Florida Real Estate & Lifestyle Blog

    Neither an older home nor a newer home is automatically the better purchase. An older home may offer an established location, mature landscaping, a larger or distinctive lot and architectural character that can be difficult to reproduce. A newer home may offer current building standards, newer r

    Golf is woven into the physical layout of Rotonda West, and golfers have five distinct courses and 99 total holes available through Rotonda Golf & Country Club. The lineup includes Long Marsh, The Palms, The Hills, Pinemoor and The Links. From Long Marsh's 27 holes surrounded by native Florida v

    Lido Dorset is a low-rise condominium community at 475 Benjamin Franklin Drive on Lido Key in Sarasota, Florida. Located directly across from Lido Beach, the community combines compact studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom residences with a year-round heated pool, outdoor gathering areas, on-site

    St. Armands Towers occupies one of the most recognizable condominium locations on Lido Key, positioned directly across from Lido Beach and only a short walk from St. Armands Circle. The community consists of two separate 1968 condominium buildings, St. Armands Towers North at 1 Benjamin Franklin

    Riviera of Lido Beach is a boutique condominium community at 131 Garfield Drive on Lido Key in Sarasota, Florida. Completed in 1978, the four-story building offers a smaller-scale alternative to the island's larger condominium towers, with two-bedroom residences, a heated community pool, elevato

    Lido Towers is an established condominium at 1001 Benjamin Franklin Drive on Lido Key in Sarasota, Florida. Completed in 1980, the seven-story community contains 84 residences and combines private beach access across Benjamin Franklin Drive with a heated pool and spa, clubhouse, sauna, secure en

    Ritz-Carlton Beach Residences at 1300 Benjamin Franklin Drive offer a distinctive form of luxury condominium living directly along the Gulf of Mexico on Lido Key. Completed in 2005, the 12-story, 88-residence property is managed by The Ritz-Carlton and combines direct beachfront access with conc

    Lido Beach Club is an established Gulf-front condominium at 1212 Benjamin Franklin Drive on Lido Key in Sarasota, Florida. Completed in 1974, the 13-story building combines direct Lido Beach access with a heated pool, fitness facilities, social spaces, covered parking and a location convenient t

    Sarasota Harbor of Lido Beach is an established 55+ bayfront condominium community along John Ringling Boulevard near St. Armands Circle in Sarasota, Florida. Positioned directly on Sarasota Bay rather than the Gulf of Mexico, Sarasota Harbor combines water views, boat docks, a heated waterfront

    Lido Ambassador is an established Gulf-front condominium at 800 Benjamin Franklin Drive on Lido Key in Sarasota, Florida. Built in 1978, the community sits directly along Lido Beach and combines beach access with a heated pool, fitness facilities, recreation space and dedicated parking. Its loca

    Kingston Arms is an established condominium community at 500 S Washington Drive on Lido Key in Sarasota, Florida. Built in 1963, the low-rise community is especially notable for its location immediately near St. Armands Circle and within convenient walking distance of Lido Beach. With one- and t

    BLVD Sarasota is a luxury high-rise condominium at 540 N Tamiami Trail near Boulevard of the Arts in downtown Sarasota, Florida. Completed in the late 2010s, the building combines spacious contemporary residences, large terraces, floor-to-ceiling windows, Sarasota Bay and city views, concierge s

    Some of the best golf communities near Port Charlotte include Riverwood, Kings Gate, Rotonda West, Heritage Landing, Babcock National, and golf-oriented neighborhoods around Punta Gorda Isles. The choices range from established gated communities with championship courses to 55+ neighborhoods, ne

    Park Residences of Lido Key is a boutique luxury condominium community near Lido Beach, South Lido Park, and St. Armands Circle in Sarasota. With just 18 residences, contemporary coastal architecture, spacious floor plans, a heated pool, outdoor gathering areas, and convenient access to both the

    Some of the best public golf courses in Sarasota include Bobby Jones Golf Club, Serenoa Golf Club, University Park Country Club, Misty Creek Country Club, and the newly public Meadows Golf Club. Golfers can also consider seasonal public play at Stoneybrook and shorter rounds at Village Green. To

    Some of the best golf courses in Punta Gorda include Heritage Landing Golf & Country Club, Deep Creek Golf Club, Twin Isles Country Club, St. Andrews South Golf Club, and Babcock National. Golfers can also consider Burnt Store Marina and nearby Riverwood Golf Club. The choices range from public

    If you expect to finance your home purchase, getting mortgage preapproved before seriously looking at houses is usually a practical first step. Preapproval can help establish a realistic financing range, identify potential mortgage issues before you find a property, and provide a letter that sel

    A swimming pool can add several recurring and occasional expenses to the cost of owning a Florida home, including cleaning, chemicals, electricity, water, heating, equipment repairs, insurance considerations, and eventual resurfacing or renovation. As a broad current industry estimate, routine F

    Some of the best golf courses near Siesta Key include TPC Prestancia, Bobby Jones Golf Club, Serenoa Golf Club, Stoneybrook Golf & Country Club, Misty Creek Country Club, and Bent Tree Golf Club. Siesta Key itself is known for Gulf beaches rather than golf courses, but mainland Sarasota provides

    A separate mold inspection or assessment can be worth considering before buying a house when there are signs of current or previous moisture problems, visible mold, musty odors, roof or plumbing leaks, storm or flood history, suspicious staining, or concerns identified during the general home in