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Saturday, August 19, 2023

About Spring Hill, FL, Real Estate

Spring Hill Real Estate

Picture yourself frolicking in crystal-clear waters while mermaids gracefully glide by, creating a spectacle that’s as whimsical as it is wondrous. Well, hold onto your snorkels because Spring Hill, FL, is where fantasy becomes a reality! Life in this mid-Florida Gulf Coast hammock is a delightful blend of leisure and adventure. And best of all, it’s an affordable place to live! The Spring Hill, FL, real estate market balances suburban comforts and the peace of outdoor escape. 

Capture the spirit of Spring Hill living in our brief market profile. Learn what you need to know, from the cost of living to where the mermaids glide.

Mermaid underwater show

About Spring Hill, FL

Spring Hill is not a town or city but an unincorporated area in Hernando County on the Florida west central coast.  It’s halfway between Tampa and Ocala when driving on Interstate 75. Even though it’s not a municipality, it’s extensive and well-developed. Spanning 34 square miles and with over 110,000 people, Spring Hill has the amenities and density to rival a mid-size city.

Developers launched the area as a master-planned community in the late 1960s, with the idea of creating an active adult community. It included seven school sites, two golf courses, and 500 acres for commercial development. Early homes were built with retirees in mind, with two bedrooms, 1.5-baths, and smaller square footage. Home sizes and footprints expanded over the years as more people found Spring Hill attractive to live.

Like other towns in Florida’s Nature Coast region, Spring Hill first attracted people for its outdoor recreational access, particularly for its natural freshwater springs and Gulf Coast fishing. The highlight is Weeki Wachee Springs, where residents and visitors watch the legendary Mermaids of Weeki Waco glide through crystal-clear waters. This roadside attraction is one of Florida’s oldest landmarks.

Fishing, boating, and paddling are the ecotourism stars because of its rustic Florida natural beauty. People come to scuba dive challenging caves like Eagle’s Nest, cast in mangroves for prize redfish, and paddle quiet rivers, and swim at Pine Island Beach.

On land, there’s more to do. With paved biking trails connecting to make hundreds of miles of pathways to hiking the sand hills of Croom Forest, there’s a way to stay fit and enjoy the Florida weather. Hernando County has 15 golf courses to play on the best winter days. For those who prefer not to sweat, Spring Hill’s commercial corridors on Highway 50 and US 19 are lined with retail therapy, and nearby Brooksville’s historic shops are minutes away!

What is the cost of living in Spring Hill, FL?

Want to stretch your budget? The cost of living in Spring Hill is about 4% lower than the national average. 

Compared to other Florida cities, housing costs are notably cheaper here. Homebuyers save you about 22% off median home prices. Housing expenses are usually a top spending item in most budgets, so that’s significant savings.

While utilities, groceries, and transportation costs are higher than the national average, having a below-average housing cost could balance it all out. Living expenses here can be 5-10% less than elsewhere, depending on where you buy a home in Spring Hill.

Spring Hill Florida Cost of Living

*2023 figures

Spring Hill, FL, Real Estate Market

The homes for sale in Spring Hill will surprise buyers with their wide choice of property types and affordable prices. In September 2024, over 1,500 Spring Hill homes were for sale. Prices ranged from $13,000 for an undeveloped lot to $4.95 million for a private Gulffront estate with 23 acres, a 40-car garage, and 8,985 sq ft in the main residence.

But the good news is the September 2024 median list price was $340,000, making the homes here well under the national $412,000 going rate of single-family homes in Q2 2024. The median sale price per sq ft was $197. The home selection ranges from mobile home parks to quiet country estates settled in green rolling hills–a surprising feature for mostly flat Florida. 

Are there any condos or townhomes available in Spring Hill, FL? 

Spring Hill predominantly has single-family homes, but you can find some condos and townhomes. In this category, duplexes and villas tend to be more common. Timber Pines, a gated master-planned community, and Lone Star Townhomes are great places to look for well-maintained townhomes and villa-style living.

September 2024 prices for this segment ranged from $189,000 for a lakefront two-bedroom, two-bathroom condo to $310,000 for a two-bedroom, two-bathroom condo. 

Are there any waterfront properties found in Spring Hill, FL?

Spring Hill may not be directly Gulf front, but it is home to fantastic waterfront properties. From riverfront estates on the crystal-clear Weeki Wachee to lakeside homes on Hunters Lake, those seeking the peace of looking out the back window at the shimmering waterfront dotted with herons, pelicans, and wildlife can find it.

A typical Spring Hill waterfront home will be on smaller ponds or water retention reservoirs. Be aware that the low-lying nature of the sand hills means that in droughts, local lakes can dry up. Living west of US 19, closer to Hernando Beach, means a landscape of expansive salt marshes, tidal rivers, and sinkholes. 

The 105 available waterfront properties in Spring Hill for September 2024 had prices ranging from low $39,000 for a vacant lot to more than $4.95 million, depending on the size, waterfront location, and amenities included in each property. 

Are there golf course communities in Spring Hill, FL? 

Timber Pines is a well-loved golf course community. Founded in 1986, it was the area’s first gated master-planned active adult community. 

The 27-hole championship golf course offers challenging play with plenty of fairways and five sets of tees. With its beautiful rolling hills, tall pines, and mature landscaping, this course is considered one of the most beautiful in Florida.

The community’s suite of amenities includes a state-of-the-art fitness center, tennis courts, swimming pools and spas, walking trails, and social events to keep you active year-round. It’s exclusively 55+ living if you want an active adult community.

What neighborhoods are in Spring Hill, FL?

The community has developed in stages, with 70 neighborhoods developed organically or through master-planned development. Popular sections include Timber Pines, Silverthorn, Heritage Pines, River Country Estates, Seven Hills, and Brentwood. 

Given the area’s size, a local real estate agent can help you find the part of Spring Hill with the right combination of amenities and the price of homes.

What is the property tax rate for Spring Hill, FL?

Since Spring Hill isn’t a town, you’ll gain savings by not having an additional property tax. But you will pay taxes to Hernando County, which charged 15.6854 mils for 2022. In Florida, one mil equals $1 for every $1,000 of property valuation. Learn more about Florida property taxes to understand how the system works.

What county is Spring Hill, FL, in?

Hernando County is the start of Florida’s Nature Coast. This region runs from Hernando Beach north through Cedar Key and includes Citrus and Levy Counties. It is known for its springs, rivers, lakes, and shallow Gulf of Mexico coastline. Many state forests and wildlife refuges preserve their pristine landscapes. People come here to swim with mermaids and manatees, snorkel for scallops, and land redfish. It has an old Florida-style sense of community, with majestic live oaks shading streets, sand hills, and smoked mullet stands.

Its near-geographic center location in Florida makes it easy to travel around the state. The Suncoast Parkway and I-75 make commuting to the Tampa metro or heading to Gainesville easy day trips. The Suncoast Parkway drops directly into the Tampa International Airport for easy flights. Theme park capital Orlando is just under two hours east. 

The county only has two incorporated cities (Brooksville and Weeki Wachee), but many locally recognized small towns and areas. They are Hernando Beach, Masaryktown, Bayport, Aripeka, and Lake Lindsey.

Hernando’s claim to fame is Weeki Wachee State Park. The roadside attraction continues to draw people to admire the Mermaids gracefully swimming through the deep springs. Today, it has an adjacent water park with slides and a nature center.

Weeki Wachee Fun Facts

Is Spring Hill, FL growing?

Hernando County’s population is over 200,000, with Brooksville being the largest city. 

Spring Hill is the most populous unincorporated area in Florida, with over 110,000 people. That makes up half of the county’s population. It’s been steadily growing ever since the 1970s but has managed to stay affordable even as new Spring Hill homes are built. 

How is golf in Spring Hill, FL?

Three golf courses are available, and more are scattered across Hernando County. You also have the courses in Citrus and Pasco County.

Oak Hills Golf Club is a public course in the heart of Spring Hill. It’s a great combination of fun and competition with an 18-hole, par 72 championship course stretching 6,709 yards, featuring natural elevation changes and challenges on every hole. 

Silverthorn Country Club has beautiful grounds across its championship 18 holes. The semi-private course has a golf academy and dining facilities.

The Heather is a nine-hole course open to the public for fast and fun play under longleaf pines and oak fairways. There is a Pro Shop on site.

Timber Pines has four courses on its private country club facilities, each designed by Ron Garl. The Grand Pines is a signature 18-hole championship course rated par 72. The Hills and Lakes courses are executive courses with slopes of 90 and 98, respectively. And for even faster play, the Highlands is nine holes for a par three course. 

East of Spring Hill is the private Southern Hills Plantation Club. This course offers an 18-hole experience surrounded by nature preserves with wide fairways that tease you into hitting the driver. 

Head north on US 19, and you’ll find more courses at Woodland Waters, Glen Lakes, and World Woods.

What areas are near Spring Hill, FL?

A Spring Hill home is in a great central spot for exploring Florida’s Gulf Coast. To the west, you have Hernando Beach, with multiple marinas and salt flats spreading into the Gulf of Mexico. It’s waterfront, but that also means median home prices are higher. To the east is Brooksville, a classic old Florida town where the roads are still shaded by massive live oaks necklaced in Spanish moss. Median home prices are slightly above Spring Hill, but there are potential properties within the same pricing brackets.

To the north, award-winning Homosassa Springs Wildlife Park is a family-friendly destination in the sleepy Homosassa fishing village. Beyond that are more stops on the Nature Coast, like Crystal River and Inglis.

Hop on the Suncoast Parkway toll road and head south towards Tampa and St. Pete; you can be at these cities’ cultural destinations within an hour. 

What to know about living in Spring Hill, FL

Living in Spring Hill means access to some of Florida’s best nature preserves, rivers, and springs. With the cost of living below national averages and no state income tax, this is an ideal retirement or second-home destination. 

Add its proximity to Tampa and St. Petersburg, and Spring Hill is the perfect hometown for accessing city amenities while enjoying a quieter, more rural setting. Find your affordable Spring Hill home today.

Updated September 2024

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Preston Guyton

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