Villa Serena in Riverview, FL: What to Know Before You Buy

Community profile

Villa Serena Riverview FL at a Glance

Here's a summary of the community, including the two details that people usually ask: how much is the HOA, and whether these are condos or townhomes.

Association documents and current fee schedules are available through the Villa Serena Condominium Association, managed by Ameri-Tech Property Management.

Community Information Disclaimer:

Much of the information on this page is my own research, including HOA fees, community rules, square footage, and association details. HOA fees, rules, and covenants are set and amended by each community's association, not by [Randy Ahmad / Florida Executive Realty], and are subject to change. Buyers and sellers should independently verify all figures directly with the applicable homeowners association or condominium association, and consult the recorded governing documents, before relying on them in a purchase, sale, or financing decision. This page is for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal, financial, or professional advice.

Location and getting around

Where Villa Serena Is, and What's Nearby

What's Within a Few Miles of Villa Serena

Winthrop Town Centre is the one worth knowing about if you haven't been.

It's a walkable town center about a mile east with a Publix, restaurants, coffee, and a green space at Winthrop Common that hosts events through the year.

Most Riverview communities claim they're close to everything. This one is close to somewhere specific.

Worth noting the tennis courts and basketball at Bloomingdale Hills Park sit outside the gates, not inside them. A few listing sites put those in Villa Serena's own amenity list. They aren't. 

Is Villa Serena in Riverview or Brandon?

Riverview. The address is Riverview, 33578, in Hillsborough County. The confusion is real, though. The community sits near the line where Riverview meets Brandon, so some national sites file it under Brandon.

If you searched Villa Serena Brandon FL and landed here, you're in the right place.

If you're weighing this against other options nearby, there are two right next door. 

Valhalla in Riverview is the largest of the three, with around 600 homes built around several ponds.

Ventura Bay sits directly adjacent to Villa Serena. Both are worth a look if you're comparing, and if you want the three lined up side by side on fees and floor plans, ask and I'll put that together for you.

Mariposa is a great option if you're looking for single family homes in the immediate area. It's right across the street, with prices generally starting higher than the townhome communities.

A resident's take

What It's Like to Live at Villa Serena

I sat down with someone who lived at Villa Serena to get a resident's perspective rather than mine. He walks through the day to day, what he'd tell someone considering a move here, and what he'd want them to know going in.

Monthly costs

What the Villa Serena HOA Covers

Every home in Villa Serena pays $423 a month, and that figure is the same across the community rather than scaled by unit size.

Before you compare it against what you'd pay in a single family home, it's worth seeing what's included in the HOA fee.

Also, the HOA fee includes:

Water is the line many people miss. 

In a single family home that's a separate monthly bill, along with lawn care, pest service, and eventually the exterior of the building itself. Here those are inside the one number.

Whether that math works in your favor depends on how much house you're comparing it to, and it's the kind of thing worth running against a specific property rather than in the abstract.

There's no CDD at Villa Serena.

In a lot of newer Riverview and Wimauma communities, the CDD assessment is a second line on your tax bill that can run well past the HOA fee itself.

Villa Serena predates most of that, and if you're weighing it against new construction, that's a real difference in monthly cost.

I go through how CDD fees work in more detail in my guide to CDD fees in Florida. 

Parking at Villa Serena

Each home has a one-car garage plus room for one car in the driveway. There's additional parking for residents and guests beyond that. The association monitors parking and vehicles in violation may be towed.

That's worth knowing early rather than at closing.

If you have two drivers plus regular visitors, ask about the guest parking rules specifically before you write an offer, and read the parking provisions in the association documents.

The full rules and current fee schedule come from the Villa Serena Condominium Association, managed by Ameri-Tech Property Management.

Florida condominium associations operate under Chapter 718 of the Florida Statutes, which sets out what documents an association has to make available to you.

Lenders and insurance

Villa Serena Condominiums: What That Means When You Buy

Always ask this question

Are there any special assessment coming. That's a one-time charge for a big repair, separate from the regular fee. The association has to show you its financials before you buy, so ask for them and read them.

The market here

Villa Serena Homes For Sale

Everything currently on the market in Villa Serena is below, updated straight from the MLS.

What Moves the Price Here

Homes here run from about 1,400 to 1,797 square feet, and that spread is the biggest single factor. A three bedroom at the top of the range and a two bedroom at the bottom are different homes at different prices, so compare like for like before you decide something is a deal.

After size, three things separate one unit from another:

1. End unit or interior. End units get more natural light and one fewer shared wall. They tend to draw more interest and hold value a little better.
2. Condition. These were built between 2006 and 2009, so they're old enough that kitchens, baths, flooring, and air conditioning are either original or they've been replaced. That gap is where a lot of the price difference lives, and it's worth pricing out what an original unit would cost you to bring current.
3. What the seller has left to do. Because the association handles the roof, the exterior, and the grounds, the usual big-ticket questions on a resale don't apply the same way here. What's left is inside the walls, which makes the inspection more about mechanicals and finishes than structure.

The school district

Schools Serving Villa Serena

Common questions

FAQ's on Villa Serena Riverview FL

Is Villa Serena in Riverview or Brandon?

Riverview. The address is Riverview, FL 33578, in Hillsborough County. The community sits near the line where Riverview meets Brandon, which is why you'll see it filed under both.

Are these condos or townhomes?

Both words get used. Villa Serena is a condominium association, so that's the ownership structure on every home here. Some of the homes are two-story and live like townhomes, which is why you'll see them described that way.

What is the HOA fee?

$423 a month, the same across the community. It covers water, sewer and trash, pest control, exterior building maintenance, and grounds and landscaping. There's no CDD.

Is Villa Serena gated?

Yes, Villa Serena is a gated community.

What are the parking rules?

Each home has a one-car garage and room for one car in the driveway, with additional parking for residents and guests. The association monitors parking and vehicles in violation may be towed.

Can I rent my unit out?

Yes, but only after owning the property for one year.

How old are the homes?

Built starting in 2006, with the final phase completed in 2009.

What size are the homes?

Roughly 1,400 to 1,797 square feet, in two and three bedroom floor plans.