One of the latest trends among real estate buyers in Southwest Florida consists of looking for more spacious properties away from the crowded beaches and the metropolitan areas. This isn’t only a matter of searching for bigger homes at lower prices; home buyers these days are looking for interesting neighborhoods with high quality of life.

Located in eastern Bradenton, Panther Ridge is a large residential development that consists of nine neighborhoods that occupy more than 3,000 acres of pure Florida nature. Panther Ridge is at the very end of University Parkway and several miles to the east of Lakewood Ranch. This is a community that offers a quiet and pleasant equestrian lifestyle.

Development at Panther Ridge started in the mid-1990s and hit a slump from about 2007 to 2012. In the last few years, however, home buyers have been attracted to this community by the idea of moving their families into neighborhoods with a countryside feel. Panther Ridge is strictly a single-family residence community with properties built on lots larger than one acre. The more spacious lots can accommodate stables; in fact, a few families in Panther Ridge keep horses that they ride on the numerous forest trails.

Most homes in Panther Ridge feature four bedrooms and three bathrooms. Interior spaces tend to be larger than 3,200 square feet. The predominant architectural style at Panther Ridge is the Mediterranean revival, but many of the properties are spec homes. Listings start at $469K, and they tend to include extras such as covered lanais with sliding glass doors, formal dining rooms, studios, wine cellars, solid wood cabinetry, double balconies, and more.

Each neighborhood in Panther Ridge features its own set of amenities, which include community parks, basketball and tennis courts, playgrounds, picnic areas, and nature trails. The Lakewood Ranch shopping districts are less than 10 miles away, and residents often plan weekend trips to the beaches of Manatee or Sarasota counties.