Top 5 Best Places to Live in Lakewood Ranch Florida (2025)

Introduction

Lakewood Ranch is one of the most master-planned communities in the country, with more than 40 neighborhoods that make it kind of feel like a city of its own. But here’s the thing: when I talk to people one-on-one, we’re usually not talking about 10 or 15 neighborhoods. We’re often talking about the same 4, 5, maybe 6 communities.

These standout neighborhoods tend to be the entry point—the catalyst that helps people get educated, whether they end up buying there or not. Sometimes it leads to a resale, sometimes to Venice, but Lakewood Ranch is almost always part of that journey in some way.

So today, I want to break down five Lakewood Ranch neighborhoods I think are especially compelling for 2025. Whether you’re buying now or just learning the landscape, these five offer great insight into geography, builder types, quality levels, and more.

1. Shellstone at Waterside

Shellstone is located in Waterside, which is kind of a community within a community in Lakewood Ranch. It’s one of the closest neighborhoods to Western Sarasota, so you don’t lose access to the city, but you still get the perks of suburban living—your own downtown, schools on the way, and overall momentum.

The primary builder in Shellstone is Homes by Towne, which (in my mind) sits just one tier below custom builders like Lee Wetherington or Arthur Rutenberg. They offer elegant homes that feel custom without the full custom price tag. Lee Wetherington is also building a more premium option here on a limited number of lots.

Shellstone includes villas, smaller single-family homes on 45-foot lots, 52-foot, and a 65-foot collection that offers some underratted value. If your budget is $1.1M–$1.4M and you want a pool, a custom feel, and don’t want to stretch to $1.8M+, the 65 could be a great option.

You’ll find 10+ main floor plans, including favorites like the Outrigger, Islander, Tideland, etc. You can really hone in on style and layout that fits your needs without overspending.

Here’s how pricing breaks down:

• Villas (1,600–1,800 sq ft): ~low $500K+
• Smaller single-family homes: ~high $500K–$885K (including 15% upgrades, not including pool)
• Larger single-family homes (2,600–3,700 sq ft): ~$1.2M–$1.35M (with pool)

If you want to stay in Waterside and are shopping in this price range, Shellstone is probably one of the most compelling options that makes sense at the moment—and even if you don’t choose it, learning about it will help you better understand everything else.

2. Wild Blue at Waterside

Also in Waterside, Wild Blue adds an upscale, estate-level version of communities like Shellstone or Monterey. If you’re looking for larger homes, bigger lots, and custom builder options—but still want the lifestyle perks of a master-planned community—Wild Blue is one of your best bets.

It’s being master-developed by Stock Development, with lot widths ranging from 64 to 100 feet and custom builder partners like Lee Wetherington, Arthur Rutenberg, John Cannon, and Anchor Builders. It’s a 500-ish home neighborhood, and you can expect pricing (in 2025) to range from around $1.8M up to $6M+, depending on lot, builder, and features.

Here’s some other updates regarding Wild Blue in 2025:

• A new grand entrance is opening off University Parkway near The Isles and Lake Club.
• The Midway Sports Complex will include pickleball, tennis, kayak launch, basketball, dog parks, and more.
• A 30,000-square-foot clubhouse is coming (estimated completion: Jan 2027), with indoor/outdoor dining, a theater, golf simulator, lap and resort pools, and more.

Stock Development offers both build-to-suit and spec homes with full upgrades—pools, outdoor kitchens, and premium finishes—already included. Expect 15–18 month build times for customs, but also a healthy inventory of spec homes if you want quicker move-in.

3. Esplanade at Azario

Built entirely by Taylor Morrison, Esplanade at Azario was arguably the most popular new construction neighborhood two to three years ago—and it still holds some weight in 2025.

It’s one of the few communities in Lakewood Ranch that combines high-end amenities with no age restriction and deeded golf access—which is incredibly rare. Here’s why it still stands out:

True resort-style amenities: pool with Bahama bar and food service, full restaurant, gym, massage rooms, tennis, pickleball, and more.

Deeded golf: around 870 of the 1,500 homes have actual golf membership rights tied to ownership, unlike many pay-in clubs.

Prime northeast location with access to highly rated Lakewood Ranch schools.

This community sits in a more family-centric part of Lakewood Ranch, and Taylor Morrison’s floorplans shine here. Some favority models include:

• Ibis Villas: Compact, efficient, perfect for empty nesters, investors, buying into deeded-golf
• Lazio: 2,100–2,300 sq ft, three-bedroom + den
• Pallazio: 700+ sq ft larger than Lazio but similar feel
• Farnese: A different shape, alternative to the Lazio

With only a few new construction opportunities remaining, Azario is a unique chance to blend perspective affordability, amenities, and golf into one community.

4. Del Webb Catalina

Del Webb Catalina is the newest 55+ active adult neighborhood in Lakewood Ranch, and in 2025, it’s one of your only new construction options for this lifestyle in the area.

With 1,300 homes and amazing amenities planned, this is the next-gen of Del Webb Lakewood Ranch, Del Webb Bayview, and Cresswind. Here’s what to expect:

• Four home collections: one villa collection (Vista), and three single-family collections based on lot width and size
• Pricing starts around $420K and can reach over $1M base price for the largest plans
• Amenities: 70-acre lake, 35,000-square-foot clubhouse, 12 pickleball courts (8 covered), 5 tennis courts, bocce, resort pool, sauna, wellness center, golf simulators, arcade-style offerings, and more

The big amenities will be complete by late 2026, but even in 2025, there are already pickleball courts, a putting green, and a small lifestyle center available for early residents.

This one is in the northeast quadrant of Lakewood Ranch, just like Azario—not super close to town or the beach, but for folks who are already used to that 15+ mile drive, it’s a compelling alternative to some comparable options.

5. The Lake Club + Country Club West & East

Last but not least, let’s talk about the legacy. If you want something a little different from what’s new and shiny, look at The Lake Club and Country Club West and East. These communities sit below State Road 70 and offer a whole other way to live in Lakewood Ranch.

The Lake Club is a gated, ultra-luxury community built over many years by nearly every custom builder that’s played in the Sarasota area. Nothing here looks the same. It’s fully resale now, but it’s stunning—beautiful architecture, world-class amenities, and really central proximity to some of the best parts of Lakewood Ranch.

Country Club West and East offer a similar, but different feel. You get the addition of private (pay-in) golf courses (four total), multi-clubhouse access, and quick proximity to downtown Lakewood Ranch, Waterside Place, University Town Center, and all the best restaurants and shopping.

If you’re trying to understand the full spectrum of Lakewood Ranch—new vs. resale, north vs. south—this is a good way to ground yourself. Learn from what's new, but don’t ignore what already exists and has proven its value.

Final Thoughts

That wraps up my 2025 list of the top five best places to live in Lakewood Ranch. Whether you’re looking for new construction, deeded golf, 55+ living, or resale in legacy neighborhoods, Lakewood Ranch has something for just about everyone.

If you’re interested in learning more, I’ve got free relocation guides for Lakewood Ranch, Sarasota, and Bradenton available on my website. I also send a once-a-month email full of local real estate updates, builder incentives, restaurant openings, and everything I’ve been working on—just bullet points, no fluff.

Most importantly, if this content resonates and you’re thinking about making a move, I’d love to connect. My team specializes in residential real estate throughout Southwest Florida, and we’re always here to help.

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