Comparing Regency by Toll Brothers and Esprit by Kolter: Price, Style, and Lifestyle

If you’re 55 or better and searching for the right address inside Avenir, you’ve likely already narrowed your list to two standout communities: Regency by Toll Brothers and Esprit by Kolter. Both are age-qualified, both start from the $700s, and both promise the resort lifestyle Avenir has become known for — but they are not the same neighborhood wearing two different names. As we head into the final months of 2026, buyers are moving quickly on both, and understanding the real differences between them will save you time, money, and a lot of second-guessing.

I’m Jean Taveras, broker-owner of Atlis Realty, and I’ve walked the model homes, sat through the sales presentations, and toured both communities with clients who had very different priorities. This guide breaks down exactly how Regency and Esprit compare — so you can walk into your own tour already knowing the right questions to ask.

The Quick Comparison: Regency vs. Esprit at a Glance

Both communities sit inside Avenir, the 4,700-acre master-planned community reshaping the landscape of northern Palm Beach Gardens. Both are restricted to residents 55 and up, and both are priced from the $700s. From there, the paths diverge:

Regency by Toll Brothers is the more established of the two 55+ enclaves, with 469 homes planned and a builder — Toll Brothers — whose name is synonymous with luxury construction throughout South Florida. Current data shows Regency homes averaging around $916,000, reflecting a mature product line with a track record of resale strength and design consistency. Toll Brothers has been building in this region for years, and Regency benefits from that institutional experience: predictable timelines, a broad menu of proven floor plans, and amenities designed around a slightly larger resident base.

Esprit by Kolter is the newer arrival, and it’s carving out its own identity fast. Kolter Homes has positioned Esprit as the most personalized 55+ community in Avenir — floor plans range from 2 to 4 bedrooms, with living areas starting around 1,911 square feet, and buyers are given an unusually deep bench of design and structural options to make each home feel custom. Esprit also leans hard into resort-style dining as a lifestyle centerpiece, which is a meaningfully different amenity philosophy than what you’ll find at Regency.

Neither community is “better” in absolute terms — they’re built for slightly different buyers. That’s exactly why touring both, ideally back-to-back, matters so much before you sign anything.

Price and Value: What the $700s Actually Buys You

On paper, Regency and Esprit look like price twins — both start from the $700s. But “starting from” is doing a lot of work in that sentence, and the way each builder structures pricing tells you something important about the product.

Regency’s average sale price hovering around $916,000 suggests a community where buyers are frequently moving well beyond base pricing into larger floor plans, premium lots, and upgraded finishes — consistent with Toll Brothers’ reputation for offering a wide range of home sizes within a single community. If you’re the kind of buyer who wants a bigger footprint, a den, or a three-car garage, Regency’s established plan library likely has you covered, though it will push you toward the middle and upper end of that pricing spectrum.

Esprit’s pricing, still anchored in the $700s, is paired with a stronger emphasis on personalization rather than sheer square footage. Kolter’s approach lets buyers build value through design choices — structural options, interior finishes, and layout flexibility — rather than simply moving up to a larger base plan. For buyers who want a smaller, more efficient footprint that still feels custom and high-end, Esprit can offer excellent value without the price creep that comes from jumping floor plan tiers.

The bottom line: if resale data and a longer builder track record matter most to you, Regency’s numbers give you a clearer historical picture. If you want to control your price point through customization rather than square footage, Esprit’s model may stretch your budget further. Either way, get current, verified pricing before you fall in love with a plan — availability inside Avenir is moving, and the $700s starting price is a moving target, not a guarantee.

Design Philosophy: Toll Brothers’ Proven Playbook vs. Kolter’s Personalization Focus

This is where the two communities really start to feel different once you’re standing inside them.

Toll Brothers built its national reputation on refined, timeless architecture and a design process that’s efficient without feeling cookie-cutter. Regency’s homes reflect that DNA — thoughtfully laid out single-story living, well-proportioned primary suites, and a design center experience that lets you select from a curated (but not overwhelming) set of finishes. It’s a great fit for buyers who want a beautiful, high-quality home without spending months agonizing over decisions.

Kolter’s approach at Esprit is intentionally more expansive. The marketing language isn’t exaggerating when it calls this the highest level of personalization of any 55+ community in Avenir — buyers can shape floor plans, flex spaces, and finish packages to a degree that feels closer to semi-custom building. If you have a very specific vision for how you want to age in place, entertain, or work from home, Esprit’s flexibility gives you more room to get it exactly right.

Neither approach is right or wrong — it depends on whether you find more comfort in a proven, streamlined process (Regency) or in maximum creative control (Esprit).

Lifestyle and Amenities: Resort Living, Two Different Ways

Both communities deliver on Avenir’s resort-style promise, but the emphasis differs.

Regency residents can expect the kind of comprehensive amenity package Toll Brothers is known for — clubhouse facilities, fitness centers, resort-style pools, and social programming built around a 469-home community, which creates a robust, active population of neighbors and a full activity calendar. With a larger resident base, Regency tends to offer more scale: more clubs, more classes, more critical mass for the kind of active-adult social life many buyers are specifically seeking.

Esprit, by contrast, is putting real weight behind dining as a lifestyle anchor — positioning resort-style food and beverage offerings as a defining amenity rather than an afterthought. For buyers who see dining out, entertaining, and casual social gathering as central to their daily life, that focus can make Esprit feel more like a boutique resort than a traditional active-adult community.

Location-wise, both communities benefit from Avenir’s position in northern Palm Beach Gardens, just minutes from PGA Boulevard’s shopping, dining, and medical facilities, with quick access to I-95 for commuting or weekend trips south to West Palm Beach or north toward Jupiter and the Treasure Coast. The Atlantic beaches are a short, scenic drive east, and Avenir’s own internal trail systems and green space mean residents of either community get plenty of outdoor living without leaving the neighborhood. Review the full Avenir site plan to see exactly how Regency and Esprit sit relative to the community’s central amenity core and main entrances.

Who Should Choose Regency? Who Should Choose Esprit?

After touring both with dozens of clients, here’s the honest breakdown I give buyers:

Regency by Toll Brothers tends to appeal to buyers who want: a larger home footprint with room to grow into upgraded finishes, the confidence of a builder with a long South Florida track record, strong potential resale comparables given the community’s size and maturity, and a bigger, more established social community from day one.

Esprit by Kolter tends to appeal to buyers who want: maximum control over how their home looks and functions, a slightly smaller, more efficient footprint without sacrificing luxury finishes, a dining-forward, resort-boutique lifestyle, and the appeal of being an early resident in a community that’s still shaping its identity.

Some buyers even split the difference by touring both and letting the actual walk-through — not the marketing — make the decision. That’s always my recommendation.

Don’t Forget the Rest of Avenir

While Regency and Esprit are the two dedicated 55+ options inside Avenir, they’re not the only communities worth knowing about if you’re exploring the broader master plan. Avenir also includes luxury offerings from GL Homes, Kenco Communities, Akel Homes, DiVosta, and more, each with its own price point and design philosophy. If you want the full lay of the land before narrowing your search, our complete 2026 Avenir guide and our directory of all Avenir builders are the best places to start.