Valencia del Sol

The monthly HOA fee ranges from approximately $298 to $694 depending on your home type — attached villas at the lower end, larger single-family homes at the higher end. The fee covers lawn mowing, edging, fertilization, pesticide treatments, shrub trimming, annual mulch, irrigation water and maintenance, basic cable TV, high-speed internet, ADT-monitored perimeter security, and all common-area upkeep. It also covers full access to all amenities: the 25,000 sq ft clubhouse, resort pool, fitness center, 8 sport courts, 5 clay tennis courts, bocce, dog parks, arts studio, and all resident clubs and programs. Food and beverages at the Bistro del Sol are purchased separately. There is no golf course, so there is no separate golf assessment to budget for. Get the current HOA budget and reserve study from the seller disclosures before closing.

Valencia del Sol is governed under the federal Housing for Older Persons Act (HOPA), which requires at least 80% of occupied units to have at least one resident aged 55 or older. At least one person in the purchasing household must be 55 or older. A younger spouse can live with you full-time — there is no minimum age floor for the second occupant. Children and grandchildren are welcome as guests but cannot establish permanent residency. The HOA requires an application with a fee for both purchases and leases, and GRS Community Management verifies age qualification. Any tenant renting the home must also satisfy the 55+ requirement for at least one occupant. The community conducts periodic age verification surveys to maintain HOPA certification.

Rentals are permitted, but the HOA requires an application and certificate of approval for each lease, with a fee payable to GRS Community Management. Any tenant must comply with all community rules, including the 55+ age requirement for at least one occupant — this effectively eliminates short-term vacation rentals since most short-term guests will not meet the age requirement. The governing documents limit how frequently you can lease the property; verify the current lease-frequency cap directly with GRS before you buy with rental income as a primary goal. For seasonal snowbirds who want to cover carrying costs by renting for the winter, Valencia del Sol is a realistic option as long as you pre-qualify your tenant.

The honest picture is mixed. Homes appreciated strongly in absolute terms from 2017 through the 2021-2022 peak. Since then, resale prices have softened. Current data shows homes trading in roughly the $400K-$700K range (approximately $164 per sq ft on average), with an average of 95 days on market and homes typically selling around 4% below asking price. That 95-day figure is meaningfully longer than non-age-restricted neighborhoods in the same zip code, which reflects the structurally narrower buyer pool. If you are buying as a lifestyle choice and plan to stay 10+ years, the resale dynamics are a secondary concern. If you are treating this as a 3-5 year investment with exit in mind, price in the additional carrying cost of a slower resale process.

Both are GL Homes 55+ communities in Wimauma and the comparison comes up constantly. The differences that actually matter: Valencia Lakes is larger at over 1,600 homes vs. 565, which means more club activity and a larger social pool, but also more traffic within the gates and an older home inventory. Valencia Lakes opened in 2005; the newest homes there are over 15 years old, meaning buyers inherit more maintenance history. Valencia del Sol opened in 2017, so even its oldest resale homes are less than a decade old — that matters for roofs, HVAC, and appliances. Valencia del Sol amenity complex is slightly smaller at 25,000 sq ft vs. 40,000 sq ft at Valencia Lakes. If maximum social programming is the priority, Valencia Lakes scale gives it an edge. If a newer home in a more intimate setting is the priority, Valencia del Sol wins.