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Lakewood Ranch no. 1 in the nation for housing starts in second quarter
Lakewood Ranch, located on Florida’s west coast, led the nation in housing starts for the second quarter of 2019, according to Metrostudy, a leading research and consulting firm specializing in U.S. residential markets. The Ranch’s 1,561 new home starts exceeded those of other top-selling communities in Florida, Texas, Nevada and California.
"With a broad offering of new homes for every stage of your life coupled with a long standing reputation for amenities and lifestyle, Lakewood Ranch became the ‘Most Active Community’ in the United States for new housing starts as of 2Q 2019, surpassing The Villages for top spot," said Tony Polito, director of the Tampa/Central Florida region of Metrostudy.
Earlier in the month, Lakewood Ranch was named the second fastest-selling community in the nation (first multi-generational community), according to Maryland-based real estate consulting firm RCLCO’s 2019 Mid-Year Ranking.
“Lakewood Ranch’s sales – and subsequent starts success – is a result of its exceptional location, multi-generational approach, and diversity of neighborhoods, as well as an ever-growing list of daily conveniences and social engagement opportunities,” said Laura Cole, senior vice president, LWR Communities, LLC.
Lakewood Ranch is being developed by Schroeder-Manatee Ranch (SMR). Since the early 1900s, the Uihlein family, one of the original owners of the Schlitz Brewery, has owned the 31,000-acre property, with previous ranch activities including cattle ranching and citrus, tree and turf farming, and aggregate mining.
SMR transitioned into community development in February of 1994, and, today Lakewood Ranch is home to more than 15,000 households (including rentals) with an estimated population in excess of 36,000 residents. Last year, 1,482 new homes were sold in Lakewood Ranch, ranking it the country’s best-selling multi-generational community by John Burns Consulting and RCLCO.
Lakewood Ranch is Sarasota/Bradenton’s economic development hub with approximately 5.6 million square feet of non-residential, mixed-use space constructed since 1997. This includes two major office parks, Lakewood Ranch Hospital, three hotels, five grocery-anchored shopping centers, Main Street and The Green lifestyle centers (with Waterside Place opening soon), and numerous smaller neighborhood shopping centers. More than 1,500 large and small businesses call Lakewood Ranch home and over 16,000 people work in the community.
Lakewood Ranch’s recreational opportunities include miles of trails, six community parks, and the Lakewood Ranch Golf & Country Club featuring 54 holes of golf, two clubhouses, tennis center, fitness center and related amenities. In addition, there are 18-hole golf courses at both The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club and the Legacy Golf Club.
Home prices in The Ranch range from $200K to more than $1 million, providing a multitude of options for buyers, including condominiums, paired villas, and single-family homes.
Sales in Lakewood Ranch continue to come from throughout Florida, as well as from high tax markets in the Northeast, specifically New York and New Jersey. There has been growing activity from the Mid-Atlantic, including Washington, D.C., Virginia and Maryland, as well as from California.
Metrostudy is the leading provider of primary and secondary market information to the housing and related industries nationwide. In addition to providing information, the company is recognized for its consulting expertise on development, marketing and economic issues, and is a key source of research studies evaluating the feasibility of residential and commercial real estate projects. Services are offered through an extensive network of offices strategically located in major metropolitan areas throughout the country.
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Lakewood Ranch is the 31,000-acre award-winning master-planned community in Sarasota and Manatee counties on the West Coast of Florida. Just minutes from the Gulf Coast beaches and cultural assets in Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch is already home to more than 36,000 residents and features A-rated schools, the Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, the Sarasota Polo Club, the 75-acre Premier Sports Campus, its own Main Street with theaters, shopping and dining, and more than four million square feet of commercial property, including CORE, a life science business campus that focuses on research, health, and education. For more information visit www.lakewoodranch.com.
