 'Tis the season for spreading some cheer and here in Lakewood Ranch, this is as much a priority this year as it ever has been (in the safest ways possible!) Main Street's halls have been decked, the tree looks beautiful, and the elves are hiding! (I’ll explain, below) Today, we share some fun activities happening in and around Lakewood Ranch this holiday season so you can get a taste of what life on the Ranch is all about! 1. Spot the Elves on Main Street! Nineteen mischievous elves are hiding throughout Main Street. Can you find them all? Find at least ten elves to enter the contest for a chance to win $500 in Main Street gift cards. The contest ends on January 1, 2021. Winners will be announced on January 8, 2021. 2. Carriage Rides on Main Street Take a relaxing carriage ride down Main Street and celebrate the Christmas season with us! Free to the public. Pickup and drop off is at the Christmas Tree. Thursday, December 3rd – 6:30-8:30 Wednesday , December 9th -6:30-8:30 Thursday, December 17th – 6:30-8:30 Rides will be limited to two adults or one family at a time. Seats and carriage will be disinfected after each ride. Social distance will be in effect while waiting. 3. Virtual Lakewood Ranch Holiday Art Project Create a fun craft with Kori! Saturday December 19th at 3PM (online) 4. Hunsader Farms Country Christmas Visit the farm for Country Christmas this year! They will have over 300,000 lights, hayrides, train rides, pony rides, food, Christmas music, petting zoo, snow tubing, and more! 12/11/20, 12/12/20, 12/13/20, 12/18/20, 12/19/20, 12/20/20 Hours: 6pm-10pm   5. UTC Holiday Festival of Lights This year’s reimagined holiday experience – UTC Holiday Festival of Lights – is aimed at inspiring awe and wonder in the hearts of friends, families and communities through millions of lights over 44 nights. Take in the sights and sounds of the season with fresh-air festivities including: Light shows choregraphed to music Nightly | 6:30-9:30 PM, every 30 minutes | Viewing areas around Cattlemen Drive Holiday movies under the stars Fridays & Saturdays | 7 PM | West District, parking area across from DSW Fireworks Saturdays | 9 PM Horse-drawn carriage rides* ($5 per passenger) Thursdays-Saturdays, 6-10 PM | Sundays 6-8:30 PM | Pick up/drop off at Mall at UTC valet area * Rides provided on first-come, first-served basis Outdoor holiday market Nov. 21-22 & Dec. 5-6 | 11 AM - 7 PM Saturday and 11 AM - 6 PM Sunday | Mall at UTC, parking area adjacent to Brio Tuscan Grille Ugly Sweater Alley West District, between BurgerFi and Ethan Allen Giant holiday greeting card displays, decorated by local schools Plus so much more magical, memorable experiences! Help us spread cheer, not germs! 6. Rye Road Giraffes Christmas Celebration and Circus The Christmas Carol Circus, featuring their caroling ringmaster that will be singing some of our favorite Christmas songs live, will be performing on scheduled Saturdays and Sundays throughout December.🎉🎄🎅 There will also be optional children's activities happening before the show, such as Pony rides, camels rides, face painting, bounce houses, and of course animal feedings that will be available for all ages. (Fees apply) The farm will be decorated for the holidays, so don't forget your camera 📸 Choose one of the following🎟️ Saturday Dec 5th at 11am or 3pm Sunday Dec 6th at 11am or 3pm Adult tickets - $15 Childrens tickets - $5 (ages 4 - 10) (a non refundable deposit may apply) 7. St. Armand’s Circle Holiday Night of Lights Friday December 4 at 6:00PM Kick off the season on the circle as they light the largest tree on the Gulf coast! 8. Sarasota Christmas Glow Run 5K Saturday December 19 at 6PM This family friendly event at Nathan Benderson Park features Christmas lights and music to get you in the spirit (and make you run faster!) 9. Holiday Splendor Drive-Thru Experience: The Ringling will hold a drive-thru version of its Holiday Splendor event, with holiday decorations and a toy drive. Cars can drive through Central Campus Gate, complete the loop around the Museum of Art, and exit via the South Gate. Guests who donate unwrapped new toys will receive a coupon for $5 off their next museum visit, with free cocoa and cookies served by Metz Catering. 6-8 p.m. Dec. 3 10. Sarasota Trolley’s Holiday Tour of Lights See homes decorated for the holidays from the comfort of the Sarasota Trolley with tours departing nightly at 6:15 and 8:15 p.m. Dec. 4-30. Guests are welcome to bring along a beverage and a snack. The trolley departs from the parking lot at Burlington Coat Factory at the corner of Cattlemen and Bee Ridge roads. Tickets are $15 per person. Reservations and masks are required and trolleys are sanitized between each tour. 11. A Taste of Chanukah: The 10th annual event will feature a snow slide, BMX performers, kosher food by Michael’s on East, a helicopter Chanukah gelt drop, Latkes by Sam, Kona Ice and more. 4-6 p.m. Dec. 13; Phillippi Estate Park ....and more! 🎄☃️🎁☕️🎅🏼💫✨ We live in Lakewood Ranch and love sharing local events and news with you because we truly do love it here! If you’re considering a move, let us help you find the perfect spot. Contact us today! Give yourself the gift of a new home and Florida lifestyle for the holidays! 😎🌴 Michael & Courtney Chenkus Charles Rutenberg Realty | Lakewood Ranch (941) 348-2653 Contact@chenkus.com Happy Holidays!
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There are many do's and don'ts when it comes to real estate. Buying new construction may be something you have never experienced before, and there are a few ways to make the process easier. One of those things, is working with us! 😉 There are also a few things you want to avoid, not do, and not be fooled by throughout this process. Today, we share 5 of the things you want to not do when buying or building new. If you have any questions on this information, we are always here to help! 1- don’t sign anything or fill anything out When you visit model home sales centers, there is usually a form that the salespeople want you to fill out in order to register. This form captures your personal contact information and might ask some general questions about your home search. Don’t feel pressured to fill it out! If you have a realtor with you and they explain the form so you feel comfortable completing it, then go ahead. If you are on your own and just beginning your search, say you’d prefer not to fill anything out just yet. Sometimes, if the forms are completed on your first visit and you didn’t bring a realtor with you, it makes it difficult to get them involved in the transaction later on. Also, the salespeople may send you emails and text messages about the community and the information can get overwhelming. Let your agent do the research and weed through all that info for you! 2 - don’t share any personal info or opinions When looking at the models (or any home) don’t share your personal information or opinions in front of the salespeople. You want to put yourself in the best position to negotiate and revealing all the details about your financial situation, timing, and thoughts about the house could weaken that position. Definitely share that information with your realtor privately, but don’t have those candid conversations until you are alone. Let the salespeople wonder what you think about the house! 3 - don’t expect the traditional real estate contract If you have bought or sold real estate in a traditional resale transaction, there was probably a common state-wide or commonly used contract that all realtors were familiar with for those residential transactions. However, when you go the new construction route, each builder has their own unique contract that they utilize. Your realtor should be able to review this with you and point out the important details and differences at this phase in the transaction. It may be much longer than a residential resale contract, so use them as a resource to make sure you understand it before signing! 4 - don’t be fooled by the “base price” & don’t expect your home to look like the model We have mentioned it in previous videos but to recap, the price listed on builder websites and advertised on signs around the community is the “base price” of the home. If it were delivered empty with basic interior finishes and floating in the air, that would be the price. If you want to actually build on planet earth, there are additional costs like the lot fee, interior options and upgrades, pools, etc. So that initial price is very misleading. Along those same lines, the detail and finishing in the model homes can be deceiving. Your home will be built with standard walls, basic ceilings, paint, floors, cabinets, and maybe appliances. Any fancy trim or detail, as well as nicer floors and finishes, are all upgrades that cost more money. Keep that in mind when considering a budget! 5 - Don’t discount the element of timing and how important it is Real estate transactions follow a process and have many steps. From start to finish, timing is very important. That includes the timing of finding a community you love, building the house, selling your current house, making design choices, moving in, and everything in between. All of those steps are like dominoes and if one gets stuck or doesn’t fall in the right order, it de rails the entire process. You want to start by talking to a lender and figuring out finances. Can you even buy a house? When can you sell your house within the process to make it work? Most builders won’t take a contingency on a sale, so that is a very important timing element. Then, decide on the community and if you need to build or buy inventory. Building takes at least 6 months, sometimes up to a year with a custom builder. All of that timing needs to be considered! All in all, the process of buying or building new can be confusing and overwhelming, so it helps to work with a great realtor who understands it, can help make it less stressful, and has your best interests at heart. This video shared some things to NOT do, but one of the most important things you CAN and should do is find a great agent to work with. If you’re looking for a home in Lakewood Ranch, we would love to be that agent for you! Shoreview at Lakewood Ranch Waterside – Pinnacle Model Tour
Waterside at Lakewood Ranch is one of the newest and most popular spots in Lakewood Ranch. It currently consists of two villages, Shoreview and Lakehouse Cove, with room for more! Then there is Waterside Place, which will be the new hub of activity in Lakewood Ranch slated to open in the spring. We have talked about the models and amenities at Lakehouse Cove in previous videos, so today we wanted to show you some of Shoreview and give a tour of the Pinnacle model. Shoreview at Lakewood Ranch Waterside is developed by Pulte. They offer 9 floorplans to choose from with a variety of structural options to customize the home for your needs. They also have some of the most impressive water views in all of Lakewood Ranch – but those home sites definitely come with a bigger price tag! This Natural gas community with approximately 246 single family homes centered around 144 acres of existing lakes is 3 Miles from Interstate 75 and walking distance to Waterside Place. These homes range in size from 2,000 square feet to over 4,000 square feet with one and two story plans. Their base prices start just under $500,000, not including the lot or interior choices/options and pools. Shoreview at Lakewood Ranch Waterside has its own beautiful amenity center including a beach area with hammocks and chaise lounges, fire pits, heated resort-style pool & spa, Kayak launch, outdoor bar & BBQ grills, Tennis & pickleball courts, Multi-purpose turf lawn, Clubhouse with community gathering room & kitchen, and a State-of-the-art fitness center. For more information on their amenities, check out this video: https://youtu.be/Q7zq8Dk3-FU Interested in building in Shoreview at Lakewood Ranch Waterside? Contact us for more details and to help you get started! We would love to talk to you about Lakewood Ranch, Florida real estate! Email us: Contact@chenkus.com Follow us on social media: @soldbychenkus Thanks for watching! #lakewoodranchFL #modelhomeslakewoodranch #lakewoodranchrealtor Have you read a description of a home in Florida and wondered what half of the words meant? Have you Googled the phrases “lanai” and “lot premium” to try and better understand what it all means? Search no more, we are here to help! If you are moving to the area from out of state, there might be some Florida-based real estate/house lingo that sounds foreign. Today, we explain what the most commonly used terms mean, how it relates to real estate, and provide examples of that specific to Lakewood Ranch, Florida. Let’s get started! Types of Homes Villa (detached) - this is a single family, one story home, possibly with a side entry to the house. The layout tends to be longer and narrower than traditional Single-Family layouts. Paired or Quad villas - these will be attached and share one (or two) walls. The end units usually have more windows versus an interior unit, and these will have In many communities, Villas are treated as a single family home in the sense that you can add a pool or extended enclosure area. For example, the Ibis paired villas in Esplanade at Azario allow homeowners to extend their lanai and add a small pool/spool. However, they charge a bit higher of an HOA fee because they take reserves to cover roofing and exterior painting, kind of like a condo.. Condo - in Florida, a condo is usually a single story unit in a high-rise or multi level building. Sometimes there are detached or attached garages and storage space, sometimes just carports or cars in front. Townhome-this is a multi-level, single family home. Usually the garage is the first floor and then the main living space is in the middle with the bedrooms upstairs. Mallory Park at Lakewood Ranch has unique townhomes with the garages in the back through an alley between homes, so the front of the home has a porch and standard entrance. Apartment - a rental unit in a larger building with its own amenities and rules Single family homes- I think this one is pretty self-explanatory..
Features in Florida Homes Lanai- this is a Hawaiian term used for a veranda connected to the main house with roof on top and open sides. It can be used as a living area and promotes natural air circulation. Lanais are best for tropical weather that allows people to sit outside, which is why they work so well in Florida. This is generally the covered area connected to the roof in the back of the house, screened in. You can extend your lanai to include your pool and additional decking, then cover it with your screen.. Screen/Cage enclosure- this becomes an extension of your lanai because you can include the pool and additional decking, then close it in with the screen or cage. Hurricane impact glass (windows and doors) – Seems self explanatory, but also means that you don’t need to worry about hurricane shutters, as this does the job for you. If you have the option to upgrade to this when building, I highly recommend it. Most builders include hurricane impact glass on front windows and doors, but add the back, as well, if you can! Elevation – Generally, this term refers to the height above sea level, however, in the context of new construction in Florida, this refers to the exterior look of the home or front façade. Builders offer different elevations to make the homes look different from one another, and sometimes there are additional costs involved with choosing one elevation versus the other. Maintenance Free -A funny term because it is definitely not free, but this is the term used in communities where the HOA fee covers all of your lawn and yard maintenance. Maintenance included might be a better way to describe it! Homes that are not maintenance free require homeowners to do their own yard and lawn care, or hire a landscaping company.  Pool Lanai and Screen Enclosure in Shoreview at Waterside Lakewood Ranch How Pricing Works AC square feet - on a floorplan, this is the number to pay attention to. It will include all of the living space under the roof within the A/C, excluding the lanai and garage spaces. The "total living area" includes all of those extra spaces. Base price – If you were to build the house floating in space with basic finishes in it, this is the price. It does not include the land, pool, or any interior finishes and upgrades. Lot premiums- Now, you have to put the home on land somewhere, so the lot premium is the cost of the land you choose. A water view lot is going to have a higher premium than a preserve lot, although both beautiful. A corner lot or one that backs up to a wall, busy street, or another home will have a much lower premium. Add this to the base price of the home, as a starting point. Design options – Now, you need to add the interior finishes to the home to make it what you want! These design options range in price for each builder. Some builders, such as Lennar, offer a few options and upgrades that would keep your design options limited, but also super affordable. For a more custom design, like with Homes by Towne, you can estimate that you will spend about 15-18% of the base price of your home on options (which on a $500,000 is at least $50,000). Add your base price + lot premium + design options (estimate) to get a better idea of the full price. Then, add the pool if you plan to put one in! (Average pool would be about $50,000 for easy estimates) I hope this was helpful to better understand the commonly used terms associated with new construction in Lakewood Ranch and home building in Florida.
Still have questions? Contact us today! Email: contact@chenkus.com Phone: (941) 348-2653 Lakewood Ranch Neighborhood Close Out! | Village Update
There are currently 28 villages in Lakewood Ranch right now 20 villages are actively selling new homes Of those 20, 8 villages are more than 50% complete, which means there are limited opportunities to build or buy in the following spots: Arbor Grande, Mallory Park, Indigo, Esplanade, Palisades, Lakewood National, Polo Run, Country Club East Arbor Grande was built by Lennar (CalAtlantic formerly) and is 100% SOLD OUT of Single Family Homes. There are limited villas remaining and resale options in this village. Mallory Park is built by DiVosta and they are 80% COMPLETE. Some Single Family lots remain and a few Townhomes are still available to be built. Indigo by Neal Communities is about 70% COMPLETE. There are some remaining single family lots to build on and a big chunk of areas for twin villas. Esplanade Golf & Country Club us 100% SOLD OUT of new Single Family homes. There are condos still being built and resale in this village. They are also working on the new Esplanade at Azario village with many new construction options. Palisades is more than 50% COMPLETE and they have a lot of inventory homes being built on the remaining lots. Their new Solera community is now open and selling, as well. Lakewood National is around 70% SOLD OUT already. This is a larger golf community that is selling quickly. Home sites and condos are still available, as of now. Polo Run has only single family homes and is about 75% COMPLETE. They have some lots remaining, but premium water and preserve lots are selling quickly. Country Club East is one of the largest villages with over 1,300 homes and it is almost COMPLETE! Lennar has 11 lots left and only 6 are not pre-permitted. Cardel has 6 lots remaining and Neal Signature has a few spread throughout the community, but all builders in CCE are running low on remaining lots. To learn more about these villages, check out our video tours: Esplanade Golf & Country Club - https://youtu.be/EJduGVkjc88 Mallory Park Lakewood Ranch - https://youtu.be/3i73zM1xNl0 Palisades Lakewood Ranch - https://youtu.be/2LscGVD3_bo Indigo Lakewood Ranch - https://youtu.be/fxFJ5orUil4 Polo Run Lakewood Ranch - https://youtu.be/i_EwUktlnQg Country Club East Lakewood Ranch- https://youtu.be/-XPBYb02j3o If you want to build or buy a new home in one of these Lakewood Ranch neighborhoods, contact us today before they are sold out! We would love to help you find your dream home and welcome you to Lakewood Ranch. As a husband and wife real estate team, we are passionate about the Lakewood Ranch area. We live here, love it here, and can’t wait to share our real estate knowledge of this area with you! Email us! Contact@chenkus.com We are back at Waterside Lakewood Ranch! This time, we wanted to focus on the Cutter series in the Homes by Towne section of Lakehouse Cove. These are smaller homes on narrower lots in a great price point! In this video, we tour the Beacon Model which has 2 bedrooms, plus a den, 2 bathrooms, and a 2 car garage. The highlight of this home is the wall of sliders leading to the lanai - stunning! Base price: $369,900 The model shown with all of these gorgeous upgrades on this beautiful water lot probably lands in the low $500,000s. We also tour the Skiff Model in this second video. This home is a little bigger at 2,153 square feet with 3 bedrooms plus a den, 2 bathrooms, and a 2 car garage. The base price is $399,900 and pools can be added on most lots in the Cutter series, as well. They have inventory homes available and lots to build on, so if you love either floorplan, call us today and we can help you make your new Lakehouse Cove home a reality!
Learn more about Waterside Lakewood Ranch: https://youtu.be/Q7zq8Dk3-FU Looking for a larger home? See our other Homes By Towne model tours – The Outrigger: https://youtu.be/Xclhj9IjDX8 The Tideland: https://youtu.be/7vthSvbLZZU Contact us today to learn about other Lakewood Ranch homes! We love working with buyers and sellers in the Sarasota/Manatee County area of Florida! Looking elsewhere? We can refer you to a great agent! Contact@Chenkus.com (941) 348-2653 https://www.facebook.com/soldbychenkus/ About 6 months ago we did a video on a Market Update for Lakewood Ranch, looking ahead for 2020 and the new villages being constructed. If you missed it, you can watch that video here: https://youtu.be/HlHt7s8UoEA Since then, we have done individual video updates for each of these new villages as they start construction and sales. We have visited Esplanade, Lorraine Lakes, Solera, and as of today – Windward. You can find the other videos below, and continue reading to learn more about Windward! Or visit our website page here: https://www.soldbychenkus.com/windward-at-lakewood-ranch.html Esplanade at Azario: https://youtu.be/tDbjlLaoTt8 Lorraine Lakes: https://youtu.be/MWXg0jxBoZ4 Solera: https://youtu.be/zENDTtYVwiY Windward Info Windward Lakewood Ranch is a brand new Neal community, set to open this fall. Homes and lots are currently available for pre-sale as they finish the models and entrance to the village. This new construction village is set to have a variety of single-family homes and villas, as well as a variety of amenities for residents. It is located conveniently close to downtown Sarasota, Waterside Place, and I-75 in the Sarasota County section of Lakewood Ranch. This video gives you a visual of the layout and landscape of the village, as well as additional JUST-RELEASED info on pricing and fees. Check out our Windward page for more information or contact us below if you are interested in becoming a resident of Windward at Lakewood Ranch! Contact us to learn more about any of these new villages in Lakewood Ranch! Courtney & Michael Chenkus contact@chenkus.com (941) 348-2653 www.facebook.com/SoldByChenkus Solera at Lakewood Ranch is a brand new DR Horton village in the Northeast corner of Lakewood Ranch, right near Lorraine Lakes. This village will consist of 675 homessites featuring single-family, one- and two-story homes. Homes will range in size from 1,498 sq. ft. to 4,033 sq. ft, including some multi-generational living plans. Homes will be constructed with all concrete block and will come equipped with Home is Connected, America’s Smart Home package, a stainless steel appliance package, and granite countertops in the kitchen. Homeowners will be able to enjoy state of the art amenities, including the community resort-style pool, clubhouse, and tot lot for the kiddos.  There are 14 floor plans to choose from. The smaller homes from 1,400 square feet start in the high $200s, while the largest floorplan at 4,033 square feet starts around $465,000. Construction has started and inventory homes are currently being built. Homesites are also selling and they are working on models for this village. These homes are not maintenance free, so you are responsible for some yard care, but the HOA fee will probably be less than $100/month and the CDD fees are around $1,133 annually, per house. Solera at Lakewood Ranch is zoned to Gullett Elementary, Mona Jain Middle, and Lakewood Ranch High Schools. For more information, contact us today! Lorraine Lakes is a brand new Lennar community located in the Northeast corner of Lakewood Ranch. True to its namesake, the community is designed around many sparkling lakes, offering sweeping water and preserve views on the home sites. The village is planned to have over 1,300 homes with 16 floorplans to choose from. It will also be highly amenitized with a clubhouse that includes fitness and aerobics facilities, social rooms, coffee bar, indoor basketball, lockers, sauna and an arcade. Outside, residents can relax beside a luxurious pool and spa and order a drink from the poolside café. Tennis courts, basketball and pickleball courts present opportunities for friendly games, while the event and sports lawn promise entertainment and a place to gather with neighbors. Homes in Lorraine Lakes will be a part of the following collections and range in pricing, as well as size: Collections Executive Homes Price: $319,999 - $409,999 | Size: 1,849 - 3,231 sq. ft. | Approximate HOA Fees: $385 Manor Homes Price: $359,999 - $479,999 | Size: 2,244 - 3,867 sq. ft. | Approximate HOA Fees: $391 Estate Homes Price: $412,999 - $544,999 | Size: 2,361 - 3,945 sq. ft. | Approximate HOA Fees: $398 Villas Price: $239,999 - $247,999 | Size: 1,417 - 1,564 sq. ft. | Approximate HOA Fees: $348 Townhomes (TBD)  Construction has begun and home sites are currently selling. There will be 5 model homes, which are built but not yet decorated, and we give you a preview of the Sunset Model Floorplan in the video, above! There will also be some move-in ready homes built by December 2020, so ask us about those options if you’d like more information! Resort Style Amenities Planned for Lorraine Lakes:
For a Manor Home in Lorraine Lakes: Stewardship (CDD) Fee - $1,952.37 / year Lorraine Lakes Amenitiy Fee: $125 / month (includes clubhouse and pool, tennis, sports courts, fitness center, gates, etc) Lorraine Lakes Master Association Fee: $65 / month (maintains monuments at entry ways, clubhouse and common areas) Lawn Maintenance, Cable & Internet: $201 / month Total : $391 / month Also, there is a $500 minimum spend on food and beverage at the clubhouse in a full calendar year. Lorraine Lakes is zoned to Gullett Elementary, Mona Jain Middle, and Lakewood Ranch High Schools. To learn more about this new Lakewood Ranch Village and the opportunity to build a home here, contact us today! Download your free Guide here in order 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 super 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 for yourself so that 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 25 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, some coming soon or new Villages that haven't started yet or have just started, newer resale which would be communities that are pretty much built out or completely built out but homes are available for resale in there that are only a couple years old, and then the older resale which would be the original Lakewood Ranch Villages like Edgewater, Greenbrook, Riverwalk, Summerfield, and Country Club. Depending on that list, 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 when you move to Lakewood Ranch. 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. The most ammentized villages are Esplanade, Waterside, and Lorraine Lakes is planned to be another one. 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 may 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 |
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