Active adults have been moving into the Lakeland/Winter Haven area because of its proximity to Tampa, Orlando, and other Central Florida cities. It’s also full of freshwater lakes for fishing and boating, nature trails for hikers and bikers, and plenty of shopping, fine dining, and culture.
Another thing to love about Lakeland real estate? It’s affordable.
Check out these 55+ communities in the Lakeland and Winter Haven area. They have homes available for $150,000 or less, and buyers never feel like they’re living on a budget.
Cypress Lakes – Lakeland, FL
Below $100k – Mid $100s
Golfers don’t have to spend in the high six figures to find a home with a view of the back nine. It’s affordable and fun to live at Cypress Lakes, where there are two golf courses, a putting green, and a driving range. Residents can take advantage of the 18-hole championship course on the southside of this 55+ community or the 18-hole executive course on the north end. There’s also tennis, shuffleboard, pickleball, bocce, and a firepit. A lap pool and a resort-style pool with a spa are available to residents, as well as a clubhouse with a fitness center and meeting rooms. The amenities go even further, with a media room, game room, and a lot more space for neighbors to come together for fun or competition.
There are 1,604 single-family homes on the property, and buyers seeking Lakeland homes for sale can find a resale house with two or three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and an attached one-car garage. Some homes have dens, porches, and screened lanais. Not too far from Cypress Lakes, Upper Hillsborough Preserve allows visitors to enjoy camping, hunting, hiking, fishing, and horseback riding.
Hidden Creek – Sebring, FL
Below $100k – Low $100s
A small and intimate 55+ community just south of Lakeland is Hidden Creek in Sebring. There are only 55 properties here, and that gives neighbors an opportunity to really connect with one another and enjoy a tranquil, welcoming community. Homes range from 1,062 to 1,869 square feet with two or three bedrooms and two bathrooms. Attached villas include a one-car garage, and the single-family residences have an attached two-car garage.
Residents of Hidden Creek enjoy a clubhouse, exercise room, library, and multi-purpose room with a catering kitchen. They get together for aerobics classes and art projects. Community events like Monday Morning Coffee and potluck dinners always draw a crowd. There’s also a pool and patio, two shuffleboard courts, and plenty of paths and trails for walking, jogging, and biking. Living in Sebring, residents can embrace the city’s quirky artsy side. Solomon’s Castle, for example, is in nearby Ona, and features a whimsical medieval palace constructed of aluminum.
Foxwood Lake Estates – Lakeland, FL
Below $100k – Mid $100s
Comfortable homes and a sweet sense of community surround residents at Foxwood Lake Estates, where it’s easy to find an affordably priced single-family home with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and an attached two-car garage. Properties range from 828 to 1,536 square feet with screened porches and lanais, hardwood floors, and other potential upgrades. Owner association dues are low, and it’s easy to keep up with maintenance in this friendly 55+ community.
Amenities are equally as impressive. The clubhouse includes an indoor sauna and several multi-purpose rooms, which are used for painting classes, potluck dinners, and pancake breakfasts. There’s a billiards room and a fitness center. Residents enjoy gathering around the outdoor pool and patio, playing shuffleboard and tennis, and enjoy the hot tub. There are also several scenic fishing lakes throughout the community. Foxwood Lake Estates is close to Interstate 4, making trips to either the Atlantic or Gulf Coast easy.
Highlands Ridge – Avon Park, FL
Low $100s – Mid $300s
New construction doesn’t have to cost more than $150,000. In fact, buyers can find reasonably priced resale homes and new construction opportunities at Highlands Ridge in Avon Park. There are also two golf courses at this 55+ community and a long list of other amenities and events that keep active adults social and engaged.
Pool parties and casino nights are often on the agenda, and there are clubs for interests such as woodworking, softball, and cards. Day trips, dinner theater, and fishing can be done independently or as a group among the residents of Highlands Ridge. In addition to the golf courses, amenities include a boat launch and slips that open into a 250-acre lake, a wellness center, two pools, pickleball courts, tennis courts, and a putting green. There’s a restaurant, plenty of parking for boats and RVs, and a bocce ball court.
Homes come in four attached villa models and 10 single-family floor plans. They have two or three bedrooms, two bathrooms, dens, and between 1,467 and 2,243 square feet.
Colonnades – Lakeland, FL
Below $100k – Low $100s
An affordable gated 55+ community in Lakeland, Colonnades offers buyers two spacious single-family home models. The Briarwood model has two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and 1,033 square feet, while the Rob Roy model offers two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and 1,211 square feet. They both have either a covered carport or an attached one-car garage. Some resale homes have updates such as vaulted ceilings, eat-in kitchens, and large walk-in closets in the master suite.
There’s a 15,000-square-foot clubhouse at Colonnades, with a fitness center, sauna, and rooms for games and cards. There’s also a library, a billiards room, and an arts and crafts studio. Residents have access to a pool and patio outside, as well as a heated spa and space for grilling and dining al fresco. There’s a fishing dock, several small lakes, and plenty of paths and walking trails. Eight shuffleboard courts are available, and there’s a putting area where golfers can practice the perfect swing.
