Florida Real Estate & Lifestyle Blog

    There is no standard percentage that makes an offer on a Florida home "too low." An offer 10 percent below asking could be unrealistic on a newly listed, competitively priced home with multiple interested buyers, yet entirely reasonable on an overpriced property that has been sitting for months

    The best condo communities near Sarasota Bay offer very different versions of waterfront living. Buyers can choose established bayfront towers such as Condo on the Bay and One Watergate, newer luxury residences around The Quay, boutique waterfront buildings on Golden Gate Point, or island commun

    The true cost of buying a home in Florida goes well beyond the mortgage payment. Buyers may need cash for the down payment, closing costs, inspections, appraisal, prepaid insurance, tax and insurance escrows, moving expenses and immediate repairs. After closing, the budget can include property t

    The cheapest home in a neighborhood can be a good purchase, but only when the price discount is greater than the property's disadvantages and realistic cost of correcting them. A dated kitchen or worn flooring may create manageable improvement opportunities. Structural problems, an aging roof, d

    There is no single percentage that every Florida home seller pays in closing costs in 2026. A seller's actual expenses can include Florida documentary stamp tax on the deed, title and closing expenses depending on the purchase contract, negotiated real estate brokerage compensation, association

    Florida condo reserves are funds an association sets aside for future repair, replacement and deferred-maintenance expenses. For buyers, the important question is not simply how much money is sitting in a reserve account. It is whether the association's reserves, funding plan and other available

      The property taxes a Florida seller pays today may be very different from what a buyer pays after purchasing the home. A longtime owner may have a substantially reduced assessed value because of the Homestead Exemption and years of Save Our Homes assessment limitations. After a qualifying chan

    Cambridge Village is an established 55+ community in southwest Bradenton offering detached, single-story villa-style residences in a maintenance-provided setting. Located in the Bayshore Gardens area, the community combines residential surroundings with convenient access to shopping, dining, Sar

    Gulf Beach Place is a small eight-unit condominium community at 3402 and 3404 Gulf Drive in Holmes Beach on Anna Maria Island. Built in 1987, the community is positioned on the beach side of Gulf Drive, with the Gulf of Mexico only steps away and no street to cross between the complex and the sa

    5400 Condos is an established 55+ Gulf-front condominium community at 5400 Gulf Drive in Holmes Beach on Anna Maria Island. Its biggest attraction is location: residents have direct access to the Gulf of Mexico beaches while remaining close to restaurants, shops and the free Anna Maria Island tr

    Citywalk Sarasota is a gated, low-rise condominium community at 2121 Wood Street near downtown Sarasota, Payne Park and the Legacy Trail. The approximately 70-residence community offers mostly compact one- and two-bedroom condos, along with amenities that include a heated swimming pool, spa and

    Sandy Pointe Condos offers a convenient version of Anna Maria Island living at 3607 East Bay Drive in Holmes Beach. The low-rise condominium community combines two-bedroom residences, screened lanais, a community pool and covered parking with a location close to the Gulf beaches, grocery shoppin

    Westbay Point & Moorings is an established waterfront condominium community along Flotilla Drive in Holmes Beach on Anna Maria Island. Its appeal comes from combining Anna Maria Sound and canal-front surroundings with pools, tennis and pickleball, kayak access and proximity to the Gulf beaches.

    Hidden Cove Beach Homes is an intimate six-unit Gulf-front condominium community at 5610 Gulf Drive in Holmes Beach on Anna Maria Island. Built in 1996, Hidden Cove combines direct access to the Gulf beach with two-bedroom, multi-level residences, Gulf-facing outdoor spaces, a community pool and

    Shell Point is a 44-unit waterfront condominium community at 6300 Flotilla Drive in Holmes Beach on Anna Maria Island. Positioned along Watson Bayou near Anna Maria Sound, the community combines water views and kayak access with a heated pool, clubhouse, tennis and pickleball, shuffleboard and a

    Ocean Park Terrace is a small Gulf-front condominium community at 2700 Gulf Drive in Holmes Beach on Anna Maria Island. The 14-unit property combines direct access to the Gulf of Mexico with a heated community pool, elevator, covered parking and a location convenient to Holmes Beach dining, shop

    Waters Edge is a Gulf-front condominium community along the 5800 block of Gulf Drive in Holmes Beach on Anna Maria Island. Built in 1975, the community offers direct access to the Gulf beach, a large heated beachfront pool, tennis and pickleball facilities, elevators, covered or assigned parking

    West Winds is a small Gulf-front condominium community along Gulf Drive in Holmes Beach on Anna Maria Island. The community consists of two eight-unit condominium sections, creating an intimate 16-residence setting with Gulf beach access, a heated community pool and spacious two-bedroom floor pl

    A price reduction can make a Florida home worth a closer look, but it does not automatically make the property a good deal. Before buying, investigate why the price changed, how the new price compares with recent sales, how long the home has been available, and whether inspections, insurance, fl

    An overpriced Florida home is not simply a property with a high asking price. It is a home whose price appears difficult to support when compared with recent sales, current competing listings, condition, location and property-specific characteristics. Buyers should watch for repeated price reduc