Black Diamond Club is an exclusive golfing community located in the Lecanto, Florida area of Citrus County. Located about an hour from Tampa and about an hour from Orlando, Black Diamond Ranch is approximately 35 miles southwest of Ocala which is the heart of Thoroughbred Horse Racing country in Florida.

Like many other Tampa retirement communities, perhaps the biggest allure of Black Diamond is the country club and golf courses located within the community.

Forty five Tom Fazio designed golf holes comprise the three majestically beautiful golf courses at Black Diamond Ranch. These courses have been named in the top 100 courses in the nation by Golf Digest for the past 19 years

The Quarry Course gets its name from the old limestone quarry it was built around. It’s impossible to select a favorite hole on this course, but the 14th, 15th, and 16th are carved around canyon walls and writer Dan Jenkins said they are part of the five best consecutive holes of golf anywhere in the world.

Finished in 1997, The Ranch Course with its two tiered greens and elevation changes is as challenging as it is beautiful. Tom Fazio said the 16th, 17th nd 18th “represent the three best finishing holes I have ever designed.”

You can see forever on the nine hole Highlands Course which was also completed in 1997. This 36 par course has a slope rating of 147, making it one of the most challenging courses in America. It can be played alone or in tandem with either of the other two courses at Black Diamond Ranch.

Black Diamond Ranch offers a 28,000 square foot clubhouse complete with Black Diamond pool, fitness facilities with personal trainers, restaurants, and Har-Tru Tennis Courts. Full equity memberships, social memberships, and invitational memberships are all available for the Black Diamond Club. Nothing rounds out a day of golf like an evening at the club with friends.

Homes at Black Diamond Club are beautifully designed with spacious lawns and landscaped lots in keeping with the ambiance of the development. Three and four bedroom homes with two and three car garages to golf cottages with two bedrooms range in price from the low $200,000 up to well over the million dollar mark. Both resales and new construction homes are available. [Visit website]

Ovation in St. Petersburg, FL is an excellent condominium development which provides their residents with luxurious condominiums located in a fun and vibrant community. If you are a baby boomer nearing retirement, and considering Florida’s West Coast, you’ll want to take a look.

Ovation is located in the heart of St Petersburg, Florida. Within walking distance of the condominiums are various blocks full of fine shopping, boutiques, art galleries, and restaurants. For those who are interest in cultural events, museums and theatres are also located nearby. The Ovation’s location is also ideal for a sports enthusiast as the Tampa Bay Rays baseball team plays just a few blocks from the building. The building is also located near various public transportation options that provide access to the Tampa International Airport, the beach, and all that Tampa and St. Petersburg have to offer.

While Ovation is located in the heart of a busy and vibrant city, the interior amenities are as nice as you’ll find in any other luxury building. Ovation has a beautiful outdoor swimming pool which contains many pool deck chairs and covered cabanas which encourage residents to lounge outside. There is also a two-story lobby and multiple clubrooms which encourage residents to socialize among one another. For those looking to stay in shape, Ovation has a state of the art fitness center and spa which contains both high end cardiovascular machines and free weights. Ovation also has an onsite concierge who will help all residents plan events and figure out ways to spend their day.

The best part of Ovation is the residences themselves. The units within Ovation range from around 2,300 square feet up to over 5,300 square feet. Both half floor condos and full floor penthouse condo residences are available. Each unit has high end finishes with luxurious kitchens and bathrooms as well as 10 foot ceilings. The views are spectacular as each unit has at least 180 feet of linear glass windows. [Visit website]

Are you close to retiring? Maybe you’re already there and looking for a place to go. Consider checking out The Slade at Channelside in sunny Tampa, Florida! This is one of the newest Tampa condos for the baby boomer generation. You can see photos and floor plans on their website.

Local Area and Things to Do
Tampa is a great place to live in all seasons. Temperatures are mild and moderate and the weather is always pleasant. The Slade at Channelside is located close to downtown Tampa where you’ll find arts, theater, shopping, dining and anything else that suits your fance. Tampa’s attractions include St. Pete Time Forum where you can enjoy over 150 events a year including the circus, ice shows, family events, concerts and indoor sports. The Slade at Channelside is also located close to the Museum of Art where they have photography, sculpture, paintings and antiques. Perhaps a nice stroll through Hyde Park would interests you more, Ybor City, or the Florida Aquarium may be nice as well. Whatever your interests, you’ll find it close by while living at The Slade at Channelside.

The Condo and Amenities
You can choose from many different but all spacious floor plans at The Slade at Channelside. There are condos with one, or two bedrooms available as well as options for an additional den. All of these can be viewed in detail on their website. All of the condos are single level and have beautiful cabinetry, granite counter tops, stainless steel appliances and beautiful flooring. While living here at The Slade at Channelside, you’ll find every convenience at your fingertips including a our unique infinity pool, salt water pool, whirlpool, clubroom, a spacious roof top sun deck and relaxing landscaped courtyards.

The Slade at Channelside is the place to find the exciting lifestyle or the relaxation that you are looking for. Please visit the website to learn more, request information, see photos and discover that the Slade at Channelside is the place for you. [Visit website]

Several Tampa condominium projects provide a place where active adults can live in a comfortable living space with access to many amenities. For someone looking to stay active but scale back on responsibilities, The Place at Channelside is an excellent option.

The Place at Channelside is an amazing apartment complex located in the heart of Tampa. The Place at Channelside is within walking distance of downtown Tampa, the historic Ybor City, and the Westshore Business District. At these locations, residents of The Place at Channelside have an unlimited amount of options for entertainment, nightlife, and shopping. For those interested in marine life or sports, the apartment complex is also nearby the Florida Aquarium and The St Pete’s Time Forum, which is home to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

While The Place at Channelside offers residents an amazing location in the heart of Tampa, the amenities found inside of the complex are unmatched by any other apartment complex in Tampa. The Place at Channelside has a breathtaking pool which is large enough for lap swimming, but contains an appealing sun deck which encourages residents to spend an afternoon lying out. For those looking to stay in shape, the complex has a state of the art fitness facility with top notch cardiovascular and weightlifting machinery. Residents who are looking to just relieve stress can find relaxation in the complex’s whirlpool spa, sauna, community lounge, or meditation garden.

Also onsite at The Place at Channelside is a concierge desk to help residents find alternative forms of entertainment. The building also has security with a 24/7 doorman, secure access elevators, and remote garage door entry.

All units within The Place at Channelside are built with only the most luxurious finishes. These luxury residences range in size from 1BR / 1BA units up to 2BR / 2.5BA plus den units. Rental rates at The Place at Channelside start at an affordable $968 per month. [Visit website]

As we age, owning a single family home quickly becomes one of our largest burdens. Properly maintaining the interior and exterior of a house is quite difficult and hiring people to do it for us is too expensive. For those who are looking to scale back on some of their maintenance and upkeep responsibilities, purchasing a condo in the Ventana could be an excellent option among Tampa condominiums.

Located in the heart of Tampa, Florida, the Ventana offers their access to all of the entertainment an cultural options that the city of Tampa has to offer. The Ventana is located at the corner of Kennedy Boulevard and Channelside Drive, which provides immediate access to everything that the Channelside District has to offer. The Channelside District has many shops, boutique, restaurants, cafes, and bars which can be enjoyed by all residents of The Ventana. The Ventana also has access to public transportation which can be taken to anywhere in Tampa.

While the Ventana has access to many exciting cultural and entertainment options outside of the complex, there are many interior amenities that are unmatched by other residences. The Ventana comes with a well equipped fitness center which contains various cardio vascular machines and a weight room which encourages exercise and a healthy lifestyle.

The Ventana’s club room is designed by the Chancey Design Partnership and has stylish furniture and artwork which encourages many people to relax and socialize with other residents. The pool in the Ventana is unmatched by other Tampa condo complexes. The pool is large and contains a poolside deck that has many pool chairs and cabanas. Also onsite is a concierge who can help organize activities within and outside of The Ventana.

Within the Ventana there are 84 different residences which range from 1,100 square feet to over 2,600 square feet. All residents within the Ventana are well upgraded with only the most beautiful finishes. Now may be the best time to purchase a Ventana condo. Homes have recently sold for $205,000 and buyers can get FHA approved 3.5% down payment financing. [Visit website]

While owning a single family home is an excellent way to raise a family and build equity, but the responsibilities of owning a home get quite tedious as we age. If you’ve hit this point in your life, a condo might be for you.

For anyone looking to scale down on the amount of homeownership responsibilities and wants to live in an exciting area, purchasing a Tampa condo within The Grand Central at Kennedy may be an excellent option.

The Grand Central at Kennedy is well located in the heart of Tampa. Located just off of Channelside Drive, the Grand Central at Kennedy offers their residents access to many amenities in the neighborhood. Within walking distance, there are many different restaurants, shops, boutiques, and bistros. Also near the Grand Central is access to public transportation which allows residents to access all the cultural and entertainment options that the city of Tampa has to offer.

While the Grand Central at Kennedy is located in a vibrant location, the amenities located within the master planned community are unmatched by any other complex. Inside the Grand Central at Kennedy there are two ninth floor pool decks which provide beautiful panoramic views of the city. For those residents looking to stay physically fit and stay healthy, a Powerhouse Gym is located on site. This gym has exceptional equipment and a dedicated personal training staff. Also on site is a beautiful lounge which contains a piano and beautiful furniture which encourages residents to socialize with other residents. The Grand Central at Kennedy also has an on site dry cleaners.

Within The Grand Central at Kennedy are 392 residential units that range from studios to two bedroom units. Each unit comes complete with a fully upgraded kitchen, floor to window ceilings, and plenty of beautiful finishes. Units within the Grand Central at Kennedy can be either purchased or leased. [Visit website]

For many active adults the obligations of owning and maintaining a single family home becomes more tedious and difficult each year. Many of these people would benefit from selling their house and purchasing a condominium or townhouse within The Plaza Harbour Island.

The Plaza is a Tampa condo that offers its residents luxurious living and unmatched amenities located in the heart of Tampa’s entertainment district.

One of the best reasons to purchase a condominium or townhouse within The Plaza Harbour Island is the access to onsite amenities. The Plaza has a beautiful and spacious workout facility which contains some high end treadmill and other cardio machines as well as a vast free weight and machine weight collection. To encourage socialization, The Plaza has a state of the art social room with a piano, a plasma television, and plenty of seating. One of the best onsite amenities at the Plaza is the pool. The outdoor pool is large enough for lap swimming and the pool side cabanas and pool chairs encourage residents to relax and enjoy the warm Tampa sun.

The Plaza Harbour Island also provides their residents with access to many cultural and entertainment options outside of the condominium complex. The Plaza sits across the street from a waterfront community which contains many different restaurants, cafes, bars, boutiques, and other shops. The Plaza is also within walking distance of Downtown Tampa, the Florida Aquarium, and The St Pete Times Forum. Also near the Plaza are various public transportation options which allow access to all that Tampa and the rest of Florida has to offer.

The Plaza Harbour Island offers a wide number of residence styles which range from around 1,500 square feet to up to just under 3,000. Each unit located within the The Plaza Harbour Island comes fully upgraded with beautiful finishes. All residences come with a terrace or balcony, many of which come with water views. [Visit website]

Skypoint Condos is a Tampa condominium that might be an ideal choice for baby boomer retirees. For many baby boomers owning and maintaining a single family home tends to get more tedious and difficult each year. For many of these people, moving into a new condominium may be an excellent alternative.

Located in Tampa, Florida, Skypoint offers people a large and comfortable living space as well as numerous amenities which are unmatched by a large house in the suburbs.

Skypoint Condos is located in the heart of Tampa’s cultural center. The new contemporary styled building sits adjacent to the Tampa Museum of Art, the Performing Arts Center, and is very close to the Tampa Theatre. Within walking distance of the Skypoint Condos are Franklin Street and the Hillsborough River, which contain many restaurants, shops, boutiques, bistros, and other entertainment options which are sure to keep you active.

Skypoint Condos also have many different amenities located inside the building, which are unmatched by competing developments in the Tampa area. The building comes with a large outdoor pool, which is large enough to do laps, but comfortable enough where you will want to spend the day lying in the sun. The building has an impressive fitness center where you can exercise on top of the line cardio machines or work to build or tone muscle using their large variety of free weights and machines. Skypoint Condos aims for their residents to have the chance to socialize, and to make this easier the development has a beautiful lobby and an upgraded gaming room with flat screen TVs.

Each unit in the building comes with fully upgraded kitchens and bathrooms, hardwood floors, and a balcony. The units in the 32-story tower come as either 1 or 2 bedrooms, and range from 650 square feet to over 1,400 square feet. All floorplans are modern and open, which maximizes the space.

Now may be the best time to purchase a Skypoint Condo. The developer, who only has 14 condos left, is offering closeout pricing, which comes at a significant discount. Two bedroom and two bathroom units start at $365k while one bedroom and one bathroom units start at $192k. [Visit website]

The Landmark in Palm Beach Gardens offers the best in extraordinary living. Overlooking Lake Victoria, The Landmark provides spectacular views of both the lake and surrounding city.

Practically a self-contained community, Palm Beach Gardens is home to boutiques, café’s, theaters and a plethora of dining and shopping experiences, as well as world-famous golf courses including the PGA National Golf Resort. Minutes away from gorgeous beaches, you will also find airports, hospitals and a hotel nearby. Once here, you may never need to leave.

Features of these beautiful residences include custom-built European wood cabinetry, stainless steel appliances and fixtures, granite kitchen countertops, marble bathroom floors and countertops and spacious, bright rooms throughout, along with a monitored alarm system. Other bonuses include a heated pool with spacious sun deck, club room with bar and kitchen overlooking the lake, media room equipped with theater seating, game room with billiards and a flat screen TV, fitness and steam rooms, and outdoor leisure deck. The Landmark is pet friendly and offers valet parking, concierge services, and a 24-hour doorman for your safety and convenience. Nearby attractions include Downtown at the Gardens, Cobb Theatre, Whole Foods and The Gardens Mall.

Offering a wide option of floor plans, The Landmark in Palm Beach Gardens is sure to have one that’s tailored to your lifestyle. They offer two- and three-bedroom condominiums and a select number of penthouses. Providing several options in each category, the 2-bedroom, 2 1/2-bath residences have between 1,870-2,092 square feet of living space and a 241-323 sq.-ft. terrace. The 3-bedrooms range in size from 2,300 square feet to 2,622 sq. feet with terraces and balconies ranging from 258-603 square feet. If the truly extravagant is what you seek, consider the Villa D’este Penthouse. Complete with a library/den, sitting room and his-and-her bathrooms, this 2-floor sophisticated residence boasts 5,125 square feet of living space and 1,846 sq. feet of terraces and balconies and features 4 bedrooms and 5 1/2 baths.

Homes are priced from $300,000 to over $1 million. Luxurious living awaits. [Visit website]

If you’re looking to spend your golden years in luxurious style and comfort, City Palms has the condo for you. Situated in the heart of sunny West Palm Beach, this South Florida condo sits in close proximity to the beautiful Intracoastal Waterway and Atlantic Ocean provides myriad opportunities for everything from diving and boating activities to nature centers, botanical gardens and a zoo.

In addition, you’ll find art museums, golf courses, country clubs, performing arts centers and parks and of course their famous beaches nearby. Shopping and dining will definitely not be a problem since City Palms is within striking distance of CityPlace Shopping District, the Worth Avenue Shopping District and Clematis Street District. All three are known for great shops and restaurants including places like Saks Fifth Avenue, Macy’s, Gucci, numerous café’s, theaters and boutiques.

City Palms offers luxurious accommodations at affordable prices. Prices range from the mid-$100,000’s to over $400,000. With floor plans to suit every need, they offer one-, two- and three-bedroom residences that range in size from 650 square feet to 1,489 square feet and lovely balconies ranging from 57 square feet to 367 square feet. Also standard are imported Italian cabinetry throughout, floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors, stainless steel appliances and wiring for phone lines, cable, and high-speed Internet.

Their unique Call on Jack concierge service goes beyond the usual offerings of restaurant reservations and travel assistance and also provides move-in assistance, interior design service, pet care and home organization.

Located on the 6th floor is Palm Court with a 70-foot swimming pool, raised spa, covered veranda, fitness club and sauna, as well as views of the Atlantic Ocean. City Palms also provides a parking garage with valet parking and 24-hour controlled access for your security. Other amenities include a club room with a bar and billiards and a newsroom with TV’s and a self-serve café.

Boasting a location that simply can’t be beat and a wide array of price ranges and floor plans to choose from, City Palms is most definitely worth a second look. [Visit website]