Lakewood Ranch Real Estate

Sarasota's wonderful master-planned community Lakewood Ranch was all decked out for the holidays.
My real estate partner at RE/MAX Properties, Sandy Whitehead and I attended a beautiful wedding a few days ago at the Clubhouse and snapped a few pictures. The design team did an excellent job on the facility's holiday decor. Sandy and Gary Davies are seen appreciating the detail of the tree trimmings.

Not only were the trimmings on the tree, beautiful, but the display of toy soldiers was quite a delight for children, I'm sure. The spirt of the holidays was abundant even on the manicured grounds of Lakewood Ranch with rich greenery and twinkling reindeer at each entrance.

This master planned community is a special place to purchase a home in Sarasota and convenient to shopping, restaurants and of course, the professionally designed golf course. If you are searching for a golf course home, Lakewood Ranch is a must see Sarasota neighborhood.

West of the Trail -- Sarasota Neighborhood Update

Homes West of the Trail
West of the Trail are the Sarasota neighborhoods "west" of Hwy 41 or the Tamiami Trail. The most popular West of the Trail neighborhood is the community located centrally around the Morton's Plaza anchored by Morton's Gourmet Market.
Within walking distances to the Market, Fred's Restaurant, Sam Sneed's and Knick's Tavern, these single-family homes are of mixed architectural styles. Most are old Florida homes and the properties are exquisite. Older homes are being updated by adding all the designer touches in kitchens, bathrooms and fabulous new landscaping or torn down to make way for new mini-mansions. This beautiful community is a "must see" for location, location, location. At this time of the year, twinkling holiday lights are abundant.
Even Santas are on display! If you are in Sarasota for the season from Thanksgiving through New Year's, visit this wonderful location to shop, dine or have your hair done at Snuffy's favorite hairdresser,
Salon Posh on Hillview. Ask for Laurie Tiner, owner, 941-350-0384 for appointments.

Saturdays in Sarasota, we make time for a visit to Morton's, stroll through the quiet streets to view new Sarasota real estate, walk around the Plaza and indulge in a delicious pastry or a warm cup of gourmet coffee.

Evening dining at the above mentioned West of the Trail restaurants, Hillview Grille, or Chutney's is often on our calendar.

Sarasota Real Estate News

The Sarasota Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the rezoning petition for the community of Forest Lakes Country Club. The existing Club House facility will be demolished as early as next week. A new Club House, condominiums and approximately 10 new homes will built.

Longboat Key Real Estate

Last Sunday, my friend, Melanie Wright, who owns The Wright Look, in downtown Sarasota and I went for lunch at the Monkey Room at the Colony Beach and Tennis Resort on Longboat Key. You probably see listings in the Sarasota MLS regarding condos at this Gulf of Mexico Resort for under $200,000. Don't get excited -- the units at the Colony are timeshares, not for investors but if you like to vacation at the same place every year, this could be your destination. Waterfront condos with full-Gulf views start in the best resort on Longboat Key at almost a million, so remember when you see the Colony, these units can only be used by their owners for a few weeks out of the year for around $200,000.

Melanie and I decided to skip the fabulous brunch that the Colony offers every Sunday and opted for the "almost famous grouper" sandwiches. Lunch was easy. Picking a refreshing "rum" drink was a problem. The Monkey Room, which is the outdoor beach restaurant at the Colony, has a bar for the rum lovers! Melanie counted over 18 varieties of rum. Seriously, if you are driving, one is the limit.

After lunch, Melanie and I drove by Sandy's open house on Golden Gate Point. To make an appointment to view this Sarasota Bay listing, call Sandy at 941-928-3435. This Golden Bay Penthouse has all the bells and whistles and the high-tech media room is definitely top-of-the-line! Views on Golden Gate Point are outstanding and some complexes provide boat docks, a rareity these days.

The Marina and Bayfront Park are steps away from this beautiful waterfront community, and a short drive past Bird Key to the beaches of Lido Key and Longboat Key. Of course, there's St. Armands Circle too.

Sarasota Luxury Real Estate

Golden Gate Point is experiencing a major transformation. In the last five years, the skyline has changed considerably with huge high-rises priced up to $5 million towering across from the Ritz-Carlton Sarasota, all with amenities offering luxury to their owners.

My real estate partner, Sandy Whitehead, has a listing at Golden Bay priced at $2,370,000 that is fabulous with 5000 plus sq.ft. of luxury including a high-tech media room. With spectacular views of Sarasota's new Ringling Bridge, Sarasota Bay, the Gulf of Mexico, city lights and gorgeous sunsets, this luxury condo is within a quick drive to Sarasota's cultural attractions, dining and shopping.

Sandy Whitehead is with RE/MAX Properties and is the co-listing agent.

Unconditional Surrender

After coffee at Starbuck's this morning, Snuffy and I went back to the Bayfront Park to get our first view of "Unconditional Surrender"! I clicked away at this awesome sculpture until Snuffy was barking loudly enough that early morning commuters were surely annoyed. If you can possibly visit the Park and stroll along the Bay, all the statutes are worth your time. The size, the detail, the energy of the artist -- this sailor just takes your breath away.

Snuffy's friends were all out with their owners this morning, and we said hello to two Scotties before wandering around the Park enjoying the fabulous vistas of new Sarasota condos glistening in the early morning sunrise. The Ritz-Carlton Sarasota and the majestic new condos at Golden Gate Point all provide drama to a changing skyline and a "new" exciting Sarasota. Passing the marina, I noticed the boat named, "Imagine Sarasota." Imagine Paradise -- that's Sarasota!



Ritz-Carlton Condos from $1.3 Million to $5 Million



Golden Gate Point Condos from $800s-$2.6 Million

Sarasota Season Begins

Third Invitational Exhibition of Monumental Works of Art

Interested in art? Sarasota's Bayfront Park is host to 27 contemporary sculptures. Today is opening day, and the Bayfront Park is busy with families picnicking on the grounds, plenty of four-legged friends for our Snuffy to enjoy and a huge tent bustling with activity for the brunch being served at 11 a.m. today, followed by a unveiling ceremony of Seward Johnson's "Unconditional Surrender," a huge painted replica of Alfred Eisenstaedt's famous 1945 photograph of a sailor passionately kissing a nurse on V-J Day in New York's Times Square. You've seen the picture forever if you are a baby boomer! We missed the unveiling so will have to return to the Park for our own view.

My son, Scott, Snuffy and I strolled around the Park for almost two hours this morning and didn't see all the sculptures. More on the blog with additional pictures and captions later just in case you don't get to Sarasota for the exhibit which runs from today through May 31.

Scott snapped this shot of Snuffy with his realtor checking out Sarasota waterfront real estate for sale!

Sarasota Home Prices

Median Homes Price Dips in September

After a breather in July and a whopping spike in September, according to the Sarasota Association of Realtors MLS statistics, Sarasota's median sales price dipped in September to $352,500 compared to $285,000 in September 2004. Single family homes sold in Sarasota rose to 523 in September of this year compared to last year's figure of 497 for September. Read more information related to prices in Sarasota regarding median prices and search for new Sarasota MLS listings in our area.

Neighborhood Update-Forest Lakes Country Club

Pending final zoning approval Forest Lakes Country Club's new owners are on track for the proposed redevelopment of the clubhouse, additional condos and approximately eleven houses. The project was unaimously approved at a October Planning Commission meeting. The clubhouse and course are closed but the owners are continuing to maintain the course during the closure. The length of the closure depends on the rezoning of the project, if successful, and construction timeframes associated with the condos, the re-do of several holes, and the 11 new homes.

The Planning Commission in Sarasota only makes recommendations for approval/denial of a project; the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) makes the final decision. The BCC should hear the proposal by late November or early December. Following the rezone process, the owners will then need to seek Site and Development construction approval for the project before any major construction may begin. We'll keep you posed as this development would clearly enhance an already lovely family golf course community.

Sarasota Real Estate News

Hello and Welcome to the Sarasota Real Estate News Blog!

I hope to be able to post new listings and updates to interest anyone looking to buy or sell a home or condo in beautiful Sarasota, Florida.

Visit my website for Luxury Homes and Condos on Siesta Key, Longboat Key, Casey Key,
St Armands, Lido Key - all Florida real estate needs including buying, selling, information, free MLS listings available on the site.

Search like a realtor with no sign up unless you want more info!

Annette Smith REALTOR®, e-PRO
941-504-3922
annette@annettesellssarasota.com
http://www.annettesellssarasota.com/