Recreation Culture & Entertainment
The Central Florida area provides ample recreational opportunities for active adults. Orlando is home to many popular attractions like Walt Disney World Resort, Universal Orlando Resort, and SeaWorld Orlando. Those not interested in these tourist attractions have many other opportunities for recreation such as golfing, biking, fishing and sailing on one of the many lakes in the area.
There are also many cultural attractions in the area focused on performing arts and entertainment such as the Orlando Shakespeare Theater and Mount Dora Center for the Arts. The Florida Mall is the largest in Orlando is and one of the largest in the country with over 250 stores in approximately 1.8 million square-feet.
Sports fans love the area for the number of professional sports teams and annual events taking place every year. Orlando is home to the Orlando Magic professional basketball team. The Detroit Tigers professional baseball team spends their spring training in Lakeland at Joker Merchant Stadium. The Arnold Palmer Invitational is one of golf s major events and is annually held at the Bay Hill Club & Lodge in Orlando. Active adults have no shortage of opportunities for entertainment and recreation in Central Florida.
Central Florida Retirement Guide
Central Florida is best known as a tourist destination because most of the theme parks in the state are located here, but there is so much more to explore off the beaten path.
Plus, there are a lot of retirement communities to choose from.
Some prominent central Florida cities include Orlando, The Villages, St. Cloud, Clermont, Kissimmee, Leesburg, Ocala, Gainesville, and Lakeland.
Reasons Why Hyde Park Ranks Among The Best Retirement Communities In The Orlando Fl Area
To accurately call yourself one of the best retirement communities in the Orlando, FL area, you should be able to demonstrate that you have top-notch facilities, and plenty of structured activities. That, in a nutshell, describes Hyde Park. We are an active adult community located near Orlando, Florida, that has long been popular among retirees who want comfortable, affordable housing inside of a community developed specifically for adults 55 and older. Hyde Park is a 55+ community that fosters a lifestyle centered around staying active, having fun, and sharing your retirement years with neighbors who want the same.
We are comfortable calling ourselves one of the best retirement communities in the Orlando area because, in addition to our excellent location in peaceful Winter Garden, we have amenities that other 55+ communities simply do not offer. Inside of our community, you will find a spacious clubhouse that is strictly for the use of our residents and their guests.
Our clubhouse is a popular destination for:
- Exercising You can swim laps in our outdoor pool and utilize a variety of workout equipment inside our fitness center.
- Socializing Our clubhouse is a great place to meet new people and catch up with long-time friends. Check out our Activities & Events Calendar for all the upcoming fun-filled group activities.
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Top Orlando Builders Working In 55+ Communities
Youre in luck with the extensive list of trusted builders including BeazerUSA, Del Webb, JF Shea, Lennar and Taylor Morrison. With years of experience between them, these builders know just what you are looking for in a home. Their homes come in a wide variety of styles and sizes to perfectly match your unique needs.
A Note About Starting Price
Now, as you probably know, many of the communities youll find in Florida have a wide range of price points.
Take The Villages for instance. While you can find new homes starting in the $300ks, you can also spend over $1 million if you were so inclined.
Also, starting price almost never equals the price you will actually pay. You have to take into account lot premiums, options, and upgrades before the final price of your home will be determined.
But as far as putting communities in order, theres no easier way to do that than by using starting price as our guide. So just keep that in mind as youre looking at this list.
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The Lakes At Harmony Harmony Florida
Lakes at Harmony Active Living
The Lakes at Harmony is a 55 plus active living neighborhood built within the master-planned community of Harmony, Florida. The home builder here is Lennar who is building 400 low-maintenance single-family homes with 3 unique luxury floor plan designs for you to choose from. Lakes at Harmony is built for the active adult with amenities to suit. Amenities here include a large club-house which includes a fitness center, community room, crafts room, ballroom, and catering kitchen. Outside you have a host of facilities including a stunning resort-style pool, sports courts for tennis, bocce ball and pickleball. There are also 12.6 of walking and biking trails as well as a dog park. 2 Bedroom homes start at $230,000 with the 4 bedroom model starting around $350,000.
Benefits Of Living In Active Retirement Communities In Florida
Florida retirement communities have enjoyed a long reign as the top destination for senior living in the United States. If youre considering making Florida your home, you already know there are more options here than anywhere else including many highly respected retirement homes.
A special benefit of living at an Acts continuing care retirement community in Florida is the guarantee of the Acts Type A Life Care contract that allows you to live worry free in the retirement community of your dreams.
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Florida Continuing Care Retirement Communities
Search all continuing care retirement communities in Florida
Continuing Care Retirement Communities in Florida
If you are coming close to your golden years, you might consider moving into a CCRC. Senior residents will discover that the sunshine state has a lot of amazing continuing care retirement communities, all offering the possibility of stress-free living. As a general rule, these communities accept people over the age of 55 or 62, as the case may be, with an acceptable state of health.
These communities have been developed to offer senior adults the opportunity to benefit from various levels of care, within the same setting. Prospective residents can start with independent living and transition to other levels, such as assisted living, skilled nursing care, and memory care, as they reach new healthcare demands. Acceptance is not only based on the general state of health, but also on the prospective residents ability to meet the financial eligibility criteria.
Common locations of Florida CCRCs include Fort Myers, Gainesville, Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando, Palm Beach, Panhandle, and Tampa. There are approximately 86 CCRCs, and most of them are located in Jacksonville, Fort Meyers, Palm Beach and Tampa. Miami and Panhandle have the lowest number of CCRCs.
The Best Cities In Florida For Senior Living
According to the U.S. News & World ReportBest Places to Retire in 2020-2021 survey, 13 of the top 25 cities to retire in are in Florida. Sarasota earned the No. 1 title in the nation. Other noteworthy Florida cities on the list included:
For our list of top retirement communities, first we considered the total population of each city on the U.S. News & World Report list and then calculated the percentage of people aged 65 and over.
When searching for the top communities in each city, we considered:
- The location of each community
- The communitys access to high-quality healthcare
- Whether communities were age-restricted or multi-generational
- The type of retirement community
Some retirees may want to live in age-targeted communities, which are marketed towards retirees but welcome people of all ages, or in strictly 55+ communities. Seniors in both types of communities can purchase their own homes instead of renting an apartment. Age-restricted and age-targeted communities are best for active adults who need little to no daily assistance.
Continuing care retirement communities are popular in Florida because they include several types of housing options. On the same property, a CCRC may have senior apartments, assisted living facilities, and nursing homes so residents can easily move if their needs change.
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Adult Day Care Centers
Florida has 292 adult day care centers that go a long way in providing supplementary care to seniors who have family as their primary caregiver. Adult day care will take in adults during the day, usually every weekday but some may include weekends, while the primary caregiver is at work or other life responsibilities. Adult day care has grown into a great option for seniors who are not fully independent anymore, and need assistance throughout the entire day while their primary caregiver is away. Seniors will receive all their meals, and receive assistance with any daily tasks they need to complete like taking care of personal hygiene and taking their medications.
Adult day care centers are also a great way for seniors to socialize and feel a part of a bigger community. Some adult day care centers will have live music and performers to liven up the place and have a good time. Salon services and massage therapy can be had at some adult day care centers as well, inviting seniors to do these activities together and ward off feelings of loneliness through lasting friendships.
Covered Bridge Lake Placid Fl
863-455-9927 | Website
Located about two hours south of Orlando in Lake Placid, Covered Bridge is a community of 230 attached and single-family homes. Residents here enjoy access to amenities like a community clubhouse, heated pool, and a community boat ramp.
New single-family homes are available in eight different ranch-style floorplans that range in size from about 1,000 square feet to a little over 1,400 square feet.
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Largest Retirement Communities In Orlando
Gatherings of Lake Nona, Twin Lakes, K. Hovnanian’s® Four Seasons at Orlando, Harmony and Lakes of Mount Dora are some of the largest and most exceptional active adult communities in Orlando. Enjoy amenities including pools, community centers, and fun clubs where you can pick up a new hobby. These safe and peaceful communities are the perfect places to retire to.
Cost Of Living & Taxes
Those who choose to settle down in one of Central Florida s active adult communities will experience a cost of living slightly lower than the rest of the state. While property taxes are among the highest in the country there are several exemptions to try and lighten the cost. One exemption that may catch the eye of Florida active adults is the Senior Citizen Exemption. This exemption is available in certain counties only and is valued up to $50,000 for residents 65 and older with a gross income below $20,000.
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Latitude Margaritaville Daytona Beach Fl
464-7137 | Website | Request more information
Latitude Margaritaville is a Jimmy Buffet-themed community of just over 3,000 attached villas and single-family homes located in Daytona Beach that is a perfect destination for any Parrothead. Residents here enjoy access to amenities like the Fins Up! Fitness Center, a fantastic resort-style pool, and all the boat drinks they can handle from the Latitude Bar & Chill Restaurant.
Homes at Latitude Margaritaville start in the $200ks and can get as high as the low-$500s. Those homes are available in a total of 15 different variations that are all themed after your favorite Buffet songs.
Heres a video from my recent visit to Latitude Margaritaville: Daytona Beach:
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Find The Best Florida Retirement Community For Your Needs
One of the best ways to find the right retirement community is by working with an experienced local realtor. A high-quality real estate agent will have the inside scoop on a particular city, and they can help you navigate the process of purchasing in a retirement community.
To find a realtor, we recommend interviewing several different agents from various brokerages. Our friends at Clever provide a free service that matches you with the best Florida realtors from brokerages like Berkshire Hathaway and Keller Williams. Talk to as many agents as you want until you find the right fit, or walk away at any time theres no obligation.
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Why Retire To Florida
Florida attracts retirees across the U.S. for four key reasons:
- Low taxes. Florida has no state income, estate, or inheritance taxes. Social Security benefits, pension income, and income from IRAs are all untaxed as well.
- Large population of adults aged 55+. Folks aged 60 and over make up more than 25% of the total population in many of Floridas most popular cities.
- Pleasant year-round climate. Active retirees can enjoy the outdoors almost every day in the Sunshine State. The mild winters appeal to snowbirds, and the hot summer months are great for lazy days on the beach.
- Countless attractions and events. Florida truly offers something for everyone. In addition to its numerous beaches and state parks, Florida has art and history museums with free admission and hosts special events throughout the year. Outdoor concerts, festivals, farmers markets, and art fairs can also be found in most metro areas.
Looking For An Affordable Retirement Community In Central Florida
If youre on the lookout for an affordable retirement community youd like to call home in the Central Florida area, then your search is over! Blair Group is an award-winning developer of beautiful, gated manufactured-home communities that have everything the active 55-and-older set could want. The only thing you have to do now is pick your location.
Each of our five affordable retirement communities has its own unique personality, but all of them have been drawing rave reviews from residents for many years. Is it because of the resort-style amenities and the abundance of activities our residents enjoy on a daily basis? Because we provide the ideal settings for older adults to make friends fast? Or maybe its because our active adult communities are located in some of the most sought-after areas of Central Florida, where no matter how hard you try, youll never run out of exciting things to see and do.
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* Offer available only on certain inventory homes that contract between 09/23/2022 and 10/07/2022, and close by 11/30/2022. Contact a sales consultant for more information.Buyer is not required to finance through sellers affiliate Pulte Mortgage LLC . However, rate is based on participation in the Affiliate Incentive Program, including financing through Pulte Mortgage LLC and application of incentives toward closing costs, including any discount points, based on a conventional 7-yr/6mo adjustable-rate mortgage, sales price of $500,000, loan amount of $400,000 with a 20% down payment. Additional closing costs will apply. Rate may increase or decrease after consummation. Rate as of 09/19/2022, based on 75-day lock and buyer with excellent credit. Some buyers may not qualify for this loan or this rate. This is an example and may not be available in your area and is not available for all homes. This offer may not be able to be combined with other offers or discounts.
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Biggest Retirement Communities In Florida
The Sunshine State has long been a destination for retired Americans. As a result, the biggest retirement communities in Florida cater to this population in various ways. Some specialize in niche markets within the 55+ age group, including religion, culture, or ethnic background. Other communities appeal to people based on their interests, such as theater, golf, or tennis.
Out of all 50 states, Florida has one of the largest selections of retirement communities from which to choose. Its challenging to narrow them down. However, wed like to share five of the best retirement communities in Florida from around the state.
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Bear Creek Sets The Standard For Retirement Community Living In Beautiful Central Florida
Whatever youre looking for in a retirement community in Central Florida, youll almost certainly find it at Bear Creek. Do you enjoy long walks on the beach? You can get to some of the worlds most acclaimed beaches within a few minutes by car. Are you an avid angler or boater? Charter fishing services and boating opportunities abound near Bear Creeks location only a few miles from the Atlantic Ocean.
Plus, theres plenty to do inside this gated retirement community in Ormond Beach. Bear Creek takes resort-style living for adults 55 and older to a new level with a list of amenities youll be hard pressed to find elsewhere:
- Three community clubhouses, each with ample facilities for get-togethers
- Three pools, including a lap pool thats ideal for people who swim to stay fit
- A state-of-the-art fitness center and an aerobics room
- Lighted courts for tennis, pickleball, and shuffleboard, plus accommodations for bocce ball and horseshoes
For more information about the Bear Creek retirement community and the advantages of living in this part of Central Florida, contact us today. Well be happy to arrange a tour for you when youre in the area.
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FORT MYERS, Fla. The road to Fort Myers is littered with power boats, yachts and jet skis including by its Welcome sign in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian which smashed into the coastal city Wednesday as a Category 4 storm, leaving it decimated and unrecognizable.
City officials had handed out evacuation orders the day before the the storm hit, but some residents stayed, believing the hurricane would hit further north, as forecasters predicted.
Robert Negrin, 74, and his wife Jane, 65, rode out the storm in their 24th floor apartment overlooking the Caloosahatchee River, which was shaking as it got battered by the storm on Wednesday night.
Our building was swaying when Ian hit, Robert said.
We had water in the tub for our toilet, which was sloshing around. It was frightening.
When the couple realized Hurricane Ian was going to hit them directly instead of Tampa Bay, it was too late to leave.
We couldnt get a hotel room, the gas stations were out of gas and we were told the highways were packed, Robert said
Once the hurricane path changed it was too late to leave, Jane added.
The hurricane made landfall around 3pm as a category 4 storm, with 150mph winds.
Now, their high-rises plumbing is out and the elevators werent working as of Thursday afternoon. Boats from the Fort Myers Yacht Basin were blown as far as Robert and Janes apartment.
Meanwhile, locals are picking up the scraps left behind in Ians wake.
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