Florida Condos for Sale

Ft. Lauderdale Real Estate

My Sarasota realtor and I took some time off to view some new Ft. Lauderdale real estate. Our Captain Bill bought a new Sea Ray which he docks at his condo at the Venetian in Ft. Lauderdale. Condos currently on the market in this gorgeous highrise are from as low as $500,000 for two bedrooms and two baths. The boat dock for "Paid Time Off" is $2,000 per year. What a deal! If you are searching for Sarasota real estate, similar properties would be much higher.

While in Ft. Lauderdale, we visited with our friend and realtor from Boca Raton, Caesar Parisi of Lang Realty. For the best of east coast Florida real estate, Caesar will graciously handle your real estate needs. With over 14 years of experience, he knows his Boca homes for sale. Caesar gave us quite an education and told us all about Delray Beach which he feels is the new "hot spot" on Florida's east coast. Call Caesar for any information on Delray Beach condos.

Captain Bill cruised us down the intercoastal to check out the preconstruction homes and took my realtor to dinner in Pompano Beach at Houston's. She hasn't had dinner at a Houston's since moving to Florida from Atlanta many years ago. The "traditional" salad and Houston's Hawaiian were yummy!


My Sarasota realtor and I were only gone for two days, and I was so happy to be back to my Sarasota home because I wasn't allowed in the Venetian and was banished to the cabin of the boat for two days except when I was helping Captain Bill pilot Paid Time Off. My Sarasota home is just the best!

Longboat Key Real Estate

Reduced Sales Prices - Buyers Market

Prices in Sarasota have settled and the buyers are starting to look again. A condo closed this week on Longboat Key at Islands West for $1,025,000. Searching the Sarasota MLS, for full Gulf view sales in the last week on Longboat Key, resulted in this two-bedroom 1563 sq.ft. unit. The condo originally was listed for $1,249,000, reduced to the last listing price of $1,199,00 and final sales price was $1,025,000. We are in a buyers market and it's a great time to start your search for a Gulf of Mexico condo.

Two bedroom, two bath condos on Longboat Key are currently listed from $489,500 at Beach Harbor Club to $5 million at Beau Claire. There are 135 units available on the Gulf of Mexico with full Gulf views. The better the view, higher the sq.footage, better the condition, etc., prices get closer to that $5 million high.

For information about the Sarasota, Florida area, Longboat Key real estate, or any of Sarasota's barrier island, send me an email.

West of the Trail, Sarasota, Florida

Quiet Central Retreat

This West of the Trail neighborhood has been previewed previously and is still one of the hottest neighborhoods in Sarasota. With old Florida homes being renovated or demolished for new mini-mansions, this neighborhood because of its close proximity to Sarasota Memorial Hospital, downtown Sarasota, shops and restaurants of Southside Village and the ever popular beaches is still at the top of the showing list. Our new listing on Floyd Street has three bedrooms and two baths, lush landscaping on one of the best streets of the area. There's room for a pool too. Renovations have been done with a new garage addition completed in 2003. The home is owned by a licensed Florida real estate agent and offered for sale at $695,000.

According to the MLS statistics, currently there are 123 homes for sale in Area 41. Prices range from $379,900 to $9,950,000. There are waterfront homes in Harbour Acres which is part of this West of this Trail neighborhood.

Sarasota Golf Course Homes

Golf Cottages at the Founders Club Preview

Buyers who sign preconstruction contracts on the 13 exquisite Golf Cottages at The Founders Club can customize their one and two-story homes. These cottages are designed by the award-winning firm of Cooper Johnson Smith with a variety of styles to fit your real estate needs including a spectacular courtyard plan. Prices of these Sarasota homes are in the $2 millions and include:

200-foot deep homesite on 10th fairway or nestled among majestic ancient oaks.

Equity golf Membership in The Founders Golf Club

Maintained landscaping and lawns

Completion scheduled for Spring 2007

Downtown Saraosta Condo Sales

Ritz Carlton Condo Sells

According to the Sarasota MLS statistics, a fabulous unit sold in the last week at the Ritz Carlton Residences on the 14th floor. Unit 1404 sold for $1,800,000. Featuring 2754 sq.ft. of luxury space with full bay and partial Gulf views, this penthouse-like unit has 2 bedrooms and 2.5 baths. The newly expanded Founders room is now available to all residences atop the Ritz hotel as well as Ritz members club Founders sports memberships if so desired under a separate contract. All signature services of the Ritz Carlton are available to the residence owners as well as downtown amenities offering a wide array of restaurants, shops and cultural activities of Sarasota's downtown area.

Seven condos at the downtown Ritz Carlton are currently available for sale in the Sarasota MLS with prices ranging from $1,149,000 to $4,690,000.

Forest Lakes Country Club

Home for Sale in Forest Lakes Country Club

With a miniature Selby Gardens yard, this newly listed golf course home has 3 bedroom and 2.5 bathrooms. Completely renovated in 2003 with new electric, plumbing and design work, the house features include a double-beveled glass door entry into a travertine marble foyer adjacent to the living and dining rooms.

The huge living room with double-sided fireplace greets your guests and opens to the expansive lanai, pool and spa area. Great place for any party. Home overlooking the golf course is offered by owner/agent at $565,000.

Forest Lakes golf course is undergoing a major renovation to the golf course and a new Clubhouse with restaurant is on the drawing table. The golf course should be completed in the spring of 2007 and the new condos, Legends, should be available some time next year also. For a fabulous Florida lifestyle give us a call to view this home or other listings in Forest Lakes. The neighborhood is close to downtown, Southgate Mall, restaurants and beaches.

St. Armands Circle Shopping

More St. Armands Circle Shops


I was going post more about St. Armands shopping for our readers yesterday but made another trip Monday morning so was a little side-tracked. Since Snuffy and I window shopped on Sunday, my shopping yesterday was quick as I only dipped into a couple of my favorites stores. You should visit Oh My Gauze if you haven't been there previously. It is always a great place to browse as they are loaded with inventory of comfortable Florida outfits. The window as you can see beckons shoppers to try out the cool gauze clothing!


I quickly crossed over to Fillmore Street and took a peek at shoes before meeting a friend for lunch at the Crab & Fin. My West Virginia friends met at Crab & Fin about a month ago before returning to their mountain homes for the summer, and I was anxious to have the Cobb salad again.
If you go to Crab & Fin with a friend, you might want to order an appetizer and then share this salad -- it is huge!

St. Armands and Lido Key are worth a visit if you are interested in just shopping for St. Armands real estate, the least expensive home currently on the market is in the $600,000s and condos are available with two bedrooms in the $400,000s. St. Armands is a wonderful location for a Florida lifestyle with everything conveniently located a short walk or drive away.

Lido Key Florida Condos

Lido Key Beach Club

On our Sunday morning walk today, my Sarasota REALTOR and I (Snuffy) strolled around Lido Key. I didn't get to walk on the beach because my Realtor wouldn't put me down. Although I did see a few residents or vacationers out at 7:00 am, it was a little hazy this early. Our first picture was shot down south toward the condos on the beach.

One of our good friends, Marsha, lives at the Lido Beach Club so we headed south for coffee and chit-chat. After chit-chatting about the Ritz-Carlton Beach Club, next door to the Lido Beach Club and other Sarasota real estate issues, we returned to St. Armands Circle for the best part of our walk. The birds on the Circle are vicious. They attacked me and my realtor while we were snapping pictures -- well not really attacked but one of them got on my back. I guess Sunday's at 7:00 am those birdies are hungry before the crowds, who feed the them, arrive at the Circle.

Our favorite shops were closed, of course, but we windowed shopped at
Dreamweavers, animale and Fanta Sea. Dreamweavers carries the most wonderful clothing for the sophisticated woman and to die for special occasion attire. For your perfect handbag to compliment that special outfit, just step in animale, as they carry quite a selection of Mary Frances purses.

If you need a special gift from the beach, don't miss a walk over on the other side of the Circle to Fanta Sea. The sea shells displayed are fabulous and what a huge array of choices.

By 9:00 am, I was ready for a cookie, and we headed back to our house. More on St. Armands Circle shopping tomorrow.