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Compare and Contrast: Westchase vs. The Rest

Residents discuss why they chose Westchase.

As Westchase enters its twentieth anniversary year, it continues to hold its cache as a premier Tampa suburb.

When development began in 1991, the vision was beyond its years and that foresight has allowed Westchase to keep and continue to draw new residents to the Northwest.  Westchase features 3,478 homes in 29 separate and distinct neighborhoods.

By separating the neighborhoods, Westchase was able to create a large planned unit subdivision while keeping an intimate feel within its borders. Within its borders there are only 2 gated areas featuring several neighborhoods including Harbor Links, The Estates, The Greens and the Village Green.

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The community has two governing bodies -- the Westchase Community Association (“WCA”) and the Westchase CDD to keep the community running efficiently and looking beautiful.

In 2010, Westchase was listed as one of the 26th coolest suburbs worth a visit in the United States by Travel and Leisure magazine.

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“Its urban feel and their ability to walk to Starbucks, retails shops and restaurants," said Mary Turnbull, was the reason this resident of Village Green moved ot the neighborhood in 2005 from New York City. “It made the transition from a large metro area like NYC a little smoother since she didn’t feel so isolated in a ‘suburban’ setting.” 

Nancy Sells, a resident of Westchase since 1995, originally bought in Radcliffe and then built her current home in Harbor Links.  When she first relocated to the area, the community was just beginning to flourish and she says her and husband, Dale,

(We) took a chance that the community would blossom in the future," Sells said. Today, she says, “she is not disappointed."

Many relocating buyers want to look at and explore all the suburbs, including but not limited to, New Tampa, Lutz, Carrollwood and South Tampa.  Often after orientation and previewing homes in all areas, it comes down to price point for size, age and quality of the home and still being able to be close to ‘urban amenities.’ 

Let's compare some similar sized sold homes in different suburbs on a value basis in 2011:

Westchase:  10312 Welbeck Court in the gated Village Green. 4BR, 2BA in main house with 1BR, 1BA in-law suite with heated pool and spa built in 1999.  Total square feet: 3,448.  Sold price $470,000 or $136.31 square foot on April 15, 2011.

Carrollwood:  13614 Diamond Head Drive in Carrollwood Village. 4BR, 2BA with heated pool built in 1979. Total square feet: 3,216.  Sold price $435,000 or $135.26 on January 28, 2011

Lutz: 15935 Notting Hill Drive in Lutz.  4BR, 2.5BA with pool built in 1981. Total square feet: 3,291.  Sold price $297,000 or $90.25 square foot on March 24, 2011.

New Tampa:  10203 Waterside Oaks in New Tampa.  4BR, 4BA with pool built in 2000.  Total square feet:  3,312. Sold price $365,000 or $110.21 square foot on April 4, 2011. 

New Suburb Beautiful - South Tampa: 2522 W. Watrous Avenue in South Tampa.  5BR, 3BA home, no pool built in 2000.  Total square feet:  3,114.  Sold price $638,900 or $191.39 square foot on January 29, 2011.

Westchase has the feel of Hyde Park and Soho without the price tag on a price per square foot basis.  However, some buyers are willing to make the compromise to be in a specific neighborhood or within close proximity to their workplace. On the other end of the spectrum are those buyers who are willing to travel for more space for less money or if more acreage is desired.  It’s a very personal decision but Westchase gives the option of combining urban with a better price per square foot than South Tampa properties.  But value on a price per square foot basis is better in suburbs like Lutz and New Tampa.

No matter how you slice it, with recent facts and trends showing that Westchase is stabilizing more than other neighborhoods, Westchase is a great real estate investment and, from many different perspectives, a great place to live. 

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