Tampa suburb moves to the top of Tampa Bay’s hottest housing markets

An unexpected ZIP code took the top spot locally in the second quarter Hottest Housing Markets ranking.

The 33613 ZIP code is a northern Tampa suburban area that includes the area north of Fletcher Avenue surrounding Interstate 275. However, the northern end of the ZIP code incorporates Avila, a gated community of almost entirely million-dollar homes that has historically been home to many professional athletes.

At least six homes sold in the 33613 ZIP code for $1 million or more during the second quarter, including 16814 Avila Blvd., which sold for $5.5 million in April. The average sale price jumped more than 50% from Q2 2024 to Q2 2025, from $369,270 to $561,008. The ZIP code ranked 19th nationally among the 9,349 ZIP codes included in the rankings.

The rankings are based on data from Intercontinental Exchange Inc. and are intended to emphasize sales and pricing momentum in each ZIP code. They use a weighted formula that includes quarterly and year-over-year data and only includes ZIP codes with an average sale price of $422,800, which is the median sale price nationally, according to the Federal Reserve at the end of May.

While the majority of the top-ranked areas were in Hillsborough, Pinellas and southern Pasco, a Plant City ZIP code broke into the top 10 locally last quarter. Ranking eighth in the area, 33567 is located in the southern part of Plant City, just east of Valrico. The median home sale price increased 10% year-over-year, reaching $456,576 in Q2 2025.

The rankings aren’t meant to highlight the most expensive or the most popular markets, although some of those are on the list. Instead, rankings spotlight ZIP codes where activity is surging, prices are dramatically rising or homes are selling at a faster pace.

Here are the details on 33613, Tampa Bay's hottest market:

These were the top five hottest ZIP codes for housing in Tampa Bay in the second quarter:

America's hottest housing markets

Home sales in some markets — including what previously ranked among the nation's strongest — have sagged in recent months, increasing inventory and giving buyers more leverage.

Meanwhile, in other areas, frustrated sellers are deciding to delist their homes rather than face steep price cuts.

But there are still plenty of hot housing markets both locally and across the nation.

ZIP code 03782 in Sunapee, New Hampshire, was the nation's hottest housing market for the quarter. In the past five years, sales-price momentum surged 262% in that ZIP code. The average list price for the first quarter was $1,185,296, while the average sale price was $2,123,045.

In the second quarter, which is just ahead of the summer season, many of the nation’s hottest housing markets were in waterfront communities, including Sunapee; Greenville and Freeport, Maine; and Bridgman, Michigan.

Among the top 10 markets, the average sale price was $1.1 million, well above the national second-quarter average of $521,340, per research by The Business Journals.

Buyers’ market but with hurdles

The Business Journals' research found a 21% increase in listings in the second quarter compared to the first three months of this year, in addition to a 6% increase in listings year-over-year. That tracks with analyst speculation that the country may be entering a buyer’s market.

But in some markets, buyers may be sidelined as affordability issues reach unsustainable levels. In fact, a recent report from Realtor.com revealed most major housing markets are now unaffordable to middle-income Americans. Only a few large metros — notably St. Louis, Detroit and Pittsburgh — still have home prices affordable to households earning those areas' median income.

Nationally, the median list price for homes in May was $440,000, which would require 44.6% of a median U.S. household income to afford. For decades, it's been widely established that Americans should avoid spending more than 30% of their income on housing-related costs.

Federal policy creates complications

While the shift toward a buyers’ market may be taking shape, broader economic uncertainty, especially surrounding tariffs, are also impacting home sales and building activity this year.

Homebuilders and general contractors are facing price hikes on building materials in the wake of 50% tariffs on steel and aluminum.

Robert Cantando, national director of strategic supply chain at the U.S. offices of Swedish construction firm Skanska, said manufacturers and suppliers have been taking action to remain competitive, including by shifting supplies and materials to minimize the impact of tariffs.

"Various tiers of the supply chain are absorbing a portion of those tariffs," he said. "Equipment manufacturers that announced large increases or surcharges earlier this year are starting to roll back those increases."

Certain building categories — including lumber and drywall, heavily used in residential real estate construction — are seeing weaker demand as the housing market slows, which is helping to keep prices in check, Cantando added.

READ SOURCE ARTICLE HERE:  www.bizjournals.com