The Manatee County real estate market is equally known for its golf communities and nature-friendly neighborhoods. At the Tara Preserve Golf and Country Club, house hunters can find the best of both worlds. Located just west of I-75 and close to Ward Lake, Tara Preserve in Bradenton is a large neighborhood that combines aspects of a country club lifestyle with carefully preserved nature areas for the enjoyment of all residents.

The Tara Golf and Country Club and Tara Preserve take up more than a thousand acres of pristine Florida land. There are about 2,000 residences in various residential sections arranged around the one of two golf courses and the nature preserves. Prospective home buyers will find a diversity of real estate options in this community: single-family residences, condominium units and golf villas can be found listed at any given time.

Although residential construction at Tara dates back to the 1990s, most of the properties and amenities have undergone remodeling since 2009. These days, the listings at Tara are among the best deals in Southwest Florida. This is a neighborhood where home buyers can still find golf villas with three bedrooms and two full bathrooms for $180K. Even the four-bedroom golf estates with four bedrooms and three bathrooms are reasonably listed under $400K.

Many of the properties at Tara were developed by local builders Arthur Rutenberg and Lee Wetherington, and the architectural design is the classic Florida style with Mediterranean influences. Two shopping districts are located near the entrances to the community, and residents enjoy living close to marinas and city parks.

Due to the abundant amenities at Tara, there are many seasonal residents and property investors who rent their homes. The most challenging golf course is rated par 72, and homeowners who do not play very frequently can obtain social memberships so that they can still enjoy the stylish clubhouse and its restaurants, swimming pools, tennis courts, and fitness center.

The cinema, shops, restaurants, and pubs of Main Street at Lakewood Ranch are conveniently located about five miles away, and the upscale University Town Center is also nearby. Residents have a choice of planning weekend trips to either Bradenton Beach or Siesta Key, which are less than 30 minutes away.