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Welcome home to 7531 Windy Hill Cove, Lakewood Ranch 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 and is 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
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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 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 powerwashed 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. '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! 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! 941-348-2653 contact@chenkus.com 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. 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! 941-348-2653 contact@chenkus.com Follow us on social media: @soldbychenkus 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.
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