HomeBuying and Selling a Home in High Vista

Buying and Selling a Home

in High Vista

Information for Sellers, Buyers and Real Estate Agents

High Vista at Ridgewood Lakes is a 55+ deed restricted, and age-restricted community operated in compliance with all applicable state and federal laws.

Benefits of living in High Vista

Homeowners in High Vista belong to the High Vista at Ridgewood Lakes Homeowners Association, Inc. Owners enjoy our beautiful Clubhouse with ballroom, library, pub with pool table, card room, workout room and craft room. Outdoor amenities include a pool, spa, outdoor grills, shuffleboard lanes, table tennis, bocce ball, pickleball and tennis courts. These amenities are for the sole and exclusive use of High Vista residents and are not available to Ridgewood Lakes residents who own properties in other Ridgewood Lakes subdivisions. (Del Webb, The Forest, The Pointe, Atria, etc.)

High Vista homeowners also belong to the Ridgewood Lakes Master Association, Inc. Amenities for this association include a 24-hour guarded security entrance, a beautifully maintained boulevard, and use of the tennis and pickleball courts on Ridgewood Lakes Boulevard, across from the entrance of the White Heron Golf Course.

Before Listing your High Vista Home for Sale

Make sure that your home is in compliance with the Architectural Control Standards by completing the following:

The exterior of the residence is free of mold/dirt, stains on the fascia board, soffits, gutters, downspouts, exterior walls, lanai screens, driveway and sidewalks.
All landscaping and trees are pruned and that there is adequate ground cover placed in all the landscape beds.
The irrigation system is in good working order.
The lawn has adequate irrigation, fertilization and weed control.
There are no visible defects to the exterior of the residence or other violations of the Architectural Control Standards.

When Listing your High Vista Home for Sale

Make sure that your realtor is aware of the following Signage Requirements.

House for Sale signs – Can be placed in the front yard. Signage shall only be a metal frame, with a white background and blue lettering. There is only 1 sign allowed per yard. House for Sale signs with posts installed into the ground are prohibited in High Vista.
Open House signs – Can be placed on High Vista Street corners as directional aides, no earlier than two hours prior to the Open House and must be removed immediately following the Open House hours. Open House signage can be no larger than 18” x 24” with a white background, blue text and only the company logo. The High Vista HOA reserves the right to remove and dispose of any real estate agent signs left in a common or right-of-way area, including along Ridgewood Lakes Blvd.

Make sure that your realtor knows of the following residency requirements.

All occupants, including those leasing a property (6 month minimum lease), must be approved (“age verified”) by the President of the High Vista Homeowners Association, Inc.

The High Vista Board may approve occupancy for a person who is 55 years of age or older (at least one occupant must be 55 years of age or older.)
Occupants must complete and sign the Certificate of Residency form and provide a copy of a valid, pictured, government issued identification (driver’s license, or state issued identification card).
In signing the Certificate of Residency, new owners will affirm that they will abide by the CC&Rs and will adhere to maintaining their property to the Architectural Control Standards as set forth by the Board of Directors.
High Vista may approve persons 40 years of age or older to co-occupy a residence with an occupant who has been approved as described in #1 above.
All occupants of a home must be approved and registered with the High Vista Homeowners Association, Inc. prior to their move in date.
The homes in High Vista are single family, ranch style homes, multi-family occupancy is not allowed.

When buying a home in High Vista

Buyers should know the following information.

Certificate of Residency Application - The buyer(s) must fully complete and sign the Certificate of Residency (COR) Application. Completed CORs and supporting documents are to be submitted to the High Vista Community Association Manager.

Certificate of Residency (COR) Application

High Vista Highlights of CC&R's - New Buyers Signature(s)

New Owner(s) Orientation Meeting - New owners must schedule a meeting to secure their welcome packet, their login access to the High Vista website and clubhouse access cards. Owners will review the contents of the packet with the Community Association Manager and the Chairman of the Architectural Review Committee.

New Owner Frequently Asked Questions

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What will my monthly/annual HOA fees be?

High Vista was designated as a separate “Village” under the Ridgewood Lakes Master Declaration – a significant designation because it allows High Vista to have its own homeowners association, control its own common areas, impose dues on High Vista members and control High Vista’s own finances.

Residents of High Vista are also members of the Ridgewood Lakes Master Association and are obligated to support the Master Association’s functions that benefit High Vista residents (e.g., staffing the gatehouse, maintaining Ridgewood Lakes Boulevard, and other common areas and amenities).

Therefore, High Vista residents pay semi-annual dues to the Ridgewood Lakes HOA and monthly to the High Vista HOA.

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Are there currently any “Special Assessments” by the High Vista Homeowners Association or the Ridgewood Lakes Master Association?

No.

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Will I pay a “one-time initiation fee” or a CDD fee to buy a home in High Vista at Ridgewood Lakes?

No.

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Can my children/grandchildren visit me?

Yes.

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How long can they stay?

Visitors/guests/family may stay up to 30 days in a calendar year.

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Can my guests use the amenities at the Clubhouse?

Yes, your guests may use the amenities at the Clubhouse, all guests must wear the guest identity bracelet for use during their Clubhouse visit. For more information on guests using the Clubhouse and its amenities, refer to the applicable policy.

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Am I permitted to rent my new home when I’m not using it?

Per the CC&Rs of the High Vista Homeowners Association, Inc. homes may be leased to renters in compliance with the age requirements for a minimum 6-month lease period. This policy is strictly enforced, and no sub-leasing is allowed.

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Can I bring my dog? If so, are there any restrictions?

Yes, per Article X, Sec. 19 of the CC&Rs, “… small dogs and cats under 25 pounds shall be permitted, with a maximum of (2) pets per lot. Owner is responsible to keep such pet on a leash and immediately remove and dispose of any excrement of such pet.”

All dogs must be registered with the HOA, by filling out a Pet Registration Form and submitting it to the Community Association Manager along with a photograph of the dog.

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Can I build a fence?

No. One of the many benefits of living in High Vista is that your lawn cutting is included in your HOA fee. Therefore, fences, outside structures (sheds), and storing items outside are not permitted.

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Can turn my Lanai into an enclosed four-season room?

Yes. However, this will require prior approval from the Architectural Review Committee along with the applicable Permits from the Polk County Building Division.

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As an owner in High Vista what are my responsibilities for the exterior maintenance of my residence?

Per the CC&Rs of the Ridgewood Lakes Master Association and the CC&Rs of the High Vista Homeowners Association, Inc. the High Vista Board of Directors maintains Architectural Control of the exterior of the homes.

Therefore, owners are required to continuously maintain their trees, shrubs, landscape beds and lawns by providing adequate pruning, weed control, fertilization, and irrigation. The home’s exterior walls, doors, gutters, soffits, fascia boards, exterior walls, driveways, and sidewalks must be kept free of mold, dirt, and rust stains. Owners are also required to repaint the exterior of their home when the current paint is fading or stained.

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Architectural Control, what does that mean?

Basically, it means that prior to doing any exterior projects around your home you will need to do the following.

Check with the High Vista Architectural Review Committee’s Procedural Manual and see if what you what to do is covered in the manual.
Copies of the ARC Procedure Manuals are available to checkout (48hrs.) from the library or is viewable online on our webpage.
If your proposed project is covered in the manual, please read carefully what is allowed and what supporting documentation is required with your ARC Application, to the ARC Committee. If your proposed project is not covered in the manual, please contact the ARC Committee and ask if it is allowable.
Submit your ARC Application and supporting documentation to the ARC Application Box in the Communications Room, inside the Clubhouse.
The ARC Committee will review your application and supporting documentation. If it is in compliance with the ARC Standards, your application will be approved, and you will be notified.
If you have any questions on your proposed project, please contact a member of the ARC.
Warning, please do not sign any vendor contract and/or make any deposit or down-payment until you have received Approval from the ARC Committee.

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Are golf carts permitted? Do they need to be insured & “legal”?

Yes, High Vista and Ridgewood Lakes is a “Golf Cart Community”. Properly insured golf carts in safe working order are welcome in High Vista. Please refer to the High Vista Golf Cart Usage Policy for more information.

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Is High Vista a Walkable Community?

Yes, High Vista and Ridgewood Lakes are a very walk-able community, with miles of well-maintained streets for walkers and cyclists.

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Is smoking permitted at the High Vista Clubhouse and Amenity Center?

The Association provides a smoke-free environment for its members and guests. The Clubhouse, pool/spa, High Vista Park and all common areas are designated as non-smoking areas.

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What is the policy in High Vista on holding Garage, Moving, or Estate Sales?

The Ridgewood Lakes Master Association only allows the communities within Ridgewood Lakes to “Open the Front Gate” once a year to each of the sub-associations’ within Ridgewood Lakes. Therefore, every other year, the High Vista Benefits Committee holds a Community Wide Garage Sale, sometime in late winter before our snowbirds leave us.

High Vista residents with prior approval from the HOA President are allowed to have Moving and Estate Sales, these are open only to residents of Ridgewood Lakes. For more information on this, please see the Moving and Estate Sale Policy.

*Above information was updated as of 02/20/2025 and is subject to change. It is the responsibility of the seller/seller’s agent and buyer/buyer’s agent to verify that information provided is in accordance with current High Vista Homeowners Association, Inc. rules, regulations, guidelines, and practices.