$781,608Average Value$280Average Price per Sq Ft12Homes For Sale
Waterlefe offers golf, boating and luxury in one gated community
Along the edge of the Manatee River, Waterlefe is one gated community in a sea of other gated communities. It’s surrounded by them, all with one activity taking center stage: golf. But in the waterfront community of Waterlefe, golf shares its spotlight with waterfront activities. “It’s the only place where you can have a golf course view and a boat in your backyard,” says Joe Murphy, a broker associate with Coldwell Banker Realty who has lived in Waterlefe for 22 years. “People who move to Florida, usually they want one of three things. And that’s usually to be on the beach, or they want a boat in the backyard, or they want a golf course — and in Waterlefe, they can have two out of the three.” Murphy adds that the beach is only an hour away, so it’s still easy to get that third box checked off with simple day trips. “I’m obviously a little bit biased because I live there, but my wife and I have both grown up here in Florida our whole lives and I’ve been all over the area selling homes, and I haven’t found a neighborhood that can match,” Murphy says. “That’s why we chose to live here, why we’re on our second house here. … No matter where I’m coming from, I always love to drive through the main gates, because I love to feel that sense of relaxation, that I’m living in paradise.”
Golfing and boating along the Manatee River, abundant amenities
Waterlefe’s 18-hole championship golf course sits on 172 acres. Five of its holes brush against the river or wetlands, providing views and unique challenges. Instead of having a strictly deeded membership like surrounding communities, Waterlefe residents can sign up for membership or cancel it whenever they want. “So that’s a nice option because a lot of people who buy into these golf course neighborhoods play all the time when they’re in their fifties or even sixties, but what happens when they’re in their seventies or eighties and can’t play all the time anymore?” Murphy says. “Here in Waterlefe, you can cancel your membership and give up that expense. In a neighborhood where it’s mandatory, you’re going to have to pay that no matter what, whether you’re using it or not.” There are resident discounts for pay-to-play options. Waterlefe has two marinas where residents without private docks can purchase or lease slips. One has 59 slips and the second has 13. Murphy says the neighborhood’s big boating culture creates a more easy-going vibe than in a typical golf community. “I’ve been a boater my whole life and I grew up on the Keys; I’ve always had a boat, I say I have salt water in my blood, but the boating on the river is phenomenal because it’s a protected waterway,” Murphy says. “So even on a windy day, the water is manageable.” He says that the lack of a wake zone between the river and the Terra Ceia Bay also adds to the great boating. Waterlefe has plenty of other amenities, too, including nature trails, a heated saltwater pool with a tiki bar and a riverfront clubhouse with a 24/7 gym that offers activities like yoga classes.
Condominiums and single-family homes near or on the river
Waterlefe’s Mediterranean-style homes range from condominiums to large houses. Some of these houses are landlocked, but Murphy says that over 100 of them back up to the water and have private boat slips. Condominiums usually cost between $375,000 and $480,000. Single-family homes without direct water access start at $425,000 and can climb to about $925,000 for a larger home that borders a lake. Many of these houses also have small, private pools. Truly waterfront homes typically cost between $1 million and $2.8 million, with some of the more expensive homes measuring at around 6,000 square feet.
Flood insurance for waterfront homes, below average CAP Index
FEMA places parts of the yards of waterfront homes in Flood Zone AE, meaning there is a 1% annual risk of flooding, but the houses themselves are just outside the zone. Regardless, Murphy says that flood insurance here is much different than insurance on oceanfront beaches. “I could have a great house right on the water, but have insurance that was a quarter of what it would cost to live out on the Keys or on the beach,” Murphy says. The neighborhood has a minor risk of flooding but an extreme risk of high winds. This extreme risk is due to hurricane season, which is a big part of life throughout Florida, especially in areas near the coast or rivers like Waterlefe and even Bradenton as a whole. The CAP Index Crime Score is 1 out of 10, lower than the national average of 4.
Active social clubs and a yearly art show
Waterlefe’s many social clubs make it easy for residents to have an incredibly active social life. One of the most active, the Manatee River Artists Guild, hosts an art show every November. “Basically, we turn our whole clubhouse into an art exhibit and we have fundraisers and gift baskets and things like that,” Murphy says. Free and open to the public, local artists and crafters exhibit their work alongside children from local elementary and middle schools.
Upscale dining in Waterlefe with more options along SR 64
Waterlefe has two restaurants; The River Club is an upscale residents-only restaurant, while Waterlefe Bar & Grille is open to people visiting for golf as well as residents. “We have a very affordable $500 a year food and beverage minimum, so you can enjoy the socialization as much as you want,” Murphy says. “There’s not another place where you can golf in the morning, boat in the afternoon and then have dinner with friends and family in the evening, and that’s what you can do in Waterlefe.” Residents drive about 3 miles to State Road 64, often called SR 64, for shopping and dining options. Restaurants like Ed’s Tavern 64 and Miller’s Ale House are stretched along the major road, and residents can pick up groceries at Publix, ALDI, Costco or Walmart.
A few miles to I-75 and local hospitals
SR 64 is the closest major road, but access to Interstate 75 is less than 5 miles away. Manatee Memorial Hospital and Lakewood Ranch Medical Center are about 10 miles from home.
Manatee County public schools
Manatee County School District earns a B-plus from Niche. Children can attend Freedom Elementary School, which has an A-minus, and Carlos E. Haile Middle School, which has a B-plus. Parrish Community High School earns a B and offers extracurriculars like broadcasting, rowing and Dungeons and Dragons clubs.
GreatSchools:
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On average, homes in Waterlefe, Bradenton sell after 119 days on the market compared to the national average of 53 days. The median sale price for homes in Waterlefe, Bradenton over the last 12 months is $582,500, down 7% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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