The Southwest Florida housing market offers various options for house hunters seeking the country club lifestyle, and River Club in Bradenton is one of the most attractive offerings in this regard. River Club is located near the northwestern section of Lakewood Ranch, which means that many of the single-family homes in this neighborhood feature views of the lakes, ponds, creeks, and nature preserves.

River Club is a community of about 970 single-family residences. Development of this community started with the championship-rated golf course in the late 1980s; since then, River Club has added various residential sections developed by home builders Arthur Rutenberg and Todd Johnston. The properties in this neighborhood tend to be more spacious than those found in nearby Lakewood Ranch; they range from two-bedroom golf villas to grand, six-bedroom mansions with nearly 6,000 square feet of air-conditioned space.

Pricing at the River Club starts around $325K for a maintenance-free villa with two bedrooms and two bathrooms. A six-bedroom and four-bathroom estate built on 5,798 square feet was listed at $1.2 million in mid-2015. Some of the most meticulous and attractive landscaping in Manatee County can be found in this neighborhood, which is designated as Development of Regional Impact by the State of Florida. What this means for homeowners is that a good portion of their homeowners’ association fees are invested in gardening, grounds keeping and management of nature preserves.

A River Club golf membership offers more than just the right to play the course. Members can also enjoy the lavish clubhouse, where they can find a large swimming pool with cabanas, a large exercise room, a lounge, and the Cabana on the Green restaurant. River Club is located near the Braden River neighborhoods and the commercial intersection of I-75 and State Road 70, which means easy access to supermarkets, shops, cafes, pubs, restaurants, clinics, and more. The downtown districts of Bradenton and Sarasota can be reached in just 20 minutes, and Bradenton Beach is less than 40 minutes away.