A mixed-use development is a type of planned community that includes many different types of properties. These are generally located in tourist-heavy areas, and they might be large developments with many different types of housing as well as commercial space. A typical mixed-use development will have homes for sale, apartment complexes, townhouses, restaurants and shopping options. Each of these places takes on its own special identity depending upon what the developer wants for the property. Mixed-use developments are meant to provide a town-like experience. People who choose to live there can usually count on having almost everything they need right within the development. There will be a strong community feel among the people who call these places home. The properties can sometimes be targeted toward certain types of buyers. For example, some mixed-use developments in Florida are designed specifically for people who have retired to the area from the northeast. These developments are designed to incorporate certain elements of northeast living.