1. More Florida cities are taking measures to protect the health of their local environments. Last week we mentioned Key West banning certain kinds of sunscreen because of the damage they cause to coral reefs. This week, Sarasota is considering banning plastic straws and styrofoam. – Herald Tribune 2. Four Florida cities were named among … Continue Reading » about Tiny House Festival / High-Speed Chase through The Villages / Worst Florida Cities
The Clifton Model at Freedom San Salito
The Clifton Model, available at Freedom San Salito in St. Augustine is a 3 bedroom, 2 bath home with a 2-car garage, coming in at just under 1,800 sq. ft. of living space. Freedom San Salito is an active adult community that offer a low stress, low maintenance lifestyle that features a gated entrance, amenity … Continue Reading » about The Clifton Model at Freedom San Salito
Red Tide Gone / Sunscreen Ban / Florida’s Largest Winery
1. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida’s coastal waters are entirely free of red tide algal blooms. The state has been dealing with the effects of red tide since October of 2017. – Miami Herald 2. 2017 tax law changes capping a deduction for state and local taxes at $10,000, is … Continue Reading » about Red Tide Gone / Sunscreen Ban / Florida’s Largest Winery
The Santini in Esplanade at Highland Ranch
The Santini is a 2 Bed + Den, 2.5 Bath, 2-Car Garage home available in Esplanade at Highland Ranch, a resort style 55+ community in Clermont (Central Florida). With just over 2,200 sq. ft. of living area, the Santini is in just about the middle of the road as far as sizes of homes that … Continue Reading » about The Santini in Esplanade at Highland Ranch
The Columbia at Valencia Del Sol
Longtime readers know of my affection towards townhouses or “paired villas” as some communities call them. Part of this is due to the fact that they are just so darn convenient, and allow you to really just lock the door and leave to go travel or visit friends and family, without having to worry about … Continue Reading » about The Columbia at Valencia Del Sol
Top 5 Articles of 2018
Each year we like to take a look back at our website stats to see which articles seem to be resonating most with our readers. This helps us plan out our content calendar for the coming year and helps us to try and put out more of the content that our readers are actually interested … Continue Reading » about Top 5 Articles of 2018
48 Hours in Port St. Lucie
Located right in the heart of Florida’s “Treasure Coast,” Port St. Lucie is best known for being the Spring Training home of the New York Mets. It is also a popular golf destination thanks to the world-class PGA Village Resort. But there is much more to Port St. Lucie than golf and baseball. This small-town … Continue Reading » about 48 Hours in Port St. Lucie
Four More Builder’s Models Available to Purchase
A few weeks back I mentioned that On Top of the World was selling a handful of their model homes to make way for a new model center that’s currently under construction. This week, another community, the Villages of Citrus Hills, has reached out to let me know that they too are selling a few … Continue Reading » about Four More Builder’s Models Available to Purchase
Rare opportunity to buy a builder’s model homes
Back when I worked in new home sales, hardly a day went by when someone would come through our model homes and ask to buy one of them. In most cases the answer was a quick “no”, they could not do that. In some cases they had already been sold to investors who bought the … Continue Reading » about Rare opportunity to buy a builder’s model homes
The Carlyle at Valencia Grove
A few weeks ago we featured one of the smaller floorplans available at Valencia Grove, a 55+ community in Port St. Lucie. This week, we bring you one of the bigger models available there. Just fyi, they have 19 different models to choose from starting from the $300k’s. At just over 3,100 sq. ft. (living … Continue Reading » about The Carlyle at Valencia Grove
The Sierra at Valencia Bonita
Part of the “Regal Collection” at Valencia Bonita (nestled between Fort Myers and Naples), The Sierra is a 2 Bedroom, 2 Bathroom home with a den that could be turned into a 3rd Bedroom if you wanted. It also has a Great Room, a Screened Covered Patio, and 2-Car Garage. Watch this video for a … Continue Reading » about The Sierra at Valencia Bonita
Daytona Beach Retirement Guide
Because of its popularity among race fans, motorcycle enthusiasts, spring breakers, and summer vacationers, Daytona Beach is often overlooked by many boomers as they search for a Florida retirement destination that will fit their ideal lifestyle. However, those popular reasons for visiting Daytona Beach are really just scratching the surface of what residents enjoy here … Continue Reading » about Daytona Beach Retirement Guide
New Jacksonville Area 55+ Retirement Communities
Located in northeast Florida, Jacksonville offers its residents all of the amenities that come with a beachfront city for a fraction of the cost of some of the other popular retirement destinations in the state. Known as the “River City on the Sea,” Jacksonville is packed with more than 22 miles of beaches, a scenic … Continue Reading » about New Jacksonville Area 55+ Retirement Communities
The Fernandina at Westport
With a whopping 6 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, and 2,745 sq. ft. of living space, The Fernandina is one of the biggest homes we’ve featured in a walkthrough. Why feature a home this size when most people are trying to downsize in retirement? You’d be surprised, but for a lot of our readers, 2,745 sq. ft. … Continue Reading » about The Fernandina at Westport
The Dali at the Villages of Citrus Hills
The Dali is one of the smaller single-family homes available at the Villages of Citrus Hills, a Florida Retirement Community located about an hour west of The Villages, with single family homes and maintenance free villas that have been built with today’s demanding baby-boomer in mind. But with 2,231 sq. ft. of living area and … Continue Reading » about The Dali at the Villages of Citrus Hills
Is Bonita Springs Southwest Florida’s Best Kept Secret?
Located about halfway between Fort Myers and Naples, Bonita Springs is a beachfront community along the southern Gulf Coast of Florida that is perfect for dog lovers, fishing enthusiasts, and anyone looking to embrace outdoor activities. Because it fits somewhere in between small-town community and booming tourist destination, Bonita Springs offers a unique hybrid of … Continue Reading » about Is Bonita Springs Southwest Florida’s Best Kept Secret?
Fort Pierce Retirement Guide
Located along Florida’s “Treasure Coast” just north of Port St. Lucie and a bit south of Vero Beach, Fort Pierce offers residents an Old Florida feel without sacrificing any of the benefits of modern living. Like many communities along the Atlantic Coast, residents here enjoy a wide range of water activities, several parks and preserves, … Continue Reading » about Fort Pierce Retirement Guide
The Aruba at Valencia Del Sol
Located in the gated, Tampa area 55+ community of Valencia Del Sol, The Aruba is a 2 Bedroom, 3 Bathroom home with the addition of a Den/Optional 3rd Bedroom. Other features include a Great Room, a Screened Covered Patio, and a 2-Car Garage. It has 2,338 sq. ft.of living area, and just over 3,000 total … Continue Reading » about The Aruba at Valencia Del Sol
Florida Counties with the Highest and Lowest Property Tax Rates
As you may know, Florida is a popular destination for retirement because it has no state income tax, but unless you plan on renting all throughout your retirement, you won’t be able to escape paying property taxes. In this article, we’ll take a look at the Florida Counties with the highest and lowest average property … Continue Reading » about Florida Counties with the Highest and Lowest Property Tax Rates
The Jensen in Vitalia at Tradition
The Jensen recently won Best 55+ Interior Merchandising of a Model 2,001-2,500 sq. ft., and after you see these pics I think you’ll see why. Before we head inside, let’s get to the specs. Priced right around $250k at the time of this writing, the Jensen is a 2 bedroom (+ den/study), 2 bathroom home … Continue Reading » about The Jensen in Vitalia at Tradition
The Brescia at Solivita
The Brescia is one of about 20 different floorplans offered by Taylor Morrison in their 55+ Solivita community in Central Florida. It contains 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a den/office area, and a 2-car garage. The Brescia weighs in at 1,719 sq. ft. of living space and starts priced right around $200,000. Let’s go inside and … Continue Reading » about The Brescia at Solivita
Florida 55+ Retirement Community Rentals
Don’t want to buy a home? Just want to enjoy Florida, without the obligations, time, and hard work involved in owning a home? Then this page is for you! Why Rent? I’ve covered how to find a winter rental here before, but finding a long-term rental in Florida has some slight differences that I think … Continue Reading » about Florida 55+ Retirement Community Rentals
The Villages Florida Retirement Guide
As far as retirement communities go, The Villages is the 800-pound gorilla. Not just in Florida, but on the national and international level. In this article we’ll explore all of the things that make life in The Villages so appealing to so many baby boomers. See also: Located about an hour north of Orlando, The … Continue Reading » about The Villages Florida Retirement Guide
Latitude Margaritaville Daytona Beach Review
That video is a short preview of the full 34-minute commercial-free video that my Florida Retirement Insider members get access to. You can learn more about that here. Minto Communities and Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville brand made waves in 2017 when they first announced Latitude Margaritaville, a new 55+ retirement community in Daytona Beach, Florida. Making … Continue Reading » about Latitude Margaritaville Daytona Beach Review
Crane Lakes – Port Orange, FL
Crane Lakes is a 55+ manufactured home community in Port Orange Florida, just minutes from Daytona Beach. Crane Lakes is one of the nicer manufactured home communities in the area, and some of these homes go for over $200,000. Standing inside some of them you would never know it was a manufactured home.There are currently … Continue Reading » about Crane Lakes – Port Orange, FL
Villages of Royal Palm – Port Orange, FL
The Villages of Royal Palm is a gated, maintenance-free lifestyle community located in Port Orange, FL. Port Orange is located on the East Coast of Florida, just minutes South of Daytona Beach. The easiest way to get there is from I-95 take exit 256 and head West on 421 (Dunlawton/Taylor). At the first stop light, turn … Continue Reading » about Villages of Royal Palm – Port Orange, FL
The Rebecca Grande at Valencia Bay
The Rebecca Grande is one of the smaller homes available at Valencia Bay in Boynton Beach, but it’s still got plenty of room for most retiring boomers I know. With 2 Bedrooms, 2.5 Bathrooms, a Den, a Great Room, a Screened Covered Patio, a 2-Car Garage, and just over 2,000 sq. ft. of living area, … Continue Reading » about The Rebecca Grande at Valencia Bay
5 Gulf Coast Day Trips You Simply Can’t Ignore
One of the best things about living in Florida is that there are so many unique day trip options to choose from. If you ever get bored, you’re doing it wrong. Florida’s Gulf Coast has arguably the highest concentration of unique day trips in the state. Let’s take a look at 5 great options. Caladesi … Continue Reading » about 5 Gulf Coast Day Trips You Simply Can’t Ignore
The York at Valencia Bonita
The York at Valencia Bonita, a 55+ community from GL Homes located between Ft. Myers and Naples, is perfect for those planning to travel frequently or for those simply wanting a lot less maintenance hassles in retirement. Townhomes, or “paired villas” as they’re often referred to provide their owners with “lock and leave” convenience, and … Continue Reading » about The York at Valencia Bonita
Popular Tampa Area Museums
Tampa is considered one of the major cultural hubs of Florida, and there are a number of Tampa area museums that should be at or near the top of just about everyone’s list of places to visit in Florida. Here are a few of our favorite Tampa Area museums: Museum of Science & Industry Tampa’s … Continue Reading » about Popular Tampa Area Museums
The St. Christopher at Citrus Hills
Part of the care-free home series at the Villages of Citrus Hills, the St. Christopher is a 2 bedroom, 2 bath home which has just shy of 2,000 square feet of living space. Let’s head inside and take a look around! The main entrance to the St. Christopher is right between the two-car garage and … Continue Reading » about The St. Christopher at Citrus Hills
Valencia Bay Clubhouse in Boynton Beach Is Now Open
I just got word yesterday that the Clubhouse at Valencia Bay, a 55+ community in Boynton Beach is now open. I’ve got the beautiful pics for you below. The opulent 33,000 sq. ft. Clubhouse and Lifestyle Complex serves as the hub of the community and offers hundreds of exciting events including Broadway style shows, matinees, … Continue Reading » about Valencia Bay Clubhouse in Boynton Beach Is Now Open
The Stunning Beauty of Dry Tortugas National Park
It’s not the easiest place to get to, but if you’re up for an adventure, take a day trip to Dry Tortugas National Park. Located 70 miles west of Key West, Dry Tortugas National Park is actually closer to Cuba than the United States. Discovered in 1513 by Juan Ponce de Leon, the park can … Continue Reading » about The Stunning Beauty of Dry Tortugas National Park
Solivita Featured on Lifetime’s Designing Spaces
Solivita, a 55+ community located in Kissimmee, was recently featured on the Lifetime Channel show Designing Spaces. Check out the full video from their segment below: Solivita is a national award-winning retirement community in Central Florida’s attraction zone, offering great natural beauty, vast recreational amenities and enough to do to keep any active adult as … Continue Reading » about Solivita Featured on Lifetime’s Designing Spaces
The Top-Selling Florida Communities of 2017
John Burns Real Estate Consulting has released their annual list of the 50 Top-Selling Master-Planned Communities of 2017. This year, 10 Florida communities made the list, compared to 11 communities last year. Of the 50 communities on the list, only 4 sold more than 1,000 new homes last year, but two of the four are … Continue Reading » about The Top-Selling Florida Communities of 2017
The Siena at Solivita
The Siena is one of the 20 or so floorplans available at Solivita (a 55+ community) in Kissimmee, FL. Homes at Solivita start in the $170k’s but this one is a bit more, as it is part of what they call their “Estate” or “Grand Estate” collections, and has 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, a 2-car … Continue Reading » about The Siena at Solivita
Gated, 55+ Living in Encore at FishHawk Ranch
Located in the Tampa area, FishHawk Ranch has been one of the top-selling communities in Florida for several years. David Weekley Homes introduced its first age-targeted neighborhood, the gated 55+ community of Encore at FishHawk Ranch, last year and it has successfully attracted buyers wanting to live near their children and grandchildren, but in a … Continue Reading » about Gated, 55+ Living in Encore at FishHawk Ranch
US News & World Report Best Places to Retire in Florida
There are so many “best places to retire” lists to consider, but I think that’s a good thing. While each list is different because they use different data to come to their conclusions, it’s great to check them all out because they can bring different places to your attention. To come up with their best … Continue Reading » about US News & World Report Best Places to Retire in Florida
The Perdido Key in Vitalia at Tradition
Want to see pricing for the Perdido Key, the changes you can make to it, as well as current pricing? Get the Vitalia at Tradition Brochure Prefer the “old school” walkthroughs with just pictures and text? Here you go… The Perdido Key is a 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath home with 2,446 sq. ft. of living … Continue Reading » about The Perdido Key in Vitalia at Tradition
The Amaro at Solivita
This week we’re back with a look at another attached villa floorplan, this time it’s the Amaro at Solivita in Kissimmee. We’ve talked about attached or “paired” villas before and I can’t stress enough how great they are for retirees who don’t need a whole lot of space and want as little upkeep to do … Continue Reading » about The Amaro at Solivita
The Ginger at On Top of the World
The Ginger is a 2 bedroom, 2 bath “Classic” series floor plan available at the 55+ On Top of the World Community in Ocala. With 1,767 sq. ft. of living area, the Ginger also includes a Great Room, a Flex Room, and a 2-car garage. Let’s go inside the Ginger and take a look! Upon … Continue Reading » about The Ginger at On Top of the World
The Wrath of Hurricane Irma
Editor’s Note: This article is about my experience with Hurricane Irma in 2017. In my last post, I detailed my decision making process behind why we decided to stay and ride out Hurricane Irma, and the steps we were taking to prepare. In this post, I’ll tell you what it was like riding out the … Continue Reading » about The Wrath of Hurricane Irma
Hunkering Down for Irma
Editor’s Note: This article is about my experience waiting for Hurricane Irma to arrive in 2017. For weeks we’ve been following the devastating news out of Texas, and now all of a sudden here in Florida, we are the news. As I write this on Saturday morning September 9, Irma is expected to make landfall … Continue Reading » about Hunkering Down for Irma
The Carlyle at Valencia Bonita
The Carlyle at Valencia Bonita, a 55+ community between Fort Myers and Naples, is a 3 Bedroom, 3.5 Bathrooms, 3-car garage home that also contains a club room, a great room, and a screened-in patio. Let’s pop our heads inside the model on display there for a quick look. The entry foyer of the Carlyle … Continue Reading » about The Carlyle at Valencia Bonita
The Nantucket at Valencia Del Sol in Tampa
The Nantucket at Valencia Del Sol, a 55+ community from GL Homes in the Tampa area, is a downsizer’s dream home. Different communities have different names for them, but this is a “paired villa” that offers lock and leave convenience, and much lower maintenance hassles than a single-family home. This paired villa has 2 Bedrooms, … Continue Reading » about The Nantucket at Valencia Del Sol in Tampa
Maintenance-Free Homes at the Villages of Citrus Hills
With all that Florida has to offer, the last thing you want to think about is constantly working around your home. The Villages of Citrus Hills has an impressive collection of maintenance-free, lock-and-leave, care free homes that span a wide range of prices. If you’re looking for a stylishly-designed new home without the usual upkeep … Continue Reading » about Maintenance-Free Homes at the Villages of Citrus Hills
The Estero in Vitalia at Tradition
The Estero is a 3 bedroom, 2 bath home with just under 2,000 sq. ft. of living area available to build in Vitalia at Tradition. Located in Port St. Lucie, Vitalia at Tradition has taken the art and science of resident-centered community planning to new levels. The Estero was recently named the 2017 Grand Parade … Continue Reading » about The Estero in Vitalia at Tradition
The Avellino at Solivita
Paired villas don’t get as much attention as they should, but there’s a lot to love about them if you give them a chance. One of the biggest reasons that many people choose to opt for a paired villa or townhome over a single-family home is that they require far less maintenance than a comparable … Continue Reading » about The Avellino at Solivita
The Cabernet at Valencia Bonita
Part of the Vintage Collection at Valencia Bonita, a 55-plus community between Naples and Fort Myers, the Cabernet is a 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom home that also includes a den that can be turned into a 4th bedroom. This floorplan includes a standard size 2-car garage, but there is also an additional golf cart/storage space, … Continue Reading » about The Cabernet at Valencia Bonita
The Aberdeen at On Top of the World
One of the (many) great things about On Top of the World, located in Ocala, is that they offer such a wide range of floorplans at different starting prices and sizes. Want to downsize? No problem, just check out On Top of the World’s “Carriage” or “Cottage” Series with homes ranging in size from 1,343 … Continue Reading » about The Aberdeen at On Top of the World