Bird Key is a Sarasota, Florida neighborhood rich in beauty, luxury, privacy, and history. In the early 1900s, Bird Key was purchased by Thomas Worcester of Cincinnati, Ohio. Worchester built the first expensive home on a Sarasota Bay island. In the 1920s, John Ringling of circus fame bought Bird Key and proceeded with the development of connecting Bird Key, Lido Key and St. Armands to mainland Sarasota. Arvida Corporation bought the Ringling properties and continued development of the 511 single family home sites. Today Bird Key real estate is among the most desirable in all of Sarasota.
Bird Key today is a beautiful boating community with just under 300 waterfront homes facing the bay or on interior canals. The remaining homes on Bird Key are not
If home sales in Casey Key are any indication, the market for Sarasota luxury homes appears to be moving in the right direction. In fact, a home sold earlier this month was sold with a price tag that is higher than any other home sale in Casey Key since November 2009.
On July 15, a 10,000-square-foot home situated on 1.65 acres on Casey Key was sold for $7.58 million. The home features 200 feet of Gulf of Mexico shoreline as well as an upstairs and downstairs master suite. Other features include a summer kitchen, an eight-car garage, a separate caretaker’s building and a disappearing edge swimming pool and spa. Not only was the home sold at the highest sale price since November 2009, but it is also the second-highest price to be paid for a home within
Bird Key is a private boating community located between St. Armands Circle and downtown Sarasota. Boaters love the deep water canals winding through the Key to the open water of Sarasota Bay and on to the Gulf of Mexico. Developed by Arvida in the 1950s, many homes have been replaced with luxurious mansions and other homes have been updated to include new features, architectural details and the modern standards demanded by buyers today.
Bird Key residents have privy to their own private yacht club. The Bird Key Yacht Club is a member of the Florida Council of Yacht Club’s and is a great place for residents to socialize.
Bird Key real estate offers buyers privacy behind its gates. The inventory of Bird Key homes for sale stands at 36 currently in
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In 1917, John and Mable Ringling had a vision of making St. Armands real estate and the Circle a shopping and residential mecca when they purchased this mangrove key. Ringling constructed circular streets, a wooden bridge from the Sarasota mainland across Sarasota Bay from the land. Circus elephants were used to help in the construction of the streets and the bridge. The depression hit, and Ringling gifted the land to the City of Sarasota. The dream died for the Ringlings, but decades later, St. Armands got a second look from developers and present-day St. Armands was reborn.
Today St. Armands’ circular and palm lined streets remain as in Ringling’s vision. In the center of St. Armands is a circular park honoring circus stars showing off Sarasota’s
Bird Key is an exclusive island neighborhood located between St. Armands Key and downtown Sarasota. A tropical gated community where boaters take advantage of the deep water canals and open Sarasota Bay. Many homes in Bird Key were built in the 1950s when Arvida developed the neighborhood. Many of the original Bird Keys homes have been replaced with luxury mansions and others updated to standards of luxury homes buyers in today’s market.
Residents of Bird Key can also take advantage of the on private yacht club. The Bird Key Yacht Club is a member of the Florida Council of Yacht Club’s and is a great place for residents to socialize.
Buyers interested in Bird Key can choose from the 44 homes currently available in the Sarasota MLS. There are just
Inventory levels have remained fairly steady on Bird Key. There are 41 properties for sale as of November 3, 2008. Prices start at $529,000 for an older 1800 square foot ranch style home at 223 Seagull Lane. The most expensive home is also located on the same street. 232 Seagull Lane is a spectacular Mediterranean estate on Sarasota Bay. The home is priced at $12,900,000. It was recently built in 2006 and has over 300 feet of seawall frontage. For information and photos of all active listings, visit out Bird Key real estate page.
Recent sales on Bird Key
There have been 13 sales on Bird Key in the last 90 days. Sale prices run from $500,000 to $2.8M.
If you are considering buying or selling a home on Bird Key, contact me at 941-544-6467.
Warren Buffet is buying. Of course we are referring to stocks, not real estate. However, I could not help but think of the Sarasota real estate market when I read his recent quote about his investment strategy.
"A simple rule dictates my buying: Be fearful when others are greedy, and be greedy when others are fearful. And most certainly, fear is now widespread, gripping even seasoned investors." - Warren Buffet
It reminds me of the old saying - "The rich sell when everyone else is buying and buy when everyone is selling."
The real estate market will rebound eventually. Right now there are tremendous values out there. Financially strong buyers can take advantage of the housing turmoil. The keys to finding the best deal are patience and flexibility.