Interested in the Old Florida lifestyle? Terra Ceia is a bay island located northwest of Palmetto, right under the foot of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge; this is one of the few communities where the charms of Old Florida neighborhoods can still be felt, and it is where exclusive developer Bruce Williams Homes has built some very interesting properties

Terra Ceia used to be a thriving agricultural and shipping community during most of the 18th century; these days, its is home to just a few neighborhoods surrounded by a large mangrove and aquatic preserve. A few years ago, Bruce Williams Homes acquired more than 40 acres of pristine Florida land to develop Terra Ceia Preserve, an exclusive neighborhood with very large home sites separated from the mainland by the Bayshore Point Bridge.

Terra Ceia Preserve offers a nice diversity of real estate and architectural styles. You can find renovated bungalows originally built decades ago listed at less than $80K; there is also a Caribbean-style mansion completed by Bruce Williams Homes last year and priced at $895K. Most construction-ready lots have been acquired, but a few may come on the market in 2018. If you decide to build a new home, you can choose from more than a dozen architectural plans offered by Bruce Williams Homes; the styles include Tuscan, Mediterranean, Key West, and Old Florida.

If your idea of a perfect place to raise a family includes privacy, safety and lots of nature, Terra Ceia Preserve will likely fit into your plans. The main amenities in this neighborhood are the private boat docks and kayak launch; this is where you can start exploring the island and mangrove preserves.

Driving to St. Petersburg and Tampa will take you less than 40 minutes; Downtown Bradenton and the Manatee County beaches are even closer. The nearest commercial district is located in nearby Rubonia, but you can find even more shopping, dining and entertainment a few miles south in Palmetto, Ellenton and Bradenton.