Florida Real Estate & Lifestyle Blog

    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,

    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

    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

    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, elevato

    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 en

    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

    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

    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 loca

    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 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