Tucked away on the eastern edge of the everglades is Southwest Ranches, a beautiful secluded ranch-style town with luxurious ambience. A hidden gem within South Florida’s prevalent city culture, Southwest Ranches has quickly become one of the most sought-after places to live thanks to a new wave of affluent northeastern countryside buyers looking for rural and slower-pace living, year-round. Home to roughly 8,000 residents, Southwest Ranches is located with close proximity to world-famous destinations for entertainment, shopping, dining and golf, top rated schools like American Heritage and upscale parks just 15 minutes southwest of Fort Lauderdale and 25 minutes northwest of Miami. The prime location of Southwest Ranches has been a staple in the area's growth, quickly drawing the attention of both new-to-market residents and existing homeowners looking to relocate. .
As the demand for single-family homes grows in areas rich in agriculture and acreage, developers have turned their attention to Southwest Ranches to accommodate incoming buyers. A recent example of the newly developed luxury communities coming to the area is AKAI Estates, a high-end collection of 16 signature estates with open floor plans ranging from 7,000-15,000 square feet, customizable amenities and lifestyle designs unique to each home, and upscale neighborhood amenities including an aquatic entertainment area, chipping and putting greens and a private helipad. The development, built by acclaimed developers Alex Yokana, Jairo Vela, and Amos and Michael Sochaczevski, sits on 44 acres of land and offers residents exclusivity, privacy and quiet surroundings in the countryside starting at $8M and ranging to over $14M. This new opulent collection of individual residences is in close proximity to the best boarding stables, riding trails, and a variety of noteworthy equestrian centers in the area and features architecture by internationally acclaimed architect Vasco Vieira, founder and head architect of Portugal-based firm Vasco Vieira Arquitectos and kitchen designs by the renowned Italian brand, minotticucine.
Today, Southwest Ranches continues to transform into an ultra-luxury haven that offers a unique combination of city and country life in a serene area. Widely desired for its subtle exclusivity and vast amount of land and greenery, Southwest Ranches has experienced a massive wave in development with many new residents seeking an escape from traditional, big city environments and looking for an uncrowded atmosphere and no-rush pace lifestyle. As such, the neighborhood has attracted high net worth buyers from around the nation, including celebrities, athletes and c-suite executives like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Vernon Carey, Brandon Marshall, and Tramar L. "Flo Rida" Dillard.
Other rural neighborhoods are taking a page from Southwest Ranches including Wellington and Palm Beach Gardens with developments like Panther National, a modern golf and lifestyle community developed by founder and president Dominik Senn that combines 218 custom, modern estates and offers premium community amenities and social facilities. Another community, The Aero Club of Wellington, is a private aviation community of 248 single-family homes that sit on approximately 1 acre each. These custom-built estate homes range from 2,000 to 10,000 square feet and offer residents 4 to 6-bedroom floor plans ranging from the mid-600s to over 2 million.
The emergence of several new luxury developments in Southwest Ranches has sparked an attraction among buyers looking to make South Florida their permanent home while maintaining their rural lifestyle. Compared to nearby cities, Southwest Ranches is an elegant and private haven that offers a refreshingly different way to encounter the best of South Florida Living. Whether you’re looking to connect to the energy of major city life or retreat from it all, Southwest Ranches encompasses a complete world that is just as connected as it is exclusive, making it one of the most desired residential destinations in South Florida.
