Thinking of Moving to Lakewood Ranch?
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Thinking of Moving to Lakewood Ranch?
Discover what living in America's 2nd best selling master-planned community is like.
If you’re considering moving to Lakewood Ranch, and in the process of researching the area and what it offers local residents, you’re in the right place. This page has been organized to help you become more familiar with the Lakewood Ranch community and to give you a good idea of what the area offers year-round residents in terms of lifestyle, amenities, employment and healthcare. We also encourage you to reach out to Laura Reynolds, our Lakewood Ranch relocation expert as she is glad to answer any specific questions you may have about the area, including the Lakewood Ranch real estate market, housing and living costs.
About Lakewood Ranch, FL
Originally known as Schroeder-Manatee Ranch, the current day Lakewood Ranch community began its transition into a master-planned residential development back in 1994. Today, the Lakewood Ranch community is home to 58,523 residents at an average age of 49 (2022 data) and features top-rated schools, top golf and country clubs, thriving community centers, sports facilities, a polo club and now ranks as a top Florida retirement destination in the country.
Lakewood Ranch, FL Awards & Accolades
Lakewood Ranch commonly receives awards and accolades as a top-rated master planned community, its high-quality of life and area schools. See recent mentions below.
- 2024
- 2023
- 2022
Top Reasons to Relocate to Lakewood Ranch
- Lakewood Ranch is the #2 Best Selling Community in the US for 2023 (full-year)
Based upon full-year homes sales for 2023, Lakewood Ranch officially ranked as the 2nd best-selling master-planned community in the entire US by RCL & Co, a well-respected and independent real estate consulting firm. View The Community Rankings List. Located just east of I-75 at the University Parkway exit, the 58-square mile community of Lakewood Ranch offers residents a high-quality of life with three town centers, endless shopping and dining options with the new University Town Center Mall (UTC), top-rated schools, 150 miles of recreation trails, area parks and more.
- Florida Has No State Income Tax
The lack of a state income tax is one big benefit of living in Florida. This means that you keep more of your hard-earned dollars. In place of a state tax, the state of Florida earns dollars from the millions of tourists that visit our state each year through a 7% sales tax (state level) and a 5% tourist tax (county level) on revenues from rental properties and hotel stays that are for a term of 6 month or less. Once you become a Florida resident, you will be thankful for the tourists as they pay your share of the state taxes.
- Lakewood Ranch Offers Real Estate at all Price Points
As a top-rated, master-planned residential community, Lakewood Ranch offers residents housing options at all price points from the $300’s to over $2 Million. The average Lakewood Ranch home price at the start of April 2024 is now $673K. Whether you’re a young family starting out or you’re seeking your perfect retirement home, you’re sure to find housing at your ideal price point. Lakewood Ranch has 18 approved home builders including national builders as well as local builders. For exact housing prices and a list of current Lakewood Ranch homes matching your criteria, contact Laura Reynolds, our Lakewood Ranch relocation expert listed on this page.
- Lakewood Ranch is a Top-Rated Golfing Community
The Lakewood Ranch community was designed with golfing and golf-course living in mind. There are four golf courses within the master-planned community which are all certified Audubon international sanctuaries. Within the main Lakewood Ranch Golf & Country Club (LWRG & CC) are the two main courses of Cypress Lakes and the King’s Dunes which offer a combined 54 holes of golf. Both courses were designed by Arnold Palmer and private to members only. The 3rd course is the Royal Lakes Golf Course located in Country Club East, and offers 18-holes of superb golf. This course is also private to members only. The 4th golf course in LWR is the Legacy Golf Course which offers 18 holes of golf and was designed by Arnold Palmer as well. This is the only non-private course in all of Lakewood Ranch open for public pay. Additionally located on the Ranch is the private Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, which offers an 18-hole championship course designed by Tom Fazio.
- Lakewood Ranch Offers Lots of Resident Amenities
As a top-master planned community, Lakewood Ranch was created with abundant resident amenities in mind. The grande Lakewood Ranch County Clubhouse offers 44,000 square feet of space with casual and fine dining options. The clubhouse also includes a newly-renovated, 20,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art athletic center and a tennis facility with 20 courts. Lakewood Ranch also has a smaller 16,000 square-foot Clubhouse at The Lake Club with abundant amenities as well.
- Lakewood Ranch Offers Year-Round Recreation
Lakewood Ranch offers year-round recreation for the outdoor enthusiast with its 150 miles of interconnected trails and sidewalks. Even the majority of its streets were designed with bike lanes in mind. Lakewood Ranch also opened its Premier Sports Campus in 2011 which is a multi-purpose facility offering 22 full sized mixed-use fields for soccer, lacrosse and other organized team sports. Just west of the Interstate is the new Nathan Benderson Park which offers a 3.7 mile exercise trail around its lake which is often home to national rowing championships.
- Lakewood Ranch Offers Polo Matches
Upon the opening of the Sarasota Polo Club in 1991, tailgating and watching a polo game in Lakewood Ranch has been a popular past time for many. From early December through mid-April, players from around the world come to compete on Sunday afternoons where the public is welcome to attend this 130-acre facility. General admission tickets are $12 per adult and children under 12 are free. Tickets are available at the gate, which opens at 10am Sunday mornings, and the polo matches begin at 1pm. In addition to Polo, Lakewood Ranch is also home to the Sarasota International Cricket and Rugby Club.
- Close Proximity to University Town Center Mall & Nearby Shopping
When you live in Lakewood Ranch, you are centrally located around endless dining and shopping options. Just west of Interstate-75 is the new University Town Center Mall with its many restaurants and upscale department and boutique stores. Along the University Parkway corridor are many shopping plazas offering popular restaurants, healthy-living grocery stores and trendy craft beer establishments. Just north of Lakewood Ranch is the Ellenton Premium Outlet Mall which offers 130 designer and brand outlet stores for the whole family.
- Lakewood Ranch is a Top Florida Retirement Community
For many of the reasons listed on this page, Lakewood Ranch has become a top-rated Florida retirement community. For those who choose to relocate to Lakewood Ranch for their retirement years, they will enjoy a high-quality of life in a picturesque natural Florida setting, enjoy many amenities including golf, tennis, biking and nearby beaches, enjoy many local restaurants with outdoor dining options, have access to quality healthcare and medical providers as well as enjoy a beautiful home in one of the many maintenance-free communities on the Ranch.
- Lakewood Ranch Offers Three Town Centers
Lakewood offers residents three town centers for its residents to gather, have fun with their families and friends while enjoying outdoor performances and events, restaurants and shopping, as well as local amenities. The original Lakewood Ranch town center was Main Street which officially opened in late 2006. The second town center, The Green At Lakewood Ranch, is located in the northern part of the community on SR 70 and opened in 2017. The third town center is called Waterside Place and is located just south of University parkway in Sarasota County. Waterside Place, whch is now officially open, includes waterfront restaurants, local shops, recreational activities and will be the new home of The Players Centre for Performing Arts.
Laura Reynolds
Realtor®
Your Lakewood Ranch Relocation Expert
(321) 234-5434
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The Lakewood Ranch Real Estate Market
Market outlook, trends and relocation advice by Laura Reynolds.
The current Lakewood Ranch and Sarasota real estate markets continue to see healthy demand for housing, which has caused the median sales price for single family homes in Sarasota County to remain near record highs even though interest rates still remain at elevated levels. Buyers, however, have become more discerning with the higher rates and sellers are now more realistic and aggressive in their pricing, especially if work needs to be completed in their home. We are also seeing where current housing inventory levels are continuing to slowly rise back to more normal levels, a sign that the market is in the process of transitioning back to a more balanced and healthy market.
In the new construction market, builders are back to offering pre-Covid sales incentives, such as $10K towards closing costs or healthy incentives towards a pool package. The majority of our area’s builders have also ceased their “highest and best” bidding process in exchange for the traditional “first come, first served” process of which buyers are delighted to see. Although supply chain issues are still causing some minor delays and ruckuses here and there, it’s not nearly as bad as it was a year ago.
Fort Lauderdale Housing Market Outlook
According to the latest Fed meeting, it appears that inflation has now cooled as a result of the Fed’s many rate increases over the past two years, but still not at their target level. When the Fed finally does begin to lower rates, either late in 2024 or early 2025, my forecast for the Fort Lauderdale market is that there will likely be a jump in buyer activity and increased competition at that time.
Lakewood Ranch Market Outlook
My outlook for the Sarasota / Manatee housing market through 2024 is a continuation of the same persistent demand derived from retirees relocating to our region, families seeking our top-ranked schools as well as work-from-home lifestyle changes. However, with the now higher rates and general increase in the cost of living across the board, we will likely continue to see more and more buyers priced out of our market, allowing inventory levels to continue rising over time. I also expect to only see the realistically-priced and well-marketed listings continue to sell, in addition to continued strong interest from all-cash and heavy-cash buyers.
Market Trends I'm Observing
- Demand for 2nd homes by baby boomers as they reach retirement age and fulfill their Florida retirement dreams.
- A greater number of younger families moving to Florida and seeking out good school districts and communities with built-in social opportunities.
- A strong preference by buyers for amenity-rich communities offering social activities.
- Real estate investors are seeking more longer-term rental opportunities vs the traditional “quick-flip” opportunities.
My Relocation Advice
Start your home search now, even if you’re not planning on moving to Lakewood Ranch / Sarasota for another year or two. This will give you the needed time to thoroughly research an area and to set realistic expectations for the home you can afford, including the timeline it will take to either purchase, renovate, or build the new home. Also, make sure to connect with a licensed Realtor who can assist you in your search. Leverage their local market knowledge and proven experience in working new constructions deals and in crafting offers in this intricate market. The current Lakewood Ranch real estate market is extremely competitive as we are a top-selling community in the entire nation and working with a true professional will only save you time, energy and headaches.
Lakewood Ranch Relocation Reviews:
Read what Laura's past clients are saying.
“Laura is an amazing person… she always responded with a smile and patient demeanor to my many questions and constant obsessing over details. I feel very fortunate and blessed to have connected with her on my first purchase in Florida.“
Jan HL –
Home Buyer
Home Buyer
Map of Lakewood Ranch
Your Guide to Understanding the 58 Sq-Mile Master-Planned Community
The following interactive map is your simple guide to understanding the Lakewood Ranch community. All existing Lakewood Ranch residential communities (and planned future developments) have been labeled, as well as the three town centers, UTC mall and our Sarasota Airport. When you connect with Laura Reynolds, our local Lakewood Ranch relocation expert listed on this page, she can show you the best and top neighborhoods in Lakewood Ranch that meets your lifestyle needs, housing preference and overall budget.
Your Lakewood Ranch Guide for Real Estate, Shopping, Healthcare & Schools.
Top Lakewood Ranch Golf Communities
Lakewood Ranch offers multiple golf and country club communities to choose from. Most are private courses and were designed by Arnold Palmer himself.- The Country Club
- Country Club East
- Esplanade Golf & Country Club
- Lakewood National Golf Club
Top Lakewood Ranch Neighborhoods
Lakewood Ranch offers many family-friendly neighborhoods to call home. Many have great water views and are close to nature trails.- Waterside (includes Shoreview & Lakehouse Cove)
- Arbor Grande
- Bridgewater
- Central Park
- Edgewater
- Esplanade at Azario
- Greenbrook
- Indigo
- Lorraine Lakes
- Mallory Park
- Palisades
- Polo Run
- Savanna
- Star Farms
- Summerfield
- Sweetwater
- The River Club
- The Lake Club
- The Isles
Lakewood Ranch Senior Communities
- Del Webb
Lakewood Ranch Assisted Living Communities
- The Sheridan at Lakewood Ranch
- Windsor at Lakewood Ranch
- Inspired Living at Lakewood Ranch
Lakewood Ranch Town Centers
Lakewood Ranch was planned with town centers for its residents to gather, have fun with their families and friends while enjoying outdoor events and performances, restaurants, shopping, as well as local amenities including movie theatres.
- Main Street Town Center
- The Green At Lakewood Ranch
- Waterside Town Center
Lakewood Ranch Shopping Plazas
Residents of Lakewood Ranch can easily run errands without leaving the Ranch. The master-planned community has grocery stores, banks and drug stores conveniently located within the overall community.
- San Marco Plaza
- Lorraine Corners Plaza
- Market Square Plaza
- Gateway North Plaza
Lakewood Ranch Medical & Healthcare
Lakewood Ranch offers medical and healthcare services without leaving the Ranch. Below are providers.
- Lakewood Ranch Medical Center
- Lakewood Ranch Medical Group
- Lakewood Ranch Medical Care
Lakewood Ranch Corporate & Business Parks
Lakewood Ranch is home to many top employers in Sarasota and Manatee County. Below are some of the largest Lakewood Ranch employers, many of which are headquartered locally.
- Neal Communities
- FCCI Insurance Group
- Roper Technologies
- Trinet USA
- Miles Partnership
- Willis Smith Construction
- Gold Coast Eagle Distributing
Lakewood Ranch Schools
With many young families making Lakewood Ranch their home, there are now many public and private schools in the area.
- Braden River Elementary School
- Braden River Middle School
- Gilbert W. McNeal Elementary School
- Robert E. Willis Elementary School
- B.D. Gullett Elementary School
- Imagine School at Lakewood Ranch
- Lakewood Ranch High School
- Out-of-Door Academy (Private)
- Saint Stephen’s (Private)
- The Classical Academy of Sarasota (Private)
Lakewood Ranch Community Photos
Discover what moving to Lakewood Ranch could be like...
Waterside Place at Lakewood Ranch
Lakewood Ranch's newest Town Center Development (Lakefront Drive now open)
The new Waterside Place Town center is the 3rd town center in the master-planned community of Lakewood Ranch. Located in Sarasota County, just south of University Parkway, the new town center anchors the new Waterside Place community offering an active scene of community events, concerts, shopping, dining and more. The Waterside Community features 20 miles of shoreline, 7 gorgeous lakes, 5,000 planned homesites with 12 distinct neighboorhoods. Below photo taken late Feb 2024.
Aerial view of Lakefront Drive
Street view of New Waterside Town Center
Waterside Place Pavilion with Expansive Water Views