The Builders: Cardel Homes and M/I Homes
Cardel Homes: Estate Lots and Lakefront Homesites
Cardel Homes built on Worthington's larger estate homesites, including the community's lakefront lots. Many Cardel lots are 75 feet wide or more, with some lakefront and peninsula cul-de-sac homesites on Candlewood Court reaching about a third of an acre and offering long water frontage. Cardel homes are known for 10 and 12 foot ceilings, 8 foot doors, transom windows, tray ceilings, gas cooking, quartz finishes and 3-car garages.
Cardel floor plans built and sold in Worthington include:
- The Asher: about 2,300 sq ft, 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, with a flex room and full bath that opens to the pool
- The Camden: about 2,600 sq ft, 3 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, a den/study, a large flex space and a 3-car garage, with 10 and 12 foot ceilings
- The Barrett: about 2,500 to 2,600 sq ft, 3 bedrooms plus an office, 3 baths and a 3-car garage, with 12 foot ceilings and transom windows
- The Martin: about 2,800 sq ft, 4 bedrooms, a den plus a separate office, split bedroom plan and 3-car garage
- The Henley: about 3,000 sq ft, 4 bedrooms, a private den and 3 baths, with 10 and 12 foot ceilings. The Henley with Bonus option grows to about 3,940 sq ft with 5 bedrooms and 4 baths
- The Savannah: about 3,300 sq ft, 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, a den and a bonus room, with a gourmet kitchen and butler's pantry. The Savannah was Cardel's model home and sales center at 4608 Antrim Drive, and the plan won Best Overall and Best Kitchen at the 2021 Manatee-Sarasota Parade of Homes
M/I Homes: Efficient Homesites, Flexible Floor Plans
M/I Homes built on Worthington's standard homesites, which are more compact (around 7,300 square feet in many cases). M/I offered both one-story and two-story plans in Craftsman, Tuscan and West Indies styles, with tile roofs, paver driveways and open kitchens, which makes them a strong value inside a gated, no-CDD community. M/I's model home and sales office was the Halifax at 4884 Antrim Drive.
M/I floor plans built and sold in Worthington include:
- The Spinnaker: about 1,890 sq ft, single story, 3 bedrooms, 2 baths
- The Braden: about 2,140 sq ft, 4 bedrooms, 3 baths
- The Calusa: about 2,200 sq ft, 4 bedrooms, 3 baths. A version of the Calusa won Best Overall in its category at the 2019 Sarasota Manatee Parade of Homes
- The Amelia: about 2,340 sq ft, single story, 3 bedrooms, a den and an open kitchen with oversized island
- The Daintree: about 2,500 sq ft, 3 bedrooms plus a den, 3 baths and a first floor primary suite
- The Halifax: about 3,120 sq ft, two story, 4 bedrooms, 4.5 baths, an upstairs loft and formal dining room
- The Wekiva: about 3,590 sq ft, 5 bedrooms, 3 baths, a bonus room and a 3-car tandem garage
Thinking about buying in Worthington? Read our step by step buying guide, or search all Sarasota homes for sale. Already own here? Get a free Worthington home valuation.
Is Worthington in a Flood Zone? FEMA Maps and the LOMA Explained
When FEMA updated the maps
FEMA's new Flood Insurance Rate Maps for all of Sarasota County took effect on March 27, 2024, replacing the maps dated November 4, 2016. Under the 2024 maps, Worthington is shown in Zone AE, a Special Flood Hazard Area (the 1% annual chance, or "100-year," floodplain). That is why Zone AE appears on MLS listings and on sites like Realtor.com.
What is a LOMA?
A Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA) is an official determination from FEMA. When a licensed surveyor or engineer shows that a property sits at or above the Base Flood Elevation, FEMA can formally remove that property from the Special Flood Hazard Area. The map itself is not redrawn, so the property still looks like it is in Zone AE, but FEMA's letter overrides the map for that property.
The Worthington association obtained a LOMA from FEMA for the community. You can learn more about how this works on FEMA's Change Your Flood Zone page.
What the LOMA means for homeowners
- No federal flood insurance mandate: With a LOMA, a lender is not federally required to make you buy flood insurance on a government-backed mortgage.
- Lenders still have a say: Any lender may still choose to require flood coverage as a condition of the loan.
- Insurance is still smart: Standard homeowners policies do not cover flood damage. A LOMA often helps lower the cost of a flood policy, and many owners keep coverage for peace of mind.
- Keep a copy: Give your LOMA to your insurance agent and lender, and keep it with your closing documents.
Why the listings say Zone AE (and why that is correct)
Listing agents report the FEMA mapped zone, and third-party sites pull flood data automatically from the map, so they do not reflect a LOMA. The accurate way to market a Worthington home is to show the mapped zone (AE) and disclose that a FEMA LOMA is on file, with a copy available to buyers. Listing a home as "not in a flood zone" would contradict the map that buyers, lenders and insurers all check.
How to look up your own home
Schools Near Worthington
Worthington is served by Sarasota County Schools. MLS records for Worthington homes show:
- Tatum Ridge Elementary School (PK to 5), on Tatum Road
- McIntosh Middle School (6 to 8)
- Booker High School (9 to 12)
School boundaries can change, so always confirm the current assignment for a specific address with Sarasota County Schools. Popular private options within a short drive include The Out-of-Door Academy in Lakewood Ranch and Saint Stephen's Episcopal School in Bradenton.
Things to Do Near Worthington
The Celery Fields
About 2 miles away, the Celery Fields is a county-owned preserve of roughly 400 acres and one of Southwest Florida's top birding spots, with more than 240 species recorded. Walk the boardwalks and trails, climb the observation hill for sunset views, and visit the Sarasota Audubon Nature Center on Palmer Boulevard.
Big Cat Habitat
Just down Palmer Boulevard at 7101 Palmer Blvd, Big Cat Habitat is a nonprofit sanctuary caring for lions, tigers, bears, primates and more. Live animal presentations and private encounters make it a favorite with families and visiting guests. Check their site for current hours.
Shopping and Dining: UTC and Waterside
The Mall at University Town Center (UTC) is about 10 minutes away, with upscale department stores, boutiques and dozens of restaurants along University Parkway. Waterside Place in Lakewood Ranch is also about 10 minutes away, with lakefront dining, a farmers market, live music and Waterside Park. Closer to home, locals love Big Top Brewing and Stottlemyer's Smokehouse. Explore more in our Lakewood Ranch Neighborhood Guide.
Golf Courses
Worthington sits in the middle of some of Sarasota's best golf:
Parks and the Outdoors
- Twin Lakes Park: sports fields, trails and picnic areas off Clark Road
- Nathan Benderson Park: a world-class rowing venue with a popular walking and cycling loop, near UTC
- Myakka River State Park: one of Florida's oldest and largest state parks, with canopy walks, kayaking and wildlife, about 25 minutes away
- The beaches: Siesta Key and Lido Key are about 25 to 30 minutes away
Why Buyers Choose Worthington
- Gated and private, with only two phases of homes
- No CDD and low HOA dues, which lowers your long-term cost of ownership
- Newer construction from Cardel Homes and M/I Homes
- Larger estate and lakefront lots than most new Sarasota communities
- Quick access to I-75, Lakewood Ranch, UTC and downtown Sarasota
Relocating from out of state? Start with our Complete Sarasota Relocation Guide and see how much you could save with our Florida Tax Advantage Savings Calculator. For current pricing trends, see our Sarasota and Manatee Market Report.
