Port Saint Lucie

Floresta Pointe is like many of the neighborhoods in Port St. Lucie: full of big single-family homes in quiet suburban subdivisions at price points lower than Palm Beach, a city most PSL transplants are moving from. “People like the lifestyle in Palm Beach, but they can’t afford it anymore. They can find it in Port St. Lucie,” says Lasundra Scheibner, a real estate agent with LPT who sells throughout South Florida. Scheibner cites Port St. Lucie’s recent evolution from a somewhat undesirable spot in the Treasure Coast to a city with many conveniences residents can’t find (or can’t afford) farther south. But this evolution means homes are going fast in neighborhoods like Floresta Pointe. “You’ll want to get in now because it’s going to change soon. And once the houses are gone, people will be calling about Okeechobee,” she says. Homes in Floresta Pointe are a mix of ranch style from the 1970s and 1980s and contemporary style from the 1990s and 2000s. Three-bedroom builds are priced in the mid-$200,000s to mid-$300,000s, and four-bedroom builds are priced in the high $300,000s to high $500,000s. Homes sit a bit close, but the front yards are roomy and landscaped with small trees, shrubs and flowers. The occasional empty lot between homes provides more trees and plants. Streets are narrow, so residents park in their two-car garages and on big driveways. While there are almost no sidewalks, the subdivisions don't see much traffic, so there's plenty of space for a walk or bike ride. Regarding crime, Floresta Pointe has a 4 out of 10 on the CAP Index, the same as the national average. St. Lucie Schools serve the area, and many kids start their education at Morningside Elementary, which has a B-plus rating on Niche and is the oldest school in Port Saint Lucie. Morningside has a gifted program, The Odyssey of the Mind, which is noted for its rigorous curriculum. From there, they head to Southport Middle School, which has a B-minus rating from Niche and St. Lucie West Centennial High School, which has a B. Families interested in private education for their kids can choose from a few Montessori and faith-based schools in the area. There are several big parks just outside the neighborhood, including United States Submarine Veterans Park, a unique green space surrounding a small lake at Southeast Crosstown Parkway and Southeast Floresta Drive. The walking trail surrounding the water is a popular spot to exercise, as is the collection of outdoor fitness equipment. Sportsman Park in nearby Northport Village is another go-to for outdoor recreation. The park is usually buzzing with youth sports teams playing football and baseball. It also features an extensive collection of fitness equipment, plus an all-ability playground with separate areas for younger and older kids. While Floresta Pointe is mostly residential, there are a handful of diverse, locally owned and small chain restaurants along Southwest Bayshore Boulevard. Taste of Jamaica Cuisine serves authentic dishes like curry goat and oxtail stew in a laid-back, casual atmosphere. St. Lucie Bakery at Bayshore is a family-owned and operated spot that has been serving the area for over 30 years and selling freshly baked pastries, soups, salads, and other light lunch bites. Big Apple Pizza and Pasta is a small chain that, of course, sells pizza and pasta as well as subs, calzones and stromboli. For weekend errands, residents head into next-door St. Lucie West and pick up essentials at Walmart and groceries at Publix. Florida’s Turnpike runs along the neighborhood’s west side and connects residents to the rest of the city. Jensen Beach is about 10 miles east, ideal for an afternoon at the shore, and Palm Beach is about 50 miles southeast.

For those looking to settle down in a gated neighborhood in Port St. Lucie, there are a few to choose from. Newport Isles is an attractive option for many: it offers a sense of community and many amenities, and it's safe (it scores a 4 out of 10 on the CAP Index, the same as the national average). It's also affordable, something that nearby Tradition—a new, buzzy master-planned community—doesn't offer. “Compared to Tradition, Newport Isles’ HOA fee is lower, and you still get access to the shopping, dining and all the events," says Mark Naumovitz, a Realtor with Keller Williams Realty of Port St. Lucie who sells throughout the area. “It’s also more affordable than many of the nearby neighborhoods in general. It offers a lot for the price point.” Newport Isles’ single-family homes are mainly custom contemporary builds constructed in 2005 or 2006. They feature barrel tile roofs, big front windows and paver driveways that lead to two-car garages. Front lawns are tastefully landscaped, thanks to the community’s HOA, and often feature small palm trees and clusters of flowers. Sidewalks and more small trees line the quiet streets, and it’s common to see neighbors out walking dogs or riding their bikes. Prices range from $330,000 for three bedrooms and two bathrooms to $580,000 for six bedrooms and three bathrooms. Townhouses are also available. Most are located on the community's western side and were built around 2006 or 2007. Prices range from $265,000 for two bedrooms and two and a half baths to $360,000 for three bedrooms and two and a half baths. Near the community’s center is a bundle of outdoor amenities for residents, including tennis and basketball courts, a racquetball court, a playground and two pools. Closer to the townhouses, there is another pool and playground. Just south of the neighborhood is O.L. Peacock Sr. Park, which attracts nature fans throughout the city. It offers 100 dog-friendly acres of green space for walking and biking and access to a large lake perfect for fishing, kayaking and canoeing. Residents have quick access to the Lewis Branch of the St. Lucie County Library, and those with small children take advantage of its many regular events like Baby & Me, which incorporates story times with music and movement, and Storytime Jam, which is a similar event suitable for kids three to five years old. In Tradition, a new master-planned community about 2 miles west, locals shop for fresh produce at the Tradition Neighborhood Market and grab a bite at Chow Down Food Truck Fridays. Tradition is also a go-to for shopping. The Landing at Tradition offers many national retailers, including Publix, Target and Homesense. Closer to home, Gatlin Plaza has Home Depot and Bass Pro Shops. When residents want to dine out, they have many options in Tradition, like Meating Street, an upscale steakhouse with an Italian American flair and Taco Dive, a casual spot for unique spins on Mexican favorites. St. Lucie Public Schools serves the area, and kids can start their education at Floresta Elementary School, which serves prekindergarten through fifth grade and has a B-minus on Niche. Or they can stay in one school until eighth grade and attend Northport School, which has a C-plus on Niche. From there, they often head to Treasure Coast High School for ninth through 12th grade. Treasure Coast High has a B rating on Niche and serves about 3,000 students. It offers small learning communities, with classes focused on specific career fields like Public Service and Safety, Criminal Justice and Culinary Arts. Interstate 95 runs along the neighborhood’s west side and connects residents to the rest of the state, including West Palm Beach, about 50 miles to the south and Orlando, about 130 miles to the north. Public transportation is limited in the area, but the city’s Area Regional Transit (ART) bus line runs along Southwest Gatlin Boulevard’s retail corridor.

Right off Florida's Turnpike, the communities within Sawgrass Lakes offer both gated and ungated suburban living. In the Treasure Coast's city of Port St. Lucie, the cul-de-sacs of Sawgrass Lakes are shaped by glittering bodies of freshwater, providing many properties with lakeside views and ideal fishing spots. You'll often see residents outside enjoying the South Florida sun as well as the neighborhood's lush and mature landscaping. Dense tree lines border each community, giving the area a secluded and serene feel despite its close proximity to major roads and highways, including Florida's Turnpike, Interstate 95 and Port St. Lucie Boulevard. "In Port St. Lucie, it's quick to get anywhere," says Karl Taylor, a local Realtor with Redfin Corporation and a Port St. Lucie resident himself. "The city isn't that big, and our traffic is nowhere near what it is down south, but the biggest thing is you have here quick access to the Turnpike." Sawgrass Lakes is composed of five different sub-communities built around a 100-acre lake. Four are gated, and one — the Estates of Sawgrass Lakes — is ungated. Panther Trace is the largest community, with 145 single-family homes, followed by Hammock Cove, with 129 single-family homes. Hammock Cove is also the sole sub-community with a clubhouse and community pool. That said, most properties in Sawgrass Lakes feature in-ground pools or have more than enough space for one to be installed. As for the two remaining gated communities, there's Crane Pointe and the Sanctuary. Each community in Sawgrass Lakes utilizes an HOA. "Sawgrass Lakes is the kind of area where you know your neighbors," Taylor says. "Most of the houses are three to four bedrooms, so it has more families than some neighborhoods." Furthermore, because Sawgrass Lakes is home to some of the only gated communities in this section of Port St. Lucie, the price point here is a tad higher than the surrounding HOA-free neighborhoods. "On the high end, I'd say you're looking at the high $600,000s," Taylor says. "On the low end? Probably $350,000 to $400,000. Most of the homes were built in the 2000s, so they're more contemporary in style." While what was considered contemporary in the early 2000s has shifted, the designs of these ranch-style homes reflect New Traditional, Minimal Traditional and Spanish Eclectic styles. And while ranch-style homes are the most popular build, there are many bi-level homes as well. For $489,000, you can land a four-bedroom, three-bathroom, 2,158-square-foot bi-level home on an oversized, 0.4-acre lot. On the west side of Sawgrass Lakes, just outside Panther Trace, a small shopping strip has two great spots for tasting local flavor. Popular for its street tacos, Taqueria El Rey serves up hearty portions of authentic Mexican cuisine. A couple of stores down, One Love Caribbean is another favorite with everything from fried shrimp, blue crab and tilapia to curry goat, oxtail and brown stew chicken. Port St. Lucie is served by St. Lucie Public Schools, so Sawgrass Lakes students can attend Windmill Point Elementary before going to Oak Hammock K-8 School and graduating from Treasure Coast High School, which has a B rating on Niche and is just over a mile from the neighborhood. Treasure Coast High features academies, also known as "small learning communities," allowing students to find an area of interest to focus their studies around. The focuses of these academies range from industrial biotechnology and health science to culinary arts and criminal justice. As for recreational and green space, Whispering Pines Park sits right behind the high school, equipped with sports fields, a playground and a tennis center with 14 tennis courts and 8 lined pickleball courts. Just a hair over a 15-mile drive from the beaches of Hutchinson Island, Sawgrass Lakes is a quiet but connected community in the growing city of Port St. Lucie.