Many great things have been written about the Lakewood Ranch master-planned development in Manatee County, and many more have yet to be written. Without any doubt, Lakewood Ranch is a model of smart residential development in Florida and across the United States. There are more than a dozen reasons to support this claim, and each of those reasons is represented by a Lakewood Ranch village.

What started out as a residential project that paid special attention to Florida’s new and strict building codes for sustainable development has evolved into an exemplary community. About half of the 17,500 acres that make up Lakewood Ranch have been set aside as nature preserves and public recreation spaces. This means that Lakewood Ranch residents have more than a hundred miles of nature trails to enjoy, and this is in addition to ponds and lakes that can be explored on kayaks and canoes.

Green building, nature conservation and recreation spaces are the basic ingredients of the secret Lakewood Ranch formula for an enviable lifestyle. This is a premier community has truly grown organically thanks to the diversity of real estate offered in the different villages. House hunters have a lot to choose from: The elegance of a private country club that offers upscale activities such as golf, tennis, polo, and cricket; the charm of a family-friendly neighborhood where children can safely walk to school, explore nature, play with pets in a special park, and share fun moments with their friends and parents in a special outdoor area.

At least eight shopping districts are spread across Lakewood Ranch, but Main Street is at the heart of it all. This modern recreation of an Old Florida town center offers chic boutiques, family restaurants, trendy pubs, cafes, a movie theater, gourmet supermarkets, and more. As further proof that Lakewood Ranch is growing organically in the right direction, residents here enjoy a Premier Sports Campus, wetland preserves, cultural festivals, live music, educational exhibits, and more.

Diversity and affordability are staples of the busy Lakewood Ranch real estate market. Most villages are not older than a decade, and a few are still under construction. Builders are held to pretty high quality and aesthetic standards. All villages are developed around nature, and each residential unit is built with energy efficiency in mind. The Mediterranean-style of residential architecture is predominant in many neighborhoods, but some villages feature custom buildings and unique floor plans for single-family residences, townhouses and condominium units.

The best part about Lakewood Ranch is that pricing is still very affordable, and for this reason most purchase transactions are carried out very quickly. As this master-planned community gets more national attention, however, property values will rise accordingly.