Valencia Ridge near Tampa recently held the Grand Opening of their model center. Take a look: Valencia Ridge offers contemporary home designs and world-class amenities for the ultimate 55+ luxury living. Nothing compares to the incredible 55+ lifestyle, as the world-class clubhouse will feature multiple pools, pickleball and tennis courts, a fitness center, a restaurant and bar, … Continue Reading » about Valencia Ridge Model Grand Opening
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Valencia at Riverland Mardi Gras Parade
Valencia at Riverland (Port St. Lucie) residents know how to have a good time! They recently celebrated Mardi Gras in style, decorating their golf carts for a festive parade with the Jammin’ Jambalaya Band. Check it out: If you like the kind of fun you see in the video, you can request more information about … Continue Reading » about Valencia at Riverland Mardi Gras Parade
9 New Models on Display at Valencia Harbor in Fort Myers
There are 9 new models available to tour when you visit Valencia Harbor 55+ community in Fort Myers. Here’s a sneak peek at what the model center looks like: Valencia Harbor brings GL Homes’ famous Valencia 55+ lifestyle to Fort Myers! This is exciting because Fort Myers is emerging as a new hub for active … Continue Reading » about 9 New Models on Display at Valencia Harbor in Fort Myers
The 10 Most Popular Communities of 2024
In 2024 our readers requested information from and connected with the communities featured on our site in record numbers. Here were the 10 most popular ones: 1. The Villages of Citrus Hills 2. On Top of the World 3. Valencia at Riverland 4. Kings Gate 5. Valencia Trails 6. Latitude Margaritaville Watersound 7. Boca Royale … Continue Reading » about The 10 Most Popular Communities of 2024
Wellen Park Joins the 25 Best Places List for 2025
Wellen Park is a master-planned community that is home to several different neighborhoods, shops, restaurants, and lots of amenities for residents (and non-residents) to enjoy. The Venice area on Florida’s west coast has seen a lot of demand and growth in recent years and that’s thanks in large part to the development of Wellen Park. … Continue Reading » about Wellen Park Joins the 25 Best Places List for 2025
Valencia Sky’s Naples Clubhouse First Look
Valencia Sky combines the best of the world-famous Valencia and Naples lifestyles to offer an unparalleled 55+ community experience in Florida. They recently released a video animation of what the clubhouse will look like when it is complete: I think it’s safe to say that will be the nicest 55+ clubhouse in the Naples area … Continue Reading » about Valencia Sky’s Naples Clubhouse First Look
Valencia Parc at Riverland Community Tour
Today’s video is the next best thing to visiting Valencia at Riverland in Port St. Lucie and doing an in-person tour. You’ll see how GL Homes has taken 30 years of experience in Florida’s 55+ market and built it directly into everything Riverland residents get to enjoy on a daily basis. Take a look: A … Continue Reading » about Valencia Parc at Riverland Community Tour
Post Hurricane Milton Roll Call
The number one question I get after every hurricane is something along the lines of “How did the communities listed on your site do?” So I thought this time around I’d ask the question and let the communities speak for themselves. I’ll be updating this article as I hear back from others, but the long … Continue Reading » about Post Hurricane Milton Roll Call
Brightmore at Wellen Park 55+ Vacation-style Amenities
Brightmore at Wellen Park in Venice is a new gated 55+ community nestled within popular Wellen Park, one the nation’s premier master-planned communities. Their amenity center is currently under construction, but they recently released a video that shows what it will be like when complete: Inside you’ll find: Outside you’ll find: The 11 acres of … Continue Reading » about Brightmore at Wellen Park 55+ Vacation-style Amenities
Brightmore at Wellen Park Lifestyle Video
Brightmore at Wellen Park in Venice is a new gated 55+ community nestled within popular Wellen Park, one the nation’s premier master-planned communities. They recently released a lifestyle video that shows what living here will be like for residents: Here’s a little more information about the community: Brightmore radiates with a vibrant spirit and a … Continue Reading » about Brightmore at Wellen Park Lifestyle Video
Valencia Ridge Lifestyle Video
If you’ve been following along on the blog and in my newsletter this year, you’ve probably seen me mention Valencia Ridge, a brand new 55+ community from GL Homes that just opened in the Tampa area in 2024. They’ve just released a lifestyle video that shows what living here will be like for residents: All … Continue Reading » about Valencia Ridge Lifestyle Video
A Day in the Life at Boca Royale
This video from Boca Royale’s developer Neal Communities perfectly captures what a typical day is like for Boca Royale residents. Take a look: 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 … Continue Reading » about A Day in the Life at Boca Royale
Valencia Ridge’s Tampa-area Clubhouse First Look
Valencia Ridge brings luxury 55+ living to life, featuring modern home designs and top-tier amenities. They recently released a video animation of what the clubhouse will look like when it is complete: I think it’s safe to say that will be the nicest 55+ clubhouse in the Tampa area once it is finished! Here’s a … Continue Reading » about Valencia Ridge’s Tampa-area Clubhouse First Look
Why Some Model Homes Have Landscaping Instead of a Driveway
You may have seen some of the model homes I’ve featured here on the blog and wondered… What were they thinking? Where’s the driveway? How do you get into the garage? Well, you’re not crazy to ask those questions, but I promise you the builders aren’t crazy either! It is common practice here in Florida … Continue Reading » about Why Some Model Homes Have Landscaping Instead of a Driveway
Grand Palm in Venice Community Video Tour
Located in Venice, Grand Palm is a resort-style-living community from popular Southwest Florida Builder/Developer, Neal Communities. This beautiful, amenity-rich, nature-focused community 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 … Continue Reading » about Grand Palm in Venice Community Video Tour
Freedom in Yeehaw Junction Could Be Florida’s 2nd Largest Retirement Community
Yeehaw Junction, population 244, could soon be home to the state’s 2nd largest retirement community. According to an article on GrowthSpotter (paywall), developer Sun Terra Communities is under contract to purchase a 14,212 ranch and plans to build golf courses, town squares, activity centers, and around 34,000 homes. Sounds a lot like some other place … Continue Reading » about Freedom in Yeehaw Junction Could Be Florida’s 2nd Largest Retirement Community
Where Democrats and Republicans Live in Florida
In my opinion, choosing where to retire primarily based on the political makeup of a place is a big mistake. There are so many other factors that should take precedence like weather, cost of living, availability of recreation/entertainment opportunities, quality healthcare, and so much more. But I know in today’s political climate, a place’s politics … Continue Reading » about Where Democrats and Republicans Live in Florida
Riverland Arts and Culture Center
While almost every new community you look at will have a fancy clubhouse with a pool, fitness center, and space for card games or arts and crafts, Riverland in Port St. Lucie is taking things one step further with a full-blown 11,500 sq. ft. Arts and Culture Center. Take a look: Here you can sharpen … Continue Reading » about Riverland Arts and Culture Center
Valencia Del Sol Clubhouse Video
Valencia Del Sol is a Tampa area 55+ community, which makes it easy to enjoy having fun in the sun along Florida’s Gulf Coast. They recently completed their incredible 25,000 sq. ft. clubhouse, and man, is it something to see. Check it out: The 25,000 square foot Clubhouse offers an array of resort-style amenities including a … Continue Reading » about Valencia Del Sol Clubhouse Video
List of All Cresswind Florida 55+ Communities
Headquartered in Palm Beach County, Kolter Homes builds homes and communities in Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas. Cresswind is their brand of communities for those 55 or better. Similar to Pulte Homes’ “Del Webb“, GL Homes’ “Valencia“, D.R. Horton’s “Freedom”, Shea Homes’ “Trilogy”, and Taylor Morrison’s Esplanade brand, Cresswind is geared toward those seeking the best … Continue Reading » about List of All Cresswind Florida 55+ Communities
Inside Latitude Margaritaville Daytona’s Private Beach Club
Latitude Margaritaville Daytona Beach opened the doors to their Private Beach Club, which is actually located in Ormond Beach, in early 2021. In this article, we’ll explain what the rules for access are like, and how residents and their guests can take advantage of this fantastic (and rare) retirement community amenity. Looks pretty great in … Continue Reading » about Inside Latitude Margaritaville Daytona’s Private Beach Club
12 Models on Display at Valencia Trails in Naples
There are 12 new models available to tour when you visit Valencia Trails 55+ community in Naples. Here’s a sneak peek at just one of those models, The Estero: Valencia Trails residents get to enjoy the famous 55+ Valencia lifestyle with exceptional resort-style amenities, events and activities included. A spectacular Clubhouse spanning more than 43,000 sq. ft. … Continue Reading » about 12 Models on Display at Valencia Trails in Naples
Del Webb eTown in Jacksonville
Del Webb eTown is a new, smart-living, 55+ gated community in Jacksonville centrally located near the St. Johns Town Center. Del Webb eTown offers a 5-acre amenity center including a private community Clubhouse. Take a look: The 13,000 sf state-of-the-art clubhouse is the health and social hub of this active adult community. Meet with friends at the … Continue Reading » about Del Webb eTown in Jacksonville
Important Things to Know About Florida HOA Fees
When comparing Florida retirement communities, one thing everyone is anxious to get a handle on is what their HOA fees will be. That’s understandable because even though these fees won’t be as high as things like your mortgage (assuming you don’t pay cash, some people do of course) or your property taxes, they can amount … Continue Reading » about Important Things to Know About Florida HOA Fees
Del Webb Sunbridge Clubhouse Video
Several of your fellow Florida for Boomers readers have bought homes at Del Webb Sunbridge, a 55+ community located in St. Cloud. That’s in Central Florida, just minutes from Lake Nona and Orlando. After seeing the clubhouse at Del Webb Sunbridge in person, it’s easy to see why my readers were so excited! See for … Continue Reading » about Del Webb Sunbridge Clubhouse Video
List of All GL Homes Valencia 55+ Communities
GL Homes is one of the most successful homebuilders in all of Florida. While they build a variety of communities, the focus of this list is their Valencia branded communities for those 55 or better. One of the hardest things about retiring and moving to Florida is trying to pick the right place for you, … Continue Reading » about List of All GL Homes Valencia 55+ Communities
Best Florida Non-Age Restricted Communities
While a lot of the communities we talk about on this site are age-restricted 55+ communities, we also talk about a lot of communities that are not age-restricted. Some people call these “all-ages communities” or “multigenerational communities” but no matter what you call them, the idea is the same; residents of all age groups living … Continue Reading » about Best Florida Non-Age Restricted Communities
Riverland Sports and Racquet Club
Decades before spending my mornings sending you these articles about Florida retirement, and before I was even old enough to drive, I would wake up at 5 am most weekend mornings and ride my bike to my neighborhood tennis club to report for duty at my first job. I was responsible for sweeping the clay … Continue Reading » about Riverland Sports and Racquet Club
Florida Facts: From Basic to Holy Cow! Is That Really True?
While you might know some of these basic Florida facts, I’m willing to bet there are more than a few here that may surprise you. Let’s jump right in! Basic Florida Facts Florida is the 22nd largest state in the country. Its 67 counties cover 65,755 square miles. Florida is the 3rd most populated state … Continue Reading » about Florida Facts: From Basic to Holy Cow! Is That Really True?
Safest Places to Retire in Florida
According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Florida’s total crime rate has gone down by more than 60% since 1998. Each year the FBI releases crime data for the previous year for all Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSA’s) in the United States, including the 22 MSA’s in Florida. I thought it would be interesting to … Continue Reading » about Safest Places to Retire in Florida
Florida Snowbird Guide
If spending the cold winter months living in sunny Florida is something that you have often thought about but never really explored, today is the day for you to start thinking a bit more seriously about wintering in Florida. With a history that dates back to brilliant minds like John D. Rockefeller, Henry Ford, and … Continue Reading » about Florida Snowbird Guide
Florida’s Most Affordable Retirement Communities
Very few retirees can say that “budget is not a concern” when looking for the right Florida retirement or 55+ community. Everyone has their number. But “affordable” means different things to different people, so what I wanted to do in this article is give you a list of the Florida retirement communities with the lowest … Continue Reading » about Florida’s Most Affordable Retirement Communities
The Villages vs. Citrus Hills
The Villages is the best-selling community in the country (retirement or otherwise) for a reason, but not everyone who takes a look at The Villages for retirement falls under her spell. We thought it’d be fun to compare The Villages to a number of other popular Florida retirement communities so you can see which one … Continue Reading » about The Villages vs. Citrus Hills
Can You Still Find a Florida Waterfront Home For Under $300k?
A reader named Al asks: I want to buy a house preferably on the water, but I’d consider close to the water. Is there a town where a person can still buy a waterfront home say for under 300k? And I mean a home where I could get to the ocean. Not some man made … Continue Reading » about Can You Still Find a Florida Waterfront Home For Under $300k?
Discover Venetian Bay in New Smyrna Beach, FL
Venetian Bay is unique in that it represents not one home, but an epic “Community” of homes and the splendid lifestyle that goes with it. Whether you are buying your first home or your dream home Venetian Bay has something to offer everyone. Perfectly situated in Central Florida’s favorite beach town, New Smyrna Beach, Venetian … Continue Reading » about Discover Venetian Bay in New Smyrna Beach, FL
Types of Gated Communities in Florida
One of the most requested features among those searching for new home communities in Florida is that they be gated. There are various types of gated communities, some more secure than others. In this article, which is really just an excerpt from my book Pick the Right Place, we’ll look at the different types of … Continue Reading » about Types of Gated Communities in Florida
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
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
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 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
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
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
Florida is One of Kiplinger’s Most Tax-Friendly States for Retirement
Florida is consistently ranked by Kiplinger.com as one of the Top Ten most tax-friendly states for retirees. Let’s take a closer look at the reasons why. Florida State Sales Tax Florida has a reasonable state sales tax of 6%. It’s also important to note that food (with the exception of food to be eaten immediately … Continue Reading » about Florida is One of Kiplinger’s Most Tax-Friendly States for Retirement
Understanding Florida Lot Premiums
Lot premiums are an additional charge that home builders and developers tack on to the price of a new home depending on where in the community a lot is located. Basically the way most new homes are sold these days is a builder will advertise their homes based on standard features and a “standard” lot, … Continue Reading » about Understanding Florida Lot Premiums
The Argyll at On Top of the World
Welcome to another edition of Walkthrough Wednesday. Today we find ourselves in Ocala, Florida at On Top of the World. We’re looking at the Argyll, one of their Estate Series homes with a spacious and open floor plan, perfect for your active lifestyle. Let’s go inside and take a look around. Want to see all … Continue Reading » about The Argyll at On Top of the World
Top-Selling Florida Communities of 2015
John Burns Real Estate Consulting just released their annual list of the 50 Top-Selling Master-Planned Communities of 2015. This year, seven Florida communities made the list, compared to nine communities in 2014. Florida ranks third behind Texas and California for number of communities on the list. Texas placed a remarkable 17 communities on the list … Continue Reading » about Top-Selling Florida Communities of 2015
Niche Florida Retirement Communities
The December 2015 issue of Florida Trend magazine has an interesting article about a handful of niche retirement communities in Florida. Unfortunately the article isn’t available on-line unless you’re a FloridaTrend subscriber, but Uncle Ryan here has your back 😉 Here’s a look at some unique and interesting Florida retirement communities geared towards very specific … Continue Reading » about Niche Florida Retirement Communities
Should You Use the Builder’s Lender?
Once you decide on building a new home in a master-planned community, one of the most common questions is whether or not your should use the builder’s recommended lender. Depending on the situation, this can either mean the lender is part of the builder’s own company, or in some cases it can just mean they … Continue Reading » about Should You Use the Builder’s Lender?