The master-planned community of Lakewood Ranch in Florida continues its expansion with new neighborhoods, amenities, and local attractions in 2024. As one of the fastest-growing developments in the state, Lakewood Ranch sets out each year to elevate convenience and lifestyle for its residents. This all equates to increased desirability and hints at strong home value growth over time.

In this 2024 update, we will explore some of the major additions and changes coming to various quadrants of the sprawling community. From new restaurants to better schools to improved access to golf; Lakewood Ranch demonstrates mastering the blend of small-town feel with big-city perks. The updates should give prospective residents and homebuyers an insider’s look at what establishes Lakewood Ranch as a premium suburb in Florida with investments made into the future.

(1) Neighborhood Amenities You Can ACTUALLY Use

One of the best things about moving to Lakewood Ranch in 2024 is that many of the promised neighborhood amenities are finally open and available for residents to enjoy. After paying HOA fees and CDD fees while waiting (for years in some cases)...pools, clubhouses, fitness centers, tennis courts, playgrounds, and more are operational. 

Popular communities like Esplanade Azario, Lorraine Lakes, and Sweetwater now have activated amenities. This allows prospective residents to truly experience the lifestyle a neighborhood offers versus just imagining it.

Lakewood Ranch has over 40 neighborhoods encompassing new construction, resale homes, and custom builds. 2024 presents an opportunity to enjoy resort-style amenities you’ll actually use across price points.

(2) Waterside District Continues Development

Waterside at Lakewood Ranch continues its impressive buildout. The downtown area called Waterside Place established Sarasota’s first true suburban downtown district a few years ago. In 2023, the infrastructure was strong with wide sidewalks, plenty of room for events, and the #1 weekly farmer’s market in the state – but many of the anticipated businesses were still under construction.

The exciting update is that 2024 will have significantly more dining, retail, fitness, and other options open at Waterside Place. Distilleries, breakfast places, ice cream & chocolate shops, boutiques, a gym, yoga studio, and over 10 diverse restaurants are slated to open this year.

Waterside Place aimed to bring urban amenities to suburbia so residents could spend more time (and money) locally versus always traveling to downtown Sarasota. Judging by the continued growth, they are succeeding in creating a self-sustained downtown.

(3) Restaurants & Commercial Amenities Expand

Waterside Place represents just one of many commercial amenity expansions coming to the Lakewood Ranch area. Convenience, entertainment options, and accessible dining will increase in 2024 thanks to several new additions:

• New Lakewood Ranch Library – Set to open in early 2024 with spaces like a podcasting studio, sewing rooms, reading nooks, and more. The 2-story, 50,000 square foot library hopes to be a communal gathering spot for residents.
• CenterPoint – A mixed-use district near UTC and Waterside Place which landed the 2nd location of Owen’s Fish Camp as an anchor. CenterPoint also has Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, fitness studios, fast casual restaurants like First Watch, and ample shopping.
• University Town Center – The Mall at UTC has thrived since opening and inspired 200+ retailers and 80+ eateries to open adjacent to the mall, creating a destination in itself near Lakewood Ranch. Events like weekend concerts and holiday festivities also take place here regularly.
• Fruitville Commons – Just one exit south of Lakewood Ranch off I-75, Fruitville Commons filled a commercial void. Coastal restaurants, fitness, fast food, a brewery, boutiques and more create another option residents can easily access.

Between its well-established main street at Downtown Lakewood Ranch and hotspots like Waterside Place and University Town Center, Lakewood Ranch continues upping the ante on suburban amenities you’ll actually use.

(4) Northeast Quadrant Finds Its Footing

The northeast quadrant of Lakewood Ranch bordered by State Road 70 and State Road 64 traditionally faced high demand but narrow choices for neighborhoods. As this area housed amenities like top-rated schools and proximity to family-centric appeal, homebuyers dealt with limited inventory spanning vastly different price points all sharing the same geography.  Over the past few years, the northeast side of Lakewood Ranch benefited from several new housing additions creating more alignment and price points:

• Star Farms – A three-digit neighborhood count being built out over hundreds of acres, combining DR Horton and luxury custom home builders.
• Sweetwater – A highly family-friendly community by MI Homes positioned as a more affordable Waterside Place option. 
• Palm Grove – Neal Communities newest neighborhood coming in 2024. Palm Grove will take cues from popular neighborhoods like Indigo and Windward also built by Neal. 
• Esplanade at Azario –Previously the only brand new luxury golf community option, now has opened amenities allowing buyers to experience the lifestyle offered.

The variety, abundance, and live amenities of new neighborhoods make the northeast quadrant a more balanced area for demand across Lakewood Ranch. With commercial projects slated for State Road 64 on the horizon, the location benefits will compound too. This quadrant seems well-positioned for those prioritizing schools and amenities together. 

(5) Affordable Housing Emerges

Over the past few years, the average sold price of homes in Lakewood Ranch crept over $600,000. For a place founded on family-friendly neighborhoods, this pricing proved restrictive for many. Developments like the 40-50% price appreciation through 2020 and 2021 contributed to the shift. Developers behind Lakewood Ranch have looked for ways to reopen access for buyers needing more affordable and workforce housing options:

• Aurora by Lennar – Lennar's newest neighborhood, Aurora brings large single-family homes with smaller price tags to maintain affordability. 
• Avalon Woods – A community by Ryan Homes, known for keeping pricing in check versus other builders. Lakewood Ranch had not previously offered Ryan Homes.
• Avanti – Located in the in-demand Waterside district, Avanti delivers smaller villas and homes through Pulte Homes at smaller prices yet with Waterside’s amenities.
• Palm Grove – Mentioned above from Neal Communities, their consistent approach historically keeps pricing more moderate versus other Lakewood Ranch neighborhoods they construct. 

Each neighborhood leverages the builder's strengths in efficient construction and simplified finishes to provide single-family homes and maintenance-free villas for under $600,000 – some well into the $300s. Lakewood Ranch’s broadening price distribution allows more access back into the in-demand school districts and amenities.

(6) Satiating The Golf Deficit 

Lakewood Ranch promotes an abundant golf lover experience yet proves a bit trickier than the internet portrays for those seeking club memberships or golf course community living. Outside of Esplanade at Azario, few actively selling neighborhoods come bundled with golf. Those that do usually require living in builder-grade homes or buying resale property sight unseen without membership guarantees.

In 2024 and beyond, options increase to meet golf demand through focused additions like:

• Lakewood Ranch Golf & Country Club – Rumors suggest the club currently on a 200+ person waitlist could soon expand from 3 courses to as many as 6 courses while adding 1000 more memberships. This would create space for many golfers wanting mid-priced golf beyond Esplanade’s premium dues and amenities costs. 
• Bourneside Golf Club – Lennar looks to develop a sister golf community near Lakewood Nations modeled after its existing golf developments – single-family homes bundled with equity memberships would satisfy more golfers.
• Esplanade at Azario – Less bidding wars in the Club Suites and improved fly-in membership availability opens access at Lakewood Ranch’s current gold standard country club.

With strategic moves to increase capacity, accessibility, and variety in 2024, Lakewood Ranch appears determined to claim its golf community merits by creating a more legitimate country club inventory paired with residences. 

(7) Schools & Education Expansion

The nationally ranked school system feeding the majority of Lakewood Ranch drives immense demand from families. Currently, most elementary, middle and high schools operate at over 100% capacity with hundreds of overflow students in portables and creative scheduling. By 2024 two new schools come online hoping to relieve enrollment pressure:

• Lakewood Ranch Prep – A new tuition-free charter school focused on wellness, innovation and technology for grades K-12 built within the Premier Sports Campus. 
• New K-8 School – Slated to open in 2025, this school designed for quality over quantity will integrate agricultural and environmental programs over traditional curriculums. The K-8 format allows grade school children to learn together instead of breaking at 5th grade. 

Both schools hope to deliver education alternatives while absorbing hundreds of students. With public schools bursting from seams and few private school options, more inventory gives parents the power to find the best fit for their children. Ongoing land development will likely spawn more schools if demand continues rising.

(8) Future Investor Value Viability

Between consistent population growth, corporate relocations, and snowbirds flocking south - Florida feels bulletproof right now for real estate investing. Some worry Lakewood Ranch materialized too late to seize premium returns. However, applying an investor lens shows plenty strength left in this decades-long development story.

• Ongoing Construction – Lakewood Ranch first started selling homes in 1995. Though the community now spans 30+ villages, construction continues expanding east, southeast and approaching Central Sarasota. Thousands of homes remain slated for future release ensuring supply/demand balance.
• Local Strengths Accentuated – Proximity criticisms get addressed through additions mirroring downtown amenities and activities. Soon residents will question why to fight traffic and parking only to dine or shop elsewhere.
• Maturing Market – Earlier phases required buying into potential versus reality as unproven concepts held risk. Now buyers enter established neighborhoods and make decisions using actual community feedback over guesswork.

New Waterside amenities arrive with the difference of trailblazing establishments versus replicating proven concepts. Investors buying into this maturing environment backed by continual new home construction seem poised for long-run returns through future demand upticks and infrastructure additions.

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Lakewood Ranch solidifies itself as a prime Florida suburb by refusing complacency - continually improving amenities, attractions and access aim to elevate living standards each year. Intentional development across neighborhoods, nature areas, jobs, healthcare, schools, recreation, and more create livability through balance. This ever-evolving community provides homebuyers a solution for today’s desires and tomorrow’s needs in a purposeful, master-planned setting.