Introducing the Lakewood Ranch Planned Community

Lakewood Ranch is an 8,500 acre master-planned community on Florida's Gulf Coast developed on the border between Sarasota and Bradenton near to I-75, currently consisting of 7 villages including everything from maintenance-free condos and townhomes and single-family homes to the most elegant custom mansions on estate size lots.

Lakewood Ranch is one of the largest Green-Certified Communities in America. Every new village is built "green," incorporating building products that result in healthier, energy-efficient, and environmentally responsible homes.

Dick Plumb, who specializes in Bradenton real estate says, "Lakewood Ranch offer everything a family could want including gourmet and family-friendly restaurants, highly-rated schools, unique shops and boutiques, business parks, a hospital and medical center, three golf courses, an athletic center and even polo and cricket clubs." There are over 150 miles of sidewalks and trails, community parks, lakes and nature preserves shared with native wildlife.

Before the 2008 - 2009 housing bust, Lakewood Ranch had been one of the fastest growing communities in Florida. But that changed. New home building slowed to a crawl when the housing bubble burst. As recently as last October there was a nearly 31 month supply of unsold homes in Lakewood Ranch." "If things hadn't turned around, it would have taken more than 2 1/2 years to just sell all of those homes assuming that no additional homes were listed for sale during that period," one well estatblished Sarasota Realtor said.

Things are changing again, but this time for the dramatically better. Increased home sales in Lakewood Ranch have dramatically reduced the inventory of unsold homes. With their inventories depleted, builders are now flocking back to the area. By May of this year, inventories of unsold homes had fallen to just over a six month supply, which is considered a sign that supply and demand are back in balance and prices may begin to rise again. As a result, four new builders are preparing to break ground in Lakewood Ranch right now. Derek Nelson Homes, which recently bought the Arthur Rutenberg Homes franchise is gearing up as are Paradise Homes and a new builder, TruLiving Homes. Minto Communities, based in Canada, is also getting involved in the Lakewood Ranch home building spree.

LWR Communities, the developer of Lakewood Ranch, has plans for several new neighborhoods focusing on more affordable housing for those who work in or near the community. In addition to the new builders, other builders already in Lakewood Ranch are gearing up again. Neal Communities and its new luxury homes subsidiary, Neal Signature Homes are building again. Homes By Towne just returned to the market, while other who never left like Anchor Homes, John Cannon Homes, Peregrine Homes, Hannah Bartoletta Homes, Gibraltar Homes and Lee Wetherington Homes are also starting to build homes again.

With nearly half of its area set aside for open space or recreation, its 36 holes of golf, its eight-and growing number of shopping districts, and a constant flow of arts and cultural events, Lakewood Ranch could be the perfect place for you to start looking.

If you've been asking yourself when will be best time to buy a home or condominium in Lakewood Ranch or one of the other waterfront or golf communities in the Sarasota - Bradenton Florida real estate market, contact a local Sarasota or Bradenton Realtor like Judie Berger, a well-regarded Sarasota realtor today.