We've written a lot about the different developers building communities for retirees here in Florida like Del Webb, Taylor Morrison, and GL Homes, but one we have not covered quite as extensively is Neal Communities.
A 50+ Year Track Record
The founders of Neal Communities launched their first Florida project in 1970 at Whitney Beach, where home sales started at $23,900.
Ah, take me back!
By 1982 they had 14 communities underway and founder Pat Neal earned the award for Meritorious Public Service as Most Effective in Committee while serving in the Florida Senate, and earned the Florida Audubon Society and Sierra Club Legislative awards.
In 1990, Neal Communities began development on a 1,200-home master-planned community in University Park.
In 1998 they ventured into a new community you might have heard of called Lakewood Ranch. In 2002 they broke ground on their 6,000th home, and founder Pat Neal was named the Most Influential Floridian.
Neal Communities celebrated their 40th anniversary in 2010 and expanded into Venice, where they broke ground on their largest community to date at Grand Palm, and in 2023 they celebrated their 20,000th home built in Florida.
Environmental Commitment and Giving Back
A number of Neal Communities have been awarded the Green Development Designation and many of their homes have Florida Green Building Coalition (FGBC) certification. Additionally, Neal Communities was awarded Green Builder of the Year by the FGBC for its commitment to building to green standards and certifying the most homes in Florida in 2018.
In addition, over just the past decade, Neal Communities has contributed more than $7 million in charitable giving to local community organizations.
Communities for Retirement
Neal Communities is building more than a dozen communities in Southwest Florida, and several of them are perfect for retirement living.
Located in the popular Port Charlotte/Punta Gorda area of Florida, Kings Gate offers easy access to beaches, marinas, wildlife sanctuaries, airports, and more, many within a 15-minute drive or less. A friendly, gated neighborhood community for residents age 55 and up, Kings Gate homeowners enjoy access to a recreation center, Olympic-sized swimming pool and spa, tennis courts, on-site activities director, and a variety of resident clubs and social events. Membership to the 18-hole golf course and facilities are additionally available. Prices start in the $200k’s.
Located just south of Venice in Sarasota County, Boca Royale Golf & Country Club offers a rare lifestyle that feels more like a vacation than the everyday. Residents of the gated 1,000-acre community enjoy a full line of fun and fitness amenities, including an 18-hole par 72 golf course. A beautiful amenity center and clubhouse round out the community. The community offers both single-family homes and attached villas.
Grand Palm is truly a one-of-a-kind community! This beautiful, amenity-rich, nature-focused community in Venice, Florida is exactly what resort living should be like. Residents enjoy easy access to downtown Venice and beaches (20 minutes away) and a multitude of activities right in their own backyard with an on-site activities coordinator, state-of-the-art fitness facility, and large, resort-style pool with water slide. Attached villas and single-family homes are available.
Verandah is a beautiful, private, guard-gated golf course community in Fort Myers. Enjoy life among mature oak trees, meandering bike paths and walking trails, and breathtaking views of the Orange River. Verandah offers residents full-service dining options, social events and activities, fitness and recreation options, and 2 spectacular 18-hole championship golf courses: Old Orange, designed by Bob Cupp and Whispering Oak, designed by Jack Nicklaus.
We just took possession of a Neal Communities home at Canoe Creek in Parrish, just north of Lakewood Ranch. It’s a beautiful gated community, with a Club House, pool, gym and activities director. Parrish is a more rural area that is growing very quickly. The home prices are more affordable and yet Canoe Creek is close enough to take advantage of all the amenities available in Lakewood Ranch. While Canoe Creek is a multi family community, where our home is located in section 3, there are many empty nester couples. We love Canoe Creek and find the people here very friendly and welcoming. It’s definitely worth a look for those 55+!
Been looking into Florida not sure let as to the area but will be visiting Florida mid-January to end March.