Lakewood Ranch, FL – January 7, 2025 – Lakewood Ranch has once again been named the top-selling multi-generational community in the United States, with 2,210 home sales in 2024, reaffirming its status as America’s Favorite Place to Call Home ^SM.   

For over 30 years, Lakewood Ranch has fostered a vibrant sense of place, belonging, and connection. Its diversity of experiences, access to nature and services, and top-quality schools and healthcare make the community popular with families, young professionals, empty nesters, and retirees alike. 

“Lakewood Ranch’s multi-generational appeal remains its defining strength, while its prime location and thoughtfully planned infrastructure offer reassurance to today’s more cautious homebuyers,” said Laura Cole, senior vice president of Lakewood Ranch. Karl Pischke, principal at RCLCO, also praised the community’s ability to weather challenges during a volatile year, citing its steady performance despite Hurricane Milton and election-related uncertainty.

Strong Sales Across All Market Segments in Lakewood Ranch

• Move-Up/Multi-Gen Villages: Represented 49% of total sales, serving the needs of growing families and multi-generational households.
• Entry-Level Homes: Accounted for 23% of sales, underscoring consistent demand for affordability.
• Retiree/Active Adult Market: Grew to 16% of sales, driven by new inventory and lifestyle-focused amenities.
• Luxury Segment: Contributed 12% of sales, with high demand for exclusive communities like Wild Blue and Shellstone.

Pricing Trends: Balancing Growth and Affordability

The average home price rose 7.4% in 2024 to $734k, driven by demand in the move-up and luxury markets. However, builders strategically offered incentives and balanced affordability by maintaining the average price per square foot at $296. Sales were particularly strong at both ends of the pricing spectrum, with notable activity below $299K and above $3.5M.

Growing Demand for Spacious Living

The average size of a home sold in Lakewood Ranch in 2024 increased by 2% to 2,331 sq. ft., reflecting a shift toward more spacious living options. This trend was particularly evident in Move-Up/Multi-Gen Villages, designed to cater to larger families seeking enhanced comfort and functionality.

2025: A Vision for Continued Growth

Lakewood Ranch is introducing eight new villages, offering a range of lifestyles, from bundled golf communities to age-targeted resort neighborhoods to family-friendly neighborhoods and maintenance-free options.

A hallmark of Lakewood Ranch’s success is its developer, Schroeder-Manatee Ranch (SMR), renowned for its forward-thinking infrastructure and meticulous planning. In 2025, SMR will expand its extensive network of roads and trails, constructing over 15 new miles of roads to complement the existing 42-mile system. This infrastructure includes trails, parks, and over a dozen new roundabouts to enhance mobility and connectivity to new areas.

“Our success lies in our unwavering commitment to creating a community that feels like home to everyone,” said Rex Jensen, president and CEO of SMR. “From thoughtfully designed neighborhoods to exceptional amenities, we continue to set the standard for master-planned living.”

About Lakewood Ranch

Lakewood Ranch is the 33,000+-acre award-winning master-planned community in Sarasota and Manatee counties on the West Coast of Florida. Just minutes from the Gulf Coast beaches and cultural assets in Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch is already home to more than 72,000 residents and features top-rated schools, the Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, the Sarasota Polo Club, the 75-acre Premier Sports Campus, and three town centers that include theaters, shopping and dining. For more information, visit lakewoodranch.com.

Media Contact:
Lisa M. Barnott
Director of Marketing and Communications
(941)757-1542
lisa.barnott@lakewoodranch.com

Forestar Expands Star Farms at Lakewood Ranch; Creates Largest Village in the Master-Planned Community

SARASOTA, FL, NOVEMBER 21, 2024 – Forestar Group Inc. (“Forestar”), one of the largest single-family residential community developers in the nation, announces the development of Saddlestone ­—

a new neighborhood located within Star Farms at Lakewood Ranch. Saddlestone adds more than 570 acres and 1,300 homesites to Star Farms. With this new addition, Star Farms encompasses nearly 1,300 acres and 2,800 lots and establishes the community as the largest in Lakewood Ranch. Adjacent to Bourneside Boulevard and 44^th Avenue East, the first phase of Saddlestone includes 300 homesites nestled along environmental features.

Groundbreaking attendees included Forestar team members: Tony Squitieri, West Florida Region Vice President; Ted Gadoury, Land Development Amenity Manager; John Barnott, Investments and Development Director; Christian Cotter, Region Director of Resort Hospitality; and Evan DeHart, Land Development Manager.

According to Squitieri, a shared commitment to excellence has driven the growth of Star Farms. “Lakewood Ranch chose us to develop this area because of the success of Star Farms. They thought we were the best fit to overcome the challenges,” he said. “Star Farms could not have become the largest master-planned community within Lakewood Ranch without our featured builders, and we look forward to sharing our vision in more detail as our design progresses.”

Surrounded by the natural beauty of Southwest Florida, this multi-generational lifestyle community offers a unique experience.

“We have designed, in an innovative way, a multi-generational community by creating a hometown that connects and inspires,” Squitieri said. “I credit our onsite hospitality team with shaping this lifestyle for our families.”

According to the Lakewood Ranch sales and marketing team, this tailored approach and product mix attracts homebuyers.

“Star Farms has become a favorite village in Lakewood Ranch thanks to its wide variety of home types, price points and exceptional amenities,” said Sandy Shahinian, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Lakewood Ranch Communities. “We are thrilled to see this community continue to thrive with the introduction of additional phases, providing even more opportunities for buyers to make Star Farms at Lakewood Ranch their home.”

Whether exploring new adventures, discovering new passions, meeting new neighbors or finding new ways to connect with nature, Star Farms at Lakewood Ranch is an extraordinary place to call home.

Visit www.starfarmslwr.com and join the VIP Club for the latest information.

About Lakewood Ranch

Lakewood Ranch is the 33,000+-acre award-winning master-planned community in Sarasota and Manatee counties on the West Coast of Florida. Just minutes from the Gulf Coast beaches and cultural assets in Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch is already home to more than 72,000 residents and features top-rated schools, the Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, the Sarasota Polo Club, the 75-acre Premier Sports Campus, and three town centers that include theaters, shopping and dining. For more information visit www.lakewoodranch.com.

About Forestar Group Inc.

Forestar Group Inc. is a residential lot development company with operations in 59 markets and 24 states. Based in Arlington, Texas, the Company delivered more than 15,000 residential lots during the twelve-month period ended September 30, 2024. Forestar is a majority-owned subsidiary of D.R. Horton, Inc., the largest homebuilder by volume in the United States since 2002. For more information, visit www.forestar.com. Community pricing, features, terms, availability and amenities are subject to change at any time without notice or obligation.