The Villages has sold an “estimated” 1,960 new homes at the halfway point of 2023 according to real estate consulting firm RCLCO. The figure is only an estimate because The Villages does not release official mid-year sales numbers.
In fact, it looks like RCLCO believes The Villages is on pace for a similar year as 2022, because their estimated mid-year sales figure is based on the 3,923 new home sales The Villages had in all of 2022.
For reference, over the last 20 years, The Villages has averaged about 2,800 new home sales per year. You can look back at their historic track record here.
16 Florida communities in total made the mid-year Top 50 list, and they accounted for approximately 41% of the total sales. Like The Villages, a handful of the other Florida communities are also 55+ communities themselves or contain neighborhoods within them that are 55+.
While you should not base your decision on what community you ultimately end up in based on how many homes they sell, the data is useful in that you know if they're selling this many new homes, they've got something to offer that a lot of people, maybe even you, are interested in.
Here's a look at the other Florida communities that made the list.
Lakewood Ranch in the Sarasota area is not all 55+ but there are a few neighborhoods that are 55+ like Del Webb Lakewood Ranch and Cresswind Lakewood Ranch. Lakewood Ranch as a whole though came in at #2 on the list with 1,227 new home sales so far this year.
Just minutes from the beaches of Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch is the #1 best-selling multigenerational master-planned community in the country.
With everything from low-maintenance condominiums to single-family houses starting in the $400k's, Lakewood Ranch offers a neighborhood option for just about every type of family and budget. There are also a few 55+ community options available, including Del Webb Lakewood Ranch and Cresswind Lakewood Ranch.
Silverleaf in St. Augustine took the #7 spot with 504 new home sales so far in 2023.
Babcock Ranch in the Punta Gorda area in Southwest Florida took the #8 spot with 490 new home sales and was the only other Florida community in the top 10.
Located in Southwest Florida, Babcock Ranch has been designed to help residents live their happiest, healthiest life. Situated on 18,000 acres, adjacent to an extensive wilderness preserve, Babcock Ranch features hiking and biking paths, greenways, and lakes perfect for outdoor adventures.
America’s first solar-powered town, Babcock Ranch houses an 870-acre solar farm operated by Florida Power & Light, and the entire town is outfitted with fiber optic internet for a fully connected lifestyle.
Babcock Ranch features a variety of neighborhoods and home builders, and prices range from the $300's to over $2M.
Coming in at #13, Wellen Park is just minutes from the beaches of Venice on Florida's West Coast. Wellen Park features boutique shops and restaurants, a number of 18-hole championship golf courses, and it is the home of Atlanta Braves Spring Training. So far in 2023, they've had 430 new home sales.
For retirees seeking an active lifestyle on Florida’s Gulf Coast, Wellen Park in the Venice area is a next-generation community made up of friendly neighborhoods and a vibrant downtown. Wellen Park is currently the third best-selling community in Florida, trailing only The Villages and Lakewood Ranch.
There aren't any 55+ neighborhoods in Wellen Park yet, but the wide range of community amenities, and proximity to great Venice area beaches, great restaurants, and Braves Spring Training baseball more than make up for that fact. Home prices generally start in the $400k's.
Viera in the Melbourne area on Florida's east coast was #17 with 415 new home sales so far in 2023.
Ave Maria in the Naples area recorded 355 new home sales so far this year, a tie for 20th with a community in Texas. Ave Maria is home to Del Webb Naples.
Located just east of Naples in the master-planned community of Ave Maria, Del Webb Naples is a fairly large community of around 2,000 condos, townhouses, and single-family homes. This community has an (optional to join) 18-hole championship golf course, sports courts, resort and lap pools, a state-of-the-art fitness center, and 2 large clubhouses with a full-time Lifestyle Director. Homes start in the $300k's.
Nocatee, located about 25 miles southeast of Jacksonville is where you will find Del Webb Nocatee, and the community as a whole sold 343 new homes in the first half of this year, landing them at #23 on the list.
Del Webb Nocatee is a new 55+ gated community in Ponte Vedra, which is in Northeast Florida, just minutes from Jacksonville and St. Augustine, and about 4 miles from pristine beaches.
The Canopy Club offers luxury amenities just a golf cart's drive away, including a zero-entry pool, pickleball courts, fitness studio, and even an onsite Tavern & Grill with private wine lockers.
Westlake is located in Palm Beach County, between Wellington and Palm Beach Gardens, and it is home to the 55+ community Cresswind Palm Beach at Westlake. So far this year 329 homes have sold in Westlake, earning them the #24 spot on the Top 50 list.
Riverland is home to the 55+ communities Valencia Cay, Valencia Grove, and now Valencia Walk at Riverland. Riverland came in at number 26 on the list with 326 new home sales so far this year.
Valencia Walk at Riverland is one of the newest 55+ communities on Florida’s East Coast. Located in Port St. Lucie, Valencia Walk brings together GL Homes’ famous 55+ resort-style living with an amazing master site plan to create a Florida lifestyle that’s second to none! In this new community, you’ll find a million ways to have fun. Walk to nearby shops and restaurants, spend the day at the beach or simply enjoy all the amenities right within your own neighborhood.
Just down the road from Riverland, Tradition in Port St. Lucie is home to a handful of 55+ communities and several all-ages neighborhoods as well. Collectively they accounted for 306 new home sales so far in 2023, good enough for a tie for 28th, sharing the spot with a community in Texas.
Tradition is a master-planned community in Port St. Lucie. The Town Center creates a natural community hub for residents to meet and socialize, where events like a weekly farmers market invite one and all to gather. The extensive Tradition Trail winds through the community connected to over 300 acres of parks, inviting residents to explore the outdoors, meet up with friends, or enjoy a casual stroll and visit the Town Center.
Tradition is comprised of several different neighborhoods. While some neighborhoods are open to residents of all ages, Tradition also includes several 55+ neighborhoods from developers like Del Webb, Mattamy Homes, and Minto. Prices here generally start in the $300k's.
Latitude Margaritaville Watersound has sold 301 new homes so far this year, and Latitude Margaritaville Daytona Beach has sold 300 homes so far this year, landing them right next to each other at 30 and 31 on the list.
It might seem strange to you that they had almost the same amount of new home sales, but both of these communities are on similar release schedules, at least so far this year, and once they do a release the homes sell pretty much right away due to the long waitlists both communities have.
Located on Northwest Florida’s Emerald Coast between Pensacola & Panama City, Latitude Margaritaville Watersound is the 2nd Jimmy Buffett inspired 55+ community in Florida, and the 3rd one overall when you include Latitude Margaritaville Hilton Head.
The list of amenities coming to Latitude Margaritaville Watersound is very similar to what we’ve seen in other Latitude Margaritaville communities. Home prices start in the $300k’s.
Latitude Margaritaville is a 55+ community in Daytona Beach, inspired by the lifestyle and music of Jimmy Buffett.
Amenities include a fully outfitted gym / Spin Room, aerobics room with virtual personal trainer, indoor whirlpool spa and lap pool, Latitude Town Square where you’ll find the Bandshell with live music, The Last Mango Theater includes a banquet hall with stage for performances and dancing, Barkaritaville Pet Spa, Coconut Telegraph Business Center, Latitude Bar & Chill Restaurant, Changes in Attitude Bar, Paradise Pool with beach entry, cabanas, and tiki huts, plus, an amenity that you don’t see every day…your very own private beach club!
Mirada and Epperson are two master-planned communities in the Tampa area that sold 295 and 267 homes respectively in the first half of 2023.
Lake Nona in the Orlando area is home to the 55+ Gatherings at Lake Nona condo community. So far 223 new homes have been sold in Lake Nona in 2023, landing them a tie for 48th on the list with a community from…you guessed it…Texas.
Sunbridge, which is located in the Orlando area and is home to the 55+ community Del Webb Sunbridge, earned an honorable mention spot at #53 with 213 new home sales so far this year.
Del Webb Sunbridge is a new 55+ gated community in St. Cloud, just minutes from Lake Nona and Orlando.
The 27,000 sf. Hammock Club features luxurious indoor and outdoor amenities like a zero-entry pool, resistance pool, pickleball and tennis courts, a fitness center, a movement studio, and more.
If you are interested in communities outside of Florida, you can check out the full report here.
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