I'm Darren Dowling, Founder of Beyond Realty in downtown Sarasota. I help 55+ buyers relocating to Lakewood Ranch compare Del Webb Catalina with the other active adult communities and negotiate with the builder. Catalina requires residents to be 55+, and it is a strong choice for buyers who want an active social life without golf.
It is Del Webb's gated 55+ community in Lakewood Ranch, built by PulteGroup around a lakeside amenity campus. Figures below were checked against Del Webb's listing on October 29, 2026, and they change often.
Detail | What the sources show |
|---|---|
Builder | Del Webb, a PulteGroup brand |
Sales center | 4844 Starlight Beach Lane, Lakewood Ranch, FL 34211 |
Age restriction | 55+ required, gated |
Homes | 1,300 planned; villas and single-family; 1,405 to 3,970 sq. ft. |
Price range | From about $359,000 |
Open now | Lifestyle House, 3 pickleball courts, putting green and event lawn |
Under construction | About 35,000 sq. ft. clubhouse on a 70-acre lake with Horizon Grill restaurant and bar, resort and resistance pools, fitness center, wellness center with saunas, golf simulator, 12 pickleball courts (8 covered), 5 tennis and 4 bocce courts |
Source: Del Webb.
Catalina's fees are fairly close to Esplanade at Azario's, so the decision usually isn't about cost. It comes down to timing and golf.
Del Webb started construction on the roughly 35,000 sq. ft. clubhouse in March 2026, and by my estimate it is still around a year from completion. Some amenities are open today, but if you want the full social scene the day you move in, that timing matters. My Washington State buyers liked Catalina, but the clubhouse timing was a big reason they passed on it: they wanted to meet people as soon as possible.
If golf isn't a big interest, Catalina has the edge over Esplanade at Azario.
Often, yes. Right now the deals on move-in-ready homes are especially strong. With the builder, I negotiate for closing cost credits and flex cash, which you can put toward design center upgrades or a rate buydown.
It fits 55+ buyers who want an age-restricted, gated community, don't need golf, and are comfortable waiting a while for the full clubhouse. If you want an age-restricted community with its clubhouse already open, compare it with Cresswind.
See how Catalina stacks up on my 55+ Communities page, or read my Lakewood Ranch Neighborhood Guide and 2026 Sarasota relocation guide.
Book a Strategy Session, and I'll compare Catalina with Cresswind and Azario against what you want within a 10, 20 and 30 minute drive.