New Residential Construction Is Breaking Ground in Englewood

Even as the number of homes on the market continues to increase across both Sarasota and Manatee counties—signaling a market cooldown after years of frenzied buying—new-construction homes remain in demand.

As Sarasota County continues to expand in every direction, a new development is underway in Englewood, in south Sarasota County. PulteGroup, a national homebuilder based in Atlanta with regional offices in Bonita Springs, is planning The Shores at Stillwater, a gated community about 3.5 miles from Englewood’s beaches. Spanning 77 acres near Pine Street, on Medical Boulevard, the project will bring 256 homes—a mix of single-family houses and twin villas—designed to attract retirees, part-time residents and local buyers looking for new construction with minimal upkeep.

Ben Crisafulli, PulteGroup’s president of sales, says there’s been a recent influx of inquiries from barrier island residents whose homes were damaged by a brutal hurricane season and who wonder what future storms could bring.

“We’ve seen notable demand from homeowners in older coastal properties looking to transition to new construction,” Crisafulli says. “Many buyers are opting to move away from older homes that may lack a certain level of storm protection. 

“There’s increased interest in homes that offer updated construction with impact-rated glass and reinforced concrete, which eliminates the need for storm shutters,” he continues. “I’ve been hearing that [coastal property owners] don’t want the hassle of all that pre-storm prep, too.”

He adds that he still expects buyers are still expected from a wide radius, including Englewood, and midwest and northeastern states. Most are retirees or planning to move to Florida part-time before eventually settling here full-time–hence the single story design of the homes. The development’s proximity to Englewood’s YMCA, HCA Florida Englewood Hospital, and Manasota Key Beach makes it ideal, “since they still want to be close to the water, but maybe not on the shore,” says Crisafulli.

“For many, buying new construction is a practical choice, with lower insurance costs and warranties,” he says. “We’re seeing many choose new construction rather than absorbing steep renovation costs on existing homes.”

PulteGroup’s homes also appeal to those leaving condos facing rising fees and special assessments with new, more stringent statewide regulations taking effect in 2025 as a result of the Surfside condo collapse. On the resale side, Crisafulli says people are choosing to opt out of costly renovations, due to an increase in price because of labor shortages and demand. “What used to cost $40,000 to renovate a kitchen just a few years ago is now $100,000,” he says. 

PulteGroup purchased two parcels for The Shores at Stillwater, both on Medical Boulevard: a 32-acre lot west of the YMCA, and across the street, a 45-acre lot east of HCA Florida Englewood Hospital, acquiring both from J & L LLC for $12 million each in August.

The development will span both parcels with 136 twin villas and 98 single-family homes, with floor plans ranging from 1,579 square feet to 2,080 square feet. Homes have two to five bedrooms, with two to two-and-a-half bathrooms and two-car garages. Floor plans are designed for single-level living. Customization options include extending lanais, gathering roomsa nd garages, and adding bedrooms, pools or spas.

Starting prices are expected to be in the mid-$300,000s, in line with many Englewood-area homes, which tend to be more cost-friendly than other new-construction areas, like Lakewood Ranch. The Sarasota County median sale price of a single family home is $490,000; for condos/townhomes, it’s $380,000.

Groundbreaking on The Shores at Stillwater is set for early next year, with sales projected to begin in mid-2025.

For more information visit Pulte.com or call (941) 389-1010.