Trying to decide whether Prestwick, The Sanctuary, or Laurel Glen is the better fit inside Lakeland’s Grasslands? With similar gates, lakes, and manicured fairways, the enclaves can blur together when you scroll listings. You want the right mix of home size, low‑maintenance living, price, and access to the club. This guide breaks down how each enclave lives day to day, typical home sizes and price ranges, what HOA assessments usually cover, and who each area tends to suit. Let’s dive in.
Grasslands at a glance
Grasslands is a guard‑gated community centered on a private, member‑owned club with golf, pool, tennis and social amenities. Club membership is separate from the neighborhood HOAs and is not the same as paying your monthly association dues. For categories, costs and transfer rules, go directly to the source at the Grasslands Golf & Country Club.
Quick compare: the three enclaves
- Prestwick: larger “clubhome” and single‑family layouts close to the clubhouse and Lakeside Village. Marketed as maintenance‑free living with weekly lawn care and exterior programs. Recent listing examples show HOA assessments often in the mid‑$400s to low‑$500s per month and sales commonly in the $450k to $680k+ range, depending on size and finish.
- The Sanctuary: the luxury, custom‑villa pocket in Grasslands. Homes are generally larger and newer, often 2,800 to 5,100+ square feet. Listings regularly fall at the top of the community’s price spectrum, often $750k to $2M+. HOA services are high‑touch and assessments are toward the upper end of Grasslands’ ranges.
- Laurel Glen: a true lock‑and‑leave villa and patio‑home enclave with one‑ and two‑story plans around 1,900 to 2,800 square feet. Marketing and MLS notes highlight exterior maintenance programs. Typical recent HOA examples land around $400 to $420 per month, with many sales in the mid‑$400s to about $650k.
Bonus option: Shoal Creek sits within Grasslands as an earlier patio‑home area, generally single‑level and maintenance‑free, with many listings between roughly $450k and $575k.
Prestwick: close to the clubhouse
Home style and size
Prestwick offers a mix of clubhomes and single‑family residences, often two stories with generous common areas. Typical sizes run about 2,000 to 4,000+ square feet. Many original late‑1990s and early‑2000s builds have seen interior updates and exterior refreshes over time.
Location and access
If you want to walk or take a short cart ride to the Grasslands clubhouse, pool and racquet complex, Prestwick places you closest. You are also minutes from Lakeside Village for shopping, dining and daily errands. For an in‑depth look, explore our Prestwick neighborhood overview.
Maintenance and HOA
Prestwick is frequently described in listings as maintenance‑free. Association services commonly include weekly lawn care, exterior painting cycles, roof programs, termite baiting or pest control, plus the 24‑hour guarded gate. Recent HOA examples often show assessments in the mid‑$400s to low‑$500s per month, varying by home type and phase. Always confirm the current scope and amount for your specific address.
Typical pricing
Recent sales and listing examples in Prestwick often run about $450k to $680k+, with larger or extensively updated homes selling higher.
Buyer fit
Choose Prestwick if you want more living space and minimal exterior chores. It is a strong match for golfers and anyone who prioritizes proximity to the clubhouse and Lakeside Village conveniences.
The Sanctuary: high‑end custom villas
Home style and size
The Sanctuary is the luxury pocket of Grasslands, featuring custom courtyard and villa homes that skew larger and newer. Many are mid‑2010s or later builds, and you will commonly see 2,800 to 5,100+ square feet with premium finishes.
Maintenance and HOA
The Sanctuary emphasizes turnkey, high‑touch living. Listings regularly mention gated privacy and robust maintenance inclusions. Recent examples place monthly assessments around the upper mid‑hundreds, but exact amounts vary by property and phase. Verify inclusions such as roof programs, exterior painting, irrigation upkeep and reserves with the current association documents.
Typical pricing
You are looking at the top of the Grasslands market. Recent examples frequently range from about $750k to $2M+, with many sales and listings over $1M.
Buyer fit
Pick The Sanctuary if your priorities are newer, larger custom homes, privacy, and lock‑and‑leave convenience. It is well suited for buyers who want a premium finish level and are comfortable with higher HOA dues for high‑touch services.
Laurel Glen: lock‑and‑leave villas
Home style and size
Laurel Glen is known for its villa and patio‑home layouts, with both single‑level and two‑story options. Typical sizes run about 1,900 to 2,800 square feet, striking a balance between single‑family comfort and low‑maintenance living.
Maintenance and HOA
Marketing and MLS remarks consistently highlight maintenance‑free living. Common inclusions are 24‑hour guard service, lawn care, roof cleaning or roof and exterior paint cycles, and reserves. Recent examples often show monthly assessments around $400 to $420, but confirm specifics for your address and phase.
Typical pricing
Listings and recent sales in Laurel Glen frequently fall in the mid‑$400k range up to about $650k, depending on plan, finishes and views.
Buyer fit
Laurel Glen is a great match if you want a villa lifestyle with less exterior work, whether you live full‑time or prefer a part‑time, lock‑and‑leave setup.
Bonus: Shoal Creek inside Grasslands
Why it matters
Shoal Creek is one of Grasslands’ earlier patio‑home areas and remains popular for single‑level living with smaller private yards. Typical sizes are about 2,000 to 2,400 square feet. Listings often describe maintenance‑free lawn and grounds service, with many recent HOA examples around the mid‑$400s to about $500 per month. Recent sales commonly appear in the roughly $450k to $575k range, varying by view and updates.
What HOA dues usually cover in Grasslands
Each enclave is governed by its own sub‑association, so services and amounts differ. Common inclusions you will see in listing remarks and association summaries include:
- Guarded entry and community common‑area upkeep
- Weekly lawn service and landscape maintenance
- Exterior painting cycles and roof programs or roof cleaning
- Irrigation system maintenance
- Termite baiting and pest control
- Reserves for major exterior components
Important: the exact scope and the current monthly assessment vary by sub‑association and home type. Before you write an offer, request the association’s resale package or estoppel, plus the most recent budget and reserve study. That set will clearly state current dues, what they cover, any pending special assessments and scheduled maintenance cycles.
Choosing your fit: quick scenarios
- You want the shortest hop to the clubhouse and Lakeside Village: consider Prestwick.
- You want larger, newer, luxury finishes with high‑touch services: consider The Sanctuary.
- You want a true villa lifestyle with minimal exterior chores: consider Laurel Glen.
- You want single‑level living with modest yard space: consider Shoal Creek and single‑level plans in Laurel Glen.
- You are fee‑sensitive and want maintenance included: compare Prestwick, Laurel Glen and Shoal Creek. Ask for the current HOA invoice and reserve schedule for each.
Club access and how it works
Grasslands Golf & Country Club is private and member‑owned. Membership is separate from your HOA, and options can change. Some home sales may reference a membership conveyance or transfer opportunity, but you should verify details directly with the Grasslands Golf & Country Club. Ask about initiation fees, monthly dues and categories that match your lifestyle.
Buying in Grasslands with a local pro
Choosing between enclaves comes down to how you live day to day. A good agent will match your preferences to a specific phase, verify the actual line‑items in the HOA, and coordinate club information so you are confident before you commit. As a Lakeland‑based team focused on premium neighborhoods, Willers Homes brings neighborhood‑level insight, clear due‑diligence checklists, and polished negotiation to help you buy well.
If you are also selling, our white‑glove launch package pairs professional staging and cinematic marketing with SERHANT. distribution to reach more qualified buyers and strengthen your outcome. Ready to explore Grasslands and compare homes side by side? Connect with Elizabeth Willers for a thoughtful, data‑backed plan.
FAQs
Are HOA dues the same across Prestwick, The Sanctuary, and Laurel Glen?
- No; each sub‑association sets its own budget and inclusions, so recent examples range roughly from about $400 to the upper $500s per month depending on enclave, phase and home type.
Is club membership required to live in Grasslands?
- No; the club is private and member‑owned, and membership is separate from HOA dues; verify current categories and fees with the Grasslands Golf & Country Club.
Which enclave is closest to the clubhouse and Lakeside Village?
- Prestwick sits very close to the clubhouse and pool and offers quick access to Lakeside Village for dining and shopping.
Which enclaves tend to offer single‑level living?
- Shoal Creek is primarily single‑level patio homes, and Laurel Glen includes single‑level villa plans as well.
How do prices compare across Prestwick, The Sanctuary, and Laurel Glen?
- The Sanctuary typically leads the market around $750k to $2M+; Prestwick often runs about $450k to $680k+; Laurel Glen commonly ranges from the mid‑$400k area to about $650k, depending on plan, finish and view.
What documents should I review before buying in Grasslands?
- Request the association resale package or estoppel, the current budget and reserve study, plus any rules and architectural guidelines so you know the exact dues, coverage and restrictions for your specific address.
