Star Farms at Lakewood Ranch New Homes | Builders, Prices & Community Guide

If you have been searching for new construction in the Lakewood Ranch area, Star Farms deserves a spot at the top of your list. This 1,300-acre gated village earned the title of number-one selling community in all of Lakewood Ranch in 2025, and sales have only accelerated into 2026. With six respected builders, four resort-caliber amenity campuses, and a location that puts I-75, Gulf beaches, and top-rated schools within easy reach, Star Farms checks nearly every box buyers care about.

As a local realtor who has walked these model homes and watched this community take shape, I put together this guide to give you a thorough look at what Star Farms offers, what it costs, and who it is designed for. Whether you are a first-time buyer eyeing a townhome in the mid-three hundreds or a move-up family shopping custom estates north of a million dollars, there is a neighborhood within Star Farms built for your stage of life.

Community Overview

Star Farms at Lakewood Ranch is developed by Schroeder-Manatee Ranch, the same visionary developer behind the entire Lakewood Ranch master plan that has been recognized as one of the top-selling master-planned communities in the United States for over a decade. The community sits in northeastern Lakewood Ranch along State Road 64 and Uihlein Road in Manatee County.

When fully built out, Star Farms will include roughly 2,800 single-family homes, paired villas, and townhomes spread across multiple neighborhoods and phases. The master plan blends multigenerational living with resort-style hospitality. Think of it as a self-contained lifestyle village where you can work out, grab coffee, take the kids to a splash pad, and meet neighbors at a poolside bar without ever leaving the gate.

Builders and Their Offerings

One of the things that sets Star Farms apart from many Lakewood Ranch communities is the range of builders. You are not locked into a single production builder here. Star Farms offers everything from affordable townhomes to fully custom waterfront estates, all within the same gated village.

D.R. Horton

D.R. Horton is the volume builder at Star Farms and the entry point for most buyers. They offer roughly twenty-two floor plans across their Express, Tradition, Freedom, and Emerald home series. Homes range from about 1,463 to 3,975 square feet with three to five bedrooms and two to four-and-a-half bathrooms. Pricing starts in the low three hundreds for townhomes and paired villas, climbing into the mid-five hundreds for larger single-family plans. Standard features include quartz countertops, stainless steel appliance packages, and covered patios on most floor plans.

Homes by WestBay

Homes by WestBay brings their award-winning designs to Star Farms with single-family homes starting around the upper four hundreds. Their standard collection offers open-concept floor plans with designer finishes, impact-rated windows, and covered outdoor living areas. For buyers looking for something more elevated, the Masterpiece Series delivers estate-quality homes in the one to one-and-a-half million dollar range with larger lots, premium architectural details, and expansive living spaces.

Perry Homes

Perry Homes builds on ninety-foot homesites at Star Farms, offering estate-style floor plans ranging from roughly 3,100 to 4,500 square feet. Pricing for Perry Homes generally starts around 1.3 million dollars. Their designs emphasize generous owner suites, gourmet kitchens, and Florida-friendly outdoor living with lanais and optional pool packages.

Custom and Semi-Custom Builders

For buyers who want a truly one-of-a-kind home, Star Farms is also home to John Cannon Homes, AR Homes by Arthur Rutenberg, and Lee Wetherington Homes. These builders work on premium lots and can build fully custom residences starting around 1.8 million dollars and climbing above two million. If you have a specific vision for your dream home and want to choose every finish, these are the builders to explore.

Resort-Style Amenities

Star Farms is not just selling homes. It is selling a lifestyle. The community features four distinct amenity campuses, each designed for a different audience and vibe. Combined, they total over 27,000 square feet of clubhouse space, multiple pools, fitness facilities, dining, and social programming.

The Resort Club

The Resort Club is the social heart of Star Farms. This hospitality-staffed clubhouse includes The Palm Bar, a poolside restaurant and bar where residents can grab a meal or a cocktail without leaving the community. The campus also features a full-service coffee shop, a state-of-the-art fitness center, a performance center for group classes, and a resort-style swimming pool with cabanas. Event spaces host everything from wine tastings to live music nights.

Junction Place

Families with kids will gravitate toward Junction Place. This amenity campus is purpose-built for younger residents with splash pads, playgrounds, kid-focused programming, and after-school activity spaces. It is the kind of place where your children make neighborhood friends while you relax poolside.

Adventure Retreat

Adventure Retreat caters to the active-adult segment of Star Farms. It offers private pool access, dedicated wellness and fitness centers, and social spaces designed for a more relaxed pace. If you are an empty nester or retiree looking for a community within a community, Adventure Retreat delivers that experience.

Cabana Corner

Cabana Corner rounds out the amenity lineup with a more intimate setting. Covered pavilions, relaxation-focused pools, and quiet gathering spaces make it an ideal spot for reading a book, catching up with a neighbor, or just unwinding after a long day.

HOA and CDD Fees

Buyers always ask about ongoing costs, so let me break it down. Star Farms homeowners association fees currently range from approximately 200 to 320 dollars per month depending on your neighborhood and home type. These fees cover maintenance of the common areas, landscaping, gate staffing, trash removal, and full access to all four amenity campuses.

In addition to HOA dues, there is a Community Development District assessment of roughly 94 dollars per month. CDD fees fund the infrastructure that was built to develop the community, including roads, utilities, drainage, and conservation areas. Combined, you are looking at roughly 300 to 415 dollars per month in community fees. For what you get in return, especially four separate amenity campuses with staffed hospitality, those fees represent solid value compared to similar communities in the Lakewood Ranch area.

Schools and Education

Star Farms is zoned to some of the most highly rated public schools in Manatee County. Elementary students attend B.D. Gullett Elementary School, located about 3.4 miles from the community. Middle schoolers are zoned for Dr. Mona Jain Middle School, approximately 3.2 miles away. High school students attend Lakewood Ranch High School, roughly 4.6 miles from the front gate.

There is also exciting news on the education front. The brand-new Lake Manatee K through 8 school is located directly adjacent to Star Farms. The elementary wing is already open, and the middle school portion is slated to begin operations in the 2026-2027 school year. Having a school within walking or biking distance is a major draw for families with young children.

Location and Accessibility

Star Farms sits in a sweet spot for both commuters and lifestyle buyers. Interstate 75 is less than five miles from the community entrance, with quick access to both Exit 220 and Exit 213. That puts downtown Sarasota about 25 minutes south and Tampa roughly 50 minutes north.

University Town Center, the premier shopping and dining destination in the area, is about 25 minutes and 11 miles south along I-75. Waterside Place, Lakewood Ranch's lakefront town center with hundreds of shops and restaurants, is 20 to 25 minutes away. Lakewood Ranch Main Street, with its boutique shops and popular restaurants, is about 15 to 20 minutes from the front gate.

Beach lovers will appreciate that Siesta Key Beach is roughly 25 to 30 minutes via I-75 and Stickney Point Road. Anna Maria Island is about 30 to 35 minutes north via Manatee Avenue. Lido Key and Longboat Key are also reachable in under 30 minutes depending on traffic. Few new construction communities in the Lakewood Ranch area offer this combination of highway access and proximity to the coast.

Nearby Dining and Attractions

Living at Star Farms means you do not have to go far for a great meal or a fun night out. Within the community itself, The Palm Bar at the Resort Club serves food and drinks in a casual resort setting. Beyond the gate, Lakewood Ranch Main Street offers popular spots for dining, shopping, and weekend events. Waterside Place is a newer lakefront destination with a growing roster of restaurants, retail, and entertainment options.

For cultural attractions, the Sarasota area is hard to beat. The Ringling Museum, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, and a thriving performing arts scene are all within a 30-minute drive. Families enjoy the Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium, and outdoor enthusiasts have access to Myakka River State Park, one of the largest and oldest state parks in Florida, just a short drive east.

Who Is Star Farms Designed For

The short answer is just about everyone. Star Farms was intentionally designed as a multigenerational community, and the range of home types and amenity campuses reflects that vision.

First-time buyers and young professionals will find attainable entry points with D.R. Horton's townhomes and villas starting in the low three hundreds. Growing families can move up to larger single-family homes in the four to six hundred thousand dollar range with quick access to top-rated schools and kid-focused amenities at Junction Place.

Move-up buyers shopping in the 700,000 to 1.5 million dollar range have excellent options from Homes by WestBay and Perry Homes, with premium lots and elevated finishes. And for those seeking a true luxury custom home, the John Cannon, AR Homes, and Lee Wetherington neighborhoods deliver estate-caliber living above two million dollars.

Active adults and retirees benefit from the Adventure Retreat amenity campus with its private pools and wellness programming, plus the low-maintenance villa and paired home options that let you lock up and travel without worrying about yard work.

Construction Timeline and Phases

Star Farms is actively selling across multiple phases and neighborhoods. The community's first phases are well-established with completed homes, occupied neighborhoods, and fully operational amenity campuses. New phases and sections continue to open as demand warrants, with Saddlestone being one of the newest neighborhoods now selling within the Star Farms master plan.

The broader Lakewood Ranch Southeast infrastructure, which supports Star Farms and surrounding villages, is on track for full completion by early 2027 according to Schroeder-Manatee Ranch's development team. This includes road improvements and utility expansion that will further enhance connectivity and convenience for Star Farms residents. Build times currently range from roughly six to twelve months depending on the builder and level of customization.

Frequently Asked Questions About Star Farms at Lakewood Ranch

What is the price range for homes at Star Farms?

Homes at Star Farms range from the low 300s for D.R. Horton townhomes and villas up to over two million dollars for fully custom estates by builders like John Cannon Homes and Lee Wetherington. The sweet spot for most single-family buyers is the 400,000 to 700,000 dollar range.

Is Star Farms a gated community?

Yes. Star Farms is a gated community with staffed entry points and controlled access, providing an added layer of security and privacy for residents.

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What are the monthly HOA and CDD fees?

HOA fees range from approximately 200 to 320 dollars per month. CDD fees add roughly 94 dollars per month. Total community fees run between 300 and 415 dollars monthly, covering amenities, landscaping, gate staffing, and infrastructure.

What schools serve Star Farms?

Star Farms is zoned to B.D. Gullett Elementary, Dr. Mona Jain Middle School, and Lakewood Ranch High School. The new Lake Manatee K-8 campus is also located directly next to the community.

How far is Star Farms from the beach?

Siesta Key Beach is about 25 to 30 minutes away. Anna Maria Island is approximately 30 to 35 minutes north. Lido Key and Longboat Key are also reachable in under 30 minutes.

Can I use my own buyer's agent when purchasing at Star Farms?

Absolutely. I recommend working with a local buyer's agent who knows the Lakewood Ranch market inside and out. A knowledgeable agent can help you compare builders, negotiate upgrades, and navigate the new construction buying process. If you would like a personal tour of Star Farms or have questions about any of the builders, feel free to reach out and I am happy to help.

Ready to Explore Star Farms?

Star Farms at Lakewood Ranch is one of the most complete new construction communities on Florida's Gulf Coast. With six builders covering every price point, four world-class amenity campuses, top-rated schools, and a location that balances suburban comfort with coastal access, it is easy to see why this community has earned the number-one sales ranking in Lakewood Ranch.

If you are considering a move to the Lakewood Ranch area or want to see what Star Farms looks like in person, I would love to set up a private tour. Contact me today and let's find the right home and the right builder for your next chapter.