GL Homes, one of Florida's largest privately owned homebuilders, is positioning its active-adult communities around resort-style living and social connection, according to company President Misha Ezratti. The strategy reflects a broader shift in how 55+ buyers approach their next chapter, with amenities and community programming becoming as important as the homes themselves.
Founded 50 years ago by Itzhak Ezratti, GL Homes has built communities across Florida, from Miami-Dade County and Port St. Lucie on the east coast to Naples, Fort Myers and Tampa on the west. Active-adult living has been central to that work for decades. The company opened its first Valencia community in Palm Beach County about 30 years ago, and the Valencia brand has since grown into its signature line of 55+ communities in Florida, now found along both coasts.
For Misha Ezratti, planning a Valencia community starts with how residents want to live, not just the homes they live in. Each community is designed to feel like a luxury resort from the very first visit. Clubhouses sit at the heart of that experience, giving residents a place to dine, work out, join clubs and take classes. Full-time lifestyle directors fill the calendar with activities and events that help neighbors meet and turn those first introductions into lasting friendships.
Two Valencia communities illustrate those priorities. At Valencia Del Mar in Boynton Beach, residents already gather in the Social Hub and Fitness Studio within the on-site Community Center. Construction continues on a 43,000-square-foot clubhouse planned to include a full-service restaurant, a grand social hall and a sports lounge with a multi-sport simulator. More than 100 clubs and activities are planned, from fitness classes and hobby groups to live entertainment.
On Florida's west coast, Valencia Harbor in Fort Myers is preparing to open its Al Fresco Sports & Racquet Club in November, with 12 pickleball courts, four tennis courts, four bocce courts, an event lawn and a food truck plaza, alongside a new resort-style pool area.
The emphasis on social infrastructure matters as Florida's 55+ market grows more competitive. Buyers are increasingly weighing lifestyle and community over square footage alone, and builders that invest in programming and amenities may have an edge. As more buyers look to Florida for their next chapter, Misha Ezratti and the GL Homes team plan to keep building on the resort-style living and social connection that define the company's Valencia communities.
For more information about GL Homes' Valencia communities, visit glhomes.com.
