Bustling Sarasota, Florida Beckons
to Residents Seeking Sugary White Beaches, Great Shopping, Cultural
Amenities and Golf
Cost of Living: Above the National Average
Put on the map and started on its way as a tourist
destination in 1927 by John Ringling and the Ringling Brothers and
Barnum and Bailey Circus, Sarasota (population 53,000 with nearly
300,000 in the county) is today one of Florida's most diverse and
stimulating towns. Nestled next to sparkling
Sarasota Bay, this fun city is known for its miles of clean white
beaches, warm waters, great shopping, ample cultural activities and an
abundance of golf courses. This is a well-designed place with lots
of free parking, an historic, thriving downtown and a cost-of-living
roughly 9% above the national average.
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Residents enjoy a good selection of condos and
single family homes in town and on the nearby barrier islands such
as Lido Key and Siesta Key. Prices vary greatly but are
generally higher than in many other areas of the country;
properties on the islands are quite expensive. Sarasota is
considered a buyers' market, however, now with more homes on the
market than in previous months. Prices have dropped 9%
during the last year, bringing the median home price to $315,000,
and sellers are more motivated than they were even a few months
ago, but $315,000 is still well above the national housing
average. The cost of goods and services, though, roughly
meets the national average. |
Sarasota can be divided into four generally
desirable areas: downtown, the museum area, West of the
Trail and the Keys. Downtown offers outstanding restaurants,
coffee shops, bookstores, theaters, shops, beautiful Selby
gardens, a wonderful bay front park and some spectacular water
views. Here glimmering high rises and condominiums are
plentiful, with more coming soon as twenty additional condo
buildings are planned. This area attracts baby
boomers and young professionals. Prices
for modest units in older buildings start in the low-$100,000s,
but many sell in the million dollar range (and
higher). Downtown also has single-family homes, many
of them Mediterranean Revival cottages from the 1920s; these are
being renovated, or torn down and replaced, and are now selling in
the $400,000-$600,000 range. One area, Towles Court, has
been transformed into an artists' colony featuring galleries,
coffeehouses and quaint shops.
Just north of downtown is the museum area; it is
near the John and Mable Ringling Museum and the Florida State
University Center for the Performing Arts, which is the home of
the Asolo Theatre Company and the Sarasota Ballet.
Neighborhoods here are characterized by a mixture of renovated
estates and modest bungalows. Smaller homes sell for
around $200,000, but many, particularly those along the water,
sell for well into the millions of dollars.
West of the Trail is an expensive area with homes
generally 50% to 70% higher than in other parts of the city.
In the neighborhoods of Paradise Shores and Harbor Acres, homes
were built in the 1960s and 1970s and are now being completely
renovated, often by doctors who practice at nearby Sarasota
Memorial Hospital. Lesser priced residences start at
$600,000; most homes are waterfront villas and sell in the $4 to
$5 million dollar vicinity. Behind the Hospital is the
neighborhood of Southside Village, a very trendy spot with
wonderful dining and lots of boutiques and gourmet shops.
Homes here are 1950s ranches and sell for about 20% less than
homes in Paradise Shores or Harbor Acres.
There are several Keys, and most properties on
them sell for several million dollars, although small condos under
$200,000 and modest single family homes for $300,000 can be found
on family-oriented Siesta Key (home of the "world's whitest
sand"). Stuffy Longboat Key, once noted as one of
America's wealthiest zip codes, has a variety of housing, from
wooden bungalows to seaside mansions. Small condominiums can
be found for around $200,000. This island is a favorite
among retirees.
There are numerous gated and golf communities in
the area; some are age-restricted or age-targeted. One such
upscale, gated community is Sarasota Bay Club (941-366-7667),
which boasts amenities on the par of a 5-star resort. Health
care is provided on site. Laurel Oaks Country Club also
caters to an upscale clientele; the average resident age is 54,
and nearly 50% of residents are semi-retired or retired.
Cascades at Sarasota (941-309-3917) is an age-restricted, active
adult community with 2 bedroom, 2 bath homes priced from $345,000.
Unfortunately, there is no such thing as a small,
affordable Sarasota oceanfront bungalow or cottage anymore. Such dwellings have been torn down and replaced by extravagant
waterfront villas and mega-mansions, just in time for global
warming and shoreline recession.
There are 29 manufactured/mobile home communities, including
eleven that target the age 55 and above population. In
nicer parks, prices start in the $40,000 range and rise to
$100,000 or more.
Apartment rentals and condo rentals seem readily
available. One bedroom, one bath units rent for an average
of $750 per month and two bedroom, two bath units lease for around
$1,000 per month, although luxury complexes are charging in the
$1,800 to $2,000 per month vicinity for 2 bedroom units.
Florida has no state income tax. All property is taxable at
100% of its value with the tax being $14.05 per $1,000 assessed
value. Permanent
residents may also be entitled to a homestead exemption.
Residents 65 and older may be entitled to two exemptions.
For more information call the
Sarasota County Assessor's Office at (941) 951-5650.
Sarasota,
Florida, Continued...
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