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! Want to see all of the great floorplans (and pricing) available at Citrus Hills? … 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
Stay and Play Opportunities at Florida Retirement Communities
There is no shortage of first-class active adult communities to choose from throughout the state of Florida. That much is for certain. Depending on your own personal likes, interests, and tastes, you will naturally be more drawn to certain types of communities. But how will you really know which community is the perfect fit for … Continue Reading » about Stay and Play Opportunities at Florida Retirement Communities
Retirement in Daytona Beach Shores, FL
After years and years of covering so many different parts of Florida, it’s probably time to cover where I live and some of the great places that surround it. Today I’m giving you a closer look at Daytona Beach Shores. Longtime readers may remember my two part series on Florida condo living in which I … Continue Reading » about Retirement in Daytona Beach Shores, FL
Minto Announces Latitude Margaritaville Community in Daytona Beach
Minto Communities, who have had active adult communities featured on my site for several years, recently announced that they are partnering with Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville brand on a massive new 55+ community in my hometown, Daytona Beach. The nearly 7,000 home, golf cart-friendly community is called Latitude Margaritaville. Get More Information About Latitude Margaritaville The … Continue Reading » about Minto Announces Latitude Margaritaville Community in Daytona Beach
Wallethub Names Florida Most Affordable State for Retirement
A popular personal finance website has just named Florida the Most Affordable State for Retirement. In addition to coming in as most affordable, Florida also claimed the top spot for overall best place to retire, despite coming in at #11 for “Quality of Life” and #24 for “Health Care”. You can click on each state … Continue Reading » about Wallethub Names Florida Most Affordable State for Retirement
The Top-Selling Florida Communities of 2016
John Burns Real Estate Consulting just released their annual list of the 50 Top-Selling Master-Planned Communities of 2016. This year, 11 Florida communities made the list, compared to just seven communities in 2015. Florida ranks third behind Texas and California for number of communities on the list. Texas placed a whopping 16 communities on the … Continue Reading » about The Top-Selling Florida Communities of 2016
The Callington at the Villages of Citrus Hills
The Callington is a pretty big floorplan, clocking in at 2,798 square feet of living area and a total size of 3,640 square feet. It features 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, a study, and lots of features that make it a truly unique option with a different look and feel from any other home in the … Continue Reading » about The Callington at the Villages of Citrus Hills
The Andalucia in Vitalia at Tradition
One thing I really like about how Taylor Morrison presents their floorplans is that they also show the optional changes you can make to each floorplan. Whether its making a particular room bigger, changing the configuration of a bathroom, or some other change, its refreshing to see all of your options laid out for you … Continue Reading » about The Andalucia in Vitalia at Tradition
The Sunflower at On Top of the World
The Sunflower is one of the most popular floorplans available at On Top of the World in Ocala, FL. This home offers 1,946 sq. ft. of Living Area, has 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a flex room that could be a den or a 3rd bedroom, and a 2-car garage. Let’s go inside and take a … Continue Reading » about The Sunflower at On Top of the World
My Hurricane Matthew Recap
Editor’s note: This article details my experiences with Hurricane Matthew in 2016. Many of you know that I live in Daytona Beach Shores, and as I mentioned in an email to my readers earlier this week, I was busy preparing for the arrival of Hurricane Matthew. Needless to say, it was a very stressful week. … Continue Reading » about My Hurricane Matthew Recap
“The Villages” style communities in the Panhandle
The St. Joe Company recently announced plans to develop pockets of “The Villages” style retirement communities in Northwest Florida. Those projects are still a little ways off, but St. Joe has a new development underway there already named Watersound Origins. While not age restricted, its got a lot of the features and amenities I know … Continue Reading » about “The Villages” style communities in the Panhandle
The Bergamo at Solivita
The Bergamo at Solivita in Kissimmee is a former Parade of Homes First Place winner and after this walkthrough, I think you’ll see why. Priced just under $180,000 at the time of this writing, this is one of the smaller homes offered at Solivita. That said, it has 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, a study, and … Continue Reading » about The Bergamo at Solivita
Discover the Villages of Citrus Hills
The Villages of Citrus Hills is a Tampa area retirement community designed specifically for those looking for the best in active adult and retirement lifestyle communities. Located just north of the Tampa area, and only about an hour from the Orlando/Greater Central Florida area, the location and surrounding community offer so many great choices for … Continue Reading » about Discover the Villages of Citrus Hills