Indigo (Neal Communities) for Younger Family? (Golf: HOA, townhome, neighborhood)

[bbcle]

My wife and I are in our 30's and with limited options for new construction under $300k with low HOA and no CDD in Lakewood Ranch, we are seriously considering this new community.

Does anyone have any thoughts on whether or not younger families are going to be moving into Indigo?

[Cardiff by the Sea]

Younger families have had less time to build high incomes and wealth, so they tend not buy in the pricy subdivisions. If this is a more entry level new construction subdivision, the boomers will probably get trampled by the young families fighting to buy there. Who doesn't love a good value? Every dollar not spend on housing is a dollar that can be spent on children's clothes, lessons, tutors, etc.

[Sunshine Rules]

Indigo is located within Lakewood Ranch north of SR70 and therefore will have stewardship district fees (basically the same thing as CDD fees), similar to those of the Neal community of Central Park. Any residential new construction within the official borders of Lakewood Ranch will have either CDD or stewardship district fees. So to avoid those fees you would have to go outside of LWR.

Home prices will start at $246k (not including your upgrades) for a 1400 sq ft home. The largest size will be 1736 sq ft with a start price of $265k. However, with Neal you need to factor in the cost of your "standard upgrades" which typically run about $40k plus the additional cost of a premium lot as any lot with a lake or preserve view or larger corner/culdesac lot will run you extra. So that $246k home can easily cost you $300k. That $265k 1736 sq ft home can easily run $320 or more. The models offered do not include several floor plans larger than 1800 sq ft that were offered in Central Park at Lakewood Ranch, the nearby Neal community that is about to finish building out.

The PR by Neal for this community is pitched towards buyers wanting resort-style amenities and a full time activities director at the clubhouse. Since they just officially opened it would be impossible to know how the buyer demographics will turn out at this point in time.

[beninfl]

Damn. Are prices per square foot really going that crazy now?

[tzais01]

I live in Esplanade Golf & CC, which is also an "active lifestyle community" actually directly South of Indigo. I agree with Sunshine that it's too early to determine the demographic at Indigo yet. The active lifestyle at Esplanade has attracted mostly empty nesters who absolutely love the activities of the active lifestyle. While the majority of the current 400 plus homes here are folks in their 60s, there are a few families with small children. However, more and more younger families are coming as there are now homes with well over 3000 square feet.

Due to the max square footage of the homes at Indigo being 1736 the community is ideal for young couples as well as snowbirds. Another draw for a young demographic is the fact that the neighborhood is literally nextdoor to the elementary school. I previously lived in a a townhome community next to an elementary school and that was a major draw for young families.

The amenities at Indigo look very nice, the homes are very cute, and the location is great so I can see why you'd be attracted to the community.

[Fl1150]

Looking at the amenities and floor plans is key to determine what the community attracts as far as demographics.