Villas (Maintenance-Included)
- Square feet
- 1,500 – 1,800 sq ft
- Beds / baths
- 2 bed+den / 2 bath
Approximate price range
Attached villas with included landscaping. True lock-and-leave.
Lakewood Ranch, FL · Sarasota County · 34240
Windward at Lakewood Ranch
Maintenance-included living with a resort feel in a Neal Communities neighborhood.
Windward is one of Neal Communities' flagship projects in Lakewood Ranch. Neal is a Florida-focused builder with a strong local reputation for quality and design. Windward is a maintenance-included community, meaning your HOA covers landscaping, with a resort pool, clubhouse, sports courts, and a gated environment. A popular choice for buyers who want a turnkey, low-maintenance lifestyle without the golf fee.
Written by Sekina Probasco, REALTOR®, eXp Realty · June 2026 · Photography by Gulf Coast Realty Media
What Windward is like at a glance
- Location
- Sarasota County · 34240
- Builder
- Neal Communities
- Gated
- Yes, gated
- Homes
- ~650 homes
- Golf
- None
- Type
- Maintenance-included resort-style
The home styles you'll find in Windward
Here's what you'll typically find available in Windward. Text me for what is actually on the market right now.
Single-Family
- Square feet
- 1,800 – 3,000 sq ft
- Beds / baths
- 3–5 bed / 2–3 bath
Approximate price range
Detached Neal Communities homes with their signature open layouts.
Inventory moves daily. Text me for current active listings in Windward and what they are actually going for.
Amenities and everyday life in Windward
Resort Features
- Resort-style pool and spa
- Full clubhouse with event space
- Fitness center
- Pickleball and tennis courts
- Dog park
Maintenance Included
- HOA includes lawn care and landscaping for all homes
- Exterior maintenance for villas
What makes Windward stand out
- Neal Communities, a highly regarded Florida regional builder
- Maintenance-included HOA means no lawn mowing on your schedule
- True lock-and-leave option, popular with part-time Florida residents
- Gated community with full resort amenities
Schools your kids would be zoned for
School assignments can change as districts re-zone. Always confirm at the specific street address before relying on the assignment.
2025–2026
- Elementary: Gullett Elementary (A-rated)
- Middle: Dr. Mona Jain Middle (A-rated)
- High: Lakewood Ranch High
Who tends to be happy in Windward
- Snowbirds and seasonal residents who want a low-maintenance Florida home
- Empty nesters downsizing from a large family home into easier living
- Buyers who want Neal Communities quality without a full resort price tag
- Anyone who wants gated, resort-style LWR living without a golf fee
HOA and CDD fees in Windward
On top of your mortgage and property taxes, here is what Windward asks of you every month, and who takes care of the outside of your home.
- CDD, Windward carries one. It is an infrastructure assessment collected on your annual property tax bill rather than on the HOA invoice, which is why it catches people by surprise. Windward is on the Sarasota County side and has its own community development district, created by Sarasota County in 2019, rather than sitting under a Lakewood Ranch numbered district.
- Lawn and exterior upkeep, Windward is a maintenance free community. Lawn care is bundled into your HOA dues, so your weekends are not spent mowing.
- What the HOA covers, the clubhouse, the resort pool, the dog park, the playground, tennis courts, pickleball courts, lawn and grounds maintenance.
Fees shift by home type and they change year to year, so I would rather give you real numbers than a guess. Once you find a place in Windward you love, I will pull the current estoppel and we will look at the exact figures for that home together.
Villages people compare with Windward
Most buyers look at a few before they decide. These are the ones closest to Windward on lifestyle and price.
Woodleaf HammockPreserve-surrounded living at a mid-range LWR price.EdgewaterLakefront living around Lake Uihlein, steps from Main Street.IndigoMaintenance-free living by Neal Communities.Mallory ParkDiVosta-built family community near Bob Gardner Park.Polo RunEvery home comes with solar panels. No golf fee.Savanna at Lakewood RanchEstablished Lennar family community with an amenity center.
Curious about Windward?
Send me a quick text or drop the address you're looking at. I'll put together current comps, any active listings in Windward, and answer whatever you're wondering about.