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  • Lakewood Ranch Community Fund Launches its Builders Give Back Program

    LAKEWOOD RANCH, Fla. (May 16, 2023) – The Lakewood Ranch Community Fund (LWRCF) is pleased to announce the launch of its Builders Give Back program, through which builders make a $100 donation per closing to the LWRCF in the name of the new homeowner. The builders currently participating are Anchor Builders, AR Homes, Homes By Towne, John Cannon Homes, Lee Wetherington Homes, Pulte Homes, and Stock Luxury Homes. The program is further supported by Lakewood Ranch Communities, which will donate a matching $100 per closing to the LWRCF.

    The new program benefits the LWRCF by both developing engagement with homeowners in their community and introducing them to local philanthropy, which in turn will help create support for the LWRCF into the future.

    “This program allows new residents to experience the welcoming and giving culture of Lakewood Ranch right when they move in,” said Adrienne Bookhamer, executive director of the LWRCF. “Our builders understand that the lifestyle in Lakewood Ranch is unique, and they are supporting that by participating in Builders Give Back. There is no better way to thank new residents than by contributing to the community and helping the LWRCF make an impact here.”

    The Lakewood Ranch Community Fund has a “live here, give here” approach, Bookhamer explained. “We are supporting local life-changing nonprofit organizations and causes embedded in the area. This program brings new residents into the fold when they move in and provides them with an opportunity to give back themselves. By engaging our new residents early, we are hoping for more involvement from the community to make an even bigger impact locally.”

    The mission of the LWRCF, which is financed fully by residents and businesses, is to support the nonprofits that are doing impactful work in Lakewood Ranch and the surrounding areas in Manatee and Sarasota counties. As Lakewood Ranch continues to grow, the needs of the community – including human services, education, animal services, and arts and culture – will also grow.

    Bookhamer added, “During COVID, we gave out more than $75,000 in grants to help nonprofits that were directly impacted by the pandemic, and after Hurricane Ian, we partnered with Lakewood Ranch Communities and Lakewood Ranch Community Activities and raised $10,000 to grant to nonprofits affected by the hurricane.”

    For more information, visit lwrfund.org or call (941) 208-6799.

    ###

    The Lakewood Ranch Community Fund is a 501(c)3 nonprofit devoted to enhancing the quality of life in and near the Lakewood Ranch, Florida community by promoting philanthropy, responding to community needs, and granting funds. Since its founding in 2000, the fund has granted over $1.5 million to more than 100 nonprofit organizations to directly improve the lives of Lakewood Ranch residents.

    LAKEWOOD RANCH REPORTS ROBUST FIRST QUARTER SALES

    LAKEWOOD RANCH REPORTS ROBUST FIRST QUARTER SALES

    Lakewood Ranch closed the first quarter of 2023 with 580 sales, a 17% increase over the same quarter in 2022. In March alone, builders reported 236 sales, which was a 33% increase over the same month in 2022, as well as a 33% gain over the previous month (February of 2023).

    Sales have been climbing month over month since September of 2022, but March represented the largest jump in sales since the pandemic housing boom occurred, in late 2020/early 2021.

    The growth in sales was attributable, in part, to builders doing a good job in “finding the market” in the more challenging entry-level and family move-up villages, by offering special financing, flex cash and closing cost contributions.

    The luxury market also saw increases, including the opening of Wild Blue, a new luxury home neighborhood in Waterside.

    Laura Cole, senior vice president of LWR Communities, LLC, said that Florida is still seeing a great deal of in-migration from other states, but more recently, the Ranch has been experiencing increasing moves from within Florida, mostly from high-priced, congested regions.  The Ranch’s ongoing sales successes are due to the variety of neighborhoods, home styles, and price points that continue to be offered to various buying segments. The introduction of neighborhoods with more attainable price points in 2023 will round-out and drive additional sales.

    Also, rentals have become a major source of new home buyers – a number of new apartment and build-for-rent communities have opened or are nearing completion. “Many people want to move to Lakewood Ranch but haven’t made a final purchase decision,” Cole said, “or want to give Lakewood Ranch living a test drive. We are able to offer options for potential buyers, no matter where they are in their decision making.”

    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 63,000 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.

    Lakewood Ranch’s Waterside Place Adds Nationally Acclaimed Retailer; Announces New Openings

    Lakewood Ranch, the nation’s best-selling master-planned community for all ages, recently announced a new tenant for its newest town center, the 36-acre Waterside Place – a retail, services, dining, and entertainment destination. The Black Dog store, which will sell resort wear, including T-shirts, polos, sweatshirts, hoodies, and shorts, among other things, started in Martha’s Vineyard with stores mostly in the northeast, with the only other Florida location on St. Armand’s Circle.

    The most recently opened businesses at Waterside Place include Man Cave for Men, a luxury modern barber shop; Monkee’s, an upscale women’s boutique; Florida Provisions Co., a retail and bar concept; Forked, a breakfast, lunch, brunch and cocktails establishment; the John Cannon Model Experience Center, M/I Homes Design, M/I Homes Financial, and M/I Homes Title Agency.

    Between now and May, additional planned openings include SHACK (a yoga studio), Capstan Financial, Marmalade, featuring home decor and furnishings along with women’s apparel and unique gifts; Modish Salon, Good Liquid Distilling Co., Osteria 500, an Italian restaurant; and Shore Rejuvenation, offering spa services and treatments.

    Tenants expected to open in the third and fourth quarter of 2023 include Agave Bandido, a Mexican-American restaurant and tequileria; Deep Lagoon, a seafood & oyster house; Duck Donuts, Platinum Palm Properties, Cileone Jewelers, and Williams Parker Law.

    The new businesses will join the currently operating Korê Steakhouse and cocktail lounge, Good Liquid Brewing company, O&A Coffee Supply, CROP Juice, Bay Area Aesthetics, Body Bar Pilates, 3Form Fitness, Kilwins, Paint Nail Bar, Lakewood Ranch Medical Group, and Smith Law.

    “Waterside Place has truly become a hub of activity for Lakewood Ranch,” said Kirk Boylston, president of Lakewood Ranch Commercial. “The design, layout and most of all, the tenants who are occupying the project, are providing a place that can be enjoyed by everyone who goes there. It is a great place to simply hang out and enjoy the water view, find an outdoor space to work, enjoy some great shopping or dining or participate in one of the many activities that are happening there.

    “The turnout for the Farmers’ Market, Ranch Nights and music on the weekend evenings has surpassed all our expectations,” Boylston continued. “The majority of the project is leased with a large number of business openings planned for 2023, which will provide many new dining and shopping options for our guests. It has been extremely gratifying for everyone who has made this project come to life see so many people there meeting new and old friends, shopping, dining, listening to music, or participating in events at Waterside Place. It has turned out to be the place that we hoped it would.”

    Recently named the “Best Lifestyle Program in the U.S.” by the National Association of Homebuilders, Waterside Place is already active with festivals, music, and sporting activities. It is home to the Farmers’ Market at Lakewood Ranch, with more than 100 vendors offering organic produce, baked goods, pet products, and prepared food, etc. Ranch Nite Wednesdays, “your favorite weeknight hangout,” runs every Wednesday through May 31, from 6-9 p.m., and features food trucks, live music from local artists, a weekly night market, and a vintage mobile bar hosted by Cornerstone and Co., and the second largest recreational cornhole league in the nation, hosted by MVP Sports & Social. There is also live music on the plaza Friday and Saturday nights, and is home to the new “Sights and Sounds at Waterside Place” music and arts series.

    For more information about Waterside Place, visit www.WatersidePlace.com. For more information on Lakewood Ranch, please contact Lisa Barnott at 941-757-1542.

    # # #

    About Waterside Place

    Waterside Place serves as the heart of Waterside – Lakewood Ranch’s first Sarasota village – and offers an elevated community experience that extends beyond that of a traditional town center. Situated on a 36-acre peninsula overlooking the mile-long Kingfisher Lake, the development blends entertainment with 112,000 square feet of unique in-line and freestanding commercial, retail and office space; diverse dining options; an eight-acre park; miles of nature trails; communal “pop-up” spaces, and more.

    About Waterside Village

    Waterside Village will feature more than 5,000 for-sale and rental homes in a variety of neighborhoods ranging from $400k to over $3M. All neighborhoods are connected to Waterside Place via trails and many homes will benefit from an upcoming water taxi to the town center. To date, over 1,400 homes have been sold or leased in Waterside’s Shoreview, Lakehouse Cove, The Adley, Botanic, and Grande Living neighborhoods. For more information visit lwrwaterside.com. 

    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 63,000 residents and features top-rated schools, the Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, the Sarasota Polo Club, the 75-acre Premier Sports Campus, three town centers, and countless shopping and dining experiences. For more information visit www.lakewoodranch.com.

    LAKEWOOD RANCH RANKS NO. 1 IN THE NATION FOR FIFTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR

    Lakewood Ranch was recognized as the best-selling, master-planned multi-generational community in the country for the fifth year in a row by RCLCO and John Burns, two independent real estate consulting firms.

    The Ranch saw 1,846 new home sales in 2022. Although sales were down from a record-breaking 2021, Lakewood Ranch exceeded 2019 sales, the last year there was a balanced real estate market.

    Lakewood Ranch benefitted from being in the nation’s fastest growing state as well as the Sarasota/Bradenton area which increasingly appears in national and international rankings for its high quality of life.  While the Florida real estate market fared better than most, in the second quarter of 2022 buyers became more cautious, narrowing their search to well-established communities with a proven track record. 

    “For nearly three decades, Lakewood Ranch has fostered a sense of place, community, and belonging.  Our diversity of experiences, access to nature and services, and top-quality schools and healthcare are all here to be enjoyed TODAY.  That is reassuring for home buyers in this more uncertain market,” said Laura Cole, senior vice president of LWR Communities, LLC.

    Cole also attributes Lakewood Ranch’s sales success to the variety of neighborhoods, home styles, and price points offered to buying segments, including multi-gen, entry-level, family move-up, retiree and active adult, and luxury/custom buyers.  

    “In this market, communities that create the most certainty for the buyer will outpace the others. Lakewood Ranch performed, and is well-positioned to continue to do so,” Cole said. “Our multigenerational appeal remains our largest differentiator; we are opening seven new neighborhoods this year priced from the $300s to $1 million+. We are also opening a number of new apartment and build-for-rent communities.” 

    Rentals have become a major source of new home buyers. “Many people moved to Lakewood Ranch in the past few years but couldn’t buy a home due to limited supply, so they rented and are now ready to buy,” Cole said.

    Tourism has been another sales driver. “Hurricane Ian has drawn buyers and tourists from the affected areas and other coastal markets to our area, and more specifically to Lakewood Ranch,” Cole said. “Also, Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport’s exponential growth has opened many new markets via the addition of numerous direct flights.”

    Cole also pointed to lifestyle shifts that occurred during the pandemic as benefitting sales, including suburban preferences, multi-generational moves, and increased outdoor recreation.

    One of Lakewood Ranch’s best sales’ resources continues to be Ranch residents themselves, Cole said. “Friends and family who visit and enjoy activities, such as Music on Main or the Farmers’ Market at Waterside,” she said. “They’re able to experience the lifestyle, the camaraderie, and the diversity of amenities for themselves. Many end up coming back to rent or purchase their own home. We have many families who have three generations living in the same village or the greater Lakewood Ranch community!

    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 60,000 residents and features A-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.

    LAKEWOOD RANCH COMMUNITY FUND PARTNERS TO RAISE FUNDS FOR HURRICANE IAN VICTIMS

    The Lakewood Ranch Community Fund, in collaboration with Lakewood Ranch Community Activities and Schroeder-Manatee Ranch, the developers of Lakewood Ranch, partnered to raise money on Lakewood Main Street during Music on Main in October for a special Hurricane Ian Relief Fund. The monies raised went to nonprofits that were directly affected, including their clients, by Hurricane Ian. 

    Also, on Oct. 28, BooFest was held on Lakewood Main Street, and hosted by Lakewood Ranch Community Activities, which donated the proceeds from beer sales paid by credit card to the Hurricane Ian Relief Fund.

    With the total amount raised of nearly $9,700, the next step was for the Lakewood Ranch Community Fund to gather questionnaires from nonprofits to determine the need for funding. The Fund’s grant allocation committee met in a special session to review the applications, determined the need, and then allocated the monies to four nonprofits affected by Hurricane Ian. 

    The four nonprofits included:

    • Big Brother Big Sisters of the Suncoast with a grant for $4,000
    • Manatee Children’s Services, Inc. with a grant for $2,500
    • Farmhouse Sanctuary with a grant for $1,600
    • Mayors Feed the Hungry with a grant for $1,600

    Checks will be cut and distributed this week. 

    The Lakewood Ranch Community Fund enhances the quality of life in and near our community by promoting philanthropy, responding to community needs, and granting funds. The Lakewood Ranch Community Fund is its own 501 (c) 3 and its sole purpose is to support and fund the nonprofits that are doing impactful work in Lakewood Ranch and surrounding easter counties of Manatee and Sarasota.  The Lakewood Ranch Community Fund has granted over $60,000 this year to nonprofits during its regular grant cycle.  Over the last 20 years, the Lakewood Ranch Community Fund, under the direction of Manatee Community Foundation, granted a total of $1.4 million dollars to local nonprofits. The Lakewood Ranch Community Fund is YOUR community fund.

    Waterside Place at Lakewood Ranch Announces Three New Tenants; More Business Openings

    Waterside Place at Lakewood Ranch Announces Three New Tenants; More Business Openings

    Cileone Jewelers, Platinum Palm Properties, and Williams Parker Law Firm join growing roster of businesses

     

    Lakewood Ranch, the nation’s best-selling master-planned community for all ages, recently announced three new tenants for its newest town center, the 36-acre Waterside Place. The retail, services, dining, and entertainment destination will add Cileone Jewelers, Platinum Palm Properties, and Williams Parker Law Firm.

     

    • Cileone Jewelers, formerly of Philadelphia, will make Waterside Place its new home. Specializing in estate and antique jewelry, they will also feature modern pieces, as well as bridal and custom. Additionally, they will offer pre-owned high-end watches, such as Rolex and Patek, and some luxury brands, such as Tiffany, Yurman, and Cartier. They hope to open by the beginning of 2023.
    • Platinum Palm Properties will open its first official office as a brokerage in January of 2023. Currently a team under Keller Williams (since 2017), the team of more than 30 agents will operate their own independent location in Waterside Place, which they chose for its culture and architecture.
    • Williams Parker, Sarasota’s largest and oldest law firm, will open its new office in Waterside Place in spring of 2023. The firm’s new, expanded office will enable its lawyers and professionals to better serve the needs of clients located in Lakewood Ranch, along the I-75 business corridor, and further east.

     

    The new businesses will join the recently opened O&A Coffee Supply, CROP Juice, and Bay Area Aesthetics. Also open and welcoming customers are Korê Steakhouse and cocktail lounge, Good Liquid Brewing company, 3Form Fitness, Kilwins, Paint Nail Bar, Body Bar Pilates, Lakewood Ranch Medical Group, and Smith Law.

     

    Previously announced tenants include Deep Lagoon Seafood & Oyster House, Florida Provisions Co., a retail and bar concept; Monkee’s, an upscale women’s boutique; Tim’s Wine Market, M/I Homes, Marmalade Waterside Boutique, John Cannon Homes Design Center, Integrity Sound, Capstan Financial, Mexican-American restaurant and tequileria Agave Bandido, Italian restaurant Osteria 500, Shore Rejuvenation Day Spa, Modish Salon, The Yoga Shack, Man Cave for Men, Duck Donuts, Forked at Waterside, and Good Liquid Distillery.

     

    “Waterside Place has the good fortune of being able to attract the types and diversity of tenants that were targeted from the inception of the project,” said Kirk Boylston, president of Lakewood Ranch Commercial. “We wanted local and regional, non-national tenants with the quality, look, feel, and personal touches of an owner who is actively involved with their business. It is just a different atmosphere at Waterside Place, it truly seems like a community of individuals who love to introduce their restaurants, shops, and services to their customers with a great sense of pride. Our office tenants are of similar quality, every one of them are among the best in the service sector they represent.”

     

    Recently named the “Best Lifestyle Program in the U.S.” by the National Association of Homebuilders, Waterside Place is already active with festivals, music, and sporting activities. It is home to the Farmers’ Market at Lakewood Ranch, with more than 90 vendors offering organic produce, baked goods, pet products, and prepared food, etc. Ranch Nite Wednesdays, “your favorite weeknight hangout,” will start back from its summer hiatus on Oct. 5, and will run every Wednesday through May 31. The event, held from 6-9 p.m., features food trucks, live music from local artists, a weekly night market with rotating vendors, a vintage mobile bar hosted by Cornerstone and Co., and the second largest recreational cornhole league in the nation, hosted by MVP Sports & Social.

     

    For more information about Waterside Place, visit www.WatersidePlace.com. For more information on Lakewood Ranch, please contact Lisa Barnott at 941-757-1542.

     

    # # #

     

    About Waterside Place

    Waterside Place serves as the heart of Waterside – Lakewood Ranch’s first Sarasota village – and offers an elevated community experience that extends beyond that of a traditional town center. Situated on a 36-acre peninsula overlooking the mile-long Kingfisher Lake, the development blends entertainment with 115,000 square feet of unique in-line and freestanding commercial, retail and office space; diverse dining options; an eight-acre park; miles of nature trails; communal “pop-up” spaces, a water splash park, and more.

     

    Waterside Village will feature more than 5,000 for-sale and rental homes in a variety of neighborhoods ranging from $400k to over $2M. All neighborhoods are connected to Waterside Place via trails and many homes will benefit from water taxis to the town center. To date, over 1,400 homes have been sold or leased in Waterside’s Shoreview, Lakehouse Cove, The Adley, Botanic, and Grande Living neighborhoods.  

     

    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 57,000 residents and features top-rated schools, the Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, the Sarasota Polo Club, the 75-acre Premier Sports Campus, three town centers, and countless shopping and dining experiences. For more information visit www.lakewoodranch.com.

     

     

    LAKEWOOD RANCH CELEBRATES 5TH YEAR AS BEST-SELLING ALL-AGES COMMUNITY IN U.S.

    LAKEWOOD RANCH CELEBRATES 5TH YEAR AS BEST-SELLING ALL-AGES COMMUNITY IN U.S.

    Lakewood Ranch is once again the top-selling multi-generational community in the nation with 1,026 sales so far this year, according to RCLCO’s semiannual Top 50 Master-Planned Communities report. The Villages active-adult community in Central Florida was first place overall with an estimated 1,500 sales year to date and Silverado in Dallas came in a distant third place with 599 sales. Florida leads the nation in MPC performance, representing 36% of all sales among ranked communities; Texas was close behind with 34%.

    Lakewood Ranch has been a perennial top performer because it embodies the principles of a strong community. “With each new phase we continue to integrate our hallmark features including parks, trails, schools, shopping, dining, job centers, healthcare, and day-to-day conveniences,” said Laura Cole, Senior Vice President of Lakewood Ranch. “Our multigenerational appeal and lifestyle offerings continue to be a strong draw and we anticipate that buyers who have been sidelined in the inventory crunch will reemerge as conditions stabilize a bit and as supply-chain pressures on builders ease,” she added.

    The Ranch’s location and regional attractions are also a major driver of sales. The Sarasota-Bradenton area has continued to rank at the top of “where to live” lists due to the extremely high quality of life, a dynamic downtown, vast arts offerings, excellent beaches, winning sports teams, top-rated schools, and top-notch health care offerings. “Southwest Florida is one of the most desirable relocation markets in the country,” remarked Cole, “and Lakewood Ranch offers newcomers an incredible lifestyle and strong sense of community within it.”

    RCLCO has been ranking master-planned communities since 1994; for more information, visit www.rclco.com

    # # #

    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 57,000 residents and features A-rated schools, a hospital, the Sarasota Polo Club, the 75-acre Premier Sports Campus, its own Main Street, a new lakefront Town Center (Waterside Place) with shopping and dining. The Ranch also is a job center with more than four million square feet of commercial property. For more information visit www.lakewoodranch.com.

    LAKEWOOD RANCH RECEIVES “TOP 100 PLANNED COMMUNITIES” RECOGNITION

    LAKEWOOD RANCH RECEIVES “TOP 100 PLANNED COMMUNITIES” RECOGNITION

     

    Ideal-LIVING, a Southern living and real estate magazine, recently named Lakewood Ranch one of “The Top 100 Planned Communities.” The honorees were named in the publication’s summer issue, “Best Places to Live.”

     

    “Each year we survey our readers to determine the most popular destinations and amenities,” said Kelly Godbey, editor of ideal-LIVING. “Most of our readers are looking to escape high taxes and find a better climate and quality of life. The destinations featured in this special issue are representative of those desires.”

     

    Among the top reasons cited for living in a master planned community were the people, a social network, and a sense of community. Others mentioned were walkability, healthy lifestyle, proximity to health care, social clubs, well-maintained homes, and green spaces and landscaping. Philanthropy was also important: readers wanted a “chance to give back” – community organizations that offered an environment to volunteer their resources, be it time, talent, or financial.

     

    “We are thrilled to again be named as one of the Top 100 Planned Communities by ideal-LIVING,” said Sandy Shahinian, vice president of LWR Communities. “Lakewood Ranch offers an award-winning lifestyle that includes more than 60 clubs, a parks and rec program, and sports leagues. The Ranch provides unparalleled access to the outdoors with 150 miles of trails and nine community parks, and walkable town centers including our recently opened Waterside Place. Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, a full-service hospital, has won many awards, and there are myriad medical services available to residents. There are also numerous philanthropic organizations in the area, including the Lakewood Ranch Community Fund. The Ranch has all the qualities and conveniences of an established town with the added benefit of countless amenities and activities.”

     

    This is not Lakewood Ranch’s first mention by ideal-Living: last year, The Ranch was also recognized as a Top 100 community. In 2020, it was named to the “Best Health & Fitness Community” category for its wellness-centered master planning, extensive recreational amenities, and health-conscious lifestyle program. In 2019, The Ranch received recognition in the “Best Wellness Community” category.

     

    The Top 100 Planned Communities are posted on ideal-LIVING.com/bestplaces.

     

    # # #

    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 57,000 residents and features top-rated schools, the Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, the Sarasota Polo Club, the 75-acre Premier Sports Campus, three town centers, and countless shopping and dining experience. For more information visit www.lakewoodranch.com.

    ideal-LIVING Magazine Announces its “The Best Places to Live”

    DATE: June 10, 2022

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    ideal-LIVING Magazine Announces its “The Best Places to Live”

    Wilmington, NCideal-LIVING magazine is pleased to announce the Best Places to Live issue that features the Top 100 Planned Communities. The honorees are also revealed on www.ideal-LIVING.com/bestplaces.

    Ideal-LIVING researched communities from our readersmost-desired areas based on survey results. Each year we survey our readers to determine the most popular destinations and amenities. The destinations featured in this special issue are representative of those desires.

    Most of our readers are looking to escape high taxes and find a better climate and quality of life. Whether you would like to move to the mountains or the coast or even internationally, the communities in this issue should help give you ideas of where you might like to live.

    For more than 25 years, ideal-LIVING magazine has been a leading national publication  for readers who are nearing retirement age or who are interested in the benefits of relocating their families or businesses. From its headquarters in Wilmington, North Carolina, each edition of the quarterly publication is currently delivered to more than 80,000 homes. The magazine’s parent company, RPI Media, also distributes other publications like the comprehensive ideal-LIVING Relocation Guide and sponsors the company’s signature ideal-LIVING Real Estate Shows each year. For more information, go to the website at www.ideal-LIVING.com.