Longboat Key - A Touch of Casual Elegance

Longboat Key is the quietest of Sarasota's barrier islands. One single main street, Gulf of Mexico Drive, runs the entire length of the island with short lanes and cul de sacs on each side. Those side streets are lined with everything from a few remaining old Florida-style cottages to maintenance-free luxury villas and high-rise luxury condos. There are also dozens of waterfront mansions with gorgeous views of either Sarasota Bay for those facing east or the Gulf of Mexico for those facing west.

Longboat Key spans two counties; the southern end is in Sarasota County while the northern end extends into Manatee County. Just south of Longboat Key lies St. Armands Circle and Lido Key and to the north, it reaches to Anna Maria Island off the Bradenton, Florida coast. Known for its tasteful luxury, manicured surroundings, excellent private golf courses, and the absolute dearth pf neon signs a gaudy billboards, Longboat Key makes a statement of "casual luxury and elgance."

With a average year-round temperature of 73 degrees, Longboat Key, with its almost constant soft breezes, is the perfect place for all sorts of relaxing activities from golfing and biking to tennis, fishing and sailing or even just leisurely strolls through boutique shops and elegant dining in 5-star restaurants.

Golfers especially like Longboat Key, it being the only barrier island in the Sarasota Florida area with a 45-hole golf course at the private Longboat Key Club. The Longboat Key Club Harbourside course is a 27-hole layout of three 9-hole courses. Bordering Sarasota Bay, this course plays through stands of oak, palm, fig, palmetto and southern pine trees. But, the almost constant wind puts a premium on accurate shot-making. The more gentle breezes off the Gulf of Mexico keep Harbourside a refreshing challenge year round. The 6,792-yard Islandside golf course, set in a protected bird sanctuary, borders the Gulf of Mexico and features water hazards on all 18 holes making accuracy off the tee essential.

Those who own a yacht or a large sailboat will appreciate the 291 protected deep-water slips at the Longboat Key Club Moorings Marina with no obstructions between their slip and Gulf of Mexico waters.

Those who appreciate the arts will enjoy not only the Longboat Key Center for the Arts, with its permanent collection and changing exhibits of invitational shows, art classes and workshops, and cultural events year round. A brief drive across a bridge to Lido Key and then the Ringling Bridge and Causeway brings you to the heart of the Downtown Sarasota Arts & Cultural District.

If you are considering purchasing a Sarasota Florida luxury home or condo, especially if a waterfront location is on your mind, it would be a mistake not to let me introduce you to the "Longboat Key Lifestyle" before you make a final decision. I assure you that you will definitely be impressed by this "Little Sliver or Paradise".

Call me at 941.266.1799 for answers to all your questions about Longboat Key. I would be delighted to show you this wonderful place.

Elegant Sarasota Luxury Waterfront Condo For Sale on Lido Key

  In a luxurious building directly on Lido Beach with walls of windows and a glass balcony railing, this spacious and magnificent end-unit, 2 bedroom, 2 bath condominium at L'Elegance has wide views of Sarasota Bay and the Sarasota city skyline together with gulf views from the master terrace. The Brighton floor plan was altered to create a generous master suite with office/sitting room and enormous walk-in closet. The expansive terrace off the living room provides amazing outdoor living space and the split bedroom floorplan gives you and your guests privacy. Large ceramic tile covers the floors in the main living areas with carpeting in the bedrooms. There are wonderful built-ins in the den and in the living room. The A/C system has been recently replaced.

  L'Elegance is a well-maintained beachfront Sarasota condo complex near the eclectic shopping and dining at St. Armands Circle. There is a heated pool, tennis courts, on-site management, fitness room and pets are allowed! has been professionally decorated and being sold turn key-furnished.

L'Elegance, on the southern end of Lido Key, contains 105 units and includes 24/7 secured lobby, interior hallways and elevators, assigned parking spaces, a 50-foot lap-lane swimming pool and spa, a children’s wading pool, 2 tennis courts, dry saunas, fitness center/gym, library and a meeting room with wireless Internet access. It is an active community with a busy social calendar for its residents including things like monthly sunset parties, catered brunches and dinners.

Once you see it, it will be hard not to fall in love with this truly attractive and spacious condo at 1800 Ben Franklin Drive Unit # 407. You can own this L'Elegance waterfront condo for $1,099,000.

Vist my Sarasota real estate website for more information on L'Elegance and other attractive Sarasota waterfront condos or, if you prefer, just call me at 941-266-1799 and mention MLS # A3998072. I'd be happy to answer your questions about this and many other attractive Sarasota waterfront real estate offerings.

Broadway Promenade - Enjoy "The Good Life" in Sarasota Florida

  A grand condominium built to offer the "good life" to it's residents, Broadway Promenade offers a luxurious lifestyle including concierge and valet service, a Publix grocery store, plus retail & office space right within the complex. Other amenities include a gathering room, a library, a billiards room, a fully-equipped athletic center, a resort-style heated pool and sundeck, saunas, and an outdoor grilling area.

  Broadway Promenade is one of the most affordable, newer downtown Sarasota condos and yet it is located right in the Arts and Cultural District of Sarasota across the street from Sarasota Bay. The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall and Players Theatre are within a comfortable walking distance as are numerous other theaters, concert venues, fine restaurants, art galleries, and boutique shopping venues.

  The eclectic shopping and dining at St. Armands Circle is a short trip across the Ringling Bridge while the Lido Key's beaches and warm waters are just a hop and a skip beyond St Armands. For those who own a boat, marinas and mooring areas are also nearby. And, for your convenience and security, underground parking is available.

  If your plans don't support the notion of buying one of the much more expensive Downtown Sarasota condos, a Broadway Promenade condo might be perfect for you. The 187 residences at Broadway Promenade range from cozy 860 sq.ft. units to some with over 2,050 sq.ft. Units have from 1 to 3 bedrooms and all have private balconies facing Sarasota Bay, Downtown, the park or the central courtyard of the complex. Broadway Promenade condos are priced from the $200's to the mid $300's although there are a few 1 bedroom units that sell for less than $200,000.

  I would be delighted to show you Sarasota condos for sale at Broadway Promenade or any of the several other Downtown Sarasota living opportunities.

  If you'd like more information on Broadway Promenade or other reasonably priced Sarasota condos, call me today at 941.266.1799. If Broadway Promenade doesn't seem to be exactly what you want, I invite you to visit my Sarasota real estate website where you'll be able to review to the full range of residential options available to you in Sunny Sarasota Florida.

Do You Know About the Sarasota Luxury Condos at the Alinari Complex

  The Alinari luxury condominium complex located at 800 Tamiami Trail, Sarasota consists of two buildings, the Renaissance Alinari andthe Alinari at Rosemary Place, next door. Both are located across the street from the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall and Centennial Park. Among all Sarasota condos, the Alinari rates as one of the most attractive and most attractively priced Downtown Sarasota condos for the amenities offered.

  Alinari at the Renaissance is a 16-story tower with 244 one, two and three-bedroom floor plans as well as unique terrace and garden lofts, plus penthouse choices including a 2-story floor plan, all with spectacular views of Sarasota Bay and the Arts and Cultural District. Alinari at Rosemary Place, completed in 2007, includes 205 one, two and three bedroom residences with equally appealing views.

  Both Alinari towers are within walking distance of the acclaimed Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall and the Players Theatre, and only minutes from the Sarasota Opera House, Sarasota Orchestra, Asolo Theatre, Ringling Museum of Art, Selby Botanical Gardens and Sarasota's beautiful beaches on Lido Key.

  Amenities at the Alinari luxury condominiums include:

• Concierge service, Billiard room, Fitness center, and Poolside cabanas
• Lap pool, Spa and Saunas
• Movie theater
• Guest Suites
• Temperature-controlled Wine cellar
• High Speed Internet and Business Center
• Controlled Access Parking
• Climate-controlled storage

  Alimari luxury condominium residences are typically available from the lowto mid $300s to $1.3 million for the penthouse units. These spacious Sarasota condo living spaces range from 1,070 to 2,595 square feet

  Here's an example of what's available at Alinari. This is the view from the terrace of your turnkey-furnished 2 bedroom, 2 bath unit with 1,323 sq feet of air conditioned space. It is tastefully decorated and just waiting for your arrival.

  You will enjoy the Downtown Sarasota condo lifestyle at its best here at Alinari, or if you choose, use it as a rental income investment for the attractive price of $380,000.

  If you'd like to tour this attractive Alinari condo for sale this week, call me at 941.266.1799 and please mention MLS Listing # A3997867. Id at his point you'[d just like to know more about your Sarasota real estate options available to you, visit my Sarasota real estate website.

Yet Another Luxury Condo to be Built in Downtown Sarasota - One88

    In the past few months demand for high-end Sarasota condominiums has come roaring back in Southwest Florida and particularly, here in Sarasota. Yet another developer has now decided that Sarasota is the place to build new luxury real estate properties. The Vandyk development company of Toronto, Canada was in Sarasota two weeks ago to unveil plans for One88, another limited-size condo development on prestigious Golden Gate Point. The site of this latest new luxury condo development is at 188 Golden Gate Point overlooking Sarasota Bay and the John Ringling Bridge.

    One88 will join AQUA being built nearby at 280 Golden Gate Point and others in this recent burst of new luxury condominium developments getting started in downtown Sarasota. The Jewel Residences, being built at the corner of Main Street and Palm Avenue, with 18 luxury residences ranging from 2,100 to over 4,300 square feet,is still another major development currently underway in the Downtown Sarasota waterfront condos market.

    John Vandyk, president of the company developing One88 said at the unveiling that, having visited Sarasota many times for pleasure, “there is a lot of art and culture here in Sarasota, and the people are very kind. It’s a different lifestyle, a beautiful lifestyle.”

    Like AQUA, One88 will have just eight residences. One88 will have two residences on each floor, each with about 3,000 square feet of air-conditioned space with over sized terraces. The limited size of the development was in part dictated by the small size of the lot on which it will be built. Unlike other developers, Vandkk is not taking reservations for these Sarasota luxury condos. "We're going direct to contract," the developer's spokesperson said.

    Prices range from $2.6 million to $3 million on the first three fours. The two penthouses on the fourth floor, which have rooftop terraces are currently priced at $3.9 million. A unique feature of these luxury boutique condos is that buyers of each residence will receive a social membership at the Sarasota Yacht Club. The Sarasota Yacht Club, one of the most prestigious yacht clubs in Sarasota offers the benefits of a member-owned private social club with extraordinary services and facilities regardless of whether the member owns a boat or not. The docks at the yacht club can accommodate boats up to 100 feet and drafts of up to 10 feet.

    Explaining why the Vandyk group chose Sarasota for their first investment in the United States, Karin Silver, Vandyk USA VP of Marketing & Sales said, culturally, we like Sarasota better than Naples or Miami. There is the right balance of culture and amenities here. To us, Sarasota is a diamond in the rough, a hidden jewel. There is pent-up demand here."

    Your home at One88 on prestigious Golden Gate Point wil be just a few steps away from downtown Sarasota with all its restaurants, shops and galleries and only a short drive across the John Ringling Bridge to St. Armand’s Circle and the beaches of Lido Key.

    Vandyk plans to develop another downtown Sarasota property at 635 S. Orange Avenue in Burns Court, though it’s not yet decided exactly what form that project will be.

    Call me at 941.266.1799 to learn more about One88, AQUA or other attractive Downtown Sarasota luxury residences.

Trends Suggest a Banner Year for Sarasota Home Sales in 2014

Residential home sales in the Sarasota real estate market continue to exhibit strength as we enter 2014.   During the year 2013, 11,184 homes and condos were sold, the second highest total since home and condo sales have been tracked.  And if current trends continue as they look likely to, 2014 will be an even bigger year.

Sarasota Association of Realtors President Peter Crowley reported that “December was a great month for Sarasota residential sales. Many of our seasonal residents and visitors appear to have  decided to buy this year." This trend has been attributed to higher mortgage interest rates expected in 2014”  Others suggest that the substantial rise in the stock market during the past year has made more people willing and able to consider buying a second home here in Sarasota.

Existing homes are selling well in both Sarasota and Manatee County and out on the popular Barrier Islands.  Home sales in Lakewood Ranch, for example, have been particularly strong in upscale neighborhoods and in Esplanade, the all-new "active adult lifestyle" community.  Of the 573 homes sold in Lakewood Ranch last year, nearly 350 of them were new-consruction homes.  The limited number of existing homes for sale has led builders across the area to become aggressive in buying lots and raw land to meet the expected high level of demand for homes in 2014.

Sarasota area luxury homes and condos on the Sarasota waterfront and on the Barrier Islands were also being bought at a rapid pace as 2013 closed out.  The luxury homes recovery is occurring predominantly in the $500,000 to $2 million categories where sales increased in 2013 over 2012 by 39%. Luxury porperties priced above $2 million have continued to be stalled although with a few outstanding exceptions.

In addition to the high level of existing home sales, there has been a very noticeable uptick in new construction just about everywhere lots and open land are available.   Builders and developers spent more than $60 million purchasing nearly 1,250 acres of raw land and 294 building lots from Bradenton and Lakewood Ranch to Punta Gorda in December alone. Builders buying up land locally include all  the major players including Neal Homes, Taylor Morrison, DR Horton,  Ashton Woods and many others.

The demand for new homes isn't limited to modestly-priced homes.  And, the demand for luxury homes is not limited to just  Sarasota condos along the waterfront and out on popular Barrier Islands like Longboat and Siesta Key.  New luxury homes are in demand and being built in many other Sarasota communities like The Lake Club in Lakewood Ranch.  Back in 2006, when that gated, Tuscan-inspired community opened, its 10 opulent, estate-sized model homes carried price tags of $3.5 to $8 million. Then, during the housing slump of 2008, ’09 and ’10, activity slowed to a crawl.  That has now changed.   Of the 34 new-construction homes sold in The Lake Club in 2013,  the average price was over $1.2 million.   Today,  there are 28 more ultra-luxury  homes in the 7,000+ square foot range being built in The Lake Club, but not as spec homes.  All of them are already sold.

With all this new demand, Neal Homes President, Past Neal, was quoted as saying  “Land prices are going up and so are the prices of drywall, framing labor and concrete. Pretty soon home prices will have to start going up too.” 

So trends suggest that 2014 will be a record-breaking year for Sarasota real estate sales, and with the cost of everything from the land to labor and materials rising, if you’ve been thinking about buying a home, a villa or condominium here on the Sarasota Sun Coast, you should contact a Sarasota Realtor very soon and get started.  The bargain prices on short sale and foreclosure properties of yesterday are largely gone, but there is still time to buy that dream home or condo before prices rise further.

If you are in the market for a Sarasota luxury home or condo, call Rich Stover today at 941.266-1799.  I’d be delighted to answer your questions and offer suggestions on where we can find the property that best matches your needs and desires here in sunny Sarasota Florida.

Don't Miss the St Armands Circle Art Festival on Janaury 25th and 26th

    If you're a Sarasota resident, a visitor or just someone passing through Sarasota, you should mark your calendar for the 11th Annual St. Armands Circle Annual Arts Festival coming Saturday, January 25th and Sunday, 26th, 2014 from 10AM to 5PM.

    For those two days, festival goers will get to see and enjoy, in addition to the eclectic boutiques and eateries for which St Armands Circle is so famous, the works of some of the most talented artists/crafters from around the United States.  Some longtime favorite crafters will display their most recent works alongside the works of some of the up-and-coming new talents on the contemporary craft scene.  One-of-a-kind jewelry, fabric arts, photography, pottery, planters, serendipidist items. sculptures and more will be on display and for sale.

    This festival is a competitive event limited to 180 exhibitors who have been chosen by a jury of experienced, 2D and 3D artists and crafts people.  Works of the selected artists will be displayed in an array of media including just about every arts media; digital, fiber, glass, oil, acrylic and watercolor paintings, photography, print making, metal and wood sculpture.

    Visitors to the Art Festival and serious art collectors will get to meet and speak with the participating artists and have the opportunity to purchase their original art objects.  There is no charge for admission to this outstanding arts festival.

    This annual St. Armands Circle Art Festival will likely once again be included on the Sunshine Artist magazine's top art shows in the United State.  Again this year, the St Armands Circle Festival is being presented by Howard Alan Events & American Craft Endeavors, a well-known and respected producer of juried arts and crafts festivals.

    If you are new to Sarasota, to get to picturesque St Armands Circle, from I-75, exit 210, which is Fruitville Road go west and turn left onto the Tamiami Trail (U.S. Route 41). Then then turn right onto Gulfstream Blvd. and across the John Ringling Causeway and Bridge to St Armands Circle.

    If you are a seasonal visitor, I would advise you to take a day while you're here to tour the rest of St Armands and Lido Key.  Lido Key is one of Sarasota's larger barrier islands where you'll find elegant homes and luxurious Sarasota condos separated from the Sarasota mainland by St. Armands Circle and the Ringling Causeway.  A short bridge will take you to Longboat Key.  All of the homes and condos on St Armands Circle and Lido Key are either directly on or a short walk or bike ride to the white sands and warm waters of gorgeous Gulf of Mexico beaches.

  If you'd be interested in touring any of the homes or condos on St Armands or Lido Key, I would be delighted to show them to you.  For more information on other home and condominium options throughout the Sarasota - Bradenton area, including Sarasota golf course homes, please visit my Sarasota real estate website and then call me with your questions at 941.266.1799

Sarasota Real Estate Outlook for 2014

By Rich Stover

The month of December proved to be another good month for home and condo sales in Sarasota including the barrier islands, Lido, Bird, Siesta and Longboat Key as well as in the neighboring communities of Bradenton and Lakewood Ranch.  The number of properties on the market at this point remains tight and as a result of continued demand, prices are rising.

The peak tourist season is just kicking off as our snowbird friends from the northern U.S. and Canada come into the market. This increase in demand, along with the current tight supply of homes on the market has driven the median price of condominiums up by over 20% from the level last year at this time.   Similarly, the median price of single-family homes is 11% above the level at this same point a year ago. A continuation of such dramatic increases in home prices coupled with expected higher interest rates could derail the housing recovery in 2014, but there are factors at work here in Sarasota that will counter that risk.

First, the slight drop-off in sales volumes in the months of November and December was due, in large part, to the tight supply of homes available for sale.  But, as prices have risen, more homes and condos are beginning to come on the market.   At the end of November, there were 4,288 properties on the market compared with 4,032 the prior month.  This uptick in the supply of homes available will help keep the market from becoming overheated. 

Second, the affluent nature of the Sarasota area is such that modest increases in the mortgage interest rates, if they occur, will not have as big an impact on Sarasota as it would on other real estate markets. As in the past, Sarasota waterfront condos and upscale Sarasota golf course homes, in areas like the Lakewood Ranch Country Club and Country Club East developments are frequently sold on an all-cash basis,

Sarasota Association of Realtors President Roger Piro suggested recently that the strong attendance Realtors are seeing at open houses, coupled with the traditional increase in seasonal residents we see at this time  suggests, based on past trends, that Sarasota will continue to experience a busy real estate market in the coming winter and spring months and probably see continued strength through the rest of 2014.

Lawrence Yun, the chief economist for the National Association of Realtors has a similarly positive, yet balanced, outlook for 2014. He suggests that two forces will balance each other out.  Rising interest rates may tend to dampen home sale volumes slightly but, at the same time, he sees buyers becoming more emboldened to make the buy decision buoyed by both improving job numbers and more lenient mortgage qualification standards.  Existing home sales, he forecasts, will remain at a healthy rate of about 5.1 million units.  And, while new housing starts have languished in 2013, Mr. Yun predicts new housing starts will increase by 18.5% from 430,000 in 2013 to 510,000 in 2014.  This increase in supply will help moderate price increases and offset the effects of slightly higher interest rates.

 In summary, the most likely scenario we see at this point is for the Sarasota real estate market to stabilize in 2014 at a healthy level, not expanding so fast as to create another bubble,  but also not depressed by higher mortgage interest rates.   

We see Sarasota benefitting in 2014 from healthy trends that are occurring both nationally and locally.  And unless something foolish is done in Washington to inflict new damage on the economy, 2014 looks to be a good year for the sales of homes for sale in Sarasota Florida and the people lucky enough to live in this wonderful area. 

If you would like a more complete understanding of why now is the right time to invest in a Sarasota waterfront home or perhaps a downtown Sarasota condo or a golf course home, please contact me at your convenience.  For a more immediate response to your questions, call me on my cellphone at 941-266-1799 today. I'd appreciate the opportunity to be of service to you.

Introducing Citrus Square - A Unique Downtown Sarasota Housing Option

For those looking for affordable Sarasota condos right in downtown Sarasota, you may be surprised to learn that quite affordable the condominium units are  available at Citrus Square, a relatively new residential and retail community.  Citrus Square runs from 4th Street to 6th Street along pedestrian-friendly North Orange Avenue adjacent to the trendy Rosemary District, just a few blocks north of Main Street.

Citrus Square is an unusual concept available to those who like the idea of  living in downtown Sarasota but want to avoid the massive high-rise nature of many of the other options available.  Built in 2009, these three-story buildings with uniquely classic facades include several upscale boutiques on the first floor with luxurious one and two bedroom condominiums on the two upper floors.  Residents of Citrus Square can comfortably walk downtown to shop, dine, or take in a movie or meet friends for coffee or dinner in the café/bakery or the restaurant right downstairs. 

 

The 16 units in this complex ranging in size from 644 to 1,240 square feet are among the most value-priced condominiums in downtown Sarasota.  The economical $289 per month maintenance fee, one of the lowest for comparable condos in Downtown Sarasota, covers all exterior maintenance, grounds care, building insurance and reserves. These units are pet-friendly and can be rented out for a minimum term of 1 month, up to 12 times a year..

 

In my opinion, the location, creative floor plan layouts and quality construction of these units makes them ideal for those seeking a uniquely different, yet distinctly high-end, lifestyle within walking distance of just about everything.

 

Units available at the time of this writing range in price from the mid $200's to about $425,000. I invite you to ask me to show you these unique Citrus Square condominium homes. If the in-town lifestyle is not your "cup of tea," then visit my Sarasota real estate website for more options or call me directly at 941-266-1799 for an immediate response to your questions.

An Opulent, Yet Affordable 3/2 Condo at Rivo at Ringling

In the heart of downtown, at 1771 Ringling Blvd, Sarasota, this 2/3 bedroom 2 bath 1,895 square foot corner-unit residence at the Rivo at Ringling condominium complex is within walking distance of dining, theater, shopping and everything downtown Sarasota has to offer.

Rivo at Ringling is a distinctive 15-story building with 92 two and three bedroom residences ranging upward from 1,500 square feet of living space. In addition, there are 14 very spacious penthouse residences on the top three floors. The foyer of Rivo at Ringling is focused around a tropical garden atrium to give you a sense of the outside being brought inside - a quite impressive entry. While the views from the Rivo are impressive, this facility, built in 2006, is one of the more affordable newer condominium complexes near the core of downtown Sarasota.

Amenities at the Rivo at Ringling complex include concierge services, a newly completed clubroom with a 50 inch television, heated pool and spa, fully equipped fitness room, secure bicycle room. This unit has two dedicated parking spaces plus a private storage area.

As you enter through a modified entry of this unit, you are embraced by a great room with high ceilings, an electric fireplace set in stone reminiscent of Frank Lloyd Wright design and views through the balcony of the city and Sarasota Bay.

The unit also features a magnificent new Italian-design kitchen of zebra-wood and high-gloss lacquer finishes by "Cucine Ricci", all new appliances, a wet bar with a built-in Miele espresso machine, reverse osmosis water filtration system, Silestone countertops, starry night mood lighting and a breakfast bar.

The master bedroom has picturesque views of downtown Sarasota. The second bedroom has a private balcony with seating overlooking the city with distant bay views. The den with closet could be used as a den, an office or as a third bedroom.

Rich Stover of RE/MAX Alliance Group would be pleased to show you the many features of this and other lovely Downtown Sarasota residences. Please contact him at 941-266-1799 or visit his website to see many more Downtown Sarasota condos available for your consideration.