Preconstruction Downtown Sarasota Condos

City Place Preview



Several years ago, I met Monica Waterman in an advanced mentoring class provided by our previous Sarasota real estate company. Monica moved on to Michael Saunders & Company and I moved to RE/MAX Properties. I had the pleasure this week of viewing Monica's presentation and tour of yet another new condo in Sarasota: City Place. Wow! What an excellent job -- kudos to Monica. You must go see what's in store for downtown Sarasota living and shopping. If you like
100 Central, you will love City Place!

City Place is in the heart of downtown at Pineapple Square. Theaters, restaurants, shopping, cultural attractions are at your doorstep. Whole Foods Market is just half a block away, and the white sand beaches are minutes from downtown as well as St. Armands Circle, Ringling Museum of Art and the Sarasota airport.

Building amenities feature a large gathering room with bar, fireplace and flat screen TV, a large warming kitchen with storage, a professionally equipped fitness center, a theater/media room.

For more information on City Place or other downtown Sarasota condos, email Annette Smith.

Recent Sales Siesta Key Condominiums

Siesta Key Condo Sales

Searching the Sarasota MLS for recent sales of condominiums sold for the last three months on Siesta Key resulted in 27 condo units with selling prices from $250,000 to a direct gulf views unit at Siesta Dunes with a selling price of $2,900,000.

There are currently 520 condos actively listed on Siesta Key. Siesta Key condos are offered from $250,000 for approximately 300 sq. ft. to over $3 million for a new Siesta Key condo at the Crescent or Summer Cove, Siesta Key's newest highrises featuring all the new amenities of a luxury beach lifestyle.

For more information on Siesta Dunes, the Crescent or other Siesta Key real estate, email Annette Smith.

Sarasota Real Estate News

Looking for Your Home at the Beach

So you think you want a small home on the beach with the waves lulling you to sleep every night. You look at your savings and say that you've been faithful putting the money away for your dream of living by the sea. Next step: email a Florida real estate agent with a request for small home on the beach, minimum two bedrooms and two baths. Oh yes, we have children so this must be in a nice area within walking distance to shops, restaurants and attractions. Our price range is under $250,000.

Well, unfortunately, in Sarasota even with the downturn in the market, you have to add a few more zeros to your price range. Those tiny beach cottages have been replaced with estates or gated communities featuring mini mansions such as Solymar on Siesta Key. These new Siesta Key homes offer premium construction designs.

Yes, we've had major prices increases in the last three years and now these real estate prices are on a downturn, but even three or four years ago $250,000 for what I described above was out of the question for Sarasota, Siesta Key and Longboat Key. Beach property is prime property, and it is still prime! Now is the time to start your search for Sarasota real estate because if not at the bottom of the downturn, we are near the end according to many experts.

For more information on Solymar or Siesta Key new condos, email Annette Smith.

Burns Court - Sarasota, Florida

Sarasota Neighborhood Update

If you haven't seen Burns Court in Sarasota in the last year, you'll be surprised. Burns Court movie goers recently saw the changes. New construction is on every corner. As you can see from some of the snapshots, this inner city neighborhood still oozes with charm and could be the perfect spot for your Sarasota home.


From the handcrafted mosaic sidewalks to the new Burns Court Villas. The sidewalk on the Orange Street is creatively designed with fish, crab and other creatures of the sea.

Rising high above the neighborhood roofstops is the new Kanaya highrise. Kanaya is a balanced building with city and bay views located at the corner of Orange Avenue and Laurel Street.

For your information package on Burns Court Villas and new condos in Sarasota or info on Kanaya, call or email Annette Smith.

Luxury Condominiums on Siesta Key

Beach Villas

Just steps away from the Siesta Key Village, shopping, seashells, dining and entertainment, Beach Villas offer an ideal island lifestyle. These Siesta Key condos house just 22 spacious one and two story villas ranging from 1,350 to 3,400 sq.ft. Interiors provide from 2 bedrooms, 2 baths to 4 bedrooms, 2 baths and 2 half-baths with high ceiling and coffered foyers in select residences along with kitchens equipped with wood cabinetry, stone countertops and stainless steel appliances.

Building amenities include a freeform swimming pool with waterfalls, spa, central tropical courtyard, private terraces.

Villas are priced from the low $1 millions - Penthouse suites from $2+ million

For your information package on preconstruction pricing and new condos in Sarasota or your Beach Villas priority registration, call or email Annette Smith

Longboat Key Dining

Moore's for Stone Crabs

Recently I had stone crabs at Moore's, watched the dolphins and sipped some vino. Every season, my friend Melanie Wright, owner of The Wright Look on Pineapple Street in downtown Sarasota calls to extend her invitation for this festive season. We always enjoy the peacocks crossing the road just before Moore's too.

Before joining Melanie for dinner, I shopped St. Armands for some comfortable Florida outfits for showing Sarasota real estate. The windows of the shops just beckon shoppers as most storefronts are set for the upcoming winter season.


Crossing Fillmore Street, I peeked at shoes before heading back to my car for the ride out to Longboat.

Longboat Key property is worth a look if you are interested in Longboat Key real estate. There are currently over 200 single family homes on the market and over 400 condos are available. Longboat Key is a wonderful location for a Florida lifestyle in a pristine environment. St. Armands shopping is just a short drive away.

Call or email Annette Smith for more information on Longboat Key properties.

Lido Key Real Estate

The Lido Grille

Traffic is picking up in Sarasota, and the second home owners are returning for Sarasota's winter season.

Thursday evening, I met West Virginia customers and friends who recently returned to Sarasota. St. Armands Circle - the Lido Grille was the meeting spot. The Grille is located in the same block, same side of the street as Tommy Bahama's. The martinis are huge, great bruchetta and fantastic scampi! This restaurant has a nice long bar with tvs for football watching or listen to jazz and let your hubby watch the game while dining in a cozy St. Armands atmosphere.

The Lido Grille is walking distance from your Lido Key home, and the beach just a breeze away.

Current St. Armands real estate and Lido Key listings:

Single family homes: 43 priced from high $700,000
Condos: 119 priced from high $300,000

If you are interested in Lido Key real estate or St. Armands real estate, email Annette Smith at annette@annettesellssarasota.com or call 941-504-3922 for up-to-date info in Sarasota, Florida.

Sarasota New Construction

The Forest - Hi Hat Ranch

On November 17, east of Intersate 75, The Forest of Hi Hat Ranch is holding its broker Grand Opening. This gated community of 54 three to six-acre homesites is slated for development by three prominent Sarasota builders:

John Cannon Homes, Inc.
Arthur Rutenberg Homes
Lee Wetherinton Homes

These homebuilders have agreed to follow low-impact development guidelines to preserve the environmental integrity of the land. Natural land beauty will be maintained while residents enjoy a "gracious country living!"

Homes site and residences from $1.1 million.

If you are interested in purchasing a home in Hi Hat Ranch or other Sarasota real estate, call Annette Smith at 941-504-3922 for an appointment.

Sarasota Living & Real Estate

Florida Life

Most of living in Florida is about the water, the sun and relaxation. Saturday I was invited to a football party to cheer for LSU. I've lived in Florida a long time and most of the fans I know here cheer for the Gators. Growing up with SEC football "roots," the adjustment of a move to West Virginia in 1968 was huge, mostly because I never thought any of my new friends liked anything but WVU football. I had to become a Mountaineer!

Well, after moving to Sarasota many years ago, I knew the Gators "got it!" Unfortunately, I was not a Gator, and I was always on the opposite end of the football season.
Then a few months ago, the Sarasota Herald had an article about a couple who re-did their backyard incorporating their beautiful Louisiana collected treasures into a fabulous landscape design featuring a pool, an outdoor fireplace, wrought iron gates!

In a recent blog post, I mentioned making the call to this adorable Southern couple after reading that article. Saturday afternoon, along with their other friends, we cheered the LSU Tigers to a victory against Tennessee. I assure it was all because of our "focus" and the jambalaya and crawfish pie.

Sarasota Florida is like coming "home" from wherever you move. It's not just all about Sarasota real estate, the sunshine and the water. It's about wonderful people from all parts of the country incorporating their old life into their new life and making Sarasota home.

Go Tigers!!!!