Where to Find Villas in Florida

View of a wooden pathway over a lake leading to the picnic island in Lighthouse Bay, Bonita Springs, Florida — Here’s why villas are growing in popularity, especially within 55+ communities in Florida.

Looking at homes for sale in Florida? Perhaps it’s a single-family home you want with space and privacy or a low-maintenance condo that offers an opportunity to downsize.

If you’re having trouble deciding between those options, there is another way.

An attached villa provides the best of both worlds. You still have the feel of a single-family home, including spacious floor plans and outdoor space. On the other hand, you also get the low-maintenance lifestyle you want, with a strong sense of community and landscaping help from your homeowners' association.

Here’s why villas are growing in popularity, especially within 55+ communities in Florida.

Why Buy a Villa in Florida?

While buyers can find detached villas available in some active adult communities, these are typically attached homes, and they often come in pairs, meaning two homes share one common wall. Sometimes, villas are in clusters of four or even six. Most of these homes have single-story floor plans, but it’s possible to encounter a two-story villa that closely resembles a townhouse.

Many people think of sprawling European estates with fountains, vineyards, and horse stables when they hear the word villa. It’s not all that. Instead, it’s an opportunity for homeowners to enjoy a space of their own without spending all of their free time maintaining a large plot of land and complicated landscaping.

There are several benefits to this type of home. In Florida especially, villas are often larger than condos and more affordable than single-family homes. They commonly have an attached one- or two-car garage, which eliminates the pain of leaving cars outside in the hot Florida sun.

A lot of villas have private outdoor patios or screened lanais. There may be some yard space in the front or back of the house as well. Amenities are almost always available in the communities that offer villas. Look forward to indoor and outdoor pools, clubhouses, fitness centers, pickleball, walking trails, and even golf courses.

Villas make sense for a lot of buyers who want the space for entertaining guests without the requirements of a much bigger home. In Florida, they have an excellent resale value and there are new construction options as well as move-in ready homes to be found in communities across the state.

Where to Buy a Villa in Florida

While there are common features to almost all villa homes, each villa is going to have its own unique characteristics, and a lot of what buyers find will depend on the community where it’s located. Many of the Florida neighborhoods with attached villa homes are found along the Gulf coast, in cities like Fort Myers, Naples, Bonita Springs, and Sarasota. There are plenty of villas on the other side of the state as well, in Palm Beach County and along the Treasure Coast. Buyers who prefer central Florida can check out some communities in Leesburg, St. Cloud, and Tavares.

Here are some of the best active lifestyle communities for anyone looking to buy a Florida villa.