The Lake Club - a Tuscan-Inspired Private Club Community

As I was showing a couple moving here from New Jersey homes for sale in Sarasota, I took them to Lakewood Ranch and introduced them to the peaceful and serene settings of the homes in The Lake Club "village" in Lakewood Ranch. They were very impressed with the attractiveness of this particular part of Lakewood Ranch.

The Lake Club is a Tuscan-inspired, private club community features scenic lakes, decorative bridges, and a unique one-mile long park. Use of the Grande Clubhouse facilities are an exclusive amenity for owners of homes in The Lake Club where families and their guests can relax, mingle with neighbors and enjoy a myriad of activities all in the privacy of a fully-gated neighborhood.

This couple was especially impressed by the London Bay homes available on the 35 maintenance-free home sites in the Villas at Matera area of The Lake Club. Custom homes being built by London Bay Homes in the Villas at Matera section of The Lake Club range from just over 2,900 square feet starting at about $600,000. Other builders in The Lake Club include John Cannon Homes, Nutter Custom Construction and Todd Johnston

Homes in The Lake Club must meet Lakewood Ranch’s strict standards for energy efficiency, clean indoor air, and sustainability. If you'd be interested in seeing the fine homes in The Lake Club or other portions of the Sarasota FL real estate market, feel free to call me at 941-266-2512

Lennar Homes to Open a New "Village" in Lakewood Ranch - Bridgewater

Lennar Homes, Inc. hosted a groundbreaking ceremony today, July 24, to mark the start of a new neighborhood in Lakewood Ranch. The new 172 acre community called Bridgewater at Lakewood Ranch will be located just north of SR70 and south of Esplanade, and east of Lakewood Ranch Blvd. According to Lennar, the new community will not have significant amenities or a large community center in order to keep costs lower for prospective residents.

Lennar announced plans to build 281 new homes from Lennar’s Manor Homes and Estate Homes collections. Lennar's representative said the price point will be below that in Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club, but with homes in sizes and prices above those in Central Park. The new community, according to Lennar, will be geared towards families

Manor Home models will be priced from $299,990 and range in size from the 2,245 square foot ranch style Princeton floor plan with 4 bedrooms, 2 baths a 3-car garage to the Oxford floor plan, a NextGen® “home within a home” concept for families with multiple generations living under one roof. There will also be a two-story version of the Oxford with 3,828 square feet of living space and 5 bedrooms and 3 1/2 baths in the main family living area with a 2-car garage. The "home within a home" one-bedroom, one-bath NextGen® living area will feature a separate kitchen and dining areas, a private living room and a one-car garage. The Oxford Ne3xtGen® homes will be priced from $399,990.

Lennar also plans to build Estate Homes at Bridgewater in six different designs ranging from the Cambridge floor plan, priced from $369,990 with 3 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths in 2,394 square feet of living space with a 3-car garage, to the Chapel Hill floor plan that offers 5 bedrooms, 4 1/2 baths in 3,800 square feet of living space. There will also be a two=-story version of the Chapel Hill floor plan with a 600 square foot bonus room and a 3-car garage.

If you'd be interested in discussing these new Lennar models with a Accredited Buyer Representative, Brian Ward, a well regarded Sarasota Realtor, is familiar with all of the villages in Lakewood ranch as well as Sarasota homes for sale in other communities throughout the Sarasota and Bradenton area.

Summerfield Village - One of the Original Lakewood Ranch Villages

    The village of Summerfield, located just south of State Road 70 off Lakewood Ranch Boulevard, was one of the original villages when Lakewood Ranch was first established.  With the 27 acre Lake Summerfield in the middle of the village and the Braden River runs along the southern border of the village, residents are treated to some interesting viewing as well as boating and canoeing access.

    A family-oriented neighborhood with lots of recreational activities and events, Summerfield is made up mostly of single-family homes although there is one condominium development within the village. Most of the homes in Summerfield were built in 1995 with the most recent constructed in 2001 and 2002.       

    Young families appreciate the fact that the excellent elementary school, Willis Elementary School and Nolan Middle School are located within a comfortable walking distance of their homes.

    Another lure that attracts families to Summerfield is the pristine natural surroundings. There’s a 15-acre Summerfield Community Park with ball fields, open playgrounds, a picnic pavilion, lighted tennis courts and basketball courts.  Participating in other sports like soccer and football is likewise an attraction. The Summerfield village features its share of the 150 mile network of Lakewood Ranch nature trails for walking, biking, and jogging or leading you to fishing lakes in everything from isolated fishing holes to an expansive 160 acre fishing and boating stretch of water. 

    Resale homes in Summerfield range in size from about 1,300 to 2,500 square feet and range in price from the high $100’s to the $400’s offering prospective buyers some of the most affordable home options in the 8,500 acre master-planned Lakewood Ranch development.

    If not in Summerfield village, itself, you can be certain that there is a home or condo in the Lakewood Ranch community of nine "villages" or elsewhere in the Sarasota real estate market that will fulfill your every wish.  Contact me for more information on Summerfield or any of the many attractive communities and neighborhoods in the Sarasota FL real estate market including Lakewood Ranch, Bradenton, Longboat, Lido and Siesta Key.  For an immediate response, call me at 941-266-2512.  I'd be delighted to hear from you.

Golf At Lakewood Ranch

Lakewood Ranch presents its residents with three very different golf country clubs to choose from.

The first, Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club is an exclusive members- only country club that first opened in the Spring of 2001 has 54 holes of golf spread over three distinctively different courses, the Cypress Links course which opened in 2001, the King’s Dunes course which was added in 2005, and the newest, the Royal Lakes course. The spectacular 44,000 square foot clubhouse offers a formal dining room, grille, and lounge, a pro shop a 13,000 square foot Athletic Center  with aerobics, pilates, yoga and other classes, steam room, sauna and whirlpools, two heated outdoor pools and massage therapy facilities. There are also 18 lighted clay tennis courts..

 The Legacy Golf Club is an 18-hole championship public course designed by Arnold palmer with no membership required. Daily fee, advance tee times, and discounted greens fees allow all golfers to experience this championship golf course at a reasonable price.

The Legacy course features elevated multiple tees, and virtually every hole is framed with sand and water. Our unique course has 360-foot wide fairways on all corridors, making the look very dramatic and visually challenging, while still approachable to all players

The third and most exclusive golf country club in Lakewood Ranch is the  Ritz Carlton's Members Club at 15150 70th Terrace East.  Situated on 315 acres of lush, tropical landscape, this immensely playable course is magnificently sculpted to reflect the natural beauty of its environment.  The course features abundant elevation changes and picturesque lakes throughout.

Beautiful wetlands, colorful flowering shrubs, informal native grasses, marshes with aquatic plants, and mature oak trees enhance the natural setting. The course is eminently walkable for those who enjoy playing the game on foot as the course winds through beautiful wetlands and colorful landscapes.

With 6 sets of tees, from a championship length of 7,417 yards to 5,175 yards from the most forward tees, golfers of all skill levels can play the Ritz Carlton Members Club course at a length that will challenge them.

With three to choose from, you will surely find one that fits you and your level of play as well as your interest in the social and athletic amenities offered by the two private clubs.  There are over 80 public, semi-private and private country clubs and golf courses to choose from in the Sarasota, Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch, Osprey and Venice Florida area.

If you'd like more information, call me, Bob Henley,  at 941-724-3352. You may also visit my Sarasota FL real estate website.   I'd be happy to answer all your questions.

An Elegant Home For Sale In Lakewood Ranch

As just one example of the wonderful properties available in The Lake Club, one of the most prestigious communities within Lakewood Ranch, take a look at this elegant home currently on the market. This 5 bedroom, 4 and one-half bath home in the French Provincial architectural style, is truly a masterpiece.

Sitting on over 6/10th of an acre, with just under 6,000 square feet of living space, in perfect harmony with its surroundings and gorgeous views of the pool and a lake, this home is truly special. The current owner included only the finest upgrades throughout, each one selected with special attention to detail and highest quality. Extraordinary as you enter a gorgeous French Country home, from the long pavered drive to the grand entry foyer from where you'll notice the perfect living room setting, with french doors leading into the main area and the lanai and a formal dining room leading into a spectacular kitchen that any gourmet chef would love.

This could be a five bedroom home, but not to be missed is the fabulous Miami room with adjoining guest bedroom and bath. Two other beautiful bedroom suites show off the split plan providing the ultimate in privacy. The huge master suite features a fireplace, a large sitting room, plus lovely master bath with a huge double sided shower, his and her walk-in closets, breakfast bar area, fantastic office and a half bath.

Throughout the homes, you'll see upscale features such as the crown mouldings, an enormous lanai and pool area with an outdoor kitchen, and several covered areas for entertaining. expectations. At the $2,550,000 price, this elegant estate home includes all furnishings. I would be delighted to show you this property at your convenience if you would call me please at 941-266-2512 at your convenience.

Lakewood Ranch Developer Requests Change to Development Plan

The Manatee County Planning Commission has just heard a request from Lakewood Ranch developer Schroeder-Manatee Ranch, the developer of Lakewood Ranch to modify its Northwest Sector Development of Regional Impact and General Development Plan.

The developer is asking to exchange the currently planned 239 single-family units for 339 multi-family units. There were Lakewood Ranch residents in attendance who said they'd prefer to see more Sarasota luxury homes built on the land instead of the currently planned condos.

The Planning Commission will recommend approval or denial of the request, which will then go to the Manatee County Board of County Commissioners for consideration.

The Lake Club - A Wonderful Lakewood Ranch Neighborhood

 The Lake Club community nestled within Lakewood ranch offers exquisitely designed, custom luxury homes overlooking a series of scenic lakes. One of the unique features of The Lake Club neighborhood is its decorative bridges. 

Lake Club home sites range from a quarter of an acre up to a full acre, with most of the home sites having stunning views of the lakes and nature preserves.  Buyers can choose from 10 highly-rated builders who are required by the architectural standards of the community to assure that every home has a unique look of its own -- no cookie cutter homes by high volume builders are allowed here.

 Like all other Lakewood Ranch communities,, the Lake Club is a designated "green" village. All homes in the community  meet or exceed energy-efficiency standards for clean indoor air, sustainability and drought-resistant landscaping.         
                  
While The Lake Club does not has a golf course of its own, it  is only minutes from the Sarasota Polo Club and 5 premier Sarasota area golf courses.  The Lake Club offers a stunning 16,000 square foot, $10 million-plus Tuscan-inspired clubhouse available only to residents of The Lake Club. The facility has two multi-level pools, a day spa, a state-of-the-art fitness center, concierge services and tennis courts. This wonderful facility is a place where you and your guests will relax, mingle with your neighbors and enjoy a myriad of activities.

Other Lake Club features include luxurious parks and nature preserves, immaculate landscaping, and miles of paver brick nature trails and sidewalks.                                            

When you buy a home in the Lake Club community within Lakewood Ranch, you have done more than just buy a home in the Sarasota Florida real estate market like so many others,  you have specifically chosen to become part of a very special place where luxury is the backdrop for an extraordinarily likeable and elegantly casual lifestyle. 

 For the most discerning home buyer, there is an opulent Sarasota luxury home awaiting you in The Lake Club village here in Lakewood Ranch right on the border between Sarasota, itself and Bradenton, just over the Manatee County line.  The luxury homes and free-standing villas in the Lake Club community range from 2,500 to over 6,000 square feet of living space and are priced from the $600's to about $6.0 million.

Country Club East to Expand

  The Country Club East village in Lakewood Ranch is about to become 143 homes larger than it is today in a sign that the resurgence of interest in homes in Florida continues to expand. Country Club East, currently containing 328 lots, is one of the most exclusive neighborhoods in the 8,500 acre Lakewood Ranch master-planned development.

Work on the additional 143 new home sites to be spread over 197 acres in Country Club East has just begun with the first 37 home sites in the Windy Hill neighborhood.

Lakewood Ranch is among the fastest growing residential communities in America and has won numerous awards. It is the largest "green-certified" community in the U.S. Every home and condo in Lakewood Ranch has been built to meet the Florida Green Building Coalition standards for energy efficiency, clean indoor air, sustainability and drought resistant landscaping. The gated Country Club East community is a private, gated community that surrounds lakes, nature preserves and has its own 18-hole golf course.

"There are many people who have been considering buying a home in Country Club East for years now," said Jimmy Stewart, V.P. of Sales for LWR Communities, "and they're deciding to buy now before prices go even higher."

Homes in Country Club East generally range from about 2,400 to over 4,000 square feet. Prices start at roughly $400,000 and peak at more than $1 million.

If you'd like more information on Country Club East or any other the other Lakewood Ranch "villages," I'd be happy to answer your questions if you'll call me at 941-228-2321.

Thanks, Dick for inviting me to participate in your new blog. Having sold more than a few homes in Lakewood Ranch villages, I'd be more than pleased to contribute articles from time to time. I enjoy showing and selling Sarasota homes for sale as well as Lakewood Ranch homes, itself so I think I can, in fact, bring something of value to your new blog.

Introducing Lakewood Ranch

This blog will report on the various lifestyle residents of Lakewood Ranch enjoy.  Lakewood Ranch is a huge, 8500 acre master-planned development that sits between Sarasota and Bradenton stretching across both sides of Interstate 75.

Lakewood Ranch was begun in  1995 in an unincorporated portion of Manatee County just north of Sarasota Florida which is in Sarasota County.. The massive development is being built on what was once a timber ranch owned by the Uihlein family from Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  The original concept was to build a set of seven "villages."   Those original seven "villages" were recently expanded to nine villages.

Each such "village" offers its own lifestyle and set of housing options, from condos and townhomes to magnificent custom estate homes.  All nine villages share dramatic landscapes with forest and wetland preserves and hundreds of species of native wildlife.  Homes are available in Lakewood Ranch today from condos priced just below $100,000 to elegant, custom homes in The Country Club village priced to about $2.5 million.

Lakewood Ranch is that rare place that provide a truly wonderful life. Beautiful homes, shops and restaurants and, perhaps best of all, friendly neighbors.  I can assure you that Lakewood ranch includes a new or resale home, be it a waterfront home, a golf course home, or golf condo that is just right for you, whatever your age, whatever your interests, and whatever your price range.

On this blog, we will explore each of the nine "villages" in some detail and focused as much upon the attractive lifestyles offered by each village as on the physical attributes of the village

We hope you enjoy reading our blog and equally hope you will join us by commenting upon our posts.