I Spent the Day at Solivita — Here's What I Learned
I spent a full day at Solivita talking with residents about costs, activities, and neighborhood life. Here's what impressed me (and what didn't).
I Spent the Day at Solivita — Here's What I Learned
A personal tour of this Florida 55+ community, including conversations with residents, current pricing, and my honest take.
📞 Ready to tour Solivita? Call us at 407.970.0958 or email hello@explore55plus.com
Quick Facts
- Location: Poinciana, FL (about 35 minutes south of Orlando)
- Home Prices: Mid-$200Ks to high-$600Ks (realistic range: $250K-$450K)
- HOA Fees: $440-$480/month (includes mandatory club fee)
- Community Size: 5,500 homes on 4,300 acres (fully built out)
- The Vibe: Active, neighborly, camp-for-adults
First Impressions
The first thing I saw pulling into Solivita at 9:30 AM on a weekday? People actually playing softball. Not just a few people shagging flies. Full teams. Men and women out there running bases like they meant it.
That set the tone for everything else I'd see that day. This isn't one of those communities where the amenities look great in photos but nobody uses them. Within my first hour, I'd seen active games on the softball field, every pickleball court filled, and tennis players who corrected me on what type of court surface they were playing on (more on that later).
I spent the day with Trisha and Mary from the sales team, but more importantly, with Simon and Paula — two residents who've lived here for 15 months. They didn't sugarcoat anything. And honestly? That's what made me respect this community even more.
Walking Through the Community
Solivita is big. Like, really big. 5,500 homes across 4,300 acres. When I first heard those numbers, I thought, "Great, another community where you'll never see your neighbors and everything feels spread out and impersonal."
I was wrong.
Here's what makes it work: About 30-40% of those acres are dedicated to conservation land and water features. So yes, it's expansive, but you're not looking at houses crammed together or endless pavement. You're seeing lakes, preserves, and golf courses that create natural breaks between neighborhoods.
Paula told me something that stuck with me: "When we were looking to move, we kept driving through and I kept saying, everybody's out walking with strollers or dogs and they're all so friendly." She was talking about their previous neighborhood in upstate New York, but she found that same energy here in their section of Solivita called Mira Vista.
The key word there is "section." Solivita is divided into named neighborhoods, and that's the secret sauce. You're not trying to know 5,500 families. You're getting to know your street, your neighborhood, the people you see at the pool or on the pickleball courts.
The Amenities (And Who's Actually Using Them)
Let's start with pickleball because it's basically the heartbeat of this place. When we walked past the courts, every single one was occupied. Paula wasn't exaggerating when she said they run from "seven in the morning till nine at night."
The courts have lights, organized leagues, and something called "ladders" where you move up or down based on how you play. Paula's on a team with her husband Simon, and she does the ladder games to keep improving. This isn't casual rec play — people are out here taking it seriously.
The tennis courts are less busy than pickleball (no surprise there), but still well-used. I actually interrupted a game to ask about the tennis club for a potential buyer. The guy I talked to mentioned they have about 160 members, games every day, and leagues at three different skill levels: premier, advanced, and a Friday night social game.
Here's something I learned: These are Har-Tru courts, not hard courts. One of the tennis players explained that you have to wear specific tennis shoes (not trainers) and that the surface is easier on your joints. He looked at me very seriously and said, "It prevents your joints from having to be replaced." Point taken.
Then there's the softball. Simon plays Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday — or he did until he hurt his back recently. There are men's leagues, women's leagues, co-ed teams, and even travel leagues. He admitted some guys are absolutely crushing the ball over the fence. So much for my assumption that it would all be ground balls.
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What Residents Told Me
This is where the day got really interesting. Simon and Paula didn't hold back, and I appreciated that.
When I asked about hidden fees, Paula was direct: "Just the HOA and that club fee. I mean, there are people who do ceramics that maybe pay, you know, a little extra 10 bucks for the supplies. Those weren't hidden."
"You can be bored if you want to be bored, but you can also do something every minute of every day." — Paula, 15-month resident
Her husband Simon added: "Our kids call it... They feel like they sent us to adult sleep away camp. They paid for them to go to camp. Why can't we go?"
That comparison actually nails it. There are fitness classes, Zumba, yoga, water aerobics, bowling leagues (30 minutes away in Dundee), a ping pong club that meets Sunday mornings, and a community garden with a waiting list.
But here's what impressed me most: It's not just organized activities. The neighborhoods create their own traditions.
Paula and Simon hosted a root beer float social in their driveway. People brought lawn chairs, they had both regular and zero-sugar root beer for diabetics, M&Ms on the side, and neighbors just hung out. Their neighborhood also does morning coffees and driveway socials regularly.
Last Halloween, their neighborhood went all out. They created a five-room haunted house that raised over $3,500 for Tunnels to Towers, a charity supporting first responders. Paula described one neighbor whose house was overflowing with Halloween decorations — skeletons on the couch, props in every room, FedEx deliveries arriving daily with new stuff.
"We had the witch's room. And it was a blast. And then we followed it up the day after with a neighborhood Halloween party. We hired a DJ and we had food in the road." — Paula
When I asked how easy it was to meet people, Paula said, "Before you even moved in." They met their neighbors while still house hunting. In fact, they bought a house that another couple wanted, and that couple ended up buying five doors down. They're now good friends.
💬 Have Questions About Solivita?
I'm happy to share what I learned during my visit. Email me directly at hello@explore55plus.com — I personally respond to every message.
Homes and Pricing Reality
Here's the honest breakdown: You'll see listings all the way up to $650K, but the realistic sweet spot is mid-$200Ks to low-$400Ks.
On the lower end (under $300K), you're looking at villas or smaller single-family homes around 1,400-1,600 square feet. These can be great values, especially if you're coming from a higher cost-of-living area.
Mid-range ($300K-$450K) gets you a proper single-family home with either a golf cart garage or a three-car garage. Mary (one of the sales reps) mentioned she showed several homes recently, and eight out of twelve had either conservation or water views.
That's the advantage of 4,300 acres with 30-40% dedicated to conservation and water features — lots of homes back up to something other than another house.
The high-$600K homes? Those are your larger floor plans on premium lots. But honestly, the value proposition here is in that $300K-$400K range where you're getting a solid single-family home with a desirable view.
One more thing: Solivita is fully built out. They're not building new homes anymore. That means you're buying resale, which can be good (established landscaping, you know what the neighborhood looks like) or limiting (less inventory to choose from).
The HOA — What You're Actually Paying For
HOA fees run $440 to $480 per month depending on which section you're in. That includes the mandatory club fee.
Let me repeat that: The club fee is mandatory. You can't opt out. Some people think, "Well, I won't use the amenities, so I won't pay the club fee." Nope. Everyone pays it.
What you DON'T pay for (unless you want to): Golf course fees. Those are completely separate. So if you're not a golfer, you're not subsidizing the golf courses.
What's included in that $440-$480? Access to all the pools, fitness centers, tennis and pickleball courts, softball fields, the ballroom, restaurants, meeting rooms, and all the organized activities and clubs. Also lawn maintenance and exterior upkeep.
Paula's take: "What you see is what you get. No hidden fees." For clubs that host dances or parties, you might pay $10-$15 if food is involved, but there's usually an open bar included.
📞 Ready to See Homes in Solivita?
I work with agents who specialize in this specific community. Call me at 407.970.0958 and I'll connect you with someone who can show you what's currently on the market.
Location & Day-to-Day Life
Solivita is in Poinciana, about 35 minutes south of Orlando. It's not directly in a major city, which keeps home prices reasonable but means you need to factor in drive times.
For groceries and shopping, you're looking at nearby options in Kissimmee or Davenport. The community does have a convenience store on-site (though Paula joked about the pricing). For major shopping trips, you'll drive out.
Medical facilities are about 30 minutes away. That's something to consider depending on your health needs and how often you visit doctors.
On-site, there are three restaurant options. The main one is Mosaics, which does Tapas Tuesday from 4-7 PM (apparently it gets packed), and prime rib nights on the weekends. They're open Thursday through Sunday for dinner. The ballroom hosts events four to five nights a week — everything from club meetings to dances with raffles and prizes.
Golf carts are street-legal here, which is a bigger deal than it sounds. You can take them throughout the community and to many nearby areas, which becomes your primary mode of transportation for anything local.
My Honest Take
This community is ideal for: People who want an active lifestyle with lots of options but don't need to be right in the middle of a major city. If you like the idea of joining clubs, playing sports, and actually getting to know your neighbors, Solivita delivers. It's also great if you're moving from up north and want year-round outdoor activities without breaking the bank.
You might look elsewhere if: You need to be close to major medical facilities or want urban walkability with restaurants and shops right outside your door. Also, if you're intimidated by large communities, you need to be the type who will actively join neighborhood activities — otherwise, 5,500 homes can feel overwhelming.
The surprise for me was how the neighborhood system makes a huge community feel manageable. Paula was initially nervous about the size, but her section (Mira Vista) feels like a small, tight-knit neighborhood. That's the magic here.
Another honest observation: This is one of the most activity-focused communities I've visited. If you're truly looking for a quiet, low-key retirement where you just want to read books by the pool, you can do that here — but you might be happier somewhere smaller and quieter. Solivita attracts people who want to DO things.
The residents I met genuinely seemed happy. Not in a "we're being recorded" way, but in a "we host root beer float parties in our driveway and build haunted houses with our neighbors" way. That's not something you can manufacture.
Watch the Full Tour
Want to see everything I saw? Here's my complete video walkthrough:
Common Questions About Solivita
What are the HOA fees at Solivita?
HOA fees range from $440 to $480 per month depending on which section of the community you're in. This includes the mandatory club fee. Golf course fees are separate and optional.
What's the age requirement?
Solivita is a 55+ community. At least one person in the household must be 55 or older.
Is there a golf course?
Yes, Solivita has two 18-hole golf courses. Golf memberships are separate from the HOA fees, so you only pay if you play.
How big is Solivita?
Solivita has 5,500 homes on 4,300 acres. It's fully built out (no new construction). About 30-40% of the acreage is conservation land and water features.
What restaurants are on property?
There are three dining options, including Mosaics restaurant, which serves Tapas Tuesday (4-7 PM) and dinner Thursday through Sunday. They're known for prime rib nights on the weekends.
Can you have grandkids visit?
Yes, grandkids can visit. The community has kid-friendly amenities for when they come to stay.
Are there any hidden fees?
According to residents, no. You pay your HOA fee (which includes the club fee), and some individual clubs might charge $10-15 for special events with food, but those are optional and transparent.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Whether you're just starting to explore or ready to schedule a tour, I'm here to help:
- 📞 Call: 407.970.0958 — Let's talk about what you're looking for
- 📧 Email: hello@explore55plus.com — I personally respond to every message
- 📋 Get Matched: Fill out our quick form — We'll send personalized community recommendations
Final Thoughts
I've toured a lot of 55+ communities, and Solivita stands out because people are actually using the amenities and genuinely connecting with their neighbors. Paula said it best: "You can be bored if you want to be bored, but you can also do something every minute of every day." That's exactly the energy I felt walking through.
