Discover Verdana Village, Estero’s Hottest New Community

If you pull off the I-75 and head east on Corkscrew Road, the scene starts to change. The concrete and strip malls give way to live oaks and slash pines. If you keep going, you soon find yourself on a two-lane road. The road rises for a moment, and you wonder if a panther is crossing beneath you at that very instant.

Back in the day, people would have scoffed at the idea of living in a community this far east of I-75. Now, people from all over the country are flocking to Verdana Village, the newest gated community on Corkscrew Corridor.

For those who are used to being able to step outside their house and dine at one of a hundred restaurants, Verdana may seem like it’s way out in the boonies. But for anyone seeking to cultivate a laidback Florida lifestyle, Verdana Village is a no-brainer.

Moving to Verdana Village was easily the best decision my family and I ever made. It’s not just the luxury amenities (though trust me, they don’t hurt). In Verdana, you’ll find gorgeous natural landscapes, easily-made friendships, competitive pricing, and so much more.

Oh, and I did mention there’s indoor pickleball courts?

• Luxury amenities
• Community living
• The Shoppes at Verdana Village
• Pristine nature
• Flood mitigation
• Natural gas
• Lot sizes & sidewalks
• New construction deals
• More resources

1. Luxury amenities for an upscale Florida lifestyle

Before I moved to Verdana Village, I never thought about retirement. I was still in my late thirties, and retirement might as well have been on the moon.

Now, I think about it daily – and that’s as someone who LOVES my job. But when you live in a community with the following amenities, it’s impossible not to daydream of spending all day soaking in the pool or sipping an exclusive beer in The Craft Lounge.

Check out some of the facilities that make Verdana so unique:

2. A strong sense of community at Verdana Village

Many people will tell you that living in a gated community in Florida is like being in college all over again. You and your new best friends all live together in the same place, and there’s always a fun party going on.

That being said, it’s WAY easier to make friends at a brand new community for the following reasons:

• Everyone is new and looking to make friends
• Cliques haven’t formed yet

Think about it: If you move into an established community, you are the new kid at school. You have to find a lunch table to sit at, only all the seats are taken. But at a new community, EVERYONE is the new kid.

I’ve lived in Verdana Village for two years now. I have a ton of wonderful friends, and I keep making more because our community keeps growing. As I often tell my husband, my new best friend could be arriving tomorrow and I don’t even know it yet. That’s a pretty cool thought.

3. The Shoppes at Verdana Village

One of the downsides of being so far east on Corkscrew is that you’re a good 15 minute drive from the highway. Luckily for us, there’s a Publix and other anchor stores located just outside the gates of Verdana.

Leases are still being signed, but here’s a few of the confirmed tenants:

• *Publix
• *Publix Liquors
• The Nail Lounge Spa
• *The UPS Store
• Dunkin’
• Heartland Dental
• National Bank
• New York Pizza & Pasta

*Currently open

Trust me, there’s nothing greater than being able to swing by the Publix in your golf cart when you forget an item on your grocery list. And if you’re like me, that’s at least once a week.

4. Natural beauty reminiscent of “Old Florida”

I like to joke that when I walk out my front door, I’m in civilization; and when I walk out my back door, I’m in the woods. Why? Because in addition to the 2,400 planned residences, 1,200 acres of land have been restored to natural preserves.

Instead of a concrete jungle, we have towering cypress and pines trees. You’ll find oaks, holly, coco plum, and other native greenery that are becoming rarer and rarer in this part of the world. It’s a bird-watcher’s paradise here.

Not into birds? Just wait. I promise you will be. In fact, just invest in a pair of binoculars now.

But before we continue, a word to the wise:

Most people come to Southwest Florida thinking that it’s all sunshine and beaches. The truth is, Southwest Florida is built on a swamp. It’s a sub-tropical climate – and that means you’re dealing with reptiles, bugs, and plenty of extreme weather.

This is true for all of Southwest Florida, but it’s even more so when you live in a less developed area like East Corkscrew Road.

The thing is, you can’t have the gorgeous views without the critters and humidity. Ecosystems simply don’t work that way. And let me tell you, the views ARE gorgeous. I’ve never seen a mediocre sunset here. Or an ugly flower.

It really is paradise. Just with a few pre-historic dinosaurs thrown in.

5. Flood mitigation for hurricane protection

Before this parcel of land was Verdana Village, it was a pepper farm and citrus grove. Nick Cameratta of Cameratta Companies told News-Press that the previous farm used over 1 billion gallons of water a year. That’s A LOT of water.

By adding weirs and culverts – as well as grading down the land – Cameratta has been able to restore the natural flow of water and lower the water usage to 300 million gallons.

This just isn’t a boon to the environment. Natural water flows help protect residents from flooding that occurs during hurricanes. When Hurricane Ian hit, Verdana had zero flooding. The same was true at their adjacent development during Hurricane Irma.

As someone who witnessed my mother-in-law’s building destroyed by three hurricanes in the last two years, I can say with a whole heart that this peace of mind is truly priceless.

6. A gas community for peace of mind

Most of Verdana Village is a gas community. If you don’t live in Florida, that might not seem like a big deal to you. After all, who cares if you have to cook on an electric stove, right?

Well, as it turns out, gas is the difference between serenity and a whole lot of stress. If you lose electric power during a hurricane, you have to have to deal with the following headaches:

1. Find gas at a gas station (not as easy as it sounds)
2. Fill portable tanks with gas to bring home
3. Cook meals on a propane stove
4. Hook up and maintain a portable generator

With a gas hook-up, you can install a stand-by generator. Whenever we lose power, our generator kicks on – and once again, we have electricity. Since we hire a service, we don’t even have to do any maintenance on it throughout the year.

When Milton was approaching, my husband and I had zero worries about what we would do if our power got cut.

But the truth is, it’s nice not having to worry about losing electricity at any time of year. All it takes is one down power line and 80-degree weather to make you realize just how much you rely on that air conditioner.

7. Sidewalks and large lot sizes

Let’s talk sidewalks first. Most communities in Southwest Florida don’t have sidewalks. I’m serious. And if they do have sidewalks, they only have them on one side of the street. If you have kids or like to walk, that’s just not gonna cut it.

Luckily, Verdana Village has sidewalks on both sides of the street. You can walk throughout the neighborhood without a care in the world (unless you count invasive cane toads).

The other thing worth noting is the large lot sizes. Now when I say “large,” I’m not talking about the up-north version of a large yard. I mean Florida-large.

When you first move to Florida, you’ll be shocked at how much money you’re forking over for so little land. But here’s the thing. Land is precious here. Every little inch is coveted (both by you and the other species hanging around).

But in Verdana, the houses are set far back from the sidewalks. I dare you visit other neighborhoods. You’ll figure out real fast just how spacious the lot sizes really are here.

8. New construction deals and competitive pricing

Simply put, Verdana is one of the better deals out there. Because it’s a brand new community, the two home builders (Lennar and Pulte) often have sales and financing deals going on.

You also have the opportunity to wait for a good purchase price, come the end of the fiscal quarter. If Lennar or Pulte hasn’t sold their target number of homes, you just might find yourself with a stellar deal on your hands.

You also have the chance of finding a good deal on a resell home. Because homeowners are competing with new construction prices, you can often find a competitively priced home that comes with upgraded features (and no construction headaches!)

Interested in more info on buying a home in Estero?

Check out the following resources: