A brick-paved driveway and walkway accentuate the charm of a low-maintenance and beautifully kept home tucked in Lake Valencia, one of several villages that make up Citrus Springs in south Vero Beach.
Rob and Blanche Dickerson have called the four-bed, two-bath house built by Ameritrend their home for about four years, though they’ve lived under its roof for a total of only about 16 months. That’s because they are self-proclaimed snowbirds, with a northern home near Lake Ontario in New York. They spend about four months of the year in Lake Valencia.
And now it’s time for them to downsize, they said, and find a condo with an ocean view.
The large house is perfect for one week each year when their family – including grandchildren – come to visit. But aside from that one week, the Dickersons have more room than they need.
“There’s tons of storage in this house,” Blanche said while standing in the recently updated kitchen. “I will miss that.”
Other features the couple said they will miss include the natural light that streams in through the front window, brightening Blanche’s “reading room.” They’ll also miss the large screened patio that is spacious enough for entertaining large groups of guests. The Dickersons said they’ve enjoyed many peaceful hours of sitting on the patio listening to the birds and watching the small geckos stalk along the screen.
“It’s so quiet,” Blanche said of the neighborhood, adding that, even though houses in the neighborhood are situated close together, she’s never heard noise from neighboring properties – not even when neighbors host a get-together. Sitting inside the home, the outside world’s noise stays exactly that way – outside.
The house is a little more than 2,000 square feet under air and features a master bedroom with en suite bath and large walk-in closet.
The master bath consists of a water closet, glass-doored walk-in shower, and a soaking tub, which Rob said has helped with his medical ailments. The twin sinks are set in a large vanity, giving residents plenty of space to have their own toiletries readily accessible.
The kitchen sits behind a partial wall, breaking the eye-line from the front door – a feature Blanche originally thought to modify but ultimately opted to keep. “You don’t need to see the dishes,” she said.
The formal dining space is beyond the wall, allowing diners to sit and enjoy their meal without the visual reminder of the impending cleanup.
The Dickersons updated the kitchen, painting the standard issue wood-finished cupboards white and replacing the hardware. Crown molding was added to the upper cabinets to dress up the space.
The countertops, including the peninsula, were replaced with beautiful, durable Corian.
The laundry room sits off the kitchen behind a door and is appointed with dual closets for storage. The dryer, stove and hot water heater run on gas instead of electric and all are relatively new.
The couple bought the house essentially sight-unseen, based on photographs presented to them. What spoke to Blanche through the photos was the space. Visions of family coming to visit flashed in her mind. Another plus was that it’s a short drive from the house to the Abbott’s Frozen Custard on State Road 60 – a taste of their New York home.
Citrus Springs Village, a community of seven neighborhoods, has approximately 300 homes, and offers a clubhouse with fitness center, a heated pool, tennis courts, and even RV and boat storage.
Rob said he’ll miss his pickleball friends most. He picked up the sport after a group of players invited him to join them while he was out for a walk. “They were patient with me,” he said.
The residents of Lake Valencia and Citrus Springs Village are active, according to Blanche. They hold several activities at the clubhouse including bridge club, aerobics, a book club, crafts, Mahjong, potlucks and water aerobics.
The greatest feature, perhaps, of the entire community is the sunset residents see over the lake each evening. The Dickersons highly recommend relaxing pool-side at the community center to take in the sunset at every opportunity.
Vital Statistics
- Address: 518 S. Valencia Circle SW
- Neighborhood: Lake Valencia in Citrus Springs Village
- Lot size: 65 feet by 135 feet
- Construction: Concrete block with stucco
- Year built: 2006
- Size: 2,084 sq. ft. under air
- Bedrooms: 4
- Bathrooms: 2
- Additional features: Recently painted interior and exterior, open floor plan, large screened patio, walk-in shower with soaking tub, laundry room with new appliances, newer HVAC, water heater and irrigation pump. Furniture negotiable. Gated community with clubhouse. Lawn care handled by community.
- Listing agency: Berkshire Hathaway Home Services
- Listing agent: Beth Livers, 772-202-0006
- Listing price: $249,000
