I forgot to mention this, but further east on Canal Dr, adjacent to the Villages, is Keys Gate, which is the original Waterstone, sort of. HUGE sprawling place with neighborhoods for different budgets and very active busybody HOAs, but more secure - lots of gates to go through and security guards and all that. There are some low prices in there right now for the first time. It is a big house/small lot kind of place, but not to the extent the NEW-new construction is, and they also have a charter school that is pretty well reviewed, and their own brand new fire station and pools and all that. It wraps around in an L shape and ends by the new hospital, where there is a lot of shopping (Michael's, Bed Bath and Beyond, Sports Authority, Olive Garden, Red Lobster, movie theater, Panda Express, etc etc). Key Gate and Villages of Homestead places for sale/rent are usually represented as such in the paper. (Waterstone too). I think where I live and where I like (not necessarily the same) is considered "old Homestead" bordering on Redlands. The former mayor and some school board members and council people live around here, too. Personally, I am not interested in another payment and a bunch of rules from an HOA. But I'm a weirdo with kids with dyed and mohawk'd hair so whatever.

One thing to ask about is what electric company people are on. FPL is a MUCH MUCH MUCH lower bill that City of Homestead (which I have). I'm talking $200+ difference easy. My bill for my 2550 sf house in the summer is around $450-520 per month, and we keep it at 74 and have low ceilings. We also have pretty uninsulated french doors all over the place. But my father in law deals with $400 a month in the summer 4 blocks away, on a smaller place with better insulation.

Ok, TOO MUCH INFO -:p