West Villages dates from 2005, but it ran into some financial problems when the Great Recession hit about 13 years ago. In subsequent years, parts of the community became overgrown, and home values suffered. In early 2014, Miami-based Lennar Corporation paid off the debt incurred by original builder Sam Rodgers Homes.

As a result, West Villages has come back to life, and IslandWalk is thriving with about 1,900 town homes and single family homes. The current builder is DiVosta Homes, a division of Pulte Homes.

Properties are constructed in the Mediterranean style, with a pastel colored stucco exterior, a tile roof, an attached garage and a brick driveway. Sizes range from 1,540 square feet to a little more than 2,400 square feet.

Prices start in the low to mid-$400,000s. The HOA ranges from about the low-$300s to high-$400s per month. Please check with a Realtor or the community to verify these prices as they may change.

The grounds are lushly landscaped, and the open air entryway is imposing and elegant. Tall palm trees line the road into the community.

Amenities are top notch and include a 14,000 square foot clubhouse, a beautiful resort-style, beach-entry pool with umbrellas in the middle of it, a library, a movement studio, eight tennis courts and more. A full-time activities coordinator manages a plethora of events, games and clubs to ensure that there is always something to do.

The dense Myakka State Forest is just the west of town and is the place for bicycling, bird watching, horseback riding, camping, fishing and hiking.

Venice Regional Bayfront Health (312 beds) is accredited by the Joint Commission and is a primary stroke care center. It has been named as a Top 50 Cardiovascular Hospital by Thomas Reuters, and it is award-winning for patient safety and surgery excellence.

Venice has a humid subtropical climate. The area has two seasons, one rainy (June through September) and one dry (October through May). Winter temperatures are in the 50s, 60s and low 70s, and summer temperatures are in the 80s and 90s. The sun shines 250 days of the year. Bugs are a reality year round.

Visit tinyurl.com/3vcepc5e for listings.

Florida:

Named Pascua Florida by Juan Ponce De Leon, the Sunshine State did not enter the Union until March 3, 1845. Balmy mild winters began attracting snowbirds to the state in the late 19th century. Retirees continue to flock to the state. It's not hard to see why tourism has become the leading industry.

International trade and citrus are also major contributors to the state's economy. Eighty percent of the nation's oranges and grapefruits are grown here, and 40 percent of all U.S. exports to Latin America flow through Florida.

Florida's landscape includes uplands and coastal plains. It contains more than 11,000 miles of waterways and about 4,500 islands spread across 10 acres.

Florida has 1,250 golf courses, more than any other state in the Union. The 47 mile Pinellas Trail is the longest urban trail on the east coast. Orlando theme parks attract more visitors than any other theme parks in the U.S. The only place in the world where alligators and crocodiles co-exist is in National Everglades Park.

Who Buys in a 55+ Community?

Age-restricted communities, at least those for residents age 55 or better, generally appeal to people seeking a sense of community with other people from similar socioeconomic backgrounds. Most developments are gated or at least have some type of secured access and appeal to retirees seeking a sense of security. People who enjoy lots of amenities, planned activities and social interaction also buy in 55+ developments. Just an FYI: newer communities tend to have a younger demographic while older communities usually have a more mature set of residents, primarily because residents in older developments purchased when they were younger and have stayed put.

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