Guide to Best Places to Retire in Florida
Best Places to Live & Retire in Florida
Our free Digital Retirement Guide and Ideal-Living Magazine offer an abundance of information on which states, towns and cities are the best for retirees, vacationers and second-home buyers. This includes retirement communities in Central Florida, as well as the panhandle and Southern Florida.
In Florida, we have many communities for which you can get all the information you need. You can compare locations within Florida as well as vacation and retirement communities all across the U.S. Our Ideal-Living Digital Magazine includes numerous articles such as the top travel destinations, tips on selling your home, and how to make the most of your retirement. Our Guide allows you to compare cities and communities on variables such as climate, population, home values, cost of living and the proximity of schools, hospitals and airports.
Besides its natural beauty and incredible coastline, Florida is one of the most tax friendly states for retirees and seniors. The tax benefits of living in Florida include:
- No state income tax
- No tax on social security benefits
- Permanent residents qualify for Homestead Exemption
- Seniors may qualify for additional property tax exemptions
Idyllic Communities in Ideal Locations
Prospective residents should choose a community that best fits their lifestyle. Some neighborhoods are only a short walk or ride away from bustling city centers. Others are closer to quieter, small-town shops.
We can help you find your ideal location to live and retire in the beautiful state of Florida. Our resources put all the information at your fingertips to make the best decision for you, including putting you in contact with representatives from the top retirement and resort communities in Florida, this includes FL Del Webb communities and Minto communities.
Sample Communities to Discover
Valencia Parc
Located in Port St. Lucie, Florida, Valencia Parc is the fourth community to be added to Riverland, offering GL Homes’ famous Valencia 55+ resort-style living to the ever-expanding Port Saint Lucie area. In addition to the stunning single-story home designs with five collections, Valencia Parc now offers beautiful Club Villas consisting of 4 different models: the Areca, the Bismarck, the Sabal, and the Royal. There truly is a home for everyone with floorplans ranging from 1,293 to 3,346 a/c sq. ft., all including luxurious standard features from the mid $300s to $900s. If you are looking to personalize your home with your signature style, come explore the Design Center and choose from hundreds of options to make your new home uniquely yours.
At Valencia Parc there are a million ways to have fun. Experience the best 55+ lifestyle at the Valencia Parc Social Club where you’ll find amazing events, dining options, and incredible amenities. The stunning Riverland Wellness & Fitness Center is made up of 51,000 square feet of space that features everything from a state-of-the-art gym, personal training, and dedicated group fitness classes to an indoor pool and sports courts, plus outdoors you’ll find two six-lane lap pools, a resistance pool and workout recovery whirlpool spa, and the RiverFresh Café offering healthy food options.
The Arts & Culture center offers amazing classes including painting, pottery, or culinary arts and more. Right outside the Arts & Culture center is the community garden where you can put your green thumb to the test and grow amazing, fresh produce. Access all the Riverland amenities by taking a scenic stroll along the Paseo and greenways, built exclusively for pedestrian, bicycle and golf-cart passage, to easily travel throughout the 4,000-acre master-plan community. Take advantage of our Stay and Play program and spend 3 days/2 nights in one of our beautiful homes and experience the Riverland lifestyle before you buy. Be sure to check out more of the exclusive offers at Valencia Parc and Riverland and find your perfect home to begin living the ultimate 55+ lifestyle!
Cresswind Lakewood Ranch
Whether you’re retiring or continuing to work remotely, Cresswind Lakewood Ranch is a 55+ community for active adults who want to live and play in southwest Florida’s most enticing location.
Cresswind Lakewood Ranch is a gated community with its own private clubhouse that includes the Cresswind SmartFIT Training Center powered by EGYM with cardio studio, a lounge, a game room and an arts & crafts studio. The community Lifestyle Director organizes interest club meetings and social events. Outdoor exercise can be enjoyed in the resort-style, resistance and spa pools or on the pickleball, tennis and bocce ball courts.
In addition, Cresswind residents have access to all of the amenities and services in the surrounding Lakewood Ranch master-planned community, including golf courses, a polo club, village centers with shops, restaurants, medical offices and so much more.
Choose from a variety of ranch-style floorplans designed specifically for today’s active adult, ranging from just over 2,100 to more than 4,400 total square feet of living space. All of the designs have spacious great rooms for entertaining and 2- car garages. Kolter Homes’ Built Around You approach provides hundreds of structural and design personalization options to create your ideal home, including flex spaces and 2nd-floor bonus rooms.
In addition to the convenient Lakewood Ranch amenities, Cresswind residents have access to all of the top-rated medical centers, cultural attractions, fine- dining restaurants and year-round festival events in the nearby Sarasota- Bradenton area. The region’s finest Gulf Coast beaches are just a short drive away.
Request more information below and discover why Cresswind Lakewood Ranch may be the ideal Florida destination for you.
Cresswind Palm Beach at Westlake
Cresswind Palm Beach at Westlake is a 55+ community for active adults and retirees who want to enjoy a healthy lifestyle in one of Florida’s most prestigious locations.
Cresswind Palm Beach at Westlake by Kolter Homes offers a variety of ranch- style floorplans designed specifically for active adults ranging from 2- up to 5- Bedrooms and more than 4,000 total square feet of living space. Kolter Homes’ Built Around You approach provides hundreds of structural and design personalization options to create your ideal home, including flex spaces and 2nd- floor bonus rooms.
The amenities at Cresswind Palm Beach are designed to promote an active lifestyle for better all-around health. Outdoor facilities include a resort-style pool with sundeck, a resistance pool and spa and sports courts for pickleball, tennis and bocce ball. Wide walkways for sunny strolls include stops at two community dog parks and the event lawn. Inside the private clubhouse, you’ll find a complete fitness center with cardio-workout equipment and yoga classes, an art studio and a full-time Lifestyle Director who organizes social activities and interest clubs that strengthen community connections.
Located between Wellington and Palm Beach Gardens, Cresswind Palm Beach residents have easy access to the Westlake Adventure Park, as well as local markets, restaurants and medical clinics. Beautiful Florida beaches, nature preserves, state parks and championship golf courses are all nearby, along with the popular cultural attractions and upscale shops of West Palm Beach.
Requesting more information below is your first step towards enjoying the sunny Florida lifestyle offered by Cresswind Palm Beach at Westlake.
Get Started
Finding and choosing the right active adult community can be a daunting task. This is where ideal-LIVING can help. Sign up below to receive our complimentary relocation package, which offers tips on how to find a community that suits your needs. In this guide, you’ll discover the top communities in Florida, as well as what you can do to get started. Sign up for this free package to take the first step in your exciting journey.
Free Package includes:
- ideal-LIVING Relocation Guide
The ultimate guide to find your ideal destination, life and home. This annual guide contains more than 15 state maps, a location-based cost of living and climate comparison chart and discovery travel packages.
- ideal-LIVING Magazine
Quarterly print magazine features the best places to retire and/or purchase your ideal second home.
- ideal-LIVING E-Newsletter
Receive our digital newsletter, two to three times a month, highlighting communities around the country and abroad.
- Tickets to ideal-LIVING Live Events
The ideal-LIVING Resort & Retirement Show has helped retirees and second-home buyers find their ideal community and home for more than 30 years.