Avila — Tampa's Guard-Gated Golf Community
Avila is a 700-acre guard-gated residential community in North Tampa, located off Avila Boulevard near the Lutz–Carrollwood corridor. The community contains approximately 395 residences — a mix of custom-built estates, semi-custom homes, and villa-style properties — on lots that typically range from one to over three acres. Twenty-four-hour guarded entry, eight-foot perimeter walls, and a manned gatehouse control access to the community.
The development began in 1978 under developer J. Robert "Bob" Sierra, who named the community after the walled medieval city of Ávila in central Spain. Sierra's vision was a low-density estate community centered on privacy, green space, and a private golf and country club. That original vision has largely held — Avila remains one of the lowest-density gated communities in the Tampa Bay area, with fewer than one home per 1.5 acres on average.
Home Styles & Lot Sizes
Homes in Avila range from approximately 2,500 square feet to over 15,000 square feet, with architectural styles spanning Mediterranean, contemporary, transitional, and traditional designs. Because the community was built out over decades (1978–present), buyers will find homes from the original 1980s construction alongside newly built or recently renovated estates.
Lot sizes typically start at one acre, with many properties sitting on 1.5 to 3+ acre parcels. The larger lots provide separation between homes and create the estate-like character that distinguishes Avila from newer gated communities with tighter lot configurations.
Pricing generally ranges from approximately $1 million to $13 million or more, depending on lot size, home condition, age, and golf course frontage. Vacant lots occasionally appear on the market for custom builds.
Note: Pricing, inventory, and lot availability change. Contact Shane Vanderson at 813-205-5430 for current market data and off-market opportunities.
