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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 Ridge
Valencia Ridge, located in Wesley Chapel within the greater Tampa area, offers contemporary home designs and world-class amenities designed for the ultimate 55+ luxury lifestyle. Wesley Chapel is popular not only because of its close proximity to Tampa but also because of its own desirable attractions, including: The Grove Shops at Wiregrass, Tampa Premium Outlets, Popstroke and the and Saddlebrook Golf & Tennis Resort. At Valencia Ridge, you are a short drive away from some of the best beaches in the world with Clearwater Beach being named Tripadvisor’s #1 Beach in the U.S. in 2016, 2018 & 2019.
At Valencia Ridge, you’ll find beautifully designed one-story homes from the $400s to $800s. These stunning homes range in size from 2,334 total sq. ft. to 4,132 total sq. ft. and feature impressive open concept floorplans, gourmet kitchens with stainless steel appliances, covered patios and so much more. With all the sophisticated features that today’s homebuyers are looking for already included as standard and a wide variety of options to choose from, there is something for everyone at Valencia Ridge.
Valencia Ridge is designed to maximize 55+ living – from the beautiful home designs to the spectacular 29,000 sq. ft. Clubhouse and resort lifestyle. Valencia Ridge offers exceptional amenities featuring a world-class gym, resort-style pools, dining options, massage rooms, hundreds of clubs, and a dynamic calendar of events provided by a full-time lifestyle director that is designed to provide the ultimate in 55+ living. Be sure to check out the Sports and Raquet Club and get active on the pickleball or tennis courts. Learn more about the Valencia lifestyle by taking advantage of the Stay and Play program offered at Valencia Ridge . You’ll stay 3 days/2 nights at Valencia Trails in Naples in one of our beautifully furnished homes for only $99 and see the lifestyle that could be yours at Valencia Ridge. Don’t miss out on exclusive offers and start living your ultimate 55+ lifestyle at Valencia Ridge in Wesley Chapel.
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.
Ave Maria
Ave Maria is an award-winning master-planned community that combines an active lifestyle with the charm and friendliness of a small town in the Gulf Coast region of southwestern Florida. The Collier County community encompasses multiple residential neighborhoods, schools, a town center with shopping and dining, office space, business parks, and recreational amenities located 20 minutes east of Interstate 75 near Naples, Immokalee and Bonita Springs.
One of the best-selling communities in the nation, Ave Maria features a resort-style water park and two expansive community parks with picnic areas, sports fields, playgrounds, tennis, bocce and pickleball courts. Residents also have access to quality K-12 education, 100 miles of nature, hiking and biking paths, a dog park, a fitness center, 2 championship 18-hole golf courses, and much more.
Real estate options within Ave Maria include several family-friendly neighborhoods of homes in a variety of styles- from single-family homes to condominiums, plus the Del Webb Naples 55+ active adult community
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.
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