Living in Florida's Space Coast
Cypress Bay Preserve
Cypress Bay Preserve is a gated D.R. Horton community off Babcock Street in far southeast Palm Bay, built in two phases between 2021 and 2023. Plans include Horton staples such as the Aria, Cali and Delray, running 1,830 to 2,674 square feet. Dues run about $255 a quarter. Roughly four in ten houses look out at a pond.
Cypress Bay Preserve In Palm Bay, Florida
This is a young community. The Cypress Bay Preserve Homeowner's Association was registered with the state in 2020, the first houses were finished in 2021, and the last of the second phase came out of the ground in 2023. The ground was platted as Cypress Bay Preserve Phase 1 and Cypress Bay Preserve Phase 2, and you will see one or the other on paperwork depending on which side of the community your house sits.
D.R. Horton built it, and the plan lineup follows the pattern you see from that builder across central Florida: the Aria, the Cali and the Delray among them, with the larger two story options pushing to 2,674 square feet. Four and five bedrooms, two to three baths, two car garages. Walls are stucco over concrete block, roofs are shingle, and storm shutters came with a good share of the houses.
The street names do a lot of the work here. Capital Drive SE is the spine, with Farmhouse Road, Peony Court and Foggy Mist Road branching off it. Homesites run from about 0.14 to 0.20 of an acre with irrigation front and rear, and retention ponds are threaded through the plat, so pond views are the rule rather than the exception on the interior streets.
The community is gated and the assessment has run between $230 and $265 a quarter, with Access Management appearing as the administrator. That covers the gate, the community pool, the playground, sidewalks and grounds maintenance in the common areas. It is a lean amenity package compared with the older Bayside Lakes villages, which is exactly why the quarterly number stays where it does.
The money side lands between $360,000 and $488,900, centering near $417,000. That works out to roughly $204 a square foot, the highest of any community in this size range in Palm Bay, and it reflects how new the houses are. They also move quickly, in something like five weeks. The tax figures are the one thing to watch: recent annual bills range from under $1,000 to nearly $6,700 depending on when the improvement landed on the roll.
Cypress Bay Preserve At A Glance
The short version on Cypress Bay Preserve.
| Detail | What you get |
|---|---|
| Detail | Value |
| Location | Capital Drive SE off Babcock Street, far southeast Palm Bay 32909 |
| Built | 2021 to 2023, about 2022 typical |
| Builder | D.R. Horton, across Phase 1 and Phase 2 |
| Home size | 1,830 to 2,674 square feet, about 1,982 typical |
| Bedrooms | Four to five, with two to three baths |
| Levels | Mostly single story ranch plans, with some two story |
| Lot size | 0.14 to 0.20 of an acre, about 0.155 typical |
| Construction | Stucco over concrete block, shingle roofs, storm shutters on many |
| Association | Mandatory. Roughly $230 to $265 per quarter. Cypress Bay Preserve Homeowner's Association, registered with the state in 2020, with Access Management administering |
| Gated | Yes, both phases sit behind a security gate |
| Amenities | Community pool, playground, sidewalks, grounds maintenance in common areas |
| Water frontage | Retention ponds through the plat, pond and lake views on many homesites |
| Utilities | City water and public sewer |
| Price range | $360,000 to $488,900, typical $417,000 |
| Price per square foot | Around $204 |
| Streets | Capital Drive SE, Farmhouse Road, Peony Court, Foggy Mist Road |
Cypress Bay Preserve Details
Two Phases, Two Plats
The community was platted as Phase 1 and Phase 2, and the entrance you use depends on which one you are visiting. Agents give directions from Babcock Street and from St Johns Heritage Parkway, both correctly. Confirm the gate address with the listing agent before you drive out, or you will circle.
A Predictable Plan Lineup
D.R. Horton builds the same plans across many communities, so you can research the Aria, the Cali and the Delray in detail before you ever see one in person. That predictability makes comparison shopping easier than it is in a subdivision where every house was a custom order.
Ponds Are The Backdrop
Retention water is woven through the plat, and pond or lake views show up behind a large share of the houses. A water lot commands a premium and holds it here, so if the view matters, look at what is available now rather than betting on a future resale from an interior lot.
Newest Product, Highest Per Foot
At roughly $204 a square foot this prices above most of Palm Bay. You are paying for a house that is three to five years old with modern insulation, modern wiring and a roof with most of its life ahead of it. Weigh that against an older, larger house at $170 a foot.
Watch The Tax Line
Annual bills on these houses have ranged from under $1,000 to nearly $6,700, and the low end is a house that had not yet been fully assessed. Do not build a budget around the seller's current bill. Get an estimate based on what you will pay and file for homestead exemption if it applies to you.
Not Cypress Bay West
Cypress Bay West is a separate community inside Waterstone with its own association, registered with the state in 2022. Cypress Bay Preserve is not part of Waterstone. The names are close enough that search results blend them, so check the plat name on any listing you are comparing.
Homes For Sale In Cypress Bay Preserve
Everything on the market in Cypress Bay Preserve is listed below. Inventory here is thin and it turns over fast, so what you see is genuinely current rather than a stale shelf.
Cypress Bay Preserve Frequently Asked Questions
Who built Cypress Bay Preserve?
D.R. Horton, in two platted phases between 2021 and 2023. The floor plans follow the builder's standard central Florida lineup, including the Aria, the Cali and the Delray, with sizes running from 1,830 up to 2,674 square feet.
Is the community gated?
Yes. Both phases sit behind controlled entry with a security gate, and gate maintenance is part of what the quarterly assessment funds. That is one reason the fee sits where it does despite a short amenity list.
What do the dues cover and how much are they?
Assessments have run about $230 to $265 a quarter, with Access Management appearing as the administrator. The money goes to the gate, the community pool, the playground, sidewalks and common area grounds maintenance. Ask the association for the current budget in writing.
Do many homes have water views?
Yes. Retention ponds run through the plat and a large share of the houses face or back to water. Pond views are common enough that they are not automatically a premium, but a direct lake frontage lot still prices above an interior homesite.
How is this different from Cypress Bay West?
They are separate communities with separate associations. Cypress Bay West sits inside the Waterstone master community and registered its association in 2022. Cypress Bay Preserve stands on its own off Babcock Street and registered in 2020. Neither one governs the other.
Why is the price per square foot so high?
Because the houses are new. At roughly $204 a foot you are paying for current construction standards, a young roof and mechanical systems still under or near warranty. Older Palm Bay subdivisions trade closer to $170 a foot, but those numbers come with deferred maintenance attached.
How quickly do homes sell here?
Fast by Palm Bay standards, in the range of five weeks. Low inventory in a community this small is the main reason, along with buyers who want something recent without waiting on a build schedule.
How far is I-95?
Short. Babcock Street connects north to Malabar Road and exit 173, and St Johns Heritage Parkway ties into I-95 at exit 166 through a diverging diamond interchange. Both are practical routes depending on whether you are heading north to Melbourne or south.
Capital Drive SE, Palm Bay 32909
Cypress Bay Preserve sits at the far southeast edge of Palm Bay, along Babcock Street below Malabar Road and close to where St Johns Heritage Parkway ties in. Capital Drive SE is the entrance road, and from there Farmhouse Road, Peony Court and Foggy Mist Road carry you through the community. Because the two phases were platted separately, directions from agents come at it from both Babcock and the parkway.
The practical picture is highway access first, retail second. I-95 is reachable at exit 166 through the parkway or exit 173 at Malabar Road, which puts Melbourne, the airport and the corridor employers within a manageable commute. Groceries mean a drive north on Babcock or over to Malabar. The nearest ocean access is a good drive east by way of a causeway, since this corner of the city is far from the water.
Near Cypress Bay Preserve In Merritt Island
Considering Cypress Bay Preserve?
The two phases price differently, the pond lots price differently again, and the tax figure on the listing sheet is often the least reliable number on the page. My partner Nichole and I can tell you which homesites here have held their premium and what your actual carrying cost will look like once the assessment catches up. Call or text (321) 212-7676.
BUYER INCENTIVE! Seller is offering up to $18,000 in buyer concessions with an acceptable offer, subject to applicable lender guidelines. Beautiful WATERFRONT home in th...
- 4 Beds
- 2 Baths
- 1085095 MLS
This beautifully designed 5-bedroom, two-story home offers the space and flexibility today's families are looking for. Upstairs, a spacious loft provides endless possibil...
- 5 Beds
- 3 Baths
- 1081606 MLS
Welcome to this beautifully maintained 4-bedroom, 2-bath lakefront single family home. This family- friendly home features a bright open floor plan that seamlessly connec...
- 4 Beds
- 2 Baths
- 1064773 MLS
Want new? Or do you want better than new? Nestled within a sought-after gated community w/ a single entrance, winding sidewalks perfect for evening strolls, a sparkling c...
- 4 Beds
- 2 Baths
- 1084341 MLS
Fall in love with this beautiful almost brand new house built in 2023 offering SS appliances, granite countertops, full size washer and dryer, ceiling fans in every room ...
- 4 Beds
- 2 Baths
- 1068938 MLS
