Citrus Hills is the premier residential and country club community in Citrus County, Florida — an upscale master-planned development built around the Terra Vista resort campus in the northern part of the county. Unlike the waterfront communities of Crystal River and Homosassa to the west, Citrus Hills delivers an elevated golf and resort lifestyle on high ground, with panoramic views across the Citrus County landscape and an amenity set that rivals communities costing three times as much in the Tampa Bay metro.
The price range in Citrus Hills is wide — homes begin in the $400,000s and extend well into multi-million-dollar territory, with the Bellamy Ridge luxury single-family enclave starting at $700,000 for new construction on quarter-acre-plus homesites. This range reflects the community’s diverse residential villages: from maintenance-free attached homes and condominiums to large custom single-family homes with pools. Buyers who want country club living without the Sarasota or Tampa Bay price tag consistently find Citrus Hills to be the most undervalued upscale golf community in the Gulf Coast corridor.
Terra Vista: The Heart of Citrus Hills
Terra Vista is the master development anchoring Citrus Hills — a private resort-style community with multiple residential villages, championship golf, and a full club amenity set. The community is governed by the Terra Vista Community Association and spans thousands of acres across northern Citrus County, with homes backing to golf fairways, nature preserve greenbelts, and the rolling terrain that makes this part of Florida unusual relative to the flat coastal plain.
The residential villages within Citrus Hills and Terra Vista cover a wide spectrum of home types and price points. Buyers can choose from:
- Bellamy Ridge: The luxury tier — custom and semi-custom single-family homes from $700,000, 2,500 square feet and up, on quarter-acre and larger homesites, with pool options and high-end finishes.
- Standard single-family homes: The primary inventory ranging from under 1,700 square feet to over 4,000 square feet, priced from the $400,000s through $1.5 million depending on size, location, and view.
- Maintenance-free detached homes and condominiums: The lower-maintenance option for buyers who want the community lifestyle without exterior upkeep obligations.
The design aesthetic throughout Citrus Hills leans toward Florida-traditional and Mediterranean-inspired architecture — stucco exteriors, tile roofs, attached garages, screened lanais, and pool decks that orient toward the golf course or greenbelt views. The overall visual character of the community is well-maintained and cohesive in a way that distinguishes it from the more informal neighborhoods of central Citrus County.
Golf and Club Amenities
The golf program at Citrus Hills is the centerpiece of the lifestyle here. Multiple 18-hole championship golf courses are included within the Terra Vista campus, with pro shops, practice ranges, teaching facilities, and a structured member tournament calendar. The elevation changes and tree cover that define the Citrus Hills terrain create course conditions that are more interesting and varied than the flat-terrain courses found throughout coastal Florida.
Beyond golf, the club amenities include tennis, pickleball, multiple swimming pools, fitness centers, dining facilities, and social programming throughout the year. The club calendar tends to run densest from October through April — the snowbird season — when the full-time population is supplemented by seasonal residents and the social infrastructure runs at capacity. Summer brings a quieter pace, with the core full-time resident base continuing to use the facilities.
Club membership structure is tied to residency — community residents have access to the club facilities through the HOA and community association structure, though specific membership tiers and dues should be confirmed with current management, as these evolve over time.
Citrus Hills Real Estate Market Overview (2026)
The Citrus Hills real estate market in 2026 reflects the broader Citrus County pattern: a buyer-favorable environment with extended days on market and meaningful negotiating room. The extended marketing periods that characterize Citrus County — 90 to 150 days on market is not unusual for specialized lifestyle properties — benefit buyers who are not in a rush. Sellers who price correctly for the current Citrus County environment eventually find their buyer, but the days of multiple-offer situations in this market are behind us.
The value comparison with comparable lifestyle communities in Tampa Bay is dramatic. A home that might list for $1.5 million to $2 million in a premier Sarasota golf community can be replicated in Citrus Hills at $600,000 to $900,000 — same golf access, same resort amenities, significantly less coastal proximity but meaningfully better value. For buyers who have made the decision to trade some coastal proximity for lifestyle quality and value, Citrus Hills is the answer.
New construction continues within the community through participating builders — a meaningful differentiator for buyers who want a warranty and modern construction rather than the vintage 1990s and 2000s resale inventory that makes up the majority of available homes. Bellamy Ridge in particular offers new-construction options for buyers at the higher end of the price range.
Location and Access
Citrus Hills sits in the northern section of Citrus County, approximately 10 to 15 miles east of Crystal River and the Gulf Coast waterfront. The community is accessed primarily via US 19 and the connecting county roads that run east into the Terra Vista campus. The Suncoast Parkway (SR 589) Phase 2 extension, completed in August 2025, has brought the highway closer to the northern Citrus County communities, improving the Tampa drive from approximately 90 minutes to a more manageable 70 to 80 minutes.
The Crystal River and Kings Bay springs system — with its manatee swimming, scalloping, and inshore fishing — is a 20-minute drive west. Homosassa is accessible in about 25 minutes. Inverness, the county seat, is approximately 15 miles to the south. The community’s inland position is a deliberate lifestyle choice — buyers here prioritize the golf and club lifestyle over immediate boat or river access, though the Gulf Coast amenities remain easily day-trippable.
Schools in Citrus Hills / Citrus County
Citrus Hills is served by the Citrus County School District (B grade from the state). Lecanto High School — the district’s highest-ranked high school at #330 in Florida — serves the northern portion of the county where Citrus Hills is located. The district operates 11 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, and 3 high schools across the county. Families relocating from high-performing suburban Tampa Bay school districts should evaluate the Citrus County schools carefully — the district performs well relative to comparable rural-to-suburban Florida counties, but it is not competitive with the strongest metropolitan-area districts.
Who Buys in Citrus Hills
The Citrus Hills buyer profile is distinct from the broader Citrus County market. These are typically buyers who have identified the country club and golf lifestyle as their retirement priority — people who have been playing golf their whole careers and want a community built around it, or buyers who have lived in resort communities and are looking to replicate that lifestyle at a fraction of the cost.
Many buyers arrive from the Tampa Bay area or from northern markets with high real estate costs and are struck by what their budget buys in Citrus Hills versus what it buys at comparable communities in Sarasota, Tampa, or Orlando. The $700,000 entry point at Bellamy Ridge — which would buy a modest home in many coastal Sarasota neighborhoods — buys a luxury new-construction home with full golf club access in Citrus Hills.
Seasonal residents make up a meaningful portion of the Citrus Hills population, particularly in the premium neighborhoods. The community is active and well-maintained year-round, but the fall-to-spring season drives the highest activity levels for dining, social events, golf tournaments, and club programming. Full-time residents appreciate the quiet summers and the quality of the golf when the courses are less crowded.
For the broader Citrus County picture, see the Citrus County guide. Crystal River to the west offers springs and Gulf access. Sugarmill Woods to the south near Homosassa offers a comparable golf community lifestyle at a lower price point. Beverly Hills nearby provides a more affordable non-golf-community alternative in the same general area.
Frequently Asked Questions About Citrus Hills FL
What is the price range for homes in Citrus Hills FL?
Homes in Citrus Hills start in the $400,000s for smaller resale single-family homes and extend well into multi-million-dollar territory for luxury properties in the Bellamy Ridge enclave. Bellamy Ridge luxury new construction starts at approximately $700,000. The price range reflects the diverse residential villages within the Terra Vista master community, from maintenance-free attached homes to large custom single-family residences with pools and golf-course views.
Is Citrus Hills the same as Terra Vista?
Citrus Hills is the broader unincorporated community area in northern Citrus County; Terra Vista is the master-planned development with multiple residential villages, championship golf, and resort amenities that forms the core of the Citrus Hills lifestyle. Most buyers who say they are buying in “Citrus Hills” are purchasing within the Terra Vista community.
How far is Citrus Hills from Crystal River?
Approximately 10 to 15 miles east of Crystal River, or about 20 to 25 minutes by car. The Gulf Coast waterfront — with Kings Bay, Three Sisters Springs, and the Gulf of Mexico access — is a day-trip from Citrus Hills rather than a walk-to amenity. Buyers who want both the golf community lifestyle and immediate water access should evaluate Crystal River waterfront properties instead.
How far is Citrus Hills from Tampa?
Approximately 70 to 85 minutes from Citrus Hills to the Tampa metro via the Suncoast Parkway (SR 589) and US 19. The Phase 2 extension completed in August 2025 improved the drive from the northern Citrus County area. Future Phase 3 extensions will further reduce the journey time.
What golf courses are in Citrus Hills?
The Terra Vista community includes multiple 18-hole championship golf courses with pro shops, practice ranges, and a full member tournament calendar. The courses take advantage of the elevated terrain and tree cover of northern Citrus County, producing a more varied and interesting layout than the flat-terrain courses typical of coastal Florida. Membership access is tied to community residency through the HOA and community association structure.
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