$799,999

8 ACRES. OLD FLORIDA. MOUNTAIN-CHALET SOUL. Some homes are defined by their finishes. This one is defined by its architecture, its setting, and the feeling you get when you walk through the door. Everybody says they want to escape to the mountains until it's time for the nine-hour drive. Here, someone created that feeling in Florida instead. Tucked beneath mature live oaks draped in Spanish moss on 8 acres in Hernando County, this distinctive property feels worlds away. Board-and-batten styling, a deep covered porch, steep gables, decorative knee braces, cupolas and a flared roofline give it Florida Cracker-inspired character with the warmth of a wooded mountain retreat. Then you open the front door. A dramatic two-story great room centers around a floor-to-peak brick fireplace. Original exposed beams cross the cathedral ceiling while triangular windows follow the roofline, pouring natural light into the space. An open loft and original banister overlook it all. The beams stayed. The banister stayed. The character stayed. Someone understood you don't renovate the soul out of a house. Around those preserved details, the home has been thoughtfully refreshed. The updated kitchen features white cabinetry, Calacatta-inspired quartz, brushed-brass accents, workstation sink, new appliances, generous seating and a window-lined breakfast nook. The home offers 3 bedrooms and 3 renovated baths. The first-floor primary includes a private bath and generous closet space. Another bedroom and full bath are downstairs, along with an entertaining room and mini bar. Upstairs, the loft leads to another bedroom and full bath, creating a private retreat. Outside, a covered patio and expansive rear deck extend into the landscape. Beyond them? Nothing but green. What you can't see may be just as important. Major 2026 improvements include a NEW ROOF, HVAC, WELL, IRON FILTRATION SYSTEM AND WATER SOFTENER. An engineered helical-pier foundation support system was installed by LRE Foundation Repair under an engineer's direction and carries a 75-year transferable warranty at no cost to the future owner; work was NOT due to sinkhole activity. Subterranean and drywood termite preventive treatments were also completed under warranty, along with extensive tree work. Buy the character. Skip the deferred maintenance. AG agricultural zoning creates possibilities rarely found with a conventional home. A 3-bay run-in shed is already in place, while the acreage provides room for horses, livestock, gardens, farming or simply space between you and the rest of the world, subject to applicable regulations. Located in Flood Zone X, outside the Special Flood Hazard Area shown on referenced FEMA mapping. Traditional rural Florida outside. Dramatic architecture within. Original character preserved. Contemporary renovations bringing it forward. 8 acres of Old Florida surrounding it all. This isn't another Florida house with updated finishes. It's the kind of property you remember you will remember after you leave.