Buyers hoping to downsize have a lot of options in the Jacksonville real estate market, but giving up space doesn’t have to mean giving up amenities and location. If you’re hoping to trade in a large home for something with less maintenance and fewer headaches, the Jacksonville area is perfect for maintaining an active lifestyle under sunny skies.
Check out these 55+ communities that are great for anyone hoping to embrace a simple but social lifestyle.
Del Webb Ponte Vedra – Ponte Vedra, FL
High $300s – Mid $800s
Downsizing into a condo comes with many benefits, and resale properties at Del Webb Ponte Vedra include comfortable, well-designed, and attractive condo homes. Three models range from 1,810 to 2,129 square feet with two or three bedrooms and two bathrooms.
Carriage homes are also delightfully low maintenance, with properties in clusters of six. These come in eight floor plans with 1,438 to 1,868 square feet, two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and an attached one-car garage. Single-family homes are also available as resale or new construction properties.
Amenities at this 55+ community begin at The Anastasia Club, where there are 37,800 square feet of space for learning, sewing, and playing games. There’s also a fitness center, a day spa, a steam room, a cafe, and a computer center as well as a catering kitchen and a library. Outside, there’s a pool, fishing lakes, a putting green, pickleball courts, and more than six miles of nature trails and preserves.
Sweetwater – Jacksonville, FL
High $200s – Low $400s
Sweetwater is affordable and located just a few miles from both Downtown Jacksonville as well as some of the most appealing beaches on Florida’s northeast coast. This 55+ community attracts buyers seeking to downsize without giving up space and security.
The gated neighborhood houses 950 single-family homes, attached villas, and condos. Resale homes are between 1,368 and 2,618 square feet with two to four bedrooms and two bathrooms. Many of the models and floor plans include dens or office space, and some have an extra half bathroom. Single-family homes and villas include an attached two-car garage.
Many clubs meet on a regular basis, including a book club, a dance club, a knitting group, and a singles club. The full-time activities director on staff helps residents plan special events and social activities, including day trips and dinner dances. Amenities include an indoor lap pool, a resort-style pool, a patio, a fitness center, a movement studio, a ceramics studio, and a billiards center. Tennis is also available as well as a putting green and two bocce ball courts.
Parkland Preserve – St. Augustine, FL
Low $400s
Buyers looking for new construction homes for sale in the Jacksonville area may want to consider Parkland Preserve in St. Augustine. This 55+ community will be intimate, with only 472 condos and single-family homes.
All new homes are designed with low-maintenance living in mind. Single-family homes have 1,585 to 2,033 square feet with two or three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and attached two-car garages. There are five models to choose from, most of them including a den and outdoor space.
Amenities will include a state-of-the-art fitness center and a demonstration kitchen for cooking classes and special events. Plenty of meeting and multipurpose rooms will be included in the amenity center, and residents can enjoy a pool, a patio, tennis courts, and pickleball courts. The community will also include several trails and paths for walking and biking. St. Augustine is a historic city with enchanting beaches, excellent shopping, and plenty of Spanish and Native American cultural sites to explore.
WaterSong at RiverTown – St. Johns, FL
Low $400s – Low $600s
Construction continues at WaterSong at RiverTown, one of the most exciting 55+ communities to arrive in the Jacksonville area. The price point is great for buyers who want to downsize on a budget, and WaterSong is part of the RiverTown master-planned community, which means residents will have access to all the available amenities. These include the fitness center, yoga studio, and swimming pools at the RiverHouse Amenity Complex as well as the fishing pier, kayak launch, and boardwalk at the RiverClub.
Living on the St. Johns River in a single-family or attached new construction home is not a bad way to begin a Florida retirement. Two models are currently available as attached villas with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a den, and an attached two-car garage.
The River floor plan has 1,431 square feet, and the Ocean has 1,515 square feet. Both are appropriate for downsizing, and six single-family home models are also available for buyers who may want an extra bedroom or more square footage.
Del Webb eTown – Jacksonville, FL
Mid $400s – High $500s
Del Webb eTown is a 55+ community that makes life simple and streamlined. The new construction single-family homes are all wired to sync your smart devices and improve your connectivity and mobility. Imagine setting your thermostat from your cell phone or turning on your outside lights with a spoken command. Buyers will have the technology to program nearly all of their home functions, leaving them with more time and mental space to enjoy living in one of Florida’s fastest-growing cities.
New construction single-family homes are available in 14 models, ranging from 1,343 to 3,361 square feet. Smaller floor plans have two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and attached two-car garages. In addition to the smart technology benefits, these properties also offer natural gas, sustainable materials, and customizable features. Open floor plans, covered lanais, and extra storage are all available.
Amenities in the master-planned eTown community will include a large clubhouse, a fitness center, a pool, and pickleball courts. Tennis courts and a fire pit are also available to residents.
