Active adult communities in Florida have been selling as quickly as you’d expect them to. It isn’t hard to convince people to move to a place with warm weather, fine beaches, and abundant golf courses and outdoor recreation, but which communities are really in demand? Many of the top-selling communities are not surprising. On Top of the World, after all, was named Community of the Year.
Homebuyers looking for Florida real estate in 2020 may want to consider the communities that made the top 10 best-selling list for 2019. We’ve listed them here with an invitation to learn more about pricing, homeowners’ association (HOA) fees, and floor plans.
1. On Top of the World – Ocala, FL
Below $100k – Low $400s
With 10,000 new and resale homes divided into two communities and a handful of active neighborhoods, On Top of the World in Ocala is one of the best options for anyone planning a Florida retirement or wishing to relocate to Central Florida.
This community is a hot seller because it offers just about everything buyers are looking for, from reasonable prices to diverse floor plans and models to extensive amenities and social opportunities. Homes are available as single-family residences or attached villas and come in a variety of collections.
The community features recreation and hobby centers where residents enjoy woodworking, fitness classes, basketball groups, and more. There are three golf courses as well as tennis, racquetball, pickleball, and shuffleboard courts. Residents enjoy over 100 social groups and gather at outdoor pools and the town square. It’s also well-located off Interstate 75 and an easy drive to nearby cities like Orlando, Leesburg, and Tampa.
Learn more information about On Top of the World here.
2. Latitude Margaritaville – Daytona Beach, FL
Mid $200s – Low $500s
Latitude Margaritaville is selling quickly and robustly in Daytona Beach for a lot of reasons. First, there’s its reputation. It’s known for its parties, instant sense of community, and of course its namesake, Jimmy Buffet, who happens to be a homeowner.
The attractive new and resale homes are a major draw, with three collections of single-family and attached homes that range from two to three bedrooms and 1,503 to 2,564 square feet with an open, breezy ambiance. Conch cottages are also available now in four low-maintenance, two-bedroom models with 1,204 to 1,466 square feet. While all the amenities are great, the most popular is surely the secluded beach club that includes a private shuttle from the 55+ community.
Learn more information about Latitude Margaritaville here.
3. Solivita – Kissimmee, FL
Mid $100s – Low $400s
The secure and fun-filled lifestyle at Solivita is drawing buyers to this 55+ community in Kissimmee, just outside of Orlando. The community’s abundance of resort-style amenities is unrivaled, including its two golf courses and a variety of outdoor pools. There’s a fitness center as well as amenities such as on-site restaurants, computer labs, and pickleball courts. There are also specific neighborhood centers throughout the 4,300-acre community, allowing residents to get together for classes, club meetings, and social activities.
Homes are available in both new and resale models. There are more than 50 single-family and attached villa floor plans, and residents can choose homes ranging from below 1,000 to over 3,000 square feet with one to four bedrooms and one-and-a-half- to three-car garages.
Learn more information bout Solivita here.
4. Pelican Preserve – Fort Myers, FL
Mid $100s – High $500s
Active adult buyers interested in Fort Myers homes for sale are flocking to Pelican Preserve, a 55+ community close to the Gulf of Mexico that is focused on environmental sustainability. The gated community includes a 38-acre nature preserve and butterfly garden, a golf course, and eclectic amenities like a juice bar and a fishing pier. Residents have access to a spa, on-site restaurants, and an indoor walking track and lap pool as well as active clubs and social groups.
The community will have 2,500 homes upon completion. Homebuyers can select a new or resale single-family home, or they can choose to downsize to a condo or attached home. There’s a wide variety of floor plans, models, sizes, and price ranges in several collections.
Learn more information about Pelican Preserve here.
5. Del Webb Ponte Vedra – Ponte Vedra, FL
Mid $200s – Low $600s
The northeastern coast of Florida is gaining more and more attention as a potential Florida retirement destination. This is evidenced by the strong sales at Del Webb Ponte Vedra, a 55+ community minutes from the Atlantic Ocean and close to Jacksonville and St. Augustine.
The 1,988 new and resale homes available here are part of the master-planned Nocatee community, and residents have everything they need to feel like they’ve found paradise. There’s a 37,000-square-foot clubhouse with a large fitness center, indoor pool, and a learning lounge. Outdoor amenities include a resort-style pool, putting green, and picnic area as well as bocce ball, pickleball, and tennis courts. Naturalists enjoy the 6-mile nature trail, preserves, fishing lakes, and the community garden.
The available real estate ranges from low-maintenance condos and attached carriage homes to single-family homes in a wide array of collections and floor plans.
Learn more about Del Webb Ponte Vedra here.
6. Kings Point – Sun City Center, FL
Below $100k – Low $300s
Active adults love Kings Point in Sun City Center because there is always something to do. Not only are there plenty of amenities to keep residents busy at home, but there are also constant trips, events, and parties planned around the Tampa Bay area. Groups have traveled by bus to holiday concerts in Clearwater, restaurants in St. Petersburg, and baseball games at Tropicana Field. More than 100 clubs provide opportunities for dinners, dances, and classes.
Resale attached homes are affordable and comfortable, ranging from 800 to 2,000 square feet. Duplexes, paired villas, and single-family estate homes are also available, and the entire community is golf-cart friendly.
Learn more information about Kings Point here.
7. Oak Run – Ocala, FL
Below $100k – Mid $300s
Another Ocala treasure that buyers are noticing is the 55+ community Oak Run. With five community clubhouses, an 18-hole championship golf course, an indoor pool and sundeck, and fitness centers as well as courts for volleyball, pickleball, tennis, and bocce ball, Oak Run offers residents the active and relaxed lifestyle they’re seeking.
Duplex homes are available in four models ranging from 1,049 to 1,489 square feet with two or three bedrooms. Single-family homes are available in 20 models with two or three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and attached one- or two-car garages. They range from 1,112 to 2,275 square feet.
Learn more information about Oak Run here.
8. Spruce Creek Country Club – Summerfield, FL
Mid $100s – Mid $400s
Sales are strong at Spruce Creek Country Club, a 55+ Del Webb community surrounded by sloping green hillsides, antique shops, and horse farms in Summerfield. For active adults who love recreation and the outdoors, it’s hard to find a better-suited place to live.
The community has a 32,000-square-foot Horizon Center clubhouse as well as two recreation centers. The Eagle Ridge Golf Club includes four 9-hole courses, a putting green, and a driving range. There are also nature trails and horseshoe pits as well as sand volleyball, pickleball, and tennis courts. A massage room, indoor lap pool, and resort-style outdoor pool help residents enjoy a relaxed lifestyle.
Resale single-family homes come in eight collections and have two to three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and attached two- to three-car garages. Many models have additional den space and an extra half-bath.
Learn more information about Spruce Creek Country Club here.
9. Century Village East – Deerfield Beach, FL
Below $100k – High $100s
Retirees can find affordable Broward County homes for sale at Century Village East, a 55+ condo community minutes from the Atlantic Ocean. More than 8,500 condo units are spread throughout two- to four-story buildings with elevators and security. Condos range from 650 and 1,100 square feet with one or two bedrooms, and they provide low-maintenance living in an ideal location close to Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, and Miami.
Residents enjoy abundant amenities and social events at the 145,000-square-foot clubhouse. The community has more than 15 pools, a volleyball court, a fitness center, and an arts and crafts studio for ceramics, cards, and photography. There’s also community transit available, making it easy to access all that Century Village East has to offer.
Learn more information about Century Village East here.
10. Valencia Lakes – Wimauma, FL
Low $200s – Mid $600s
Less than a half-hour from downtown Tampa, Valencia Lakes in Wimauma rounds out the top 10 best-selling communities in Florida in 2019. It’s a resort-style community focused on luxury and high-end new and resale homes. Attached villas and single-family homes are available in spacious, updated models with open floor plans and brilliant views of the water surrounding the community.
Special amenities include a resistance pool, community garden, and steam rooms. There’s parking for boats and R.V.s, and the clubhouse includes a fitness center, restaurant, and an internet cafe. There is also a large collection of social groups and clubs, including quilting classes, dance lessons, and wine tastings.
