WHERE LIFE BEGINS AT 55

Latitude Margaritaville reflects the laid-back vibe of Jimmy Buffett, with an emphasis on enjoying leisure-time activities. Developed by Minto Communities, the community offers “conch cottages,” villas and single-family homes, with prices starting in the low $200s.

AT 55

The region’s active adult communities offer styles of life in many shapes, sizes and amenities.

BY MICHAEL CANDELARIA

How big is the active adult (age 55plus) community market nationwide? In a word, huge. Consider that in 2019, home sales in active adult communities totaled more than $534 billion.

Then consider that the market is projected to grow more than 4 percent annually through 2027, when sales are expected to pass $732 billion. That means the active adult trend is not only hot today, the forecast calls for it to get even hotter.

Residents of Legacy Pointe at UCF have lifelong access to assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing and rehabilitation services. And they’ll receive a UCF student ID card, offering access to a multigenerational campus where lifelong learning programs, activities and events abound.

Fact is, before turning 65, ever-increasing numbers of people between 55 and 64 years of age will seek maintenance-free living filled with recreational activities in communities that typically are built near other amenities, such as shopping malls, parks, restaurants and similar places for socializing.

Taking notice, the National Association of Home Builders has a 55+ Housing Industry Council, which serves builders and industry professionals who work in what the trade association calls “the strongest growth segment of today’s housing market: meeting the needs of aging but vibrant boomers.”

Also notably, in metro Orlando by 2030, the number of seniors (people aged 55 or older) is projected to reach 1 million and outnumber people aged 17 or younger for the first time ever, according to the University of Florida Bureau of Economic and Business Research.

And here’s even better news for those in that continually broadening demographic group: Central Florida has a wealth of 55-plus communities scattered across the region, easily totaling more than two-dozen and well equipped to accommodate even more.

So, if you’re looking for active-adult communities filled with amenities, here’s a sampling of the diverse lifestyles these communities very capably deliver.

BACK TO SCHOOL

Just as the calendar turned to 2020, Legacy Pointe at UCF began construction on its 43.5-acre community near the University of Central Florida.

By fall 2021, even before residents began moving in, the new community — affiliated with the university — was more than 80 percent presold.

Directly across from Seminole County’s Econ River Wilderness Area, Legacy Pointe offers residents the opportunity to live in spacious villas and apartment homes. The community includes common areas such as a swimming pool, game room, auditorium, salon and spa, and fitness center.

Additionally, residents have lifelong access to assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing and rehabilitation services. Much of that care will come from UCF.

Further, residents will receive a UCF student ID card and have access to a multigenerational campus where lifelong learning programs, activities and events will be offered.

As a sign of the times, in fall 2020, UCF’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management introduced the state’s first Senior Living Management Bachelor of Science degree, an interdisciplinary program that combines hospitality management with aging studies and healthcare management.

When they tell you that at K. Hovnanian’s Four Seasons you can walk outside your back door and play golf, they aren’t kidding. And it’s all just down the street (almost literally) from Disney and the quaint town of Celebration, with its many stores, cafés and healthcare facilities.

All totaled, Legacy Pointe consists of 32 independent-living villas; 140 independent-living apartments; 48 assisted-living and memory care apartments; and 48 skilled nursing suites.

Price points vary based on a variety of factors. Applicants pay an entrance fee based on the size of their apartment home or villa, plus a monthly fee to cover all amenities, services, utilities, dining and healthcare.

In one recent example, a resident’s down payment was $38,000, equaling about a 10 percent deposit for the entrance fee, to reserve a one-bedroom apartment with a den. Also, there’s a monthly fee, which in this instance was approximately $4,800. legacypointeatucf.com 407-917-6418

THEMED RESORT

K. Hovnanian’s Four Seasons at Orlando is, in fact, located in Kissimmee. Yet, there’s no uncertainty about the emphasis at this gate-guarded community. It’s resort-style living with an emphasis on relaxation and recreation.

Community amenities include a 12,000-square-foot clubhouse with a swimming pool, a state-of-the-art fitness center, arts and crafts rooms, more than 10 activity clubs, walking trails, a dog park and sports courts galore — for everything from pickleball and bocce ball to tennis. Yes, residents can play 18 holes of golf on site, too.

And it’s all just down the street (almost literally) from Disney and the quaint town of Celebration, with its many stores, cafés and healthcare facilities.

Villas are priced from $336,990. One example is the single-story Emelie, consisting of 1,435 square feet and a two-car garage. Single-family homes start from $474,990, including the nearly 2,000-square-foot Saint Lucia and the 2,445-squarefoot Tobago.

A total of more than 500 single-family homes are planned for the community, which has been in the works since late 2015 but is now operating at full speed since opening about two years ago. khov.com 352-717-4574

NATURE COMMUNE

Living at the Esplanade at Highland Ranch in Clermont could be a healthy decision. The Taylor Morrison community features TM LiveWell — a suite of home products and technologies focused on providing healthier air, cleaner water and safer paint.

For example, enhanced air filtration effectively removes dust, dirt and mold, while the use of low-VOC paint means ex-

Amenities at Esplenade at Highland Ranch include a clubhouse (above) with a fitness room and a multipurpose room for yoga and exercise classes, along with a card room, a treatment room, a coffee bar and a catering kitchen. Home choices include the 2,275-square-foot Lazio model (below), priced from $505,900.

posure to fewer chemicals. Other healthy components include filtered water at the kitchen sink, engineered to reduce contaminants; and a hands-free kitchen faucet to help prevent the spread of germs.

At the same time, Highland Ranch is oriented around an extensive network of parks and open spaces that provide opportunities to stay active, meet neighbors and have direct access to nature. Three miles of walking trails connect directly to the seven-mile South Lake Trail, which links up with the 19-mile West Orange Trail.

For other forms of recreation, community amenities include a clubhouse with a fitness room and a multipurpose room for yoga and exercise classes, along with a card room, a treatment room, a coffee bar and a catering kitchen.

Also, there are play areas for pickleball, bocce ball, tennis and billiards. There’s even a full-time, onsite lifestyle manager to assist in coordinating activities and events.

As for the homes, new construction brings one-story living and floorplans that measure up to 2,929 square feet with three-car garages. Each floorplan is available in a variety of elevations, with prices ranging from about $334,995 to $415,477.

The smallest home is the 1,610-square-foot Capri (two bedrooms, and two bathrooms), which is priced starting at $378,995. Some of the larger models are already sold out.

Clermont, of course, is part of booming Lake County. But despite the growth, as evidenced by Esplanade at Highland Ranch, there’s plenty of nature to enjoy. esplanadehighlandranchlifestyle.com 866-325-0703

WAVE OF POPULARITY

Latitude Margaritaville Daytona Beach — inspired by the legendary music and lifestyle of singer, songwriter and bestselling author Jimmy Buffett — opened in June 2019 to rave reviews.

Beazer Homes’ Gatherings of Lake Nona is a tightknit community within the burgeoning metropolis of Lake Nona in southeast Orange County. And the sunset views (above) are mighty pretty looking over the pool from the clubhouse deck. Home choices include the 1,368-square-foot Aspen model facing page), priced from $354,990.

Developed by Minto Communities, the community offers “conch cottages,” villas and single-family homes, with prices starting in the low $200s.

The Conch Collection of cottages range in size from 1,204 to 1,466 square feet and are priced starting from $233,900. The Caribbean Collection of villas (1,503-1,862 square feet) are priced starting at $273,490.

The largest single-family homes are 2,564 square feet and are priced starting from $374,990. Each new Latitude home is designed and built to provide a low-maintenance lifestyle with an accent on environmental sustainability and energy efficiency.

Latitude’s Town Center amenities include a thatched roof bandshell with full-size concert stage, a jumbo screen to show live concerts and movies and a dedicated area for dancing.

A fitness center sits adjacent to a lagoon-style pool with “beach” entry (it’s a manmade beach) and its own Tiki Island, among other highlights. There are pickleball courts, too, along with a nature trail, the Barkaritaville Dog Park and a residents-only Beach Club nearby on the Atlantic Ocean.

Not coincidentally, Latitude Margaritaville ranked No. 20 nationally on the prestigious John Burns Real Estate Consulting list of 2020’s Top 50 Master-Planned Communities. Meanwhile, net sales for 2020 totaled 645, a 48 percent increase over 2019.

In January 2021, Minto Communities closed on a 260-acre property just east of the existing Latitude Margaritaville Daytona Beach community to expand by another 500 homes. Minto now is approved to build 3,900 homes at Latitude Margaritaville Daytona Beach. latitudemargaritaville.com 866-464-7137

MASTER PLAN

The Gatherings of Lake Nona is a small, tightknit community within a sprawling mega development. As such, the Gatherings offers some of the best of 55-plus living within what has become the burgeoning metropolis of Lake Nona in southeast Orange County.

Lake Nona is a 17-square-mile, master-planned community developed by Tavistock Development Company. It’s continually ranked among the fastest-growing communities in the country and is known for well-designed neighborhoods, top-rated educational facilities, the latest technologies, thriving business and research clusters, vibrant retail and entertainment centers, and diverse workspaces.

Lake Nona neighborhoods are designed to support and encourage an active lifestyle with more than 40 miles of trails, dozens of parks and hundreds of community events each year. Also, the entire community is part of the Lake Nona Life Proj-

Hyde Park is a gated manufactured-home community on the doorstep of vibrant downtown Winter Garden. Community amenities include a clubhouse that includes a large swimming pool as well as a whirlpool spa, a fully equipped kitchen, a billiards room, a fitness room, shuffleboard courts and barbeque/picnic area. Some homes are priced below $100,000.

ect, a long-term wellness study that examines the associations between lifestyles and health.

Residents of the Gatherings receive those benefits, plus they can experience low-maintenance condominium life priced from approximately $320,000 to more than $450,000. The two- and three-bedroom condos, built by Beazer Homes, range in size from 1,368 to 1,805 square feet and come with elevator access.

The largest of the floorplans is the Dogwood (priced from $400,670), which touts “dedicated spaces” that include a large study, an elegant dining room, an open breakfast area and a secluded guest retreat. beazer.com 321-445-5050

MANUFACTURED APPEAL

Luxury comes in numerous shapes and sizes. For proof, there’s Hyde Park, a gated manufactured-home community. This community is all about unexpected quality and the benefits of location — on the doorstep of vibrant downtown Winter Garden.

In prototypical fashion, Hyde Park plays to the strengths of Winter Garden’s adjacent town amenities. Just beyond the community’s gates, Plant Street Market features organic food and handmade crafts. Additionally, residents can learn about old Florida by visiting nearby history museums; watch movies and plays at the historic Garden Theatre; and dine at one of the many distinctive eateries along the West Orange Trail. Plus, they can soak up the retro ambiance at the historic downtown clock tower and pavilion, or bird-watch and commune with nature by the lake.

Meanwhile, the community has plenty of features of its own, including a clubhouse with a large swimming pool as well as a whirlpool spa, a fully equipped kitchen, a billiards room, a fitness room, shuffleboard courts and barbeque/picnic area.

In similar style, a wide range of attractive two- and three- bedroom manufactured homes are available. One such home, preowned with a sale pending in mid-December, was priced at $90,000.

The floorplan featured a flex space for a home office or crafting area; a cathedral ceiling; a master bedroom/bathroom with a walk-in shower; and a light, bright kitchen with a dining area and abundant counterspace and all the appliances. The exterior boasted a shingled roof and sunroom, among other elements.

BlairGroup Communities, the marketer of Hyde Park, labels the project “surprisingly affordable.” hydeparkfla.com 407-656-9712

SAN SEBASTIAN RESERVE

Enjoy Living with Amazing Amenities!

Life at San Sebastian Reserve offers idyllic homes with access to spectacular amenities and the stunning surroundings of Apopka, Florida. These single-family homes feature sprawling interiors with gourmet kitchens, luxurious owner’s suites, and large covered lanais. Plus, enjoy a community cabana with a stunning pool, a playground, and dog park. All from the high $300s.

KHOV.COM/SANSEBASTIAN 407-214-4522 OPEN DAILY : MON - SAT 10AM - 6PM I SUN - 12PM - 6PM 2100 EMERALD SPRINGS DRIVE, APOPKA, FL

San Sebastian Reserve is offered by K. Hovnanian San Sebastian, LLC. Views not guaranteed; subject to change. Features and options may vary. Unless stated hardscape, landscape and decorator items not included. Prices subject to change without notice. Brokers Welcome! A Broker/Agent must register their client in person on client's first visit at each community for a Broker/Agent to receive a commission or referral fee, or register their client in advance using the Rapid Registration form available by calling (888) 425-1714 or by emailing Alice Yale at AYale@khov.com or Hailey Drucker at HDrucker@khov.com. Registration is valid for 30 days. See a Sales Consultant for full details. Equal Housing Opportunity.