Living in Central Florida is a great way to enjoy year-round sunshine and mild winters without the crowds of tourists and seasonal dwellers that are often found on the coasts. Another benefit of living inland is that the area is surrounded by freshwater lakes and rivers, perfect for fishing, boating, canoeing, kayaking, hiking, and wildlife watching.
Living on the water in this region is often affordable too. Active adult homebuyers looking for Central Florida homes for sale with water access have some excellent options.
Arbor Lakes – Hernando, FL
Low $200s – Low $300s
Buyers seeking waterfront homes for sale in Central Florida may want to consider Arbor Lakes in Hernando. This gated 55+ community is on Tsala Apopka Lake, which is part of a chain of 15 lakes in the basin of the Withlacoochee River. The community’s waterfront location provides opportunities for fishing, boating, and birding. A boardwalk leads to the fishing pier and the boat ramp, and there’s also space available for boat and RV parking.
Additional amenities at Arbor Lakes include a clubhouse with a full kitchen and meeting rooms, an exercise room, and a billiards area. There’s also a pool and patio as well as shuffleboard courts and a tennis court. Residents get together for club activities, holiday parties, and social events throughout the year.
Homes are available in a number of single-family models and floor plans. Ranging from 1,138 to 3,104 square feet, these homes offer two to three bedrooms, one to three bathrooms, and an attached two-car garage. Several undeveloped homesites are available for buyers who wish to design their own home from the ground up. Current homes for sale start in the high $200s.
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Tomoka Heights – Lake Placid, FL
High $100s – Mid $300s
Lake Placid is routinely described as one of the prettiest places in Central Florida, and it’s also where buyers can find waterfront homes for sale. Tomoka Heights is a gated 55+ community with access to Lake Henry.
Attached home models in this community offer 1,000 to 2,400 square feet with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and an attached two-car garage. Many of the homes have been renovated and upgraded, and some have Florida rooms. Single-family home models offer 1,700 to 3,000 square feet with two or three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and an attached two-car garage. Buyers will find open living rooms, formal dining rooms, gourmet kitchens, hardwood floors, and spacious master suites.
A clubhouse with a library, a multipurpose room, and a computer room is available to residents. Club meetings and activities such as potlucks and Saturday morning breakfasts are frequently held. Residents can participate in the book club, do some crafts together, or take an exercise class.
There’s a fishing dock and a boat ramp on Lake Henry as well as smaller ponds throughout the community. Plenty of walking trails, parks, and other scenic spaces are available to residents. Other amenities include a pool and patio with a spa, tennis courts, bocce ball courts, shuffleboard courts, and a pavilion for events and gatherings. RV parking is available as well.
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Royal Harbor – Tavares, FL
Mid $200s – High $800s
Little Lake Harris isn’t as small as it sounds, and it’s part of a larger chain of lakes in Florida’s lush Lake County. Royal Harbor in Tavares is a gated 55+ community on the shores of Little Lake Harris, and it provides residents with a lot of waterfront activities and recreation. There’s a lighthouse on the water, a boat dock, and a fishing pier as well as a pavilion for picnics. Parking and storage for boats and RVs is also available.
Royal Harbor has a clubhouse with a fitness center, locker rooms, and a multipurpose room. There’s also an arts and crafts studio, a library, a catering kitchen, and space for billiards, cards, and computers. Outside, there’s a pool and spa, tennis courts, bocce ball courts, and pits for horseshoes.
Buyers have more than 50 models to choose from when looking for single-family homes. Properties in this community are available in two- to four-bedroom floor plans with two to three bathrooms and an attached two- or three-car garage. Most homes have an extra room that can be used for a den or office. Sizes start at 1,013 square feet and extend beyond 2,755 square feet. Current homes for sale range from the low to mid $300s.
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WaterSong at RiverTown – St Johns, FL
Mid $300s – Low $600s
Though not technically located on a lake, WaterSong at RiverTown sits on the banks of the St. Johns River, offering plenty of opportunities for outdoor recreation and water sports. The community offers outdoor adventurers a kayak launch, a fishing pier, and miles of nature trails with views of the river.
Construction began in 2019, and Mattamy Homes plans to build over 800 homes in this community. There are a variety of customizable floor plans to choose from, allowing interested homebuyers to create a home to fit their preferences and needs. Single-family homes range from 1,563 to 2,554 square feet with two to four bedrooms, two to three bathrooms, and a two- to two-and-a-half-car garage. The two villa options offer 1,431 or 1,515 square feet, two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a two-car garage. Current homes for sale range from the mid $300s to the low $600s.
The resort-style amenities within WaterSong at RiverTown include a waterfront cafe, a game room, and a fitness center with a yoga studio. Outdoors, residents can enjoy a zero-entry Oasis Pool, an Olympic-size lap pool, and a boardwalk. Mattamy Homes plans to construct an exclusive clubhouse for WaterSong at RiverTown residents, and homeowners will also have access to all of the amenities within the master-planned RiverTown community.
