Tampa Bay is one of the most active VA loan markets in the country. According to federal HMDA data published by the FFIEC and CFPB, 11,665 VA loans were originated across the eight-county metro area in 2024 — up 19.3% from 9,774 in 2023. That's 21,439 VA loan originations over two years.
But not every ZIP code sees the same level of activity. Some neighborhoods attract hundreds of veteran homebuyers per year thanks to new construction, proximity to MacDill AFB, and price points that align with VA loan limits and BAH rates. Other ZIPs are emerging fast — doubling their VA volume as veterans discover affordable alternatives to the more saturated markets.
Below, we rank the top 25 ZIP codes for VA loan activity in Tampa Bay using two full years of federal origination data. Every number on this page comes directly from HMDA records. No estimates, no projections, no third-party models.
All 25 ZIP Codes Ranked by Total VA Loan Originations
| Rank | ZIP | City | County | 2024 | 2023 | Total | YoY % | Median Loan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 33579 | Riverview | Hillsborough | 402 | 351 | 753 | +14.5% | $435,000 |
| 2 | 34219 | Parrish | Manatee | 351 | 359 | 710 | -2.2% | $425,000 |
| 3 | 33545 | Wesley Chapel | Pasco | 368 | 278 | 646 | +32.4% | $435,000 |
| 4 | 33598 | Wimauma | Hillsborough | 252 | 219 | 471 | +15.1% | $385,000 |
| 5 | 33844 | Haines City | Polk | 267 | 164 | 431 | +62.8% | $335,000 |
| 6 | 33837 | Davenport | Polk | 208 | 193 | 401 | +7.8% | $365,000 |
| 7 | 33578 | Riverview | Hillsborough | 197 | 185 | 382 | +6.5% | $365,000 |
| 8 | 34609 | Spring Hill | Hernando | 218 | 160 | 378 | +36.2% | $345,000 |
| 9 | 33572 | Apollo Beach | Hillsborough | 194 | 170 | 364 | +14.1% | $465,000 |
| 10 | 33830 | Bartow | Polk | 180 | 148 | 328 | +21.6% | $315,000 |
| 11 | 33547 | Lithia | Hillsborough | 169 | 146 | 315 | +15.8% | $535,000 |
| 12 | 33573 | Sun City Center | Hillsborough | 173 | 136 | 309 | +27.2% | $335,000 |
| 13 | 34638 | Land O' Lakes | Pasco | 166 | 139 | 305 | +19.4% | $435,000 |
| 14 | 34221 | Palmetto | Manatee | 158 | 137 | 295 | +15.3% | $395,000 |
| 15 | 34608 | Spring Hill | Hernando | 164 | 119 | 283 | +37.8% | $315,000 |
| 16 | 33570 | Ruskin | Hillsborough | 154 | 121 | 275 | +27.3% | $365,000 |
| 17 | 33511 | Brandon | Hillsborough | 135 | 130 | 265 | +3.8% | $395,000 |
| 18 | 33569 | Riverview | Hillsborough | 133 | 131 | 264 | +1.5% | $405,000 |
| 19 | 33543 | Wesley Chapel | Pasco | 140 | 117 | 257 | +19.7% | $455,000 |
| 20 | 33565 | Plant City | Hillsborough | 169 | 87 | 256 | +94.3% | $375,000 |
| 21 | 33541 | Zephyrhills | Pasco | 162 | 78 | 240 | +107.7% | $355,000 |
| 22 | 33810 | Lakeland | Polk | 130 | 107 | 237 | +21.5% | $335,000 |
| 23 | 33823 | Auburndale | Polk | 118 | 117 | 235 | +0.9% | $345,000 |
| 24 | 34211 | Bradenton | Manatee | 127 | 99 | 226 | +28.3% | $555,000 |
| 25 | 33884 | Winter Haven | Polk | 132 | 82 | 214 | +61.0% | $325,000 |
Source: FFIEC/CFPB HMDA public Loan Application Register. Census tract to ZIP mapping via U.S. Census Bureau 2020 ZCTA-tract relationship file.
What Makes the Top 10 VA Loan ZIPs Stand Out?
The top 10 ZIP codes collectively accounted for 4,864 VA loan originations over two years. Here is what drives the volume in each:
- 33579 — Riverview (753 loans): Triple Creek, South Fork, and Summerfield Crossings deliver new construction in the $380K–$450K range. Purchase loans make up 72.4% of activity. This is the undisputed #1 VA ZIP in Tampa Bay.
- 34219 — Parrish (710 loans): North River Ranch and Summerwoods offer large lots in Manatee County. With 84.9% purchase share, this ZIP leads all 25 for the share of loans going to actual home purchases.
- 33545 — Wesley Chapel (646 loans): Epperson (Crystal Lagoon) and Watergrass in Pasco County saw 32.4% year-over-year growth. Median VA loan: $435,000.
- 33598 — Wimauma (471 loans): Southshore Bay with its Metro Lagoon, Ayersworth Glen, and Sereno drive new-construction activity. Purchase share: 83.2%.
- 33844 — Haines City (431 loans): The fastest-growing top-5 ZIP at +62.8% year over year. At a $335,000 median loan, it also has the lowest median price in the top five.
- 33837 — Davenport (401 loans): The Providence community and I-4 corridor access make this Polk County ZIP attractive for commuters. Median VA loan: $365,000.
- 33578 — Riverview (382 loans): Established Riverview along US-301 has a higher refinance share than 33579, reflecting existing veteran homeowners who refinanced into better terms.
- 34609 — Spring Hill (378 loans):Sterling Hill and Suncoast Parkway access drive Hernando County's VA activity. Up 36.2% year over year.
- 33572 — Apollo Beach (364 loans): Waterset and MiraBay attract MacDill AFB commuters and waterfront buyers. Purchase share: 83.8%. Median: $465,000.
- 33830 — Bartow (328 loans): The lowest median VA loan in the top 10 at $315,000. Affordable Polk County pricing with room to grow.
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Why Riverview Dominates Tampa Bay's VA Loan Market
No city in Tampa Bay comes close to Riverview for VA loan volume. Three Riverview ZIP codes — 33579, 33578, and 33569 — produced a combined 1,399 VA loan originations over 2023–2024. That is nearly three times the volume of the next-closest non-Riverview ZIP.
ZIP 33579 (Triple Creek, South Fork) alone generated 753 loans, while 33578 (established Riverview along US-301) added 382 and 33569 (Boyette corridor) contributed 264. The three ZIPs span median loan amounts from $405,000 to $435,000, offering options at multiple price points.
Riverview's appeal for veterans is straightforward: new construction priced for VA financing, a 20-to-30-minute commute to MacDill AFB, strong schools, and master-planned communities with pools, parks, and trails. Read the full city breakdown at Riverview: Tampa Bay's #1 City for VA Loans.
Which ZIP Codes Are Growing Fastest for VA Loans?
While Riverview leads on total volume, other ZIP codes are growing at a pace that veteran homebuyers should pay attention to. The three fastest-growing ZIPs in the top 25:
33541 — Zephyrhills
VA loans more than doubled from 78 in 2023 to 162 in 2024. Abbott Square and Silverado communities are drawing veterans to Pasco County's affordable east side.
33565 — Plant City
The highest purchase share in the top 25 at 89.8% — nearly every VA loan here is a home purchase, not a refinance. North Park Isle and Varrea are key communities.
33844 — Haines City
With the lowest median VA loan in the top 5 at $335,000, Haines City is where veterans stretch their dollar furthest in Polk County.
Where Are Veterans Taking Out the Largest VA Loans?
Not all VA loans are under $400,000. Two Tampa Bay ZIP codes stand well above the rest in median loan size:
- 34211 — Bradenton / Lakewood Ranch ($555,000 median): The highest median VA loan in the top 25. Lakewood Ranch is one of the top-selling master-planned communities in the country, and VA-eligible buyers are active here. Purchase share is 88.5%, and year-over-year growth hit +28.3%.
- 33547 — Lithia / FishHawk Ranch ($535,000 median): FishHawk and Hawkstone attract senior officers and higher-income veterans. Purchase share: 82.5%.
By comparison, the most affordable ZIPs in the top 25 are Bartow (33830) at $315,000 and Spring Hill (34608) at $315,000. The spread from lowest to highest median VA loan is $240,000— a sign of how diverse Tampa Bay's veteran housing market is.
Are VA Loans in Tampa Bay Mostly Purchases or Refinances?
Across the top 25 ZIP codes, home purchases dominate VA loan activity. Most ZIPs fall in the 70–85% purchase range, meaning the clear majority of VA borrowers are buying homes, not refinancing.
The highest purchase share belongs to Plant City (33565) at 89.8% — nearly 9 out of 10 VA loans are purchases. Parrish (34219) follows at 84.9%, and Palmetto (34221) at 84.4%.
On the other end, Brandon (33511) has the lowest purchase share at 58.9%, and Spring Hill (34608) at 59.0%. These more established areas have larger populations of existing veteran homeowners who refinance — often through VA Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loans (IRRRLs) or VA cash-out refinances.
What this means for buyers: in high-purchase-share ZIPs, you are competing with more new buyers (and more new construction). In high-refi ZIPs, you may find more resale inventory from established neighborhoods at comparatively moderate prices.
Deep Dives: VA Loan Activity by City
Three Tampa Bay cities had enough multi-ZIP volume to warrant their own analysis pages. Each breaks down how individual ZIP codes within the city compare.
Explore Each ZIP Code in Detail
Each ZIP has its own page with community breakdowns, neighborhood highlights, and what VA buyers should know before making an offer.
Your VA Benefit. Your ZIP Code. Let's Make It Happen.
Tell Barrett which ZIP code you're interested in and he'll walk you through what VA buyers are seeing right now.
Methodology: How We Analyzed This Data
Transparency matters. Here is exactly how we compiled the numbers on this page:
- Source: The federal Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) public Loan Application Register, published by the FFIEC and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). This is the same data federal regulators use to monitor fair lending.
- Filtering: We selected only VA loan originations:
loan_type = 3(VA-guaranteed) andaction_taken = 1(originated). Denied applications, withdrawn applications, and purchased loans are excluded. - Geography: Eight Tampa Bay counties: Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Manatee, Sarasota, Hernando, and Citrus.
- Census-to-ZIP Mapping: HMDA data reports census tracts, not ZIP codes. We mapped tracts to ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) using the U.S. Census Bureau 2020 ZCTA–tract relationship file with dominant land-area assignment.
- Ranking: ZIPs are ranked by combined 2023 + 2024 origination volume. Year-over-year percentage change compares 2024 to 2023 originations.
- Median Loan: Median originated loan amount across both years for that ZIP.
We do not estimate, project, or model any numbers. Every figure on this page is derived directly from public federal records. If you are a researcher, journalist, or lender who wants to verify these numbers, start with the FFIEC HMDA Data Browser.
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VA Loan TB is a real estate marketing site operated by Barrett Henry, Broker Associate, REMAX Collective. We are not a lender, mortgage broker, or government agency, and we are not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) or any government program. Information is educational only and not financial or legal advice. Equal Housing Opportunity.