Southshore Bay Wimauma FL | Homes for Sale & Lagoon Community Guide 2026

About Southshore Bay (Medley) in Wimauma, Florida

Southshore Bay — anchored by the Medley at Southshore Bay lagoon community — is one of the Tampa Bay area’s fastest-growing residential developments. Located in Wimauma in the Ruskin/Sun City Center corridor of southern Hillsborough County, this community has captured significant buyer attention thanks to its centerpiece: a massive 5-acre crystal-clear lagoon that functions as the neighborhood’s primary amenity and social hub. The lagoon offers swimming, kayaking, paddleboarding, a beach area, waterslides, and a swim-up bar, creating a resort atmosphere that few communities in Florida — let alone the Tampa Bay area — can match at this price point.

New construction is actively underway across multiple builder neighborhoods within the broader Southshore Bay footprint. D.R. Horton, Lennar, Pulte Homes, and Maronda Homes all have active phases, offering a wide variety of floor plans ranging from compact three-bedroom, two-bath homes starting in the low $300s to larger five-bedroom plans approaching $500,000. The diversity of builders and price points makes Southshore Bay one of the most accessible new construction opportunities in all of Hillsborough County, particularly for first-time buyers and families looking for maximum space per dollar.

Community Development District (CDD) fees apply to all homes in Southshore Bay, and buyers should understand that these fees include the cost of lagoon maintenance — an expense that is built into the assessment because Crystal Lagoon technology and upkeep is a significant infrastructure cost. CDD fees vary by phase, lot, and builder product, but lagoon communities typically carry CDD assessments in the range of $2,000 to $4,000 per year or more. These fees appear on your annual property tax bill. Always request the specific CDD disclosure for any property you are seriously considering, and factor this cost into your total monthly budget calculation.

The Southshore Bay area has experienced remarkable population growth over the past three to five years, driven by affordability relative to northern Hillsborough County, the appeal of new construction, and the lagoon lifestyle. This growth has created strong rental demand from young families and relocating professionals, making the area an active market for investors as well as owner-occupant buyers. Parts of the broader Wimauma and Ruskin area may be eligible for USDA Rural Development loan financing, which can allow qualifying buyers to purchase with zero down payment — however, eligibility boundaries shift as population grows, so always verify current USDA eligibility for any specific property before relying on this program.

Southshore Bay Neighborhoods and Sub-Areas

Medley at Southshore Bay — The Lagoon Core

The Medley neighborhood sits at the heart of Southshore Bay and has the most direct access to the 5-acre crystal lagoon. Homes in Medley are primarily built by D.R. Horton and Lennar, with floor plans ranging from approximately 1,500 to 2,800 square feet. Prices in this sub-area typically run from the mid-$300s to the upper $400s depending on size, elevation, and lot position. Lagoon-view lots command a significant premium and tend to sell quickly whenever they come available on the resale market. Living in Medley means the lagoon beach is a short walk from your front door.

D.R. Horton Phases — Express and Emerald Series

D.R. Horton has a substantial presence throughout Southshore Bay with multiple active phases offering both Express (entry-level) and Emerald (semi-custom) series homes. Express series homes are typically the most affordable new construction in the community, starting in the low-to-mid $300s, while Emerald series homes offer higher-end finishes, larger lots, and more structural options at price points from the upper $300s to mid-$400s. D.R. Horton’s incentives and preferred lender programs can meaningfully reduce effective costs and should be explored — though always with independent mortgage comparison — during the purchase process.

Lennar at Southshore Bay

Lennar’s “Everything’s Included” model means their Southshore Bay homes come standard with many features other builders charge as upgrades — granite or quartz countertops, stainless appliances, smart home technology, and tile flooring throughout main living areas. Lennar floor plans in this community range from approximately 1,600 to 3,100 square feet, with prices from the mid-$300s to the high-$400s. Lennar communities typically move quickly, and their quick-move-in (QMI) inventory — homes already under construction or recently completed — allows buyers to close in 30 to 90 days rather than waiting for a full build cycle.

Pulte Homes at Southshore Bay

Pulte brings their LifeTested floor plan designs to Southshore Bay, emphasizing practical layouts informed by how real families live. Pulte’s homes in this community tend to be in the $380K to $480K range, with larger lot options and designs that maximize storage, flex space, and indoor-outdoor connectivity. Pulte’s construction quality is consistently regarded as strong among national builders, and their buyer warranty program provides coverage for workmanship, systems, and structural elements. Pulte tends to attract move-up buyers seeking more thoughtful layouts than entry-level product offers.

Maronda Homes at Southshore Bay

Maronda Homes is a regional builder with a presence in Southshore Bay offering competitively priced floor plans that appeal to value-focused buyers. Maronda homes in this community are generally in the $310K to $420K range and offer solid construction with room for buyer-selected upgrades in the design center process. For buyers who are newer to the Tampa Bay market, Maronda may be a less-familiar name, but the builder has decades of experience in the Florida market and maintains a significant presence across the greater Tampa Bay region.

Future Phases and Expanding Commercial Corridor

Southshore Bay is still in an active development phase, with additional residential neighborhoods and commercial development planned for the surrounding area. The Wimauma/Ruskin corridor is expected to see significant infrastructure and retail investment over the next five to ten years as population growth drives demand for services, dining, and recreation. For buyers with a longer time horizon, purchasing now in an earlier phase of development can mean entering the market before prices reflect the full buildout of the area. Working with a knowledgeable local agent ensures you understand which phases offer the best combination of current value and long-term upside.

Southshore Bay Amenities

The 5-acre Crystal Lagoon is Southshore Bay’s signature amenity and the feature that sets it apart from every other new construction community in Hillsborough County. The lagoon uses proprietary Crystal Lagoon technology to maintain crystal-clear, swimmable water across a massive footprint that approximates a private beach. Residents can swim, kayak, paddleboard, lounge on the sandy beach, and access the lagoon’s waterslides and event spaces. A swim-up bar adds an adult-lifestyle dimension that makes the lagoon suitable for all ages and occasions.

Beyond the lagoon, the community includes a clubhouse with fitness center, gathering spaces for community events, and a network of walking and biking trails connecting the various builder neighborhoods. Playgrounds and open green spaces are distributed throughout the community for families with children. The lagoon itself hosts organized events throughout the year — holiday celebrations, fitness classes on the beach, and social gatherings — that create a strong sense of community identity. As the community continues to build out, additional amenities and commercial services within the development footprint are expected to expand.

Schools Serving Southshore Bay

Southshore Bay falls within the Hillsborough County Public Schools district. The primary school zones include Reddick Elementary School, Shields Middle School, and Sumner High School. Sumner High School is a relatively newer campus that has benefited from the population growth in the southern Hillsborough County corridor. As this area continues to grow rapidly, school assignments and boundaries may shift — always confirm current zoning directly with Hillsborough County Schools rather than relying on builder or listing information. Private and charter school alternatives exist in the broader Sun City Center and Wimauma area for families seeking additional options.

Frequently Asked Questions — Southshore Bay Wimauma