What Is The Highlands Like?
The Highlands is a single-family community in Valrico developed by Pulte Homes, one of the nation's most recognized builders. The community features 106 homes with 2-5 bedrooms and 2-4 bathrooms, with home sizes ranging from approximately 2,455 to 3,228 square feet. The community is now sold out, so all purchases are resale, no builder competition, which stabilizes pricing for homeowners.
Pulte Homes is known for their "Life Tested" floor plans, which emphasize practical living spaces over show-home theatrics. Kitchens are designed for how families actually cook and gather, storage is built into the plans, and rooms serve real purposes rather than just looking good on the spec sheet. The result is homes that live bigger than their square footage suggests.
How Much Does the HOA Cost?
The HOA at The Highlands runs approximately $72 per month. That covers common area landscaping, community irrigation, sidewalk maintenance, street lights, entrance monument upkeep, and community association insurance. There is no CDD, which keeps your total monthly carrying cost predictable.
At $72/month, The Highlands sits in the middle of the Valrico HOA spectrum, more than Abbey Grove ($40/month) or Southern Oaks Grove ($30-$67/month), but less than Savannah Landings ($285/month) or any community with a CDD. For a Pulte community with maintained common areas and a quality entrance, $72/month is fair.
How Close Is Everything?
- Publix: Within 2 miles
- Walmart Supercenter: 4 miles (8 minutes)
- Westfield Brandon Mall: 5 miles (10 minutes)
- Brandon Regional Hospital: 4 miles
- I-75: 5 miles (10 minutes)
- Selmon Expressway: 4 miles
- Downtown Tampa: 20 miles (30 minutes)
- Lithia Springs Park: 6 miles
The Highlands benefits from Valrico's central position in Hillsborough County. Just minutes from Brandon's commercial core, you have grocery, shopping, dining, and medical options nearby without fighting the traffic on SR 60.
Which Schools Serve The Highlands?
The Highlands feeds into Hillsborough County public schools in the Valrico corridor. With homes ranging up to 5 bedrooms, the community was clearly designed for families, and the school zoning supports that. Many buyers target The Highlands specifically because the Pulte floor plans offer the bedroom count and living space that growing families need, combined with strong school access.
If you are comparing The Highlands to other Pulte communities, Valri Forest is a newer Pulte development (2023-2024) just up the road. Valri Forest offers the latest floor plans and finishes, but The Highlands offers lower prices because the homes have had time to season.
What Is the Flood Risk?
The Highlands sits in FEMA Flood Zone X (minimal risk). The community was developed under modern stormwater management standards. No flood insurance required by lenders.
How Does The Highlands Compare to Nearby Neighborhoods?
- Valri Forest (nearby): Also Pulte Homes, but 2023-2024 construction. Latest floor plans and finishes. Higher prices but brand new.
- Taho Woods (nearby): D.R. Horton 2018-2019 build. Similar era, slightly lower price point. Production builder vs. production builder, compare floor plans and finishes.
- Southern Oaks Grove (1 mile): Custom builder from 2006-2012. Older but custom-built quality. Lower HOA.
- Copper Ridge (2 miles): Newsome High zone with CDD. Higher annual cost but premium school zoning.
The Highlands is a solid Pulte community that delivers reliable quality, practical floor plans, and reasonable carrying costs. It is not the newest thing in Valrico, but the homes are well-built, the community is well-maintained, and the pricing reflects fair value for what you get.
What Should Buyers Know?
- Pulte quality: Pulte builds a quality product, better than some national builders, though still production-grade. Expect builder-grade fixtures with good bones. Most homeowners upgrade kitchens and bathrooms over time.
- Sold-out advantage: No builder model homes or inventory undercutting resale prices. The market sets the price, not the builder's incentive programs.
- Spacious yards: Pulte communities tend to offer more outdoor space than some other national builders. The yards at The Highlands are adequate for pools, play sets, and entertaining.
- Rentals: Newer Valrico homes from reputable builders rent well to families. Expect $2,100-$2,700/mo depending on size and bedroom count. ViVi Property Management handles rentals in this area.
Barrett Henry is a Broker Associate at REMAX Collective with 23+ years of real estate experience. He lives in Valrico and knows every pocket neighborhood in the area. Call (813) 733-7907 or get a free home valuation to see what your property is worth right now.
Also explore: Valrico homes for sale | Valrico neighborhood guide | Valrico housing market