Sarasota, Venice, and Lakewood Ranch New Homes

Many of you have been asking me about the level of amenities among new homes in The West Villages, Venice, and Sarasota, and how they compare.  I'll be collecting activity calendars for these communities in the coming weeks, and I'll post them on  davidbarrhomes.com.  For example, this calendar can be found on my page for Toscana Isles:  davidbarrhomes.com/toscana-isles-venice-fl   # toscanaisles Venice FL and The West Villages new home activity calendar The builder's new home sales associates most likely can't help you compare the level of amenities for competing communities.  Having examples like these all in one place will help you narrow your options. Remember, new homes cost the same as the builder's advertised prices when you're working with your own Realtor.  Contact me for a tour and for more information.

You could buy this paired villa for $347,999, or you could buy this single family home with similar amenities in a nearby gated community in the $330,000's, including home site premium and common designer upgrades.  Venice FL paired villa for sale for $347,999 Venice FL new single family home around $330,000 including home site and designer options Even better, the single family home will save you up to $100 per month in energy costs.  This is why you need a local new home specialist, instead of asking for information from a national website. Where are these single family homes? Contact me for more information.

Here's an update for you on Vicenza, a new home community opening soon in Venice FL. Vicenza is located east of the intersection of Border Road and Jacaranda Blvd, immediately neighborhing it's sister community, Milano . Eentrance to Vicenza under construction as of August 2019 Vicenza will be set on 290 acres, and will have both paired villas and single family homes.  I expect the floor plans, prices, and amenities list will be upgraded just a bit from Milano.  The architectural style will be Italian inspired, after feedback from home owners in Grand Palm (by the same builder) that didn't care for a mix of coastal and Mediterranean styles.  There will be approximately 500 home sites, with residences sized from 1400 to 2300 square feet of living space.  All homes will have a 2 car garage max. The amenities center is under construction and looks very similar to the one in Milano as well.  There will be a dog park, bike trails, pickle ball, and b...

Aria in Venice FL new home sales have begun!  Watch here for my exclusive video and photo galleries of the model homes and amenities center, coming soon. Follow me on FB , or bookmark my website for updates:  davidbarrhomes.com/aria-venice-fl-homes-for-sale .  Aria new homes in Venice FL There are 8 floor plans, all 3 bedrooms with 2 or 3 baths and 2 or 3 car garages.  These are executive homes with wide home sites (72' or 57'), with prices starting in the mid $400's to the $700's.  Remember, new homes cost the same as the builder's advertised prices when you're working with your own Realtor.  This builder is closing out Milano directly across Jacaranda, and is in the process of getting two more communities ready for sale for our winter season: Vicenza and Cielo . As your new home specialist, I'm staying on top of all the latest news and construction progress, so you don't have to deal with so many sales people at the individual new hom...

My first post for Venice Woodland new homes in Venice FL was back in January.  Here's an update showing their sales center and model home under construction.  Venice Woodland model home and sales center under construction The main street into the community is now paved. Venice Woodland, by M/I Homes, sits on about 150 acres, and will have a full list of amenities such as a dog park, resort style pool and club house, walking trails, and fitness center.  M/I Homes also builds Oasis at The West Villages, Mapleleaf Hammock in Lakewood Ranch, and Hidden Creek in Sarasota.  Remember, new homes cost the same as the builder's advertised prices, when you're working with your own Realtor as your buyer's agent.  Contact me for a tour. # realtor   # realestateagent   # buyersagent   # newhomespecialist # venicefl   # floridanewhomes

As usual, there's lots going on in Venice FL new home construction. A total of 4 communities are in site preparation mode, with sales centers nearing completion.  The communities are in the area of Milano, on Jacaranda Blvd.  These are Aria, Cielo, Vicenza, and Venice Woodland . Three of the 4 are by Neal Communities:  Aria , offering larger executive homes, and Cielo and Vicenza, offering homes like those built most recently in Milano. Cielo is located south and west of the intersection of Laurel Road and Jacaranda.  Pricing should be similar to Milano, from the high $200's to the mid $400's.  There will be new floor plans, like sister community Indigo in Lakewood Ranch . The site of Cielo, at the intersection of Laurel Road and Jacaranda Blvd. Vicenza is another Neal Community, located east of Milano , with the main entrance off Border Road.  The sales center and model homes are progressing quickly.  I estimate these will be open...

I know its tempting to drive yourself around looking for new homes and going directly to the builder on your own. Think about this:  the percentage of home buyers using a Realtor to buy a resale home has increased to over 90% in the last decade.  FSBO (for sale by owner) is dwindling. Why?  The process and the choices are more complicated, and frankly, I think buyers are better informed and want to work with a Realtor they can trust to help them make the best decision for their needs. The same thought process should apply to the purchase of a new home.  The builder's contracts are much longer than a Florida resale contract, and it favors the builders, not you as a buyer. On top of that, you have 50 choices for major new home communities between Lakewood Ranch, Sarasota, and Venice and The West Villages.  As your new home specialist, I'm in these communities on a regular basis keeping up to speed on the latest news and incentives. Did you know that as ...

This week I visited Watercrest to take a look at the new construction progress and get some updated video of the community. Watercrest is a bit unique when it comes to Venice FL new homes, because there's no CDD fees and very low HOA and condo fees for the paired villas. The paired villas start in the low $200's, and single family homes start in the low $300's.   Watercrest is located on Jacaranda Blvd at the Venice Avenue traffic circle, just south of I-75.  Remember, new homes cost the same when you're working with your own Realtor.  Contact me for a tour.

Here's an update on Aria, a new home community adjacent to Milano off Jacaranda Blvd in Venice FL. Aria is being built by Neal Communities, and will feature it's Signature Series upscale homes.  Expect larger homes than Milano, with 3 or 4 bedrooms, 3 car garages, and slightly larger lots.  I expect that Aria's club house and pool will be a bit larger and more upscale than Milano's, as well. First look at Aria club house and model homes under construction. Aria's pool will overlook a large lake, with a southerly exposure. With the rate of progress I'm seeing with construction of the model homes, home sites may be released soon, with the model homes possibly opening in the late Spring 2019. Remember, new construction homes cost the same when you're working with your own Realtor.  Contact me with any questions, or to schedule a tour of Venice FL area new home s.

Welcome to my new weekly feature I'm calling Floor Plan Friday.  I'll be showcasing some of the most popular new home floor plans from builders in the Venice FL area. Lennar is currently offering the Alexandria model in Gran Paradiso.  Lennar has a multi-tiered selection of homes based on size and price:  Executive, Manor and Single Family.  The Alexandria is classified as a "Single Family" home with 1,904 square feet under air.  With 4 bedrooms, 3 full baths, and a high-demand, split bedroom, open floor plan, the Alexandria is a good value. Base prices range $261,990-$264,990 (prices subject to change) depending on the elevation (front facade of the home). Please visit my new homes gallery , with floor plans and prices for every major new home community in the Venice FL area.  As your new homes specialist , please contact me with any questions or to schedule a tour.

DR Horton and Neal Communities have begun work on two large new home communities east of I-75 off Laurel Road. Neal is building a 700-home community that will be called "The Villages of Milano".  A couple of model homes and what looks to be a sales center seem to be near completion as of this writing.  You can see this development on Jacaranda Rd, between Boundary and Laurel Rd. Approximate locations of new home communities under development in North Venice I've been told that DR Horton is developing a site for 800 homes, with ground being broken just west of the Willow Chase subdivision on the north side of Laurel Rd.  It looks like DR Horton will be developing the former Stay N Play RV park and surrounding area. Entrance to DR Horton's new community at the former Stay N Play RV Park off Laurel Road On top of that, Neal is also planning on a 250 home community further east on Jacaranda at Border Rd called The Woods of Venice. Neal Communities...

If you're looking for a new home in the Venice, FL area, you won't want to miss Gran Paradiso by Lennar. Tuscan themed Gran Paradiso entrance Sprawling Gran Paradiso clubhouse Clubhouse great room Activities room Gran Paradiso fitness and aerobics center Located on Hwy 41 about 5 miles east of downtown Venice, Gran Paradiso is a modern take on Tuscan style, offering an impressive resort-style club house and pool. One of the best features of Gran Paradiso is that all homes have access to the clubhouse and are maintenance free, which means law mowing, irrigation, and exterior pest control are provided with low homeowner association fees, which vary from around $150 per month to around $225 per month for some of the villas. Tile roofs are standard on all Gran Paradiso homes and villas I found some of the floor plans, such as the Princeton II, a bit disappointing in that a formal dining and living room are still offered, where most of today...

I recently toured a new home community in Venice, FL called Grand Oaks. Grand Oaks is a small gated and walled community of just 55 homes, located on Venice Avenue west of Jacaranda Blvd.  Home prices start at just under $300,000. A brand new Publix is within walking distance, and it's just 3 miles to downtown Venice attractions. Grand Oaks has no CDD fee, with monthly homeowner association dues of just $199 per month and a very nice community pool. This is a good combination of lower taxes and fees for a new home community. Please click here for elevations, floor plans, and pricing information and contact me if you'd like to schedule a tour of this new home community or any others in the area.