These Are The Most Expensive Cities In Tampa To Buy A House

Purchasing a home is one of the biggest investments anyone will make. A home doesn’t just offer a cozy place to live, but also is a large asset that can make you some serious money if played correctly. If you’re looking to make the move to Tampa Bay, you may want to take this into consideration when choosing where to live. But, what are the most expensive cities in Tampa to buy a house? Let’s break it down.

In November 2023, the average home value in the United States was higher than 2022. Coming in at $347,415, the national average rose by 2.2% in just a year. As of December 14, 2023, the 30 year fixed mortgage rate sat at 6.95%.

Well, high mortgage rates are causing monthly payments to increase, making it more difficult to buy for most families. When Stacker put together their list of the most expensive cities in Tampa to buy a home, they used data from Zillow dating back to 2018.

There’s no doubt prices have inflated across the country, but some cities have a higher average than others. According to Florida Atlantic University, Tampa home buyers paid 42.81% premiums for a home in November 2023.

Elia Beracha, Ph.D., director of FIU’s Hollo School of Real Estate, said “Without these higher interest rates, we would see Florida’s prices reaccelerate because there is so much demand relative to the supply of units,” Beracha said. “As well, the influx of high-income movers to Florida is putting upward pressure on prices. We are witnessing a transition in Florida’s economy and our housing markets around the state are experiencing growing pains from this transition.”

Many of these cities are located on or right near the beach so below we include a few cities within Tampa Bay where families may be looking to find a home. Safety Harbor ranks #16 and saw a +71.7% increase over the last 5 years with an average home value of $517,988. Dunedin ranks #21 and saw a 77.7% increase over the last 5 years with an average home value of $442,452. Wesley Chapel ranks #24 and saw a +65.9% increase over the last 5 years with an average home value of $426,600.

It has become increasingly harder for middle class individuals to own a home in the state of Florida and across the country. Younger generations are forced into high-rise apartment complexes with skyrocketing rent without gaining any sort of equity in their home. Where are you looking to purchase a home? To view the full list of most expensive cities in Tampa to buy a house, click here. 

The first thing that locals will tell you is "Don't" but that's because they want to keep Tampa to themselves. Unfortunately, the reality is people are going to continue to relocate to the Sunshine State. Tampa is a growing market, which means a lot of people are moving to the 813. Although locals wish the growing would stop, it's still exciting to watch for our city. It's always been a hot spot for long-time tourists, aka snowbirds, and people who are here for a short time. A lot of these tourists are becoming "transplants" and turning their vacation into a lifestyle. But we bet they wish they had this realistic advice before moving to Tampa. Thinking of making the move? Check out our pros and cons of living in the Tampa Bay area and scroll down to find out what's really going on here.

We jokingly asked our listeners what advice they would give someone who plans on moving to Tampa. Of course, the comments are flooded with "Don't", "We're full", and "Stay in NY". And while they aren't wrong, it's not really realistic advice for someone to move to Tampa.

Locals and transplants can find common ground on why Tampa is such a great place to live. There are lots of reasons why people save all year just to visit. The year-round warm weather is a big selling point for those relocating from colder states. We have some of the best beaches in the country, a melting pot of foodie culture, some of the most popular theme parks in the country, and championship-winning sports teams. Like every major city, you will run into issues like a growing homeless population, cost of living, HOA's among others.

This is slightly a joke but also kind of serious because it really does take an hour to get anywhere in Tampa. If you plan on moving to Tampa be sure to bring some patience. Trust us, you'll need it for driving on 275 or across the Howard Frankland during rush-hour (or any time of day really).

One of the biggest cons of moving to Florida/Tampa is the insurance rates. You have 10 days to title and register your car, boats, mobile home, etc. You'll have 30 days to obtain a Florida driver license. If you don't, you could see a hefty $500 fine. It's also worth noting the cost of car insurance is 30% higher than the national average.

Also since Florida is constantly threatened by major hurricanes, expect to pay A LOT for home/flood insurance.

It's something that even locals are guilty of doing. If you want to fit right in with the rest of Tampa, be sure to never use your blinker and let other drivers know your next move. Also, instead of making a u-turn, it's Florida policy to cut over 3 lanes of traffic to correct your mistake. (For legal reasons, this is a joke).

If you go anything under the speed limit in the left lane, be prepared to be met with a lot of middle fingers from Tampa locals.

Seriously, you made the move. Now you're a Floridian. We don't care "how you did it in New York". If you liked it so much, you could've stayed. Related note: Once you make the transfer to Tampa, leave behind your old team sports gear. You're a Bucs/Rays/Lightning fan now.

One thing you may not have realized in Florida is the bugs are INTENSE. Mosquitoes, fire ants, and palmetto bugs are extremely common. You also might want to get used to wearing sunscreen daily and have some allergy medication on hand. We have plants that bloom year-round which causes a lot of issues for people with bad allergies. Plus the ocean breeze can move pollen for miles.

If you've visited on vacation you probably experienced this. It's a beautiful sunny day until around 4pm when we get our daily showers. If you're at an amusement park like Busch Gardens, don't worry about gathering your things and leaving (unless otherwise stated by the park). Majority of the time, you can wait out the storm in 30-60 minutes.

Before making the move to Tampa, maybe consider doing a trial run during our "worst" months. It's the hottest in July/August, hurricanes really pick up in September, traffic is TERRIBLE during spring break. If you plan a 2-3 week visit during any of these months, you'll get a real taste of what it's like living in Tampa.