What Is Earnest Money When Buying a House?

Earnest money is a deposit a home buyer makes in connection with a signed purchase agreement to demonstrate good faith in the transaction. The money is typically held in escrow rather than treated as an immediate payment to the seller. If the purchase closes, the deposit is generally credited to
Read MoreBest Golf Courses Near Nokomis, Florida

Some of the best golf courses near Nokomis, Florida include Calusa Lakes Golf Club and Mission Valley Golf & Country Club right in Nokomis, plus Lake Venice Golf Club, Pelican Pointe Golf & Country Club, Waterford Golf Club, Jacaranda West Country Club, and Venetian Golf Club nearby. Golfers can
Read MoreWhat Should I Look for in a Roof Before Buying a Home?

Before buying a home, look beyond whether the roof simply appears new or old. Buyers should investigate its documented age, roofing material, visible condition, signs of leakage, prior repairs, permits, remaining useful life, wind-resistant features, and potential insurance implications. In Flor
Read MoreBest Golf Communities in Lakewood Ranch

The best golf communities in Lakewood Ranch depend on how seriously you play and how you want golf connected to your home. Buyers can choose established country club neighborhoods with access to the private Lakewood Ranch Golf & Country Club, the resort-oriented Esplanade Golf & Country Club, or
Read MoreFixed-Rate vs. Adjustable-Rate Mortgage: Which Should I Choose?

A fixed-rate mortgage provides a predictable interest rate for the life of the loan, while an adjustable-rate mortgage, or ARM, can change after an initial period. Neither option is automatically better for every home buyer. A fixed rate may appeal to buyers who value long-term payment stability
Read MoreWhat Is a Property Survey and Do I Need One?

A property survey is a professional measurement and drawing of real estate that can show the property's boundaries, improvements, and other physical features relevant to ownership. For Florida home buyers, a survey can help identify issues such as a fence crossing a boundary, an improvement near a
Read MoreBest Golf Courses Near Wellen Park

Some of the best golf courses near Wellen Park are remarkably close to home. Wellen Park Golf & Country Club and Boca Royale provide championship golf within Wellen Park neighborhoods, while Sarasota National, Myakka Pines, Jacaranda West, Pelican Pointe, Plantation, and Venice East expand the cho
Read MoreWhere Can You Golf Near Anna Maria Island?

You can golf surprisingly close to Anna Maria Island, although only one course is actually on the island. Key Royale Club in Holmes Beach is a private nine-hole club, while public golfers can cross to Bradenton for Manatee Golf Course, IMG Academy Golf Club, Pinebrook Ironwood Golf Club, and oth
Read MoreBest Golf Courses in Sarasota, Florida

Some of the best golf courses in Sarasota, Florida range from historic public layouts to highly regarded private clubs. For public play, Bobby Jones Golf Club and University Park Country Club are two excellent places to start. Private-club golfers can explore TPC Prestancia, Sara Bay Country Clu
Read MoreSeptember 2026 Market Pulse: Is Fall Bringing More Listings to the Gulf Coast?

The Gulf Coast housing market is entering September with an interesting question: will fall bring buyers more homes to choose from? The latest complete data does not yet show a broad inventory expansion. In fact, July 2026 brought stronger sales and declining active inventory across Sarasota and
Read MoreHamilton Club: Private Waterfront Living on Siesta Key

Hamilton Club is an intimate waterfront condominium community on the northern portion of Siesta Key, with just 18 residences arranged in a gated setting near Coconut Bayou and the Intracoastal Waterway. Its multi-level residences are substantially larger than many traditional island condos and c
Read MoreWhite Sands Village: Casual Island Living Near Siesta Beach

White Sands Village offers an established, casual approach to condominium living near Siesta Beach. Located along Midnight Pass Road, the low-rise community puts residents within a short walk of the public beach while offering a heated pool, tropical grounds, clubhouse, covered parking, grilling
Read MoreHarbour Towne: A Boater-Friendly Waterfront Community on Siesta Key

Harbour Towne is a gated waterfront condominium community on Siesta Key designed around a protected marina and private boat docks. Located off Midnight Pass Road along Dockside Place, the approximately 50-residence community combines boating access with attached garages, a heated pool and spa, t
Read MoreWhispering Sands: Beachfront Living Near Siesta Key Village

Whispering Sands combines two features that are difficult to duplicate on Siesta Key, a gated beachfront setting and a location immediately convenient to Siesta Key Village. Developed from 1968 to 1973, the community includes 267 residences across condominium buildings and villas, with private G
Read MoreFishermans Cove: Waterfront Living at the Quiet End of Siesta Key

Fisherman's Cove occupies an unusual waterfront setting at Turtle Beach on the southern end of Siesta Key. The condominium community sits between the Gulf shoreline and Blind Pass Lagoon, giving residents direct access to the beach while also providing boat slips, kayak launching, and a connecti
Read MoreTurtle Bay: Waterfront Condo Living on South Siesta Key

Turtle Bay is a waterfront condominium community on the southern end of Siesta Key, positioned along Little Sarasota Bay near Turtle Beach. The community combines bayfront living with boat docks, a fishing pier, kayak access, a heated pool and spa, tennis and pickleball facilities, tropical grou
Read MoreSomerset Cay: Boutique Waterfront Luxury on Siesta Key

Somerset Cay is a boutique waterfront condominium community at 9122 Midnight Pass Road on the southern end of Siesta Key in Sarasota, Florida. Completed in 2002 with just 17 residences, Somerset Cay combines spacious condominium living with waterfront access, a resort-style pool and spa, fitness
Read MoreTortuga: A Tropical Beach-to-Bay Escape on Siesta Key

Tortuga is a beach-to-bay condominium community on the southern portion of Siesta Key in Sarasota, Florida. Located along Midnight Pass Road, the community combines deeded Gulf beach access with access to Little Sarasota Bay and the Intracoastal Waterway, including boat-dock facilities and a fis
Read MoreSiesta Sands: Gulf-Side Living at the Southern End of Siesta Key

Siesta Sands is a Gulf-side condominium property at 1001 Point of Rocks Road on the southern portion of Siesta Key in Sarasota, Florida. Positioned directly on Crescent Beach near Point of Rocks, the property combines direct shoreline access with two heated pools and individually configured condom
Read MoreCityscape Sarasota: Downtown Residences and Main Street Convenience

Cityscape Sarasota is defined by residential choices woven into the urban core, where Downtown Sarasota condo living can place restaurants, shops, cultural destinations, Sarasota Bay, and Main Street close to home. Buyers can compare established high-rises, boutique residences, newer luxury buil
Read More
Categories
- All Blogs 1406
- Anna Maria Island 66
- Bird Key 3
- Bradenton 44
- Buying a Home 562
- Casey Key 2
- Clearwater 5
- Condos & HOA Living 472
- Ellenton 4
- Englewood 5
- First Time Homebuyers 634
- Foreclosures 3
- Homeownership 610
- Lakewood Ranch 15
- Lido Key 24
- Longboat Key 65
- Luxury/Waterfront Properties 548
- Market Updates & Trends 276
- Mortgages & Financing 27
- Move-Up Buyers 20
- Neighborhood Guides 416
- New Construction 21
- Palmetto 2
- Parrish 4
- Port Charlotte 7
- Punta Gorda 11
- Real Estate Investing 481
- Relocation to Florida 532
- Safety Harbor 2
- Sarasota - Downtown 110
- Selling a Home 134
- Siesta Key 87
- St. Petersburg 3
- Tierra Verde 3
- Vacation & Second Homes 665
- Venice 20
- Wellen Park 7
Recent Posts










