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Del Webb BayView is located in Parrish, FL, which is about halfway between Tampa and Sarasota, a roughly 30-minute drive to each, and about 25 minutes (much of it on the Sunshine Skyway Bridge) to St. Petersburg.
Because most Del Webb communities in Florida offer pretty much the same amenities and floorplans, the main things to focus on will be price and location, and that's exactly what we're going to do in this review.
Location
Nobody wakes up and says, “You know what honey, I think we should retire to Parrish, Florida”. Nor would anyone go there looking for answers to questions that bothered him so. Silly jokes aside, it's a fact that most people have never even heard of Parrish.
But there are a few advantages to communities like Del Webb BayView which are located just outside Florida's more well-known retirement cities.
The most obvious advantage is price. Starting prices at Del Webb BayView are about $40k less than at nearby Del Webb Lakewood Ranch, which isn't a ton of savings, but it's not nothing either.
The next advantage of choosing a community outside of a major retirement city is that, rather than enjoying the lifestyle and amenities offered by just one city, you can enjoy a handful of cities depending on what you're looking for.
What's Nearby
Publix is roughly 1.5 miles away, but as far as other restaurants and shopping, there's just not a whole lot here. That can either be a pro or con, depending on whether you prefer lots of restaurants and shopping at your doorstep, or if you prefer a little less congestion and peace and quiet outside the gates of your community.
Luckily, I-75 is also 1.5 miles away, and if you hop on that and head south from the community you'll soon hit some more “happening” exits that include places like Costco, Ellenton Premium Outlets, Lakewood Ranch's University Town Center has to offer, including The Mall at Town Center, with over 150 stores and restaurants.
St. Armands Circle, downtown Sarasota, and downtown St. Petersburg offer an array of shops, restaurants, and regular farmer's markets.
Nearby medical facilities include Lakewood Ranch Medical Center and Manatee Memorial Hospital, both about 15-20 minutes away from Del Webb BayView.
Of course, Tampa, St. Pete, and Sarasota are brimming with things to do, including places like The Ringling and Salvador Dali Museums, Sarasota Opera House, Tropicana Field, Raymond James Stadium, Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium, and plenty of great gulf coast beaches.
Community Amenities
The 22,500 sq. ft. Driftwood Club is the name of the amenity center at Del Webb BayView, staffed by a full-time lifestyle director and other staff. Enjoy a meal at the Sailfish Bar & Restaurant, grab a coffee, and hang out with newfound friends in the Breakwater Cafe, or relax with your favorite cold beverage in the Admiral's Cove Lounge.
Other amenities include the Mainsail Fitness Studio, the Serenity Movement Studio, the Windsor Pearl Social Room, a demonstration kitchen, and more.
Plans outside at The Driftwood Club include a resistance pool, a resort-style pool, tennis courts, pickleball courts, bocce, shuffleboard, and more. Again, it's all pretty standard fare for most newer Del Webb Communities in Florida.
Homes
Del Webb builds pretty much the same series and floorplans across all of their Florida communities. Which makes sense, why reinvent the wheel when you have decades of experience learning what types of homes your customers want? The only issue is keeping up with changing buyer preferences but Del Webb seems to do this pretty well.
Del Webb BayView offers 16 different floorplans, including their attached “Villa Series”, and the last time I checked prices started in the mid $300k's.
I have an agent in the area that's been working with some of my readers, and a handful of them recently purchased in Del Webb BayView. You can get in touch with him here if you'd like more info.:
Other Nearby Communities
Valencia Del Sol’s convenient Tampa area location makes it easy to enjoy having fun in the sun along Florida’s Gulf Coast.
Offering a robust and extraordinary 55+ lifestyle, Valencia del Sol caters to residents looking to socialize and stay physically active. Active adults will enjoy the 25,000 square-foot Clubhouse offering an array of resort-style amenities including a fitness center, grand social hall, a relaxing pool and spa, tennis and pickleball courts as well as a restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating. A full-time, on-site lifestyle director will be dedicated to organizing a wide variety of fun events, clubs and opportunities for making new friends all year-round.
This amazing community features a stunning selection of twin villas and single-family homes that provide the ultimate in 55+ living at an incredible value. Prices start in the $400k's.
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