By: KeyCrew Media

If your homeowner’s insurance renewal just came in above $3,000, again, this is worth three minutes of your time.

A quiet but significant wave of relocations is moving through Florida right now. Empty nesters in Pinellas County, remote workers done with Tampa’s traffic, and Long Island families selling $500,000–$600,000 homes are all landing in the same place: Citrus Springs, a small Central Florida town most people haven’t heard of until they start doing the math.

Ryan Hinricher has done the math. The founder of Sunworth Homes used data from government sources and AI-assisted research to identify exactly who is moving to this area, why, and what they’re looking for. His conclusion shaped an entire home-building company around serving them.

“That low cost of living is an elevated living from what they’ve experienced before,” he said.

What Does It Actually Cost to Live in Citrus Springs, FL?

The numbers that consistently stop people mid-conversation:

• Homeowner’s insurance: ~$750/year on a new Sunworth home, versus $3,000–$5,000/year in coastal St. Petersburg or Pinellas County
• Property taxes: ~$4,000/year, versus $8,000–$10,000/year in coastal or Tampa metro areas
• Gulf Coast access: 30 minutes, same drive time as from St. Pete, just without the traffic
• Orlando and Tampa: both within 90 minutes
• Private school: Florida’s school choice expansion now provides ~$6,000/year per child in state grants at all income levels, making private school accessible for middle-income families

“The cost of living diminishes, and it’s much simpler,” Hinricher said. “It’s quieter. They’re engaging with nature more.”

Who Is Actually Making This Move?

Hinricher mapped three distinct buyer profiles converging on this area.

The Coastal Escapee. Pinellas County residents who have endured enough hurricanes, flood insurance, and traffic. They don’t want to leave Florida; they want to move inland, keep their family connections, and stop paying coastal premiums for a quality of life that has quietly degraded. “It’s just becoming untenable,” Hinricher said of the St. Pete market. “The housing stock is old and expired, everything’s in the flood zone. For a lot of people, they’re just done with it.”

The Remote Worker. Younger professionals and couples who can live anywhere and are choosing a natural environment over a suburb. They want access to ecotourism, a usable outdoor space, and the ability to get to a city when they want one, without building their whole lives around the commute.

The Northeast Empty Nester. Long Island is the only county with the most inbound moves from out of state to this area, according to Hinricher’s research. These buyers are selling homes priced at $500,000–$600,000 and discovering that $349,999 in Citrus Springs buys something that functions as luxury, without the burden. “You’re buying what’s luxury to them,” he said, “and having an amazing lifestyle, and you have money in your pocket.”

All three groups share a core desire: “They want a quieter lifestyle. They want to engage with a more rural, natural area. And they still don’t want to be in the middle of the sticks.”

What Is the Rainbow River, and Why Does It Keep Coming Up?

Six minutes from Sunworth’s model home is the Rainbow River in Dunnellon, a spring-fed river with water that stays at 72°F year-round, visibility of 10 to 20 feet, and zero alligator pressure due to the standing water. Kayaking, paddleboarding, tubing, swimming, and fishing, year-round.

“It is literally like out of a movie,” Hinricher said. “If you’re kayaking or paddleboarding, you’re seeing down 10 to 20 feet. You can see the bottom. You can see all the fish below you.”

The World Equestrian Center in Ocala, which has rapidly drawn South Florida’s equestrian and lifestyle crowd, is 20 minutes east. Crystal River and the Gulf Coast are 30 minutes west.

What Kind of Home Are You Coming Home To?

Sunworth builds specifically for the buyer who wants more than a production box at this price point. Every home is built with Greenguard Gold-certified materials and no-VOC paint throughout. The lots are selected for their existing tree canopy and as premium parcels that other builders pass on because they require more care. Nature fractal interiors are calibrated by a certified biophilic designer. The windows aren’t an upgrade; 18 of them are standard.

The first fully furnished model home opens in Citrus Springs this spring. A broker open for top area agents follows, with a replica available for purchase nearby and 20-plus lots in inventory.

“It’s really an elevated living,” Hinricher said. “You’re not walking into the backyard looking at another house. That’s just not going to be happening with the Sunworth brand.”

Disclaimer: The information presented in this article is for general informational purposes only. While the data and research referenced are based on credible sources, individual circumstances may vary. Readers should conduct their own research or consult with relevant professionals before making any decisions.