Florida Real Estate & Lifestyle Blog

    En Pointe Sarasota is an intimate four-residence luxury condominium at 509 Golden Gate Point, immediately beside Downtown Sarasota and the John Ringling Causeway. Each residence occupies a full floor and combines private elevator entry, three bedrooms, three and one-half bathrooms, two terraces

    North Beach Village is an established condominium and townhome-style community in Holmes Beach, in the central portion of Anna Maria Island. The community combines multi-level residences, garage parking in documented units, tropical surroundings and a shared swimming pool with convenient access

    Sea Pirates Condos is a small, established condominium community at 3301 Gulf Drive in Holmes Beach on Anna Maria Island. Built in 1969, the eight-unit complex reflects a low-rise Old Florida style rather than the scale of a larger condominium building. Documented residences feature two-bedroom

    Seaside Beach House is a 10-unit Gulf-front condominium community at 102 68th Street in Holmes Beach on Anna Maria Island. The low-rise complex sits directly along the Gulf of Mexico beach and combines immediate access to the sand with a heated beachside swimming pool. Individual residences vary

    Westbay Cove is a waterfront condominium community at 600 Manatee Avenue in Holmes Beach, positioned beside Anna Maria Sound near the Manatee Avenue bridge to the mainland. Current property information documents two heated swimming pools, tennis and pickleball facilities, kayak access and landsc

    Bayshore on the Lake is an established 55+ condominium community in Bradenton centered around a large lake and a collection of recreational amenities. Developed primarily from the 1970s into the early 1980s, the community includes approximately 1,000 condominium residences across multiple sectio

    Village Green of Bradenton is an established West Bradenton community offering a mix of detached single-family homes and villa-style condominiums within a few miles of Anna Maria Island. Development began in the 1970s, and today the neighborhood includes 1,001 residences along tree-lined streets

    Braden Castle Park is a historic 55+ community in Bradenton where the Braden River meets the Manatee River. Established in 1924 on property associated with the ruins of Dr. Joseph Braden's 19th-century home, the community contains 200 residential lots and an unusual collection of small cottages,

    Woodpark at DeSoto Square is a gated 55+ condominium community in Bradenton offering an established residential setting with landscaped courtyards, ponds and shared recreation. Current community information documents a heated swimming pool, clubhouse, fitness facilities, shuffleboard and covered

    The best condo communities near Sarasota Bay offer very different versions of waterfront living. Buyers can choose established bayfront towers such as Condo on the Bay and One Watergate, newer luxury residences around The Quay, boutique waterfront buildings on Golden Gate Point, or island commun

A Florida seller's current property tax bill may be a poor estimate of what a buyer will pay. A longtime owner may benefit from Homestead Exemption and years of Save Our Homes assessment limits. After a qualifying ownership change, the property is generally reassessed at just value as of January 1 o

There is no single closing-cost percentage that applies to every Florida seller. The bottom line can include documentary stamp tax on the deed, contract-dependent title and closing expenses, negotiated brokerage compensation, association charges, buyer concessions, prorations, payoff charges, and pr

    Signs that a Florida home may need a new roof soon can include missing or damaged roofing materials, repeated repairs, deteriorated flashing, sagging areas, ceiling or attic stains, moisture damage and an inspection showing limited remaining useful life. Roof age matters, but age alone does not

    The cheapest home in a neighborhood can be a good purchase, but only when the price discount is greater than the property's disadvantages and realistic cost of correcting them. A dated kitchen or worn flooring may create manageable improvement opportunities. Structural problems, an aging roof, d

    There is no standard percentage that makes an offer on a Florida home "too low." An offer 10 percent below asking could be unrealistic on a newly listed, competitively priced home with multiple interested buyers, yet entirely reasonable on an overpriced property that has been sitting for months

    Florida homebuyers can use approximately 2% to 5% of the purchase price as a general planning estimate for closing costs in 2026, excluding the down payment, according to current Consumer Financial Protection Bureau guidance. On a $500,000 home, that broad range equals roughly $10,000 to $25,000

    The true cost of buying a home in Florida goes well beyond the mortgage payment. Buyers may need cash for the down payment, closing costs, inspections, appraisal, prepaid insurance, tax and insurance escrows, moving expenses and immediate repairs. After closing, the budget can include property t

    Ocean Park Terrace is a small Gulf-front condominium community at 2700 Gulf Drive in Holmes Beach on Anna Maria Island. The 14-unit property combines direct access to the Gulf of Mexico with a heated community pool, elevator, covered parking and a location convenient to Holmes Beach dining, shop

    Shell Point is a 44-unit waterfront condominium community at 6300 Flotilla Drive in Holmes Beach on Anna Maria Island. Positioned along Watson Bayou near Anna Maria Sound, the community combines water views and kayak access with a heated pool, clubhouse, tennis and pickleball, shuffleboard and a

    5400 Condos is an established 55+ Gulf-front condominium community at 5400 Gulf Drive in Holmes Beach on Anna Maria Island. Its biggest attraction is location: residents have direct access to the Gulf of Mexico beaches while remaining close to restaurants, shops and the free Anna Maria Island tr