Brandon, Florida Real Estate and Community Info.

After purchasing a large amount of acreage in the mid 1800s, John Brandon and his wife Martha settled in the area, built the first church and school, and gave Brandon, Florida its start. In 1890, a railroad depot was built for the Florida Central and Peninsula Railroad and the town started growing. A larger schoolhouse was necessary by 1916 because of the influx of families to the area, and a general store opened on the corner of Moon Avenue and Victoria Street.

By the 1950s, Brandon was booming. Commuters had easy access to Tampa, and thus Brandon became a bedroom community where business people returned at night to enjoy a bit of peace and quiet. An elementary, junior high and high school was built in the 1950s, and by the early 1960s, it was estimated that one new family moved to the city every day. The town opened the Brandon Swim and Tennis Club in 1965 and the Brandon Public Library shortly afterward. By the 1970s, there were more than 400 commercial and service businesses, three malls and a population of more than 40,000. Today, Brandon boasts a population of more than 100,000.

Shopping and Dining

The Westfield Brandon Mall offers shoppers a wide variety of stores, including larger chain stores such as Dick's Sporting Goods, Dillard's, Macy's and more. It also offers stores like Yankee Candle, Teavana and Qachbal's Chocolatier. Diners can enjoy Ruby Tuesday, The Grill Smith and the Cheesecake Factory. Located at 459 Brandon Town Center, the mall is within easy access of most Brandon Florida real estate.

Shoppers can also find many local businesses that offer home furnishings, jewelry, wedding dresses and Halloween costumes. There are also plenty of restaurants throughout Brandon to satisfy any tastes, including those serving international cuisine, like the Kabuki Japanese Restaurant, O'Toole's Irish Pub, Taste of India and Estela's Mexican Restaurant.

Parks and Recreation

There are several lakes for residents and visitors to enjoy, including Hendrics Lake, Long Pond, Hickory Hammock Lake and Sand Pond. The Comspeq International amusement and theme park also attracts many visitors, while the area's many parks offer hiking, picnicking, sporting and playground opportunities. The Ace Range Golf Club and Batting Cages offers fun activities for the whole family including miniature golf, batting cages and pro golf lessons, while the Art Mart offers an area for visitors to stroll through and shop. The Brandon Homestead offers a place for history buffs to learn about the town's founders, while the Alafia River State Park Mountain Bike Trail offers hiking, biking and wildlife watching opportunities. The bike trail has a range of novice, intermediate and advanced trails for all levels of bikers. Most outdoor recreational opportunities and the city's many parks are within easy access of most Brandon Florida real estate.

Living

With annual average low temperatures rarely around 50 degrees and average summer highs of 90 degrees in the summer, Brandon Florida real estate is a hot commodity for those looking for year-round living or for vacation homes. The city boasts a higher than average amount of sunshine. There are many different types of neighborhoods throughout the city from condo communities to larger lots with family homes. There are plenty of outdoor recreation opportunities for residents, such as the basketball, softball, tennis and volleyball courts at Bloomingdale East Park.

The estimated median home value in 2009 was around $200,000, and the cost of living in the area is slightly lower than the national average. More than half of adult residents are currently married, and more than 25 percent of them have a bachelor's degree or higher.

Schools, Health and Transportation

There are several colleges and universities within a short drive of Brandon, including Everest University at Brandon, Hillsborough Community College, the University of Tampa, the University of South Florida and more. Brandon offers families several choices of private and public schools, the latter of which are administered by Hillsborough County Public Schools.

The Brandon Regional Hospital offers acute care services as well as emergency services. Other hospitals within 13 miles of the city include St. Joseph's Hospital, Tampa General Hospital and Tampa VA Medical Center. Many residents commute a little more than 10 miles to Tampa for work, although some remain within Brandon and work in one of its many local businesses. There is also one airport, the Lewis Airport, and one heliport, the Hospital Brandon Helistop Heliport. Brandon also has one Amtrak station within 10 miles of the city center. Brandon sits astride Florida highway 60 with easy access to Interstate 75.

If you are thinking about buying or selling a home, give us a call at (813) 739-5965 if you're thinking of selling, (813) 739-5925 if you're thinking of buying, or send us an email to explore your options and to find out when is the best time for you to make a move.