COMPARE TAMPA BAY’S TOP 55 PLUS RETIREMENT COMMUNITIES

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COMPARE TAMPA BAY TOP 55 PLUS RETIREMENT COMMUNITIES

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Table of Contents 3) WHAT’S GOOD TO KNOW ABOUT LIVING IN TAMPA BAY?

7) TOP 55 PLUS COMPARISON CHART

8) VALENCIA LAKES

10) SOUTHSHORE FALLS 12) SUN CITY CENTER

14) MIRABAY

16) WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

18) A FEW MORE THINGS TO CONSIDER

WHAT’S GOOD TO KNOW

ABOUT LIVING IN TAMPA BAY?

There is a lot to love …..

The Weather I love Florida’s weather year round. However, not everyone that moves here feels the same way. If you’ve been here on vacation during the summer months you have experienced the heat and humidity. The heat and humidity are not just for 2 weeks, you can count on it at least 6 or 7 months out of the year. That’s why our homes and cars are air conditioned! The average summer high temperature is 90 degrees with the average low temperature being in the 70’s. Winter here comes in spurts of cold weather that usually only last for a few days at a time. Then we are back to enjoying our balmy, sunshiny days until the next cold wave hits. The coldest months are usually January and February with average highs being about 71 degrees and average low temperature being about 52 degrees. I have to admit I hate the cold, especially when it gets down in the 30’s and I have to cover my outdoor plants so they don’t freeze.

If you are scared of thunderstorms Tampa Bay is probably not a good match. Tampa Bay has been referred to as the Lightning Capital of North America. Frankly, the storms are beautiful to watch. (Inside of course.) It’s also a great time to sit down with a good book or take a nap. June through September have the most precipitation with an average of almost 7 inches of rain each month.

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So you are considering a move to Tampa Bay. It’s a great place to live, work, retire, or have a second home. Tampa Bay has a lot to offer. Of course I am prejudiced. I am a 5th generation Floridian, and my husband, Jim, moved here as a child with his family over 50 years ago. We both love Florida and especially Tampa Bay.

Affordability In March of 2014 Forbes Magazine named Tampa Bay No. 18 on its list of the most affordable large U.S. metro areas. Looking at the country's 100 largest metro areas, Forbes factored in housing affordability, a cost-of-living index as well as the cost of food, utilities, gas, transportation, medical expenses, and miscellaneous expenses. Not only is Tampa Bay more affordable than most of the nation, Tampa Bay’s housing is substantially more affordable than most of Florida’s south east and south west coasts. 4

There’s Lots to Do! Even though I have lived here all of my life I am still discovering new places to go and things to do. And many of the fun, enjoyable things are free or low cost. All year round you can picnic, swim, fish, boat, go kayaking or canoe the rivers and bays. A canoe trip down the Hillsborough River is a treat full of wildlife. Enjoy a good game? You have great choices year round: golf(10 courses within 15 minutes of 55+), tennis, pickle ball, Bocce Ball, Bowling, Shuffleboard, and Softball. You can go hiking or biking on the hundreds of miles of trails in Tampa Bay’s parks and preserves. Or just walk the nature trails, enjoy the scenery, and bird watch.

The state has many clear natural springs to enjoy, with local Lithia Springs only about 20 minutes from the top 55+ Tampa Bay Communities. It is hard to find another state that has so many interesting places and enjoyable things to do than Florida. I love the small towns and ‘old Florida’. I love eating fresh seafood at so many of the different Tampa Bay restaurants. Saturday mornings there are outdoor fresh markets through out Tampa Bay. And through out the year their are various outdoor festivals, art shows, and craft shows you will not want to miss. If you are a sports fan you can fill your time with the our professional sports teams, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tampa Bay Lightning, and the Tampa Bay Rays, or even the New York Yankees, who have their spring training here. Tampa Bay’s art & culture will inspire and entertain you. So much to do and enjoy, including the Tampa Museum, the Dali Museum, the Chihuly Collection, the Ringling Museum, the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts, the Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Ruth Eckerd Hall, the Amalie Arena and more.

There are so many different areas of the beaches to choose from and enjoy, each with their own unique characteristics. From Fort Desoto County Park you can take the ferry to Egmont Key at the mouth of Tampa Bay and enjoy the pristine beaches and wander through the old Spanish American War, Fort Dade ruins. Or take the ferry over to Caladesi Island from Honeymoon Island State Park and spend a magical day on 3 miles of unspoiled beaches finding sharks teeth and shells.

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What about Taxes? Florida's tax climate ranks 5th best overall in the country, according to a March 2014 report from the Tax Foundation. Each state is ranked in five categories: corporate, individual income, sales, property and unemployment insurance taxes. Florida ranked first this year in individual income tax structure, third in unemployment tax structure, 14th in corporate tax, 12th in sales tax and 16th in property tax. Property taxes typically range between 1.5 – 2% of a property’s value. State Sales Tax is 7% on non-food items. And Florida has no state income tax. Florida is a very affordable area to retire , particularly the Tampa Bay area. 6

Continued Learning Attend College Classes for Free, or Visit the County’s largest Regional Library, both are just 5-15 minutes away from all of the 55+ communities. Florida residents age 60+ can enroll tuition-free in courses at the Hillsborough Community College Southshore campus on a space available basis. The Southshore Regional Library offers a wide variety of materials including books, magazines, online databases, music & DVDs. There are 49 public Internet access computers & wireless Internet service is available.. They also have a Genealogy Center with resources for genealogical research.

TOP 55 PLUS COMMUNITY COMPARISON Community Valencia Lakes

South Shore Falls

Sun City Center

Mira Bay

Location Wimauma, FL Apollo Beach, FL Sun City Center, FL Apollo Beach, FL

Types of Homes Single Family, Villa Homes Single Family, Villa Homes Single Family, Villa Homes, Condos, Quad & Triplexes

Single Family, Villas

Price Range

Villa Homes $190,000-$260,000 Single Family $212,900-$438,000

Villas $161,000-$188,000 Single Family $217,000- 237,000

Resales start under $100,000 New start at $223,000

Single Family $230,000 -$1 Million + Condo

Square Footage Air Conditioned

Villa Homes 1321-1800 sq ft Single Family 1800-2770 sq ft

Villas Homes1363-1650 sq ft Single Family 1735-2278 sq ft

Resales 800-2400 sq ft New 1683-2557 sq ft

Single Family 1786-5000+Sq Ft

Age/Built 2005 to present 2005 to present 1960 to present 2003 - present

HOA Fees Villa Homes $440 Mo Single Family $306 Mo

Villa Homes $238 Mo Single Family $241 Mo

There are 100 plus HOA’s at different price points

HOA $109 year CDD Fee $1405 -$5620

New /Resale New and Resale New and Resale New and Resale New and Resale

# Homes When Built Out 1649 866 11,000 + 1700

Age Restriction 55+ 55+ 55+ None

Gated Yes Yes Gated & Non-gated Yes

Pets 10 Pets Maximum 3 Pets Maximum 2 Pets –Can vary by HOA Yes

VALENCIA LAKES-WIMAUMA, FL Overview Valencia Lakes, by GL Homes, in Wimauma, Florida is a gated 55 + upscale resort style community with an active, vibrant lifestyle. Most of Valencia Lakes residents seem to be newly retired, in the 55-65 age range. If you are looking for luxurious new construction homes at reasonable prices and an active lifestyle, this is it.

Homes Valencia Lakes currently has approximately 1000 homes and is expected to be built out by about 2018 with 1649 homes. The Twin Villas Collection offer a choice of 6 different floor plans from 1,321 to 1800 air conditioned square feet, 2 car garages , and screen enclosed patio. Single family homes have 19 floor plans to choose from ranging from 1779 to 2770 air conditioned square feet.

Single family homes all have a screen enclosed patio with either a 2 or 3 car garage. All homes are designed for comfort and convenience and have many luxury features that are standard. Safety is always top of mind with monitored alarm systems being standard in all homes.

HOA The single family home HOA fee is currently $306 month and covers lawn and yard maintenance, lawn water irrigation, cable, alarm monitoring, community amenities, and 24/7 guard gate. The Villas HOA fee is currently $440 month and covers everything mentioned for single family homes plus: pressure washing, building insurance and exterior Villa painting every 5 years.

Amenities A 27,000 square foot Clubhouse (scheduled for expansion in 2015) is central to the Valencia Lakes active lifestyle and world class 8

amenities. Residents can take advantage of the top of the line fitness center and the aerobics studio that offers Yoga, Pilates,

dance and more. So much to choose from with the art studios and gallery, wine bar, gaming room, multi-purpose room, internet

cafe, social hall with dance floor, and a raised performing arts stage for regularly scheduled entertainment. There is truly something of interest for everyone. The full time lifestyle director organizes and oversees the over 50 clubs, programs and diverse activities that are available. Also lunch is available everyday at the cafe, dinner twice weekly, and breakfast available weekends.

You can hang out with friends at the resort pool and spa or exercise in the separate resistance pool. There is a cabana bath, locker facilities with steam room, saunas and more. You can walk or bike the scenic trails through the community, or fish at the designated fishing lake. There is a dog park for dog owners; and also a community garden you can take part in. There are 4 pickle ball courts, six lighted Har-Tru tennis courts, shuffleboard, basketball courts, softball field, and horseshoes. There is a storage area for boat and RV owners.

Nearby Valencia Lakes is tucked away in a quiet, small community in southern Hillsborough County but is convenient to everything, just 25 miles from downtown Tampa, 33 miles from Tampa International Airport, and a 40 minute drive to the nationally renowned Gulf Beaches. It is only a 5-10 minute drive to shopping, multiple golf courses, library, community college, top medical facilities and hospitals. The Tampa area is home to multiple professional sports teams, museums, performing arts centers, great shopping, and a huge variety of restaurants.

If you enjoy the outdoors Tampa Bay has hundreds of parks and trails to hike and bike. The rivers, lakes, and Bay offer boating, kayaking, canoeing. Tampa Bay is truly a beautiful and diverse area to explore and enjoy.

To learn more about Valencia Lakes or any of Tampa Bay’s 55+ Communities call Jim Smeaton at 813-477-2090.

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SOUTHSHORE FALLS-APOLLO BEACH, FL

Maintenance free Single Family Homes and Villa Homes offer numerous floor plans to choose from. The Villa Homes range from 1363 to 1650 square feet of air conditioned living area and come with 2 car garages and screened enclosed patios. The Single Family Homes range from 1735 to 2278 square feet of air conditioned living space, and also have 2 car garages and screened enclosed patios.

HOA The monthly HOA fees are $238 for Villa Homes and $241 for Single Family Homes. The fees cover all lawn and landscaping maintenance, basic cable and periodic roof pressure washing. The Villa Homes also have exterior painting included as an ongoing maintenance item. The fees also include the 24/7 manned gate, and the many community amenities.

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Overview Southshore Falls is one of Del Webb’s legendary 55+ communities. This newer, gated 55+ community is in the small town of Apollo Beach on the southeast side of Tampa Bay. With all its amenities and its great location this is a first class place to live, and is tailor made for socially active, and fitness oriented residents. It is expected that complete build out will occur before the end of 2015, so soon only resale homes will be available. Beautiful homes with great livable floor plans, affordable pricing, convenient location, all inside a planned, community offers much for the active 55+ crowd. Homes Southshore Falls currently has approximately 800 homes and is expected to be built out with 866 homes.

Amenities The large, beautiful 14,000 square foot Wellspring Club amenity center is the central hub for many of the community events and activities. A full featured fitness center, Internet café, card rooms, billiard room, craft rooms, and performing arts hall with stage and dance floor rounds out the clubhouse. A beautiful lagoon style pool, and separate circular exercise resistance pool are immediately adjacent to the clubhouse. A full time lifestyle director organizes and oversees the many clubs and activities available to the residents. There is always something fun and interesting to choose from! Tennis courts, and bocce ball courts provide for another popular resident activity.

Beautiful lakes, ponds, and canals dot Southshore Falls, and there are miles of walking paths and trails. With the warm Florida climate and plenty of sunshine year round there is always something of interest going on in the community.

Nearby Southshore Falls enjoys the perfect central location to all points Tampa Bay and Central Florida. Minutes from I-75 and only 25 miles from downtown Tampa and its vibrant atmosphere of sports centers, performing art venues, convention center, and museums. Major League sports teams call Tampa Bay home, and include football, baseball, hockey, and soccer. Fine and casual dining abounds, and there are numerous choices of great shopping locations. Tampa International Airport is a 40 minute drive. Excellent medical facilities are available and the brand new St. Josephs Hospital South is just a 10 minute drive away and opens in 2015. Orlando with Disney and all the other major theme parks are a 90 minute Interstate drive. The award winning Gulf beaches with their famous white sugar power sand are just half an hour away. Enjoy the outdoors? Boating, golfing, fresh and salt water fishing, and hiking are all close by and Tampa Bay has hundreds of parks to enjoy.

To learn more about Southshore Falls or any of Tampa Bay’s 55+ Communities call Jim Smeaton at 813-477-2090.

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SUN CITY CENTER, FL

The area is unincorporated and is run primarily by a large active association of resident volunteers. Police, and Fire service are ably provided by Hillsborough County, and the community has their own very efficient EMS service. In addition to the single family homes, there are many villa homes, duplexes, multi-family homes, condominiums, and assisted living facilities for residents to choose from. One of the unique aspects of Sun City Center is the use of Golf Carts for transportation. Most of the roadways and shopping areas are designed to accommodate golf cart transportation in addition to automobiles. Homes Since Sun City Center is over 50 years old, there are myriads of housing styles, built by many different builders, with a wide range of prices to choose from. Some of the most affordable are older smaller single family homes and duplexes starting in the $50,000 range. Prices can go to over $500,000 for beautifully crafted larger homes. Most of the housing available in all areas of Sun City Center are re-sale homes, with the exception of the Minto Communities homes being currently built in the south section of Kings Point, and Renaissance. The new construction homes by Minto Communities are both single family and villa homes. Floor plans range from 1683 sq ft to 2557 sq ft of air conditioned space. Base pricing ranges from $223,000 to $293,000. A new gated section of Renaissance “Verona”, by Minto will break ground in December 2014 and provide an additional 240 lots for both single family and villa homes.

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Overview Greater Sun City Center is an age restricted 55 + area (small town with its own zip code) of nearly 20,000 residents located in South Hillsborough County just east of I-75, and encompasses 3 major neighborhood communities. The original Sun City Center started by Del Webb in 1961 is primarily north of Sun City Blvd (SR 674) and contains approximately 6200 homes. Kings Point (gated) and Renaissance are south of Sun City Center Blvd and contain an additional 5,000 + homes.

HOA There are literally hundreds of separate HOA’s in Sun City Center, each with its own fees and regulations. The older North section requires a one time initial fee of $1500 for all home purchases, and a yearly fee of $270 per person to cover all of the community amenities. For the new homes built by Minto, the HOA fees include a one time $400 contribution, and $380 per month per household. The fees include lawn and landscaping maintenance.

Amenities There are almost limitless activities to be taken advantage of in multiple locations throughout Sun City Center. It is a golfers paradise, with 8 Golf Courses and 162 holes of golf, including both championship and executive courses. There are numerous amenity campuses with each campus offering facilities for social, hobby, and fitness activities. With over 200 clubs and organizations, there is something for everybody to participate in and enjoy. There are 3 separate venues which include stages for shows, musical entertainment, dinners and dances. There are numerous swimming pools, both indoor and outdoor, tennis courts, lawn bowling, bocce ball, pickleball, volleyball, shuffleboard, a softball field, and dog parks.

Nearby The Sun City Center community is 25 miles from downtown Tampa, tucked away in the southern part of Hillsborough County. Immediately east of I-75, there is quick access to points north, south, east and west. Just a 40 minute drive to The Tampa International Airport, and doorstep shuttle service is available to and from the airport if you prefer. Tampa is nearby with its vibrant atmosphere of sports centers, performing art venues, convention center, and museums. Major League sports teams call Tampa Bay home, and include football, baseball, hockey, and soccer. Fine and casual dining abounds, and there are numerous choices of great shopping locations. Tampa International Airport is a 40 minute drive. Excellent medical facilities are available. The South Shore Hospital on Sun City Blvd will be expanding in 2015, and the brand new St. Josephs Hospital South (opening 2015) is a 10 minute drive away. Orlando with Disney and all the other major theme parks are a 90 minute Interstate drive. The award winning Gulf beaches with their famous white powdered sugar sand are just half an hour away. Enjoy the outdoors? Boating, golfing, fresh and salt water fishing, and hiking are all close by and Tampa Bay has hundreds of parks to enjoy.

To learn more about Sun City Center or any of Tampa Bay’s 55+ Communities call Jim Smeaton at 813-477-2090.

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MIRABAY

style amenities and a socially active lifestyle making it attractive to active adult home buyers. Active construction by 5 of Tampa Bay’s premier builders is on-going with new homes available, as well as re-sale homes..

Homes Home construction began in 2003, and there are currently more than 800 homes, with a total build out projected to be 1700+ homes. A variety of home styles are available to choose from including low-maintenance villas, cottages, traditional single-family homes, and custom water front estates. Current builders include; Homes by WestBay, Cardel Homes, Ryland Homes, John Cannon Homes, and Neil Signature Homes. New construction floor plans range in size from 1800 sq ft to over 5,000 sq ft , with prices starting at $230,000 to well over $1 million.

HOA The HOA fees are $109 per year. In addition to real estate taxes, there is an annual CDD (Community Development District) fee which ranges from $1405 to $5620 depending on the size of the property lot. The CDD fee is a charge to every property owner to cover the cost of the infrastructure and maintenance within the community. It is generally paid yearly with the property taxes.

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Overview Located on the southeast shores of Tampa Bay, the waterfront community of MiraBay was developed by national award winning Newland Properties. MiraBay is a non age-restricted gated community, and is adjacent to the 1,300 acre Wolf Branch Nature Preserve. Situated on 750 landscaped acres, many of the property lots are located directly on the water, either MiraBay Lagoon, or one of the numerous salt water canals, allowing direct access to the waters of beautiful Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. The community offers a high standard of living, resort

The HOA and CDD fees include the 24/7 guard gates, operations and maintenance, and access to the many community amenities. For homes with docks, there is an initial registration fee of $750 per boat + $50 per boat, per year.

Amenities Many of the MiraBay residents compare living there to being on vacation every day. The MiraBay Club is the heart of the community. The resort style pool is open year round and offers dedicated lap swimming lanes, beach entry, water slide, and a dedicated toddler pool. Burgers, sandwiches, and salads are available at the Galley Café. Meeting and social rooms for cards, clubs and social receptions are also available for the residents at the club. The fitness center makes keeping healthy convenient, with weight equipment, treadmills, bicycling, stair climbers, and elliptical machines. Group fitness classes and personal training is available. The healthy fun continues outdoors with tennis courts, basketball courts, and beach volleyball. For water enthusiasts, kayaks and sunfish sailboats are available to be checked out. The MiraBay Club always has a full calendar of planned events and organized activities for the residents. There are many and varied interest groups including ballroom dancing , dinner club, bicycling, running, boating, book club, and more.

Nearby MiraBay enjoys the perfect central location to all points Tampa Bay and Central Florida. Minutes from I-75 and only 25 miles from downtown Tampa and its vibrant atmosphere of sports centers, performing art venues, convention center, and museums. Major League sports teams call Tampa Bay home, and include football, baseball, hockey, and soccer. Fine and casual dining abounds, and there are numerous choices of great shopping locations. Tampa International Airport is a 40 minute drive. Excellent medical facilities are available and the brand new St. Josephs Hospital South is just a 10 minute drive away and opens in 2015. Orlando with Disney and other major theme parks are a 90 minute drive. The award winning Gulf beaches with their famous white powder sugar sand are a half an hour away by car. If you are a boater, you have easy access right from your back yard dock to Tampa Bay, and under the Sunshine Skyway to the beautiful Gulf of Mexico. More outdoor interests? Golfing – a golfers paradise with over 100 courses in Tampa Bay. Fishing, both fresh and salt water – hundreds of lakes, miles of salt water flats, Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico offer limitless opportunities. County parks, State Parks and Forests are all nearby and offer hiking, biking, swimming, picnicking and more. To learn more about MiraBay or any of Tampa Bay’s 55+ Communities call Jim Smeaton at 813-477-2090. 15

3. The facility or community complies with rules established by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for verification of occupancy. Every community has their on particular rules regarding visiting grandchildren. A typical restriction would be that visiting grandchildren cannot reside in the home for more than 30 days per calendar year. Check with each community to verify their specific rules regarding age restrictions. 16

Florida Law Regarding 55+ Communities For a community to be considered "housing for older persons" as a 55+ community, the housing must be intended and operated for occupancy by persons 55 years of age or older and meet the following requirements: 1. At least 80% of the occupied units are occupied by at least one person 55 years of age or older. 2. The facility or community publishes and adheres to policies and procedures that demonstrate its intent to in fact be a provider of housing for older persons.

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

Why you Need Representation Each of the communities reviewed have on-site sales representatives who are knowledgeable and helpful in assisting in the purchase of a new home. However they represent the builder, they do not represent you. In Florida it is typical for the seller of a home to pay the professional sales fee of a licensed agent representing the buyer. It is the same in the case of a new home. Your real estate agent works for you and looks out for your best interest. However you must get representation before you contact the seller (community/builder). Your real estate agent must make first contact with the seller/community/builder and register you in order for you to receive representation paid by the builder. If you contact the community or seller first you forfeit your right to have representation and to have those services paid by the builder/seller. You deserve to be represented and to have your rights looked after by a licensed professional, and the good news is that in Florida the seller typically pays for that service.

Reasons to Hire a Real Estate Professional 5

They help with all disclosures and paperwork necessary in today’s heavily regulated environment. They are well educated in and experienced with the entire sales process. They act as a “buffer” in negotiations with all parties throughout the entire process. They help understand today’s real estate market values when setting the price on a listing or on an offer to purchase. They simply and effectively explain today’s real estate headlines and decipher what they mean to you.

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A Few More Things to Consider

The above chosen communities happen to be in the southern part of Hillsborough County, within about 10-15 minutes of each other. They are all excellent 55+ communities, but only you can decide which is the best match for your needs. There are many things to consider when selecting a 55+ community that are beyond the financial considerations, such as: • If you are still working or travel often it is probably important to be near a good

international airport, which all of these communities are. (About 40 minutes to Tampa International Airport)

• If you love to work in your yard and garden, you may prefer a non-55+ community such as MiraBay. Or maybe Valencia Lakes garden plot area will work for you.

• If you think your children or grandchildren may need to live with you for any length of time, you may want a non-55+ community, or then again that may be why you want to purchase a home in a 55+ community.

• Starting over in a new community can be a really fun adventure, especially if you are outgoing. If you are not it, it still can be, because of the many in place activities that encourage mingling and associating with those of similar interests. The 55+ active adult community culture makes it easy to make new friends.

• On the other hand, in an non-55+ community it may be a little harder to make new friends, but you can enjoy the diversity of your new friends, including their various ages.

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Two questions you should ask yourself: 1. What do you want to do with the rest of your life? 2. What’s important to you? Your answers will help guide you to the type of community and home that is right for you. Remember, retirement is the ending of one chapter and the beginning of a new chapter of the rest of your life. We hope you found this information helpful. Call us with your questions, we can help. Also our website has a lot of resources that can be of help to you. You can search for Tampa Bay area homes for sale, you can get a quick automated value of your existing home, plus other resources are available for you. We would love to be a part of this new chapter in your life. We will help you find the perfect community and a home you will love, and that is right for you. We think you will love Tampa Bay. Give us a call. All the Best, Linda & Jim Smeaton Charles Rutenberg Realty www.HomeSalesTampaBay.com 813-477-2090

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