BOOM TIME

By Mick Lochridge

Baby boomers are not couch potatoes. More than just a tired cliché, “active lifestyle” actually means something to the 75 million or so of folks born between 1946 and 1964. 

Some are retired; many are not. But they share a desire to learn, to play, to create and to volunteer. And they want their homes and communities to reflect who they are.

“Our baby boomers aren’t sitting at home knitting or watching TV during retirement,” says Jill Norburn, who was the director of the Center for Lifelong Learning at Rollins College in Winter Park for several years. “They’re engaged in lifelong learning, volunteering, traveling and socializing.” 

Today, Norburn still helps boomers reach their goals in her job as a real estate agent for Wemert Group Realty.

“It used to be that people thought they’d retire at 65 and maybe have a good 20 years left to enjoy retirement,” she adds. “Now that people are more active, educated and aware, we’re seeing people live much longer.”

In Central Florida, baby boomers in the market for new homes should have no trouble finding just what they want. That’s because builders and designers have been paying attention as that group ages. 

William Bullock, senior vice president for Minto Communities, (mintousa.com) agrees. “Today’s baby boomer generation is much more active than retirees of past generations,” he says. 

“Boomers are making a significant impact on housing trends and on the housing market. It’s a very important demographic not only to the homebuilding industry but to the economy in general.”

Sheer numbers bolster that importance. Nearly 20 percent of Florida’s more than 20 million residents are 65 years old and older, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. 

It’s a similar story in Central Florida. In Lake County, about 26 percent of the population is 65-plus; 24 percent in Volusia; 20 percent in Polk; 15 percent in Seminole; 13 percent in Osceola; and 11 percent in Orange. 

Those numbers will only increase. And whether boomers are new to Florida or just moving across town, they’ll pack their lifestyles alongside their tables and chairs. 

A study by Meyers Research on active adults concluded that they “buy lifestyle first, then product design” when considering new homes. The biggest selling points, according to the study, are amenities, social interaction opportunities and wellness facilities. 

The findings, presented during a panel discussion sponsored by the Greater Orlando Builders Association, also said boomers increasingly prefer locations close to entertainment centers and educational facilities.

That’s precisely what Norburn found to be true during her tenure with the Rollins program.

“There’s a huge trend where colleges and universities are reaching out and offering programs to baby boomers,” she says. “They’re active, and want to learn more while staying connected.” The University of Central Florida also offers a similar program called Learning Institute for Elders.

John Manrique, marketing vice president for Kolter Homes (kolterhomes.com), also has seen how lifestyle is key to appealing to boomers. 

“As the younger segment of the baby boomer generation has aged into their 50s, this market has seen greater demand for 55-plus communities that keep residents connected to the action that urban areas offer in terms of culture, dining, entertainment, sports, career, travel and recreation,” he notes.

Boomers don’t necessarily want to be right in the middle of the hustle and bustle, Manrique adds, but they are looking for easy, convenient access to the action.

Bullock of Minto Communities elaborates: “When it comes to the active adult market, a major shift has occurred in the lifestyle expectations of today’s 55-plus homebuyer.” 

Therefore, he adds, Minto “has recognized that today’s 55-and-better homebuyers are very different from those of the past. They’re health conscious, active and want to live where they can have great amenities within their communities.” 

Homebuilders, aware of those trends and expecting the number of home-buying boomers to climb, stay busy with new construction — including several 55-plus communities — that appeal to that coveted demographic.

Latitude Margaritaville

The new kid on the block comes from Minto and Margaritaville Holdings. Latitude Margaritaville (latitudemargaritaville.com) in Daytona Beach, a 55-plus master-planned community, features homes that start in the low $200s, including both villas and single-family homes.

The new kid on the block comes from Minto and Margaritaville Holdings. Latitude Margaritaville (latitudemargaritaville.com) in Daytona Beach, a 55-plus master-planned community, features homes that start in the low $200s, including both villas and single-family homes.

Construction recently started on the Jimmy Buffett-inspired development near Interstate 95 and LPGA Boulevard.

The community’s homes are designed for relaxing, entertaining and accommodating houseguests, says Bullock, adding that large master suites include two walk-in closets and raised vanities in the master bath.

“Homes also include hobby rooms and dens, as many baby boomers are still working or partially retired, and most are engaged in a wide range of activities and interests,” he adds. 

Community amenities will include an aerobics studio, indoor lap pool, spa and fitness classes. Outdoor sports facilities will include tennis, pickleball and bocce ball. 

For beach-lovers, there’ll be a private club overlooking the ocean, with a shuttle running between the club and the community. And yes, Buffett parrot heads, there’ll be live music.

Cresswind at Victoria Gardens

Also in Volusia County, as part of its Victoria Park development in DeLand, Kolter Homes created the 55-plus Cresswind at Victoria Gardens, a gated community where homes range in price from the $200s to the $500s. 

Also in Volusia County, as part of its Victoria Park development in DeLand, Kolter Homes created the 55-plus Cresswind at Victoria Gardens, a gated community where homes range in price from the $200s to the $500s. 

Home amenities include energy-smart features, 8-foot doors, R-38 insulated ceilings and granite kitchen countertops with square-edge detail and choice of colors, according to Kolter’s Manrique.

“When Kolter established our Cresswind concept for 55-plus homebuyers, we surveyed 2,500 active adults and asked them what they wanted in their homes,” he says. “Those results produced our ‘comfort home design’ approach that makes Cresswind different than any place you’ll visit.” 

Community amenities include a residents-only clubhouse and restaurant, an activities director, fitness facilities, golf and social clubs. There also are medical, retail and professional services on site.

Near Interstate 4 between Orlando and Daytona Beach, the community gives residents easy access to the beaches, airports and Stetson University in downtown DeLand. 

Its location “provides active adults with lifelong learning, recreation, entertainment, culture and quality of life,” adds Manrique.

Solivita

On the other side of Orlando, AV Homes (avhomesinc.com) started Solivita 18 years ago. Just inside Polk County near Osceola County, the well-established community features all the amenities a boomer could expect in a 55-plus community. 

There are 14 swimming pools, a softball field, tennis courts, indoor track, golf and more.

Other perks include wellness and fitness centers, walking trails, clubs and activities as well as proximity to healthcare providers, according to Kelley Finley, AV’s vice president of marketing. Solivita homes are priced ranging from $163,990 to $383,990, and include open kitchens and outdoor living options. 

Finley says boomers are attracted to Solivita by its sense of community, its amenities and its proximity to theme parks, downtown Orlando and Orlando International Airport.

“Active adults make up approximately 30 percent of our buyers, she adds. “The baby boomers of the 1950s make up a large, well-educated percentage who are looking for a primary, retirement home.”

Laureate Park

Not all communities that attract baby boomers are age-restricted. Laureate Park at Lake Nona in Orlando boasts home designs and community amenities that appeal to all ages and lifestyles. 

Developed by Minto (mintousa.com), the community’s floorplans include townhomes and single-family homes to suit everyone from young professionals to families to empty nesters and multigenerational households.

Boomers will like the community’s many resort-style amenities, walkable neighborhoods and proximity to Lake Nona’s Medical City, which includes the new Orlando VA Medical Center.

Laureate Park is also steps away from Lake Nona’s burgeoning Town Center, a 3.8-million-square-foot entertainment, dining and shopping district.

Courtyard homes and single-family homes are available, ranging in price from $274,900 to the high $400s. The community is renowned for its creatively designed homes in an array of styles.

Lake Nona covers 7,000 acres with 44 miles of nature trails, biking and hiking paths. “Lake Nona is an incredible place to work, live and play,” says Bullock. “Its amenities encourage a healthy, happy lifestyle and promote an open, friendly neighborhood environment.”

Lakeshore

In southwest Orange County’s Horizon West area, Lakeshore offers both townhomes and single-family homes with baby boomers in mind. 

Built by Toll Brothers (tollbrothers.com), the community offers townhomes priced starting in the upper $200s, while single-family homes are priced starting in the $300s. 

Lakeshore is not age restricted, but home amenities that appeal to boomers include first-floor master bedrooms and bathrooms, home offices, multigenerational accommodations, outdoor living areas and three-car garages.

A wide assortment of community amenities also is important. “We’ve learned that active adults prefer to have a wide variety of amenities all within the community,” says Brock Fanning, vice president of the Central Florida division of Toll Brothers.  

New at Lakeshore is The Lakehouse, a 4,132-square-foot amenity center with a resort-style swimming pool, a state-of-the-art fitness center and a social room with catering kitchen. 

Residents also have use of a beach volleyball court, a fire pit, and a paddleboard and kayak station with a dock.

Lakes of Mount Dora

In Lake County, Pringle Homes (pringle.com) and (Medallion Home (medallionhome.com) are building in a 55-plus community called Lakes of Mount Dora. Most homes are waterfront or water view and cost from the $190s to the $500s. They range in size from 1,263 to 3,252 square feet.

Lakes of Mount Dora is a gated community where “the casual Florida lifestyle allows residents to be as active or as laid back as they choose,” says Dale Roberts, chief brand officer with Dale Roberts & Associates, the company that handles marketing for the community.

Home amenities include single-floor living, open floorplans, outdoor living areas, large master suites with two walk-in closets and large two- or three-car garages.

In addition, buyers have the option of a summer kitchen with wet bar, refrigerator and grill. Many universal design elements can be incorporated with ADA-approved access, easy access light switches, smooth shower access and universal thresholds, Roberts says.

Community amenities include an 18,000-square-foot clubhouse with a resort-style pool, a fitness studio, a library, and tennis, pickleball, basketball and bocce courts. There also are walking trails, club activities, and boat and RV storage.

Of course, one of the top amenities is Mount Dora itself. Nationally recognized for its historic downtown of shops and restaurants, the Lake County city stays busy with festivals and other events year-round. 

“Mount Dora is a highly sought-after, historic bedroom community of Lake County, just far enough from the city of Orlando and all of the attractions,” Roberts says.

Regardless of where in Central Florida baby boomers choose to buy a new home, builders and developers have plenty to offer. 

“Boomers are still a driving force in the homebuilding industry,” says Toll’s Fanning. “They’re significantly more active than past generations. They enjoy outdoor activities, planned events and being a part of a vibrant community with residents of varying ages.”

THE LAKES AT HARMONY

Boomers who came of age in the ’60s remember plenty of wistful talk about living in harmony. Probably very few figured they would literally live in Harmony — a place as well as a state of being.

 The Lakes at Harmony is a new 55-plus neighborhood within Harmony, an 11,000-acre, master-planned community in Osceola County. The community is oriented around nature, with more than 70 percent of its acreage designated permanently as preserve areas.

In the Lakes at Harmony, CalAtlantic Homes is building approximately 400 single-family homes in three design collections: the Sanctuary Series (priced starting at $192,990), the Florida Series (priced starting at $206,990) and the Palm Series (priced starting at $253,990). 

Homes in the gated community — all of which are one-story — are built with active adults in mind, boasting open floorplans and energy-efficient features. Most will offer golf-course views.

Residents will enjoy a private clubhouse, with a zero-entry pool as well as a gathering room, a catering kitchen, a crafts area and a fitness center. A “sunset gazebo” overlooks the 14th green of the Audubon-certified Harmony Golf Course.

Residents of the Lakes at Harmony will also have full access to existing amenities, including, most notably, the 18-hole championship golf course and its well-appointed clubhouse and pro shop. Shopping is also convenient at the Town Square Marketplace, which features several restaurants.

Harmony also has tennis, pickleball, and bocce ball courts as well as a dog park and 12.6 miles of walking and biking trails, among other amenities.

Homes in the Sanctuary Series have one to three bedrooms, one-and-a-half or two bathrooms, and attached two-car garages. There are five floorplans from which to choose, ranging in size from 1,404 to 2,094 square feet.

There are four floorplans from which to choose in the Florida Series, ranging in size from 1,679 to 2,090 square feet with three to five bedrooms, two or two-and-a-half bathrooms, and attached two-car garages. 

Homes in the Palm Series feature four floorplans from which to choose, ranging in size from 2,256 to 2,847 square feet. They have three or four bedrooms, two to three-and-a-half bathrooms, and attached two or three-car garages. 

There’ll be plenty to do in the Lakes at Harmony, with Zumba classes, themed dinners, and various special-interest clubs. An on-site activities director will help organize additional social functions and other community events.

FOUR SEASONS AT ORLANDO

K. Hovnanian’s Four Seasons at Orlando, a 55-plus community in Osceola County, is close to the region’s major attractions.

Community activities center around the 14,000-square-foot clubhouse, which includes gathering rooms, a billiards room and a state-of-the-art fitness center.

Outdoor amenities include a pool with a cabana as well as courts for of pickleball, tennis or bocce ball. Walking and biking paths wind through the gated community.

K. Hovnanian plans to build 530 single-family homes with 11 distinct floorplans ranging in size from 1,428 square feet up to 2,328 square feet. Homes will include two or three bedrooms, two or two-and-a-half bathrooms, and all will have either attached two-car or two-and-a-half car garages. Prices range from $269,990 to $335,990.

All homes will have large, open floorplans with master-on-main suites and spacious walk-in closets. Some floorplans include options for extended lanais, French doors for great room entrances and sliding glass doors.

No need to bother with yard work — that’s taken care of — and there’ll be a full-time activities director onsite to help organize clubs, events, classes and activities. Similar Four Seasons communities are being rolled out across the U.S., according to K. Hovnanian executives.

GATHERINGS of LAKE NONA

Beazer Homes’ Gatherings of Lake Nona is the first 55-plus community in the Lake Nona master-planned community, located in east Orlando, where the company plans 216 low-maintenance condominiums complete with elevators and garages. 

A clubhouse will be the center of activity, and there’ll be plenty of amenities to keep residents fit and active. Outdoors, there’ll be a pool and patio along with sports courts and an inviting fire pit for evening get-togethers. The clubhouse will feature a fitness center as well as multi-purpose rooms for community gatherings and social events. 

If you’re feeling competitive, there’ll be courts for pickleball or bocce ball. And your furry friends will love the on-site dog park. 

You’ll have four floorplans from which to choose, ranging is size from 1,368 to 1,805 square feet. They’ll have two or three bedrooms, two bathrooms and attached one-car garages. Each building offers elevator access from the ground floor along with private, covered balconies. 

All plans feature spacious master suites with walk-in closets, and bathrooms with stylish fixtures. A number of custom upgrades are available. Prices start in the $290s.

Of course, one of Gatherings of Lake Nona’s biggest selling points is its location in Lake Nona, for decades one of the region’s premier addresses. It’s near the burgeoning Lake Nona Town Center as well as Lake Nona’s Medical City, with its new VA Hospital. Similar Gatherings communities are being rolled out across the U.S., according to Beazer executives.

ESPLANADE AT HIGHLAND RANCH

Taylor Morrison’s 579-acre Esplanade at Highland Ranch, located in bustling Clermont in Lake County, which offers pretty much everything you could ask for in a 55-plus community, including concierge-level services.

Tucked within the master-planned community of Highland Ranch, Esplanade offers an array of resort-style community amenities and an onsite lifestyle director to help you enjoy them. Outdoor amenities include a pool with a cabana as well as courts for of pickleball, tennis or bocce ball.

There’s a resort-style pool — as well as a resistance pool — as well as a hot tub and a beautiful verandah with a barbecue grill and a nearby firepit. The clubhouse has gathering areas, a billiards room, a fitness center (with personal training available) and a massage room as well as a coffee bar. 

You’ll also have easy access to three miles of internal walking trails that connect directly to the scenic seven-mile South Lake Trail, which links up with the 19-mile West Orange Trail.

Taylor Morrison plans to build about 1,500 homes in Esplanade, ranging in size from 1,722 to 3,006 square feet. There are three collections from which to choose: Capri (priced starting at $230,995), Savona (priced starting at $262,995) and Venice (priced starting at $302,995). All have multiple floorplans and elevations.

All homes are one-story, and feature open floorplans, luxurious master suites with walk-in closets, gourmet kitchens, energy-efficient construction and plenty of optional custom upgrades. Many homesites have scenic lake views. Similar Esplanade communities are being rolled out across the country, according to Taylor Morrison executives.

Last year, Esplanade became the epicenter of active adult living when the 2,268-square-foot NEXTadventure Home was unveiled as part of the International Builders Show, held in Orlando. The showhome, designed based ion exhaustive research on the wants and needs of boomer buyers, boasts innovative flex spaces and smart technology and fully integrated outdoor living spaces.