Lakewood Ranch may look like one large housing market on Google. In real life? Not even close. Lakewood Ranch is made up of three main ZIP codes—34211, 34202 and 34240—dozens of communities and countless micro-markets living under one very recognizable name. Each community offers something different. Some are gated. Some include golf or club memberships. Some focus on maintenance-free living. Others offer larger lots, newer construction, luxury homes, townhomes, villas or res

If you’re relocating to Lakewood Ranch, you’ve probably seen the letters “CDD” while researching homes—and wondered what the heck they mean. CDD stands for Community Development District. CDDs are common in Florida’s master-planned communities, but the fees can be confusing when you’re buying here for the first time. Here’s the simple explanation. What Does a CDD Pay For? A Community Development District is a special-purpose local government created to help finance, build and