Florida Real Estate & Lifestyle Blog

    An encroachment in real estate generally involves a structure, improvement or use extending across a property boundary or into an area where it may not have the right to be. A neighbor's fence crossing the lot line, a driveway extending onto adjoining land or part of a building projecting beyond

    You do not automatically need 20% down to buy a house. Qualified buyers may have conventional mortgage options requiring as little as 3% down, FHA financing can allow 3.5% down for qualified borrowers, and certain eligible VA borrowers may purchase with no down payment. The better question is ho

    Shoreview at Lakewood Ranch is an established single-family-home neighborhood in Waterside, the Sarasota County portion of Lakewood Ranch. Developed by Pulte Homes, Shoreview is organized around expansive lakes and preserve areas, with many residences positioned to take advantage of long water v

    Embassy Villas is a small condominium community at 800 South Boulevard of the Presidents on Lido Key in Sarasota. Built in 1972, the community contains 20 townhouse-style residences distributed among six low-rise buildings around landscaped courtyard areas. Lido Beach is approximately one to two

    Pelican Gardens is a small, established condominium community at 170 Roosevelt Drive on Lido Key in Sarasota. Instead of a high-rise tower, Pelican Gardens offers compact, low-rise residences in a landscaped setting with a community swimming pool. Lido Beach is a short walk away, while nearby Te

    Lido Shores is a distinctive residential enclave at the northern end of Lido Key, known for luxury single-family homes, exceptional waterfront settings and an architectural heritage closely connected to the Sarasota School of Architecture. The neighborhood includes historic mid-century modern re

    Lido Presidential is a classic Lido Key condominium community at 845 Benjamin Franklin Drive in Sarasota, positioned directly across the street from the Gulf of Mexico and Lido Beach. The community contains 40 one- and two-bedroom residences arranged in two- and four-story buildings around a lan

  Orchid Beach Club is a luxury Gulf-front condominium community at 2050 Benjamin Franklin Drive on Lido Key in Sarasota. Completed in 2005, the community contains 54 residences and combines direct Lido Beach access with private elevator entry, expansive terraces, gated security, concierge services,

  Lido Harbour South is an established Gulf-front condominium community at 2100 and 2110 Benjamin Franklin Drive on Lido Key in Sarasota. Dating to 1968, the community includes 69 residences and combines direct access to Lido Beach with a heated swimming pool, clubhouse, fitness facilities, covered

    Mark Twain condos offer an unusually intimate version of beachfront living on Lido Key in Sarasota, Florida. Located at 1336 Benjamin Franklin Drive, Mark Twain is a boutique condominium of just 14 private beach residences directly on the Gulf of Mexico. The community dates to the mid-1960s and

  Lido Surf and Sand is an established beachfront condominium on Lido Key in Sarasota, positioned directly along Lido Beach at 1100 Benjamin Franklin Drive. Built in 1976, the condominium combines direct Gulf of Mexico beach access with full or partial Gulf views from many residences, a beachfront h

    Lido Regency is an established Gulf-front condominium at 1700 Benjamin Franklin Drive on Lido Key in Sarasota. Built in 1968, the high-rise combines direct access to Lido Beach with Gulf of Mexico views from select residences, a beachfront pool area, fitness and social spaces, covered parking, a

    1350 Main is a high-rise condominium on Main Street in the heart of Downtown Sarasota, Florida. Its defining advantage is location: residents live directly in the urban core, close to restaurants, shops, cultural venues, the Sarasota Farmers Market and Sarasota Bay. The building combines one- to

    During a home showing, pay attention to the things that are difficult or expensive to change, including the location, floor plan, room sizes, storage, lot, parking, natural light and relationship to neighboring properties. Then look for visible conditions that deserve further investigation, such

    Neither a conventional loan nor an FHA loan is automatically better for every home buyer. FHA financing can be especially useful for qualified buyers with a smaller down payment or credit profile that makes conventional financing less competitive. Conventional financing can be attractive for buy

    Florida home buyers should start thinking about homeowners insurance before closing is anywhere near the calendar. Once you are seriously considering a particular property, begin gathering property-specific insurance information, and after going under contract, request quotes early enough to ide

    A homeowners association, commonly called an HOA, helps operate a residential community according to its governing documents and applicable law. Depending on the neighborhood, an HOA may maintain common areas, operate amenities, collect assessments, manage vendors, adopt and enforce rules, revie

    Yes, HOA fees can increase after you buy a home. Homeowners association assessments are generally based on the association's budget and the obligations established by its governing documents, so the amount owners pay today should not be assumed to remain unchanged indefinitely. Costs for landsca

    If a home inspection finds problems, the next step depends on what was discovered and, importantly, what the purchase contract allows. A buyer may decide the findings are ordinary maintenance, obtain additional evaluations, ask the seller to address certain issues, propose a credit or price chan

    When a Florida property is sold as-is, the seller is generally offering the property in its existing condition without agreeing in advance to make repairs or improvements. That does not mean a buyer should skip inspections, accept undisclosed defects or assume there are no contractual protection