Ave Maria Continues Steady Growth and Investment Mid-Year 2026

AVE MARIA, FL – Ave Maria continues to build on its reputation as one of the nation’s leading master-planned communities, landing at #29 on RCLCO’s semi-annual list of Top-Selling Master-Planned Communities in the U.S. for mid-year 2026. The ranking reflects a real estate market that has cooled nationally, even as Ave Maria maintains the fundamentals that have driven its long-term success: a strong sense of community, top-tier education, and family-first values that continue to draw homebuyers seeking more than just a house.

258 new homes were sold in the first half of 2026, reported across Ave Maria’s residential builders, CC Homes, Del Webb Naples, Lennar, and Pulte Homes. To date, more than 5,500 new homes have been sold in Ave Maria, with 14,000 new homes projected at full build-out, a testament to the community’s sustained, long-term appeal even as short-term market conditions shift.

“Real estate markets naturally move in cycles, but what hasn’t changed is what makes Ave Maria special,” said Michelle Mambuca, marketing and public relations manager for Ave Maria Development. “Families aren’t just buying homes here, they’re investing in a lifestyle built around education, recreation, and genuine community connection. That’s the foundation we continue to build on, regardless of where we land on any single ranking.”

Ave Maria’s continued investment in its future is reflected in ongoing commercial and residential expansion throughout the town, including new retail, dining, and mixed-use developments planned near the Town Center and along Oil Well Road. The community’s first public elementary school, Ave Maria Elementary, opened in August 2026, adding to a robust educational offering that spans preschool through university and remains one of the community’s strongest draws for young families.

Housing options in Ave Maria include condominiums, attached villas, and single-family homes, many featuring lake, preserve, and golf course views, with more than twenty-five designer-furnished model homes available for daily tours. On-site amenities include a water park, soccer and baseball fields, a fitness center, amphitheater, dog park, walking paths, championship golf, pickleball and tennis courts, and a Town Center with more than 75 businesses, including a Publix Supermarket.

ABOUT AVE MARIA, FLORIDA

Ave Maria has been named a Top 20 Master Planned Community in the United States, 2015-2024 Community of the Year, the Top Selling Single-Family Home Community in Southwest Florida, a Blue Zones Certified Community, and its active adult community, Del Webb Naples, has been named a Top 20 Places to Retire. Located in southwest Florida, Ave Maria is a self-sustaining town including shopping and dining, employment opportunities, parks and recreation, and is zoned for all A-rated Collier County public schools. Ave Maria is located at the intersection of Oil Well and Camp Keais Roads in Eastern Collier County.  The main entrance, on Oil Well just west of Camp Keais, leads to the Town Center. Take I-75, exit 111, follow the signs east to Ave Maria, approximately 25 minutes. For more information, please visit  http://www.avemaria.com/ or call 239-352-3903.

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