Lakeshore – a New Kind of Housing Choice
April 29, 2023 - Updated June 16, 2023Simple Life originated on the premise of a unique way of living. We often talk about residents who choose to "downsize & simplify" their lives, and that has been the idea since day one. The key pieces of this puzzle are smaller, high-quality homes, lifestyle amenities, and a desirable location to live. As we have changed and evolved, these pieces have remained unchanged.
Back in 2017, we opened the first ever Simple Life Community, known as The Village. This tiny home community features winding streets connecting all of the amenities: clubhouse, pool, pond, gardens, fire pit and more. We sold out this community, with a neighborhood full of lovely residents enjoying true tiny home living. These homes range from 399 to 550 square feet, with features like porches, lofts or extra bedrooms. Nestled in the mountains of Western North Carolina, just 30 minutes away from Asheville, The Village was a success. So much so, that we decided to build a sister community right across the street! The Hamlet is our newest tiny home community, with its own amenities, but offering the same homes as The Village.
In 2020, we decided to bring this concept down to Florida, creating what we now call Lakeshore, our first Florida Simple Life community. We brought the same or similar tiny homes down to the sunshine state, on a gorgeous piece of land just minutes from The Villages®. The land that Lakeshore sits on is truly special. We named this community because it overlooks Lake Andrew, quite possibly the best place to watch a sunset. The old oak trees and wildlife throughout the neighborhood add to the serenity that you feel as a resident there.
Fast forward a year, and we decided to make a shift in Florida. Our market was telling us that they liked the idea of downsizing and simplifying, but they were looking for a different product. So, after much planning and discussion, we partnered with Lee Woods Construction, beginning to build our own homes right on site. These beautiful one and two bedroom homes range from 725-1050 square feet, so still a smaller home, but a little more wiggle room for those who need it. You wouldn't believe the quality of these homes- quartz counters, glass enclosed showers, beautiful wood floors, crown molding. They are homes that our residents can be proud to own.
These homes will inspire what we do next, down in Punta Gorda, Florida. Our next community is planned for ground breaking by the end of 2023, and we could not be more excited to bring the Simple Life magic to a new place.
Over the years, a lot has changed. We now offer tiny homes AND cottage homes, depending on which community you choose. We offer a garage option in Florida, and even a guest cottage upgrade. We continue to evolve and bring more to the table at Simple Life, but one thing has remained the same, and that is our vision. The idea of downsizing, letting go of the burdens of maintenance and too many things, living in a community filled with amenities, supportive neighbors and an on-site team- all of those concepts from day one have stayed with us to this day.