Against a backdrop of falling home prices and rising inventory throughout Sarasota and Manatee counties, a new master-planned community in Englewood is taking shape. BeachWalk by DiVosta, a luxury residential development located roughly three miles from Manasota Beach, will ultimately comprise roughly 1,600 homes once completed. As of early 2025, more than 580 units have been sold, with more than 500 already occupied.

Developed by DiVosta Homes, the gated, master-planned community promises a resort-style lifestyle with top-notch amenities designed for both retirees and younger families. The community has sold more than 580 units since launching in 2022.

“We’re seeing a great mix of buyers—roughly 40 percent are families, and 60 percent are retirees,” says Ben Crisafulli, vice president of sales for DiVosta Homes, the parent company behind BeachWalk that's also a brand within PulteGroup. “It’s interesting to see how many younger families are choosing to settle here. With more people working from home, they’re looking for a community that offers a vacation-like lifestyle, where they can enjoy amenities like a golf cart-friendly environment, pools, fitness centers and easy access to nature.”

Lots of amenities come with living there. The Capri Club, an 11,500-square-foot clubhouse, includes a fitness center, social lounges and a café. Outdoor amenities include a tropical saltwater pool with a waterfall, lap lanes, a heated spa and a sundeck with a firepit. There are also 10 pickleball courts, six bocce courts and five tennis courts.

“The amenities are designed to feel like a resort. It’s the kind of place where you don’t need to leave the community to find everything you need,” says Crisafulli. “And with the addition of a lakeside boardwalk, Memorial Garden and full-service dining options, we’re offering a lifestyle that truly feels like living on vacation every day.”

The development includes villas and single-family homes, ranging from 1,405 to nearly 4,000 square feet. Pricing starts in the mid $300,000s. The homes come with customizable floor plans, including options for extended gathering rooms, lanais, and garages as well as outdoor living spaces like custom pools and spas. Known for being quiet and charming, the price point is a departure from the current price point of county-wide home pricing. According to the latest numbers, the Sarasota County median sale price of a single-family home has dipped 1.5 percent, to $499,990. For condos, it's $342,000.

The location, roughly 3 miles from Manasota Beach, is also attracting locals who still value a coastal life, but with a little more distance post last year's brutal hurricane season.

"You’d be surprised how many locals are moving into places like this. People often come to the area, rent or buy without really knowing the community, and then decide they want to move into a master-planned development. A lot of folks from within a 20-mile radius, who moved here from out of state five years ago, are now really starting to explore," he says. "Some are moving away from the water or have lost their homes. Even if they didn’t directly experience the storms, living in flood zones or older homes makes them rethink things. The thought of rising insurance costs and the stress of it all often pushes them to look for safer, more manageable options—even if it means driving a little further to get to the beach."

As of February 2025, Englewood’s real estate market shows notable shifts. The median sold price stands at approximately $375,000, reflecting a modest 1.3 percent year-over-year increase, while the median listing price is around $399,900, showing an 11 percent decrease compared to the previous year. Home sales have risen significantly, with 71 homes sold in February 2025, up from 53 in February 2024—an increase of 34 percent. The number of homes for sale also surged, reaching 961, a 14.5 percent increase from January 2025. Homes are spending an average of 61 days on the market, a slight improvement from 70 days in February 2024. These figures highlight an active market with rising sales and growing inventory, offering buyers a range of options.

Despite the market cooldown, BeachWalk isn’t the only new community in Englewood. Shores at Stillwater, a new gated development by PulteGroup, offers a mix of single-family homes and villas. The community is situated next to the Englewood YMCA and HCA Florida Englewood Hospital, making it an attractive option for those seeking a family-friendly environment. Model homes for Shores at Stillwater are slated to open in spring 2025.

Another new development, Palm Lake at Coco Bay, a master-planned community by Lennar, offers homebuyers the chance to live in a tranquil setting just minutes from Englewood’s beautiful beaches. The community is part of a broader trend in which people are choosing quieter, more affordable areas to live while still having access to Florida’s natural beauty.

For Crisafulli, the growth of BeachWalk reflects a broader trend in Englewood’s residential market. “We’re excited to see so many people choosing to call BeachWalk home,” he says. “It’s a community that allows you to live life the way you want—whether that means relaxing by the pool, playing pickleball or just enjoying the beauty of Florida every day.”

To learn more about BeachWalk by Manasota Key, click here.