Downsizing to Valencia del Sol

Valencia del Sol at a glance

GL Homes started Valencia del Sol in Wimauma in 2019, on Hillsborough County's South Shore near US 301 and SR 674, not far from its earlier community Valencia Lakes and from Sun City Center and Kings Point. The gated community is planned for about 565 attached villas and single-family homes, a smaller footprint than Valencia Lakes' roughly 1,000 homes.

The centerpiece is a nine-acre lifestyle complex built around a 25,000 square foot clubhouse, which opened as the community's homes started filling in. Because it is newer than the other South Shore 55+ communities on this list, expect a construction zone in some phases alongside finished, landscaped sections.

Sources: GL Homes: Valencia del Sol, 55places: Valencia del Sol.

Homes and layout in Valencia del Sol

GL Homes built Valencia del Sol with single-story floor plans, both attached villas and detached single-family homes. Now that the community has sold out, GL Homes no longer publishes floor plan sizes for it online, so ask a listing agent for the square footage and floor plan name of a specific home rather than relying on a range. Layouts include screened and covered patios and open kitchen and living areas typical of GL Homes' newer Valencia line.

GL Homes has removed Valencia del Sol from the active-communities list on glhomes.com, and builder trackers describe only a last few move-in-ready homes remaining, so treat this as an essentially built-out community rather than an active construction site. If you are looking at one of those final new-construction homes, budget time for the closing schedule that comes with building rather than the faster close typical of a resale. If you are looking at a resale, ask when that particular phase was built, since early and late phases can be several years apart. See our guide to condo, townhome, villa or single-family for how maintenance duties typically split between owner and association in an attached villa.

Sources: GL Homes: Valencia del Sol, NewHomeSource: Valencia del Sol.

Amenities and clubs in Valencia del Sol

The 25,000 square foot clubhouse holds a Grand Social Hall with a stage and dance floor, an arts studio, a fitness center, an exercise studio and a card room. Bistro del Sol, the on-site restaurant, has indoor and outdoor seating, so an evening out does not require driving to US 301. Outside, residents have a beach-entry resort pool with lap lanes, eight pickleball courts, five clay tennis courts, bocce courts, two dog parks and an event lawn. A full-time lifestyle director organizes the calendar of clubs and classes.

That level of on-site amenity is the trade-off for buying into a community still finishing construction: you get newer facilities and a fuller activity calendar sooner than in older communities, but also more nearby building activity in the near term.

Sources: GL Homes: Valencia del Sol, Valencia del Sol homeowners site.

Rules and fees in Valencia del Sol

Valencia del Sol operates under HOPA, the federal Housing for Older Persons Act, which requires at least 80 percent of occupied homes to have a resident 55 or older. The community's recorded declaration and HOA, the Valencia Del Sol Homeowners Association, set the exact age, rental, pet and golf cart rules for the private streets, so ask the association or its management company for the current monthly dues and rulebook rather than a listing estimate.

Newer master-planned communities on the South Shore commonly carry a Community Development District, or CDD, assessment on the tax bill to repay infrastructure like roads and utilities, separate from the HOA fee. Check the property record card and tax bill for a specific address at hcpafl.org to see whether a CDD assessment applies, and ask for the CDD disclosure summary along with the HOA documents before you make an offer, since a CDD assessment does not disappear the way a mortgage does.

Health care near Valencia del Sol

HCA Florida South Shore Hospital is at 4016 Sun City Center Boulevard, a short drive from Valencia del Sol. St. Joseph's Hospital-South is at 6901 Simmons Loop in Riverview and AdventHealth Riverview is at 9330 US 301 South. Tampa General Hospital and Moffitt Cancer Center are further north in Tampa for specialized care.

Sources: HCA Florida South Shore Hospital, BayCare, AdventHealth Riverview.

Storms, flooding and insurance in Valencia del Sol

Wimauma sits inland from Tampa Bay, but newer South Shore communities like Valencia del Sol are built around retention ponds that manage stormwater, so check the flood zone for the specific lot, especially any home backing onto water. Look up the current evacuation zone for the exact address at hcfl.gov/HEAT and confirm the flood zone on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center. New construction here should meet current Florida building code for wind, which can mean better insurance credits than an older resale, but confirm that with a wind mitigation inspection rather than assuming. Our hurricane and flood insurance guide covers what to request.

Taxes and local government in Valencia del Sol

Valencia del Sol is in unincorporated Hillsborough County, so there is no city property tax on top of the county rate. Homestead owners who meet the 2026 income limit of $38,686 can apply for the county's limited-income senior exemption of up to $50,000, plus a long-term resident exemption after 25 years in the home, though that second one will not apply to a brand-new purchase here. If a CDD assessment applies, it shows up as a separate non-ad valorem line on the tax bill, not part of the homestead calculation. Our portability guide and costs and money page explain the homestead and Save Our Homes math under current law, which could change if Amendment 3 passes on November 3, 2026.

Questions to ask before you buy in Valencia del Sol

• Is this home new construction or a resale, and if new, what is the estimated closing timeline?
• Is there a CDD assessment on this address, and what is the current annual amount?
• What is the HOA fee, and what does it cover beyond the gate and clubhouse?
• Which construction phase is this home in, and how much building is still happening nearby?
• Does this lot back onto a pond, and what is the flood zone?
• What are the rental restrictions and minimum lease term?
• What evacuation zone applies to this exact address?

If you are comparing Valencia del Sol against the more established Valencia Lakes or the golf cart streets of Sun City Center, a local agent who works with downsizers can walk all three with you. Get matched with one here.