Discover Life

from 2023 Relocation Guide

BUILDER GUIDE

in the Sunshine State

The tax-friendly state of Florida welcomes new residents every year to upscale retirement and residential communities with resort-style amenities that can be enjoyed year-round.

Every winter, snowbirds from colder climates flock to Florida for some warm-weather relief. Many of them take the time to explore beyond their vacation destinations and find luxurious new communities designed for a more active and healthy lifestyle.

While there are well-equipped fitness centers in every community these days, Floridians generally like to get outside for their exercise. Florida has more golf courses than any other state—1,250 at last count—and many clubs last year welcomed a record number of players. There are also 900,000+ recreational boats in Florida and full-service marinas everywhere. From racquet clubs with new pickleball courts to nature preserve hiking trails from the Panhandle to the Everglades, Floridians enjoy a healthy outdoor lifestyle 365 days a year.

New Florida residents are also delighted to find an abundance of cultural diversions, gourmet restaurants, and upscale shopping centers all around them. The closer you look, the more that Florida has to offer.

Naples has 80+ area golf courses in play year-round, world-class sport fishing in the Gulf, and downtown restaurants with fresh local seafood.

Tampa is a progressive city with established company headquarters and new cutting-edge businesses opening every month.

Sarasota shopping is an everyday adventure in its fashionable downtown area and at St. Armands Circle on nearby Lido Key, while the cultural-arts scene is thriving with Sarasota’s own resident theater, opera, symphony, and ballet companies.

Ocala is a regional business center and “Florida’s Horse Capital” with equestrian centers and seasonal shows throughout the surrounding countryside.

Because south Florida has been such a popular retirement destination for more than 60 years, the region has the state’s highest concentration of specialty medical and dental practices focused on senior care.

0% personal income, estate, pension, 401K, social security, or inheritance taxes

0.97% average property tax rate

Homestead exemption: up to $50,000 in assessed value; additional $50,000 for residents 65+

Sales tax rate: 7.5%; groceries, prescriptions, and overthe-counter medications exempt

Climate

Florida climate ranges from subtropical to tropical; June through October is the wettest time of the year, but those afternoon showers keep highs in the low 90s. For the rest of the year, the weather is pretty great, ranging from the low 60s to the mid-80s with cooling ocean breezes and little precipitation.

Imagine waking up each day in paradise… where you’ll feel renewed, refreshed, and alive! That’s what resort-style living at the Villages of Citrus Hills is all about.

From ballroom to bridge, pickleball to Pilates, biking to hiking, outside your door are endless possibilities. In addition to world-class golf and tennis, you’ll find over 250 fitness and wellness classes each month, and more than 50 social and specialinterest clubs. Along with traditional country club sports, you’ll find heated clubhouse pools, outdoor nature trails, and one of the country’s finest fitness and spa facilities! On the social side, we offer a year-round schedule of entertainment, special events, member-only restaurants and lounges, and more. And that’s just on our property!

We’re located in Citrus County in the heart of the Nature Coast. Just 12 miles from the Gulf of Mexico, we’re surrounded by water on three sides and known for some of the best fresh and saltwater sport fishing in the world. This is where you come to swim with the manatees, kayak on serene bays and inlets, boat on crystal clear waters, immerse yourself in nature, and end your days watching spectacular sunsets. Seeing is believing!

Villages of Citrus Hills Discovery Package

Schedule a visit, and get a taste of what an award-winning master-planned community looks and feels like. You’ll discover a planned community with a lifestyle unlike any other. Tours are by appointment only, scheduled seven days a week, and include an informative map and video presentation, a tour of our designerdecorated models, and a visit to our world-class amenities. Call 800.511.0814 for more information or to schedule your visit.

Homes with Homesites: $399,000 - $1,500,000

“We researched the Villages of Citrus Hills and decided to come and have a look. As we were driving in, we said, we’re not buying. It’s just a look-see. Well, we drove out as new home buyers. The minute we drove in, those big magnolia trees and hills … it’s a beautifully designed property. We’re all transplanted from somewhere else, and everyone on our street is so welcoming. We’re like family already, and we’ve only been here permanently for six months.”

Citrus Hills Amenities

Golf: Enjoy three 18-hole championship courses and a 9-hole course, all featuring elevation changes. Skyview, the signature course, plays from 5,417 to 7,142 yards. Plus improve your swing with our Golf Sportsplex Simulator at our Activity Center.

Tennis: With two tennis centers and a pro shop, the Skyview Center has eight Har-Tru courts with four hard-surface courts at Citrus Hills. USTA tournament play and lessons are available.

Fitness: Three fitness centers are available including BellaVita, a 50,000-sq.-ft. amenity with state-of-theart fitness equipment and a full-service spa.

Restaurants: Three resident-only restaurants including Skyview for fine dining, The Grille for a more casual experience, and The Tiki Bar at The Grille, a 4,500-sq.-ft. dining and entertainment venue with an island vibe.

Homes from the $300s

8131 Lakewood Main Street | Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202 | 800.307.2624 | LakewoodRanch.com

Live the Florida lifestyle you’ve been dreaming of with 20+ villages, each with distinctive homes, amenities, and features, Lakewood Ranch is designed to support every aspect of your life. We set out to build a community that is more than just the homes it’s made up of. Here you’ll find all the shopping, dining, entertainment, education, healthcare, nature, and recreational options you could want to make the most out of every day. And the best part is that it’s all already here. You don’t have to envision it you can simply start living it.

Our 40% open space plan and mixed-use component work together to provide each village on The Ranch with easy access to parks, trails, and recreational opportunities like three town centers, a sports campus, Sarasota Polo Club and The Farmers’ Market.

Just beyond our backyard you can enjoy Sarasota’s white sand beaches and arts scene, Tampa’s sports teams, and quick access to four airports.

Come explore the #1 Community in the U.S. for all ages. LakewoodRanch.com

Lakewood Ranch Amenities

• 3 town centers & 8 neighborhood shopping plazas

• 150 miles of multi-surface trails

• 12 community parks, 9 golf courses and 32+ pickleball and tennis courts

• Clubs and activities

• Pools and spas

• Fitness centers

• Weekly Farmers’ Market

• Polo Club

• Premier Sports Campus with 24 pickleball courts and 23 mixeduse fields

• Single-family homes, townhouses, attached villas, condos and apartments

• 20+ villages, including agerestricted and golf-bundled options

Lakewood Ranch Discovery Package

“It’s so well maintained. Every neighborhood is beautiful. You can go miles in any direction and have nice shops, a positive vibe, and a sense of community. There’s just not another area anywhere that stacks up to this. Lakewood Ranch is truly unmatched.”

—Allen Wolf

Take a trip to Lakewood Ranch and see what were all about! While you’re in town, get a feel for what it’s like to live here by participating in our community offerings like Music on Main, Ranch Nites, The Farmers’ Market or by exploring our parks and trails. Our Community Specialists are available to provide an overview of Lakewood Ranch—online or in-person at the Lakewood Ranch Information Center—and can provide you with customized maps and information to make exploring The Ranch easier. Online or in-person, we’d love to show you around!

15211

Majestic live oak trees and shady front porches, these are essential elements to an authentic Florida lifestyle, and Oakland Park has them all. Located on the border of Winter Garden and Oakland, FL, this traditional neighborhood development provides abundant open space for residents to enjoy. Covering approximately 258 acres, Oakland Park follows the natural grade of the land, which slopes up from the shoreline of Lake Apopka and provides lake views for many beautiful homes. Oakland Park is also a certified green development by the Florida Green Building Coalition (FGBC), and every home within the community is built to FGBC green standards.

Oakland Park Amenities

Community clubhouse

Two community pools

Firepit and picnic pavilion

Walking trails including a gravel path around Lake Brim and through the conservation area bordering Lake Apopka

Playground

Community garden

Community boardwalk and 10-station fitness trail

Direct access to the West Orange Trail

Homes: $500,000 - $900,000+

At On Top of the World Communities, you’ll discover the lifestyle and community of your dreams. With countless amenities, there is always something fun to do and new friends to do it with. Enjoy life to the fullest with maintenance-free living in a new home! Enjoy endless indoor air-conditioned recreational fun! Plus, over 218 acres of outdoor amenities!

“We have only been here a few months, but in this short time, we have met new friends and have found much enjoyment in the activities. Saturday nights are so much fun at The Town Square, listening to music and watching the line dancers. Just golf cart rides around the neighborhoods bring much enjoyment.”

—Tom & Kathy

World Tour Adventure Package: Live the lifestyle before you buy your home with a three-day, two-night World Tour Adventure for only $249! Call 866-228-5878 or go online at OnTopOfTheWorld.com now to book your on-site stay, and experience our world!