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Today we're going to answer one of the most common questions that we hear and that most real estate agents hear from just about everybody, and that's: How is the market? Is the market hot? Is it slow? Are things selling, and how quickly are they selling? I pulled some key data in a very specific neighborhood that gives a great measure for how Lakewood Ranch is doing overall. We will take it back six months from the last quarter of 2022 through the first quarter of 2023, and show you what's going on. Looking At Metrics For Country Club A great way to figure out what's happening in Lakewood Ranch is to focus on one neighborhood in particular, and that's Country Club. The reason that I say that is Country Club is a fully built out neighborhood. There is no more new construction there, and it's very, very large. It's one of the biggest neighborhoods in the entire area. So by taking metrics of the entire neighborhood for the last six months, we can see how resale is doing, what the price point is, the average price per square foot, what's selling, and what's not.
The Absorption Rate At Country Club And then there's this little measure that the real estate industry uses called the absorption rate, and that is going to tell us how quickly homes sell and whether it's a buyer's market or a seller's market. I looked up absorption rate calculator in Google and found this article on Rocket Mortgage's website, and it's pretty self-explanatory. “Absorption rate is a term used in real estate to describe the speed of homes that are sold in a specific market in a specific timeframe. It's determined by dividing the number of homes sold by the number of available homes within that timeframe.” Link to full article: The goal here is to figure out that number, as it relates to Country Club in Lakewood Ranch. A market with an absorption rate above 20% is typically called a seller's market and below 20% is a buyer's market. Another way to look at it is how long does it take to sell the current inventory? Generally speaking, six month's worth of inventory is considered a balanced market. It's neither buyer nor seller. What Does The Current Market Tell Us? In Country Club, right now there are 33 active listings, 33 properties total that are for sale within country club. That includes primarily single family, but there are some villas, which would be like side by side units. There are also some townhomes or condos. For the purpose of this exercise, we are using all the current listings. The average sale is a three bed, three bath house, 2,755 square feet. The average list price of these active listings is $1.14 million, and the average days on market as of today is 60. Now let's take a look at what's currently pending. So all properties that are for sale right now within Country Club that have an executed sales contract, they are under contract. Going back six months, 180 days, we have 17 homes in Country Club under deposit. The average is 3 bed, 3 bath, 2,700 square feet, which sounds familiar to the active listings. $1.13 million is the average list price of those homes that are under contract, so just under $400 a square foot, and it looks like the average days to contract is between 40 and 50. The State of Canceled And Expired Listings All right, now let's look at canceled, withdrawn, and expired listings. There's a total of 20, from the last quarter of 2022 to the first quarter of 2023, there's only 20, which is not much. The expireds tell a better story of failure, for lack of a better word because those properties tried to sell, and did not give up. It just didn't sell. Canceled and withdrawn listings could be a little bit different and might have unique circumstances of the seller; maybe they decided they just didn't want to sell any longer and took the property off the market. But for this exercise, I'm not going to differentiate. We're just going to count this number: 20 total properties that did not sell over the last six months that were on the market for sale. Putting It All Together - What The Numbers Tell Us Now we will compare this to the sold properties over the last six months in Country Club. Okay, so we have 55 total properties, and taking a look at those statistics, if you summarize, the average was a 3 bed, 3 bath, 2,678 square foot with an average list price just under $1.1 million and the average close price looks like it was just under $1.05 million. Which seems pretty consistent with the other data. The average days on market shows 42 to contract and 92 days to the closing. All very good statistics for a seller. Now, let's dig a little deeper into those numbers and put them in relation to each other so we could see what the absorption rate is. All right, to calculate the absorption rate, we take the total number of homes sold over the last six months in Country Club, which was 55, and divide that by six months. So 9.16, or just over nine homes per month sold in Country Club over the last six months. Currently, there are 17 active listings. So how long will take to sell those 17 homes given the absorption rate that the 55 homes dictated? The current 17 homes will only take two months to sell. Nine times two is 18, so if our absorption rate is a little over 9, they will realistically sell in less than two months. Another way to calculate the absorption rate is to put it into a percentage. So let's divide the number of homes per month, that number nine that I came up with, divided by 17, which are the active properties. And nine divided by 17 puts the absorption rate at 53%. Typically is the absorption rate is 15 to 20%, that would be a more neutral market. Anything over 20% indicates a seller’s market. We are at 53%, so the Lakewood Ranch market is still seriously hot and not slowing down. The proof is in the data. Sometimes it's easier just to focus on the numbers, which is why I wanted to do this exercise with you. We’re On An Upwards Growth Trajectory In A Seller’s Market Lakewood Ranch is going to continue to grow, especially east and south from here. We're 65% built out. There are options and opportunities for new construction. There's plenty of options for resale. If you're considering a move to Lakewood Ranch, give us a call. We'd be happy to chat with you, provide some guidance, answer any questions that you have, and we can work together to find the perfect home for you.
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I wanted to take an opportunity to talk about the Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club, which is a private membership only club that includes golf, a fitness membership, and also a social membership.
If you want more information on the membership tiers and the 2023 fees, click the button to download below! We've had a lot of questions about this recently, so we're going to dive into that in this video and explain each tier and also where things stand in terms of membership and when and if and how much it would cost for you to join. So if that interests you, then stay tuned. First, let's talk about what the Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club is, where it is, what it entails. One of the biggest misconceptions is that it's a private golf club and membership club for the communities of Country Club and Country Club East ONLY, and that's not the case. It is open for anyone to join. What does the club offer? There's three different golf courses. Two of them are in Country Club, which is like the original country club. Some people call it Country Club West. And then we have one golf course in Country Club East. You have 20 tennis courts, four pickleball courts, a 20,000 square foot fitness center, Eight lane Junior Olympic pool and one resort style pool as well. There's fitness classes that are included in the membership. You don't have to pay extra for the fitness classes. In Country Club East, there's a little addition to the fitness and they built 16 additional pickleball courts, which is all the rage lately. Total pickleball courts is 20-...16 in Country Club East 4 in Country Club. And remember, you don't have to live in these communities in order to be able to join. 
What are the membership levels?
So top tier, we have the premier golf membership. The second tier, we're gonna have the sports membership, and then there is the social membership. So you could do social only, you could do sports, which would include the social, or you could do golf, which includes all three; Golf, sports, social, The social membership gives you access to the restaurants and the bars that are in both of the respective facilities. In Country Club, they have their main facility, banquet Hall, restaurant Bar, cigar Room. In Country Club East, we have the Lodge, which is the main restaurant and bar. Both communities are gated, and if you join the membership, then you get a special fob that allows you to enter in and out of the gates to access the club. How much does it cost to be a member? Okay, now let's talk money, because this is the part that everybody's been asking. What does it cost? How do you join? What does it take? Is there a wait list? Et cetera. So let's start at the top... Premier Golf membership, which gives you access to all three courses, plus the fitness, plus the social. The initiation fee is $45,000. It is a non-refundable initiation fee. The monthly dues at this point as of 2023 are $973 a month for a family membership. Or if you are a single person joining one person only, it'd be $826 a month. What you would need to do in order to get on the wait list for the golf membership as of right now.... you have to put down half of the initiation fee. And it is non-refundable. That puts you on the wait list. So we're talking about a little over $24,000 with the taxes and the fees. The second tier (Sports), which would get you the fitness and the social requires a $12,000 non-refundable initiation fee (plus tax). The monthly dues are $315 for a family membership, and that is the only kind of membership there is. And this includes the social membership, as well. How does the wait list work? So let's say you put yourself on the wait list for Golf and you put your $28,000 down and you say, "I wanna join the sports and enjoy the social aspect as well". So you pay $12,000 and change to become a Sports member. When your name on the Golf waitlist comes up, you will only owe the remainder of whatever you've already paid. So it's, it's gonna be about $24,000 left for the final piece of that initiation fee. If you're a member of the fitness and social, they're going to credit you the $12,00 towards that balance that you have already paid. It's a nice setup so that if you join the fitness and then your time finally comes for golf, you're not double paying. Now the final tier is the social only membership, that also is on a wait list right now. That's about 34 people on that list. The social membership just as it is, is $5,000 initiation non refundable, plus there's tax with that. And then the monthly dues are $138 per family. There is no single membership, so that's it. It's $138 per household. There are no minimum spends at the restaurants or the bars, and that's different from other clubs like say Esplanade or River Strand, where there are minimum spends to be a part of the membership. For more information on the fees and membership tiers, download the forms here, or contact us with additional questions! BRAND NEW CONSTRUCTION WITHOUT THE WAIT! Set on a quiet cul-de-sac street in the Lakewood Ranch village of ‘Indigo’, this 4 bedroom POOL HOME can be yours today. Listed at $781,000. Indigo is conveniently located adjacent to A-RATED elementary and middle SCHOOLS, Bob Gardner Park, and two Publix grocery plazas. Indigo provides its residents with robust amenities including gated entry, two community pools, a fitness center, pickleball courts, playground, sidewalks throughout, and an on-site lifestyle director to plan events for residents. This newly constructed “Heritage” is a 2 STORY, 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath, 2 car garage home, featuring a main floor owner's suite and a list of fantastic upgrades! As you enter the main foyer, your eye will turn to the spacious Great Room with TRAY CEILING and sliders that lead out to the screened in POOL and LANAI. Luxury vinyl plank flooring throughout the main living space makes for a designer feel and cohesive look throughout. The eat-in kitchen features a brand-new GAS RANGE and dishwasher, and a walk-in PANTRY for additional storage. With room for 3 or more at the oversized ISLAND, and a café area adjacent, you have the perfect seating arrangement to enjoy dinner and entertain. The MAIN FLOOR OWNER'S SUITE has sliding glass doors that lead out to the EXTENDED COVERED LANAI, dual sink vanities in the bathroom, a walk-in closet, and a large corner shower. Once upstairs, you have a large LOFT SPACE that can be utilized in a multitude of ways… think recreation room, second living room, study, or flex space. The three remaining bedrooms are also located upstairs, with a second full bathroom featuring dual vanities. Additional windows have been added to bedrooms 2 and 3 bringing in the Florida sunshine and extra natural light. The oversized backyard is pie-shaped, facing a landscaped lush berm, creating a private oasis. The brand new saltwater POOL and screen enclosure, with its large covered outdoor living space, are an incredible find in today’s market! LOW HOA fees of only $261 per month include all the amenities Indigo provides, plus your exterior lawn maintenance and irrigation! *Guide Now Updated for 2023!
Download your free Guide here to start your search, today! When you decide to move to an area like Lakewood Ranch there are a lot of choices as far as different neighborhoods, different types of homes; they have different amenities, there are different fees associated with them and all of that information can be overwhelming if you're not familiar with it. So, we've developed a guide to help you through this process and that's what I'm going to go over today. I'm going to share with you how to download this free guide and how you can use it to help narrow down your choices and find the best fit for you within Lakewood Ranch! Anytime you decide to move to a new place you probably start by looking on the internet... looking up different cities, towns, neighborhoods, possibly even different states. If you’ve done all of that exploring and research, maybe you have narrowed it down to Lakewood Ranch, Florida. What you may not realize is, Lakewood Ranch is twice the size of Manhattan and bigger than Disney World, so just choosing that location still leaves you a LOT of space to figure out where you want to live. One of the questions we get asked most often from buyers looking in this area is: How do I know which neighborhood to choose? Well, there are a few factors that go into that and that's what we're going to help you work through with this guide to narrow down the focus and choose the right village in Lakewood Ranch. 1. Type of House? The first question you want to consider depends on the type of house. Do you only want New Construction? Do you want to build from scratch? Or are you okay with a resale home in a neighborhood? (Now remember, Lakewood Ranch is only 27 years old so the oldest home was built in the mid 90’s and isn’t too old, just needs some modernization) In the first part of this village guide, we break down all of the villages in Lakewood Ranch based on whether they are currently building and still have home sites available. And then the resale villages where new construction is complete, but there are opportunities to buy. Watch the two videos we provide links to in order to get a feel for the various villages. Depending on those videos, you would choose the villages that make the most sense for you based on which type of home you're looking for. 2. Amenities? The next important question to consider is: which amenities are most important to you? Most villages offer some type of amenities, but some Villages offer much more than others. Some include golf, some only have a pool, so knowing those differences will help you determine which ones might work best for what you're looking for.. If you want to golf everyday, then a golf community where the HOA covers your membership might be a great option for you. That would be our Esplanade villages and Lakewood National Golf Club. If that is not on the top of your list, then focus on the villages without golf memberships to keep your fees down. As a side note, the Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club is a members-only club that you can join from anywhere, so if you want golf or tennis, but it isn’t available in the village you love most, you can always join the club separately and have that option. 3. HOA Fees? We also share an HOA comparison chart so you can better understand how costly your fees will be each month and take that into consideration as you narrow down your choices. Some villages have fees under $200/month and some are well over $350/month, so that should factor in to your budget. Which leads us to the next question.... 4. What is your Budget? Knowing the price range you can comfortably stay within is very important and may immediately rule out some of the villages. We share a chart showing the different pricing brackets of the villages to help you understand which ones will make the most sense to focus in on. *If you are worried about getting pre-approved too early because you don’t plan to move for a while, I still recommend talking to a lender in order to get a better idea of the price range you want to look in. This is an immensely important factor, so the sooner you understand your numbers, the easier it will be to find the right location for your future home* After reviewing all of those comparisons, you should be able to narrow down the village choices to a Top 5 List (or Top 3). These are villages that will have the type of home you want, with the amenities you want, in the price range you are looking for. Once you have that list, you are ready to contact a realtor, plan a visit, and start looking for your home in Lakewood Ranch! We are happy to help you with this process and lead your search, so please contact us to share the villages you are most interested in within Lakewood Ranch! Download your free Guide here in order to start your search, today! Contact us! Email: Contact@Chenkus.com Phone: (941) 348-2653 Welcome home to 7531 Windy Hill Cove, Lakewood Ranch Listed for $1,249,000 This elegant 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom home offers the perfect SPLIT FLOORPLAN in one of Lakewood Ranch's most desirable neighborhoods; Country Club East. The Neal Signature-built residence offers over 2,500 square feet of living space and a beautiful outdoor lanai space with heated PRIVATE POOL and LAKE VIEWS. As you step inside, you immediately notice the open great room leading to a beautiful chef's kitchen, with gas cooktop, large SPACIOUS ISLAND, quartz countertops, and separate breakfast nook looking out to the lanai and lake view. The engineered hardwood flooring flows throughout are a key design feature of the space. This “Verona II’ plan by Neal Signature perfectly captures the Florida sunshine making a light, bright, and inviting atmosphere throughout. The right side of the home features 2 bedrooms and a DEN/OFFICE, as well as two full bathrooms and a laundry room with extra storage. The sizeable owner's suite located on the opposite side of the home, features TWO WALK-IN CUSTOM CLOSETS, a large bathroom with DUAL VANITIES, and a soaking tub. Lounge outside on the peaceful lanai while soaking up the sun and lake views. Grill at the outdoor kitchen or just enjoy the HEATED POOL with a recently re-screened cage. The two-car garage is epoxy coated and includes convenient custom storage options. “Windy Hill” is a quaint CUL-DE-SAC neighborhood within Country Club East with close proximity to one of the Lakewood Ranch Golf & Country Club’s restaurant facilities, “The Lodge”, its pickleball courts, and one of its three golf courses (all available through separate membership which is not a requirement to live in CCE). Country Club East ownership provides all residents the use of three community pools, a fitness center, community clubhouses, member coordinated social events, and gated entry. Windy Hill is also in a MAINTENANCE-FREE section of CCE, so your lawn, shrub, and irrigation maintenance are included in the HOA. Conveniently located in an A+ RATED SCHOOL DISTRICT (Willis Elementary, Nolan Middle, Lakewood Ranch High), and a short drive away to Lakewood Ranch Main Street, the new Waterside Place, shopping or dining at UTC, and easy access to I-75, don't miss this opportunity to call Country Club East "home"! 941-348-2653 contact@chenkus.com Pools in Florida | What We Did RIGHT and What We Did WRONG! | Our Lakewood Ranch Pool Story1/26/2023 Our pool video that we posted a few years ago had some great information, but a lot has changed since then. It's been four years almost since we bought the house and put the pool in, and we've learned quite a bit. We wanted to share the things that we've learned, the things that we did right, some things that we now wish we did differently, and show you how to take care of the pool here in Florida. So let's go to pool school, part two. Our Pool It's about 26 x 14. It's rectangular, not quite perfect. There are some Bubblers in the sun shelf. We have two bowls in the back that spill water, four jets surrounding the various walls, and then we have two lights as well. We also have a little umbrella holder in the the sun shelf, too. It's a travertine decking, which is a little expensive, but in our opinion, well worth it. And we did a panoramic screen cage, so there is a 30 foot piece in the middle, and then two 10 foot pieces on the side, so you have an uninterrupted view. We designed all of that and we are still happy with those choices! But.... here are some of the decisions we made that maybe we would do differently. The thing that we kind of really wish we did was add a spa. We thought about adding one after the fact and got a price for it, and it was $50,000. Which if you remember our last video, we barely paid more than that for the entire pool.... So pricing has changed a little bit... But the bigger issue was they have to rip up the decking to add it and there was a caveat that it may damage the pool, which would cause us to have to redo the ENTIRE thing, so we decided not to take on that risk. Initially we thought that a hot tub would be pointless since it is hot in Florida, but it would be really nice to use in these winter months when it cools down!  Top 10 Questions - Revisited! In our last video on pools, we answered 10 common questions about Florida pools. We wanted to revisit those with some additional insight, now. 1. Do I really need my own pool? Our answer today: Yes We use our pool all the time, or as often as possible. It's like our retreat at the end of the day. If you have a family, if you have children, kids love the pool. I would say yes, you do need your own pool unless your living situation or the size of your property just doesn't afford it, or you're really close to the community pool and you think you wanna use that. But if you want your own private little oasis, Yes. 2. How much does it cost to add a pool? Well, that certainly has changed in four years... I would say the cost has doubled, if not almost tripled. And I know that's not good news, but it's the truth. Our pool when we went to contract to build it cost us around maybe $75,000. Right now, this is easily a $150,000 to $175,000 pool at this point, simply based on cost of materials, cost of labor, and all the things that have happened over the last few years. 3. Saltwater versus chlorine pools? I would stick with salt water. We love it. It makes it really simple to care for. The water feels nice. Yes, I would stick with salt water, but there's nothing wrong with a chlorine pool. So whichever you decide would work for you is fine! 4. Why do I need a cage? Spend half an hour outside without a cage at sunset, and you'll have that answer. The bugs are relentless, especially at sunset. The cage also just keeps things really clean and simple. So the cage is fantastic and it creates this oasis as added living space. It does give you some SPF protection, as well. 5. How much does it cost to maintain and care for the pool? We do our own pool care, so the only cost is really the chemicals and salt we need to buy a few times a year and the time and energy to clean it.. so maybe $250. Then the decking needs to be power washed because we have Travertine, which is porous and gets algae in it, so a couple hundred dollars a year for that. If you pay a pool company to maintain the pool for you, most likely it will cost between $100-200/month depending on how often they come and what they do.  6. Do pools add value? Absolutely it does. Probably close to a hundred percent of the people we have sold houses to since we made that first video either bought a house with a pool or added one after they closed. If your house is for sale and so is your neighbor's, and the houses are similar but yours has a pool, it's worth more. It's that simple! 7. How much does it cost to heat my pool and what type of heater should I get? The type of heater depends on how you plan to use the pool and if you have a spa or not. We have an electric heat pump, which takes a much longer time to heat the entire pool. In the summer, it's very cost effective because it just maintains the warmer temps, but in the winter it can get costly so we shut it off for a few months. Our friends have a gas heater and a hot tub. If it's really cold in the winter, it can cost about $50 to use that gas heater, but it costs about $10 on average every time he heats up the hot tub. 8. How do I keep the pool safe? The main aspects of this have not changed... there is a safety gate you can put around the pool, or a pool alarm on your doors and windows. If you are not having someone come to maintain the pool for you, keep your lanai screen doors closed and locked, as well. 9. How long does pool equipment last? It is going to vary, and you do have to put some maintenance into the equipment, but here is how ours held up so far: Cage - no issue at all, even in the hurricane thankfully! Heater - the switchboard shorted at one point and AquaCal came out to fix it. Under warranty, luckily, so that was an easy fix. Salt Cell- we have replaced once, also under warranty which was easy Filter - keep it clean and it shouldn't have any issues! 10. Can I use the pool all year round? In theory, yes! But it depends on if you have a spa, heater, or how tolerable you are of colder water. :) Caring for your Florida Pool
Watch the video for a detailed demonstration of each item and some safety tips! Here are the main things you need to do to care for and maintain your Florida pool. 1- Get the water tested to see what the pH is and if anything needs to be added. 2- Clean the filter so it is free from debris and dirt 3- Clean the salt cell so the calcium doesn't build up in there 4- Clean out the skimmer basket in the pool 5- Brush the pool with a metal wire brush occasionally to scrape away any algae build up 6- Vacuum it! **We are by no means pool professionals and are only speaking from our personal experience. If you have questions, or want to chat about moving to Florida, contact us... we are here to help! 941-348-2653 contact@chenkus.com #1 – Florida is big… massive If you have been saying “I want to move to Florida” be sure to keep in mind how big Florida really is. It takes 3 hours or so to drive across the state, 13 hours to drive from the Keys to the Panhandle. And those are best case scenarios…. with no traffic. Which leads us to # 2… #2 –The Traffic In the last three years, it seems like everyone including their cousin’s sister’s dog walker have moved to Florida. And with that, we’ve personally noticed an uptick in the traffic. So If you’re planning to drive somewhere here in Florida, give yourself a cushion… For instance, driving to Disney World from where we live takes about 1 hour and 40 minutes door to door. The LAST time we drove to Disney, the ride took 3 hours and 15 minutes! Just the mere mention of I-4, and Floridian’s immediately start to question their life goals… “Maybe I’ll just stay home and clean the bathrooms with a toothbrush”… “I was thinking I’d cut the grass, with scissors all while laying on top of a fire ant mound”…  #3 – The grass kinda sucks Gone are the days of leisurely barefoot walks through beautiful cool, soft bluegrass… There are a couple of common lawn grasses here in Florida… St Augustine grass, which feels like walking on crusted needles. And Zoysia grass, which can be beautiful and lush under your feet, if and when it cooperates… Keeping a nice lawn here, even in the maintenance free communities, is not so simple. #4 – The bugs Inevitably you’ll move here and it will happen… You’ll walk barefoot on that not so nice grass… and then BAM! A fire ant barely bigger than the tip of your pen takes hold in between your toes… And in that moment you’ll contemplate jumping in the pool… Fully clothed… With your phone and your wallet still in your pocket. Seriously, the bugs in Florida are not like the bugs where you are from. And we tell everyone this… they were here first. We’ll never win the war on bugs. We learn to live in harmony and give them their space. And as long as they’re not inside your house… you’re winning.  #5 – Beach Time vs. Mother Nature Ok… let’s talk about Florida and the beaches… If you love sunshine, Florida is the place to be.. let’s look at our area as an example… According to stats from bestplaces.net... ... The Sarasota area gets 251 days of sunshine per year on average. So 69% of the year… Sunny. But what about the other 31% of the year? 106 days, or 29% of the year, it rains. 69 % + 29 % = 98% Apparently the remaining 2% of the year Florida is in total darkness and enters the space-time continuum? The point is, it rains a good amount here too, especially in the summer. And that rain comes down hard and fast… It’s accompanied by thunder and lightning like you can’t imagine… So those outdoor beach plans may not happen quite as often as you think, depending on the weather and the traffic to get there… In Conclusion… Even with all the “negative” stuff we just rattled off… there is no where else we would rather be. We can poke fun at some of this stuff because we live here and truly love it here, regardless. If you’re thinking about making the move, call us. We can share all the pros and cons, but mostly pros! 941-348-2653 contact@chenkus.com The Alcove at Waterside Lakewood Ranch Florida | Luxury Waterfront Real Estate - NOW SELLING!12/28/2022 Michael got a phone call from the Neal Signature sales team that we could preview the lots for The Alcove, their newest Waterside at Lakewood Ranch village, and he jumped on it! In this video, we show you the perspective on the ground level of these amazing water views, and share all the details we currently have on The Alcove... -What is it? -Where is it located? -What's nearby? -Who is the builder? -What's Included? ... and anything else we can tell you! Interested in The Alcove? Use the contact form below, or give us a call at 941-348-2653 First up, and always the most important thing in the world of real estate… The Location. The Alcove is located just East of I-75 and west of Lakewood Ranch Blvd. It’s in the Sarasota County portion of Lakewood Ranch and it’s part of the Waterside district. So if you want to think of it in up/down/left/right context, if you're looking at the map of Lakewood Ranch, it’s in the lower left part of the Waterside district. As we made this video, we realized just how convenient this location is! What do we mean by convenience? Here’s what’s nearby…
And then you have three international airports as options nearby. Sarasota International is 18 minutes... Tampa International is 55 minutes... Fort Myers airport is about 70 minutes away. Not to mention, you’re just down the road from the new Center Point plaza that will include high end restaurants, an organic grocery store, banks, gas stations, and more. What a great spot!  So we covered the location, what’s nearby, now let’s talk about,, THE BUILDER: Neal Signature Homes Neal builds throughout Southwest Florida. They’re a local, family-owned company, not publicly traded on the stock market, and their customer focused business model really shows. We could go on and on about why we really love this builder and the quality of home they provide… If you’d like to chat and learn more about Neal and how they compare to other builders... Give us a call…. It’s a conversation we love to have. 941-348-2653 Neal Signature Homes built similar homes in sections of Country Club East here in Lakewood Ranch, and The Alcove will have that same aesthetic and design. There are 5 floorplans to choose from in the Alcove. They range from 3-4 bedrooms, 2,500 sq ft give or take, up to 3,300 sq ft for the two story plan. And have 2 or 3 car garages. There are a multitude of structural options to choose from, like outdoor kitchens, privacy walls, and modifications to interior layouts etc. It’s not 100% custom… more like a pre-curated plan with custom options. The overall motif of the neighborhood will be Coastal, with clean lines and a modern flair. Neal Signature includes a design studio as part of your process where you can select all your interior options, tile, appliances, etc etc. This statement on their website is really great and something most builders don’t highlight clearly… The base price of the home is shown, and then you will factor in about $200-$400k additional for the cost of the lot and any structural and design options, depending on how intricate you get. That’s up to you. To put that into simple terms… you’re looking at around $950k-$1.5 million for these homes, depending on which plan, which lot, and the options you select.  Let’s cover The Amenities next… This one is pretty simple…. There won’t be a clubhouse, gym, or pool. The community also will not be gated, just like all of the other Waterside villages. If you’re thinking "gee that stinks"… we understand, but hear us out… Many times we’ve had buyers who said they want all of those amenities... must haves, only to hear from them years later that they actually never use the amenities. In the end, it’s a personal choice. If robust amenities are a must have for you, then The Alcove isn’t a good fit… If that’s the case, give us a call and we can help you narrow down your search to communities that have all the amenities you desire. 941-348-2653 However the location, the water views, and the floor plans in The Alcove are top notch. There will be a community fire pit, kayak launch, and pier. Plus, maintenance will be included in this community, covering your lawn, irrigation, shrubs, reserves for roads and infrastructure. And you are just minutes away from Waterside Place, so if that sounds like a good fit, then The Alcove is it! Last but not least, let’s cover the homesites. As you can see from the site map, there are 47 planned homes. And every single one of those sites is on water. Long water views. Not the tiny ponds some “water views” claim to be!  Michael went on site in the video to show you… Michael has been dubbed the “lot guru” by many of our clients. He knows the direction, the sun exposure, how to orient the house and flip it if needed to best capture the value of the Florida sun! Ok… so that wraps up this overview of The Alcove by Neal Signature. We included a contact form below… If you’d like more info on this neighborhood as it progresses, or you’re interested in learning more about the Lakewood Ranch area, send us a message! We are here to help! 941-348-2653 contact@chenkus.com This post and video is an exciting one… we’ve been working on gathering info for a few months about a brand new luxury community (also known as a Village) here in Lakewood Ranch. In this video we cover the key elements… - where it is - what it’s near - what kind of homes we can expect to see - who the builders will be - planned Amenities - and also what steps you can take now to make this new village your future home! So, let’s get into it…. THIS IS WILD BLUE at WATERSIDE in LAKEWOOD RANCH FLORIDA. Location Wild Blue is in the Waterside district of Lakewood Ranch, on the East side of Lorraine Rd. across from the Polo fields. There will be several entrances to the community. Two from University Pkwy, and two from Lorraine Rd. If you’re from the area or have been here before, you may have driven down Lorraine Rd and not even realized this land and its massive lakes are there. From site maps we’ve obtained, the lakes have been named Lake Merganser and Lake Curlew. They sport some long water views…. Upwards of one mile across…. So we’re talking BIG lakes.  What is nearby? There are the shops at the corner of University and Lorraine, where you have a Publix, Aldi Grocer, Libby’s Restaurant and Bar, Banks, Dentist, CVS, UPS and other businesses… all the necessities basically… About 8 minutes to Main St Lakewood Ranch, 7 minutes to Waterside Place, and 11 minutes to the UTC mall area. If you’re familiar with all those places I just named… you know that basically within 11 minutes of Wild Blue, you have literally everything you could ever need! The nearest city is Sarasota… Main Street is about a 30 minute ride down Fruitville Rd. And the beaches… You’re looking at about 37 minutes to Lido Key, or depending on the day and time, with traffic it’s realistically about 45 minutes. Plus you have your choice of Siesta Key, Lido Key, Bradenton Beach, Anna Maria Island… Can’t beat that! The Builders We know that Stock Development is developing the entire community and also will be building custom and semi-custom homes. So that means they’re not only moving the dirt, putting in the roads and sewers etc, they’re also fully invested as a builder from start to finish. Stock builds beautiful communities. They’re most known in this area for developing The Lake Club… And they have another Wild Blue community down in Estero near Fort Meyers about 2 hours from here. It’s important to note that the Wild Blue in Lakewood Ranch is totally different… If you’re researching this online, you’ll find lots of WildBlue Estero info… make sure you don’t get them confused! We can’t stress that enough! THE BUILDERS in Wild Blue at Waterside Lakewood Ranch will be Stock Signature, like we said… Arthur Rutenberg which is a local franchise custom builder John Cannon Homes, also a well known custom builder in this area. Lee Wetherington Homes, another custom builder.. And also Anchor Builders, another local custom builder… Fun fact… Anchor built the one and only Dick Vitale’s custom home… Yea… that Dick Vitale! The Amenities Let’s talk about the amenities planned for Wild Blue… What’s planned for Wild Blue is for lack of a better word… awesome… Here’s just some of what’s planned…
The Wild Blue clubhouse will feature:
 Last thing to go over in this video… The Homesites When they’ll be available What they’ll look like And what steps you need to take to make Wild Blue your next home... The release will be Phased… likely 3 phases over the next several years. Phase 1 is official and recorded on the land records, so we can confidently say … here it is… 94 home sites, most with long water views This is the site map we have so far for Phase 1 BUT… That doesn’t mean you can’t reserve your lot now. Getting in early on a community like this has a huge advantage… So call us and let’s talk… We have our finger on the pulse of what’s happening and when… 941-348-2653 contact@chenkus.com Hurricanes in Florida are a fact of life, but there are ways to be prepared for the storm!
In this video, we share 5 Tips to help you prepare for a Hurricane. We mention some resources in Sarasota and Manatee county, specifically for Lakewood Ranch, but these websites and guides can be used for all of Florida. Be sure to check with your local county government for updates and information on impending storms. 1. County Resources Visit your local county websites for Emergency Management resources. This will include preparedness guides, evacuation zone maps, emergency shelter locations, and more. Manatee County: mymanatee.org Sarasota County: scgov.net 2. Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) Locate your CERT Team, either on Facebook or through the county website, to get additional updates on storm warning and watches for your community. They offer classes you can take if you would like to become a part of this community team, as well. 3. Hurricane Kit Checklist.. Build it! It would be ideal to have a Hurricane Kit ready to go at the start of each season. If you need to get one together quickly, you can download the checklist here. Knowing you have the items you may need in a disaster will make you feel much more prepared. 4. Physical Prep for your Home Remove any loose items outside or by your pool cage, put up Hurricane Shutters if necessary, make sure your house is free from any items that could become flying debris in high winds, and prepare to hunker down should you need to. Also, have a plan in case you need to evacuate or head to an emergency shelter. 5. Building a New Construction Home? Have faith in the builder They will do what they can to make sure your home, and all homes or homesites, are as secure as possible to prevent damage. Should anything happen, they will do what is necessary to fix it. Just worry about keeping yourself safe and let them handle the house! It is important to be prepared! Follow the steps in this video to make sure you are. Here are additional helpful links: https://manatee.floridahealth.gov/programs-and-services/infectious-disease-services/emergency-preparedness-and-response/index.html https://www.mymanatee.org/departments/public_safety/emergency_management/build_a_disaster_kit https://www.scgov.net/government/emergency-services/emergency-management-4420 https://lwrcert.org/ Download your own Disaster Supply Checklist: https://www.floridadisaster.org/globalassets/plan--prepare/2022-disaster-supply-kit-checklist---final-1.pdf Please reach out with any comments and questions. We are always here to help! 941-348-2653 contact@chenkus.com Windward at Lakewood Ranch is a beautiful Neal Community village near Waterside Place in the Sarasota County section of Lakewood Ranch.
Their brand new amenity center is NOW OPEN and in the video above, we take a tour of the amazing space with Ryan Zimmerman, one of the salespeople for Neal Communities. Residents at Windward can enjoy endless activities with: - Event lawn - 2 dog parks - Pickleball & tennis courts - Playground - Clubhouse with catering kitchen - Lifestyle Director on staff - Fitness center and studio - 2 pools, one with lap lanes and one with a splash zone - Covered pool cabanas - Clubs & Activities ......and more!! All of this for under $350/month HOA fees, including exterior lawn and landscape maintenance! Homes at Windward Lakewood Ranch range in size from paired villas at 1,400-1,500 square feet, to single family homes from 1,500-3,600 square feet. There are different series of Single Family homes, as well, with different lot sizes and pricing. CORAL HOMES SERIES 1,434 - 1,524 SQ FT. FROM UPPER $400's CRUISE HOMES SERIES 1,531 - 2,428 SQ FT. FROM MID $500's CELEBRATION HOMES SERIES 2,064 - 2,936 SQ FT. FROM MID $600's COASTAL HOMES SERIES 2,453 - 2,907 SQ FT. FROM $800's They have inventory available and lots to purchase and build. Their design studio is terrific and you can make all of your interior design choices if you build from scratch, along with a pool from Waterscapes. There is truly something for everyone at Windward! To learn more about pricing and availability, give us a call! 941-348-2653 contact@chenkus.com Michael visited Esplanade at Azario Lakewood Ranch to showcase a brand new community that's being built by Taylor Morrison here in Southwest Florida that includes a golf membership for most of its homes. The Esplanade brand really focuses on lifetyle. That's what Esplanade is about: living the life. There is a very, very robust amount of amenities that are planned and they're all in progress as we speak. Pickleball and tennis courts, resort style pool, full service spa, wellness and fitness center, tiki bar and restaurant, and more! The largest amenity here in Esplanade is its 18 hole championship golf course. So Michael decided to play the whole thing and film what he can of each hole to show you some of the houses along the way that border the course and give you more details about living in Azario. To get a feel for what the amenities will look like. We'll show some of the existing amenities at Esplanade at Lakewood Ranch Country Club. Similar to what's planned for Azario. Homes are available now with golf deeded memberships. Watch the video for more details on the course and if you're ready to buy, give us a call today! We can help you start living that Esplanade Lifestyle in Azario at Lakewood Ranch! 941-348-2653 contact@chenkus.com Today's video's all about making your Lakewood Ranch, Florida home search easy. I'm going to share a secret that I tell all of our clients that helps them make their home search simple and organized in their minds. So when they're online, looking at YouTube or Facebook, Instagram, Zillow, or Trulia, and trying to figure out what's the best neighborhood for them, this Tip is going to make it all easy. So I'm going to start by recapping the Lakewood Ranch map  As you can see here... Lakewood Ranch is huge. This piece of paper, this map, it really doesn't express how large it is. From top to bottom to drive is about a 20 minute ride, across is 15- 20 minutes as well. It's really huge. Let's break this down into zip codes, because Lakewood Ranch sits within three different zip codes. It's that big! An easy way to think of it is there's: Top middle bottom. We have the top zip code, middle, and the lower zip code is actually part of Sarasota county. But I'll get into that in a second.   Let's start at the top, the zip code on the Northern side, which would be between state road 70 and state road. 64 is 34211. This encompasses a very large area, like I said, and is where most of the new construction is occurring right now. There's a street called Bourneside, which is the Eastern border currently of Lakewood Ranch. They're talking about going a little bit further across Bourneside They're talking possibly a new Del webb, which would be a 55+, and also a Lakewood National 2, so a new golf course community, which is kind of cool. But it hasn't even begun. It's just cows. How many houses are for sale in 34211, the Northern part of Lakewood ranch? As of July 7th, which is just a couple of days ago, there are 227 active listings... that doesn't include property that's under deposit. It's not recently sold. It's just everything that's currently available that you can view, make an offer on, and purchase. The median number is a really good number to use because it kind of takes the large, big, expensive house and the cheaper houses and disregards those so that you can understand where's that sweet spot in the middle. And that is $619,000 in this zip code, this data I pulled myself from the MLS. This zip code includes probably about 50% of completely built out neighborhoods like Central park, Mallory park, Arbor Grande And it also includes the new construction stuff, like Star Farms, Sweetwater, etc. So if you're looking for new construction and your price point is in that $600k to $800k range, this is the area for you. Of course there's more expensive properties than that in the zip code, but, as a whole, the data shows 600 to 800. That's probably where we're at now in July of 20 22, in 34211.   Now let's go to the center zip code of Lakewood ranch. This is the original zip code when Lakewood ranch began and sold their first house. And I think it was in 1995 for $88,000. I'm close...Don't quote me, but it's something like that. Summerfield, Greenbrook, Country club, Riverwalk, and Edgewater. And then you have The Lake Club, Country Club East, the Ritz Carlton golf membership that that's just a golf course. That's privately owned. And then you have Del webb, The Isles, and another portion of Greenbrook. That's 34202. You can see just from glancing at this that it is a bit smaller in land area than 34211. And there's less neighborhoods. They're bigger neighborhoods. There's definitely a different aesthetic and a different feel from the two zip codes as you travel down, just simply because of when they were built and this zip code 34202, has the most established resale. There's 131 active listings as of July 7th. This is from MLS data that I pulled. The median price is $815,000. So you could see it's a little higher. 34202 has slightly different school zoning than 34211 and there's some differences in terms of the aesthetic of the neighborhoods, just simply because these were developed as very, very large neighborhoods with individual communities and villages like Country Club East and Country Club. They each have sub neighborhoods, in comparison to say a Mallory Park, which that's just one neighborhood Mallory Park.   The Southern portion of Lakewood ranch, which is from University Parkway down to Fruitville road is actually in Sarasota county. This is the area of Lakewood ranch where Waterside place is. And if you haven't heard of Waterside place, it's a town center that was built on this massive lake. So there's apartments and shops and restaurants. It's become a really cool cultural center for the residents to enjoy The shape of Lakewood ranch and the land that was actually owned and/or acquired by the original family, doesn't have as much of a consistent shape to it. So as you can see here, it goes across. And then down Lorraine road and stops where you see the village Windward. Turning to the statistics of this particular zip code, 34240 in Sarasota. Now this is eye opening because like I said, it's a huge area. Huge and only a little portion of it is Lakewood ranch. But these numbers, this isn't just Lakewood ranch. This is for the entire zip code. So of that entire vast area, there's only 55 houses for sale. The data's gonna be a little more difficult because this area is simply just not as developed. Waterside is still developing and there's a lot of residential opportunities still coming. Shoreview is there, LakeHouse Cove, but then there's the Alcove being built by Neil Signature, Avanti by Pulte.... All of this is under development right now.
There's a few resale here and there, but every one of these neighborhoods are pretty much brand spankin' new. And that brings me to my final point. And it's a word of wisdom. It's a tip. It's something to really keep in mind when you're shopping online, looking browsing homes on realtor.com or Zillow. What you see is simply what has been listed. So if it hasn't been inputted into the MLS, or if someone hasn't manually inputted this property for sale in that website, within their database, it's not going to show. You won't even know that it exists. Each of these builders have inventory that you just wouldn't be aware of. Unless you have a resource here with boots on the ground to gather that information and make sure you get it right away. And that's us! So, if you're considering any of these neighborhoods in all three of the zip codes of Lakewood Ranch, give us a call and let's have a conversation. It's our job to work with you and guide you to the very best decision to match the right neighborhood, the right floor plan, help you select all your options and design and make sure that when you choose a home and make an offer, it's the right fit for you. To get a better visual of each neighborhood and zip code we mentioned, watch this video. If you like this video, don't forget to subscribe to our channel for weekly updates and click. Contact us with any questions about Lakewood Ranch and moving to Florida! 941-348-2653 contact@chenkus.com Sarasota Bradenton International Airport | Lakewood Ranch's #1 Airport | Our Trip and Review!7/2/2022 We are on the road today to show you how easy it is to travel from the Sarasota international airport and take off. So let's go!
One question we constantly get asked is: Where is the closest airport to Lakewood Ranch? Sarasota/Bradenton International Airport is Lakewood Ranch's #1 Airport! We share our trip and review of the airport in this video, above. You do have options when traveling from the Lakewood Ranch area, as Tampa is about one hour, Orlando is about 2 hours, and Fort Myers isn't too far, but SRQ is definitely the closest! Fun Fact: The airport code is "SRQ" because of radio communication issues dating back to WWII era. The original Sarasota code was "SSO", but over the radio it sounded too similar to "SOS", so the code was changed to include a filter letter that was used less often and became "SRQ". Read the full story here. The Sarasota/Bradenton International Airport is a quick 20 minute ride from mostly anywhere in Lakewood Ranch. They have some great routes and more flights being added as the airport continues to expand. Current Airlines Available at SRQ:
We took a trip home to visit family and flew out of SRQ, so we used it as an opportunity to show you the ins and outs of the SRQ airport, and to highlight how easy it makes traveling from the Lakewood Ranch Area! Inside the airport, you will find some great options to grab a bite before your flight. For a smaller airport they have a good variety, both in the main concourse and within the gate terminals. One grill features local brews from Kona Brewery. There are plenty of convenience stores and stands to grab a quick snack, too! Airport employees are always friendly and super helpful. TSA Pre Check is available, as well as rental cars and Ride Share pick up locations. It is easy to see why it is Lakewood Ranch's #1 Airport! Non Stop Destinations from SRQ include: Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Denver, Hartford, Nashville, New York, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., and so many more! For more information on all things Lakewood Ranch, subscribe to our YouTube channel and keep checking back for more videos! We live in Lakewood Ranch and love it here. We would love to help you find a home, too! We are a full-time Real Estate team and we love working with buyers to share our knowledge & expertise of the Lakewood Ranch Florida area! 941-348-2653 contact@Chenkus.com  Housing is on the rise in Lakewood Ranch! And for the first time in a while, I don't mean the pricing. I mean AVAILABILITY! The crazed frenzy seems to have slowed down, which is giving builders time to catch up. New construction options are popping up in every Lakewood Ranch village - both to build from scratch and as inventory! Things are starting to seem almost...normal. Sort of. We wanted to provide a quick breakdown of what is going on in each new construction village as far as availability.. so here you go! Windward - Inventory homes available for purchase in each series. Lots available to build in each series. NO BIDDING! Amenity center complete and opening this month. Phase 2 construction underway. Waterside: LakeHouse Cove - New floorplans available for smaller series under $500,000 all in! Inventory options available and released periodically each month. Currently a lottery system if more than one person is interested in release. New phase underway and new pickleball courts being built at amenity center. Waterside: Shoreview - Lots available to build in the Estate and Premier Series, NO BIDDING! Released monthly, limited amounts on water and preserve. Amenity center complete, new phase of homesites in the works. Sweetwater - Single family and Villa options available as inventory to purchase now! No more lottery system. Amenity centers are under construction and phase 1 just started selling in the Spring. Star Farms - Tons of inventory being built for Single Family, Townhomes, and Villas. Amenity centers breaking ground soon. Homes available at varying stages of construction and you can go to contract right away. No Bidding, No Lists! Solera - Inventory homes available in each series and at varying stages. No Bidding, No Lists! Amenity center and playground now open! Savanna - Only inventory being built. Released each month, sometimes there might be a wait list but no bidding! Depends on the plan and series. In the final phase of construction. Sapphire Point - Lots available for building in each series, some inventory homes being released when they are close to completion (30-45 days out). No bidding! No Lists! Amenity center is under construction. Park East - Lost and inventory homes available to buy. No bidding! No Lists! Limited releases each month. Amenity center is underway.  Lakewood National - Inventory Homes being released weekly. Still a bidding process on those. Limited availability for single family homes, as they are in the final phase of construction. Lorraine Lakes - Inventory homes being released weekly. Still a bidding process for buyers. Amenity center is under construction. The Lake Club - Some remaining home sites and inventory options with Stock Signature available to purchase. Final phase of construction! No bidding or lists! The Isles - Lots available in both series to build and inventory homes available to purchase. No bidding on the majority of releases. No wait list. Amenity center open! Indigo - Final phase of construction! Cove and Cruise series remaining in lots and inventory homes, as well as villas. No wait lists, no bidding! Amenities all complete and active. Esplanade at Azario - Releasing homes and lots for select plans each month for single family and smaller villas. No bidding or lists! Main Amenity center is under construction, golf course complete & open. Smaller amenity center open. Del Webb - (55+) Limited releases each month for lots and inventory homes. NO BIDDING! If you are interested in a specific village, please contact us and we can share details on current homes and pricing! Always happy to help with your Lakewood Ranch real estate needs! 9413482653941-348-2653 contact@chenkus.com Lakewood Ranch Florida Schools - Your 2022 Guide to Updates and School Zones If you're thinking about moving to Lakewood Ranch, and you're wondering how the school system is, well today we're going to talk about Lakewood Ranch, Florida schools!
In today's video, we're going to talk about Lakewood Ranch, Florida schools and explain how you can figure out where certain homes are zoned to for school, where you find the school ratings, how they do that system, and also share some news on expansion and new school plans. As the Lakewood ranch area continues to grow in population, there's a need to keep up with that as far as the school system, so there are plans for expansion to certain schools within Lakewood Ranch, as well as plans for brand new schools in the next few years. And we're going to talk about that as well. We're going to show you some drone footage of each school area, so you can get a visual of it. If you're on our website, there is a page dedicated to Lakewood ranch schools that you can learn more about the schools and also how they rank within the state. Just visit www.soldbychenkus.com/area-schools.html We live in Lakewood Ranch and love sharing information about the community with you! If you're interested in moving here, reach out and we can help you find the perfect spot in Lakewood Ranch! Courtney & Michael Chenkus Charles Rutenberg Realty 941-348-2653 contact@Chenkus.com We got exclusive information on the floorplans and amenities coming to the newest Lakewood Ranch Village: Star Farms Lakewood Ranch, and we wanted to share it with you, FIRST! We have confirmed that the first phase will be released and built by D.R. Horton with a variety of villas, townhomes, single family homes, and multiple amenity centers. There will also be a section of custom builder homes priced from $1+ million! This gated 700-acre village will have almost 40 floorplans to choose from between the Express and Premium series D.R. Horton homes. They will have paver driveways, tile roofs, and beautiful interior finishes. Different sections of the village will have access to different amenity centers, but everyone will have access to the Resort, or the Club, featuring a clubhouse, fitness center, resort style pool, coffee shop, poolside bar & grill, dog park, and more!  Four Individual Amenity Centers:
A variety of Floorplans: (Pricing to be available very soon!)
Watch the video to learn more about preliminary HOA and CDD fees, as well! Want to get in on the ground level? Contact us today to join the VIP List and be the FIRST to know about releases on homesites, inventory, and pricing!
We have new village details to share about Sweetwater and Star Farms at Lakewood Ranch, two new construction villages COMING SOON, with more new homes in Lakewood Ranch!
Star Farms is planned to be a 700-acre gated community with over 1,500 single family, villa, and townhomes. This resort ranch is going to have a bunch of amenities and multiple builders. So far, we have confirmed two: DR Horton and custom homes by Lee Wetherington. ** D.R. Horton just released floorplans and more details about Star Farms phase 1. Their "Emerald Series" of homes will feature 272 single-family homes, adorned with tile roofs, paver driveways, and beautiful interiors. These two- and three-car garage homes are constructed with concrete block and feature 9ft-4in ceilings, granite or quartz countertops throughout, and much more.
D.R. Horton is also building their "Freedom Series" of homes which will feature 212 single-family homes as well as 192 paired villas (The Siesta).
Models are underway and should be opening in 2022.. we will keep you updated on new developments. Fill out this contact form below to stay in the loop!
Sweetwater is further along in construction, as their models are under construction now. This M/I Homes community will also be gated and will have single family homes and villas. There will be other planned amenities for both sections. Floorplans and pricing should be released soon! I believe the M/I Floorplans will be a mixture of 2- and 3-car garage homes in their River and Spring series. They will have tile roofs and natural gas.
As of now, both villages should be zoned to Gullett Elementary, Mona Jain Middle, and LWR High. To stay in the loop and learn more about these brand new Lakewood Ranch villages, fill out the form on this page. We will reach out with more details as we get them! If you are looking to move anywhere in Lakewood Ranch - contact us! We live here and love it here. We are your Lakewood Ranch Neighborhood Specialists! We would love to talk to you about Lakewood Ranch, Florida real estate! 941-348-2653 contact@chenkus.com Follow us on social media: @soldbychenkus Windward at Lakewood Ranch by Neal Communities has 16 floorplans to choose from spanning 4 unique home collections. Unfortunately, there is not a model of each floorplan, but we wanted to highlight some of the most popular plans to build with models from other Neal communities nearby! Today’s video brings you the Kiawah model from the Coastal series. This is the largest floorplan you can build in Windward at Lakewood Ranch. The base floorplan is 4 bedrooms, den, 3 bathrooms, and a 3 car garage with a HUGE covered lanai space, coming in at 2,907 square feet. BUT they have options to add a second floor with up to 2 more bedrooms, another full bathroom, and a loft space. This adds another 750 square feet or so to the house and allows for plenty of space for the entire family! Windward at Lakewood Ranch is opening their amenity center SOON, which features resort style pools, tennis, pickleball, dog parks, a fitness center, playground, walking trails throughout the community, and a lifestyle director to plan events for residents. (The model shown in this video does not have the second floor and is built in Grand Park, a Neal community in Sarasota.) If you have questions about this plan, or any of the homes built by Neal Communities in Windward at Lakewood Ranch, let us know! We would be happy to help! 941-348-2653 contact@chenkus.com We always want to make sure we are addressing real questions that you have about buying or building a home in Florida, so that our videos are relevant and informative. So, last week, we posted on our Facebook and Instagram accounts, which if you don’t follow us- you should! And we asked for questions you might have about home inspections, building, and just general living in Lakewood Ranch things. Today, we are going to share those questions and our answers with you! Here we go.. Pest Control: Are the bugs that bad in Florida and how do we prevent them from getting in?! I despise bugs, truthfully I don’t know anyone that likes them, so when we were talking about moving here this was a genuine concern for me, too. However, I had to remind myself that bugs are everywhere – not just Florida! In our experience (and everyone, everywhere is different) the bugs are not necessarily any worse here than where we came from. There are just more of them, and some I have never seen before LOL So, how do you control & treat for them: definitely screen in your lanai or outdoor area so you can enjoy being outdoors without all the creepy crawlies. Also, as you would anywhere, if you are outside somewhere without a screen, use bug spray to help ward off mosquitos and no-see-ums. For your home, builders treat the wood they use in for your house with termite prevention and some builders install in-wall pest control tubes. Taexx was the original in-wall system and it is meant to create a barrier within the walls of your home to attack and prevent bugs before they penetrate those surfaces and get inside. It is not exposed to sunlight, nor is it released into your home in any way. If you are consistent with Pest Control treatments, you shouldn’t have any issues in Florida! Insurance: What insurance is required in Lakewood Ranch? Is it more expensive than other states? The type of insurance you need will certainly depend on where you live in Florida. If you are on Siesta Key Beach, chances are you need flood, hurricane, and hazard insurance, which will be a higher cost. You can also add sinkhole coverage, fire & theft protection, and basically any type of insurance you want if it provides you more peace of mind. However, they all have costs. Lakewood Ranch, specifically, is in the lowest risk flood zone "X", which eliminates that add-on because most lenders do not require flood insurance at that zone. The Sarasota/Manatee County area is also not very prone to hurricanes, as compared to other parts of Florida, so this could save you over $800 in insurance costs per year. Older homes, built prior to 2001 are going to have higher insurance costs, while brand new construction is up to the most current codes and should not be very expensive. We have found in our experience with new construction, average costs are $700-1500/year depending on the size of the home and what you add on. Things that can help to lower your home insurance costs are protective devices like security systems, hurricane impact glass in your home, residing in a secure gated community, and buying a new construction home versus an older one. Home Inspections: Should you get one? If, so when? What does it cover? As a buyer, and/or someone building a new home, you always have the right to conduct an independent home inspection on your property. This can be done once, prior to your final walkthrough and closing of the home, or sometimes twice – once pre-drywall and again before closing. They might find issues the building subcontractors or county inspectors miss, so it is always helpful to have another set of eyes. Home Inspections should cover all major areas of the home including roof, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, appliances, and major surface deficiencies. Some inspectors will also do another inspection prior to your Builder Warranty expiring to make sure you can get all issues fixed in time. We are happy to recommend great companies we often use in the Lakewood Ranch area and encourage all of our buyers to get at least one inspection during their purchase process. Closing Costs: How much does it cost to close on a new home? Tourism is the biggest industry in Florida, by far, but lately real estate has been a big contributing factor to the economy, as well. Real estate closings in Florida tend to have higher closing costs than other states, comparatively, so it is something you want to prepare for and factor in to your home-shopping budget. The main fees come from the loan charges, prorations for taxes, title charges and insurance, and recording & transfer charges. The Deed state/tax stamp is always the heftiest charge on the settlement statement. In a traditional resale transaction, this is usually paid by the seller. In new construction, the builder passes that cost on to the buyer, along with some additional builder fees, so new construction closing costs tend to be higher than resale. Also, paying cash eliminate some closing cost fees from the lender, if you go that route. For a new construction house with a loan amount of $400,000, the closing costs could add up to over $20,000 including loan costs, other costs & builder fees, and no lender credits. As a comparison, a cash resale transaction for a sales price of $585,000 only cost the buyer about $13,000 in closing costs. Remember, the commission is always paid by the seller (or builder) so that is not factored in. There are many components that impact this final cost, so talk to your lender about options and credits. You can also ask them for a closing cost estimate up front to help you plan accordingly. That’s it for today! We plan to follow-up with some “Expert Segments” from an actual Home Inspector and a Lender we work with often to give more specifics. Let us know what other questions you have that you want answered! Contact us for all of your Lakewood Ranch, Florida real estate needs! Contact@chenkus.com Park East at Azario Lakewood Ranch – The Newest Lakewood Ranch Village by Taylor Morrison We have exciting news! Park East at Azario Lakewood Ranch is officially OPEN! This brand new Taylor Morrison community is the latest to join the actively selling villages in Lakewood Ranch. Located in the northeast corner of Lakewood Ranch, between State Rd 64 and 44th Ave East, Park East is adjacent to the Esplanade at Azario village, but they have their own floorplans and amenities, without the golf-included lifestyle. In fact, there are 21 floorplans to choose from! Park East will have just over 300 homes sites to build on. All homes in Park East at Azario Lakewood Ranch are single-family homes. They differ from the Esplanade at Azario Taylor Morrison products in their floorplan design, fit, finish, and pricing. The lot sizes include 42', 52', 62', and 76' homesites, depending on the floorplan. There are 5 models to tour in this brand new village! Visit our village page to see all available plans: www.soldbychenkus.com/park-east-at-lakewood-ranch.html Our first video showcases the Java model, but we will be sharing each of the decorated models with you and more updates on the village, as they come! These floorplans truly have something for everyone, ranging from 1,790 square feet to over 4,200 square feet. The base pricing ranges from $370,000 to $670,000 and the HOA fee is about $158/month. There is a CDD fee for each home in this village, as well, dependent on the lot size. Park East at Azario Lakewood Ranch has some wonderful amenities planned, but is not gated and maintenance is not included, which is why the monthly fees are so low. Some other things to note: This village is a completely different product than the Esplanade homes, as they use shingle roofs in Park East rather than tile, cement sidewalks and driveways rather than pavers, and offer a unique design option: Canvas Collections. Taylor Morrison has design packages, or Canvas collections, for the interior that keep the pricing and decision making very straightforward, or you can go to a design studio and pick out every single thing you want in the home. Here are the current Canvas Collection options: Park East Amenities will include:
Pool Dog parks Fire pits Sports courts Playground It is zoned to Gullett Elementary, Mona Jain Middle, and Lakewood Ranch High Schools. For more information on this BRAND NEW Taylor Morrison village in Lakewood Ranch, contact us today! Courtney & Michael Chenkus Lakewood Ranch Realtors Email: contact@chenkus.com Call: (941) 348-2653 We often get asked questions about home insurance; what it covers, how you know what the cost will be, etc. But we are not in the insurance business, so, we contacted an expert to help us out with this one! Rachael Harper is the Content Marketing Strategist of Bennett & Porter, a wealth management and insurance firm based in Scottsdale, Arizona. She wrote the following article to share more about Home Insurance and the factors that can impact your rate!  Factors That May Impact Your Home Insurance RatesEver wonder why you are paying more for home insurance than someone you know? Insurers cover several factors when computing your home insurance rate. The factors can vary—some historical, some regional, others personal.
Insurance providers also have different ways of assessing risk. That said, it is recommended that you compare home insurance quotes to ensure you get the most affordable rate possible. Factors that Can Affect Your Home Insurance Rates The cost of home insurance will depend on many factors. Below are some of the critical elements that can affect home insurance rates: Location Location is one of the most significant factors insurance companies consider when calculating your home insurance premium. Most insurance companies also track the number, types, and cost of claims in each postal code area. High-crime neighborhoods and earthquake and flood-prone locations have high insurance rates. Square Footage On average, larger homes will cost more to insure. This can be attributed to the fact that more space and more furnishings need to be repaired or replaced after a loss. Essentially, the more content, the more space, the higher the insurance premium, and the more insurance will be required. Credit Score A good credit history can reduce your home insurance premium. Statistics show that those with good credit history typically make fewer insurance claims. It is essential to keep in mind that any inquiries into your credit history or score will be recorded in your report. However, your credit rating won't be affected when done for insurance purposes. Renovations When you renovate your home, your home insurance premium can also increase as the amount of insurance coverage also increases. In line with this, it is recommended that you inform your broker about any renovations you have done so you will be able to get adequate insurance coverage. Roof Condition The condition of your roof can affect your homeowners policy significantly. New roofs often mean reduced premiums. Homes with older roofs will also typically pay more. Most home insurance providers expect homeowners to keep tabs on their roofs and make repairs when required. Type of Dog You Own While many people love their dogs, home insurers are not as enamored. If you have a dog that's considered "aggressive," it would be a good idea to shop around for a policy. Some insurance providers will not increase your rates, while others might. The typical home insurance rate is .3% if you have a dog that’s considered an aggressive breed. What Homeowners Insurance Covers What does your home insurance cover? In rare instances when you need to file a claim, knowing the answer to that question can make a world of difference. While home insurance policies have standard provisions, what's covered can vary from state to state, depending on the policy you choose. Specifically, home insurance policies will only cover perils that are listed as covered events in the policy. In other words, if a specific disaster is not listed as a covered event, homeowners will not be able to file a claim if it transpires. Typical perils covered include: ● Smoke and fire damage ● Weather-related damage like hail or wind damage ● Water damage from internal sources, but not from flooding ● Theft of personal property ● Damage caused by ice or snow on the roof ● Explosions (i.e., gas explosions) ● Damage caused by motor aircraft or vehicles Many insurance policies include provisions for contents (personal property that is not affixed to the house). This is the reason theft of personal property is usually considered a covered event. Most home insurance policies also cover damage to outbuildings, fencing, and landscaping. The coverage is generally equivalent to up to 10 percent of the total policy amount. There is also a provision that provides homeowners with temporary living expenses if their home has been damaged to the point where it is no longer livable. The insurance provider will reimburse homeowners their living expenses while their home is being repaired. Lastly, most home insurance policies provide liability coverage if a family member, a third party, or yourself gets injured on your property. The same is true when your dog bites someone. Conclusion Several factors can affect your home insurance rate. That said, it is crucial that you carefully analyze your options before deciding. After all, your home is a massive investment, and you need to be able to protect it accordingly. About the Author: Rachael Harper is the Content Marketing Strategist of Bennett & Porter, a wealth management and insurance firm based in Scottsdale, Arizona. When not writing, she makes use of her time reading books and playing bowling with her family and friends. Park East at Azario Lakewood Ranch is located in the northeast corner of Lakewood Ranch., between State Rd 64 and 44th Ave East. This will be adjacent to the Esplanade at Azario village, but they will have their own floorplans and amenities, without the golf-included lifestyle. In fact, there will be 21 floorplans to choose from! Park East will have just over 300 homes sites to build on. Homes will range in size from 1800 sq ft to over 4800 sq ft. There will be 4 different home site sizes, as shown on their Phase 1 site plan, with 42’, 52’, 62’, and 76’ lots. And there are some beautiful sites, as we show in our video! Homes will be priced starting around $375K to over $800K, depending on floorplan and options. This village will be zoned to Gullett Elementary & Mona Jain Middle School, which are both A-rated and just over 3 miles away down 44th Ave E. It is also zoned to Lakewood Ranch High School. There will be 5 models to tour, opening soon, and they will be starting some inventory home builds in the next few months. The HOA fees will most likely be under $200/month per home and the amenities are set to include a pool, sports courts, volleyball, and BBQ spots for residents to enjoy. More specifics and pricing are still being determined, so contact us to join our VIP list and learn more details as SOON as we do!  When you are considering buying a home in Florida, one of the main questions you will ask yourself will probably be "what are the annual taxes?" Florida taxes are a mystery to many, but today we try to explain a bit more about taxes, how to find tax bills for homes, and what the Homestead Exemption could mean for you as a homeowner. It is not a very easy mathematical equation to figure out, but we wanted to share some helpful tips on ways to find out what taxes are on similar homes and determine if you are eligible for any tax exemptions. First of all, you want to figure out which county the home is located within because each county can have different tax systems and millage rates. Our video above focuses on Manatee County, specifically. The County Property Appraiser's website is going to be a wealth of knowledge for you as you explore different exemptions and tax information. Once there, type in the address of the property you want to look up and click "Search". This will bring up a screen with a ton of information about the home, including all of the tax exemptions listed. The Tax Bill will list all components of the total tax amount, including any non-ad valorem taxes- which in Lakewood Ranch, make up the Stewardship or CDD fees. The totals listed indicate which amount you pay depending on how early you pay your taxes. For new construction, we like to estimate that the taxes will be about 1.5% of the purchase price of the home. That would include the CDD fee, and may be over-estimating in some cases, but it is a good starting point. The Homestead Exemption essentially decreases your home value for tax purposes by $50,000, assuming your home is a primary residence. To download your Guide to Homestead Exemptions, click here! Also, the “Save Our Homes” amendment limits, or caps, the annual increase in assessed value of property that has a homestead exemption. The increase cannot exceed the lesser of 3% or the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the previous year. The assessed value cannot be greater than the market value. These two initiatives combined help to save money on your property taxes as a Florida resident. For more information and FAQs, download your guide. Or contact is with questions! 941-348-2653 Contact@Chenkus.com A popular question from buyers out of state is: what neighborhoods are NEAR Lakewood Ranch, but not necessarily in it? Today, we are going to share information about the neighborhoods, or developments, that border Lakewood Ranch in Manatee County, between State Road 64 and University Parkway, east of I-75. This includes Braden Woods, River Club, Rosedale, Eagle Trace, Serenity Creek, and Avaunce. Braden Woods - The aesthetic of this neighborhood really lives up to its name, as the tall pines and forests scattered throughout the homes make it feel like you are far out in the country, when really you are easily accessible to everything. The developer’s intention for Braden Woods was to create a neighborhood where you could enjoy the natural beauty of Florida, without having to find a state park. Even the smaller lots at Braden Woods measure at least half an acre and homes meet a variety of sizes and styles. Homes were built starting in the 80’s, so this is an older development, which contributes to the more mature landscaping. Prices range from the $300,000s to the $500,000s There are no CDD fees and low HOA fees. Also, this is the only neighborhood in the area (that we know of) where septic tanks may be used rather than public sewer. Homes in Braden Woods are zoned to Braden River Elementary, Braden River Middle, and Lakewood Ranch high school.  River Club - River Club is a deed-restricted community located in Bradenton, just outside of Lakewood Ranch, with no CDD fees and low HOA fees. There is a semi-private golf club and restaurant that is also open to the public for select hours. River Club was primarily built in the 1990’s and early 2000’s, and has smaller sections within it including River Club North, River Club South, and River Club Sanctuary. Many of the lots are 1 – 3 acres in size, which is more than the average in this area. Homes in River Club were originally built by well-known names such as Todd Johnston and Arthur Rutenberg. River Club accommodates a wide range of lots and properties, from maintenance-free villas to larger estates. The 3-5 bedroom residences start at $350,000 and extend to $900,000. The HOA fees are about $70/month for most homes and there are no additional CDD fees. The homes in River Club are also zoned to Braden River Elementary and Braden River Middle School, which can be found right within the neighborhood. Older students are zoned to Lakewood Ranch High School. Rosedale - Rosedale is a gated golf course village located East of I-75, north of Sarasota in the Lakewood Ranch area. This location is very convenient for commuters and residents, with access to all Lakewood Ranch and the UTC area has to offer, as well as quick access to I-75. This maintenance-free community has no CDD fees and a private Golf membership for residents. Homes for sale in Rosedale are a mixture of newly-built homes and resale. Lennar built many of the homes in Rosedale and offer floor plans ranging in size from 1,500 square feet to over 2,400 square feet. Ashton Woods is an additional builder in Rosedale with some homes still under construction. Residents can choose to join the golf membership, but social membership is required for most homesites with an annual fee. Also included is a new clubhouse, tennis, pool, fitness center, and full service restaurant with no minimum spend. Rosedale is zoned to Braden River Elementary, Braden River Middle School, and Lakewood Ranch High school. For more information on golf or other membership, contact us! Eagle Trace - This neighborhood was built by Neal Communities starting in 2015. It is a small, gated enclave of just under 300 homes and villas, conveniently located right off State Rd 64. There are nature trails, dog parks, tennis courts, a playground, recreation center, and community pool within the neighborhood. Lawn maintenance is also included in the low monthly HOA fees and there are no CDD fees. Homes in Eagle Trace are zoned to Lakewood Ranch schools: Gullett Elementary, Mona Jain Middle, and Lakewood Ranch High. Serenity Creek – This gated neighborhood was built by Meritage Homes and is a small section of energy-efficient, larger two-story floorplans (primarily). All homes at Serenity Creek are equipped with special windows, Energy Star appliances, water-efficient fixtures, spray-foam insulation, smart HVAC system, and other features that translate into monthly utility bill savings. Inside the community, residents can enjoy a dog park, playground, and trails to walk, run, or bike for an HOA fee of under $100/month. This neighborhood was built within the last 5 years, so resale homes are relatively new and modern. Most homes in Serenity Creek are zoned to Lakewood Ranch Schools – Gullett Elementary, Jain Middle, and LWR High School. There are no CDD fees in Serenity Creek. Avaunce - Avaunce by KB Home is a gated community in Bradenton, FL, right in the heart of Lakewood Ranch yet without the CDD fees. This commuter-friendly location is just minutes from I-75, Hwy. 70 and Hwy. 64. With 8 floorplans to choose from, families can find the space they need without the extra fees. This community does not offer many amenities, but there is a pool and cabana for the residents to use. It is not maintenance-free, but all of these options help to keep the HOA fee and cost of living down for homeowners. Homes for sale in Avaunce were built by KB Home and range in size from 1,200 square feet to over 3,000 square feet. The largest floorplan can have 6 bedrooms and pricing on homes starts in the mid $200,000s. They are also zoned to Lakewood Ranch Schools: Gullett, Mona Jain, and LWR High. If you are interested in learning more about the homes in these neighboring communities, contact us today! We would love to help you find your dream home in the Lakewood Ranch area. |
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Charles Rutenberg Realty
"The Standard of Excellence"
Florida's Largest Real Estate Office
941-348-2653 | Sitemap
"The Standard of Excellence"
Florida's Largest Real Estate Office
941-348-2653 | Sitemap
