GL Homes, one of Florida's largest privately owned homebuilders, is positioning social connection and resort-style living at the center of its active-adult communities, according to President Misha Ezratti. The company's approach reflects a broader shift in how 55+ buyers evaluate their next move: they are looking beyond the floor plan to the daily life a community can offer. For GL Homes, that means clubhouses at the heart of every neighborhood and full calendars of resident events designed to help neighbors form lasting friendships.
Founded 50 years ago by Itzhak Ezratti, GL Homes has grown into a statewide developer with communities stretching 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 growth for decades. The company opened its first Valencia community in Palm Beach County about 30 years ago, and the Valencia brand has since become its signature line of 55+ communities in Florida, now found along both coasts.
For Misha Ezratti, planning a Valencia community begins with how residents want to live, not just the homes they occupy. Each community is designed to feel like a luxury resort from the first visit, with clubhouses that give residents places 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 initial introductions into enduring 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, featuring 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 amenities and social programming matters as more buyers look to Florida for their next chapter. For GL Homes, the strategy is to keep building on the resort-style living and social connection that define its Valencia communities. Buyers seeking more information about those communities can visit glhomes.com.
