One of the nicest neighborhoods in Manatee County has taken longer than initially expected to develop, but house hunters are finding that the wait has been worth their while. Crossing Creek, a residential community in Bradenton that was originally scheduled to be completed in 2009, was put on hold due to a downturn in the local real estate economy. Now that Crossing Creek is in its third phase of construction, there is no better time to invest than now.

The Reserve at Crossing Creek was developed by Centex, an award-winning national home builder that has big plans for Southwest Florida. In 2009, the builder decided to take a break as it waited for market conditions to improve. By 2013, Centex was building new floor plans to serve as model homes. Now that the local housing market has fully recovered, The Reserve at Crossing Creek is one of the best investment opportunities in Manatee County.

Centex chose a great location for this community, which is located near the northwest corner of Lakewood Ranch, close to State Road 70 and I-75. Pricing at The Reserve starts at $250K for the cozier three-bedroom and two-bathroom floor plans built on 1,861 square feet of air-conditioned space; this is a very reasonable price for a new construction project in suburban Bradenton, but house hunters should be aware that these prices are bound to appreciate in the months to come.

To get a good idea of the great real estate opportunities at The Reserve, consider the ample Mendoza II floor plan: this four-bedroom, two-story home features 3,242 square feet of interior space, and it includes extra features such as Whirlpool appliances, natural wood kitchen cabinetry, Moen fixtures, hurricane-resistant windows, walk-in closets, granite countertops, and more.

In 2016 Neal Communities began working on The Ridge at Crossing Creek, which is a gated community. Pricing is similar to The Reserve. Amenities include a kayak launch, a recreation center, nature trails, a swimming pool, a spa and more.

Lovers of the outdoors will certainly enjoy Crossing Creek, where many homes face lakes and nature preserves. Neighbors have easy access to the Braden River by means of a nearby boat landing, and Bradenton Beach is just 30 minutes away.