Lakewood Ranch is something of a phenomenon on Florida’s Gulf Coast. Twenty-five years ago, it didn’t exist. In fact, the first home was built in 1995 and since then, this community east of I-75 hasn’t stopped growing. Today, over 10,000 rooftops exist spanning from State Road 64 to the north and Fruitville Road to the south.
If you are interested in looking for Lakewood Ranch homes for sale, want to learn about the Lakewood Ranch Country Club and Lakewood Ranch’s 16 other neighborhoods, please stop by or call our downtown Lakewood Ranch real estate office and meet the MS&C team.
A view from above Lakewood Ranch.
A Top Seller
In a recent list of the nation’s top-selling master planned communities (MPC) from real estate consultant firm, RCLCO, Lakewood Ranch was ranked number five. The study credits successful MPCs with “the targeting of various age, income, and household groups with appropriated priced and designed residential product types and lifestyle amenities.”
List of top selling master planned communities in the nation from RCLCO.
“Lakewood Ranch is all inclusive,” said Pam Ali, Manager of the Michael Saunders & Company Lakewood Ranch office. “This is a true master planned community where what you need is right around the corner from schools, shopping, doctors, restaurants, and parks. There is also an active community network of different organizations for those looking to get involved in a cause or to pursue their passions.”
Michael Saunders & Company’s Lakewood Ranch office.
A Lively Town Center
The RCLCO study cited another prevalent feature in top-selling MPCs as the inclusion of a town center with heavily foot-oriented traffic and other retail and services supportive to daily living.
Within Lakewood Ranch, the centrally located Main Street offers distinctive boutiques, tasty cuisine, fitness classes, the Lakewood Ranch Cinemas and more. The open air environment is perfect for Florida’s mild year round temperatures and encourages strolling from shop to shop and numerous pedestrian-friendly events throughout the year.
Lakewood Ranch Main Street
Healthy Living
Another strong element in top-selling MPC’s, to which Lakewood Ranch is no exception, is their emphasis on healthy living. Active lifestyle amenities are always within easy reach for residents. Many of the neighborhoods within Lakewood Ranch offer their own walking trails, bike paths, fitness centers, tennis courts, community pools, golf courses, and more.
There are also numerous restaurants and stores geared towards a healthy lifestyle, like the new Get Fit Fuel on Market Street, and Healthy Living Organic & Natural Market and Fast and Fresh – both on Main Street.
In addition, Premier Sports Campus rests on 140 acres with 22 playing fields hosting soccer, lacrosse, field hockey, rugby, archery, senior games, Ultimate Frisbee, Special Olympics and more. The Sarasota Polo Club at Lakewood Ranch provides exhilarating polo matches at one of the most beautiful settings in the region.
Annual events are also geared towards a healthy lifestyle including one just around the corner on September 24th, the Health & Wellness Expo. Held at the Lakewood Ranch Medical Center from 10am – 1pm, exhibitors will focus on preventative medicine, the heart and circulatory system, and the importance of physical activity and proper nutrition.
The amenities of Lakewood Ranch encourage a healthy lifestyle.
Real Estate
Homes for sale in Lakewood Ranch range from condos to townhomes and single-family homes. There are currently twenty thoughtfully-planned villages offering a variety of locations and amenities.
There were 329 homes for sale in August 2016, which is up 38.5 % compared to the same quarter last year.
Lakewood Ranch: number of homes for sale, sold and pending from July 2015 – August 2016. Source: TrendGraphix
“When you look at what’s on the market, I think that there are many more new homes available than before,” explained Manager, Pam Ali. “With so many new communities being built, it can only increase the amount of available homes for sale.”
Sales are also up 5.2% compared to the same quarter last year. The average sale price for the month of August was $397,000 which is up 3.1% compared to the same quarter last year.
Priced at $429,500 this Greenbrook home for sale in Lakewood Ranch is near the average sale price. It offers three-bedrooms plus den, and private pool area overlooking a serene lake.
$429,500
Villa Lago Eterno in The Lake Club will transport you to the Tuscan hillside. Situated on over one acre of land, this four-bedroom home with a separate 2-story casita provides a celebration of the Italian living experience on Florida’s Gulf Coast.
$5,800,000
Delight in water and golf course views from this Coeur D’Alene residence at Watercrest in the heart of Lakewood Ranch. From this three-bedroom home, the restaurants, shopping, and sights of Lakewood Ranch Main Street is only a short walk away.
$349,000
View more Lakewood Ranch real estate.
A Look at Things to Come
Work has begun on Lakewood Ranch Waterside where plans have been unveiled to include 12 new neighborhoods with 5,144 homes built around seven lakes. There will also be a public school, commercial and retail space, and what will be the new home of the Players Centre for Performing Arts, Sarasota’s oldest arts organization. The site will be built on 1,425 acres of a 5,940-acre site, leaving 4,065 acres as open space.
Lakewood Ranch waterside with new homes and apartment occupancy planned for 2017.
The Fort Hamer Bridge will soon be connecting north Lakewood Ranch with Parrish and is estimated for completion in summer 2017. As an alternate to Interstate-75, this new north/south corridor will make travel more convenient for many communities including those in Lakewood Ranch and The Islands on the Manatee River just north of the bridge.
To learn more about Lakewood Ranch, Florida and to find out whether there’s a home for sale that’s right for you, contact one of our agents in the Lakewood Ranch office today. View more or browse Lakewood Ranch real estate on MichealSaunders.com.