When Pat Neal, CEO and founder of Neal Communities, was honored as Builder of the Year by Professional Builder Magazine in 2015, Sugar Mill Lakes in Palmetto was one of the neighborhoods making up the 10,000 homes milestone for the company. Neal Communities has a reputation of being a visionary home builder; wherever the company decides to develop a new project, others tend to follow suit, thus increasing residential values in the district.

Located in the Willow Walk district of Palmetto, Sugar Mill Lakes is a community filled with lakes, green spaces, large home sites, and nice amenities. If you are familiar with Lakewood Ranch villages, you already know the ambiance to expect at Sugar Mill Lakes, but you should also expect better deals in 2020. Whereas median home prices in Manatee County are currently around $275K, you can move find a three-bedroom home with two bathrooms and a nice lake view for less than $240K.

Sugar Mill Lakes is the kind of neighborhood where children can safely play outside and run along nature trails; in fact, the neighborhood is separated from Oakhurst Road by the Felt Audubon Preserve, and there is a park right in the heart of the community. The recreation center, basketball courts, picnic area, and tennis courts round out the amenities, but there’s also the nearby Terra Ceia Preserve to explore. When heading out on the weekends, you can choose between the beaches of St. Petersburg and Anna Maria Island.

The architectural style at Sugar Mill Lakes is the Mediterranean revival design with a few signature touches by Neal Communities. A few homeowners have already built private swimming pools overlooking the various lakes. This neighborhood is located near a couple of riverfront American diners not far from the Ellenton Premium Outlets. Quite a few homeowners commute to the Tampa Bay region for work and school. Between the Premium Outlets and the Publix supermarket in the Palmetto Historic District, you will never have to travel far for shopping.