Seven Local Boating Communities

1. Grand Mariner on Longboat Key. An exclusive gated yachting community, Grand Mariner consists of 14 luxury condominiums ranging from 3,150 to 3,600 sq. ft. A naturally protected private harbor offers 20 deepwater slips for vessels of up to 70 feet with power and cable, an 80-foot guest dock, and a small boat launching ramp. Amenities include a bayfront pool and spa, indoor reflecting pool with landscaped walk, resident's gathering room with balcony and fitness facility.
   
2. The Inlets at Riverdale. Nestled within hundred-year-old oaks and pines and surrounded by canals, the Inlets offers deepwater dockage and gracious homes in three distinctive neighborhoods: Hawk Island, featuring 29 estate size home sites with spectacular riverfront views; Harbour Walk at the Inlets, its latest treasure; and Bela Solé, a luxury waterfront community of 18 estate-size homesites. Amenities include tennis, playground, water park, fishing docks, canoe launch and nature trails.
   
3. Portofino on the Bay. Portofino On The Bay is a gated, maintenance-free community located on Little Sarasota Bay offering three- and four-bedroom residences in six model home designs featuring studies, lanais, two-car garages, second-story bonus rooms and double balconies. Amenities include boat slips with water access.
   
4. River Wilderness Golf & County Club. Located along the north shore of the Manatee River in close proximity to the Sarasota and Tampa bays, River Wilderness is nestled amid 1,400 acres of lush preserves. Offering an array of custom and maintenance-free homes, this private community features direct boating access to the Gulf of Mexico. Its 18-hole, par-72 championship Wilderness course, designed by Ted McAnlis, was rated one of Florida's Top 50 courses by Florida Golfer Magazine. The course is part of the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary System.
   
5. Southbay Yacht and Racquet Club. Located between Sarasota and Venice, Southbay offers more than 350 custom homes, many along the Intracoastal, facing the marina or overlooking park-like greenbelt areas. Its deepwater marina encompasses 172 boat slips that can accommodate boats up to 55 feet in length. Amenities include lighted tennis courts, more than five miles of winding hardtop surface for walking, jogging and biking, and a large clubhouse with a ballroom, card and meeting rooms, exercise room and community pool.
   
6. Stillwater on the Bay. A gated, waterfront community on Siesta Key, Stillwater offers six homesites, four with bay views, and boat docks with lifts.
   
7. Waterlefe Golf and River Club. Waterlefe is set on 622 acres on the Manatee River. Amenities include 18 holes of championship golf designed by Ted McAnlis, a clubhouse, fitness center, dining, nature trails and boardwalks, canoeing, a 59-slip marina on the Manatee River leading to the Gulf of Mexico, and 160 private backyard docks. The Pointe family-gathering area features Wade's Wilderness Playground, picnic areas and a lookout tower.

Breaking American/Sarasota Idol news

American Idol finalist and Sarasota/Bradenton native Syesha Mercado brings her voice back home with a free concert on the Ca d'Zan terrace. Idol fans across America voted and made it clear on Wednesday night that the Booker High alum is moving into the top three of the singing competition. Syesha first makes a stop at her high school for a private concert before heading over to the Ringling Museum. Parking for the free event at the Ringling begins at 1pm. Ca d'Zan/The Ringling Museum of Art, 5401 Bay Shore Rd., Sarasota, 941-359-5700.

Sometimes words don't tell the whole story.... 1860 Hawkins CT.

March sales in Sarasota top 500 for first time since July 2007

Pending sales highest in a year, indicating improving market for summer Overall property sales in the local market for March 2008 topped 500 for the first time in eight months, according to statistics pulled from the Sarasota MLS system. There were 514 property sales reported in the Sarasota MLS, easily topping the February 2008 sales of 423. There were 344 single family homes sold by SAR members in 2008, along with 170 condominium units. This compares to 294 single family sales in February and 129 condominium sales, which means March saw an overall increase of 21.7 percent over February. Single family homes saw a small decline in the median sale price, from $285,000 in February 2008 down to $266,750 in March 2008 – a 6.3 percent decline. But condominiums saw a small increase in the median sale price from $230,500 in February 2008 to $235,000 in March 2008. “Once again, the local Sarasota market is proving its resilience, even as the state and national housing market statistics continue to show weakness,” said Helen Sosso, 2008 SAR President. “It is remarkable how our local real estate practitioners are weathering this downturn, and proving once again the value of a professional Realtor® during difficult times. As we’ve been saying for more than a year, this is a prime buyer’s market, with historically low interest rates, moderating prices, and an incredible, high quality inventory of homes on the market.” One of the continuing bright spots in the March 2008 report was the strength in pending sales, which stood at 674 – the highest level in the past year. In March 2007 pending sales were at 706. Pending sales have been edging upward since December 2007, when there were 374 pending sales. Pending sales counts the number of signed contracts in a month, and is a leading indicator of sales activity. There is a direct correlation between pending sales and closed sales that are reported in the following month or two. Inventory levels were lower in March 2008 at 10,025 single family homes, compared to 10,596 in March 2007, and down slightly from February 2008, when there were 10,035. Condominium levels also decreased from the March 2007 level of 6,180 to 5,702 in March 2008, but up slightly from the February 2008 level of 5,588. The days on market, which translates to the average time it took to sell a property, was at 152 days for single family homes, slightly higher than the 144 days in March 2007, but lower than the 160 days in February 2008. Average days on the market for condos was 181, a healthy drop from the 199 days reported in March 2007, and much lower than the 219 days in February 2008. The days on market reflects a quicker pace of sales, meaning the size of the current inventory should begin to decline going forward.
The local Sarasota-Bradenton MSA continued to fare better than the overall state. The MSA was down by 15 percent for single family home sales and 17 percent for condominiums, comparing March 2008 to March 2007. For the overall state, single family homes declined 26 percent comparing March 2008 to March 2007, and condominium sales were down 24 percent month to month. In fact, the smaller Sarasota-Bradenton market again sold more overall properties than the Miami market. There were 1,022 overall sales reported for the local MSA, compared to only 609 in Miami. The median sale price dropped by 18 percent for single family homes, and by 32 percent for condominiums in the MSA. This compares to 15 percent and 20 percent statewide in the two categories, respectively.

Sarasota Association of Realtors®

New Additions to Prudential Palms’ Jim Soda Luxury Real Estate Group

There have recently been a few newcomers to the Jim Soda Group at Prudential Palms Realty. Randy and Toni Huartson have re-joined Prudential Palms Realty as part of the Jim Soda Group. Randy (the Realtor) Huartson will serve as a technology specialist and Buyer's Agent, and Toni Huartson will specialize in basic staging and showing properties, client communications and administration. Kelly Zoller has joined the Soda Group as a specialist in technology and managing sales and listings in areas along the Manatee River. The group is named for Jim Soda, who earned Chairman's Circle Platinum honors for ranking among the top one-percent of Prudential's 65,000 agents nationwide in 2007, with sales of $24 million. The Soda Group closed more than $9 million through April 2008, nearly doubling 2007 sales.
Prudential Palms Realty

Featured Property of the week: 7628 HARRINGTON Lane Bradenton, Florida 34202

Excellence at it's BEST. Gracious and so well appointed is this Arthur Ruthenburg home. Quiet Preserve view and very private located in The Sanctuary at River Club. This home has four bedrooms and four baths. Charming living room provides a lavish entertainment area and the dining area is roomy but intimate for two or twelve. Well planned kitchen, oodles of storage. Luxurious master bedroom accommodates the most lavish furnishings. Fourth bedroom or BONUS with bath is perfect for guests or in-laws. A spacious family room is relaxation headquarters for your family. Fabulous Scenic pool/spa.

Virtual Tour: http://www.srqvm.com/7628harrinton.html

*If you or anyone you know are interested in this property please contact me and I will be happy to show or send more information.

First Time Home Buyers Class

Those looking to take advantage of lower home prices and interest rates to purchase their first home can get ahead of the game by participating in the home ownership training classes and prepurchase credit counseling. The free course, which is required for those seeking down-payment assistance, is being offered several times in May by the Center for Financial Independence (formerly known as the Manatee Coalition for Affordable Housing). The approximately five-hour course is 5:45 p.m.-8:30 p.m. May 8 and 15 or May 22 and 29. For those who need weekend courses, they are available May 17 or 31. Registration is required. Call #941-746-2115 for more information.

Sarasota Red Sox Again?

New and elaborate spring training facilities in Arizona and Florida are now the norm while some teams play in older ball parks such as the Red Sox' in Fort Myers, Florida. So you can understand why the Sox are exploring the idea of moving their spring training headquarters to Sarasota. Sox chief operating officer Mike Dee met with Sarasota officials recently after they called the team earlier in the month to ask about their interest once they learned the Reds were accepting a deal to relocate to Goodyear, Ariz.

Sarasota's old proposal for the Reds would have included a $41 million renovation of the Ed Smith Complex. The Sox seem to be looking for a new facility. There is a 50-acre parcel in Sarasota that could be used to build an elaborate complex, complete with a hotel, shops, restaurants, a dorm for minor league players, and other amenities. Play ball...

Real Estate Term You Should Know

READY, WILLING, AND ABLE BUYER

A purchaser of property, who is willing to buy on terms acceptable to the seller, and who further possesses the financial ability to consummate the sale. Producing such a buyer sometimes earns the broker a commission, even though a sale is not forthcoming.