Homebuyers Find Relief from New York Prices in this Small Town
AVE MARIA, FL – Carolina Pereira’s parents migrated from Cuba to Miami, where she was raised by her mother and grandmother. An elementary school teacher and graduate of Florida International University, she considered herself a city girl and never dreamed of living anywhere else. However, married and pregnant with her first daughter, she and her husband, Daniel, found it impossible to save enough money to buy a home in South Florida.
“My sister-in-law and her family had already moved to Ave Maria,” she recalled, “but I couldn’t imagine myself living there at first. After being unable to find anything affordable, we decided that living in Ave Maria, where we could also enjoy a small-town environment with so many amenities, would be the best decision for our family.”
Officially labeled as expensive as New York City, Miami has become out of reach for homebuyers who are not billionaires. Since 2019, consumer prices in Miami have skyrocketed 36% and home prices have risen 79%, while the average worker in Miami makes less than the average American. Ave Maria is a master-planned community located in Collier County with homes starting as low as the $200,000s.
The Pereira family: Celine, Carolina, Christine, Daniel
This fall, Carolina will be teaching second grade at the new Ave Maria Elementary School, where her two daughters, Celine, age 5, and Christine, age 3, will be attending kindergarten and first grade respectively. They live in the Silverwood neighborhood in a two-story, 2,000-square-foot home they built with CC Homes. A similar home on the east coast of Florida would cost nearly 50% more. In addition, the Pereira family enjoys lower insurance premiums, less traffic and a calmer lifestyle in an area known as a “Big Kind of Small Town.”
“Ave Maria is an affordable, safe space for new and growing families,” said Pereira. “For us, living here is a dream come true. Plus, we know we made a smart long-term investment in a community that continues to grow.”
On average, more than 40% of Ave Maria homebuyers hail from Florida’s east coast. Retirees and young families and everyone in between, discover a desirable culture in Ave Maria. A walkable Main Street area, a strong sense of community, local events and a lifestyle focused on wellness serve as a magnet for residents tired of living in a high stress and high-cost environment.
Researchers label this homebuying preference, “Goldilocks town,” indicating that the goal is to find communities close enough to a city for convenience “while offering a distinctly small-town lifestyle.” Ave Maria is only 45 minutes from Naples and just over an hour to the Broward/Miami-Dade County lines.
“After years of selling homes here, we’ve consistently seen buyers choosing Ave Maria for its slower pace, friendly culture, healthy lifestyle and abundance of conveniences, including schools, shopping and services,” explained Cee Cee Marinelli, president of community planning and operations for Barron Collier Companies, developer of Ave Maria.
Homes in Ave Maria start as low as $200,000 and range from condos and villas to spacious single-family homes. Families with school age children can choose from a wide range of educational options, including a new public elementary school opening this fall. Private school options, from pre-K through college, also are available within the community.
Residents of Ave Maria won’t find strip malls, yet have access to more than 75 restaurants, boutiques and other services, as well as a bustling Town Center at the heart of the community.
Luckily for families priced out of the South Florida market, there are affordable options in Florida.
ABOUT AVE MARIA, FLORIDA
Ave Maria has been named a Top 20 Master Planned Community in the United States, 2015-2026 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.
The variety of housing options include condominiums, attached villas, and single-family homes, many of which feature lake, preserve, and golf course views. Over 25 designer-furnished model homes are available for daily tours, with prices ranging from the low $200s to the $800s. Residential builders include CC Homes, Del Webb Naples, Lennar, and Pulte Homes.
On-site amenities include a water park, pickleball courts, soccer and baseball fields, fitness center, amphitheater, dog park, walking paths, bocce and tennis courts, and commercial centers with more than 75 businesses, including a Publix Supermarket and a Mobil gas station.
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 west, exit 80 to merge onto FL-29 to Oil Well Road, turn left and follow the signs to the main entrance of Ave Maria, approximately 20 minutes. For more information, please visit http://www.avemaria.com/ or call 239-352-3903.
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