A Florida retirement can mean a lot of things: year-round golf; endless coastline for boating, swimming, and fishing; a farewell to snow; and low-maintenance living that gives active adults time to enjoy it all. It can also mean leaving the car behind when it’s time to head into town.
None of Florida’s cities have the same quality of public transportation as cities like New York, Washington, D.C., Boston, or Chicago. However, many of the 55+ communities across the Sunshine State offer community transit to their residents. It makes a big difference if you want to be environmentally-friendly, if you bristle at the idea of sitting in traffic, or if you just don’t want to maintain and gas-up a car on a regular basis.
Check out these transportation-friendly communities throughout the Sunshine State.
Seven Lakes – Fort Myers, FL
Below $100k – High $100s
Free golf, six heated pools, and a list of available classes at Seven Lakes University are just some of the great reasons to consider buying a condo or an attached villa at Seven Lakes in Fort Myers. This 55+ community also provides community transit. All of these great amenities—combined with budget-friendly home prices—make this a desirable active adult neighborhood on the southwest Gulf Coast of Florida. The 18-hole golf course and 1,096 properties are spread throughout 180 acres.
A full-time recreation director plans events, activities, and manages the transit schedule. Residents can easily get to Bell Tower Shops, local grocery stores and pharmacies, and even the beach. Resale homes are 1,175 to 1,600 square feet with one to three bedrooms and one or two bathrooms. Condo buildings have three to five floors with elevators, and villas include an attached one-car garage.
Learn more information about Seven Lakes here.
Century Village at Boca Raton – Boca Raton, FL
Below $100k – High $200s
Living in a large condo community has its benefits, and Century Village at Boca Raton embraces a communal, low-maintenance lifestyle in a 55+ neighborhood. Community transit is just one of the advantages to living here, and active adults looking for a lively selection of Boca Raton homes for sale don’t need to look much further. Century Village has a great location, a long list of amenities, and a willingness to help residents have the best experience possible.
The clubhouse spans 125,000 square feet and includes a fitness center and an indoor pool. There’s also a game room, a party room, a theater, space for cards and computers, a library, 13 pools, a putting green, tennis and shuffleboard courts, and studios for ceramics, arts, and crafts. Residents can also take advantage of community transit which runs to shopping and medical centers.
Condos are available in nine models with one or two bedrooms, one or two bathrooms, and between 601 and 1,563 square feet.
Learn more about Century Village Boca Raton here.
Kings Point in Tamarac – Tamarac, FL
Below $100k – Mid $300s
Southeast Florida has particularly busy roads, and parking isn’t always easy to find, so community transit is an especially valuable resource in areas like Fort Lauderdale, Coral Springs, and Tamarac. Active adult buyers looking for Broward County real estate with transportation included should consider Kings Point in Tamarac, a 55+ community that’s close to beaches, shopping, and the Everglades Wildlife Management Area.
Buyers will have condos, attached villas, and coach homes to choose from. Resale homes with one to four bedrooms and one to two-and-a-half bathrooms are available, and some of the homes come with loft space. Amenities include pools, tennis courts, shuffleboard courts, a fitness center, a cafe, and a media room. Also, residents can enjoy clubs like wood carving, stretching, and harmonica playing. There’s also a snowbirds club for the community’s part-time residents.
Learn more information about Kings Point in Tamarac here.
Lauderdale West – Plantation, FL
Mid $100s – High $200s
Community transit is just one of the amenities provided to residents at Lauderdale West in Plantation. It’s easy to get to Westfield-Broward Mall or The Fountains, where there’s a variety of excellent restaurants. Residents can also take the shuttle to the grocery store, and the community is not far from the beach or the airport. Lauderdale West is smaller and more intimate than many 55+ communities in Broward County, with 1,000 attached and single-family homes available to buyers.
Two clubhouses provide residents with everything they need. The main clubhouse includes a fitness center and sauna as well as a ballroom, a billiards room, a multi-purpose room, and a library. There’s also a woodworking shop as well as shuffleboard and bocce ball courts. At the secondary clubhouse, residents can find pickleball and an additional pool and patio. Seasonal parties, group fitness classes, and card games are always taking place.
Learn more information about Lauderdale West here.
On Top of the World Clearwater – Clearwater, FL
Below $100k – Low $200s
There’s a lot to do in Clearwater, and the community transit available at On Top of the World Clearwater allows residents to enjoy shopping, beach-going, and sunset festivals from the Clearwater Beach pier. This 55+ community is one of the largest in the Tampa Bay area, providing nearly 5,000 resale condo homes to buyers who want a low-maintenance lifestyle in an amenity-rich environment.
Recreation centers include fitness centers, indoor spas, pools, woodworking, lawn bowling, and a couple of golf courses. There’s also the Good Karma Cafe, which serves great coffee, and there’s plenty of space for residents to complete art projects, try ceramics, or work on their tennis game.
There are 96 condo buildings on the property, with condos offering 850 to 1,750 square feet. Most homes have one or two bedrooms and one or two bathrooms. Many of the recently upgraded properties include hurricane shutters and ceramic floors. There’s a lot to do in and around the community, including golf and music clubs. Outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy the fishing pier and lake, which is great for kayaking and canoeing.
Learn more information about On Top of the World Clearwater here.
