Homes in Greater Gainesville are in high demand, and for the first time in years the supply is rising to meet it.
Gainesville is the 13th largest city in Florida, and its population has grown by approximately four percent since 2020.
GG is known for its low cost of living, gorgeous springs, 189 miles of hiking and biking trails, wildlife, educational opportunities, rich culture and highly ranked collegiate athletic teams.
Local realtor Adam Gurske said the growth GG is experiencing is significant.
“There are lots of new developments as we are playing catch up with the inventory shortage,” he said. “It is spurring the growth all around and outside of Gainesville.”
Gurske said part of the reason for the lower inventory was that developers were not building as the population grew. The Great Recession changed the way development was done. There were more custom homes that took longer to build. Because it took longer to build those homes, the builders could not keep up with the increased demand for housing.
But in the last five years or so that has changed. There were not just local builders creating homes. Nationwide developers including D.R. Horton, Adams Homes and Maronda Homes started coming to GG.
“They are pumping out inventory, so it is helpful,” said Gurske.
This new development includes apartments, townhomes and condominiums as well as residential homes in Gainesville and its surrounding areas.
New developments in the community
Lugano is a resort-style neighborhood in Southwest Gainesville. It is surrounded by walking trails and features a clubhouse and numerous amenities including a pool, splash park, fitness center, tennis and basketball courts and a dog park.
It is also a short commute to the city’s largest employer, the University of Florida.
Oakmont is another one of Gainesville’s developments and its first community development district. It was built seven years ago and offers a unique lifestyle found nowhere else in the area.
There is a two-mile hike through the community’s 46-acre gopher tortoise preserve where residents can take in nature.
It also offers a playground, splashpad and year-round family activities for families of all sizes. Additionally, the community hosts annual events like their Easter egg hunt, a festival for every season and regular family movie nights.
There are also a variety of fitness activities available for Oakmont residents.
Those who are interested in a community where they can live, work and play, there is the luxurious Vue at Celebration Pointe. The massive community embodies a big-city lifestyle while also preserving the relaxing charm characteristic of GG.
It offers townhomes of various sizes. All of which are within walking distance of Celebration Pointe’s shopping, dining and movie theater –– as well as a 700-acre conservation area.
Other developments in and around Greater Gainesville:
High Springs
- Weston Oaks
- Laurel Point
- Oakridge
Newberry
- Arbor Greens
- Avalon Woods
- Oak Park – Newberry
- Tara West
- Wimberly
Alachua
- Savannah Station
- Briarwood
By Celia Goodyear.