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Andrew Pepper

REALTOR | Andrew Michael Pepper PLLC - The Pepper Team at Keller Williams On The Water Sarasota

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Andrew Pepper, REALTOR, Military Veteran and Eagle Scout, smiling in a cowboy hat with an American flag behind him

Military Relocation

Buying a Home Near MacDill Air Force Base (MacDill AFB)

Active duty, Veterans and military retirees: I'm a Military Veteran and Eagle Scout, and I'll help you buy the right home near MacDill AFB and across our area.

Photo of Andrew Pepper; flag background digitally added.

Moving on orders means a report date, a tight timeline and a lot of decisions to make from far away. Whether you're PCSing to MacDill AFB, leaving the service or using your VA loan for the first time, my job is to make the move simple and get you into a home that fits your life and your budget.

Homes sold300+
Sales volume$137M+
Andrew PepperMilitary Veteran and Eagle Scout
Not military?

Everything on this page applies to you too. We help every buyer and seller from Tampa to North Port, and we'll help you find the right loan for your situation.

Got orders or a move date?

Book a quick call with Andrew

MacDill AFB and our area

I start with the areas closest to home that still have open ground and new construction. Parrish and Lakewood Ranch are the two I put on every list, for active duty buyers who need a workable drive to base and for Veterans and military retirees who want more space and newer homes. The same reasons work for any buyer, military or not.

A roseate spoonbill landing in shallow water
Roseate spoonbill. Photo from our Lakewood Ranch page.
Active duty, Veterans and military retirees

Lakewood Ranch

Large planned communities, a busy Main Street, golf, parks and trails, with plenty of new construction still going up on the east side.

About 54 miles, 70 to 80 minutes to the gate.

The Fort Hamer Bridge crossing the Manatee River in Parrish
Fort Hamer Bridge, Parrish. Photo: Mykhaylovdimitriy, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped.
Active duty, Veterans and military retirees

Parrish

One of the shorter drives to MacDill AFB from our area, with new construction communities along US-301 and room to spread out on acreage.

About 41 miles, 55 to 65 minutes to the gate.

Pink and purple sunset over an open pasture and oak tree line in Myakka City
Sunset over a Myakka City pasture. Photo: The Pepper Team.

Myakka City

Acreage, horse property and open ground about 30 minutes east of Lakewood Ranch Main Street, for buyers who want land and don't drive to base every day.

About 70 miles, 90 to 100 minutes to the gate. A long daily commute.

Bradenton and Ellenton

Established neighborhoods and quick access to I-75 and US-41, plus Palmetto just across the Manatee River.

From Palmetto: about 39 miles, 50 to 60 minutes to the gate.

North Port

Newer neighborhoods and a lot of home for the money. Better suited to buyers who don't drive to base every day.

About 87 miles, 105 to 115 minutes to the gate.

Not sure where to start?

Tell me your report date, your budget and what matters most to you. I'll send you a short list of neighborhoods and homes that fit.

Drive times are to the MacDill AFB Dale Mabry Gate in low to no traffic, from OpenStreetMap routing checked Nov 1, 2026. Rush hour can add a lot.

The MacDill AFB Relocation Guide

Compare 10 areas around MacDill AFB side by side, from South Tampa to Lakewood Ranch, with drive times to the gates and 2026 BAH rates.

Open the guide

New construction and builder incentives

Wood framing of a new two-story home under construction
Photo: D Goug, Pexels.

Lakewood Ranch and Parrish have a lot of new homes going up, and builders often run incentives. A few that apply to military buyers, checked on the builders' own sites Nov 1, 2026:

  • D.R. Horton Main Street Stars: up to $3,000 flex cash with any lender for military Veterans and current military personnel (also open to some other professions) at Sarasota Division communities, including Star Farms at Lakewood Ranch. Proof required at contract. Ends: contract by Dec 31, 2026.
  • Pulte Military Heroes incentive (promoted by Pulte as "Hometown Heros"): up to a $2,000 design center credit for active duty or retired military buyers at Greater Tampa Bay communities, including Longmeadow at North River Ranch in Parrish. Proof required, one per home. Ends: purchase agreement by Dec 31, 2026.

*Builder incentives change often. Contact us and we'll help you find what's available right now.

Before your first model visit

Bring me as your agent on your FIRST VISIT to any model or sales center. Many builders require your agent to register you on that first visit, or you can lose your own representation.

Keep in mind that builder sales reps represent the builder. Your own agent works for you.

Touring new construction soon?

Register me before your first visit

PCSing to another base? We'll connect you with a vetted agent at your next duty station.

Orders taking you somewhere other than MacDill AFB? Here's how it works:

  1. Tell us your next duty station, your timeline and what you're looking for.
  2. We'll introduce you to a vetted agent in that area.
  3. If you own a home here, we can talk through selling it before you go.
Connect me with an agent

Quit paying your landlord's mortgage, let's get you into a home you own.

Paying a landlord near base? Let's look at what it takes to buy instead, from VA loan basics to how much home fits your budget, and build a plan to get you there.

Start my plan to buy

Common questions

Do you only work with military and Veteran buyers?

No. We help every buyer and seller from Tampa to North Port. Military and Veteran clients are a specialty, not a requirement, and everything on this page applies to any buyer.

How far are Parrish and Lakewood Ranch from MacDill Air Force Base (MacDill AFB)?

From central Parrish (US-301 at Moccasin Wallow Road) it's about 41 miles and 55 to 65 minutes to the MacDill AFB Dale Mabry Gate in low to no traffic. From Lakewood Ranch Main Street it's about 54 miles and 70 to 80 minutes. Both are based on OpenStreetMap routing checked Nov 1, 2026. Rush hour on I-75 and the Selmon Expressway can add a lot, so map your exact drive.

I'm PCSing to a base outside Florida. Can you still help?

Yes. Tell us where you're headed and we'll connect you with a vetted agent at your next duty station. If you own a home here, we can also talk through selling it.

Do I need my agent with me at a builder's model home?

Yes. Bring your agent on your FIRST VISIT to any model or sales center. Many builders require your agent to register you on that first visit, or you can lose your own representation. Builder sales reps represent the builder.

Ready to find your next home?

Military Veteran and Eagle Scout here to serve. Let's talk about your orders, your timeline and your budget.

Book a quick call with Andrew

The Pepper Team | Keller Williams On The Water Sarasota

Andrew Pepper, REALTOR® | 941-400-8227 | 1549 Ringling Blvd, Suite 600, Sarasota, FL 34236

Market data on our area pages is from Stellar MLS. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Builder offers are set by each builder and can change or end without notice.

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