Florida Real Estate & Lifestyle Blog

    Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key offer two different versions of Florida Gulf Coast island living. Anna Maria Island is approximately seven miles long, contains three separate municipalities and combines low-rise residential neighborhoods with beach-town businesses and vacation-oriented activi

    Yes, Longboat Key can be an excellent place to live for buyers seeking Gulf beaches, waterfront scenery, boating, golf, and a quieter coastal atmosphere near Sarasota. The barrier island offers beachfront condominiums, bayfront residences, established neighborhoods, and access to outdoor recreat

    The fourth quarter, October through December, marks an important transition for luxury real estate on Longboat Key and Siesta Key. As Sarasota's winter visitor season approaches, seasonal residents, second-home buyers, and relocation prospects begin returning to Southwest Florida. That creates o

    Some of the most useful golf communities to compare near Longboat Key include Longboat Key Club and Bay Isles on the island itself, Palm Aire and University Park north of central Sarasota, TPC Prestancia on Palmer Ranch and, for buyers willing to look farther inland, Laurel Oak and Lakewood Ranc

    Before a day of touring Longboat Key real estate, give yourself a quiet morning to experience the island without rushing from showing to showing. Have breakfast, walk near the Gulf, spend time along Sarasota Bay and drive part of Gulf of Mexico Drive at an ordinary pace. A slow morning will not

    If you have one weekend to compare Florida Gulf Coast barrier-island real estate, Lido Key, Longboat Key and Anna Maria Island make an unusually useful three-stop tour. Start on Lido Key, where beachfront condominiums and waterfront homes sit close to St. Armands Circle and Sarasota. Continue no

    Waterfront dining on Longboat Key can be more than a meal when you are exploring the island as a potential place to own a home. Dry Dock Waterfront Grill provides Sarasota Bay views near the south end, while Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant & Pub and Shore offer waterfront settings near the north e

    If you are considering a move to Sarasota, a long walk on the beach can be surprisingly useful homebuying research. Siesta Beach is an easy place to start when you want a broad Gulf shoreline and convenient public facilities. Lido Key works well when you are comparing island living with downtown

    Some of the most appealing paddleboarding around Lido Key and Longboat Key is on the protected Sarasota Bay side rather than the open Gulf. On Lido Key, Ted Sperling Nature Park provides access to shallow mangrove waterways, Big Grassy Lagoon and Brushy Bayou. On Longboat Key, Bayfront Park has

    Vacationing on Longboat Key can revolve around the Gulf, waterfront dinners, boating and an intentionally slower schedule. Living on Longboat Key adds another layer: groceries, bridge traffic, home maintenance, insurance, association responsibilities, storm preparation and the practical question

    Before buying on Longboat Key, investigate more than the residence, view and asking price. This Florida barrier island stretches between the Gulf of Mexico and Sarasota Bay, with properties ranging from Gulf-front condominiums to bayfront and canal-oriented homes. Buyers should understand the pr

    If waterfront living is part of your Longboat Key home search, spend some time seeing the island from the water. A boat ride along Sarasota Bay reveals a side of Longboat Key real estate that is difficult to understand from Gulf of Mexico Drive alone. From the bay, you can see residential canals

  If you have a few free hours between Sarasota home showings, Lido Beach and Longboat Key Beach offer two very different ways to spend them. Lido Beach is the easier choice when you want a traditional public beach with parking, restrooms, lifeguards, refreshments and nearby St. Armands Circle. Long

    A weekend morning on Longboat Key can be remarkably simple: an early walk along the Gulf, coffee or breakfast, a bicycle ride, pickleball at Bayfront Park, time on the water, or an unhurried drive along Gulf of Mexico Drive. The island stretches between the Gulf of Mexico and Sarasota Bay, and i

    If you are house hunting on Longboat Key, where you stop for breakfast, lunch or dinner can actually help organize the day. Longboat Key stretches between Sarasota Bay and the Gulf, so choosing restaurants near the properties you are touring can reduce unnecessary driving while giving you more t

    Boca Royale Golf & Country Club is a gated residential and country-club community in Englewood, Florida, combining single-family homes with an 18-hole golf course, tennis, pickleball, fitness, dining and organized club activities. The official club describes Boca Royale as an approximately 1,000

    The best golf courses near Longboat Key, Florida begin on the island itself, where The Resort at Longboat Key Club offers 45 holes across Links on Longboat and Harbourside Golf Course. Those courses are limited to club members and resort guests, so golfers seeking public access can also consider

    Lands End is a gated, 12-residence waterfront enclave near the northern tip of Longboat Key, offering a dramatically different experience from the island's Gulf-front condominium towers. Detached residences are arranged around a natural bayou connected with the Sarasota Bay and Intracoastal envi

    Longboat Harbour is a 300-residence waterfront condominium community on Longboat Key where sheltered waterways, low-rise buildings, boating facilities and extensive recreation create a distinctly different experience from the island's Gulf-front towers. Located on the Sarasota Bay side of the is

    La Firenza is a boutique Gulf-front condominium community on Longboat Key with just 10 residences divided between two intimate buildings. Completed in 2007, the community stands apart for its unusually large floor plans, approximately 3,500 to 4,800 square feet, direct Gulf frontage, expansive t