There is something special about buying a home in Odessa with room to breathe. Instead of looking directly into a neighbor’s backyard, you may have mature trees, a private driveway, a pasture, a pond, or simply several acres of open space surrounding your home.
But after more than 40 years of combined real estate experience in Tampa Bay, Emeri and Joe Lewkowicz of The Lewkowicz Group know that buying acreage in Odessa requires a different approach than buying a conventional suburban home.
“When you are buying a property with a large lot, you are really buying two things—the house and the land,” Emeri says. “And you need to understand both.”
The Acreage Itself Has Value
One of the first questions we encourage buyers to ask is not simply, “How big is the house?” but “How much of this property is actually usable?”
Two five-acre properties can have dramatically different values. One may offer wide-open, buildable land, while another may contain wetlands, flood-prone areas, conservation areas or other limitations.
That distinction matters in Odessa. Local parcel data shows that wetlands and mapped flood zones affect a meaningful portion of properties in the area.
“We always want buyers to understand the usable acreage,” Joe explains. “Five acres on paper doesn't necessarily mean five acres where you can build, add a pool, keep horses, put in a workshop or make other improvements.”
Zoning Can Be Just as Important as the Lot Size
This is one area where our local knowledge can make a major difference.
A large Odessa property may have agricultural, rural, residential or planned-development zoning, and those classifications can affect what you can—and cannot—do with the property. Hillsborough County's Keystone-Odessa regulations, for example, contain specific development standards for rural properties and larger parcels.
If you're dreaming about a guest house, detached garage, barn, workshop, pool, horses or another future improvement, don't assume the acreage automatically gives you permission to build it.
Before purchasing, we recommend verifying zoning, future land use, setbacks, easements and accessory-use requirements with the appropriate county authorities.
Well and Septic Are Part of the Property
Many acreage properties in Odessa are not connected to municipal water and sewer. Instead, buyers may be purchasing a home with a private well and septic system.
That isn't necessarily a drawback. In fact, it is simply part of the rural lifestyle many Odessa buyers specifically want.
But it does mean you should conduct the appropriate inspections and understand the condition, age and maintenance history of both systems.
“We tell our buyers to investigate these systems early,” Joe says. “You don't want to discover a well or septic issue at the end of your inspection period.”
Don't Overlook Flood Zones, Drainage and Wetlands
A beautiful wooded property can look perfect during a showing, but buyers need to look beyond what they see from the driveway.
We recommend reviewing the property's flood-zone designation, drainage, elevation, wetlands and any applicable insurance requirements. Pasco County's development regulations, for example, contain specific requirements relating to drainage and development in flood-prone areas.
This is especially important when your plans involve additional construction.
Think About Resale, Too
Acreage can be an incredible lifestyle purchase, but it should still make financial sense.
When Emeri and Joe evaluate a property, they don't simply compare it with the nearest house down the street. They look at the land, location, zoning, improvements, condition, privacy, water access and comparable properties with similar characteristics.
“An acreage property isn't necessarily comparable to a 2,500-square-foot home in a neighborhood with 70-foot lots,” Emeri says. “The buyer pool is different, and the value drivers are different.”
That is particularly important for investors and buyers who want to preserve future resale flexibility.
Let Our Odessa Experience Work for You
For buyers who want privacy, space and a more rural lifestyle while remaining within the greater Tampa Bay area, Odessa can be an exceptional place to look.
But acreage purchases require more due diligence than simply falling in love with the house.
With more than 40 years of combined experience, Emeri and Joe Lewkowicz understand how to look beyond the MLS description and evaluate the property as a whole—from the land and zoning to the home's condition, potential improvements and long-term resale value.
If you're considering buying an acreage property or larger lot in Odessa, let The Lewkowicz Group help you understand what you're really buying—and whether the property truly fits your goals.
