SARASOTA, FLORIDA, March 7th, 2016 – The master planned development of Riverwood in Port Charlotte, an equally exciting alternative destination for searching Sarasota homes for sale, has reaffirmed its standing as one of the leading Florida golf communities. Its championship layout was again cited recently amongst the top 25 in the Sunshine State.
Orlando-based Golf Advisor, touted as a leading user-generated website for golf course reviews and ratings, announced in January 2016 Riverwood’s recent inclusion in this stellar ranking based on 75,000-plus reviewers’ postings for all of 2015. The Port Charlotte layout by the Myakka River likewise landed on Golf Advisor’s top 25 Florida courses for 2014. It shared honors that year with its northern upriver neighbor Venetian Golf & River Club which incidentally transitioned this 2016 from a semi-private public course to a private, members-only play.
These consistent high ratings for the Riverwood Golf Club are echoed in previous accolades. Gold Digest magazine ranked it among the country’s top 10 in 2002 and has conferred to the links a four and half star rating as well.
Designed by an award-winning course architect, Gene Bates, the 18-hole Riverwood layout plays at 6,938 yards from its longest tees and sports a 133 slope rating and a 73.8 USGA rating. With its greens and fairways on Bermuda grass, this par 72 championship course features five tee placements for varying skill levels. Essentially, Riverwood offers two types of distinctive plays, with its front nine holes designed like a North Carolina Pines course and the back nine bordering a wetland preserve.
Opened in 1992, the golf course was developed in tandem with an upscale clubhouse with casual but elegant dining facilities. The entire Riverwood development is comprised of more than 1,300 acres, with the links serving as its crown jewel. Also, 300 acres of the property have been allotted as preserves, ponds, wetlands or lakes. With all these wonderful features, Riverwood was certified as an Audubon Green Community, in addition to the numerous design awards that it received previously.
All told, the Riverwood property holds 29 neighborhoods with a total of 1,323 homes suited to varying lifestyles and preferences. The residential types in this community include single family homes, condos and villas offering distinct homeowner conveniences. Nearly all the backyards of every home or condo offer views of the golf course, lakes or preserves.
Searches of Riverwood properties amongst listings of Port Charlotte homes for sale can start this community’s Grand Vista neighborhood where condo units with two or three bedrooms within floor plans of 1,400‒1,750 square feet are typically offered in the high $100s. The top picks can be checked out at the gated Riverside of Riverwood where estate and custom homes go with price tags in the $700s and $800s.
The amenities covered in the homeowners association fees vary depending on a home’s neighborhood. Nonetheless, all homeowners pay the community’s master association which provides 24-hour gate security, roving patrols, and the services of an activity director and tennis facility assistant.
This master HOA fee also covers maintenance of main common areas and use of the Riverwood’s Activity Center. The facilities here include meeting rooms, a library, craft room, a pool, spa, fitness center, six Har-Tru lighted tennis courts, bocce ball courts, lawn croquet, horseshoe pits, a dog park, and a playground. Residents can also opt for membership at the Riverwood Beach Club on Manasota Key which has a beach front pavilion, private parking, restrooms and changing rooms.
Other amenities would depend on the type of home and its specific neighborhood association. Those that may be covered here are street lighting, lawn care and exterior maintenance, building maintenance and insurance, water and sewer, as well as neighborhood representatives’ liability insurance.
SARASOTA, FLORIDA, October 7, 2019 – Property values of communities in the Sarasota-Manatee region now face lesser threat from neighborhood eyesores brought about by abandoned, foreclosed homes. Known in the real estate trade as zombie foreclosures, these properties have shrunk significantly in the region. According to an August report of ATTOM Data Solutions, abandoned […] more>>