Florida Real Estate & Lifestyle Blog

Bay Plaza is an established 100-unit condominium at 1255 N. Gulfstream Avenue in Downtown Sarasota, positioned along the city's bayfront and close to Main Street, Palm Avenue, Marina Jack and other downtown destinations. Completed in the early 1980s, Bay Plaza offers an alternative to Sarasota's new

Creekside Preserve is an established gated single-family neighborhood in Parrish, Florida, with roughly 200 homes, preserve and pond settings, a playground and basketball court. Current community and property sources describe homes primarily from the late 2000s through early 2010s, with one-story an

River Woods is an established deed-restricted community of 259 single-family homes on the north bank of the Manatee River in Parrish, Florida. Located off Old Tampa Road, the neighborhood is known for mature oak trees, seven ponds, spacious homes and a recreation center with a clubhouse, fitness equ

Copperstone is an established gated community in Parrish, Florida, offering both detached single-family homes and attached townhomes along with two community pools, a clubhouse, fitness facilities, playground, sports courts, walking areas and interior lakes. The community contains more than 600 resi

Lexington is an established, deed-restricted community in Parrish, Florida, offering detached single-family homes and attached residences among lakes, sidewalks and shared recreation. Current community information identifies a swimming pool with splash area, pickleball or tennis facilities, basketba

Buyers looking for a larger lot near Sarasota should start with East Sarasota County, Panther Ridge in East Manatee County, and selected communities in Parrish. East Sarasota offers true acreage and country-style properties, Panther Ridge combines multi-acre estate living with access to Lakewood Ran

Some of the best new construction communities near Sarasota in 2026 include Palm Grove, Calusa Country Club, Wild Blue at Waterside, Del Webb Catalina and Cresswind in Lakewood Ranch, plus Palmera, Oakbend, Everly and Brightmore in Wellen Park. The right choice depends on whether you want value, lux

Yes, Sarasota can be an excellent place to retire for people who value Gulf Coast beaches, year-round outdoor recreation, arts and culture, restaurants, golf and access to a substantial regional healthcare system. The tradeoff is cost. Sarasota is not Florida's least expensive retirement destination

The best communities near Anna Maria Island include the City of Anna Maria, Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach directly on the island, plus Cortez, Palma Sola, Northwest Bradenton and West Bradenton on the nearby mainland. Buyers can also consider Longboat Key for another barrier-island option south o

The best golf communities near St. Pete Beach include Pasadena Yacht & Country Club in Gulfport, Isla Del Sol in southern St. Petersburg, Bayou Club in Largo and residential neighborhoods surrounding Bardmoor Golf & Tennis Club in Seminole. Each offers a different combination of golf, housing and Gu

Florida condo fees are assessments paid by unit owners to fund their share of the condominium association's common expenses. Depending on the property, those expenses can include building maintenance, association insurance, management, landscaping, elevators, amenities, shared utilities and contribu

Before selling your home, prioritize repairs that affect condition, function, buyer confidence, insurance or financing before spending heavily on cosmetic renovations. Active leaks, moisture problems, roof defects, malfunctioning HVAC equipment, plumbing leaks, significant electrical concerns, damag

Venice is generally the stronger fit for buyers who want a defined historic downtown, extensive golf and planned-community choices, Gulf beaches and a connected walking and biking network. Englewood may be the better fit for buyers who prefer a smaller Old Florida commercial district, Lemon Bay boat

The best places to live near Sarasota for waterfront access depend on what you want to do on the water. Bird Key and Harbor Acres are strong choices for buyers seeking detached homes with boating possibilities near downtown. Siesta Key combines Gulf beaches with bay and canal properties, while Lido

Some of the best Gulf-front condos near Sarasota are found on Siesta Key, Lido Key and Longboat Key. Gulf & Bay Club and Sarasota Surf & Racquet Club stand out on Siesta Key for direct beach access and extensive amenities. L'Elegance offers luxury Gulf-front living on Lido Key close to St. Armands C

Some Florida CDD assessments can eventually end, but buyers should not assume the entire CDD charge will disappear. A Community Development District may use debt assessments to repay bonds issued for community infrastructure. When the applicable debt is fully satisfied, that particular assessment ca

A budget of about $600,000 puts a Lakewood Ranch buyer in a competitive part of the market where new and resale single-family homes are both realistic possibilities. Current new-construction offerings around this price include homes with roughly three or four bedrooms, approximately 1,800 to more th

Some of the best communities near Sarasota for buyers seeking a home with a private pool include Palmer Ranch, Lakewood Ranch, Southgate, Gulf Gate Estates, Siesta Key, Bird Key, The Meadows and established neighborhoods east of Interstate 75. The right choice depends on whether you want a newer hom

3301 Belmont Boulevard is a single-family home in Sarasota Springs, Sarasota, Florida 34232. Available property records identify the residence as a 2-bedroom, 2-bath home with approximately 1,184 square feet of living area, an attached one-car garage and a roughly 0.26-acre lot. Built in 1960, the p

The best communities near Downtown Sarasota depend on whether you want true walkability, a detached home, waterfront living, historic character or quick access to the beach. Laurel Park and Gillespie Park combine residential streets with downtown proximity. The Rosemary District offers condos, apart