The Best Selling Communities in Florida
Category: Active adult communities
Sept. 26, 2023 — When it comes to the best selling communities in Florida for 2023 many of the usual suspects, like The Villages, are pretty obvious. But within the top 10 there were plenty of surprises too, with some communities, like Westlake and Wellen Park, not previously on Topretirements radar.
Master planned communities might be a foreign term to some people. They are large-scale, mixed-use residential developments that try to approximate the experience of living in a self-contained town. They usually have amenities like parks, playgrounds, swimming pools, tennis courts, golf courses and more. Many master planned communities are aimed at 55+, while others are aimed at families or even singles. Some of those have 55+ neighborhoods within them. Some claim to be New Urban Style communities.
These are the best selling communities in Florida
No surprise – The Villages on top as a best selling master planned community in Florida.
The Villages in Central Florida was the hottest selling master planned community in Florida in 2023, according to a survey by Real Estate Consulting (RLCO). With 150,000 residents, this ever expanding community has both resales and new homes. The average home here sells for more than $400,000. It has an almost endless array of amenities with dozens of golf courses and hundreds of pickleball courts. Plus 3 central shopping and entertainment centers. RLCO reported 1,960 sales so far in 2023.
Lakewood Ranch near Sarasota is #2 both here and in the U.S. for sales. This gigantic master planned community in Florida has several retail centers and continues to add new residential developments of all types. Most of the residents in the 20 or so developments are 55+. Use the Lakewood Ranch link above to view them.
Silverleaf, St. Augustine. The master planned SilverLeaf community has neighborhood parks and award-winning amenities but no CDD fees in St. Augustine arrived in third place for sales according to RLCO. It includes several neighborhoods in a wide range of sizes, price points, and styles for both individuals and families. There are 16,300 homes and almost 3 million square feet of mixed use and commercial.
Babcock Ranch in Punta Gorda is America’s first solar-powered town. It has been thoughtfully designed with a 870-acre solar farm implementing renewable energy as a part of everyday life. The new development is comprised of 18,000 acres, and boasts several neighborhoods, shopping, a wilderness preserve, hiking and biking paths, greenways and lakes.
More Best Selling Master Planned Florida Communities
Wellen Park, Venice. A large master-planned and mixed-use development consisting of nine neighborhoods and offering several types of homes including single family, townhomes, condos and villas. Amenities include clubhouses with events, activities and fitness centers, swimming pools, trails, a kayak launch, community gardens, and a dog park. The town center has retail and restaurants.
Viera. Just north of Melbourne, Viera is made up of several neighborhoods with town homes and single family homes along with two golf courses, clubhouse, an outdoor swimming pool, tennis courts and fitness facilities. The community also boasts shops, restaurants and a medical office park.
Ave Maria, east of Ft. Myers and Naples. This huge master planned development was built around a Catholic university, Ave Maria. Designed to human scale, its streets and environmental sustainability are central to planning. It is a place where residents of all ages, backgrounds, ethnicities and religions will live together. There will eventually be 11,000 homes.
Nocatee, Ponte Vedra. About 13,000 homes are planned in at least 10 different communities – some are for mixed generations, and at least one (Del Webb) is for active adults 55+. This community combines one million square feet of retail, four million square feet of office, and nine public schools.
Westlake, West Palm Beach. In the heart of of Palm Beach County, this master planned community features several one or two-story model homes designed for young families to active adults, within gated neighborhoods. Homeowners will enjoy an amenity center, swimming pools, parks and trails, along with a town center.
Riverland, Port St. Lucie. There are several communities by different builders within this development, and Valencia Cay from GL Homes is one of the best selling. It has a spectacular 34,000 square foot Clubhouse and over 5 acres of recreation.
For further reading:
Most Popular Communities in the Southeast
Comments. What Florida master planned communities appeal to you? If you live in one or have visited one, we would love to hear about it.
Comments on "The Best Selling Communities in Florida"
John Brady says:
Robert asked about how to find communities that offer water aerobics, which is important to him. Here is how we responded:
Thanks for your question about water aerobics as an amenity. At this point we don't have a way to discover that, although we are working on something close. Soon we hope to be able to let people search for amenities as well as location and other things.
Most communities that have a pool and an Activities Director are likely to have some form of water aerobics, or you could start your own program.
By using the search box on our site i did find one place that offers it, the Pullen Aquatic Center in Raleigh, NC.
Stay tuned, hope to have that improved search up in the next month.
David K says:
Are there any Master Planned Communities in Florida that allow for big dogs ?
I will not part with my Lab !
Admin says:
The best way to answer that question is to call or email them. With so many communities in our listings it is hard to keep track of who allows what. But in general, communities with single family homes and large lots are more likely to have no restrictions on size of pets. I know people love their dogs so this is an important consideration.
Mona says:
Saddlebrooke Arizona is a large golf cart community. Referred to as the Villages of the West. Has numerous water aerobics classes. Six pools and a swim team that competes in National Masters Swimming Competitions. Can see all amenities at saddlebrookecommunity.wordpress.com