Florida Real Estate & Lifestyle Blog

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 change,

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 protections. U

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 roofs

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 veget

Fall 2026 brings a busy calendar of festivals and community events to Sarasota and Venice, with outdoor art shows, food and wine gatherings, farmers markets, beach events and seasonal celebrations scheduled from September through November. Highlights include the St. Armands Circle Art Festival, Sara

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 mana

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 Dri

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, elevator ac

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 entry

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 concierg

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 to St

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 poo

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 location

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 two-b

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 servi

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, newer

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 bea

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. Togeth

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 and

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 sellers