By Scout Eveleth,
Licensed Florida Realtor (FL License # BK3491000)
Dabney is a 2023 village in the Southern Area near Sawgrass Grove — but uniquely in Lake County with a ~1.6% tax rate (most southern villages are Sumter County at ~1.0–1.29%). Known for mature oak hammocks. Dabney Recreation has an adult pool and communal spaces. Mickylee and Jubilee short game courses offer fast 18-hole play. Bond assessments vary widely by unit — most sections run roughly $1,593 to $3,111 per year, while The Enclave at Dabney section is markedly higher at about $5,258 — verify by address.
Individually verified. The county, ZIP, and tax figures on this page are checked against county records, and the bond status is checked against district bond records at districtgov.org. See the lookup tools Scout uses →
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Dabney is one of the few southern villages built within a mature oak hammock landscape. The developer preserved the existing tree canopy during construction, which gives the neighborhood a different feel than typical newer southern villages — denser shade, more established character from day one.
The village has its own recreation split between two facilities. Dabney Recreation serves residents with an adult pool and communal gathering spaces. Franklin Recreation adds a family pool, outdoor court, and lawn game areas — both within a short golf cart ride.
Mickylee and Jubilee are two 18-hole short game courses in the Sawgrass Grove cluster. Short game courses are faster-paced than executive courses and popular for residents who want a full round without the time commitment of a championship layout. Ezell Recreation and Clifton Cove Putting Course are also nearby.
The Lake County tax rate is the main tradeoff buyers need to understand. At approximately 1.6%, Dabney's annual property tax on a $400,000 home runs roughly $2,400 more per year than an equivalent Sumter County home. Combined with the annual bond assessment — roughly $1,593 to $2,885 in most sections, above $3,000 in a few, and about $5,258 in The Enclave at Dabney — annual carrying costs are higher here than in most southern villages. That's a real number worth calculating before you fall in love with the oak canopy.
Dabney is in the Southern Area of The Villages, near Sawgrass Grove town square. Despite being geographically in the southern part of The Villages, Dabney is in Lake County — most other southern villages are in Sumter County. ZIP code is 34762.
Dabney was built in 2023, making it one of the newer villages in The Villages. All homes were built under current Florida building codes.
Dabney has four home types: Patio Villa, Courtyard Villa, Veranda, and Designer Home — one of the broader home type mixes in the Sawgrass Grove corridor.
Sawgrass Grove is the closest town square, a short golf cart ride away. Eastport is accessible further south. Both offer free nightly entertainment.
Mickylee and Jubilee are two 18-hole short game courses in the Sawgrass Grove cluster. Clifton Cove Putting Course is nearby. Championship courses at Southern Oaks are in the broader southern area.
County lines in The Villages do not follow the developer's north/central/south geographic model exactly. Dabney sits within a Lake County boundary despite being in what is otherwise the southern development corridor. This means the effective property tax rate is approximately 1.6% — higher than Sumter County's typical 1.0–1.29%. Always verify county by property address.
It varies by unit. District schedules show annual bond assessments of roughly $1,593 to $2,885 across most of the village, three units between $3,040 and $3,111, and The Enclave at Dabney section at about $5,258 per year. All are scheduled to reach zero in 2053 — verify the exact amount for any specific home before making an offer.
I can pull the current bond balance on any home here, show you what's active, and give you a real read on whether this village fits your priorities.
