Azario at Lakewood Ranch: Village Profile, Esplanade Golf, Homes and Fees

Where is Azario?

Azario is off State Road 64 on Lorraine Road, in the northeast part of Lakewood Ranch, Florida (Manatee and Sarasota counties), on the Manatee County side. Because it is north of University Parkway, the county line, homes are assessed by the Manatee County Property Appraiser and served by the School District of Manatee County.

State Road 64 connects Azario west to Interstate 75 at Exit 220, and Lorraine Road runs south through the newer eastern villages toward University Parkway. Azario is farther from the interstate than the older villages, so test your commute at rush hour. For drive times to Sarasota, Tampa, the beaches and the airports, see our guide to Lakewood Ranch’s location and commutes.

What is Azario?

Azario is a Taylor Morrison village of about 1,000 acres with two neighborhoods: Esplanade at Azario, built around a private 18-hole golf course, and Park East, a smaller single-family neighborhood. When the golf course opened in 2020, Taylor Morrison said the village would have about 1,750 homes at build-out. The developer’s 2026 village pages list 1,474 homes at Esplanade and 307 at Park East, about 1,780 in all.

By late July 2020 Taylor Morrison was selling at Esplanade, with eight model homes open and Tuscan-inspired designs. The golf course opened in mid-May 2020, and the clubhouse, culinary center and wellness amenities followed as the neighborhood grew.

Azario at a glance	Esplanade at Azario	Park East at Azario
Builder	Taylor Morrison	Taylor Morrison
Homes (developer, 2026)	1,474	307
Home types	Attached villas, single-family	Single-family
Sizes	1,533 to 3,100 sq ft	1,790 to 4,830 sq ft
Builder prices (Oct 2026)	Villas high $400s to $500s; single-family $600s to $1M+	Last three homes about $922,000 to $1.09 million
Published HOA dues	$300 to $600 a month, maintenance included	$100 to $200 a month
Golf	18-hole course (planned as residents-only)	No course in the neighborhood
Gated	Yes	Not stated by the developer

What is the golf course at Esplanade like?

The Esplanade course is an 18-hole championship layout by architect Chris Wilczynski, with six sets of tees from about 3,500 yards to more than 7,000 yards. It has wide fairways, scattered strategic bunkers and mature trees that the designer built around, which gives a newer course an older feel. Pope Golf managed the course at opening.

When it opened in May 2020, the course was open to the public for a limited time at introductory prices, and Taylor Morrison said it would become a residents-only facility. Our golf guide lists it as semi-private, per the developer. Before you buy, ask:

• Whether golf is included in the HOA or sold as a separate membership
• What a round, a cart or a yearly golf plan costs on top of HOA dues
• Whether non-residents can still play

Compare it with the bundled-membership villages, Lakewood National and Calusa Country Club, where every home comes with a club membership.

What other amenities does Esplanade have?

Esplanade is a gated neighborhood with a resort-style amenity center: pool and poolside bar, spa and fitness center, culinary center, pickleball, a salon and cafe, and a lifestyle director. The developer lists:

• Championship golf course with pro shop and aqua range
• Resort-style pool with poolside bar
• Spa and fitness center
• Culinary center with dining and an indoor bar
• Pickleball courts
• Salon and cafe
• Vitality Park
• Gated entry and an on-site lifestyle director

The lifestyle director and dining make Esplanade feel closer to a club community than a typical subdivision. That is part of what the higher HOA range pays for.

What does Park East offer?

Park East is a 307-home single-family neighborhood with a pool, sports courts and lower HOA dues, and few new homes were left in October 2026. The developer lists a pool with spa, a sand volleyball court, a basketball court, pet parks, a playground, a cornhole lawn and a sports field.

At that point the developer showed only three new homes left, from about $922,000 to $1.09 million, with 5 to 6 bedrooms and about 3,300 to 4,200 square feet. Most future Park East purchases are likely to be resale. It suits families who want a larger single-family home and active amenities without paying for an amenity center like Esplanade’s.

What do homes in Azario cost?

Esplanade builder prices start in the high $400,000s for attached villas and the $600,000s for single-family homes, rising past $1 million, as published in October 2026. Prices are builder starting prices for new construction. Lot premiums for golf or lake views, options and upgrades can add a meaningful amount, and prices change month to month.

Azario has been selling since 2020, so resale homes are now a real alternative to building, often with landscaping and window treatments already in place. Our Lakewood Ranch housing market report tracks resale prices, and our guide to new construction vs resale compares the two.

What are the HOA and stewardship district fees?

Expect published HOA dues of $300 to $600 a month at Esplanade or $100 to $200 at Park East, plus a Lakewood Ranch Stewardship District assessment on the yearly tax bill.

Azario is financed through the Stewardship District. Its fiscal 2026 schedule lists yearly per-lot amounts (debt plus maintenance, before discounts) for the Azario Series 2019 bond:

Lot type (Series 2019)	Fiscal 2026 yearly assessment
Non-golf, 38-foot lot	$737
Golf, 42-foot lot; Park East, 42-foot lot	$774
Golf, non-golf or Park East, 52-foot lot	$833
Golf, non-golf or Park East, 62-foot lot	$891
Golf or Park East, 76-foot lot	$950
Golf, 90-foot lot	$998

The same schedule lists a separate Azario Series 2020 bond (about $480 to $1,323 a year by lot) and two Northeast Sector bond areas that include Azario parcels ($1,037 and $1,279). Which series apply depends on the parcel, so the only reliable number is the one on the latest tax bill for that address. Our guide to CDD fees in Lakewood Ranch explains how to read it.

Which schools serve Azario?

Azario is in the School District of Manatee County, and zoning depends on the exact address. Use the district’s school locator for the home you want, and ask the district whether boundaries are under review. Manatee’s new Rangeland High School opens in August 2027 at Rangeland Parkway and Post Boulevard, and its boundaries may move some Lakewood Ranch high schoolers. Our Lakewood Ranch schools guide lists the local schools and their latest state grades.

Who is Azario best for?

Esplanade suits golfers and active retirees who want a gated, amenity-rich neighborhood open to all ages; Park East suits families who want a large single-family home with lower dues.

Azario works well if you:

• Want a private course in your neighborhood without a 55+ restriction
• Like a lifestyle director, dining and a spa close to home
• Want a villa as a lower-maintenance option in a golf neighborhood

It is a weaker fit if you want a short drive to I-75, a walkable town center (see Waterside), or the lowest monthly costs. Retirees comparing age-restricted options should read our 55+ communities guide. Our village comparison puts Azario next to every other village.

What should I check before buying in Azario?

Check golf access and costs, the HOA budget, every assessment on the tax bill and the school zone.

1. Golf terms. Ask what golf costs beyond HOA dues and whether access has changed since the course went residents-only.
2. HOA documents. Get the disclosure summary and budget, and ask what “maintenance included” covers at Esplanade.
3. Assessments. Look up the parcel on the Manatee County Property Appraiser and tax collector sites to see which bond series apply.
4. Lot. Golf and lake lots cost more up front; ask about errant golf balls and screen-cage repairs on fairway lots.
5. Flood zone. Check FEMA’s flood map and ask for an elevation certificate. Our hurricanes, flooding and insurance guide explains what to ask.
6. Schools. Confirm zoning with the School District of Manatee County.

If you will live here full time, file for the Florida homestead exemption. When you are ready, the real estate hub explains how to choose an agent who knows the golf villages.