55+ Neighborhoods Lakewood Ranch

What are the 55 and over communities in Lakewood Ranch? How do they compare to nearby non-age-restricted neighborhoods? And are they worth it?

These are the top questions I get from my clients exploring Lakewood Ranch.

I’ve built and lived in two of the 55+ communities here. So in this post, I’m sharing my personal insight to help you decide if one might be the right fit for you.

See the Article: Pros & Cons Living in Lakewood Ranch

Lastly, I’ll also share insight into the builders in these neighborhoods. After more than a decade of working with buyers in 55+ communities, I’ve seen the strengths and weaknesses of each builder up close. That experience gives me a unique perspective on what matters when choosing a home here.

The list below is in order of age of the community.

Want to Know About These Communities? Contact Me at SandyWilliamsFLA@Gmail.com or my cellphone at: 941-564-9491

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🎉What’s Different in a 55+ Community?

I’ll never forget how I learned about Del Webb communities roughly a decade ago.

One morning, my neighbor Larry was out walking his dog. We stopped and chatted, like we did almost every day during our dog-walking routine. But that day, Larry ran up to me —excited, almost urgent.

He said, “Sandy, they’re building a new Del Webb down the road in Lakewood Ranch. I need you to sell me a house there.”

Naturally, I asked, “What’s a Del Webb?”

Larry told me a story about when his wife was diagnosed with breast cancer, their entire Del Webb neighborhood in Fishers, Indiana, came together—bringing meals, offering encouragement, and showing up with genuine friendship.

And when she passed away, the community didn’t disappear. They held a private memorial for her at the clubhouse. People Larry barely knew came to support him. He said the outpouring of love was overwhelming—and he just wanted to be back in that kind of environment again.

Wow. That moment stuck with me. It’s one of the reasons I believe so profoundly in what these 55+ communities offer—beyond the homes and the amenities.

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🤩Del Webb Lakewood Ranch

Del Webb Lakewood Ranch started construction in late 2015 and wrapped up in 2024. This gated, 640-acre community sits on the eastern edge of Lakewood Ranch, just off State Road 70.

It’s known for its lush landscaping, scenic walking trails, and a 24,000-square-foot clubhouse with an on-site restaurant. The neighborhood feels established and relaxed—perfect if you’re looking for a social, low-maintenance lifestyle with resort-style amenities.

**Caution** Where you live in this community matters. State Rd 70 can be very busy at times. So, if you are senstive to noise be mindful of location here.

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Amenities at Del Webb LWR

The large clubhouse is home to the fitness center, group fitness room, poker room, library, and full kitchen. The large ballroom can be sectioned off for smaller events, and there is also an art/craft room.

Social: Del Webb LWR has a full-time lifestyle director who keeps the calendar packed with events, activities, and outings. There are over 25 clubs—from fishing and pickleball to mahjong and book club.

Learn More About Del Webb Lakewood Ranch Here

One of the nice touches is how the lifestyle director partners with the on-site restaurant. They’ll coordinate special dinners, themed events, and even outdoor cookouts with live music.

Outside: The outdoor amenities are a big draw—there are 8 pickleball courts, tennis, and bocce ball, plus a large heated zero-entry pool with swim lanes and a separate hot tub.

Restaurant: The on-site restaurant is located just behind the pool, making it easy to grab a drink and relax nearby. If you’re in the mood for lunch, there’s a scenic outdoor patio overlooking a peaceful pond—perfect for enjoying the sunshine and a cool breeze.

Don’t feel like cooking? To-go options are also available. The restaurant hosts special dinner events around the holidays and features live music on the weekends, making it a fun and social spot to gather with neighbors. There is a $600 annual fee, and this does go towards food and beverages.

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Housing Options Del Webb LWR

Quads: These are four attached units. Each unit has an attached two-car garage and a covered back patio. This is an excellent option for a lock-and-leave approach.

These units’ overall exterior (building) maintenance is shared, much like a condominium. So, this is a good option if you do not want to do any exterior maintenance or be responsible for major outside repairs. Unlike a condo, you still own the land beneath your feet.

Attached Villas: There are two attached units. The main difference between the quads and the paired villas is who is responsible for exterior repairs. In the paired villas, each owner is responsible for the exterior (building maintenance). For instance, it is your responsibility if your roof is damaged, like most homeowners. If, for some reason, your attached neighbor cannot pay, then that side doesn’t get repaired.

Single-Family Homes: The community’s homes are grouped into three size categories, ranging from 1,400 Sq Ft to over 3,500 Sq Ft. All the homes come with a standard two-car garage. Additionally, some of the larger homes have an option for a third garage space.

🪧Homes for Sale Del Webb Lakewood Ranch

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🥳Cresswind Lakewood Ranch

Of all the 55+ neighborhoods in Lakewood Ranch, Cresswind is the smallest. This gated, boutique neighborhood sits along Uihlein Road and offers just 648 homesites, giving it a more intimate feel compared to some of the larger communities nearby.

But don’t let the size fool you—Cresswind is packed with amenities. In fact, when you compare the number of residents to the range of amenities, it has more to offer per person than the larger 55+ neighborhoods in Lakewood Ranch

Cresswind is just completing the building process, so most available homes will be resale options.

You Might Like the Article: Del Webb VS Cresswind

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Amenities at Cresswind

The amenities at Cresswind are thoughtfully designed for how people actually live—and want to enjoy their day. The clubhouse has all the essentials, including a gym, group fitness room, full kitchen, and a beautiful ballroom that hosts everything from parties to guest speakers.

Learn More About Cresswind Here

Social: If you’re into art, there’s a working kiln and an active arts program. And when it comes to social life, the residents have taken the lead. Here you’ll find clubs for everything from wine & spirits tastings to fishing, and pickleball.

A full-time lifestyle director helps keep things buzzing by scheduling events inside Cresswind and in the wider Lakewood Ranch community.

Outside: Outside, you’ll find resort-style amenities that make it easy to enjoy the Florida sunshine. There’s a large heated pool, a resistance pool for low-impact workouts, and plenty of lounge space to relax. You’ll also find tennis, pickleball courts, and walking trails that wind through the neighborhood.

One of the standout features is the outdoor amphitheater, which hosts live music as part of the active entertainment calendar.

Restaurant: While Cresswind doesn’t have an on-site restaurant, it has a designated food truck area that offers rotating options throughout the year.

Food trucks are scheduled during community events and festivities, as well as on a regular monthly basis. It’s a fun and flexible alternative that gives residents a variety of dining choices—without the added cost of maintaining a full-service restaurant

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Housing Options Cresswind

All the homes at Cresswind are single-family, with sizes ranging from around 1,400 sq ft to over 3,500 sq ft. Some of the larger floor plans offer a third-car garage option, which is great if you have hobbies, a golf cart, or just need extra storage.

Like Del Webb, the homes are thoughtfully grouped by size throughout the community, giving each section a cohesive look and feel.

🪧Homes for Sale Cresswind

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😎Del Webb Catalina

The community is designed to include around 1,300 homes, offering a mix of single-family residences and villas.  Del Webb Catalina is just in the beginning phase of new construction. So new construction is the only option.

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Amenities at Catalina

At the center of it all will be a 35,800-square-foot clubhouse. Inside, you’ll find spaces designed for both socializing and wellness — including a social ballroom, an art studio,and a wellness center.

Learn More About Del Webb Catalina Here

The fitness area will include a movement studio and plenty of space for group classes and personal workouts. There’s also a café and lounge area planned, perfect for casual meetups with neighbors or just enjoying a quiet coffee.

Social: Life will revolve around the clubhouse and the full-time lifestyle director overseeing events, clubs, and group activities. While the space isn’t open yet, the vision is to create a lively calendar with everything from fitness classes and workshops to off-site excursions and themed parties.

Outside: The community will offer a resort-style pool and hot tub overlooking a 70-acre lake and a separate resistance pool for low-impact exercise. There will be 12 pickleball courts (8 covered), 6 tennis courts, and bocce ball areas.

Restaurant: One standout feature at Catalina will be the full-service restaurant and bar. The Blue Harbor Grille is expected to be a social hub, with sit-down meals, wine dinners, and even themed events. Residents will pay an annual fee of around $700-$800, which works like a debit account for food, drinks, and alcohol.

See The Article: Problems with Del Webb Catalina

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Housing Options Catalina

Catalina will offer quads and single-family homes. The quads will range in size from 1448 Sq Ft to 1602 Sq Ft.

Single-family homes will range from 1400 to over 3500 square feet. Like its sister community, Del Webb at Lakewood Ranch, the homes will be grouped by size.

Since new construction is the only option here, you may see the builder offer move-in-ready homes for buyers who do not want to wait 12-14 months.

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🛠️55+ Community Builders

When looking at 55+ communities in Lakewood Ranch, it’s just as important to consider who is building the homes as it is to find the right neighborhood. Builder reputation, construction quality, and even the mortgage process can all impact your experience — both during the build and long after you move in.

Pulte Homes (under the Del Webb name) and Kolter Homes are two of the main builders behind these active adult communities. Each brings a different approach, and it’s worth knowing the pros and cons before you choose.

Del Webb Builder

Pulte Homes is one of the largest homebuilders in the U.S., known for building homes across a variety of lifestyles and price points. They’re also the parent company of Del Webb, which focuses exclusively on 55+ communities.

Because they’re a national builder, their floor plans have been built nationwide, meaning many design quirks have already been addressed. They take a streamlined, factory-style approach to homebuilding, with tight timelines and a focus on efficiency.

That said, there’s very little room for customization. And like many large companies, getting your concerns heard can sometimes be challenging.

Most of the issues I’ve encountered—either during my own new home build or while helping clients—have involved drywall quality and exterior stucco work. These are areas where quality control can vary and are worth monitoring during the build process.

Builder’s Mortgage Lender

Like most large builders, Pulte encourages buyers to use their in-house mortgage lender by offering incentives like closing cost assistance. But I must be honest: most clients who’ve gone this route haven’t had the best experience. These lenders often juggle multiple files at once, and customer service can fall short.

The process can feel impersonal, and communication isn’t always great. While the builder incentives might look appealing upfront, they can sometimes come at the cost of a smoother, more responsive lending experience.

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Cresswind and Kolter Homes

Kolter builds its 55+ Cresswind communities throughout the southern states, including Florida, the Carolinas, and other Southeast regions. They focus on warm-weather locations that support an active adult lifestyle.

Since Kolter is a smaller, privately held company, their build process isn’t run like a factory line. That can lead to a more personalized experience — and one of the biggest advantages is that your voice is more likely to be heard if a concern comes up. I’ve found that when issues do arise, I generally get better results and quicker resolutions compared to larger builders.

That said, Kolter has had some growing pains in recent years. Their smaller size highlights a lack of consistent systems and processes across communities. But I’ve noticed a fundamental shift over the past year. Kolter’s transactions have become smoother, and there’s been a noticeable improvement in how things are managed from contract to closing.

One thing to keep an eye on with Kolter Homes is attic insulation. I’ve been involved in over 30 home inspections with Kolter builds.

Almost every report has flagged insufficient insulation in the attic. This detail is easy to overlook during the build, but it can affect energy efficiency and comfort in the long term. I always recommend having your inspector double-check this area and ensure it gets addressed before closing.

Financing with Kolter’s Preferred Lender

Kolter, typically, offers incentives if you use their preferred lender as well. And in this case, the experience is generally more positive. Their lending partner has a track record of good communication and follow-up, which can make the process a lot smoother.

That said, keep an eye on the interest rates. While the service is usually strong, their rates aren’t always the most competitive. It’s a good idea to compare offers before locking anything in — just to make sure the incentive is actually worth it.

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🧐Home Inspections: How the Builders Stack Up

One thing I always advise my buyers to do is get a home inspection on new construction. But not all builders make this easy.

Kolter can make it tough. They typically allow only a very short window of time for you to schedule and complete the inspection. If you miss that window, it gets complicated fast. You have to be ready to act quickly and coordinate with your inspector as soon as the home is ready.

Pulte, offers a little more flexibility regarding home inspections. However, I’ve seen situations where the home isn’t quite finished at the time of inspection. That can lead to extra visits or incomplete punch lists, which can cost more and cause unnecessary stress.

The bottom line? Inspections are worth it, but plan ahead and be prepared to move fast — especially with Kolter. I have had to step in and assist my client on almost every home inspection appointment at Cresswind.

📋Comparison Chart 55+ Neighborhoods LWR

Trying to decide between Lakewood Ranch’s 55+ communities? This comparison chart gives you a quick look at what each one offers—from HOA fees and what’s included to whether there’s an on-site restaurant.

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