Homes For Sale in Valrico FL

Valrico is a suburb located in Hillsborough County, FL around 14 miles from Tampa. Prior to the Civil War, this area was mostly made up of cotton plantations. It is bordered by Bloomingdale to the southwest, Brandon to the west, and Fish Hawk to the south.

The name Valrico is derived from the Spanish word, which means “rich valley.” The name was coined by a philosophy professor who bought a property in the area in the 1880s, and described the fertile lands in Valrico.

Just like most of the communities in America, the railroad brought with it progress. Cotton fields, houses and commercial buildings were built left and right. The Great Freeze, however, almost killed this town. In 1911, for instance, fewer than 50 people were living here.

The challenges just kept on coming. The Great Depression shuttered most of the businesses in Valrico. Fortunately, the residents were very resilient and they pushed on. Now, the population has grown to more than 38,000, all packed in a 13.8 square miles of land.

The tides certainly changed for Valrico. It now has a higher employment rate compared to the United States average. There are over 17,000 employees in the area, with a jobless rate of 3.3%.

The median household income in Valrico is more than $70,000. This is higher than the median income in the US, which is a shade over $59,000.

Valrico is being served by top-rated schools, which makes it very attractive to families who put a premium on their children’s education. The elementary schools here include Alafia Elementary School, Lithia Springs Elementary School, Valrico Elementary School, Buckhorn Elementary School, and Cimino Elementary School.

For middle school and high school, you have Randall Middle School, Mulrennan Middle School, Barrington Middle School, Newsome High School, Durant High School, and Bloomingdale High School.

The University of South Florida-Main Campus is just 20 minutes away, St. Petersburg College is under an hour away, while Ultimate Medical Academy-Tampa is just under 30 minutes away.

Among the neighborhoods in Valrico are N Dover Road, Bell Shoals Road, N Miller Road, Lithia Pinecrest, Orangewalk, Spring Road, Nature’s Way Boulevard, S. Valrico Rd, and S Mulrennan Rd. The suburb has 14 total neighborhoods, and no two are exactly the same, so you have a lot of options.

What to Do in Valrico

Valrico is quite small so it retains that small community charm. People have the natural tendency to be on the lookout for each other. The residents are also quite territorial in the sense that they are very vigilant toward strangers. That’s not to mean that they are not welcoming. But this attitude is the reason why Valrico is a peaceful place with a low crime rate.

Nevertheless, Valrico is near Tampa, Plant City, and Brandon so you can always go there if you need a change of pace. You can shop or enjoy the nightlife in these places. One good thing about Valrico is you have the option to go back there for some peace and quiet. Tampa, not so much.

There are many mom and pop stores, restaurants, and retail stores. There’s also the Valrico Commons and Publix if you want to do a little shopping. However, Brandon is just six minutes away, which has bigger shopping malls and commercial complex. You can also bring your kids to have a close encounter with crocodiles at the Croc Encounter in Tampa.

Valrico has many community parks. You have Buckhorn Park, Lake Wedgewood, Lithia Ridge Park, Stearns Park, and Bloomingdale East. They have biking trails, nature hikes, and jogging trails. You can bring your pets there and bond with your kids on several playgrounds.

The Lithia Springs Preserve has a place to pitch your tent and go camping. It’s a good opportunity to teach your kids about the role they play in protecting the environment.

On weekends, you can head off to the Lithia Pinecrest Rd for the Valrico Sunday Market where you can purchase unique handcrafted materials from local artists. You can also attend the Florida Strawberry Festival in Plant City. The event is held from February to March each year. Locals sell fresh strawberries right out of their farms. It’s a good way to help the local growers.

Of course, Orlando is just over an hour away. You can take your kids and drive to Disney World Florida, Universal Studios or the Orlando Seaworld.

Valrico Real Estate

The home values here range from $211,000 to $350,000 for a single-family dwelling. However, you can also spot million-dollar listings in the neighborhood. Certainly, a professional realtor can help you find your ideal home. If you are renting, the median rental cost is around $1,300.

More than 8 in 10 of people here own their homes while the rest are renting. This means that people love Valrico enough to make the decision to settle here.

It’s the best time to purchase a property in Valrico since property values are appreciating. The inventory is also shrinking, which typically indicates that there’s a demand among buyers.

Some people choose to walk around the air conditioned shopping malls to stretch their legs during the hottest summer days. Most of the year the climate is nice and people enjoy all the wonderful outdoor activities Florida has to offer.

During the spring, fall, and winter Valrico is almost a paradise. The temperature can sometimes get cool, but not nippy. It’s almost a crime not to go out and enjoy the outdoors. You rarely see frost although there are a few days in the Winter where you may want to stay home and hide under a blanket.

The cool season lasts for 2.6 months, from December 6 to February 23, with an average daily high temperature below 76°F. The coldest day of the year is January 18, with an average low of 51°F and high of 73°F.

Valrico remains one of the best suburbs to live and raise a family in Florida. Contact The Rodriguez Premier Group and take a step toward your goal of buying your own dream home.