Lennar Homes recently acquired a 32-acre tree farm near Homestead where it plans to construct 283 townhomes in the second phase of the Artesa master-planned community, per the South Florida Business Journal.

The developer filed an application with Miami-Dade County in 2017 for the project, which received approval earlier this year. The first phase, near the Florida Turnpike exit onto Southwest 112th Avenue, included townhomes ranging in size from 1,441 to 1,668 square feet priced from $240,990s to $255,990s. Details for the second phase have not yet been released, but plans call for constructing the townhomes in a two-story building along with building 31,427 square feet of commercial space.

Homestead, located south of Miami and one of the last communities before entering the Florida Keys, and the surrounding area has been the site of several new housing communities in recent times. Lennar is also constructing Isola, a townhome and villa development, and Portovita, a single-family home development. D.R. Horton is building Bailes Cove and Rosecrest, two single-family home developments. Many of the new homes on the market are priced well below $300,000, making them an affordable alternative to other locations.

Many long-time Florida residents remember Homestead as one of the areas destroyed by Hurricane Andrew in 1992. These days, it’s known more for being a place with lower-priced housing and more rural surroundings than other parts of Miami-Dade County.

If you’re considering moving to the Homestead area, here are some things you might want to know.

It’s Affordable, But It May Also Be Far from Your Job

Typical home in Homestead

Homestead’s population is about 65,000 with a median home value of $141,300. This is well below the national median home value ($184,700) and other Miami communities, like Kendall, which is $312,800. If you work in Downtown Miami, however, the lower cost of housing comes with a long commute. In rush hour traffic, the drive takes 1 to 1.5 hours. While public transportation is an option—there are buses in Homestead—it will likely lengthen your commuting time.

It Has Unincorporated Cities Within the City

Everglades National Park photo by Shutterstock

Although they don’t have as much name recognition as Homestead, the unincoporated cites of Redland, Leisure City, and Princeton are located there. Redland—which locals call “The Redlands”—is the region surrounding the entrance to Everglades National Park, and Naranja—the Spanish word for orange—has a population of 10,000. Leisure City is near Coral Castle Museum, and Princeton has a population of 28,000.

It’s Close to Farmland

Farmland in Homestead 

While it’s days of being a small town are over, Homestead is still in close proximity to farmland, and the town retains some of the charm of its rural past. Probably the most recognized farm is Knaus Berry Farm, which began as a small roadside stand in 1956. Today, tourists flock to the farm (usually on their way to another local spot or their way home) to enjoy the variety of baked goods, jellies, and breads.

If you’re in the mood to experience another type of farm, then you might want to visit Everglades Alligator Farm, where you can take an airboat tour through the Everglades or watch the alligator show. The farm collects alligator eggs to sell to other farms in Florida, and it’s one of the few farms in the world that doesn’t process the animals it protects.

You Can Satisfy Your Need for Speed

Homestead Miami Speedway photo by Shutterstock

NASCAR fans know that the Homestead Miami Speedway is where Championship Weekend is held every November. But the speedway holds events throughout the year, such as Fast Lane Friday, which is a legal drag racing event open to car enthusiasts age 18 and older with a valid driver’s license. Other events, such as the Rusty Wallace Racing Experience, gives the chance for novice drivers to experience car racing after receiving some classroom experience.

You May See Planes—or Military Personnel

Homestead Air Reserve Base photo by Shutterstock

The Homestead Air Reserve Base has long been considered a vital part of the area, bringing jobs and fueling economic growth. Currently, there are 1,100 full-time employees who live in the area and another 1,700 Air Force reservists who drill monthly at the base. Each year, the base holds the Wings Over Homestead Air and Space Show which features air demonstrations.