Florida Real Estate & Lifestyle Blog

Some of the best 55+ communities in the Bradenton area include Garden Lakes for established residential living in Bradenton proper, Cresswind and Del Webb Catalina for active-adult living in Lakewood Ranch, and Del Webb BayView, Del Webb Sunchase and Woodland Preserve for buyers considering nearby P

The expenses that often surprise people after moving to Florida are homeowners insurance, flood insurance, property taxes after a home changes ownership, hurricane deductibles, HOA or condominium assessments, CDD assessments, air-conditioning costs, pool and landscaping service, pest control, storm

Bayside on Little Sarasota Bay is a small gated community in Osprey offering single-family homes in a coastal setting directly on Little Sarasota Bay. Originally developed by Taylor Morrison, Bayside was planned for only 49 homesites and combines residential streets with a three-acre preserve, lake

Luxury buyers in Florida should investigate much more than architecture, finishes, views and purchase price. High-end properties can introduce specialized issues involving homeowners and flood insurance, coastal exposure, seawalls, docks, condominium reserves, association assessments, title, surveys

A Florida condo assessment is a unit owner's share of the money required to pay condominium association common expenses. The recurring amount commonly called a condo fee, maintenance fee or association fee is an assessment. A condominium can also levy a special assessment for a particular expense, s

Some of the best communities near Sarasota for resort-style amenities include Esplanade at Azario, The Lake Club, Esplanade on Palmer Ranch, Hammock Preserve, The Isles on Palmer Ranch, Cresswind Lakewood Ranch and Del Webb Catalina. These communities go beyond a neighborhood swimming pool, offering

Dunedin is generally the better choice if you want a walkable downtown, restaurants, breweries, community events and convenient access to Honeymoon Island. Palm Harbor may be better if you prefer a broader selection of suburban neighborhoods, golf communities, larger residential areas and a location

Yes, you can buy a Florida home in a flood zone. Being in a FEMA flood zone does not automatically prevent a property from being sold, financed or insured. The important questions are which flood zone applies to the structure, how the home is elevated, whether it has flooded before, what flood insur

Lakewood Ranch can range from moderately priced by Sarasota-area standards to decidedly expensive, depending on the village and home you choose. Current new-home options begin in the high $200,000s in some communities, while luxury and custom homes can exceed $3 million. Beyond the purchase price, h

Osprey Woods is a small deed-restricted single-family neighborhood east of U.S. 41 in Osprey, Florida, offering a quieter residential setting between Sarasota and Venice. The subdivision dates to the mid-2000s and includes homes along Blake Way, with mature landscaping and wooded surroundings helpin

Choose Lakewood Ranch if you primarily want newer homes, master-planned neighborhoods, community amenities, trails, golf and convenient access to Interstate 75. Choose Sarasota if you place greater value on established neighborhoods, downtown walkability, Sarasota Bay, arts and culture, or living cl

Florida does not generally require every homeowner to carry flood insurance, but your mortgage lender may require it, particularly when a financed property is in a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area. A lender can also impose flood-insurance requirements outside a high-risk flood zone. Even when coverage

Kanaya is a boutique luxury condominium at 505 S Orange Avenue in Downtown Sarasota, offering 35 residences in a 15-story building completed in 2007. Its appeal comes from unusually spacious condominium living, a relatively small residential population, secured garage parking and amenities that incl

You do not automatically need to renovate before selling a Florida home. For many sellers, targeted repairs, cleaning, fresh paint, landscaping and better presentation can make more sense than completing a major kitchen, bathroom or whole-home remodel immediately before listing. Renovating may be wo

Retirees who want to live near the beach in Florida should consider Sarasota, Venice, Nokomis, Englewood, Siesta Key, Longboat Key and communities near Manasota Key. On Florida's Gulf Coast, the biggest decision is often whether to live directly on a barrier island or a few miles inland. Island home

Some of the best communities near Sarasota for pickleball include Cresswind and Del Webb in Lakewood Ranch, Esplanade Golf & Country Club at Lakewood Ranch, VillageWalk at Palmer Ranch, Grand Palm in Venice and IslandWalk at Wellen Park. These communities put pickleball inside the neighborhood rathe

Some of the best communities near Sarasota with no CDD fees are found in Palmer Ranch and Sarasota's established residential areas. Hammock Preserve, Arbor Lakes, VillageWalk and Deer Creek are strong Palmer Ranch options, while Gulf Gate and other established Sarasota neighborhoods can provide alte

Clearwater and St. Petersburg offer two distinctly different ways to live on Florida's Gulf Coast. Clearwater is generally the stronger choice for buyers who prioritize easy access to a nationally recognized Gulf beach, boating and a smaller-city environment. St. Petersburg is often better for buyer

Sailboat water in Florida real estate generally describes waterfront property with a navigable route suitable for sailboats, most importantly without low fixed bridges blocking a vessel's mast, and with sufficient water depth for the intended boat. You may also see listings use terms such as "sailbo

The best communities near Downtown St. Petersburg include Historic Old Northeast, Crescent Lake, Historic Kenwood, Historic Uptown, Snell Isle and Historic Roser Park. Each provides a different alternative to living directly in a downtown condominium. Old Northeast puts buyers beside downtown and th