2020 has come and gone, and we’re taking a look at where active adults were most interested in buying Florida real estate over the last 12 months. Using internal 55places data, we identified the 10 best-selling Florida 55+ communities. Home has taken on a new meaning for a lot of people this year, and it’s more important than ever to love where you live.
Here’s where new buyers chose to live in 2020.
1. On Top of the World – Ocala, FL
Below $100k – Low $400s
On Top of the World in Ocala, Florida is always showing up on lists and surveys as one of the most desirable 55+ communities in the state. New construction homes are available as well as resale models. There are single-family homes and attached villas. Residents can enjoy peace and privacy or join one of the dozens of clubs that exist to bring neighbors together.
Amenities at On Top of the World include three golf courses. There are multiple clubhouses and fitness centers throughout the community as well as pools, pickleball courts, shuffleboard, and tennis. Residents can enjoy a show at the Circle Square Cultural Center or book a treatment at the spa. There’s an ice cream shop, a deli, libraries, gardening plots, and a softball field. Homeowners enjoy every opportunity to create the life they want with the resources and amenities available at this best-selling Florida 55+ community.
Request more information about On Top of the World.
2. Latitude Margaritaville – Daytona Beach, FL
Low $200s – Low $500s
Popular with native Floridians as well as active adults across the country who want to move south, Latitude Margaritaville is really in its own league when it comes to offering an active lifestyle. The 55+ community in Daytona Beach was designed with Jimmy Buffett’s tunes and ‘tude in mind. Over 3,000 homes are available to buyers in new construction models or move-in ready resale homes. Attached cottages and single-family homes offer between 1,204 and 2,564 square feet.
Amenities draw buyers to Latitude Margaritaville. There’s a private beach and club that comes with shuttle transportation from the community to the sandy shores of the Atlantic Ocean. The Town Center includes a modern fitness club, an indoor lap pool, and a business center. Indoor and outdoor dining is available, and the Last Mango Theater is a great place to catch live music. Residents enjoy pools, tennis courts, and a golf cart repair workshop.
Request more information about Latitude Margaritaville.
3. Solivita – Kissimmee, FL
Mid $100s – Mid $500s
Solivita in Kissimmee has a lot to recommend it. There are galleries for arts and cultural exhibits, neighborhood centers with pools and sun decks, and several amenity complexes that offer spas, fitness centers, and athletic courts. It’s a best-selling 55+ community for all these reasons, and the two 18-hole golf courses don’t hurt. The Stonegate Golf Club features The Cypress Course and The Oaks Course as well as practice facilities such as an aquatic driving range and a putting green. Membership is optional and also very popular at this semi-private club.
New and resale single-family and attached homes are available at Solivita in more than 20 collections that include nearly 100 floor plans. Buyers looking at homes for sale in Kissimmee can select a model based on logistical space needs or travel plans. Collections include Destination France, Destination Spain, and Tuscany. Kissimmee is in a desirable location in Central Florida close to Orlando.
Request more information about Solivita.
4. Pelican Preserve – Fort Myers, FL
Mid $100s – High $500s
Close to downtown Fort Myers, where the Boston Red Sox and the Minnesota Twins hold spring training just before baseball season, and less than an hour north of Naples is Pelican Preserve. This gated 55+ master-planned community on a golf course is selling quickly because of its resort-like atmosphere, wide array of amenities, and attractive homes. New construction and resale models are available in single-family homes, attached villas, and low-maintenance condos.
The Pelican Preserve Golf Club has 27 holes of championship golf, Spoonbills Restaurant, a day spa, and a pro shop. There’s also a separate fitness center and a dining area with a full bar. Other amenities in this community include the 70,000-square-foot Plaza del Sol clubhouse, an indoor walking track, the Soleil Spa, and courts for shuffleboard, tennis, pickleball, basketball, and volleyball. Staying active is easy. The 38-acre nature preserve features a boardwalk and a butterfly garden.
Request more information about Pelican Preserve.
5. Del Webb Ponte Vedra – Ponte Vedra, FL
Mid $200s – Low $600s
Del Webb communities are always hot sellers, and that’s certainly the case with Del Webb Ponte Vedra. This 55+ community is ideally located between Jacksonville and St. Augustine, giving residents proximity to history, sand dunes, and saltwater. Buyers will find new and resale single-family homes, condo buildings, and carriage homes for sale, all of which feature Mediterranean-inspired architecture and thoughtful upgrades.
The Anastasia Club is where residents gather for classes, social events, and community activities. There’s a fitness center, a movement room, and an indoor lap pool. Homeowners have access to a cafe, a day spa, a sauna, and a ceramics studio. Outside, there’s a huge pool and sundeck as well as tennis courts, pickleball courts, a putting green, and fishing lakes. Nocatee nature preserves surround the community, and a six-mile nature trail is available as well as a community garden and park.
Request more information about Del Webb Ponte Vedra.
6. Kings Point – Sun City Center, FL
Below $100k to Low $300s
For many active adults, Kings Point in Sun City Center just south of Tampa has been the place to be. There’s no wonder this popular and vibrant 55+ community is still selling resale homes. They’re affordable, private, and well-designed, with many upgrades and renovations being completed over the last few years. Buyers can choose an attached villa or a single-family home, and there are dozens of neighborhoods throughout Kings Point to choose from.
Weekly bus trips to the mall and excursions to restaurants, shows, and sporting events make this community a fun place to live. Social calendars are kept pretty busy. Clubs and groups meet regularly and there are often tournaments out on the shuffleboard and pickleball courts. This is a golf-cart friendly community, where cars are required to give right-of-way to the 15 mph carts. Kings Point is popular with full-time residents as well as seasonal snowbirds.
Request more information about Kings Point.
7. Oak Run – Ocala, FL
Below $100k – Mid $200s
Active adult buyers who love the idea of finding a home for sale in Ocala but don’t love the idea of joining a sprawling community like On Top of The World or The Villages may want to consider Oak Run. This 55+ community is still sizable, with 3,509 resale homes available in single-family and attached models, but it provides a more intimate and low-maintenance setting. More than 20 models are available, ranging from 1,049 to 2,275 square feet.
Over 100 clubs are available to residents who are interested in staying social. There are fitness classes, a ceramics club, and a Science Fantasy Society. Amenities include clubhouses and meeting rooms, indoor and outdoor pools, a fitness center, and activities like horseshoes, shuffleboard, and tennis. There’s also golf; Royal Oaks Golf Club offers a championship 18-hole course, a restaurant, and a pro shop.
Request more information about Oak Run.
8. Spruce Creek Country Club – Summerfield, FL
Mid $100s – Mid $400s
Spruce Creek Country Club is a 55+ community in scenic central Florida, close to horse farms, antique shops, and freshwater lakes. Buyers looking for a country club experience will love what’s available here, starting with the Eagle Ridge Golf Club. Four nine-hole courses are available to residents and their guests, and there’s also a putting green and a driving range. For extra practice, lessons are available and free to club members.
Recreation areas and a clubhouse are also available, making it easy for homeowners to stay active and physically fit. A library, a catering kitchen, and a ballroom can be found as well as a fitness center, a massage room, and an indoor lap pool. Outside, there are additional pools, shuffleboard, tennis, and a sand volleyball court. Scenic walking trails and nature preserves are found throughout the community. Homes are available in resale single-family models.
Request more information about Spruce Creek Country Club.
9. Valencia Lakes – Wimauma, FL
Low $200s – Mid $600s
Wimauma is a rural haven close to Tampa and surrounded by tomato and strawberry fields. It’s also home to Valencia Lakes, one of the best-selling and fastest-growing 55+ communities in Florida. Resale homes are available in more than 30 models, ranging from 1,321 square-foot twin villas to single-family homes with 3,273 square feet. Plenty of homes include views of the water surrounding the community.
Amenities at Valencia Lakes include a clubhouse with a modern fitness center and an aerobics studio. There are steam rooms and saunas as well as a restaurant, a grand ballroom, and a card room. More opportunities for exercise and activity exist outside of the clubhouse, where there’s a resort pool and a resistance pool, shaded tennis courts, shuffleboard, pickleball, and bocce. Residents enjoy horseshoe pits and a community garden. The community is right off Interstate 75, providing an easy trip to Tampa and Sarasota.
Request more information about Valencia Lakes.
10. Century Village East – Deerfield Beach, FL
Below $100k – Mid $200s
The most popular and best-selling 55+ community in Broward County is Century Village East in Deerfield Beach. Condo homes are affordable and low-maintenance, providing active adults with stress-free living and amenities that include community transit and a 145,000-square-foot clubhouse. There’s a fitness center, an indoor pool, a sewing studio, a music room, 24 shuffleboard courts, and dozens of additional indoor and outdoor amenities.
Condos are available on a resale basis. They have 650 to 1,100 square feet, with one or two bedrooms and one to two bathrooms. These homes are in well-maintained mid-size buildings with secure entry and elevators. Many have water and golf course views. The beach is just minutes away and there’s also an abundance of shopping, golf, and dining in the area.
