Watercrest is a gated residential community in Venice, Florida 34292, located near East Venice Avenue, Jacaranda Boulevard and Interstate 75. Developed primarily from 2017 through the early 2020s, Watercrest offers detached single-family homes and paired villas surrounded by lakes, landscaped common areas and a resort-style amenity center.
Watercrest contains approximately 294 residences and was developed with a mixture of Lennar and WCI home designs. The community combines maintenance-assisted landscaping, a heated zero-entry swimming pool, fitness center, bocce and social gathering areas with convenient access to Historic Downtown Venice, Gulf beaches, shopping, healthcare and major roadways. Watercrest has a required homeowners association but no CDD.
Homes & Villas in Watercrest
Watercrest includes both detached single-family homes and attached paired villas. Construction began during the mid-2010s, with most homes completed between 2017 and the early 2020s.
WCI Communities and Lennar offered several different home collections, resulting in floor plans ranging from compact villa designs to substantially larger single-family residences.
Depending on the property, buyers may find:
- Two-, three-, four- and five-bedroom floor plans
- Approximately 1,400 to more than 4,000 square feet of living space
- Single-story and two-story residences
- Home offices, dens and bonus rooms
- Two- and three-car garages
- Open great-room floor plans
- Large kitchen islands and walk-in pantries
- Granite or stone countertops
- Screened and covered lanais
- Private swimming pools on select homes
- Lake and pond views
- Preserve and landscaped views
- Impact-resistant windows, shutters and other property-specific hurricane protection
Because Watercrest includes several different floor plans and individual owners have made upgrades since construction, buyers should compare renovations, storm protection, pool features, HVAC systems and other improvements for the specific residence they are considering.
Paired Villas in Watercrest
Watercrest includes approximately 84 paired villas, providing a smaller and more maintenance-oriented alternative to the detached single-family homes.
Villa designs generally offer two or three bedrooms, two bathrooms, attached two-car garages and approximately 1,400 to 1,600 square feet of living space. Many also include a den or flexible office space, open kitchen and great-room layout and screened lanai.
The villas participate in the Watercrest Community Association but have a separate assessment structure from the detached single-family homes.
Buyers should pay particular attention to the current villa maintenance obligations. Watercrest amended its governing documents in 2024 to remove villa roofs from the association’s villa reserves. Villa owners therefore should not assume that future roof replacement is included in their regular association assessment.
The association currently coordinates periodic exterior painting of the villas through a separate deferred-expenditure arrangement funded by participating villa owners.
Single-Family Homes in Watercrest
The detached single-family portion of Watercrest offers the greatest range of floor plans and home sizes. Residences range from approximately 1,600 square feet to more than 4,000 square feet, with three-, four- and five-bedroom configurations available.
Larger homes may include multiple living spaces, guest suites, three-car garages, private swimming pools, extended lanais and expansive lake views.
Single-family homeowners are responsible for maintaining the exterior structure of their residence, including routine roof and exterior-wall maintenance. The association establishes architectural and maintenance standards intended to maintain a consistent appearance throughout the neighborhood.
Watercrest HOA & Maintenance
Watercrest is a deed-restricted community with required membership in the Watercrest Community Association.
Current association services include substantial landscape and community maintenance. Depending on the property type and current service contracts, HOA responsibilities may include:
- Lawn mowing and edging
- Landscape trimming and maintenance
- Fertilization and turf care
- Irrigation operation and maintenance
- Community pool and recreation facilities
- Fitness center
- Entry gates
- Private roads
- Common-area landscaping
- Community ponds and drainage facilities
- Association management
- Reserve funding for community-owned amenities
Single-family homes and villas have different assessment structures, so buyers should review the current HOA budget, reserves, fee schedule and property-specific maintenance responsibilities before purchasing.
Homeowner Maintenance Responsibilities
Watercrest is often marketed as a maintenance-friendly community, but homeowners still have important individual responsibilities.
Current association standards require homeowners to maintain the exterior condition of their residences, including roofs, exterior walls, driveways, pavers and sidewalks. Roof cleaning, exterior painting and other maintenance may be required periodically to comply with community standards.
Single-family homeowners arrange and pay for their own exterior painting. Villa exterior painting is currently coordinated through the association using a separate deferred-expenditure program funded by villa owners.
Buyers should therefore use the term maintenance-assisted rather than assuming that all exterior home maintenance is included in the regular HOA assessment.
Watercrest Amenities
Watercrest’s amenity center was designed around a British West Indies-inspired resort theme and provides recreation and gathering spaces for residents.
- Heated zero-entry resort-style swimming pool
- Fitness center
- Community amenity center
- Covered outdoor gathering areas
- Outdoor fireplace
- Bocce court
- Poolside seating and lounge areas
- Landscaped common areas
- Lakes and ponds
- Resident social activities
The approximately 3,100-square-foot amenity building includes a fitness center and outdoor gathering areas overlooking the pool, providing a more compact resort-style recreation package than buyers find in some of Venice’s much larger master-planned communities.
Gated Community
Watercrest is a gated community with controlled vehicle access and private neighborhood streets.
Residents use registered access credentials for the community gates, while association rules govern visitor access, parking, exterior modifications and other neighborhood standards.
Buyers should review the current community rules regarding vehicles, guests, pets, parking and architectural changes before purchasing.
No CDD Fees in Watercrest
Watercrest does not have a Community Development District, commonly referred to as a CDD.
This is an important distinction for buyers comparing Watercrest with newer Venice and Wellen Park communities where annual CDD assessments may appear as non-ad valorem charges on the property-tax bill.
Watercrest owners do pay required HOA assessments, and those fees differ between detached single-family homes and villas.
Rental Restrictions in Watercrest
Watercrest allows residential leasing but does not permit short-term vacation rentals under its current community standards.
Current rules require the entire residence to be leased for a minimum period of six months, and a home cannot be leased more than twice during a calendar year.
Prospective investors or seasonal owners should review the current leasing application, association approval requirements and governing documents before purchasing because rental policies can change.
Lakes & Water Views
Lakes and ponds are incorporated throughout Watercrest, and many homes offer water views from their primary living spaces and screened lanais.
Other residences overlook landscaped common areas or preserved vegetation, giving buyers several different rear-exposure options.
Water-view homes may command different pricing than interior lots, so buyers should compare location and view along with floor plan and property condition when evaluating listings.
Flood Zones & Storm Protection
Flood classifications and hurricane-protection features should be evaluated on a property-by-property basis.
Many Watercrest listings have been identified within Flood Zone X, but buyers should verify the current FEMA flood designation and available insurance options for the individual residence rather than assuming the entire community has the same flood classification.
Likewise, storm protection varies. Some homes have impact-resistant windows and doors, while others use shutters, hurricane-rated garage doors or a combination of protective features.
Watercrest Location in Venice
Watercrest is located in Venice, Florida 34292 near the intersection of East Venice Avenue and Jacaranda Boulevard, with Interstate 75 just east of the community.
The location provides convenient access to grocery stores, restaurants, shopping, medical offices and Sarasota Memorial Hospital’s Venice campus.
Historic Downtown Venice and Venice Island are less than five miles away, while Jacaranda Boulevard and Interstate 75 provide convenient access throughout Sarasota County and Southwest Florida.
Nearby Beaches & Attractions
Watercrest residents can reach Venice Beach, Nokomis Beach, Brohard Beach and Caspersen Beach within a convenient drive.
Historic Downtown Venice offers restaurants, boutiques, galleries, Venice Theatre, parks and community events. Additional recreation includes the Legacy Trail, Venetian Waterway Park, Venice Fishing Pier, boating, fishing and numerous public and private golf courses.
The community’s location near both Interstate 75 and Venice Island makes Watercrest especially convenient for buyers who want a newer home and resort-style amenities without living farther south in Wellen Park.
Similar Venice Communities
- Verona Reserve – A gated no-CDD community near East Venice Avenue offering single-family homes, paired villas, a resort-style pool and maintenance-assisted living.
- Venice Palms – An established deed-restricted community near East Venice Avenue with single-family homes, mature landscaping, trails and no CDD.
- Grand Oaks – A smaller east-Venice enclave offering detached single-family homes, community recreation and a convenient location near East Venice Avenue.
- Sawgrass – A gated Venice community with substantial single-family homes, mature landscaping, golf-course surroundings, recreation and no CDD.
- Chestnut Creek – A large established Venice community known for lakes, mature landscaping, natural areas and a broad selection of homes and villas.
Amenity Slideshow of Watercrest Venice
Watercrest Homes & Villas for Sale | Venice Florida
Explore current Watercrest homes and villas for sale below. Buyers should compare detached single-family homes and paired villas based on floor plan, water or preserve exposure, private pool features, storm protection and current maintenance responsibilities. Watercrest is gated, has no CDD and provides lawn, landscape and irrigation services along with a heated zero-entry pool, fitness center and bocce.
Frequently Asked Questions About Watercrest
How many homes are in Watercrest?
Watercrest contains approximately 294 residences, including detached single-family homes and paired villas. Earlier development plans referenced a larger number of homesites, but the completed residential community is approximately 294 homes.
Does Watercrest have a CDD?
No. Watercrest does not have a Community Development District or CDD. Owners do pay required homeowners association assessments, with separate assessment structures for detached homes and villas.
What does the Watercrest HOA include?
Current HOA services include lawn and landscape maintenance, irrigation services, common-area maintenance, gates, private roads and access to the community’s pool, fitness center and recreational amenities. Homeowners remain responsible for significant portions of their home’s exterior maintenance.
What amenities does Watercrest offer?
Watercrest amenities include a heated zero-entry swimming pool, fitness center, amenity building, covered outdoor gathering areas, outdoor fireplace, bocce court, landscaped common areas and resident social activities.
Can homes in Watercrest be rented?
Yes, but current community standards require leases of at least six months and limit a residence to no more than two leases per year. Buyers planning to rent their property should review the current association rules and approval process before purchasing.
