The Villas of Chestnut Creek: Relaxed Villa Living Among Lakes and Green Space

by Hunt Brothers Realty

The Villas of Chestnut Creek is a 55-and-over, deed-restricted villa community in Venice, Florida, with 118 residences divided between the Pendleton and Bayport Circle neighborhoods. Part of the larger Chestnut Creek community, The Villas has three ponds, mature trees, natural common areas and a private recreation area with a heated swimming pool, pool house, tennis, pickleball, shuffleboard, bocce and gazebos. Its established setting can appeal to buyers seeking single-level villa living and shared amenities near Downtown Venice, shopping, medical services and Gulf Coast recreation.

Understanding the association structure is particularly important here. The Villas of Chestnut Creek has its own homeowners association and is also part of the broader Chestnut Creek Master Association. Buyers should therefore review both applicable sets of current documents, assessments and responsibilities rather than assuming that every neighborhood within Chestnut Creek operates the same way.

Quick Answers About The Villas of Chestnut Creek

Where is The Villas of Chestnut Creek?

The Villas of Chestnut Creek is in Venice, Florida, within the larger Chestnut Creek community. The neighborhood is on the mainland east of Venice Island, with road access to shopping, restaurants, Downtown Venice and Gulf beaches.

Is The Villas of Chestnut Creek a 55+ community?

Yes. The official Villas of Chestnut Creek Owners Association identifies The Villas as a 55-and-over community. Buyers should review the current association documents and qualification requirements directly with the association before purchasing or planning occupancy.

How many villas are in the community?

There are 118 villas. The association identifies 60 villas in the Pendleton section and 58 on Bayport Circle, with a private recreation and common area positioned between the two neighborhoods.

Does The Villas of Chestnut Creek have lakes or ponds?

Yes. The Villas association identifies three ponds within the villa community, along with mature trees and natural common areas. The broader Chestnut Creek community contains additional lakes, making water and established landscaping important elements of the area's overall character.

What amenities are available at The Villas?

The private recreation area includes a swimming pool and pool house, tennis, pickleball, shuffleboard, bocce and two gazebos with picnic areas. The association states that the swimming pool uses a geothermal heating system.

Does The Villas have an HOA?

Yes. The Villas of Chestnut Creek has its own homeowners association and also falls under the Chestnut Creek Master Association. Buyers should account for both association structures when reviewing current fees, budgets, rules and maintenance responsibilities.

Is The Villas of Chestnut Creek maintenance free?

It is better described as maintenance-oriented rather than maintenance free. Current property information indicates that the association handles certain common and grounds-related services, but homeowners retain important responsibilities. Buyers should use current governing documents to determine exactly what the association maintains and what remains the individual owner's responsibility.

What should buyers verify before purchasing?

Buyers should verify age-qualification requirements, current Villas and master-association assessments, maintenance responsibilities, insurance, architectural restrictions, pet and occupancy rules, property condition and any pending projects or assessments. Current association documents should take priority over older listings or historical marketing information.

What Kind of Community Is The Villas of Chestnut Creek?

The Villas of Chestnut Creek is a distinct 55-and-over neighborhood within the larger Chestnut Creek development. It should not be confused with other Chestnut Creek sections, which include different home types, associations, amenities and ownership arrangements.

The Villas is organized into two residential areas. Pendleton contains 60 villas, while Bayport Circle contains 58. A substantial recreational and common area sits between them, giving the community a shared center surrounded by mature landscaping and water features.

This arrangement creates a different ownership experience from both a conventional detached-home neighborhood and a multi-story condominium. Buyers have villa-style residences with private entrances and outdoor areas while sharing recreational facilities and living under association rules.

What Makes the Lakes and Green Space Important?

Water and mature landscaping are defining characteristics of The Villas of Chestnut Creek. The Villas association identifies three ponds within the neighborhood, along with natural common areas and mature trees that contribute to an established, green residential setting.

The surrounding Chestnut Creek neighborhood expands on that setting. The larger community covers more than 250 acres and contains approximately 20 lakes, according to current community research. Its mature landscape and extensive water features distinguish it from many newer Venice developments.

A particular villa's view still depends on its location. Some properties can have pond or water exposure, while others face neighboring residences, landscaped areas or interior streets. Buyers prioritizing a water view should evaluate the specific home rather than assume that every villa has the same outlook.

What Amenities Does The Villas of Chestnut Creek Offer?

The Villas has its own private recreation area between the Pendleton and Bayport Circle sections. The official association identifies a range of facilities for residents and their permitted guests.

Community swimming pool
Pool house with restrooms
Tennis facilities
Pickleball
Shuffleboard
Bocce
Two gazebos and picnic areas
Three community ponds
Natural common areas and mature trees

The association states that the pool is heated through a geothermal system and also publishes a schedule of resident activities. Programs and schedules can change, so buyers interested in a particular activity should verify current offerings with the association.

What Are the Villas Themselves Like?

The Villas of Chestnut Creek consists of villa-style homes with predominantly single-level living arrangements. Current property information shows residences dating primarily to the 1980s, although buyers should verify the construction date and property characteristics of the individual villa they are considering.

Villa properties can differ in living area, garage arrangement, interior renovations, mechanical systems, outdoor spaces and water or landscape views. The community's age also means there can be substantial differences in renovation history from one residence to another.

Buyers should pay particular attention to roof age and condition, HVAC equipment, plumbing and electrical components, windows and doors, appliances and documented improvements. Inspection findings should be evaluated with the appropriate licensed inspector, contractor, engineer or other qualified professional before a purchasing decision is made.

How Does Maintenance-Oriented Villa Living Work?

Association-based villa living can reduce some routine exterior work, but buyers should not interpret that as eliminating homeowner responsibilities. Current resale information identifies grounds maintenance among association services, while official association materials also make clear that owners have responsibilities for their individual properties.

Exterior changes are also subject to association standards. The Villas association publishes architectural requirements and approved exterior materials, including specific roofing selections. Owners contemplating exterior work should follow the current architectural review process before beginning a project.

What maintenance responsibilities should buyers confirm?

Buyers should determine responsibility for landscaping, irrigation, roofs, exterior walls and painting, driveways, windows and doors, plumbing, pest control, insurance and other building components. The recorded documents, current association policies and property-specific information should control this analysis rather than a general description such as "maintenance included."

How Does the Association Structure Work?

The Villas of Chestnut Creek has two relevant layers of association governance. The Villas of Chestnut Creek Owners Association governs the villa neighborhood itself, while the community also operates under the umbrella of the Chestnut Creek Master Association.

This distinction matters financially and operationally. A buyer should identify which expenses and common areas belong to The Villas association, which belong to the master association, and what assessments are currently charged by each.

What are the current association fees?

The Villas association website currently displays monthly Villas dues of $180, while recent association materials have also identified a separate Chestnut Creek Master Association assessment. Because association budgets and assessments can change, buyers should obtain current written figures for both associations, determine exactly what each assessment covers, and verify whether any special assessments are pending before relying on these amounts.

What documents should buyers review?

Buyers should obtain the current declaration, amendments, bylaws, rules and regulations, architectural standards, budgets, financial statements, available reserve information, recent meeting minutes and assessment information for all applicable associations. Questions about contractual rights, association obligations, title or other legal matters should be reviewed with a qualified Florida real estate attorney or other appropriate legal professional.

Can Owners Rent Their Villas?

Buyers should not assume that Villas of Chestnut Creek residences can be used as rental properties. Current association welcome materials state that the community's bylaws, covenants and restrictions do not allow rentals. Anyone purchasing with plans for seasonal, long-term or other leasing should obtain and review the current governing documents and written association requirements before making a purchasing decision.

What Should Buyers Know About Insurance?

Owners should determine their individual insurance responsibilities before purchasing. Current Villas association materials specifically address homeowner responsibility for maintaining homeowners and hurricane insurance, making property-specific insurance review an important part of due diligence.

Insurance availability, coverage, deductibles and premiums can vary substantially by property. Buyers should obtain current quotes for the specific villa and review coverage with a qualified Florida insurance professional before making a financial commitment. Association insurance and an individual owner's coverage should also be evaluated together so the buyer understands where each responsibility begins and ends.

What About Flood Risk Near the Community's Ponds?

A villa's proximity to a pond does not by itself establish its FEMA flood-zone designation or determine whether a lender will require flood insurance. Flood mapping, elevation, drainage and insurance requirements should be evaluated for the specific property.

Buyers should also avoid assuming that community ponds are intended for boating, swimming or private shoreline alterations. The water features and surrounding common areas are governed by applicable association responsibilities and rules. Flood-zone questions should be verified through current official mapping, while insurance questions should be reviewed with a qualified insurance professional.

How Convenient Is The Villas of Chestnut Creek to Downtown Venice?

The Villas is on the mainland east of Venice Island, providing road access toward historic Downtown Venice while maintaining a residential setting away from the island's central commercial district. Downtown Venice offers restaurants, shops, galleries, professional services, cultural destinations and public spaces centered around West Venice Avenue.

The mainland location also provides access to everyday shopping, medical services and major roads without requiring buyers to live directly in the downtown or beach districts. Actual travel times can vary with seasonal traffic, construction and route conditions, so buyers should personally test trips to destinations they expect to visit frequently.

How Close Is The Villas of Chestnut Creek to Gulf Coast Recreation?

The Villas is an inland Venice community rather than a beachfront development, but Venice Island and Gulf Coast recreation are accessible by car. Buyers can reach Venice-area beaches, parks, downtown attractions and other coastal destinations while returning to an established lake-oriented residential setting.

This creates a different tradeoff from villa ownership directly on Venice Island. Buyers who place beachfront location above neighborhood green space can compare The Villas with Windsong Villas on Venice Island, while those who prefer a mainland villa setting can compare several other established Venice communities.

How Does The Villas Compare With Other Venice Villa Communities?

The Villas of Chestnut Creek is distinguished by its 55-and-over status, established 1980s setting, ponds, mature common areas and position within a larger lake-oriented master community. Other Venice villa neighborhoods provide different combinations of age, amenities, association structure and location.

Auburn Cove Villas, for example, provides another single-level villa environment with a community pool, while Fountain View Villas combines villa living with a compact pond-oriented setting. Hourglass Lakes provides another established Venice option for buyers interested in villa-style residences and lake scenery.

The most useful comparison should go beyond asking price. Buyers should consider age restrictions, living area, garage configuration, water or landscape views, association fees, maintenance responsibilities, insurance, property condition, amenities, pet and occupancy rules, and total annual ownership costs.

Is The Villas of Chestnut Creek a Good Fit for Your Venice Home Search?

The Villas of Chestnut Creek is worth considering for age-qualified buyers who want an established villa community with mature landscaping, ponds, recreational amenities and a mainland Venice location. Its 118-home scale provides a defined neighborhood identity while its position within Chestnut Creek connects it to a much larger lake-oriented residential setting.

Individual villas are not interchangeable, however. Renovation history, mechanical systems, location within Pendleton or Bayport Circle, water views, exterior condition and other features can vary significantly. Current association obligations and property-specific insurance costs should be considered alongside the home's purchase price.

Explore The Villas of Chestnut Creek and Venice Real Estate

If The Villas of Chestnut Creek fits your search for villa living in Venice, explore The Villas of Chestnut Creek real estate with Hunt Brothers Realty. Buyers can also review the broader Chestnut Creek community guide, compare other Florida Gulf Coast communities, or contact Hunt Brothers Realty for help evaluating current Venice properties.

Informational notice: This article provides general real estate and educational information only and is not individualized legal, financial, tax, insurance, lending, inspection, engineering, construction, title, association or other professional advice. Age qualification, association fees, maintenance obligations, insurance responsibilities, architectural standards, occupancy restrictions and other rules can change and should be verified using current documents for the specific property. Buyers should consult the applicable homeowners associations and appropriate licensed real estate, insurance, lending, inspection, legal, tax, title or other qualified professionals when individualized guidance is required.