Sarasota Real Estate

On April 18th, the Sarasota Association of Realtors released their MLS Statistics for March, 2012.  The report shows that March sales hit a seven-year high and that the median prices for both homes and condos went up in the process.  This is fabulous news for Sarasota real estate.

The Sarasota real estate market saw sales climb to a seven-year high in March 2012, with 831 properties changing hands during the month. Not since September 2005 has the local real estate association seen sales at that level. In addition, pending sales (which represent properties that went under contract during the month) reached the highest level in 12 month, another good indication that the current market surge will continue in the next few months.

Pending

The Sarasota Herald Tribune is reporting this morning that real estate sales for Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties have increased 20% for the first 2 months of the year.  This is fabulous news and further evidence that the Sarasota real estate is in full recovery. 

Real estate sales regionally surged to more than $1 billion during the first two months of 2012, a gain of one-fifth over last year.

Sales totaled $1.05 billion for the year's initial two months in Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties, a 20 percent jump compared with $874 million during the same period of 2011, county records show.

With interest rates still at historic lows, this is a great time to invest in Sarasota real estate.  Please call me at 941-928-8892

On March 15th, the Sarasota Association of Realtors released their MLS Statistics for February, 2012.  The total inventory of both homes and condos was 4,588 compared with 5,864 on February 2011.  Unit sales of both homes and condos were 591 compared with 672 for February of 2011.   For homes,  the median sales price was $167,500 compared to $137,500 a year ago.  For condos, the median sales price was $150,000 compared with $137,500 a year ago.

The rise in the median sales prices of homes (22%) and of condos (9%), together with the decrease (22%) in the inventory available, continues to be great news for the Sarasota real estate market.. The total inventory of 4,588 units is again very close to the 10-year low of 4,408 which

Bird Key Homes for Sale as of March 5, 2012:

• Homes for Sale: 27
• Highest List Price: $5,900,000
• Lowest List Price: $515,000
• Median List Price: $1,299,000

Bird Key Homes Sold in 2012 (through Feb):

• Total Homes Sold: 6
• Highest Sale Price: $3,300,000
• Lowest Sale Price: $505,000
• Median Sale Price:  $1,025,000

Bird Key Homes Sold in 2011 (through Feb):

• Total Homes Sold: 5
• Highest Sale Price: $4,500,000
• Lowest Sale Price: $407,000
• Median Sale Price:  $1,050,000

The Bird Key Real Estate market has remained fairly stable this year with 6 homes sold through Feb compared with 5 last year. The median sale price has remained stable as well only decreasing $25,000 to $1,025,000

Today the Sarasota Association of Realtors released their MLS Statistics for January 2012.  The total inventory of both homes and condos was 4,711 compared with 6,072 on January 2011.  Unit sales of both homes and condos were 513 compared with 537 for January of 2011.   For homes,  the median sales price was $162,000 compared to $138,700 a year ago.  For condos, the median sales price was $180,000 compared with $142,500 a year ago.

The rise in the median sales prices of homes (17%) and of condos (26%) is fabulous news for the Sarasota real estate market.  These rising prices can be attributed to the increase in demand due to stronger consumer confidence in our economy and lower national unemployment. Coupled with the increase

464 Golden Gate Pt #302, Sarasota - $2,050,000

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Situated on the 22-acre peninsula known as Golden Gate Point, La Bellasara is the epitome of elegant condominium living in Sarasota, Florida.  With world-class amenities and an unrivalled location, La Bellasara offers luxury, elegance and magnificent views of Sarasota Bay.

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One of the many attractions to Sarasota, Florida's Gulf Coast gem, is the wide variety of festivals and community events. The gorgeous weather provides the perfect backdrop for many festivals, along with Sarasota's long love for a rich cultural environment.  Below is just a small sampling of Sarasota's many festivals and annual events.  Come and enjoy for yourself, and you'll see why so many love to call Sarasota home.

Ringling International Arts Festival

This 6-day festival celebrates music, dance, theater, and visual arts. Co-sponsored by The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art and the Baryshnikov Arts Center in New York, the festival is held in the beautiful gardens and grounds of the Ringling Museum, including its 21 galleries and

Whether boating is your passion or just a weekend pass time, Bird Key is a boater’s paradise. Situated just off the coast of Sarasota, Florida, access to Bird Key is a simple matter of crossing the Ringling Causeway Bridge.  This scenic bridge stretches between Sarasota and three keys—including Bird Key, Lido Key, and Longboat Key.  Bird Key sits at the base of the Ringling Bridge and is a lovely neighborhood of 511 single-family homes. Almost 300 of these homes are positioned either on deep-water canals or directly on the bay front, providing easy access to the bay and to the Gulf of Mexico.

Bird Key Yacht Club

The Bird Key Yacht Club, offers a plethora of dining, boating, social, and sporting activities. At the Bird Key Yacht Club,

Bird Key has a long development history that began when Thomas Worcester bought the island as a retirement paradise for himself and his wife, Davie Lindsay Worcester. They lived in a smaller lodging, the only one on the island, for a number of years, while their dream home was being constructed. Sadly, Davie Worcester died in 1912 before construction was finished. Thomas Worcester lived in the estate home for a while with his sister and her family, but in the early 20s, they sold to John Ringling. Ringling's intentions were to make the home a summer “White House” for his friend, President Warren Harding, but when Harding died in 1923, that dream ended.

Meanwhile, Ringling’s other real estate developments saw nothing but sunshine. Ringling had

At the western base of the Ringling Bridge, traversed daily by sun loving pedestrians and cyclists, the beautiful community of Bird Key is situated. Fronted by Sarasota Bay, Bird Key is a haven for those who love the outdoors. The key is quiet, but for those who love fishing, boating, swimming, kayaking, tennis, swimming, or any of the other enticements that beckon northerners to Florida, Bird Key is ideal. The key is filled with more than 500 homes, many of which have been remodeled or completely rebuilt over time to reflect today’s luxury touches.

For many years, though, Bird Key had only one home—and it was named in honor of an ancient Scottish estate, Edzell Castle, seat of the Lindsay family. In 1910, one of the Lindsay descendants,