It’s a majestic barrier island in Sarasota Bay between Sarasota and St. Armand’s Key. Originally Bird Key was only a small, 12-acre island barely rising a few feet above the surrounding grass flats, but dredge-and-fill expanded the island to its current size in the 1950s. Today Bird Key is 250 beautifully-sculpted acres of the most magnificent homes anywhere on the coast. Bird Key is a tranquil and gated community connected to downtown Sarasota by the John Ringling Causeway Bridge. And unlike the other nearby islands, high-rise condominiums can’t be found on Bird Key. It’s all single-family homes, and they’re all gorgeous.

Bird Key is smack in the center of everything, only minutes from sun-drenched Florida beaches and from world-class shopping and dining at St. Armand’s Circle or downtown Sarasota. Yet Bird Key’s quiet, tucked-away ambiance assures that this exclusive enclave of homes remains serene and unpretentious.

To call Bird Key a boater’s delight is an understatement. Many of the island’s homes sit directly on Sarasota Bay or on the deep-water canals. Boaters enjoy extra-wide waterways and quick, easy access to the Gulf of Mexico. Legendary circus entrepreneur John Ringling completed the first home built on Bird Key; that magnificent structure is today the Bird Key Yacht Club, one of the most esteemed clubs in Florida. The Club offers members an exceptional list of amenities as well as docking services with reciprocal agreements at the area’s other yacht clubs. Sailors will appreciate that Bird Key is also only minutes from the Sarasota Yacht Club and the Sarasota Sailing Squadron.

Of course, Bird Key residents enjoy all the marvelous benefits of Sarasota living: superior fishing and water sports, dozens of golf and tennis options, stunning natural beauty, sparkling white beaches, a variety of intriguing music and art festivals, and leading cultural venues like the historic Asolo Theatre, the Van Wezel Hall for the Performing Arts, and the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art. The average year-round temperature is 73 degrees, and the long summer days are punctuated by cool breezes drifting in from the Gulf. What could be better?

With today’s low home prices and the absolute lowest interest rates ever, there’s no time like now to discover your perfect home on Florida’s majestic Bird Key.

View the Bird Key cam and all the other Webcams at See Sarasota Live

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Dozens of public and private golf courses offer challenges to players at every level of skill and on every budget. Many of the private courses are also part of golf-centered communities with a choice of homes and condominiums. Tennis players here also have their choice from dozens of public and private courts. Thirty-five miles of beaches (including the beautiful Siesta Key) provide beach-goers and sun-worshipers with the world’s whitest sand and most spectacular sunsets. Fishermen, divers, and boaters will find an assortment of deep-water marinas and yacht clubs. Enthusiasts can pursue any and every kind of water sport from skiing to windsurfing to parasailing and more.

Sarasota residents are only two hours from Disney World, Universal Studios, and the other famous Orlando attractions, and they’re only an hour away from the Tampa Bay Rays, Buccaneers, and Lightning home games.

A wide variety of residential properties for sale in Sarasota are available. You’ll find beautiful new high-rise condos and penthouses, waterfront homes, and golf course communities as well as lower-priced single-family homes and assisted-living retirement communities. Townhouses, condos, and single-family homes begin at $100,000 (and sometimes slightly less). More upscale waterfront homes and mainland estates are available to those seeking such properties.

If you’re looking for other reasons to relocate or retire to Sarasota, consider this. The state of Florida has no personal income tax, and Sarasota residents benefit from a property tax millage rate that is one of the lowest in Florida. A Homestead Exemption provision ensures that permanent residents pay no taxes on the first $25,000 of their property’s appraised value. So if you’re looking to relocate your family, retire, or simply to make a smart property investment, Sarasota is the spot. With current low interest rates, and with a market where lenders are more willing than ever to work with prospective buyers, now is the time.

You’re beginning an exciting adventure by moving your family to Sarasota, the crown jewel on Florida’s west coast. Pristine beaches (the Number One beach in the U.S.), expansive hiking trails, stimulating academic offerings, culture beyond description, great schools and parks, vibrant churches and synagogues, farmers’ markets, a range of shopping venues, baseball’s spring training venue… and more! What’s not to love? Nothing!

If you’re just starting the relocation process, the first step will be to find a real estate brokerage that specializes in buyers’ needs. True Sarasota Real Estate is nationally recognized as an outstanding provider of buyer services. The company’s Accredited Buyers Representative’s will be with you every step of the way to find the perfect home in the perfect neighborhood, and can provide you with pre- and post-moving assistance on every level.

If you’ve just landed in Sarasota with your home purchased, insurance and taxes covered, and any homeowners’ association or condo fees handled, there are tasks you’ll need to address. Here are 10 of the most important.

1. Connect utilities, phone, cable, etc. Florida Power and Light oversees electrical service in Sarasota County. Call 941-917-0708. If your new home is equipped for gas service, call Teco Peoples Gas System, 941-366-4277. Choose from phone companies depending on your individual needs. For water and sewer in Sarasota County, call 941-378-6188.

2. Enroll your children in school. Sarasota residents can choose from neighborhood-based schools to those that specialize in the arts (Booker), gifted programs (Pine View), military (Sarasota Military Academy) and multiple alternative schools. A child must be 5 by September1 in order to enter kindergarten, 6 to enter first grade (and must have attended kindergarten). Bring to the school the child’s birth certificate, immunization records, proof of a physical exam within the past six months and proof of residence.

3. Don’t forget to change your address with the post office. You can do this by personally visiting a local post office or going online to www.usps.com.

4. Contract with lawn and other service providers. Ask your Exclusive Buyers Agent for help with this in advance, or wait until you’re settled and check with neighbors. It’s a great way to get to meet people, and they’ll be glad to offer references.

5. Find medical support for your family and your pets. Again, your agent will be a good starting point. You may try several medical providers before deciding on the one that’s best for you; check the Internet for ratings and comments on those you are considering. Sarasota is home to internationally-known physicians in multiple fields, such as the Silverstein Institute for hearing disorders, the DaSilva Institute for anti-aging therapies, Kennedy White Orthopedic Center for treatment of joint diseases and conditions, and more.

6. Register your car. New Florida residents have 10 days after gaining employment or enrolling children in school to register vehicles. Be prepared with your current driver’s license, proof of Florida auto insurance, prior registration and title. Bring the VIN number and be ready to be wowed by the selection of Florida plates available. You’ll also need to apply for a Florida Title Certificate. All of this is handled by the Sarasota County Tax Commissioner. Call 941-362-9888 for locations and more information.

7. A Florida Drivers License must be secured within 30 days of accepting employment, entering children in public school, registering to vote, or filing for homestead exemption. Cost is $20. Just bring your previous license, take a vision test and you’re all set. Call 941-361-6217 for more info.

8. Find places to shop for your new home. Whether high-end, full-service furniture and appliance stores are in your budget, or if you’re looking for bargains, Sarasota has it all. In fact, the consignment stores and auction houses here are packed with top-quality, little-used furnishings from some of the area’s most prestigious homes. As couples and singles downsize, they often turn to estate sales, consignment stores and auctions to help minimize the move.

9. Discover restaurants. From American to Amish, French to Italian, Japanese, Chinese and Thai, Mexican, Sushi, Vegetarian and Gluten-free – there’s something for everyone. Go online to search for the perfect meal, dine-in or take-out, for a celebratory dinner.

10. Go to the Beach: Siesta, Turtle, Longboat, Lido, try them all. Sun, surf and sand are the hallmarks of the Sarasota lifestyle. You’ll end up saying, “I feel like I’m on vacation every day, and I LIVE HERE!”

Sarasota, Florida is the home of a number of beautiful barrier islands. These islands offer a variety of desirable single-family homes and condominiums, and they’re a primary reason that Sarasota is one of the nation’s top relocation and retirement destinations. All of the islands offer spectacular, white beaches, a world of shopping choices, numerous recreational opportunities, a laid-back lifestyle, and an average year-round temperature of 73 degrees. Sarasota’s barrier islands are also only two hours from Disney World and Universal Studios and only an hour from Tampa-St. Petersburg.

Siesta Key is one of those beautiful barrier islands. It’s only minutes from downtown Sarasota shopping, dining, and nightlife, but you can also find great amenities right on the island; shops, boutiques, and restaurants where you can grab a quick, casual lunch or sit down to a stylish, formal dinner. Sarasota Bay and Florida’s Intracoastal Water way are on the east side of this eight-mile long barrier island. It’s a charming route for boaters who want to explore the area’s mangrove forests, fish for snook or pompano, or cruise to Sarasota’s dockside restaurants and pubs. Most Siesta Key homes are set on canals offering immediate access to the Intracoastal, but if you don’t own a boat, rentals and charters are available. Residents and visitors enjoy every kind of water sport.

Lido Key sits just north of Siesta Key. It’s another ideal beach setting, and it’s only a short walk from anywhere on Lido to the famous St. Armand’s Circle. Circus mogul John Ringling purchased the St.Armand’s property in 1917, and his influence persists there today in the street design radiating from the circle and the magnificent Italian statuary he placed there. Today you’ll find stunning contemporary architecture and perhaps the most cosmopolitan shopping experience in North America.

Longboat Key, north of Lido Key, is comprised almost entirely by single-family homes and condominiums. In cooperation with the Chamber of Commerce and the town government, Longboat Key’s condominium associations have made this barrier island a model of local government and citizen cooperation. Longboat Key is also served by two newspapers and by numerous restaurants, shops, and full-service grocery stores and pharmacies.

8-mile long Casey Key, south of Siesta Key, is one of the area’s hidden jewels, an exclusive and fashionable enclave. While it may not have as much busy activity as the islands to the north, that’s part of the charm for visitors and residents alike. Drive along Casey Key Road under a canopy of palm, pine, and oak trees, and you’ll see both stunning mansions as well as modest beach bungalows, all set on the beautiful waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

An improving housing market and low interest rates make the Sarasota barrier islands a superior location for anyone wanting to purchase a residential property for investment, relocation, or retirement.

Ego Leonard, the “official” name of the popular Lego Man, washed ashore on Siesta Beach last October. He’s been sitting in the perp, um, property room at the County Jail since then, waiting for a new home. Sheriff’s officials assure the public that he was well cared for.

The 8-foot tall fiberglass creation ended his swim on Siesta Beach. Although is origin is unknown, he most likely was created by Dutch artist Leon Keer, a participant in Koval’s 2011 Chalk Festival.

Lego Man made the trip to freedom in the back of a pickup truck, inspiring drivers along US 41 to cheer his release and take pictures, or just to wonder what the heck was going on.

Kowal is soliciting input from the community to help determine Lego Man’s next stop. For now, he is just excited to be out of custody and free of any charges.

Current market conditions make this one of the best moments in decades to purchase  investment property in Sarasota, Florida. As the general economy begins a slow recovery, many Americans are once again renting vacation properties, and Sarasota has always been a top vacation destination. Additionally, current lending restrictions still keep many Americans out of the property-buying process; many consumers who fall into that category — including younger families as well as retirees — are now seeking long-term residential rentals. With current low home prices and a growing demand for high-quality, short-term and long-term rentals, this may be the ideal time to consider purchasing an investment property in Sarasota for lease and rental purposes.

According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, rent hikes (when adjusted for inflation) have averaged less than 1% a year for the last ten years, so they are now expected to make up lost ground with a 5% to 7% average hike in each of the next several years. (This still represents an outstanding deal for tenants, who’ve essentially been paying at discounted rates since the recession started in 2008.) Additionally, a drop in supply, with a rental-property vacancy rate of only about 5%, is creating a rental market where rents are almost guaranteed to rise sharply in the near future.

Sarasota offers a variety of high-quality residential properties that are perfect for the investor. Condominium properties are available at good prices throughout the area, and fine single-family homes are to be had all around the city. Sarasota’s beautiful barrier islands, including Siesta Key, Lido Key, Longboat Key, and Casey Key, offer some of the choicest waterfront single-family homes and condominiums anywhere.

If you’re thinking about investing in a rental property, low prices and low interest rates make this the best time in years. And Sarasota’s unique market makes it one of the best locations anywhere. The following tips can help you take advantage of this first-rate opportunity.

Know your options. Do you want to be a landlord, or do you want to restore and resell properties? Determine what kind of property fits your plans and personal tastes.
Find experienced help and advice. Locate a real-estate agent with experience in investment property deals. Such an agent can help you quickly locate properties that fit your strategy. You’ll also want to talk with landlords and with experienced real-estate investors to glean wisdom from their experiences.

Find the right location: You’ll want to locate a property in metropolitan Sarasota or on the barrier islands. Rural areas outside the city and away from the beaches mean fewer people and fewer potential tenants. Properties near schools and shopping malls not only attract renters; they’ll make your property more valuable when it’s time to resell. Line up your capital: Make sure you have the assets to deal with the pitfalls that come with investing. Even if you intend to rent a property, you’ll be paying the mortgage whenever there’s a vacancy. If you’re restoring to resell, you may end up holding the property for several months.

Make some new friends: Line up maintenance professionals in advance so that you can call them the minute a repair or maintenance need comes up. An attorney can advise you on tenant issues, and a property management firm can handle everyday rental affairs.

Following these tips can make buying an investment property in Sarasota one of the best choices you’ll ever make.

For more information on finding and purchasing your next investment property in Sarasota, please contact one of our Exclusive Buyers Agents at 941-918-1956.

The typical first-time home buyer living in Sarasota is looking primarily for a solid, attractive house at a good price, in a lovely neighborhood. Perhaps a strong school or amenities such as golf, tennis, water sports are on their list of “must haves.” Being local, it’s relatively easy to find a new home that’s suitable for their needs.

For buyers relocating to Sarasota from other states or countries, however, the needs go beyond the basics. Because of distance, and often time constraints, they are often left with questions: What’s the neighborhood really like? Are there accessible amenities close by? Where are the best schools? Are there hotels that will accept pets while we relocate prior to closing? Where are the bst restaurants, shopping, quirky and fun things to do? What’s the nightlife like? What opportunities are there for teen activities, organized sports, outdoor adventures? Where are the best daycare centers?

Buyers who turn to True Sarasota Real Estate will find answers to these and a multitude of other questions as part of the company’s concierge service. Similar to a concierge in a luxury hotel, True Sarasota Real Estate’s services begin the moment the potential buyer contacts the agency, and doesn’t end until the family is comfortably settled in their new Sarasota home.

According to Bill True, Broker and Realtor® at True Sarasota Real Estate and Accredited Buyer Representative, the services don’t stop there. “We continue our relationship with the buyer indefinitely,”he said. “From the time we begin working with a client, we are proactive in anticipating his or her needs. These could be finding the best financing, to recommending other members of a team for closing, such as title, inspection, legal advice.”

He added, “We pride ourselves on the personal attention we can give to each homeowner, because we offer objective information and we have a comprehensive knowledge of the area. Perhaps most importantly, we listen, really listen, to what our clients want. From pre-selecting appropriate hotels or other short-term accommodations, to introducing them, first-hand, to their individual interests, such as kayaking, shopping, veterinarians, medical care providers, farmers’ markets, dining and cultural activities, we want our buyers to comfortably feel a kinship to the Sarasota community.”

Just as in a hotel, the concierge services offered by True Sarasota Real Estate are provided as a service to their clients. Regina Brassil, an Exclusive Buyers Agent on True’s team, enthusiastically said she loves helping new homeowners learn about Sarasota and explore the city’s many venues and opportunities for interaction.

“It’s one of my favorite parts of my job,” she explained with a smile. “By the time the purchase transaction is complete, I feel as though I have known the buyers forever. I consider them friends, and truly enjoy spending time with them exploring the areas they want to see and showing them out-of-the-way places they might not have realized even exist. We go ‘beyond Ringling’ in showing off Sarasota and the surrounding areas, but still give them a tease to explore the area on their own.”

She added, “I don’t like to call this ‘hand-holding,’ because our buyers know what they want and have the resources to discover Sarasota’s treasures on their own. We’re here to facilitate and supplement, help them when they need it, and show off the city we love.”

The bottom line when working with an Exclusive Buyers Agent is that buyers are not alone. From the beginning of the house-hunting process through the settling in to a new community, the company brings their resources to make the transition smooth and joyful.

Interest rates are low, and mortgage lenders have become increasingly willing to work with qualified buyers. Both retirees and young families are not only drawn by beautiful Sarasota homes for sale, beachfront properties and luxury real estate in Sarasota, but also by Sarasota’s diverse cultural and recreational venues, which offer a wide selection of the highest-quality artistic, recreational, and educational opportunities.

Sarasota is the home of the Sarasota Orchestra, which annually conducts the three-week, internationally-recognized Sarasota Music Festival, attracting renowned teachers and many of the world’s finest music students. The Asolo Repertory Theatre has gained national attention for producing award-winning dramas and musicals featuring many Tony award-winning directors and performers. The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall presents a broad spectrum of the world’s finest performing artists to meet the community’s diverse cultural needs and tastes. Their calendar for 2012 includes The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, The Cleveland Orchestra, the Tony Award-winning Cats, and comedy and music including Willie Nelson, Abba, Whoopi Goldberg, and Jerry Seinfeld. Other Sarasota cultural attractions include the Sarasota Ballet, Sarasota Opera, Florida Studio Theatre, the Sarasota Players, and the Banyan Theater Company. Since 1998, the city has also hosted the annual Sarasota Film Festival.

The historic Sarasota Municipal Auditorium hosts clubs for cards, dancing, games, gardening, numerous hobbies, as well as being the community meeting place for commercial and educational shows and charity events. The building is listed in the National Register of Historic Places both for its architecture and for the vast range of community activities conducted there weekly.

Sarasota is also the home of the Mote Marine Laboratory, a marine rescue, research facility, and aquarium; Marie Selby Botanical Gardens; and Sarasota Jungle Gardens, which maintains the “Old Florida” tourist attraction traditions.

Sarasota is well-known for its outstanding educational institutions. New College of Florida is a public liberal arts college. Keiser University, a private college, offers degrees in biotechnology, information technology, and related fields. Florida State University’s MFA Acting Conservatory is based at the Asolo Repertory Theatre. Of course, Sarasota is also the home of the Ringling College of Art and Design, one of the world’s leading schools of visual arts and design.

Sarasota’s warm climate makes it a popular golf and fishing destination. The Sara Bay Country Club golf course was designed by renowned golf architect Donald Ross, and many other fine courses are found in the Sarasota area. Sarasota became famous very early in its history for sport fishing, as both the wealthy and the merely adventurous were drawn by the abundant bounty, particularly tarpon and gar, available in the Gulf waters.

Sarasota also is home to Ed Smith Stadium, where the Baltimore Orioles conduct spring training camp and sponsor the Cal Ripken Youth Baseball Academy. The stadium opened in 1989 and was remodeled and upgraded in 2010.

There’s simply no time like the present to take advantage of low interest rates and buy real estate in Sarasota, the cultural gem of Florida’s Gulf Coast.

Ken Thompson Park, located on City Island, is the perfect place to relax or play in Sarasota, FL. Launch your boat, canoe or kayak; picnic by the waves; bring your children to the playground; jog or walk your dog on the boardwalk nature trail through the mangroves; fish on the nearby New Pass Fishing Piers (5 piers jetting out into
Sarasota Bay, overlooking New Pass into the Gulf of Mexico).

Admission is free / free parking. Amenities include fishing pier, boat ramp, canoe/kayak launch, nature trail, picnic areas, playground, pet-friendly, restrooms, parking, boat trailer parking. Mote Marine Aquarium is within walking distance.

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Ken Thompson Park Address: 1700 Ken Thompson Pkwy, CIty Island, Sarasota, FL.

Many people already know that one of the best places to live anywhere is Sarasota, Florida. But they may not know that in the four years since the economic downturn of 2008, the housing market in Sarasota has improved dramatically. Real estate sales in Sarasota rose by 8.2% in 2011. Figures for the year also represent an astonishing 44% increase over the low point of the 2008 market downturn. The trend became apparent at the end of 2011, as the Sarasota real estate market in December jumped 7.3% over the November figure, and a similar rise was seen in November versus October’s figures. Home buyers from outside the area are now finding Sarasota– always an attractive location — even more desirable. These “outsiders” see strong buying prospects, and they are taking advantage of those opportunities. Median sale prices in Sarasota stabilized in 2011 and currently stand in the $155,000 to $156,000 range for single-family homes, with condominiums averaging only slightly higher.

Why is Sarasota Florida the best area to purchase real estate in 2012?

” The beaches, culture and people make Sarasota one of the top places to live worldwide and the smart money is getting in the game now.” , says William True, owner of True Sarasota Real Estate. Sarasota, of course, can boast of splendid housing market conditions for a variety of good reasons. Warm weather, clean white beaches, and a lengthy list of extraordinary recreational and cultural opportunities have for many years made Sarasota one of the nation’s top relocation and retirement destinations. Combined with current market conditions — affordable pricing and a wide variety of the highest-quality homes and condominiums for sale anywhere — it would be difficult to find a more desirable location. And at the moment, market conditions are balanced almost precisely between a buyer’s market and a seller’s market. While the recently surging sales have meant a slight dip in the inventory level, thousands of high-quality housing properties remain available on the Sarasota market.

These are not the only factors that point to an improving housing market in Sarasota. While fourth-quarter figures for 2011 are not yet available, there’s every indication that positive third-quarter trends have continued. According to Metrostudy, a national housing data and consulting firm, new housing construction starts in Sarasota were up 6.4% in 2011′s third quarter versus the same period in 2010. Sarasota’s unemployment rate dropped almost 2% in the third quarter versus the third quarter in 2010. We’re also now seeing a slow overall improvement in the general economy, and consumer confidence continues to rise. While the housing market for much of the country remains stagnant, there’s every reason to believe that sales, housing starts, and employment figures in Sarasota will continue to steadily improve throughout 2012.