(November 3, 2012). The Lakewood Ranch tour of model homes that's going on now through Nov. 18 is a useful way to explore 48 model homes at various price points, and to ascertain what buyers are asking for when they can pay $1 million or more — or something closer to $200,000.
Browsers or serious potential buyers will discover that some lifestyle trends are the same in the expensive homes as in the budget-friendly ones — open-concept floor plans, generous outdoor living spaces, at least three bedrooms and a big, walk-in shower instead of a tub in one of the bathrooms.
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Top of the tour
Maintenance doesn't seem to be a concern for potential buyers — a completely separate market — of the Avena model by London Bay Homes in the exclusive and private Lake Club. The owners here have "people" for that.
This exclusive, gated neighborhood of rustic rock grottos, a "vineyard," fountains, pergolas, sculptures, a stone bridge, winding roads and lavish landscaping is the developer's fantasy of an ideal Tuscan village. It's a bit over-the-top Disney-esque, but no one is going to deny that it's pretty. Mansions in the Mediterranean mode line the perfectly manicured lanes, and when you're standing on the balcony of one, you have the impression that your estate is the only one in the neighborhood. The Lake Club is impressive, and so is the Avena, a two-story home that has 4,682 square feet with four bedrooms and five and a half baths. Factor in the outdoor living space and you've got an estate that tops 8,000 square feet.
The home is opulent and beautiful, promising both aspirational buyers and fully qualified ones a pampered lifestyle of gracious Florida living. What's the biggest trend that sales executive Therese Masseo observes about London Bay Homes' Avena? "It's the number of people who pay cash for this model," she said. Masseo worked for London Bay Homes in Naples, where the company has a prized reputation (they are among the companies to receive the "America's Best Builder" designation by Builder Magazine), and recently moved to Sarasota when her husband took a job in this part of Florida. Now, she is reunited with London Bay Homes as the company seeks to become premier in the local luxury market.
One of the high-end trends that this home expresses is the uncaged swimming pool and a timed bug-spray system that mists the outdoor areas with eucalyptus, a scent that sends insects fleeing. The outdoor areas, some under cover, with a lavish outdoor kitchen, fireplace area, fountains, lounging and eating areas, are every bit as stunning and inviting as the rooms inside the house.
But the $1.35 million price tag for the Avena isn't for this particular house, which has been a model since The Lake Club opened in 2007. It's for the standard version on a standard homesite (this one is on water). With all the upgrades, the gorgeous Avena is quite a bit more expensive than $1.3 million. But at The Lake Club that doesn't seem to be an issue. Luxury buyers can have what they want, and when they buy the Avena, they customize it to their personal tastes.
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