Sanctuary by the Lake is a gated single-residential community off US 17 in Winter Haven, Polk County, on Lake Rochelle, one of the lakes in the Winter Haven Chain of Lakes (multiple Winter Haven real estate and builder guides, 2026). It is a small community rather than a sprawling master plan, which keeps the read focused on the individual home and lot.
The community was built by Southern Homes, with listing and builder guides citing construction roughly between 2020 and 2023 (Zillow community listing and Winter Haven listing guides, 2026). Floor plans run from compact homes to larger plans, with listing guides citing a range of roughly 1,176 to 2,891 square feet; confirm the exact size, bedroom count, and lot for any specific home.
Because this is a small community, value is made or lost on the home and the lot, not the address alone. The drivers are the floor plan and condition, whether a home is lakefront or interior, the lake and dock access, and the HOA. Listing guides report a modest monthly HOA and indicate no CDD, but confirm the current dues, the lake and boat rules, and any flood line from the community documents and for the exact address.
The pitch is gated lakefront living with Chain of Lakes access and easy reach to central Winter Haven, US 17, and the wider Polk County job and attraction corridor. The work is the diligence: read the HOA and lake rules, check the FEMA flood zone for waterfront and low lots, and price the home condition against comparable sales inside the community before you buy the view.
