We just sold unit 5B in Siesta Towers. This condominium is in a terrific location just north of the Siesta Key Village and directly on the Gulf of Mexico. There are 17 restaurants and a variety of shopping and entertainment venues within walking distance. The unit features 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and a gorgeous view of the Gulf from all rooms.

The current buyers market has made Siesta Key condos available at much more reasonable prices. Prices are off approximately 30% from the highs and many owners are very motivated to sell. There are a variety of opportunities out there to purchase at below market prices. If you are considering a second home or investemnt in Siesta Key real estate, contact us today for more information.

Labels: condominiums, condos, real estate, realtor, Sarasota, siesta key

The Sarasota Board of Realtors hosted a real estate conference yesterday - Insider Insights: The Sarasota Housing Market, 2008 and Beyond. A panel made up of four experts on the local real estate market answered questions from a moderator and local media. The four panel members were John Tucillo (former Chief Economist for the National Association of Realtors), Jim Tadora (Sarasota County Property Appraiser), Pat Neal (president of Neal Communities), and Penny Hill (top 5 producer for Chase Mortgage nationally).

Kathy Roberts, CEO of the SAR, opened the conference with a presentation on the current real estate market including an overview of Sarasota MLS inventory levels and sales data. The numbers indicated that while the market is well off from the highs of the past several years, the perception of real estate market is much worse than the reality.

Tucillo made the point that the decline in the number of listings available for sale suggests that the market is beginning to settle down. The MLS numbers indicate a reduction in new listings and inventory.

Labels: downtown Sarasota, mls, real estate, realtors

Forbes Magazine recently released a story with details on the homes of billionaires. Homes range from Warren Buffet's modest Omaha, NE home to Donald Trump's 62,000 square foot mega-mansion in Palm Beach. Several of the homes are valued in excess of $100,000,000.

When it comes to luxury real estate, Sarasota has a wide range of options. The most expensive home in the Sarasota MLS is located on Casey Key. It is priced at $20,035,000.

Labels: Florida, luxury homes, mansions, real estate, Sarasota

The International Property Awards announced that our site, http://www.buysarasota.com , won their "Best Real Estate Agency Website - USA" for 2007. We are very honored to receive such a prestigious award. There are so many great websites out there. To view a complete list of winners visit http://www.propertyawards.net/int/2007website.html.

The International Property Awards aim to recognize the leaders in a variety of real estate related fields. There are five media partners including CNBC, New York Times and the Daily Mail. In addition, there are 9 supporting organizations including the National Association of REALTORS and the National Association of Home Builders.

Labels: cnbc, downtown Sarasota, International Property Awards, real estate, realtors

The topic of many conversations around town is when the local real estate market will rebound. Many people forget that real estate has traditionally been viewed as a long term investment. Current market conditions are perfect for those individuals looking for a secure long term investment. Higher inventory levels and motivated sellers have combined to create an ideal environment for savvy investors. However, these conditions will not last for ever. Inventory will eventually be absorbed

Florida and specifically Sarasota has always been somewhat "insulated" compared to many other areas of the country. There has always been steady influx of residents because of a solid local economy, ideal weather, beaches and community amenities. This will almost assuredly continue in the future. There will always be a demand for the weather and lifestyle Sarasota provides.

There is a window of opportunity for those individuals with the vision to see it. Real estate values should increase steadily over time and provide owners of investment, second home and primary residences substantial gains over the long term. Use our Sarasota MLS search to view all listings currently available.

Labels: Florida, real estate, Sarasota

The award-winning, green certified community, Lake Club at Lakewood Ranch recently announced an incentive for buyers who close on home sites by November 30, 2007. Buyers will receive a $15,000 credit. Over half of the home sites in phase 1 are already sold. Contact us today at 941-544-6467 to start the process of selecting a lake, park or preserve lot.

The Lake Club is an exclusive, gated community featuring 10 custom builders. The community has some very unique luxury amenities including 16,000 square foot Tuscan Clubhouse with state-of-the art fitness, concierge services, day spa services and 24 hour security. It is conveniently located on Lakewood Ranch close to shopping, dining, the Polo Club and 6 golf courses.

Labels: lakewood ranch, luxury homes, neighborhoods, real estate

Potential buyers, sellers and real estate agents all agree with the advice "A picture is worth a thousand words".

For home sales, great still photos from creative photography is but one attribute of a successful marketing campaign. Videos are now the "norm" in many presentations.

According to the "2006 Profile of Home Buyers & Sellers by the National Association of Realtors" (http://www.realtor.org/press_room/news_releases/2006/hmbuyersellersurvey06.html) use of the Internet to search for a home has risen dramatically over time, increasing from only 2 percent of buyers in 1995 to 77 percent in 2005; it was 74 percent in 2004.
Hi-resolution photography has dominated Internet based listings for years. The current trend is display of one or more video files for each property. With the increased popularity of "YouTube" (http://www.youtube.com/), consumers are much more familiar with viewing videos on the web and many Realtors are now comfortable with advertising properties using video technology.

Real estate video has a much higher success rate when used as a tool with the objective of driving sales or generating leads. People who watch the videos want a comfortable user experience. Proper page display, with or without sound is just as important with video as not. Web design must adhere to the basic principles of good practices. And, consideration must be given to less-than-optimal video resolution which can ultimately detract from real estate buyer's experience.

Labels: real estate, realtor

The Casey Key Association has hired an attorney to fight new restrictions on the Gulf Beach Setback, an imaginary line that runs 100 to 200 feet from the shore on barrier islands. The association believes that the proposed changes will make the code even more restrictive and will negatively affect property rights and property values. The Sarasota county commission is scheduled to hear the proposed changes to the code in March.

Casey Key real estate is among the most desirable in all of Florida. Despite the slowdown in the real estate market, Casey Key homes have continued to prosper. There are 3 homes currently listed for over $5 million that are under contract and 1101 Casey Key Road recently sold for $8,500,000.

Labels: Casey Key, real estate