Resort-Style Sarasota Community Comes Equipped With Activities Director and Poolside Grills

A luxury community in Sarasota, FL, is welcoming new residents ready for a resort lifestyle. Shellstone at Waterside is easily located from other cities such as North Port, Venice, Bradenton, St. Petersburg, and Tampa.

Lee Wetherington Homes is offering homebuyers an opportunity to build a custom home with various architectural designs to select from: Coastal, Craftsman, Modern Mediterranean, West Indies, and Modern Farmhouse.

There are 20 lakeview lots ranging in price from $700,000 to $850,000 for the homesite. A lot, home, and pool combined will cost between $2.5 million to $3.5 million.

"Lee Wetherington Homes was one of the first builders here in Lakewood Ranch more than 30 years ago and I can say that there is something truly special about this master planned community, and there is nothing else like it in the nation," David Hunihan, CEO of Lee Wetherington Homes, tells Realtor.com®.

Once the community is completed, Shellstone will have 682 homes with average sizes ranging from over 2,000 square feet to 3,730 square feet. At least 560 homesites are still available, with an approximate construction time of 16 months once the builder breaks ground.

Shellstone at Waterside has an array of amenities including a social hall, state-of-the-art fitness center, pool and spa, firepit, poolside cabanas and grill, a fitness lawn, and a full-time activities director to plan your day. The community shares the Midway Sports Complex with nearby Wild Blue at Waterside.

Currently, the clubhouse and fitness center are under construction and slated to be finished in July 2026.

"The two clubhouses with parks, playgrounds, trails, fitness, pickleball, tennis, and open space make Shellstone stand out among the new home communities here. Add that to stunning, wide-open lake views, and this all sets Shellstone apart as one of the top neighborhoods in Waterside at Lakewood Ranch," says Hunihan.

Siesta Key Beach and Lido Key Beach are minutes away from the community, as well as schools and shopping.

HOA fees range form $396 to $429 per month to help with the upkeep of the neighborhood, including mowing, landscape maintenance, and irrigation.

Leaseback opportunity

Lee Wetherington Homes is offering a potential homebuyer a unique opportunity.

The model home, which is open to tour, is the Sand Dollar. It's nearly 3,300 square feet of living area with three bedrooms and four baths. The home is filled with fun features, including a hidden door to the primary suite, 12 foot sliding glass doors opening to a resort-style pool, a top-of-the-line kitchen, and three car garage.

The builder is offering the model home for a list price of $3,449,900—with a leaseback opportunity of 18 to 24 months. A sale leaseback is when a company sells its own real estate to an investor and immediately leases it back under a long-term lease. As in this case, it could be between 18 months to two years.

But it's giving a potential homebuyer an opportunity to invest in the community and own a home filled with upgrades.

"Shellstone is one of our newest communities in Lakewood Ranch, and what makes it extraordinary is its Sarasota address, its proximity to amenities like first-to-market dining, Waterside Place shopping and activities, and its offerings within the community," says Hunihan.