Home starts surge at master-planned community

New home construction topped 750 residences in the West Villages in the second quarter, outpacing both Lakewood Ranch and Palmer Ranch, according to recently released statistics.

West Villages, which comprises four communities totaling 10,000 acres in south Sarasota County, had 765 new home starts in the quarter ended June 30, while master planned Lakewood Ranch had 611 and Palmer Ranch, south of Sarasota, had 261, according to figures from real estate research firm MetroStudy.

“Growing retiree demand, solid job growth, and low interest rates all fueled an impressive quarter for housing activity in Sarasota/Bradenton,” a recent MetroStudy report notes. “In fact, the quarterly starts pace of 1,492 units was the best single quarter for starts since 3Q of 2006.”