The Most Expensive Lakes in Florida to Buy a Second Home

While the real estate market is always changing, one thing that doesn’t is the high cost of waterfront properties. Buying a house on a lake includes additional amenities like sunbathing on the shores, boating, and fishing. Also, of course, there are the views that you get to experience every day. While Florida is a popular beach destination, it also boasts many breathtaking lakes, which means that buying a home on some of these lakes will cost you a pretty penny.

So, here are the most expensive lakes in Florida to buy a second home.

1. Miromar Lakes

Miromar Lakes is one of the most expensive lakes in Florida to buy a second home. Its average listing price for homes is $1.4 million. However, the average selling price for homes on Miromar Lakes is $1 million. This exclusive club is located north of Naples and has earned more than 130 awards, including:

• Number one residential community in the USA
• Winner of the Gold Award for Community of the Year from the National Association of Home Builders
• 17 honors for Community of the Year from local, state, and National Professional Associations
• It is the only Florida community to win the highest honor in the 32-year history of the NAHB Awards

And for those residents who like to mingle, Miromar Lakes provides an entertaining social scene with numerous annual social events. Furthermore, nothing can beat the privacy of this resort-style community, with its 700-acre aquamarine freshwater lake, that offers residents:

• Fishing
• In-lake swimming
• Sailing
• Boating
• Water Skiing

Additionally, residents can soak up the sun on the lake’s white sandy beaches and keep healthy with the 7 Har-Tru Tennis Courts, an Arthur Hills “Signature” championship golf course, and a full-service European Spa and Fitness Center.

New move-in homes are still available, and more are being built in the neighborhoods of Murano, Portofino, Caprini, Costa Amalfi, Volterra, Ravenna, Port Romano, Salerno, and Navona. Furthermore, new construction and homesites are for sale in eight neighborhoods, which are a great fit for families and range from $500 000 to over $5 million. So, there is plenty of room for various income earners. So, if you are an avid golfer or serial sunbather, this might be the place to purchase your home away from home.

2. Crescent Lake

The average price for a home on Crescent Lake is around $870,000, with a median listing price of $453 per square foot, making it one of the most expensive lakes in Florida to buy a home. This lake was formerly known as Dunn’s Lake and covers over 15,900 acres in North Central Florida. You can find Crescent Lake in Putnam and Flagler counties. The lake flaunts an abundance of fish species and draws in some of the area’s most interesting wildlife. For example, if you are ever in the south end of the Cresent Lake Conservation Area, spotting a bald eagle is possible. However, while you can fish and go canoeing, motorboats are prohibited on the lake.

But, if you’re not a fan of the water, there is plenty of other activities in the area to keep you entertained. For example, biking, horseback riding, and hiking are some of the top things to do around Crescent Lake.

3. Chain of Lakes in Windemere

While the average listing price for homes in Windermere is approximately $1.2 million, the average selling price is much lower at around $686,000, so it is one of the most expensive lakes in Florida to buy a home. This little town is appreciated for its natural beauty and expensive neighborhoods on the shores of the Chain of Lakes. Other reasons for Windermere’s popularity are great schools, golf courses, and major amusement parks just around the corner. It’s surprising that Windermere has some of the most modern homes in Central Florida since the town has such a small population, just over 31,000 residents. However, the town is diverse and family-friendly.

Furthermore, the Chain of Lakes is a diverse fishery due to the high amount of nutrients in the water. This creates massive schools of bait fish like golden shiners, shad, pan fish, and crappies, feeding predators like birds and largemouth bass. In addition, the low visibility of the water in the Chain of Lakes drives the bass to the shallows, making them easier to catch.

4. Conway Lake

The average listing price of a home on Conway Lake is around $439,000. However, the average selling price of homes on this lake is much higher, about $501,000. Conway Lake is home to around 15,180 residents and is considered an unincorporated area in Orange County. This lake has a lot of appeal, which is why it has become so popular. One of its best qualities is the breathtaking Chain of Lakes, providing unparalleled views and endless activities that are hard to resist. But besides its natural beauty, buyers are flocking to this area because of the strong sense of community and friendly residents. Conway Lake is just four miles southeast of downtown Orlando and forms part of the larger Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford Metro Area.

Furthermore, Conway lies roughly an hour south of Daytona Beach, directly between downtown Orlando and the Orlando Airport. Other attractions nearby include Tampa (1.5 hour’s drive) and Miami (four hours south of Conway), making Conway Lake a desirable destination. In fact, because of this lake’s location, all cities and towns in Florida are easily accessible within a few hours’ drive.

The main attraction in Conway is the 1700-acre Chain of Lakes surrounding the city. As you can imagine, the views are out of this world as the sparkling water of the lake encompasses Conway. In addition, it provides residents with relaxed lakefront living, and for those nature lovers, there is plenty of outdoor activities, like:

• Fishing
• Water skiing
• Boating

Lastly, this lake offers residents waterfront properties in a quiet environment, yet it is close enough to the city so residents get the best of both worlds.

5. Glenn Lakes

The average selling price for a home in Glenn Lakes is around $460,000 and around $207 per square foot. Glenn Lakes sits on old farmland but now consists of hundreds of subdivisions in Bradenton, Manatee County. Bradenton receives 95% of sun a year, giving tourists and residents plenty of opportunity to enjoy its crystal clear aqua waters, beautiful white sand, and mesmerizing views. Living here truly makes one feel like they are on holiday all year round. And to add the cherry to the cake, dolphin and manatee sightings are an everyday occurrence.

Bradenton dates back to the 1600s when Hernando DeSoto, a Spanish explorer, and his men first arrived. These men thought they had arrived in paradise. The region they occupied in Manatee River’s inner coastline is now Desoto Historical Park, which receives thousands of visitors a year. This unique city is around 14 square miles, with 16 percent water coverage. Bradenton has approximately 20 miles of beaches that extend from the tip of Anna Maria to Longboat Key by Intercoastal waters. Furthermore, Manatee County is home to several major corporations, such as Champs Sports, Bealls (a department store chain), and Tropicana. Lastly, Glenn Lakes is easily accessible as you can fly straight into Sarasota Bradenton International Airport.

Summary of the 5 Most Expensive Lakes in Florida to Buy a Second Home

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Chris Gent / CC BY-SA 2.0 – License / Original