Florida is one of the most popular states for retirees, known for sun-filled days, beaches, and abundant housing options for active adults. Yet, for many, the sun and sand-filled communities along Florida’s coastline may seem out of reach. If the Sunshine State is your dream retirement destination, but you fear it’s beyond your budget, you may be surprised to learn about Florida’s many affordable retirement communities.
Our guide provides insight into affordable 55+ communities with various housing options and a range of amenities. When considering your options, determine which elements are most important to your retirement lifestyle and how you can align your budget with your wishlist.
Bayshore on The Lake Condominiums – Bradenton, FL
Below $100k – High $100ks
Located in a desirable Southwest Florida community, Bayshore on the Lake Condominiums is only minutes away from Bradenton, Sarasota, and the Gulf of Mexico. The well-established community offers 1,010 condominium homes ranging from 738 to 1,326 square feet. Residents can choose from condos with one or two bedrooms and one or two bathrooms. Homes feature open-concept floor plans, spacious living areas, kitchens with updated appliances, primary bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms, and walk-in closets. Many homes feature balconies overlooking the community lake.
Since exterior home maintenance is taken care of by the homeowners’ association (HOA), homeowners have time to enjoy leisure time at the lake and a range of amenities within the community. Residents have access to a clubhouse with a library and multipurpose gathering spaces that host social events and activities. Outdoors, residents can enjoy a choice of two resort-style pools with spacious patios and a spa, shuffleboard courts, picnic and barbeque areas, and a lake with a fishing pier.
The community’s location is only three miles from Downtown Bradenton. So, residents are within easy reach of necessities and entertainment. From the shops bars and restaurants along Cortez Road West to popular attractions including Sarasota Jungle Gardens, art museums, and Tropicana Field, there are endless ways to find entertainment close to home. Active adults can also explore multiple greenspaces and parks in the local area. Golf courses and beaches nearby offer additional opportunities to enjoy the amazing weather in the Sunshine State.
Charlotte Square Condominiums – Port Charlotte, FL
Below $100k – Mid $100ks
Located in the community of Port Charlotte, Charlotte Square Condominiums is situated between Fort Myers and Sarasota, and is home to 272 condominiums. Condos range from 644 to 1,169 square feet with one to two bedrooms and one to two-and-a-half bathrooms. Homes feature tile flooring, ceiling fans, recessed lighting, and hurricane-resistant windows. Many kitchens have been remodeled with updated cabinetry, granite countertops, and a breakfast bar. Homeowners enjoy a low-maintenance lifestyle, as all common tasks and exterior grounds maintenance are performed by the HOA.
Outdoors, active adults participate in a range of activities. These include swimming at the community pool, al fresco dining at barbeque area, or playing tennis, pickleball, or shuffleboard. There are also multiple green spaces, parks, and golf courses in the area for additional outdoor recreation. Entertainment is easy to find in the form of restaurants, bars, and retailers along Cochran Boulevard and at Port Charlotte Town Center. Residents will also find a variety of cultural attractions, including museums and the Charlotte County Historical Center.
Monterey Yacht & Country Club – Stuart, FL
Below $100k – High $100ks
A gated 55+ community in Stuart, Monterey Yacht & Country Club offers 510 low-maintenance condominiums, ranging from 699 to 995 square feet. Condos have one or two bedrooms and one or two bathrooms, and owners are provided with assigned parking. Homes feature open-concept floor plans, spacious living areas, and eat-in kitchens with upgraded appliances. Master bedrooms include en-suite bathrooms and screened-in porches or patios. Many homes include sunrooms, guest suites, and scenic golf course or water views.
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The HOA takes care of exterior home maintenance and common area maintenance. As a result, homeowners have time to take advantage of a wide selection of resort-style community amenities. Residents can enjoy activities at the clubhouse, woodworking shop, ballroom, and multipurpose meeting rooms. Outdoors, active adults can spend time at the pool, golf course, shuffleboard courts, or bocce ball courts. The scenic grounds are also home to walking paths that wind around scenic lakes and ponds, two fishing piers, and a kayak launch along the St. Lucie River.
The community’s prime location along the St. Lucie River and Treasure Coast allows residents to visit Port St. Lucie for additional entertainment and attractions. From restaurants and shops to museums and botanical gardens, and the Loggerhead Marinelife Center, entertainment is always easy to find. Active adults can also choose from multiple parks, greenspaces, golf courses, and beaches for the adventure of their choosing.
Vendome Village – Pinellas Park, FL
Below $100k – High $100ks
Located in Pinellas Park, Vendome Village is a close-knit 55+ community with 304 attached homes and a variety of amenities. Affordable homes range from 902 to 1,118 square feet. They have one or two bedrooms, one and a half or two bathrooms, and an attached one-car garage. Indoors, residents enjoy ample open living space, and master bedrooms with an en-suite bathroom and walk-in closet. Many homes also have office space and an outdoor patio.
Exterior and common area maintenance are taken care of by the HOA. This allows Vendome Village residents to spend more time enjoying community amenities and nearby attractions. Within the community, residents have access to a clubhouse with a multipurpose room and catering kitchen. Outdoors, homeowners can enjoy the pool and patio as well as the bocce ball and shuffleboard courts. The desirable location in Pinellas Park means the beach and local shops are only 10 minutes away. Additionally, a quick trip down Highway 19 offers restaurants, bars, and shops.
Regal Palms Condominium – Palm Springs, FL
Below $100k – Mid $100ks
Conveniently located in Palm Springs, Regal Palms Condominium offers residents a low-maintenance lifestyle in 307 condominiums situated in six three-story buildings. Homes range in size from 660 to 912 square feet with one or two bedrooms and one or two bathrooms. Many of the condos feature tile flooring, a walk-in closet, stainless steel appliances, and hurricane shutters. Some include an open-concept kitchen and a balcony.
Residents have access to a range of indoor and outdoor amenities. These include a community clubhouse where residents can host social events and gatherings and an outdoor pool and patio. Active adults can enjoy walking paths throughout the community and shuffleboard courts. Additional entertainment is easy to find nearby. From restaurants and shops down South Military Trail to museums and gardens in Palm Springs, retirees will find no shortage of activities to enjoy. Nearby parks, greenspaces, and golf courses offer many opportunities to pursue an active lifestyle.
Gulfstream Garden – Hallandale Beach, FL
Low $100ks – High $200ks
Located in Hallandale Beach, Gulfstream Garden is an established 55+ community with 363 condominiums. Condos range in size from 735 to 1,700 square feet and have one to three bedrooms and one or two bathrooms. Homes feature open-concept floor plans with spacious living areas, updated kitchens with granite countertops, and master bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms. Some homes also include eat-in kitchens, dens, and rooftop patios.
Gulfstream Garden provides residents with a maintenance-free lifestyle, allowing residents to spend more time enjoying the resort-style amenities in the community. Amenities include a spacious clubhouse with a fitness room and multipurpose room used for social events and activities. Outdoors, residents have access to a resort-style pool and patio, a barbeque area, and bocce ball courts.
The convenient location in Hallandale Beach means residents are only about 20 miles north of Miami and within easy reach of daily conveniences and entertainment options. Residents can find multiple dining options along US Route 1 and an array of attractions, including museums, gardens, and the Hollywood Central Performing Arts Center in the area.
Lauderdale Oaks – Lauderdale Lakes, FL
Below $100k – Mid $200ks
Just off the Florida Turnpike in Lauderdale Lakes, Lauderdale Oaks is a 55+ community with 716 condos and a wide array of amenities. Homes range from 610 to 1,021 square feet, with one or two bedrooms and one or two bathrooms. Many condos are upgraded with ceramic tile, granite counters, and modern backsplashes. Many have balconies or patio space and views of the canal.
The Lauderdale Oaks lifestyle is maintenance-free, allowing residents to focus on enjoying resort-style amenities including a community clubhouse with two exercise rooms, two saunas, a private meeting room, a billiards room, and a ballroom. Outdoors, homeowners have access to a heated pool, patio area, spa, and shuffleboard, tennis, and petanque courts. The HOA also hosts a variety of activities, including line dancing, bingo, bowling, yoga, kickboxing, dinner, dances, and shows.
The desirable location in Lauderdale Lakes offers access to dining and entertainment options including stores, shopping malls, an antique car museum, and even a drive-in attached to a flea market. Retirees can pursue an active lifestyle, exploring multiple green places and parks or playing golf at a choice of several popular courses.
Highlands Ridge – Avon Park, FL
Below $100k – Mid $400ks
An active adult neighborhood with resort-style amenities, Highlands Ridge offers attached villas and single-family homes in eleven unique villages. Villas range from 1,467 to 1,750 square feet of living space with two or three bedrooms, a den, two bathrooms, and an attached car garage. Single-family homes range from 1,742 to 2,243 square feet with two or three bedrooms, two or three bathrooms, and an attached two or two-and-a-half-car garage. Homes feature various floor plans, with many including walk-in closets, vaulted ceilings, balconies, and updated kitchens with granite countertops and stainless steel appliances.
The gated community offers world-class amenities indoors and out. Social activities are centered around the Founders Hall, which features a media center, multipurpose room, and wellness center. Outdoor amenities include two heated pools and whirlpool spas, table tennis, horseshoes, and sports courts for tennis, shuffleboard, bocce ball, and pickleball. Residents also have access to a gazebo, boat launch ramp and dock, and RV and boat storage. The grounds also offer two golf courses, walking and biking trails, and a scenic 260-acre lake, stocked with fish. Many HOA-sponsored events frequently take place at the community’s two clubhouses.
Highlands Ridge is located in Avon Park and only minutes from Sebring, FL’s vibrant downtown with various shopping and dining establishments, cultural attractions, annual events, and festivals. Some of Florida’s most popular cities, including Tampa, Fort Myers, and Orlando, are only a few hours away.
Seven Lakes – Fort Myers, FL
Mid $100ks – Mid $300ks
A gated community in Fort Myers, Seven Lakes contains 1,096 homes situated on 180 acres of scenic landscape. Residents can choose from condos and villas with various floor plans and outstanding features. Condos range from 700 to 1,600 square feet, with one or two bedrooms and one to two bathrooms. Villas range from 1,175 to 1,600 square feet with at least two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and an attached one-car garage.
The Seven Lakes lifestyle is all about relaxation and enjoyment, with a full-time recreation director who plans events and classes and a full range of resort-style amenities. Residents can enjoy a relaxing afternoon by the clubhouse pool and grill, or play horseshoes, tennis, golf, and pickleball. Instructor-led classes, including Zumba and Pilates, are also available. The community is also home to an 18-hole executive golf course and a clubhouse, ideal for sponsoring community events.
The convenient location in Fort Myers puts homeowners near everything from shopping and dining to movie theaters and sports events. The area is also surrounded by attractive greenspaces, parks, and golf courses.
Star Lake Estates – Miami, FL
Below $100k – High $100ks
Located in Miami, Star Lakes Estates is a 55+ community featuring 503 condo homes that range from 407 to 1,360 square feet. Homes have one or two bedrooms and one or two bathrooms. Studio units are also available. Homes feature spacious living rooms, tile flooring, large bedroom closets, and scenic lake views. Many amenities are available, including a clubhouse, shuffleboard courts, and an outdoor pool.
Conveniently located in Miami, Star Lake Estates offers residents easy access to many popular attractions and beaches. Residents can find eateries, coffee houses, art galleries, and unique shops. Cultural attractions are also plentiful, including the Philip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science and Vizcaya Museum & Gardens. Active adults can enjoy the outdoors at various trails, parks, and golf courses in the area, and a 25-minute trip to Downtown Miami provides easy access to everything the city has to offer.
55places Can Help You Find the Perfect Florida Home!
It’s possible to find affordable retirement communities in Florida when you know where to look. Our list highlights some of the most attractive and affordable options for retirees. When seeking your ideal retirement destination, it’s essential to consider other cost of living factors and HOA fees along with the cost of your home.
Want to learn more about affordable retirement destinations? Contact 55places to find your perfect community in Florida.
