Melanie Wright called on Thursday and suggested that we go on an adventure to Pine Island. We made the Pine Island trip right after Hurricane Charley and both of us wanted to see the progress the island has made since that devastating hit. Approaching the island on Pine Island Road from I-75, we couldn’t believe all the new strip malls, fitness facilities, professional buildings and new restaurants like Carrabba’s, Outback and Bob Evans.
New is definitely not Pine Island! We stopped at Bert’s Bar & Grill, as we did in 2004 and were taken back in time. Matlacha is one of Florida’s old fishing towns that hasn’t disappeared. You’ll see “cozy cottages, bed & breakfasts, fishermen tending to their nets, bait shops, shrimp boats.” My camera was busy recording the sights and scenes of this coastal wonder.
Two buildings house Bert’s Bar. In the 1930s, the original building was a “sweet shoppe.” This building sits very near the main road. Arrive early to maneuver your car into a spot at this popular restaurant. In 1941, the “hotel” building was built at Bert’s. World War II soldiers used to be the main customers of Bert’s in the war years.
After the war, the bar was known as “Mother’s” and later became “Harry’s Barge Inn. In the 1970s, another name took over: Tri Dill Inn.
Bert Clubb purchased the bar later and as a famous Lee County bar operator, Bert’s became the “bar of choice” for locals. A long-time employee purchased the bar from Bert many years later and sold the bar again in 2000.
Melanie and I feasted on poppers, a shrimp basket with homemade fries and grouper basket while sipping some suds. Oh and we had some fabulous “wings” too. We listened to locals chatting who knew each other, a fisherman describing his morning catch and a couple came by boat planning their 4th of July celebration. Quite a cast of characters: all charming!
In 2006 & 2007 the Pine Island Eagle voted Bert’s Best Bar & Best Burger. For more on Bert’s history and to get directions for a day trip to Pine Island, visit http://www.bertsbar.com/. Bert’s is approximately 2 hours from Sarasota. You can arrive by car or by boat!
After lunch, we continued our Pine Island adventure.
Contact Annette Smith for Sarasota Florida area information or if you are planning on purchasing property in Sarasota.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Lunch on the Water at Bert’s Bar & Grill Matlacha, FL
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Pets Permitted at Longboat Key Condos
If you are searching for a pet friendly community on Longboat Key, be sure to check with your Sarasota real estate agent. All condominiums have different rules. Snuffy Smith, Sarasota's famous pooch, is making a list with his Realtor on Longboat Key. Snuffy wants to be able to visit friends and customers without any trouble with a Home Owners Association.
So far Snuffy's list includes pet friendly environments at these popular condos on Longboat Key:
Bay Side: Fairway Bay Phase 1, Fairway Bay Phase 2, Buttonwood Cove, Harbour Villa Club, Grand Bay
Seaplace is a condo on Longboat Key that does not allow pets. With 25 Sarasota MLS listings reported, Seaplace has a great selection of condos in inventory but not if you want to bring your doggie. Prices range from $324,900 to $799,000 for two bedrooms and two baths.
Seaplace amenities include an active clubhouse, workout room, two heated swimming pools and party room in addition to Longboat Key Beach.
Residents and visitors enjoy magnificent banyan trees on the property as well as gorgeous lush tropical landscaping.
Contact Annette Smith at 941-504-3922 to view condos for sale at Seaplace. Annette shows condos on Longboat Key including Beachplace, Water Club and Beaches.
Friday, May 22, 2009
Sarasota Florida Follows Roundabout Craze
The Herald Tribune reports this morning that Sarasota Florida is following Asheville, North Carolina and Carmel Indiana as well as other cities in the roundabout craze that has hit the United States. I'll be taking on the Asheville roundabouts when I visit family there in July.
My first experience with roundabouts was about 20 years ago visiting friends in Hilton Head. It took me awhile to get use to them, but now that I understand the lanes, I like the roundabouts. In 1996, I spent a little time in France and went in circles several times in the middle of nowhere trying to go the correct direction. Rome was really quite a challenge too. Fortunately, I wasn't driving, and we made it to St. Peters and back to the Spanish steps unscathed.
Work on a Five Points roundabout in Sarasota begins this summer. I'm sure some will be against this project, but I think it will be a beautiful asset to an already beautiful city.
If you are searching the Sarasota MLS for properties and need some help, give Annette Smith a call at 941-504-3922 or send an email for a quick response.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Mother's Day at Selby Gardens in Sarasota, FL
Old and young alike enjoyed Mother's Day at Selby Gardens in Sarasota, Florida yesterday. Betsy de Manio of Coldwell Banker invited me to join her along with Elizabeth and Elliott Rose for a fun afternoon. We enjoyed the concert under the banyan trees at Selby. What fun!! The Venturas delighted the crowd with their repertoire of wonderful oldies.
Bunch was served at 11:00 am, and the Venturas performed from 1:00 pm. - 3:00 pm. The crowd gathered under the banyans sitting in folding chairs and sipped ice tea, wine and beer to upbeat tunes. Renditions of music made famous by Dean Martin, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday and others were repeatedly applauded. Children climbed in the banyan trees as the audience clapped, toe tapped and finger snapped to the lively rhythms.
At the far end of the lawn, dancers hid behind trees to jive to Chuck Berry while a delightful couple entertained the crowd with their own rendition of the swing.
Two very young dancers met for the first time under the banyan trees at Selby Gardens yesterday. Maybe we saw future contenders for "Dancing with the Stars."
The Mother's Day performance at Selby Gardens was the last concert performance this season. If you haven't been to the Gardens lately, it's a must if you're visiting Sarasota.
For Sarasota real estate information, contact Annette Smith at 941-504-3922. You can catch the Venturas on Wednesday evenings at the Ritz Carlton or Thursday at Madison's on Main Street in Sarasota.
Saturday, May 09, 2009
Sarasota Waterfront Condos on Sarasota Bay
Condos such as Essex House, Regency House, Sarabande and Tessera all have prestigious street addresses at Gulfstream Avenue and Palm Avenue. Incredible views from these Bayfront Sarasota condos command a higher price than a city view. Residents enjoy multiple amenities and are part of an urban lifestyle dreamed about by real estate web surfers.
Palm Avenue is home to restaurants, specialty shops and art galleries. Sarasota’s Main Street is a short walk away. Residents can easily take in a show at cultural events, all within a short drive too.
Gulfstream Avenue faces Sarasota Bay and Marina Jack’s. Many condominiums in this downtown area have views of the Marina as well as Sarasota’s Bayfront Park. Walk around the park and stop at the dancing dolphin fountain and make a wish – a new downtown Sarasota condo!
Daily the downtown Bayfront Park is bustling with condo owners from the Essex House, Regency House, Sarabande and Tessera. Condominium owners enjoy walk, visiting with their neighbors and shopping in downtown Sarasota. Sunsets from balconies facing West are sensational.
Active Listings Sarasota Bayfront Condos
Essex House: 3 Lowest Price: $374,900
Regency House: 3 Lowest Price: $544,000
Tessera: 3 Lowest Price: $933,000
Sarabande: 3 Lowest Price: $1,495,000
If you are searching for a waterfront condo in Sarasota, contact Annette Smith at 941-504-3922 to schedule an appointment. Other downtown waterfront properties can be found on Golden Gate Point. Condos such as La Bellasara and Grande Riviera have outstanding waterfront views.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Sarasota Neighborhoods - 14th Annual Giving Hunger the Blues
Love the Blues?
Last year in April I was in Mississippi at the Juke Joint Festival with my Mississippi Maes. My childhood friend, Francine Luckett's husband Bill owns Ground Zerio blues club with Morgan Freeman, and we were dancing on tables. This year I don't have to go so far to hear the "blues" since the 14th Annual Giving Hunger the Blues is from 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm today in Southside Village on Hillview. All proceeds from this Sarasota Florida event will go to All Faiths Food Bank and PAL Sailor Circus. No table dancing for me but the street will be perfect!
Support your community and enjoy local musicians, area restaurants, and beverage vendors. Children will delight in the games, martial arts and dance demos. Okay, grownups will enjoy the games and performances too! For a list of performers or more information: www.5oclock.net.
Subscribe to our blog or read about Sarasota community events on visit our main website. If you are searching for the perfect Sarasota home and need to check out Sarasota neighborhoods, we show properties daily on mainland Sarasota and the barrier islands of Siesta Key, Casey Key, Bird Key, Lido Key and Longboat Key, Florida.
Monday, April 06, 2009
St. Armands Real Estate - Sarasota, Florida
Real estate on St. Armands Circle is “hot.” Buyers from Europe are entering the market and scooping up some great buys. What a great location! The beach is two or three minutes from your home. You can walk to the Circle for a cup of morning coffee, go back for a swim in your pool and wander to lunch at a quaint café. Take a nap on the beach and then a quick shower before cocktails and dinner in downtown Sarasota after you’ve been to the opera. Sounds like a fairytale: it’s all here in Sarasota, Florida!
Some great streets to scope on St. Armands are: McKinley, Polk, Adams and Morningside. The Sarasota MLS currently reports homes for sale in the St. Armands and Lido areas in the $500,000s on these streets. We searched over 25 homes today priced from $575,000 to $11,300,000.
*St Armands Homes for Sale
Lowest Priced Home: $575,000
Highest Priced Home: $11,300,000
Average List Price: $2,768,433
Median List Price: $2,275,000
Drive around the Circle, park at Lido Beach and call Annette Smith for your St. Armands real estate needs. We show homes and condos on St. Armands and Lido Key regularly and are ready to assist you in the purchase of your Sarasota real estate. Call Annette at 941-504-3922 for a prompt reply.
*Pulled from Sarasota MLS data in Lido C, Lido Beach and St. Armands Subdivisions. We search Sarasota Florida real estate daily.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Sarasota Real Estate Market
Good morning from the sunny Sarasota real estate market. I took a drive over to Longboat Key early this morning to check on a condo for some owners and noticed lively activity on the downtown Bayfront as well as St. Armands Circle. I've been telling our blog readers for a few months now that our web traffic is up, as well as showings -- traffic in the area is up too!
Surfing the web this morning even Yahoo Finance pointed out that some real estate markets are heating up. Good things are starting to surface about the Sarasota real estate market:
it's a great time to buy: Interest rates are at historic lows, with high inventory levels, there's lots of choice, and prices are down.
Read entire Yahoo Finance story. Sarasota is no. 4 in overall cities searched for real estate.
If you're on the fence and think now is the time to jump off and into our Sarasota real estate market, give us a call to show you homes and condos in one of South West Florida's most beautiful markets. Sarasota offers its residents sunshine, warm weather, beaches, waterfront activities and cultural venues similar to larger cities.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Sarasota Golf Course Homes Priced From $500,000-$700,000
Real estate prices in Florida have dropped considerably in the last three years, and if you've been thinking of retiring to South West Florida, you may be pleasantly surprised at what golf course homes in Sarasota are available in country club communities between $500,000 and $700,000. Gated communities such as University Park, Laurel Oak Estates, the Oaks, and Prestancia offer outstanding community amenities as well as golf. Lakewood Ranch is another option -- a complete master planned community with dining, shopping on its Main Street and an active country club.
Some of the single family homes in University Park currently listed in the Sarasota MLS between $500,000 and $700,000 include a 2256 sq.ft. home built in 1995 to a home with over 2900 sq.ft. on a golf course/lake lot. In Laurel Oak Estates, buyers will find only 12 listings priced between $500,000 and $700,000. World-class golf, tennis and and a recently renovated Club House are some of the amenities available in this outstanding community located East of I-75.
Homes in the prestigious gated Oaks country club community, shown in Sarasota MLS data, that might be of interest include a 2600 sq.ft home with 3 bedrooms, 2 baths offered at $521,200 and a Oaks Preserve home built in 2001 that is listed at $699,000 for over 3,800 sq.ft. Check with a Realtor in Sarasota for an appointment to view any of these homes.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Sarasota Real Estate Stats Out for February 2009
The following press release was sent to local media today by the Mid-Florida Regional MLS. This is good news for the Sarasota area as buyers are definitely coming to view properties at great prices!!!!
Pending sales rise to highest level in three years in February 2009
Pending sales in the Sarasota real estate market once again rose in February 2009, hitting 782 - the highest level since April 2006, a three year period. According to statistics from the Mid-Florida Regional MLS for members of the Sarasota Association of Realtors®, 611 single family homes and 171 condominiums were reported under contract in February, almost 100 more than the 683 pending sales reported in January 2009, and 19 percent higher than the 654 pendings reported in February 2008.
Pending sales have now exceeded the 500 level for the 14th consecutive month, and the statistic bodes well for the next two or three months, when many of these pendings will become closed sales. Pending sales reflect contracts executed by buyers and sellers. The report continues to reflect a steady, strong pattern, and indicates buyers are more active in the Sarasota market even in the face of difficult economic times.
"We are encouraged by this statistic, and the word of mouth reports indicating an uptick in showings and offers," said 2009 SAR President Bill Geller. "Buyers are becoming even more aware of the many opportunities in the Sarasota market and are making offers and executing contracts. Local Realtors® are continuing to educate the public on our market, and this excellent chance to purchase a great home at a very attractive price, with interest rates at historic lows."
Overall, there were 354 sales closed in February, compared to 319 in January, for a 10 percent increase. The figure was lower than February 2008, when 418 properties changed hands. The breakdown was 260 single family homes sold, and 94 condominiums sold.
The recently enacted first-time homebuyers' tax credit of $8,000 should help spur sales to higher levels, Geller noted. Those who meet eligibility requirements and purchase a home this year prior to Dec. 1 are eligible for a tax credit of up to $8,000, and unlike the 2008 tax credit, this one does not have to be repaid. This credit, combined with historically low interest rates should help encourage more homes sales, experts aree.
"Particularly for the first time homebuyer trying to purchase in the Sarasota market, this is an amazing time to realize the dream of home ownership," said Geller. "Affordable prices, combined with very low interest rates, plus the tax credit - you really haven't seen a better time to buy for decades." The median sale price for single family homes declined to $142,000 in February 2009 from $149,950 in January 2009 - a 5.3 percent decline.
The median sales price for condominiums fell to $198,000 in February 2009 from $220,000 in January 2009, for a 10 percent drop. These statistics appear to indicate the growing number of short sales and foreclosure sales in the market, which tend to impact the median sales prices more dramatically than the normal price trends. Another important market tracker - the absorption rate of properties on the market - continues to track lower than last year at this time for both single family homes and condominiums, as inventories have declined.
Absorption rate is the number of months it would take to sell the entire remaining listed inventory in a particular category, based upon the sales for that particular month.For February 2009, the absorption rate for single family homes stood at 24.1 months, compared to 25.3 months in January 2009, and compared to 29.6 months in February 2008. For condominiums, the absorption rate was at 28.5 months, compared to 38.4 months in January 2009, and much lower than the 44.0 months reported in February 2008.
For a pdf file of this report as well as charts and graphs, click here.
For Sarasota real estate information, contact Annette Smith at 941-504-3922. We show Sarasota properties daily.
