Sarasota Vacation Home

Pattigeorge's Toasts New Sarasota Residents

Last evening, my customers from Atlanta and I celebrated the closing of their Sarasota vacation home at Emerald Pointe in Bay Isles.

After a miserable drive in blinding rain from Atlanta, these new Longboat Key residents arrived safely with their two kitties in tow, attended the closing, unpacked and then we celebrated with a wonderful dinner at Pattigeorge's enjoying sea bass and rack of lamb. Timing was perfect and the restaurant seated our party at the last waterfront table. Karen, our server, poured the wine as we enjoyed good conversation and a splendid view of Sarasota Bay.

Back at the beautiful villa on Emerald Pointe, we tested the electric fireplace. The fireplace works, and the fish who will be visiting from Atlanta along with the kitties, found its home atop the mantel.

Emerald Point is an enclave of 16 two-story villas in Bay Isles on Longboat Key. Most of these villas are over 2000 sq.ft. and some have private pools and courtyards. The landscaping is Florida tropical and access to the Bay Isles beach club is included.


Located on the bay side of Longboat Key, Emerald Point is perfect for Sarasota vacation homes or for permanent residences too as they are quite spacious with plenty of storage and two-car garages. Currently two villas are available priced in the $900,00s. The lagoon and golf course views are panoramic!

Sarasota New Construction

Sarasota's New Golf Course Communities

So you're looking for a beach cottage -- what about a golf cottage? With the new construction boom of the last few years, along came the new golf communities. Sarasota is becoming a premier Florida golfing location. The new golf cottages at the Founders Club offer buyers a luxury golf course home with top amenities including club membership in the $2,497,500 price tag for the exquisite Magnolia. This inventory home's features include wood floors, a private guest suite, butler's pantry with wine storage and a fabulous kitchen featuring Wolfe and SubZero appliances. Hardly a cottage, with its spacious 3,998 square footage, the Magnolia, located on the 10th fairway of The Founders Golf Club will be ready for occupancy in January 2007.

The Founders Club is a premier Sarasota real estate golf community in Sarasota, Florida whose distinguished builders include: John Cannon Homes, Pruett Builders, Lee Wetherington, U.S Assets Group, Taylor Woodrow Homes and Todd Johnson Homes.

Sarasota Home for Sale

West of the Trail - Price Reduction

Hottest location on the Sarasota mainland, this Key-West styled charmer has the best in curb appeal and has been reduced to $649,000. The three bedroom, two bath house, new two-car garage was added in 2003 has a huge backyard waiting for a swimming pool. Enjoy the shops, restaurants, Morton's gourmet market as you stroll through this convenient Sarasota neighborhood. West of the Trail is the area west of Hwy 41 in Sarasota, the area closest to the water which provides homeowners more value for their investment in Sarasota real estate.

Sarasota Kiss

WWII Kiss Re-created in NY

Yesterday there was a great video on Yahoo showing how New Yorkers recreated the famous WWII kiss in Times Square ending the war from Monday's celebration. It was a delightful surprise to see the "Unconditional Surrender" statute again as Sarasota had "Unconsiditional Surrender" the fabulous sculture in the downtown Sarasota Bayfront display for six months. Sarasotans and visitors alike enjoyed the many diminsions of this wonderful exhibit. Snuffy and I couldn't stay away and as you can see from our November 2005 Sarasota Real Estate blog article, the camera shutters snapped away while we had the chance to capture this beautiful exhibit.

Florida's Median Home Prices

Existing Florida Home Median Prices Rise in June

From Sarasota MLS data, median sales price for a single-family Sarasota home in June 2006 was $352,700, compared to $378,950 in June 2005. The number of single-family homes sold in June 2006 was 422, compared to 716 in June 2005. Statewide, however, existing-home median price rose 3 percent to $257,800. A year ago the price was $249,800 according to the Florida Association of REALTORS(FAR).

There are signs that the market is stabilizing, according to NAR housing industry analysts. NAR does expects 2006 to be the third strongest sales year on record even with rising mortgage rates, rising inventory of homes, rising insurance rates and higher energy costs.

These statistics gathered from the Sarasota Association of Realtors (Sarasota MLS) on July 10, 2006 and were quoted from Sarasota Realtor Magazine.

New Downtown Sarasota Condos

Grande Sarasotan Now Taking Reservations With Interest Bearing Deposits

Notification arrived via email this morning that reservations are now being accepted for Sarasota's new condo project on the downtown bayfront across from Marina Jack's. With a $25,000 interest bearing deposit, buyers can select from several different luxury residences at the long awaited Grande Sarasotan:

The Palmer 2295 sq.ft.
The Booker 3096 sq.ft.
The McClellan 2456 sq.ft.
The Whitaker and the Gillespie 3105 sq.ft.
The Grande Villas 3644 sq.ft.
The Grande Penhouse 4733 sq.ft.

Each of these Sarasota condos will have two parking spaces and private cabanas are available on the bayfront pool deck overlooking the marina. This Kolter community is priced starting from the $1 millions. In 2005, the site of this condominium project sold for $40 million at the height of the Sarasota real estate craze.

Sarasota Waterfront Homes

Harbor Acres Conveniently Located

Harbor Acres is a changing. Many of the older West of the Trail homes have been torn down and beautiful canal and bayfront homes are emerging in this old Florida neighborhood. Residents all claim that convenience is a key benefit of this centrally located community. Shops, Morton's Gourmet Market and the restaurants of Southside Village are a short walk or drive away. Selby Gardens, the Bayfront and downtown Sarasota are minutes away too.

If you are a boater, many of Harbor Acres' homes are offered with boat docks on canals or the bay. Sarasota waterfront homes are at a premium even in this buyer's market and a boat dock adds even more value to a waterfront home. There are currently 10 homes listed in the Sarasota MLS priced from the lows millions to over $9 million.

Sarasota Neighborhood Update

Isles of Palmer Ranch - New Construction Opportunities

Lot 375 is absolutely THE BEST one left in the community according to Alina Sezanaeva of Pulte Homes. This Oakmont model built by Divosta is priced over $80K below VillageWalk.

Inventory at Isles of Palmer Ranch currently:

2 Oakmonts left for 2006 closing:
Lot 528 - $405,900 w/water view
Lot 375 - $429,900 on a cul-de-sac, with panoramic water view, extra long driveway and 2 tile options

1 Capri left for 2006 closing:
Lot 522 - $399,900 longest water view in the community (over 600 feet) with pool and patio, close to amenities

4 Catalinas left for 2006 closing:
$299,900 with lanai and long water view

3 Caymans left for 2006 closing:
Lot 284 - $339,900
Lot 282 - $349,900 with lanai
Lot 289 - $359,900 with the pool

Except for the above homes, Sarasota new homes in Isles of Palmer Ranch will close in 2007.

Siesta Key New Condos

Beach Villas - New Construction on Siesta Key

Last summer it seemed as though daily there was a new announcement for a preconstruction project -- not so this year. Last year investors flocked to Sarasota to grab such properties. Now it's a buyer's market, building has slowed, builders are offering incentives and the real estate market in Sarasota is changing. Even so the Siesta Key, Sarasota market remains a strong spot to invest for your long term real estate goals. New construction is a popular way to chip into that market.

Siesta Key developers have announced preconstruction pricing of the much anticipated Beach Villas. Beach Villas is an island complex of 22 units: villas and penthouses. Beach Villas offers all the top-of-the-line amenities that buyers expect in million dollar plus properties. These island condos are steps away from the beach, shopping and restaurants of Siesta Key Village. With soaring ceiling and wonderful gulf vistas, villas start in the low millions and penthouses start in the $2 millions.