The Fairways at Lake Ridge in Lakewood Township, NJ: A Guide to This Adult Community

The Fairways at Lake Ridge is a gated 55+ community in Lakewood Township, Ocean County, built by the Kokes Organization from 1998 to 2017. It has attached courtyard homes and single-family homes, from about 1,300 to 3,050 square feet, and a large clubhouse with indoor and outdoor pools. The community backs up to Eagle Ridge Golf Course, which is a separate course and not part of the association.

I'm Dennis Mark Interdonato with Keller Williams Realty Ocean Living. Here is what the published sources say about the homes, the amenities and the area.

Where The Fairways at Lake Ridge Is

The Fairways is in Lakewood Township, about 2 miles from Route 70, and 55housing places the entrance off Massachusetts Avenue. Lakewood Township sets the tax rate and provides municipal services.

The community has three parts: the attached courtyard homes, the single-family homes, and The Masters at the Fairways, a newer section of 93 single-family homes built from about 2016 with its own gated entrance. Ocean County's planning list shows The Masters separately, but the builder's listing describes it as part of The Fairways at Lake Ridge.

The Homes

55places counts 1,114 homes. 55housing breaks the original community into 140 courtyard homes and 984 single-family homes, plus the 93 homes of The Masters, so the totals do not line up exactly. Ask the association for the current count if it matters to you.

55places names 28 floor plans. The two attached courtyard plans are the Essex (1,352 square feet) and the Fairfax (1,508 square feet), each with two bedrooms, two baths and a one-car garage.

The 26 single-family plans fall into three broad groups:

• About 1,300 to 1,520 square feet, two bedrooms and two baths: the Ashford, Andover, Barrington II, Newbury I, Newbury II and Cambridge I. Most have a one-car garage; the Newbury II has two.
• About 1,650 to 2,120 square feet, two bedrooms (some with a den) and two baths, with two-car garages: the Cambridge, Claridge, Claridge II, Congressional, Montauk, Dartmouth, Saratoga, Highland, Oakmont I, Fairways I, Westport, Fairways IV and Westchester I.
• About 2,160 to 3,050 square feet, mostly three bedrooms with two and a half to three baths: the Bethpage, Fairways III, Oakmont II, Doral, Fairways II, Westchester II and Augusta. The Doral has two bedrooms plus a den and a three-car garage.

Clubhouse and Amenities

55housing describes an 18,600 square foot clubhouse, since renovated, and a 5,669 square foot annex building. 55places and 55housing list:

• Indoor and outdoor pools
• A fitness center
• A ballroom, library, card room and billiards
• An arts and crafts studio
• Courts for tennis, pickleball, shuffleboard and bocce
• Walking trails and water features at the entrance

Fees and Rules

Association fees at The Fairways at Lake Ridge vary by section and home, and they change from year to year as the budget is set, so any number you find online may already be out of date. Ask me for the current fees on any home you are considering and I will get the figure from the association or the listing paperwork before you make an offer.

I have not read the association's governing documents, so ask for the written age rule before you make an offer and have your attorney review it.

Shopping, Medical Care and Getting Around

• Groceries: Stop & Shop, 2360 Lakewood Road in Toms River, is about 1.3 miles away in a straight line.
• Hospital: Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus, 600 River Avenue in Lakewood, is also about 1.3 miles away.
• County bus: Ocean County's Ocean Ride routes OC 4 Lakewood and OC 3 serve Lakewood. The Lakewood Bus Terminal on 1st Street is about 2.5 miles away.

Before You Buy: Questions for Any Age-Restricted Community

I walk every buyer through the same short list when we look at a community like The Fairways at Lake Ridge. This is general guidance, not legal advice, and your attorney will review the association documents with you.

• The age requirement. Ask for the written occupancy rule, including how it treats a younger spouse, a caregiver and long-staying guests.
• The fees and the budget. Ask what the fee covers, how large the reserve fund is and whether an assessment is planned.
• Costs at closing. Ask whether a capital contribution, transfer fee or resale certificate fee applies to buyers.
• Everyday rules. Ask about pets, renting, exterior changes and parking.
• Which section. Ask whether the home is a courtyard home, an original single-family home or part of The Masters, and whether fees or rules differ between them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a golf course at The Fairways at Lake Ridge?

The community backs up to Eagle Ridge Golf Course, which is a separate course. It is not an association amenity.

Is The Fairways at Lake Ridge gated?

Yes. 55places lists it as gated, and The Masters section has its own gated entrance.

What size are the homes?

The courtyard homes are 1,352 and 1,508 square feet. The single-family plans run from 1,308 to 3,048 square feet.

What is The Masters at the Fairways?

A section of 93 single-family homes built from about 2016 by the same builder, inside The Fairways at Lake Ridge.

Does everyone in the home have to be 55?

Ask the association for the written rule. I will help you get it before you make an offer.

Thinking About The Fairways at Lake Ridge? Let's Talk

I'm Dennis Mark Interdonato, a REALTOR® with Keller Williams Realty Ocean Living. I help buyers and sellers across Lakewood, Toms River, Brick and the rest of Ocean County. If you would like to see homes for sale in The Fairways at Lake Ridge, compare it with other adult communities nearby, or learn what your current home could sell for before you move, call or text me at (732) 598-2672 or send me a message. You can also browse the other communities in my Adult Communities guide.