Lucerne Lakes

Lucerne Lakes is a primarily 55-plus neighborhood, with select sections open to residents of all ages – and with all that the community has to offer, it’s no secret why anyone might want to live there. “It’s tons of amenities for a reasonable price. There’s a rec center, a pool and a golf course,” says Michele Yarber, a real estate agent with Century 21 WC Realty. Since amenities and property exteriors are managed by the homeowners association, residents get to spend less time on maintenance and more time relaxing. And whatever’s not in the neighborhood you’ll find close by, cutting down on the need for travel: “There’s a lot there. It’s right off Lake Worth Road, which is a hub of shops and restaurants,” Yarber adds.

The neighborhood offers an array of housing types. Condos are spread across five buildings, some with Mediterranean orange tiled roofs and others overlooking the golf course. Prices range from $145,000 to nearly $300,000, but you won’t find anything bigger than two bedrooms. At The Villas at Lucerne Lakes, you’ll find baby blue attached town houses packed together in tight rows. Privacy is provided by stucco dividers in front of screened-in porches, and prices run about $230,000 on average. Across the neighborhood are detached single-family homes; these areas have paved sidewalks, making it easy to get around. Walking down the streets, you’ll pass through tidy lawns with various levels of landscaping. Some houses have flowers in their windowsills, others are tangled in vines and even more dot their lawns with palm trees. The primary style is ranches with splashes of color, from pastel stucco walls to brightly painted shudders. At a median price of $380,000, these houses range from two to three bedrooms and have a one-car garage.

Kids living in Lucerne Lakes attend Palm Beach County School District, ranked as the No. 2 best school district in the Miami area according to Niche. Both Discovery Key Elementary and Woodland Middle score an A-minus from Niche, and Santaluces Community High earns a B rating as well. Among Santaluces Community High’s notable alumni is Oscar Isaac, the actor known for his role as Poe Dameron in the “Star Wars” sequel trilogy.

Within the neighborhood, residents get access to excellent amenities both in and out of the community clubhouse. There’s a fitness center and library inside, and on weeknights you can get together for a rotating schedule of card games or join the bunco group for some neighborly competition. Outdoors, take a dip in the pool, get out on the tennis courts or book a tee time with Forest Oaks Golf Club, a public golf course situated in the heart of the community. If you want some fresh air outside of the neighborhood, Rambo Park is just up the road in Greenacres. Bring the kids to get their energy out on the playground or pick up a book from the Little Free Library to read by the frog pond.

The weather in South Florida is famously warm and sunny, but on rainy days a steaming bowl of pho is the perfect thing to warm up with. At Yen’s Kitchen, you can build your own noodles and dine surrounded by facades of buildings that will transport you to Vietnam. If you’d prefer flavors from up the East Coast, Gourmet Deli House is a New York-style deli serving favorites like pastrami on rye. Don’t miss the display case full of pastries on your way out.

A 5-minute drive down Lake Worth Road will take you to Walmart Neighborhood Market, where residents can stock up on groceries. Shopping and entertainment options are plentiful along this highway, including Movies of Lake Worth right outside of the neighborhood, which screens brand-new blockbusters and old-school classics alike. Head towards the coast to kick back on the shore at Lake Worth Beach Park or swing up north to West Palm Beach for some fun in the city.

Written By

Elliot Schorr

Photography Contributed By

Gabor Kovacs

Video By

TJ Wengert