Odessa

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$1,095,552

Average Sales Price

$701,667

Median Sales Price

241

Total Listings

8,887

Population

Living in Odessa, Florida: Luxury Homes, Larger Lots & Local Guide

Area guide by Rio Lloyd, REALTOR® with PREMIERE Group at Real Broker. Updated October 2026.

Odessa is an unincorporated community in northwest Hillsborough and southwest Pasco counties, known for larger lots, lakefront homes around the Keystone lakes, gated communities, and a quieter, semi-rural setting about 30 minutes from Tampa International Airport. Buyers often compare it with Lutz and Westchase when they want more land and privacy. As with Lutz, the county line affects schools, taxes, and permitting.

Cypress dome wetland at Starkey Wilderness Preserve — A cypress dome at Starkey Wilderness Preserve in Pasco County, north of Odessa. Photo: Cypress dome by Daniel Oines, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.

Odessa at a glance

CountyHillsborough and Pasco
StatusUnincorporated community spanning two counties
Drive to downtown TampaAbout 30 to 40 minutes without traffic
Nearest major airportTampa International (TPA), about 25 to 30 minutes
Typical housingEstate homes, lakefront, acreage, gated communities, newer master-planned homes

Odessa follows Gunn Highway and State Road 54 west of the Suncoast Parkway, with a chain of lakes in the Keystone area and large stretches of preserve land nearby. The setting is more rural than most of Tampa Bay, with horse properties, nurseries, and long driveways mixed among subdivisions.

The Veterans Expressway and Suncoast Parkway provide the main routes to the airport and Westshore. Westchase and Citrus Park are about 15 minutes south for shopping and dining.

Odessa crosses the Hillsborough and Pasco county line. Starkey Ranch, a newer master-planned community, is on the Pasco side, while the Keystone lakes area is largely in Hillsborough.

Odessa neighborhoods and housing choices

Luxury and estate buyers are drawn to Odessa's lakefront homes and acreage, including gated communities and custom homes on larger parcels. Rural zoning in parts of the Keystone area is intended to keep lots large, which is part of the area's appeal.

On the Pasco side, Starkey Ranch and nearby communities offer newer construction with trails, parks, and community amenities, generally with HOA fees and CDD assessments.

Option	Setting	HOA / CDD	Buyer considerations
Keystone area lakefront	Lakes, docks, mature trees	Often none or light HOA	Lake levels, docks, septic
Acreage and equestrian	Multiple acres, rural roads	Usually none	Zoning, well, septic, fencing, barns
Gated custom-home communities	Privacy, larger homes	Mandatory HOA	Gate and road maintenance costs
Starkey Ranch and newer communities (Pasco)	Trails, parks, new construction	HOA plus CDD common	Total monthly cost; builder terms

Table descriptions are general patterns, not guarantees. HOA, CDD, flood, and lot details vary by subdivision and by address.

Everyday living in Odessa

Outdoor space is the lifestyle here. Lakes in the Keystone area support boating and fishing, and nearby Starkey Wilderness Preserve and Brooker Creek Preserve offer trails and wildlife viewing. The Suncoast Trail runs along the parkway for longer bike rides.

Shopping trips usually head south to Westchase and Citrus Park or west toward Tarpon Springs and Trinity. Clearwater and the Gulf beaches are roughly 35 to 45 minutes away.

School assignments follow district attendance boundaries, and those boundaries can change. To see which public schools serve a specific address, and to review the district's programs and choice options using your own criteria, start with Hillsborough County Public Schools and confirm with the district before you make an offer.

Owning a home in Odessa: due diligence that matters

Septic, wells, and land use

Many Odessa properties are on septic and private wells. Order a septic inspection, well flow and water quality tests, and a boundary survey. If you plan to add a barn, guest house, pool, or fencing, confirm zoning, setbacks, and permitting with the right county.

Which county is the home in?

Odessa addresses can be in Hillsborough or Pasco County. Check the Hillsborough or Pasco property appraiser record to confirm the county, taxes, and any assessments, and verify school assignments with the correct district.

Luxury home insurance

Larger homes with older roofs or without impact protection can be expensive to insure. Gather the wind mitigation report, roof permit dates, and any generator or impact window documentation early, and get a quote before your inspection period ends.

Flood zones, flood history, and evacuation zones are three different things

A FEMA flood zone describes mapped flood risk and drives whether a lender requires flood insurance. Flood history is what actually happened at that address, and since October 1, 2025, Florida sellers of residential property have to disclose known flood damage, flood insurance claims, and flood-repair assistance they received (details). An evacuation zone is an emergency-management designation based mainly on storm surge, and it can differ from the flood zone. Check all three for any home you are serious about: the FEMA Flood Map Service Center, the seller's disclosure, and Know Your Zone. Then get address-specific homeowners and flood insurance quotes before your inspection period ends. If you are insured through Citizens, flood coverage requirements are being phased in for more policies each year (Citizens flood requirement).

Property taxes after you buy

In Florida, the seller's current tax bill is rarely a good predictor of yours. When a home sells, the assessed value generally resets to market value the following January 1, and the seller's homestead exemption and Save Our Homes cap do not transfer to you. If the home will be your primary residence, you can apply for your own homestead exemption with the Hillsborough County Property Appraiser (the filing deadline is March 1). Voters will also see a proposed property tax amendment on the November 3, 2026 ballot that would change homestead and non-homestead assessments, so it is worth checking the latest update before you budget.

Search homes for sale in Odessa

These links open live MLS searches on this site with the filters already set. Listing data comes from the MLS and changes throughout the day, and MLS fields like "waterfront" or "new construction" depend on how each listing agent entered the property, so treat them as a starting point.

The live listings, recent sales, and market trend sections on this page update automatically from the MLS.

Odessa FAQs

Is Odessa a good area for luxury homes and larger lots?

Yes, Odessa is one of the areas buyers look at most for estate homes, lakefront properties, and acreage within reach of Tampa. The tradeoff is more driving for errands and commuting.

Are there gated communities in Odessa?

Yes, there are gated communities and private-road neighborhoods with custom homes. Ask about HOA fees, gate and road maintenance, and architectural rules.

Is Odessa in Hillsborough or Pasco County?

Both. The community spans the county line, so confirm the county for each address. It affects taxes, schools, and permitting.

How does Odessa compare with Westchase?

Westchase is a single master-planned community with smaller lots and more amenities close by. Odessa is more rural and spread out, with larger lots, lakes, and more privacy.

What should I check when buying a lakefront home in Odessa?

Look at historical lake levels, dock condition and permits, septic location relative to the water, flood zone mapping, and any lake association rules.

How far is Odessa from Tampa International Airport?

About 25 to 30 minutes without heavy traffic via the Veterans Expressway or Suncoast Parkway, depending on where in Odessa the home is.

How can I figure out my homebuying budget for Odessa?

Start with the total monthly cost, not just the price. In Florida that means principal and interest plus property taxes based on the purchase price (not the seller's bill), homeowners insurance, flood insurance where needed, and any HOA or CDD charges. Two homes at the same price in Odessa can differ by hundreds of dollars a month once those are included. A lender preapproval sets the ceiling, and a Home Purchase Strategy Session helps you decide where you would actually be comfortable. You can also run numbers on the mortgage calculator.

Can Rio Lloyd help me relocate to Odessa from another state?

Yes. Rio works with buyers moving to Tampa Bay from other states and countries, and a lot of that work happens before you ever fly in: narrowing down areas that fit your commute, budget, and lifestyle, setting up a focused MLS search, previewing homes by video, and lining up a short, efficient visit. Rio has lived in seven U.S. cities before settling in Tampa Bay, so the logistics of a long-distance move are familiar territory. Start with a Home Purchase Strategy Session.

Thinking about Odessa? Let's build your plan.

Every buyer relationship with Rio starts with a Home Purchase Strategy Session. Together you will talk through what you want and need in a home, the location and lifestyle you are after, your timeline, your financing and purchasing power, and the next steps that make sense for you. Whether your move is two months or two years away, the goal is a thoughtful game plan. No pressure, just prepared.

Rio works with relocation buyers, move-up buyers, luxury buyers, and new construction buyers across Tampa Bay, in English and Filipino (Tagalog).

Schedule a Home Purchase Strategy Session Call or text 813-592-5570

Compare nearby Tampa Bay areas

Sources and official resources

This guide is general information for buyers comparing Tampa Bay communities. It is not legal, tax, insurance, or financial advice, and details such as HOA and CDD fees, flood zones, school assignments, taxes, and builder incentives change and must be verified for each property. Rio Lloyd is a licensed Florida real estate sales associate with Real Broker, LLC (PREMIERE Group). Rio is also a licensed mortgage loan originator; mortgage services are offered separately from real estate brokerage services, and nothing on this page is a loan approval, commitment to lend, or guarantee of financing. Equal Housing Opportunity. Photos are licensed from Wikimedia Commons contributors as credited and do not imply endorsement.