of Harbour Island, and along Bayshore Boulevard. These homes are great for buyers seeking a living space that’s compact and low-maintenance. Alternatively, there are some townhomes throughout the suburbs that are cost-efficient and have common amenities.

Remarkably, Tampa has an abundance of vacant lots both in and around the city. Depending on location, these lots have the potential for building custom homes or developing into a profitable real estate enterprise. You’ll find farms and rural homes to the north and east of the city. Several landowners in rural Tampa run wineries, equestrian facilities, and/or grow fruits and crops.

Notable neighborhoods

DAVIS ISLANDS

Located in South Tampa where the Hillsborough River empties into the bay, Davis Islands’ suburban feel and proximity to Downtown Tampa are its main draws. The Downtown area is just a 10-minute car ride from the southern end of the neighborhood. For a quick bite, cafes and bars line East Davis Boulevard – the community’s main street. At the southern end of Davis Islands lies a white-sand beach, a dog park, and the Davis Islands Yacht Club. Notably, Davis is the only community in Tampa where golf carts are allowed to be used as an additional mode of transport within the island, on top of bikes and cars. Davis Islands also has an impressive array of amenities: Three baseball diamonds, an events garden, Peter O’Knight Airport (formerly the main airport of Tampa), and Tampa General Hospital are all found in the area.

HYDE PARK

This upscale neighborhood is one of the city’s earliest residential areas, characterized by stately homes built in the 19th and 20th centuries. Located just across the river from Downtown Tampa, homes for sale in this historic area are adorned in traditional architectural styles like French Second Empire Revival, Queen Anne, Tudor, and Colonial Revival. Hyde Park residents are spoiled for dining and nightlife choices. The community borders Downtown to the east. South Howard Avenue, which serves as its western border, is a nightlife and culinary destination in its own right. Bern’s Steak House, a Tampa favorite, is located here. More than 10 bars line the street and are packed with sports fans and young people during the weekends. Hyde Park Village is a stylish, open-air shopping complex with high-end chains alongside locally owned boutiques.

HARBOUR ISLAND

Just like Davis Islands on its west side, this is another small island and gated community that is more directly connected to the downtown area’s waterfront. It also has more diverse property types since a number of high-rises stand on its northern end. The remainder of the community’s residences are single-family homes, mostly with pools and private docks connected to Seddon Channel and the rest of Tampa Bay. For this reason, Harbour Island is highly coveted among boating enthusiasts.

SEMINOLE HEIGHTS

Nicknamed “The Heights” by locals, this historic district is located approximately five miles north of Downtown. This established community is defined by its narrow streets, large oak trees, and restored homes. Many bungalows here are in the historic register. The atmosphere in this quaint residential pocket is that of a community made strong by old and new roots. The entire five square miles of the community is pleasantly walkable with access to the river from the western side.

Seminole Heights also has a trendy commercial center with vintage shops, a farmer’s market, craft breweries, and casual dining options that are predominantly small, family-owned businesses. Between the place’s character and its trendy bohemian vibe, it’s easy to see what makes Seminole Heights so attractive to everyone, especially among creatives, young families, and hipsters.

BALLAST POINT

Sitting on the western shore of Hillsborough Bay just north of MacDill Air Force Base, this established neighborhood has a history that goes back to the 1800s when it was connected to Downtown Tampa and Ybor City via trolley. Today, a 15-minute drive down the picturesque Bayshore Boulevard takes you right into the heart of the city. However, given that other South Tampa neighborhoods are closer to Downtown, homes in Ballast Point tend to be more affordable.

You’ll see a lot of Queen Annes, Victorians, Ranch-style homes, and Craftsman bungalows in this community. The area itself is homey and quaint, with tall trees providing ample shade and cooling during hot Florida summers. Ballast Point Park is as historic as the neighborhood itself. It has a 600-foot fishing pier that’s open 24/7, a boat ramp, a playground, a splash pad, and picnic tables. Other facilities include a community fitness center and several tennis courts.

DOWNTOWN TAMPA

The central business district of Hillsborough County, this urban core is extremely walkable but you also have the option to take the streetcar that runs parallel to the waterfront and its network of parks and entertainment options. Across a roughly two-mile stretch of Channelside Drive is an endless array of places to visit: open-air beer gardens and food courts, boutiques, museums, convention centers, The Florida Aquarium, and Amalie Arena, home of the Tampa Bay Lightning. Water Street intersects Channelside on the east side of Amalie. This mixed-use urban neighborhood features an endless array of amenities at the center of everything, making it one of the best places to live in Tampa for professionals.

LIVING IN TAMPA, FL

Getting around

Tampa has several transportation options that make getting around the city easy and efficient. Major highways, such as I-275, I-4, and the Selmon Expressway, provide quick access to the suburbs and other parts of Florida. Public transportation is available via the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit (HART) system which operates buses across the city. The Downtown area is serviced by the TECO Streetcar, a convenient way to travel between the CBD and Ybor City.

Schools

Tampa is served by Hillsborough County Public Schools, one of the largest and most highly regarded in the state. The district offers a wide variety of educational options, including magnet schools and programs for gifted students. Tampa also boasts a number of prestigious private schools, such as Berkeley Preparatory School and Corbett Preparatory School.

Higher education institutions in the area include the University of South Florida, a leading research university, and The University of Tampa, known for its business programs and historic campus.

Cost of living

Tampa’s cost of living is relatively affordable when compared to other major cities in Florida. Housing costs vary depending on the neighborhood, but overall, Tampa offers more affordable options than cities like Miami or Orlando. The quality of life here is also excellent, given its coastal location, economic stability, and the breadth of lifestyle options to be enjoyed here.

Dining

Tampa’s best local restaurants are institutions unto themselves, having grown together with the city.

• BERN’S STEAK HOUSE: Opened in 1956, Bern’s Steak House on SoHo has a luxurious ambiance – think British royalty-owned manor with gilded furniture and warm lighting. It’s best known for steaks dry-aged to perfection. After the main course, each table gets to tour the wine cellar containing over 100,000 bottles before proceeding to the dessert room upstairs. It’s a Tampa resident’s go-to place to impress out-of-towners.
• ULELE: Located on the Riverwalk on North Highland Avenue, this Native American-inspired restaurant boasts a spacious lawn and airy indoor dining. Patrons get to watch their dinner slow-cook on the 10-foot-diameter barbacoa grill. The restaurant also serves excellent seafood, sourced fresh off the Gulf Coast.
• COLUMBIA RESTAURANT: This is Florida’s oldest restaurant, established in 1905 in Ybor City. pning an entire city block, it’s artfully decorated with Seville tiles (azulejos), chandeliers, and Don Quixote murals. Flamenco shows add entertainment to flavorful dinners. Regulars love their Cubano, paella, and boliche, complemented by a pitcher of sangria and rounded out with a hearty serving of white chocolate pudding.

Arts and culture

Tampa’s museums, galleries, and performance venues enrich the cultural experience of its residents and visitors. The Tampa Museum of Art showcases a wide array of modern and classical art, while the Straz Center for the Performing Arts is the go-to destination for theater, opera, and concerts.

Outdoor recreation

Tampa’s climate encourages an active outdoor lifestyle. The city has 146 parks, along with hiking trails and water-based activities. The Tampa Riverwalk is a popular spot for jogging, biking, and strolling along the waterfront. Meanwhile, Bayshore Boulevard is one of the longest continuous sidewalks in Florida, perfect for walking and cycling. You may also paddle through Hillsborough River from John B. Sargeant Park, Lettuce Lake Park, and Trout Creek Conservation Park found north of the city.

FIND YOUR NEW HOME OR INVESTMENT IN TAMPA, FL WITH THE TERRI KELLEY GROUP

Explore the Tampa real estate market with the industry-leading Terri Kelley Group. Whatever your goals may be in this large, diverse market, we’ll provide top-notch, personalized service to help you achieve your real estate goals. Call us at 762.465.9426 or message us here to get started.