Les and Fran Brink left behind the cold winters of Pennsylvania in search of a warmer clime where they could make new friends and enjoy an active lifestyle.
Fran’s sister had a place in Jupiter and several of their friends from “back home” wintered in Vero Beach. As soon as the Brinks saw Vero’s Woodfield community, which was still under construction at the time, they knew that they’d finally come home.
“Vero is like the Hamptons of Florida, it’s just beautiful here,” says Fran. “We wanted a 55+ community because we didn’t know anybody here, and we wanted to get involved and meet people. We’re very active.”
And they’ve been happy at their villa at 6335 Oxford Cir. #101A in Woodfield. “There’s a big social life here, and we’ve made some good friends,” continues Fran, noting the clubhouse with its large ballroom and dance floor where they hold dances and activities twice a month. At the clubhouse pool, they do water aerobics.
The villa’s proximity to the clubhouse is part of the reason the Brinks chose that location. It’s close enough that Fran says she doesn’t need to use the car for her frequent trips to the clubhouse but far enough away that they don’t have to worry about noise.
The couple isn’t going far when they leave Woodfield. They don’t have children living close by and have decided to be proactive and move to Indian River Estates.
They’ll miss their friends, says Fran. “Even now, with the pandemic, we go to each other’s houses and play cards.”
An end unit, the villa gets much more light than most interior units, shares Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices co-listing agent Chip Landers.
The entrance to the villa is located at the side and opens into the living and dining room off to the left. Sliding glass doors lead out to a covered lanai and large patio, where you can barbecue or sit and enjoy the quiet. The owner’s suite is located off the living room at the back of the house. The walk-in closet and en suite bathroom complete the spacious suite.
At the center of the villa, the elegantly appointed kitchen with granite countertops and KitchenAid appliances is ideally situated so that everyone can come and go without getting underfoot.
The pantry, laundry cubby, bar countertop and pullout shelves are practical features that make it easy to manage household tasks.
The Brinks use the flexible space to the right of the entryway as a breakfast nook. It could just as easily serve as a sitting room or den for quiet reading time. Two bedrooms, one of which the Brinks have set up as an office, a shared bathroom and the garage are tucked away in the guest wing.
The split plan was put to the test this spring when the Brinks’ son, daughter-in-law and three grandchildren came for a visit. What had been planned as a week-long Easter break visit turned into a five-week, COVID staycation since they were unable to return home.
“It was great because it’s such an open concept and the kitchen is so big that everybody was comfortable,” recalls Les.
Landers’ co-listing agent Katrina Yarick Stawara points out the view from the office. “You can sit here and see the water and the people. It’s a great place to work. They have a Murphy bed in the office, so it’s very functional,” she says.
“This villa has a lot of property between it and the next, more than most of the other villas here,” says Les.
“The backyard is very private. Our property sits back quite a bit, and we have a lot of trees, so you don’t have a lot of noise,” says Fran.
Woodfield is a gated, 55+ community located close to shopping, Interstate 95, and not far from nearby beaches and cultural venues. The beautifully landscaped community is just the right size, with 434 single-family homes and villas. Amenities include a heated community pool and spa, clubhouse, tennis courts, and fitness center. Fees include Internet, cable TV, lawn care and irrigation.
For a closer look at this fine home, stop by the open house from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Sept. 6. Masks and sanitation supplies will be on-hand per CDC guidelines.
Vital Statistics
- Address: 6335 Oxford Cir. #101A
- Neighborhood: Woodfield
- Year built: 2011
- Construction: Concrete block with stucco
- Lot size: 29 feet x 120 feet
- Home size: 1,800 square feet
- Bedrooms: 3
- Bathrooms: 2
- Additional features: Gated; pantry; tile flooring; granite countertop; KitchenAid appliances; pullout shelves; walk-in closet; one-car garage; accordion shutters; and covered patio
- Listing agency: Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida
- Listing agent: by Chip Landers, 772-473-7888, and Katrina Yarick Stawara, 407-375-5247
- Listing price: $234,900
