Living in Florida's Space Coast
Tillman
Tillman is the oldest name in Palm Bay and one of its newest addresses. Homesteaders settled a town called Tillman at the mouth of Turkey Creek in 1887, and the residents petitioned to rename it Palm Bay in 1925. The name survives in two places today: a handful of original parcels near US 1, and Tillman Lakes, a gated Lennar community off Malabar Road built from 2022 forward.
Tillman In Palm Bay, Florida
Start with the history, because it explains the confusion. Early homesteaders settled a town called Tillman at the mouth of Turkey Creek in 1887. By 1925 the two hundred people living there had decided the name did not suit the place and petitioned to change it to Palm Bay, and the city incorporated in 1960. The original plat name never disappeared from the county records, so property here still carries it.
That leaves two very different sets of addresses under one heading. Near US 1 in the 32905 zip you find the old ground: Hessey Avenue, Water Drive and Stearns Avenue, just behind the Palm Bay Chamber of Commerce. One parcel there runs 1.44 acres with Indian River views and a vintage house built in 1928, zoned Urban Mixed Use but grandfathered residential. That is the far end of a range that starts at 956 square feet.
The other Tillman is Tillman Lakes, out west in the 32908 zip off Malabar Road near Abilene Drive and the St Johns Heritage Parkway. Metro Development Group developed it and Lennar builds it, in collections marketed as The Palms and Heritage at Tillman Lakes. Colebrook Circle carries most of the addresses, with Diablo Circle and Ellsworth Circle alongside. It is gated, and roughly half the community was still under construction recently.
Tillman Lakes Homeowners Association, Inc. has been registered with Florida since 2018. Assessments run about $250 a quarter for most owners, with a few addresses billed monthly near $80 to $91, and Breeze handles management from off site. Amenities are modest and practical: a playground, lakes with walking paths, and a dog park. The developer also built in community wide ULTRAFi connectivity and Streetleaf solar powered streetlights, neither of which you will find in an older Palm Bay subdivision.
The numbers make this the value corner of Palm Bay. Prices run $340,000 to $479,000 with $384,705 typical at about $162 a square foot, the lowest per foot figure of any neighborhood covered here. Homes sell in roughly sixteen days, which is fast by any standard. What you give up: lots average an eighth of an acre, most of the houses are two story, and no property in the community has a private pool.
Tillman At A Glance
Tillman at a glance, covering both the original plat and Tillman Lakes.
| Detail | What you get |
|---|---|
| Detail | Value |
| Location | Tillman Lakes off Malabar Road near Abilene Drive, Palm Bay 32908, plus original parcels near US 1 and Hessey Avenue, Palm Bay 32905 |
| History | Settled as the town of Tillman in 1887 at the mouth of Turkey Creek, renamed Palm Bay in 1925 |
| Built | 1928 through 2026, with most current construction from 2022 forward |
| Developer and builder | Metro Development Group with Lennar at Tillman Lakes, in The Palms and Heritage collections |
| Home size | 956 to 2,922 square feet, about 2,395 typical |
| Bedrooms | Two to five, with one to four baths |
| Lot size | 0.11 to 1.44 acres, about 0.13 typical in Tillman Lakes |
| Construction | Concrete block and stucco, shingle roofs, impact windows on several homes, block on both levels on some two story plans |
| Association | Mandatory at Tillman Lakes. Tillman Lakes Homeowners Association, Inc., registered in Florida since 2018, managed off site by Breeze, about $250 a quarter, with some addresses billed near $80 to $91 monthly |
| Gated | Yes at Tillman Lakes. The older parcels near US 1 are not part of that association |
| Amenities | Playground, lakes and walking paths, dog park, community wide ULTRAFi connectivity, solar powered streetlights |
| Utilities | City water and public sewer |
| Private pools | None recorded in the community |
| Water views | Lake and pond views on roughly a third of the homes |
| Streets | Colebrook Circle, Diablo Circle, Ellsworth Circle, plus Water Drive, Hessey Avenue and Stearns Avenue in the old plat |
| Price range | $340,000 to $479,000, typical $384,705, around $162 a square foot |
| Time to sell | About sixteen days, the fastest pace in the area |
Tillman Details
The City's Original Name
Before it was Palm Bay it was Tillman, a homestead settlement at the mouth of Turkey Creek dating to 1887. The two hundred residents petitioned to change the name in 1925. The old name stayed in the plat books, which is why a 2024 house and a 1928 house can both carry a Tillman address today.
Two Places, One Heading
The old Tillman parcels sit near US 1 on Hessey Avenue, Water Drive and Stearns Avenue in the 32905 zip. Tillman Lakes sits eight miles west off Malabar Road in 32908. They share nothing but a name, and if you are searching by neighborhood you will see them mixed together. Check the zip before you drive.
Lennar Behind A Gate
Tillman Lakes was developed by Metro Development Group and is built by Lennar in two collections, The Palms and Heritage. It is gated, which puts it in a small group of new communities in Palm Bay with controlled access at an entry level price point.
Wired And Lit Differently
The developer built in ULTRAFi community wide connectivity and Streetleaf solar powered streetlights. Those are infrastructure decisions made at the plat stage rather than options you can add later, and they are genuinely uncommon in this market.
Lowest Cost Per Square Foot
At roughly $162 a square foot, Tillman sits at the bottom of the per foot range across the neighborhoods here. Two story plans on eighth acre lots are how that number gets reached. If maximum interior space per dollar is the objective, this is where the math lands.
Sixteen Days To Sell
Homes here move in about two weeks, the fastest pace of any neighborhood in this part of the city. That is what happens when new construction, a gate and a sub $400,000 price meet in one place. As a buyer, be ready to decide quickly and have your financing already in order.
Homes For Sale In Tillman
Everything currently available under the Tillman name is below. You will likely see both new Tillman Lakes inventory west of town and the occasional older parcel near US 1, so check the zip and the year built on each one.
Tillman Frequently Asked Questions
Why is a Palm Bay neighborhood called Tillman?
Because Tillman was the town's original name. Homesteaders settled at the mouth of Turkey Creek in 1887 and called the place Tillman. In 1925 the residents petitioned to rename it Palm Bay, and the city incorporated in 1960. The old plat name stayed in the county records and still appears on property.
Is Tillman Lakes gated?
Yes. Tillman Lakes has controlled access and most homes there carry a security gate feature. It sits off Malabar Road near Abilene Drive in the 32908 zip, with Colebrook Circle, Diablo Circle and Ellsworth Circle inside the gate.
Who builds at Tillman Lakes?
Lennar, on land developed by Metro Development Group. The homes are marketed in two collections, The Palms and Heritage at Tillman Lakes. Construction began around 2022 and a large share of the community has been delivered since.
What are the HOA dues?
About $250 a quarter for most owners at Tillman Lakes, with a few addresses billed monthly closer to $80 to $91. Tillman Lakes Homeowners Association, Inc. has been registered with the state since 2018 and is managed off site by Breeze.
What amenities does Tillman Lakes have?
A playground, community lakes with walking paths and a dog park, plus community wide ULTRAFi internet connectivity and solar powered streetlights. There is no clubhouse or community pool, which is part of why the dues stay where they are.
Are there older homes with this name?
Yes, a small number near US 1 in the 32905 zip on Hessey Avenue, Water Drive and Stearns Avenue. One of them dates to 1928 and sits on 1.44 acres facing the Indian River, zoned Urban Mixed Use with a grandfathered residential use. Verify zoning and permitted use in writing on any of those parcels.
Why do homes here sell so fast?
Median time to sell has run around sixteen days. New construction behind a gate under $400,000 is a narrow category in Brevard County and demand for it is deep. If you are buying, expect to move quickly and have preapproval already done.
Can I add a pool at Tillman Lakes?
No home in the community currently has one, and lots average about an eighth of an acre, so space is tight. A pool would need architectural approval from the association and a setback review. If a pool is essential, older Palm Bay neighborhoods with quarter acre and larger lots are the better hunting ground.
Colebrook Circle SW, Palm Bay 32908
Tillman Lakes sits on the west side of Palm Bay, entered off Malabar Road near Abilene Drive, close to where the St Johns Heritage Parkway crosses. I-95 is reached at the Malabar Road interchange, exit 173, a short drive east, and the parkway provides a second route north. The original Tillman ground is on the other side of the city entirely, near US 1 north of Palm Bay Road along Hessey Avenue and Water Drive.
From the western community, everyday shopping means driving east on Malabar Road toward Minton Road, and Melbourne is roughly half an hour north. The historic parcels near US 1 sit within walking distance of the river and a few minutes from the Palm Bay Road corridor. Palm Bay is inland, so reaching the ocean means driving east and crossing a causeway from either location.
Near Tillman In Merritt Island
Considering Tillman?
Houses here go under contract in about two weeks, which means the buyer who wins is the one who was already prepared. My partner Nichole and I can have you ready to write before the right one comes up, walk you through what the association covers, and tell you honestly whether the gated new build or one of the older parcels near the river is the better fit. Call or text (321) 212-7676.
1.44 acres with beautiful river views! This rare homesite is finally available for you! Front and rear access possible. Zoned Urban Mixed Use but grandfathered in residen...
- 2 Beds
- 1 Baths
- 1058146 MLS
Welcome to this stunning 2022 built lakefront home in the gated Tillman Lakes community, featuring the builder's largest floor plan on a premium lot. Offering 5 bedrooms,...
- 5 Beds
- 3 Baths
- 1084279 MLS
3.75% Assumable VA Loan ONLY. Located in the gated community of Tillman Lakes, this spacious home stands apart with full CONCRETE BLOCK construction on BOTH LEVELS, along...
- 5 Beds
- 3 Baths
- 1073038 MLS
This new two-level home boasts a modern and low-maintenance layout. A versatile flex space can be found off the foyer, leading to an open-concept floorplan. The owner's s...
- 5 Beds
- 3 Baths
- 1081292 MLS
The first floor of this two-story home shares an open layout between the kitchen, dining area and family room for easy entertaining with access to the patio. A secondary ...
- 5 Beds
- 3 Baths
- 1070899 MLS
Beautiful 3BR/2BA single‑story home in the desirable Tillman Lakes community. This Lennar-built home features an open-concept layout connecting the kitchen, dining ...
- 3 Beds
- 2 Baths
- 1064232 MLS
This single-story home shares an open layout between the kitchen, dining area and family room, along with access to an outdoor space . A luxe owner's suite is in the rear...
- 4 Beds
- 3 Baths
- 1085230 MLS
This new single-story home is a modern take on a classic design. Down the foyer is a spacious and open-plan room which has direct access to the cozy dining room, well-equ...
- 4 Beds
- 2 Baths
- 1085232 MLS
Built in 2024, this 3-bedroom, 2-bath home offers a 2-car garage, indoor laundry room, screened back porch, and fenced backyard. The functional layout provides comfortabl...
- 3 Beds
- 2 Baths
- 1078905 MLS
Welcome to Castaway Shores! Affordable water access, easy living, and just enough charm to make this one stand out. This 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom end-unit condo offers vault...
- 2 Beds
- 2 Baths
- 1079732 MLS
