Welcome to the Palms at Serenoa neighborhood in sunny Florida! This charming community offers a wide range of amenities at a great price, making it the perfect place for those over the age of 55 who are looking for an affordable living option.

Palms at Serenoa has something to offer everyone, with its lush palm trees, relaxing pool area and cabana, and multiple sports courts. You might be surprised by all the options available to you in this amazing neighborhood.

Feel free to watch Tom and my video below before digging into the article.

Where is Palms at Serenoa Located?

Palms at Serenoa is located in what we call “South” Clermont. Clermont is often divided by locals as north and south.

While the dividing line changes depending on who you ask, the large stretch of open farm land south of Lake Louisa State Park is often seen as a rough landmark for “south” Clermont.

The Palms at Serenoa neighborhood is located west of Rt. 27, south of Lake Louisa State Park, and next to the Saw Grass Bay chain of neighborhoods. If you flew a plane straight east from Palms at Serenoa, you would fly over Disney World.

Palms at Serenoa Overview

The Palms at Serenoa neighborhood in Clermont, FL is an excellent choice for 55+ buyers. We believe this is one of the best “buys” for a 55+ community in the Clermont area of Orlando.

The community offers a peaceful and relaxed atmosphere that caters to the needs of retirees. The community’s amenities, such as the clubhouse, fitness center, and resort-style pool are all amazing, new, and high-quailty.

Additionally, the neighborhood has several activities and events which encourage socializing and community engagement among its residents.

While the amenities aren’t as rich as 55+ communities such as Kings Ridge or Summit Greens, the close-knit community still offers an amazing value to its residents.

We love the Palms at Serenoa because the neighborhood is reasonably priced, making it an affordable option for retirees and a great value for the number of amenities it offers. The community offers different home models with various price points, allowing residents to select a home that fits their budget.

A big bonus is that the Palms at Serenoa’s HOA fees are relatively low, making it an affordable option for retirees who want to live a comfortable lifestyle without breaking the bank.

Did we mention this is a great location? The Palms at Serenoa is also located in a prime location in Clermont, making it a desirable location to live in.

The community is a short drive to Lake Louisa State Park (8 minutes), where residents can enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, and fishing.

Additionally, the community is close to U.S. Route 192, which is home to Margaritaville, H20 Waterpark, and numerous restaurants and shopping. Moreover, the addition of a new connecting road will make it a quick drive to Disney World amenities, making the community an ideal location for retirees who love theme parks and entertainment.

Palms at Serenoa Community Features

The Palms at Serenoa is a great value neighborhood. We think it represents rich features at an attractive price compared to other Clermont 55+ neighborhoods.

The Clubhouse

The clubhouse is the crown jewel area of the neighborhood. It’s not a “mega” mansion club-house like you might see in other communities, but it’s thoughtful design is perfect for residents.

With over 6,000 square feet of space, the clubhouse offers a great place to relax and enjoy your time in the shade. There are multiple flex rooms with tables, couches, and bar chairs.

We think D.R. Horton did a nice job building the clubhouse to reflect a comfortable Florida vibe.

Fitness Center

The fitness center is really incredible. There are treadmills and bikes, dumbbells, selectorized strength equipment and more. The gym has great windows allowing in tons of light as well.

Let’s not forget about the multi-functional gym room area. With a hardwood floor and great lighting, this multi-purpose gym room is equipment with kettlebells, medicine balls, mats, and swiss-balls.

There is also a large screen TV loaded with functional fitness content.

Amazing Pool

The pool is honestly… surprisingly great. This is one of the better designed pool areas we’ve seen for a community this size. We’ve hung out here, swam, and enjoyed our time extensively.

The pool is equipped with an enormous shade flag, reclining beach chairs, tables, BBQ pit, fire pit, lap pool, and huge general pool area with both stairs and slope entry.

If you have a family that wants to visit you, this will be the place they’ll be asking to come to.

Sports Courts

If you are anything like us, you love getting outside and being active with sports. Palms at Serenoa has you covered with its sports courts.

Here you will find both pickelball courts and bocci ball pits. There are multiple pickelball courts that could be substituted as tennis courts if you wanted to get creative.

What are the homes like in the Palms at Serenoa?

One thing we can say for sure: Serenoa is a beautiful neighborhood with gorgeous homes. There are many options to choose from depending on your needs and budget.

The Palms at Serenoa has over 500 homes and is a master planned community. The homes are built by D.R. Horton which has a great reputation for building reliable and upscale homes.

Homes range from 1,402 to 2000+ square feet. We love that the homes are concrete construction. Florida has storms and these homes are really built to last.

You will find both attached townhomes and single-family homes here. The most common floor configuartion in the neighborhood is a 2 bed, 2 bath, 2 car garage layout.

7 out of the 8 available floor plants are a 2-2-2 layout. There is a floorplan with a larger footprint, the Delray, which offers a 3 bed, 2 bath, 2 car garage.

Example model: The Desmond

One model we really enjoyed viewing was the Desmond, and it’s a very popular choice in the neighborhood. This 1700 sqft home has 2 beds, 2 beds, and a 2 car garage with a gorgeous open floor plan.

The Desmond has a great floorplan. While the home is listed as a 2 bedroom, it also has a flex room (12’x10’4″) which can be used as a guest space or office. The flex room also comes with a closet.

The Desmond like all other Serenoa homes, comes with a great outdoor living space that will give you opportunities for shaded lounging, grilling, and hanging out with loved ones.

8 Reasons Why Palms at Serenoa is a Great 55+ Neighborhood

We have extensive experience in the Palms at Serenoa and we understand intimately what life is like day to day.

Here is our takeaway:

It’s a beautiful, clean, and aesthetically clean neighborhood. When you drive through it, the towering palm trees and beautifully manicured yards feel like “Florida”.
The pool is an oasis. From the shade flag to the lap pool, D.R. Horton did a great job installing a fantastic pool.
We love the mix of home sizes a types. From duplex’s to single-family homes, there is something for everyone in this neighborhood.
Located off Sawgrass Blvd, the Palms at Serenoa is a great location because the new connecting road will take you straight to the Disney World area in half the time once completed.
The price of the homes in Palms of Serenoa are often more affordable than similar 55+ resale communities. Newer home, lower price.
There are plenty of amenities on Rt. 27 within minutes such as Walmart, Publix grocery, Lake Louisa State Park, and dozens of restaurants.
Walking trails have been carefully considered in the neighborhood to encourage life-long fitness. It’s the perfect way to enjoy those Florida sunrises and sunsets.
The fitness facility and multi-functional room are quality enough to cancel your membership.

What’s near Palms at Serenoa (Amenities)

There are so many great amenities near the Palms that we think you’d love. The following are estimated drive times to local attractions.

Restaurants we love near Palms at Serenoa

Santiago’s Restaurant: 7 minutes
Al Zon del Pilon: 7 minutes
Paradise Cove Grill & Seafood: 10 minutes
Sarah Greek Cuisine & More: 9 minutes
Burger Hood: 8 minutes
Philly Steak & Wings of Clermont: 9 minutes

Shopping near Palms at Serenoa

Target: 12 minutes
Walmart: 10 minutes
Lowes Home Improvement: 9 minutes
BJ’s Wholesale: 10 minutes
Publix: 7 minutes
Aldi: 7 minutes

Major Healthcare near Palms at Serenoa

Orlando Health South Lake Hospital: 10 minutes
Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children: 35 minutes
AdventHealth Winter Garden: 20 minutes
Orlando Health Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies: 35 minutes

Major Highways near Palms at Serenoa

US-27: 5 minutes
State Road 429: 15 minutes
Interstate 4 (I-4): 20 minutes
Highway 192: 9 minutes

Major Orlando Attractions near Palms at Serenoa

Orlando International Airport: 34 minutes
Cocoa Beach (Atlantic Coast): 1 hour and 15 minutes
Clearwater Beach (Gulf Coast): 1 hour and 50 minutes
Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World: 19 minutes
Margaritaville: 18 minutes
Lake Louisa State Park: 8 minutes

Is Palms at Serenoa a good investment?

Yes, buying a home in Clermont is a great investment because of the growing community. The city has experienced significant population growth in recent years, and its master-planned community, Olympus, is one of the factors contributing to this growth.

Olympus is a large master-planned community located in the southern part of Clermont. The community covers over 900 acres and includes a mix of residential, commercial, and recreational areas. The residential areas of Olympus include single-family homes, townhomes, and apartments, offering a range of options for residents.

As for population growth, according to the United States Census Bureau, the population of Clermont increased from 14,441 in 2000 to 37,411 in 2010, an increase of over 150%. Since then, the population has continued to grow, and as of the latest estimates (2021), the population of Clermont is around 43,000.

A growing population is always a great sign for future development. Between the community master plan and Olympus, we believe Clermont is an amazing investment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Palms at Serenoa have professional lawn care included?

Yes, your lawn care is provided as part of your HOA fee. This is great because it frees up your time to enjoy the neighborhood and everything that Clermont has to offer.

Does the Palms at Serenoa have a lower HOA than typical in 55+ communities?

Yes, we believe the Palms at Serenoa is an amazing deal for the HOA fee. The HOA is $217/mo which is lower than other neighborhoods which can exceed $400/mo such as Kings Ridge with a double HOA ($241/mo-community & $187/mo-master association).

While the amenities are different, we look at it from two perspectives.

First, do the amenities fit the HOA fee? We believe D.R. Horton did a great job selecting high-use amenities (e.g., pool, pickelball courts, walking trails, dog park, grills, and lounges) in accordance with the HOA fee.

Second, we think about on-going expenses. HOA fees tend to get more expensive over time and starting your homeownership journey with a reasonable HOA fee is great for your future financial considerations.

Does the Palms at Serenoa have a CDD fee?

Yes, it does have a CDD fee. However, the CDD fee is an expiring fee and not permanent. The CDD fee is $1707 per year which is factored into your property taxes. The HOA+CDD factors to $360/mo.

The nature of the expiration should be discussed with your real estate professional and the community management.

We believe the total fees within the community (HOA/CDD) are quite affordable given that the homes are new. That means you have newer construction standards to withstand tropical-force storms and you’ll have newer roofing, HVAC, drainage, etc.

In other 55+ communities, you will have equal or higher total fees AND many of the homes are nearing 20 to 30 years of age such as Kings Ridge and Summit Greens.

Is D.R. Horton a quality builder?

We have had a great experience working with D.R. Horton. We have multiple transactional history with new construction for D.R. Horton and can speak from our own anecdote that they build high quality neighborhoods.

D.R. Horton has received numerous awards as a home builder. Here are a few examples:

In 2020, D.R. Horton was named Builder of the Year by Builder Magazine.
D.R. Horton has been recognized as America’s Most Trusted Home Builder by Lifestory Research for the past six years (2015-2020).
D.R. Horton has been recognized as an Energy Star Partner of the Year by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for nine consecutive years (2012-2020).
D.R. Horton has won the National Housing Quality Award, which recognizes excellence in home building, three times (2005, 2010, and 2015).
D.R. Horton has been named one of the Best Places to Work by Glassdoor for several years, including in 2020.

Clermont’s Best 55+ Value: Palms at Serenoa Offers Luxurious Living at an Affordable Price