Asturia

Here's my take on Asturia — it's one of the better-executed master-planned communities in the Odessa/Land O' Lakes corridor, and M/I Homes is a builder I actually respect. They're not the cheapest option in Pasco County, but they build a noticeably better product than D.R. Horton or LGI at this price point. You're getting concrete block construction, better fit and finish than the volume builders, and a design center experience that lets you personalize without going completely off the rails on upgrades. The $350K–$600K range is honest for what you're getting, and the community itself — pool, splash pad, trails, sports courts — is genuinely nice, not just amenity-box-checking on a brochure. The location on SR-54 gives you quick access to the Veterans Expressway, which gets you to Tampa International Airport in about 25–30 minutes depending on traffic. If you work downtown Tampa, budget 35–45 minutes via the Veteran's. Westshore, International Plaza, or anything along the I-275 corridor is similarly doable without being painful. This community pulls buyers working at places like BayCare, the Westshore business district, or anyone who wants Pasco County taxes with reasonable access to Hillsborough employment. On negotiation: M/I Homes will flex on closing costs before they'll flex on price. That $2,000 savings plus the 2.875% rate offer is worth paying attention to, but run the math before you assume it's a layup. A rate that low almost always comes with points baked in, and you need to compare that APR of 5.6236% against what an independent lender can do for you on a conventional loan without the builder's preferred lender. Get a competing Loan Estimate — it takes 30 minutes and could save you thousands over the life of the loan. Where M/I tends to have room to move is on lot premiums and option packages. Pond lots and conservation-view lots in communities like this typically carry premiums in the $10,000–$30,000 range, and that's negotiable more often than their sales team will volunteer. Corner lots are usually priced up too, but they also come with larger yards and less neighbor exposure, so weigh that against the premium. If you're buying spec inventory that's been sitting, you have more leverage than on a to-be-built contract. Asturia feeds into Pasco County Schools — specifically Odessa Elementary, Seven Springs Middle, and J.W. Mitchell High School. Mitchell has a solid reputation and is generally considered one of the stronger high schools in Pasco County, which matters if you have kids approaching those years. The HOA at $180/month is on the higher end for Pasco, but it's not unreasonable given what the amenity package actually delivers — compare that to some communities in Wesley Chapel where you're paying similar amounts for a mailbox and a pond. What I'd have your attorney or title company verify before closing is whether there's a CDD on top of the HOA, because that changes your total monthly carrying cost in ways that don't always show up clearly in the listing. The day-to-day vibe here is suburban but not sterile — SR-54 has matured with retail and restaurants, and the community has enough density to feel alive without feeling like you're on top of your neighbors. If you're moving from somewhere like Westchase or Carrollwood and want a newer home without giving up community feel, Asturia competes well.

Barrett Henry, REALTOR®

Broker Associate at REMAX Collective · 23+ years of real estate experience