As you might know, the Florida real estate market has been going gangbusters so far this year. There are a couple of real estate consulting companies that track sales and compile annual lists of the top selling communities, and one of them, RCLCO, also does a “Mid-Year” list. Below are 5 of the 13 Florida […]
Best 55+ Communities in Tampa for 2021
Tampa and the surrounding areas are exploding with new 55-plus communities. And for good reason. First off, what’s not to like about Florida’s West Coast, and Tampa is in the heart of it. It’s got great weather year-round, is easily accessible from most other parts of the country, particularly the Northeast where most retirees are […]
Best Golf Retirement Communities in Florida
Golf may not hold the allure it once did for some retirees, but golf courses are still a popular amenity in some of the best Florida retirement communities.
Taylor Morrison Esplanade Communities in Florida
Esplanade is Taylor Morrison’s active lifestyle community brand. Similar to Pulte Homes’ “Del Webb“, GL Homes’ “Valencia“, D.R. Horton’s “Freedom”, and Shea Homes’ “Trilogy” brands, Taylor Morrison’s Esplanade brand is geared toward those seeking the best communities for active adult living. This video provides a good overview of the “Esplanade” concept: Some Esplanade communities are […]
Best 55+ Communities in Ocala for 2021
There are a number of 55+ communities in Ocala, FL and on this page we offer information about some of the best ones selling new homes in Ocala today. If you are seriously considering making the Ocala area your home in retirement, be sure to check out our Ocala Retirement Guide. And, if you are […]
Del Webb Communities in Florida – Updated for 2021
Del Webb is a division of Pulte Homes that focuses on building and developing 55+ active adult communities. Del Webb is one of the original pioneers of the 55-plus community concept, having started their first development, Sun City, more than 50 years ago. Del Webb currently has several new home communities under development in Florida, […]
Enjoy a Special “Homecoming Weekend” at On Top of the World
Remember back to your high school or college days the excitement of Homecoming Weekend? Well at On Top of the World in Ocala, there are now two special Homecoming Weekends available for prospective buyers. Whether you are just exploring your options here in Florida or you are already sold on On Top of the World, […]
Why Tampa is Arguably the Greatest Town for Retiring Sports Fans
In addition to being a fabulous place to retire for reasons like great weather, no state income tax, and a reasonable cost of living, the Tampa area also boasts a passionate sports community that makes it a perfect destination for retiring sports fans. In fact, we think it might be the best option out there […]
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? It’s definitely an option, but it will take some legwork. This article should help. Why Rent? I’ve covered how to find a winter rental here before, but finding a long-term rental in […]
Cape Coral, Clermont, Largo and The Villages Make Forbes Best Places to Retire List
Four Florida cities made this year’s Forbes List of the Top 25 Best Places to Retire List, up from just two cities last year. Cape Coral made a return appearance on the list and is joined by Clermont, Largo, and The Villages. The list is comprised of 25 places across the country, but their order […]
Overview of Florida’s 8 Diverse Regions
Each region of Florida has it’s own unique charms. Before deciding on a community, you should really spend some time thinking about which part of Florida you might like best. I like to think of the decision process as: Location —> Community —> Home Here are links to a few of the popular Florida retirement […]
Three Unique Experiences Courtesy of Florida’s Nature Coast
For nature loving Boomers, Florida’s Nature Coast region is just a natural fit for retirement. The places to explore and things to do are nearly endless, but some experiences are more unique than others. Below we’ve shared information on three of these experiences. Scalloping Florida’s scalloping season begins on June 27 and runs through September […]
Cape Coral and Port Charlotte Make Forbes Best Places to Retire List
Each year, Forbes comes out with a list of Best Places to retire in the U.S. This year, two Florida cities made the Forbes list, Cape Coral and Port Charlotte. Cape Coral Cape Coral, on the Gulf of Mexico, was founded in 1957 as a master-planned community and currently has a population around 160,000 people. […]
Kings Point Explores The Dark Side of Retirement Life
The HBO Documentary Kings Point follows the lives of several residents of a 55+ retirement community in Delray Beach, FL called Kings Point. The main topics explored are love, loss and self-preservation. Here’s the trailer: Though most people I’ve discussed the movie with called it “depressing”, and fair warning…it can be if you view it […]
Where Will the Next Florida Mega-Retirement Community Be Built?
Florida’s most popular retirement community, The Villages, is nearing completion and the developers have said they aren’t planning to build another community like it anywhere else. But that’s not going to stop someone else from trying. The St. Joe Company is one of Florida’s largest landowners, and they are planning a community in Florida’s Panhandle […]
Why Tony Robbins Moved to Florida
I’m a huge fan of peak-performance coach Tony Robbins’ work and though I haven’t made it to one of his live events yet, I’m hoping that changes soon now that he is based in Florida and seems to be holding events here more regularly. In his new book, Money: Master the Game, Robbins reveals why […]
The Villages vs. Sun City Center
Today let’s take a head-to-head look at two of the biggest 55+ communities in Florida, The Villages and Sun City Center. History Sun City Center on the West Coast of Florida near Sarasota has actually been around longer than The Villages. Del Webb Florida began Sun City Center in 1961, about a decade before Orange […]
Amenities Galore at On Top of the World
One of my favorite things about the On Top of the World community in Ocala, FL is the sheer number of amenities available to residents. How could you ever get bored here? Let’s take a closer look at some of my favorites… Master the Possibilities is On Top of the World’s lifelong learning program that […]
The Panhandle: Florida’s Final Frontier
When considering moving to Florida, many Boomers immediately gravitate to some of the popular communities in the central and southern parts of the state. While these areas are filled with many wonderful communities, there is another area of Florida that tends to get overlooked by potential new residents. The Panhandle is the northwest region of […]
3 Reasons Why Boomers Are Fueling the Florida Housing Market
Baby Boomers around the country are feeling more confident in the economy, and that confidence is showing up in the Florida housing market. The Villages is regularly highlighted at the fastest growing metro area in the entire United States by the US Census Bureau. In addition to The Villages, many other communities designed for boomers […]
How to Calculate Your Florida CDD Assessment
You thought retiring to Florida would be all about fun and relaxation. Nobody told you there’d be this much math involved did they? I’ll try to make it as easy as possible for you though 🙂 In case you skipped watching the video above, Community Development Districts (CDD’s) are local, special purpose government frameworks […]
9 Best Selling Florida Communities of 2013
Last year 9 Florida communities sold enough homes to make the annual Top 50 Master-Planned Communities list compiled by John Burns Real Estate Consulting. (Interestingly that’s the exact same number of Florida communities to make the list last year.) It should come as no surprise to see that The Villages again claimed the top spot […]
Florida CDD Fees: What You Need To Know
A community development district (or CDD for short) is a special purpose government framework permitted by Florida Statutes and used by local governments and developers to shift the burden of developing infrastructure, maintaining roads and landscaping, building clubhouses, and other improvements to the homeowners in that district or area. In this article, we’re going to […]
Retirement Living in the Florida Keys
There are some places that are nice to visit, but you wouldn’t want to live there. The Florida Keys is perfect whether visiting for a weekend or deciding to make it a permanent home. An idyllic tropical setting at the tip of the United States combined with a myriad of recreation, entertainment, and cultural opportunities […]
Amelia Island for Retirement
Amelia Island, situated just off the East Coast of Florida and about 45 minutes away from Jacksonville, has been a popular vacation and 2nd home destination for years. Baby boomers are also now considering it as a potential retirement community destination. Known as the “Isle of Eight Flags”, Amelia Island has a rich history. It […]
Are You Ready for Some Florida Seafood?
While our site focuses primarily on Florida retirement communities, everybody still has to eat, right? With the second largest coastline in the U.S., it’s no wonder many folks associate Florida with seafood. Floridians, on average, consume more than twice the amount of seafood than other people in the U.S. Also, more than 80 different varieties […]
Florida Mosquitos: What you need to know
If you’ve been in Florida looking around at the various retirement communities for more than 15 minutes, you have encountered the mosquito. Dubbed “little fly” by early Spanish explorers, this flying pest can be found throughout the state. In fact, Florida has more species of mosquitoes than any other state. Currently, researchers at the University […]
Most Bike Friendly Florida Cities
We wrote a few days ago how some active adults communities are targeting motorcycle enthusiasts. But Florida is also very conducive to another activity on two wheels, bicycling. Bicycling Magazine recently came out with their list of America’s Top 50 Bike-Friendly Cities and two Florida cities made the list. Gainesville which is a college town […]
55+ Community Marketing Not Just About Golf Anymore
When you think about most retirement communities in Florida and the amenities and activities they offer, you usually think about golf. It’s no secret that Florida golf retirement communities prevail, at least in terms of popularity. But these days, as baby boomers are so diverse in the types of activities they enjoy, over 55 communities […]
Naples and Fort Myers Retirement Communities
Southwest Florida is extremely popular due to its proximity to the tranquil Gulf of Mexico and relaxing beaches. Most retirement communities in Southwest Florida are very upscale. Southwest Florida which includes Naples, Marco Island, and Fort Myers is very popular among people from the Midwest who can hop on I-75 and shoot right on down […]
South Florida Retirement Communities
South Florida has been one of the nation’s all-time most sought after retirement community locations. The most popular destinations include Miami, Boca Raton and West Palm Beach. Because of great year round weather, easy access to retirement worthy amenities including healthcare, shopping, dining, and recreation, this trend is expected to continue well into the future.
Zero Lot Line Homes
You may notice that in some communities here in Florida, the houses are extremely close together, sometimes a few feet or less apart. What you are probably looking at is a zero lot line community. Zero lot line means that the house is placed either on or very close to one side of the lot, […]
Florida Home Builder Contract Clauses
As opposed to using the standard Florida real estate contract like in the resale side of real estate, most Florida home builders use their own contracts, and they usually err on the side of protecting the builder rather than the buyer. By making you aware of the contract clauses you might see in builder contracts, […]
3 Reasons Why Florida Will Ultimately Remain The King Of Retirement
Everywhere you turn newspapers, magazines, and other websites are relishing in the fact that Florida is no longer growing as fast as it once was. In fact, most data indicates that Florida’s population actually shrank last year. While this may be true right now, its most likely a temporary blip in Florida’s long history as […]
Florida Flood Zones Explained
There are two facts that most people do not know. First, flooding is the number one natural disaster in the United States; even properties not near water can be susceptible to flooding. Second, losses due to floods are not covered by your homeowner’s insurance policy. The Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA) puts out “flood maps” […]
Community Toss-Up: The Villages® vs. Trilogy® Orlando
Today we’re comparing two very different communities situated less that 45 minutes from each other, The Villages and Trilogy® Orlando. You all know The Villages as the most popular retirement community in the country right now. But that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s better than any of the other communities we compare it to, including Trilogy®. […]