In terms of new construction and real estate sales, the northeast region of Bradenton has become one of the most active in recent years. National home builders have been paying attention to this section of the Southwest Florida housing market, and they have been busy developing great neighborhoods such as Raven Crest.

Meritage Homes has been developing award-winning residential neighborhoods across the United States since 1985. This home builder is known for its energy-efficient and environmentally friendly approach to residential construction. Meritage Homes has set aside several acres of land south of the Manatee River and adjacent to Mill Creek for nature preservation purposes; these protected acres surround the large and very private home sites of Raven Crest.

Home buyers who feel that they are ready for a spacious property on a large home site should consider Raven Crest as one of their first choices. All single-family residences at Raven Crest feature more than 2,000 square feet of living space, and they are very well-appointed. The Northfield floor plan, for example, is an ample one-story home with four bedrooms, two bathrooms, a main bedroom with double linen closets, and an extra room that can be converted into a studio or exercise space. The largest floor plan at Raven Crest is the Astoria, a two-story home with four bedrooms and a spacious studio that can be easily converted into a fifth bedroom or a mother-in-law suite.

As of mid-2015, new homes at Raven Crest were priced between $280K and $442K, which is a very reasonable range when considering the quality of construction and the numerous extras provided by Meritage Homes. As Raven Crest is a very low-density neighborhood, property values are bound to appreciate quickly in the future. Residents of this community enjoy a secluded lifestyle, but they are hardly isolated; the Publix supermarket at Lakewood Ranch is less than two miles away, and a Wal-Mart Supercenter is little farther to the west.