Florida Real Estate & Lifestyle Blog

  Lido Harbour South is an established Gulf-front condominium community at 2100 and 2110 Benjamin Franklin Drive on Lido Key in Sarasota. Dating to 1968, the community includes 69 residences and combines direct access to Lido Beach with a heated swimming pool, clubhouse, fitness facilities, covered

    Mark Twain condos offer an unusually intimate version of beachfront living on Lido Key in Sarasota, Florida. Located at 1336 Benjamin Franklin Drive, Mark Twain is a boutique condominium of just 14 private beach residences directly on the Gulf of Mexico. The community dates to the mid-1960s and

  Lido Surf and Sand is an established beachfront condominium on Lido Key in Sarasota, positioned directly along Lido Beach at 1100 Benjamin Franklin Drive. Built in 1976, the condominium combines direct Gulf of Mexico beach access with full or partial Gulf views from many residences, a beachfront h

    Lido Regency is an established Gulf-front condominium at 1700 Benjamin Franklin Drive on Lido Key in Sarasota. Built in 1968, the high-rise combines direct access to Lido Beach with Gulf of Mexico views from select residences, a beachfront pool area, fitness and social spaces, covered parking, a

    During a home showing, pay attention to the things that are difficult or expensive to change, including the location, floor plan, room sizes, storage, lot, parking, natural light and relationship to neighboring properties. Then look for visible conditions that deserve further investigation, such

    Neither a conventional loan nor an FHA loan is automatically better for every home buyer. FHA financing can be especially useful for qualified buyers with a smaller down payment or credit profile that makes conventional financing less competitive. Conventional financing can be attractive for buy

    Florida home buyers should start thinking about homeowners insurance before closing is anywhere near the calendar. Once you are seriously considering a particular property, begin gathering property-specific insurance information, and after going under contract, request quotes early enough to ide

    A homeowners association, commonly called an HOA, helps operate a residential community according to its governing documents and applicable law. Depending on the neighborhood, an HOA may maintain common areas, operate amenities, collect assessments, manage vendors, adopt and enforce rules, revie

    Yes, HOA fees can increase after you buy a home. Homeowners association assessments are generally based on the association's budget and the obligations established by its governing documents, so the amount owners pay today should not be assumed to remain unchanged indefinitely. Costs for landsca

    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 chan

    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 protection

    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

    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,

    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

    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