What Del Webb Naples Is
Del Webb Naples is a 55+ active adult community in Ave Maria, Florida — a master-planned town in eastern Collier County approximately 30 miles east of Naples and 45 miles east of Fort Myers. Del Webb is the nation's most recognized 55+ community brand, known for consistent quality, robust amenity packages, and an established social infrastructure that activates quickly because buyers self-select into the Del Webb lifestyle.
At 2,123 homes, Del Webb Naples is large enough to sustain resort-level programming year-round, with both a seasonal snowbird contingent and a growing full-time resident base. The community offers new construction and resale homes, giving buyers flexibility on timeline and pricing that fully built-out communities don't offer.
Del Webb Naples sits in Collier County, where the effective property tax rate runs approximately 0.67–0.82% of market value — meaningfully lower than Lee County's ~1.10%. On a $500,000 home, that's roughly $1,400–$2,100/year less than Lee County. Over 20 years: $28,000–$42,000 in savings, before CDDs. The critical catch: when you purchase, the assessed value resets to full market value. Your first year's tax bill is based on your purchase price, not the seller's long-held assessed value. Save Our Homes 3% cap kicks in from year two onward. Budget for a higher first-year tax bill and plan for normalization over 2–3 years.
Del Webb Naples carries a CDD assessment through the Ave Maria Stewardship Community Development District. The CDD financed infrastructure for the Ave Maria master-planned community. Annual CDD assessments at Del Webb Naples have run approximately $1,500–$3,500/year depending on lot size and phase, adding $125–$290/month to your true monthly cost. This appears on your Collier County tax bill as a non-ad valorem assessment — separate from your property tax. Pull the actual tax bill for any specific parcel before finalizing your monthly cost calculation.
The Ave Maria Location
Ave Maria is 30 miles east of Naples via Oil Well Road or Immokalee Road. This is the community's defining trade-off. Everything is far:
- Naples downtown (Fifth Avenue South): ~45 minutes
- Naples beaches: ~45–50 minutes
- RSW airport: ~45 minutes
- Fort Myers: ~55 minutes
- Nearest major grocery/hospital: ~20–25 minutes (Ave Maria has limited on-site retail)
Ave Maria itself is a master-planned town with a main square, cafés, a pharmacy, and services — but it is not a full urban service center. Residents who want daily beach access, frequent restaurant variety, or short hospital drives should weigh the distance seriously before committing. Residents who prioritize community identity, new construction quality, a Del Webb social infrastructure, and Collier County tax rates over coastal access frequently find Ave Maria fits their retirement well.
Amenities
Del Webb Naples features the Maple Ridge Activity Center — a resort-style amenity hub with indoor and outdoor pools, a full fitness center, aerobics studio, art room, card rooms, and a ballroom. Pickleball, bocce, tennis, and an 18-hole putting green round out the on-site sports. The full-time activities director and robust programming calendar are Del Webb brand constants across all communities.
True Monthly Cost
| Cost Component | Typical Range |
|---|---|
| HOA (Del Webb Naples) | ~$200–$350/month |
| CDD assessment (monthly equiv.) | ~$125–$290/month |
| Property taxes (Collier County, $400K home, homestead yr 2+) | ~$200–$280/month |
| Homeowners insurance (new construction, inland) | ~$200–$400/month |
| True all-in monthly | ~$725–$1,320/month |
Del Webb Naples consistently delivers one of the lowest true all-in monthly cost profiles of any large active adult community in Southwest Florida — the combination of Collier County's lower tax rate, the inland location's lower insurance costs, and Del Webb's efficient HOA structure produces carrying costs that compare favorably to Lee County alternatives with similar amenity sets.