Pine Ridge

Just east of Lecanto Highway and 10 miles from Crystal River is Beverly Hills, a suburban neighborhood known for its central location and affordability. “Beverly Hills is a desirable area for first-time homebuyers,” says Nadeene Horak, a Realtor with Sail Home Realty. Homes here are ranch-style and have an average value of $198,000, significantly lower than the local and national averages. The neighborhood includes a pair of parks to keep residents active, and two nearby golf courses provide additional recreational opportunities. Proximity of restaurants and shopping along Lecanto Highway, Crystal River and a favorable school system add to the neighborhood’s appeal. As residents drive down the skinny streets of Beverly Hills, they’ll see primarily brightly colored ranch-style homes with palm trees out front and one to two-car garages. “They’re smaller homes, so they are perfect for retirement people who want less land,” says Linda Thomas, a Realtor with Century 21. “Homes here were built in the late 1960s and 1970s,” Donna Dorsey, a Realtor with Citrus Realty, says. These homes have sold for between $100,000 and $360,000. “It’s a pretty active market because of the price range; it’s affordable,” says Kirk Johnson, a Realtor with Citrus Ridge Realty. Some ranch-style homes have inground pools in the backyard, making them ripe for entertaining. Residents rely on cars to get from place to place in Beverly Hills, as sidewalks are uncommon. Beverly Hills residents are assigned to Citrus County Schools. For Pre-K through fifth grade, children attend Forest Ridge Elementary before moving on to Citrus Springs Middle for sixth through eighth grade. Both schools receive a B grade from Niche. From there, students head to B-plus-graded Lecanto High School, which offers various programs, including AVID, JROTC, International Baccalaureate and the Lecanto School of Art. As for private schools, Seven Rivers Christian School serves Pre-K through 12th grade and earns a B from Niche. Beverly Hills is 80 miles north of Tampa, 82 miles west of Orlando and 58 miles south of Gainesville. Public transportation is not available in the neighborhood. Those who need to catch a flight can do so at the Tampa International Airport, 75 miles south of the neighborhood. Medical attention can be found at the HCA Florida Citrus Hospital, 12 miles away. When residents want to get outside and active, they head to Beverly Hills Community Park. Athletes enjoy it for its baseball and soccer fields, along with its basketball court. The park also boasts a skate park and a playground for those seeking thrills. Next door to the park is the Boys & Girls Club of Citrus County, which provides kids ages 6-18 a space for activities and programs after school. Central Ridge Community Park offers 24 regulation pits, which have hosted state tournaments. The park also has a trail, shuffleboard court and tennis court. Residents who want to spend time kayaking or paddleboarding on the water can head over to Crystal River. Those with a boat can rent a slip at Pete’s Pier Marina. Lecanto Highway has a handful of options when residents want to grab a bite. Los Magueyes Beverly Hills serves Mexican food and generous margaritas in a festive and inviting interior. Breakfast Station offers breakfast specials, from country omelets to French toast and cinnamon swirl pancakes, in a diner setting. New England Pastry & Café serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, and various pastries and treats. For shopping, further south down Lecanto Highway is a new shopping center with a Target, Hobby Lobby, Starbucks and much more, and it is across from a Wal-Mart Supercenter. When it's time to fill the pantry, there’s a Winn-Dixie in Beverly Hills. Beverly Hills residents attend various events throughout the year organized by the Citrus County Chamber of Commerce. In late June, there is an Annual Pride Family BBQ. The event is free to attend and includes a live DJ, a raffle and fun activities for kids. In October, there’s a Bam Barbecue, which celebrates local businesses and has food and beverages along with live music. Golfers in Beverly Hills have a pair of public courses nearby. Brentwood Farms Golf Club has nine holes, is open year-round and offers three sets of tees for various skill levels. Twisted Oaks Golf Club has 18 holes, hosts tournaments and has a bar & grill so that golfers can grab a meal before or after their round.

Just 9 miles east of Crystal River sits Black Diamond. “It’s a beautiful, gated community with world-class golf designed by Tom Fazio,” says Nadeene Horak, a Realtor with Sail Home Realty. The community has a variety of ranch-style and new-traditional homes and, along with golf, offers amenities like a pool, fitness center and tennis courts. One of the golf courses, the Quarry Course, was recognized by Golf Digest. Nearby Crystal River’s restaurants, recreational opportunities and community events add to the neighborhood’s appeal. As homebuyers pass through the gates of Black Diamond, they’ll find ranch-style and new-traditional homes with some sporting Mediterranean influence. “Black Diamond is known for its privacy, luxurious homes and gorgeous landscaping,” Horak says. Some homes back up to one of the golf courses, giving residents a picturesque view. “These homes are anywhere from 1,500 square feet all the way up to 6,000 square feet,” says Linda Thomas, a Realtor with Century 21 and a neighborhood resident. Homes here have sold for between $300,000 and $900,000. Residents of Black Diamond also pay an HOA fee. “There are nearly 50 miles of paved trails at nearby Withlacoochee State Trail,” Thomas says. Withlacoochee State Trail is 23 miles southeast of the neighborhood. Inside the community's gates is a pool that requires a separate membership, along with a fitness center and tennis courts. Residents can head to Crystal River, 9 miles away, to kayak or paddleboard. Three miles east of Black Diamond is the Beverly Hills Community Park, where athletes can get their competitive fix on the baseball or soccer field. The park also has a skate park and is right next door to the Boys & Girls Club of Citrus County. Those with boats in the area can rent a slip at Pete’s Pier at King’s Bay Marina. Residents of Black Diamond can get golf memberships to play the 45 holes of championship golf in the community. The club includes two regulation 18-hole courses, Quarry and Ranch, and a nine-hole Highlands course. Golf Digest has recognized the Quarry Course as one of America’s 100 Greatest Courses. Other golf course options nearby include the Brentwood Farms Golf Club and Twisted Oaks Golf Club, both open to the public. “Black Diamond is a very active community,” Thomas says. “They have golf tournaments and special events with music playing.” While the community has member events throughout the year, nearby Crystal River also has its events each week. For Independence Day, Crystal City hosts a 4th of July Celebration at Kings Bay Park, including live music and activities for kids and food and market vendors. The event is capped off with fireworks at the end of the night. “Crystal River has a lot of good restaurants, especially seafood,” says Donna Dorsey, a Broker with Citrus Realty who has been selling in the area for 18 years. Cajun Jimmy’s Seafood Seller & Café in Crystal River serves seafood caught on its own boats. “I love their clam chowder,” Thomas says. As residents exit Black Diamond, they’ll hit Lecanto Highway, which has a few popular restaurants, including the Breakfast Station. The breakfast and lunch spot serves a variety of breakfast combos. “5 minutes from the gate of Black Diamond, there is a major shopping center going in,” Thomas says. “It will have a Target, Hobby Lobby, PetSmart, Starbucks, Panera, Texas Roadhouse and Glory Days. Residents used to have to travel to Ocala.” For groceries, residents can stop by Winn Dixie on Lecanto Highway. Students in Black Diamond are assigned to attend Citrus County Schools. Starting in Pre-K, children attend Central Ridge Elementary School, which earns a C-plus grade from Niche. From there, students attend B-graded Citrus Springs Middle before moving on to Lecanto High School, which earns a B-plus. The high school has a Lecanto School of the Arts program for students who are highly interested in pursuing art. The program can lead to college credit. Private school options nearby include Seven Rivers Christian School, which serves Pre-K through 12th grade and receives a B mark from Niche. Black Diamond is 59 miles from Gainesville, 85 miles from Orlando and 80 miles from Tampa. Public transportation is not available in the area. Those looking to catch a flight can head to the Tampa International Airport, 74 miles south of the neighborhood. The nearest hospital is the HCA Florida Citrus Hospital, 15 miles away.

Located 14 miles west of Crystal River and flanked by the Hernando Pool of the Lake Tsala Apopka Chain of Lakes, Hernando is a sprawling community that attracts homebuyers looking for access to nature and area golf courses. “It’s for people who want to golf and have affordable residences,” says Dixie Parsley, a Realtor with Parsley Real Estate with 23 years of experience selling in the area. The average value for a home in Hernando is $250,000, lower than the $320,000 average for the Homosassa Springs Metro Area. Hernando is mostly comprised of smaller subdivisions scattered across a vast area rich with forests and farmland. Canterbury Lakes Estates and Quail Run feature ranch-style homes built between 1980 and 2010 and range from the low $200,000s to the high $300,000s. The 55-plus gated waterfront community of Arbor Lakes has homes priced from low $200,000s to the high $300,000s and amenities like a clubhouse with a pool and tennis courts. Elsewhere in Hernando, houses with docks and lake access go for north of $400,000. There are also manufactured homes that sell between $75,000 and $175,000. While some houses are part of homeowner associations, many others are not. “A lot of people move here because they don’t want HOAs,” says Hernando resident Deb Thompson, a Realtor with Parsley Real Estate. Multiple golf courses are a short drive from Hernando. Lakeside Country Club is 2 miles south and is a members-only club with an 18-hole course, a pro shop, a driving range and golf lessons. Annual membership allows the play of Lakeside’s course along with nearby Citrus Springs Country Club and The Country Club at Silver Springs Shores. Twisted Oaks Golf Club is an 18-hole public course 7 miles from Hernando that also has tournaments throughout the year. Students in Hernando are assigned to Citrus County Schools. Starting in Pre-Kindergarten, children attend Hernando Elementary School, which earns a B-minus from Niche. From there, students move on to B-graded Citrus Springs Middle before going to B-minus-graded Citrus High School. Citrus High has an Academy of Computer Sciences, where students work on science projects as a part of the school’s Innovation Project Fridays. Solid Rock Christian Academy serves Pre-K through 12th grade and receives a B grade from Niche. Hernando is 36 miles from Ocala and less than 80 miles from Tampa, Orlando and Gainesville. The nearest hospital is the HCA Florida Citrus Hospital, 6 miles away. The Tampa International Airport is 77 miles away. U.S. Highway 41 runs through the neighborhood and connects to Tampa to the south. Along U.S. Highway 41 sits Burger Station, which offers a variety of burgers, barbecue and hot dogs, ice cream and milkshakes; customers can enjoy their meals at its outdoor dining area. Down the street is Sabrina’s Diner, which serves breakfast all day, including waffles and country-fried steak. On State Route 200, Red’s Restaurant is open for breakfast and lunch and features specials like Maryland soft shell crabs. A Hometown Groceries & More is in the neighborhood and a Publix is 5 miles west. Lake Hernando Park has a playground, a boat launch and a swimming area. The Hernando Trailhead of the Withlacoochee State Trail provides runners and bikers with access to the scenic 47-mile trail. Just west of Hernando is the Central Ridge District Park, which sits on 134 acres and has soccer and baseball fields. The park also has dog-friendly trails. Crystal River, 14 miles from Hernando, has community events. Every November, they host a Stone Crab Jam music festival with live music, food vendors, beer and wine. Crystal River also has a 4th of July Celebration at Kings Bay Park every July. The event includes live music, food and drinks and is capped off with fireworks at the night's end.