I'm Darren Dowling, Founder of Beyond Realty in downtown Sarasota. I help buyers relocating to Lakewood Ranch decide whether Esplanade at Azario is the right fit and negotiate the purchase with the builder. Azario is open to all ages, but most of the people who live there are 55+, and golf is usually what puts it on a buyer's shortlist.
It is Taylor Morrison's gated Esplanade golf community inside Lakewood Ranch, with villas and single-family homes. Figures below were checked against the builder and Lakewood Ranch listings on October 29, 2026, and they change often.
Detail | What the sources show |
|---|---|
Builder | Taylor Morrison |
Location | Off State Road 64 on Lorraine Road |
Age restriction | None; open to all ages |
Golf | 18-hole championship course by C.W. Golf Architecture; semi-private, with membership included only for golf-deeded homes |
Homes | 1,488 total; 1,533 to 3,100 sq. ft. |
Price range | Attached villas from the low $400s to $500s; single-family from the $600s to $1M+ |
HOA | $400 to $800 per month, maintenance included |
Amenities | Culinary center with dining and bar, resort-style pool and poolside bar, spa, fitness center, pickleball, salon, café, aqua range and pro shop, plus an on-site Lifestyle Director |
Sources: Lakewood Ranch, Business Observer.
The villas are where the value is. In my experience, the villas at Azario don't carry the built-in golf membership fee, which saves real money for buyers who want the community without paying for golf every month.
Azario also works as a long-term plan. You can start in a smaller villa now and move up to a larger home later without leaving the community, your friends or your routine. That matters, because the most common mistake I see is buying too big at the start.
It fits buyers who want golf, a full amenity campus and the option to move up later. If golf isn't a real interest, Del Webb Catalina or Cresswind usually make more sense, and both require residents to be 55+.
Yes. My Washington State buyers bought an Ibis villa at Esplanade at Azario with cash, with $60,000 off the price and $10,000 toward closing costs. They chose it for the golf, the location, the fees and the space the Ibis gave them.
"...Wendy was ultimately able to help us find our dream home in Esplanade at Azario. The transactions were seamless from beginning to end and she and her team (shout out to Darren) were prompt to answer our many questions."
Read more on my Testimonials page.
See how Azario stacks up against the other active adult communities on my 55+ Communities page, or read my Lakewood Ranch Neighborhood Guide and 2026 Sarasota relocation guide.
Book a Strategy Session. I'll tell you whether Azario, Catalina or Cresswind fits what you want within a 10, 20 and 30 minute drive, before you book a flight.