Port St. Lucie Lakefront Homes for Sale

Lakefront Homes for Sale in Port St. Lucie

Lakefront is the most common kind of waterfront in Port St. Lucie, and for many buyers the best one. A lake lot gives you a water view, open space behind the house and a steady parade of herons and egrets, usually for a much smaller premium than a river or ocean-access home, and with far less upkeep.

The listing feed on this page shows Port St. Lucie homes, villas, condos and townhomes marketed as lakefront or with lake privileges, updated automatically from the MLS. Below it is how community lakes actually work, who maintains what, and what to look for on a lake lot. For every kind of water in the city, see Port St. Lucie waterfront homes for sale.

How Port St. Lucie's Lakes Work

Almost all of the lakes in Port St. Lucie's planned communities are stormwater lakes. They were dug as part of each community's drainage system, so they hold and slowly release rainwater, and their level rises in the rainy season and drops in the dry months. That is not a flaw; it is their job. It does mean the lake behind a house is part of the community's infrastructure, with rules to match.

What you get What you usually do not get
A water view and open space behind the house Boating to the river or ocean
Wildlife and privacy from rear neighbors Swimming (and it is not recommended)
Fishing, and in some communities paddling or electric boats, where the association allows it A dock, in most communities
A lower premium than river or ocean-access water Full control over the bank behind your yard

Some communities do allow boats on their lakes as long as there is no combustion engine. Sawgrass Lakes, for example, lets residents use electric boats, kayaks and paddleboards. Gas engines are generally not allowed, and the lakes do not connect to the river. If you want to keep a boat at home and run to the ocean, look at ocean access homes or St. Lucie River homes instead.

Where the Lakefront Homes Are

Lake lots are spread through the planned communities of St. Lucie West, Tradition, PGA Village and the newer communities west of I-95, including many of the city's 55+ and gated neighborhoods. Each has its own rules, fees and amenities:

Choosing a Lake Lot

  • Which way the back faces. A west-facing lanai gets the sunset and the afternoon heat; an east-facing one gets morning sun and afternoon shade.
  • Long view or short view. A lot at the wide end of a lake or looking down its length feels very different from one looking straight across at the neighbors on the other bank.
  • Fountains and lights. Some lakes have fountains or lighting. Lovely from the lanai, sometimes noisy at night.
  • Preserve or golf behind the lake. Water with a preserve or fairway beyond it gives the most privacy.
  • The slope. How far the yard runs before the bank drops toward the water, and whether there is room for a pool.

Who Maintains the Lake Bank?

In most communities the lake itself and the bank below a certain line belong to the association or a community development district, which handles aquatic weed control, erosion repair and the water-control structures. The homeowner usually keeps up the lawn down to that line. Where exactly that line falls, what you are allowed to plant or build near the water, and who pays when a bank erodes are all in the community documents. Ask for them before you buy, especially on a lot where the bank looks steep or washed out.

Looking at a lake lot?

Send me the address. I will check who maintains the bank, what the association allows near the water and what similar lake lots in the community have sold for.

RE/MAX - Port St. Lucie agent.

Buying Tips for Lakefront Homes

  • Look in the dry season and the wet season. Water levels change, and so does how much bank you see.
  • Check the screen enclosure and lanai. Moisture and wind off the water are harder on them.
  • Ask about the lake premium. Lake lots usually carry a premium over interior lots in the same community. How much varies by community and by the view.
  • Know the wildlife rules. Alligators live in Florida freshwater. Keep pets and small children away from the edge and never feed wildlife.
  • Insurance. A lake view does not automatically mean a flood zone, but some lake lots are in one. Check the flood map and get an insurance quote early.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I take a boat out from a lakefront home in Port St. Lucie?

Not to the river or ocean. Port St. Lucie's community lakes are stormwater lakes that do not connect to the North Fork or the St. Lucie River. Some communities allow boats with no combustion engine on their lakes. Sawgrass Lakes, for example, allows electric boats, kayaks and paddleboards. Many communities allow no boats at all, so check the rules. For boating from home to the ocean, look at ocean access or river homes.

Who maintains the lake behind a community home?

Usually the association or community development district maintains the lake and the bank below a set line, including weed control and erosion repair, and the homeowner maintains the lawn down to that line. The exact line and rules are in the community documents.

Can I swim or fish in the lake?

Swimming is not recommended in Florida freshwater lakes because of alligators and water quality. Fishing is allowed in many communities, often catch-and-release, but check the association rules first.

Do lakefront homes cost more?

Usually yes. Lake lots carry a premium over interior lots in the same community, and the size of it depends on the community, the view and the lot. I pull recent sales of comparable lake and non-lake lots for any home you are serious about.

Why does the water level change?

Most lakes here are part of the community's stormwater system. They rise in the summer rainy season and drop in the dry months, and control structures release water to keep neighborhoods from flooding.

Are lakefront homes in a flood zone?

Not automatically. Many lake lots are outside a special flood hazard area, but some are in one. Check the flood map and the elevation certificate, and price insurance before you commit.

Recently Sold: Port St. Lucie Lakefront Homes

Closed sales of Port St. Lucie Lakefront Homes, updated from the MLS. Want to know what your home would sell for today? Call (772) 359-1926.

See All Available Port St. Lucie Lakefront Homes For Sale