Author: Preferred Properties

One of the best things about living in West Bradenton is that you are so close to Holmes Beach, Anna Maria Island, Bradenton Beach and Longboat Key, yet you are still in the middle of a vibrant, bustling city offering everything you need. While not as “touristy” as the barrier islands, most of the residents are definitely here to take advantage of the proximity of the Gulf of Mexico.

West Bradenton enjoys it’s own coastline in addition to it’s access to the Gulf Beaches. There are single family homes and condos built on canals that attract boaters, allowing them to dock in their own backyards and motor out to the Intercoastal Waterway and the Manatee River. There are other homes with spectacular views of the Intercoastal, where the water is only deep enough for a kayak or canoe.  

There are lots of parks found in West Bradenton and many wildlife sanctuaries. G.T. Bray Park’s facilities include a fitness center, group exercise classes, an Olympic-sized pool, kiddie pool and splash pad, teen center, hard and clay tennis courts, racquetball, pickleball, and a gym to play basketball, volleyball, badminton, and cornhole.  

Bradenton’s Riverwalk is downtown Bradenton’s showpiece. Overlooking the Manatee River, the Riverwalk is a 1.5-mile, ADA-accessible park spanning downtown with many features such as a beach volleyball court, fishing pier, skateboard park, mosaic amphitheater,  playground and splash-zone and more! Other parks in West Bradenton include DeSoto National Memorial, Palma Sola Botanical Park, and so many more. 

Wildlife preserves are plentiful in West Bradenton, like Robinson’s Nature Preserve, Perico Preserve, and Neal Preserve. Even some developed communities, like Wildwood Springs Condominiums, are arranged in an Audubon bird and wildlife sanctuary. 

Several topnotch sports facilities can be found along the El Conquistador Parkway in West Bradenton.  These include the IMG Academy and the United Tennis Club. IMG Academy is the world’s largest and most advanced multi-sport training and educational institution for young athletes from all over the world. It’s sport programs include baseball, basketball, football, golf, lacrosse, soccer, tennis, and track and field. The United Tennis Club at El Con is a private tennis club in Bradenton, FL featuring 15 Har-Tru Courts, 6 Hard Courts, Tennis Concierge and Bar & Grill. 

Want culture? West Bradenton’s got it. There’s the Village of the Arts, which is an eclectic live-work community made up of colorful historic cottages that house everything from award-winning restaurants to specialty shops, studios, healing arts, bakeries and Bradenton’s best art galleries. There are museums – the South Florida Museum, comprised of exhibits and artifacts that touch on history, culture, the animal kingdom, and the natural world, and the Florida Maritime Museum in Cortez, whose exhibits touch on pleasure boating, commercial fishing, and maritime transportation, and covers a vast block of time stretching back hundreds of years to when Florida wasn’t even a state. 

With so much to offer, West Bradenton is a great place to live. Talk to one of our agents today to help you find the perfect home!

Lakewood Ranch, located “east of 75” (as the locals say) is a 31,000 acre award-winning master planned community that straddles Manatee and Sarasota counties. It is home to 20 individual villages (and growing!), offering single family homes, town homes, villas and condominiums. Some have golf courses, some are gated, some are 55+.

31,000 acres translates into 50 square miles, and that’s enough area for ‘The Ranch’ to have it’s own Main Street! It’s filled with shopping, dining, arts, entertainment, nature and recreation. The great outdoors are all around – walking and biking paths and even a doggie splash park. If you’re an avid golfer, tennis player or just like the social scene, the Golf & Country Club will not disappoint you.

The Premier Sports Campus in Lakewood Ranch has every field sport under the sun for athletes ranging from youth to professional. There are tons of family-friendly events to attend with local, state and national events year-round. And as if that’s not enough, there are 130 acres of perfectly manicured grounds, the Sarasota Polo Club, where there are seven world-class polo fields and a regulation-size arena. Polo players from all over the world come to Lakewood Ranch to play. 

The primary and secondary schools in Lakewood Ranch are consistently A-rated, and there are nine campuses of higher education, with emphasis on business, vocational, culinary and medical programs. Setting aside land specifically for educational institutions was a big part of the Ranch’s master plan.

What more could you ask for? Contact one of our agents today to help you find your home on “The Ranch.”

If you want to live in the lap of luxury, surrounded by sparkling coastal waters, able to walk to almost any kind of restaurant or theater production, then you just have to live in downtown Sarasota. There is almost every style of home offered here that you can imagine – high-rise and low-rise condominiums, quaint bungalows from the 1920’s, single-story ranch style homes from the 1950’s, contemporary townhouses – the works!

“Downtown,” as the locals call it, is comprised of several mini-neighborhoods, each with it’s own history and it’s own character.

Laurel Park

An eclectic mix of single family homes and apartment buildings dating back to the 1920’s. Most of the streets are paved with bricks and 45 of the homes and structures in Laurel Park have City or National historic register designation. Some new construction is happening there too, but the real draw to this community is the feeling of stepping back in time, yet being able to walk to modern civilization.

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Golden Gate Point

This tiny peninsula jets out into Sarasota Bay to the south just before you drive over the John Ringling Causeway Bridge on your way to Lido Beach. Condominiums dominate this 22 acre stretch of land, ranging from the single- and double-story variety to uber-luxurious high-rises. Palm trees line the streets as you meander around the Point, and you’re still only steps away from the restaurants and entertainment on the mainland.

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The Rosemary District

In October 2018, SRQ Magazine dubbed this northern section of downtown “Rising Rosemary”  because of it’s transformation from humble roots to it’s now bustling, revitalized neighborhood. Some of the established condominiums and townhouses are now being combined with newly constructed ones, offering a variety of choices in housing. Several new businesses, restaurants and cafes and other services have popped up in the community and it is still close enough to walk to Main Street.

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Palm Avenue

If you’re into art galleries, shopping, restaurants and upscale salons, you will LOVE living in this part of downtown. Existing high-rise condominiums are being joined by new ones, so there are plenty to choose from. Famous for it’s “First Friday Walks,” it’s a come-one-come-all outdoor event the first Friday of every month, where there is live music, gallery openings and more to be enjoyed from 6 pm to 9 pm.

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Gillespie Park

Another up-and coming neighborhood north of Fruitville Road, this part of downtown was named for Sarasota’s first mayor, John Gillespie. The park itself, which boasts two basketball courts, an off-leash dog park, picnic tables, playground, fitness trail, three tennis courts, outside fitness areas and a pond, is flanked by street after street of single family homes and cottages and small apartment buildings. In March 2020, Sarasota Magazine wrote that “Gillespie Park Is Proof That Walkability Can Turn a Neighborhood Around.”  

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There is so much more that Downtown Sarasota has to offer – you really need to see it for yourself. And you will definitely want to take advantage of the Sarasota Farmer’s Market held every Saturday on Lemon Avenue.  Call one of our agents, who know and love this town so well, to help you find your keys to Sarasota Paradise!

A lot of people dream of owning a home with a view of some type of water. On the west coast of Florida, this is not such a tall order. There are homes with direct views of the Gulf of Mexico, some that look out on one of the many canals, and some that just enjoy the view of a smaller lake or pond.

In general, owning a waterfront property is a good investment. The mere fact that there is a limited supply of waterfront land creates a higher demand for these homes (many are tall structures built on a small lot!) and these homes typically enjoy continuous value appreciation. In addition, a home on or near a desirable body of water provides a potential sources of rental income to the owner.

If you are thinking about buying a waterfront or water-close home, be prepared for a much longer list of things to consider prior to purchase than you would on an inland property. Here are some things to think about:

1. Commitment to more home maintenance.
   The home will not have any blockage from the elements, at lease on one side, so it can be vulnerable to intense sun rays, driving rains and winds, etc. Salt air can cause problems such as corrosion of wood, metal, etc. High humidity can cause mold, which can damage surfaces and be a health concern. Even people bring sand into the house on their feet can cause damage to floors!
2. Proximity to water sports.
   This can be an appealing feature if you’re into some form of water sport. But keep in mind that others will be playing too, making noise, crowding the waterways, and trying to peek into your yard or home! And don’t underestimate what you will end up spending on water toys, outdoor
   furniture, etc., for entertaining by the water.
3. Higher insurance.
   It is usually more expensive to insure a home by the water. Flood insurance is typically not included in a homeowner’s policy and needs to be purchased separately. The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is only available in approved areas and offers maximum coverage of only $250,000. To insure amounts above $250,000 a homeowner must turn to private insurance coverage, which can be costly.
4. Potential for hidden costs.
   Water and sewer costs may be higher than for homes inland. If there is a septic system, this may be more costly to maintain. There may be boat dock or boat lift fees.
5. Restrictions on home improvements and additions.
   Want to add or rebuild a dock or construct a second story on your dream home? Review and approval of your project may be required at the city, county, state and federal level. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has something called the “FEMA 50% Rule,” where stricter building codes are required if the cost of the project exceeds 50% of the current cost value of the structure (this is an extremely simplified explanation of an extremely complex issue!). Experts must be consulted and this can be a huge, unexpected expense.

The agents at Preferred Properties of Sarasota have the expertise to guide you through these issues and many others that come into play when buying or selling a home by the water. Call us today!

At Preferred Properties of Sarasota, we know two Florida counties like the back of our hands:  Sarasota and Manatee.  Those two counties contain countless neighborhoods, which contain countless choices of homes.  We sell them all.

The heart of Sarasota is Downtown. A cultural mecca, with the hustle and bustle of businesses, restaurants and theatre, yet only a stone’s throw from beautiful Sarasota Bay.  There are remarkable historic homes and apartment buildings nestled between soaring condominiums with breathtaking views.

Travel west from downtown for amazing beach properties. Siesta Key, Lido, and Longboat Key provide a wide variety of homes, from a laid-back bungalows to spacious, elegant luxury homes.  The beaches here consistently rank among the best in the United States.  On the water, enjoy boating, fishing, snorkeling, and more.  Land lubbers will have to settle for boutique shopping, fantastic night life, and high-end cuisine.

Venture to the south part of Sarasota County and you can explore Osprey and Nokomis, which boast some of the most desirable developments in the area.  Both cities provide easy access to the area beaches as well as to I-75, the main artery connecting the major cities up and down the west coast of Florida.

In the southern most part of Sarasota County are the cities of Venice and North Port.  These sleepy little towns are anything but, and are just great places to live.  To play golf, or not to play golf – that is the question.  Or go to the beach.  Or stroll through downtown or one of the many parks.

Not far north, by way of I-75, you’ll discover a little city called Lakewood Ranch.  So little, in fact, part of it is in Sarasota County, and part in Manatee County (okay, maybe not so little).  One of the fastest growing planned communities in the country, LWR (as we affectionately call it) offers several “A” rated public schools, private preparatory schools, and several campuses for higher education.  The Ranch also offers top notch athletic facilities, attracting talented individuals from all over the world.  Over 15,000 residents, who chose from single family homes, condos and townhouses, can’t be wrong about this being a great place to live.

Now that you’re in Manatee County, take a look at the diverse neighborhoods offered here. In East Bradenton, Myakka City and Parrish you will find lovely communities cropping up amongst the citrus groves and cow pastures. Peace and serenity abound here, yet it is steps from I-75, linking you to civilization.  Go west from here, and find exquisite homes along the mighty Manatee River.

Next you will land in the heart of Bradenton.  This is a city of people from every walk of life.  With the location at the southern tip of Tampa Bay, there are ample employment and educational opportunities here.  Home prices from the very low to the very high of the spectrum exist here, making the area appealing to all.

The icing on the cake is that Manatee County, like Sarasota, offers pristine beaches and a wide variety of homes from which to choose.   Anna Maria Island, Holmes Beach, and the northern half of Longboat Key are the destinations of choice for thousands of visitors. These towns often become the second homes, if not primary homes, for many of these travelers.

Home is where the heart is.  We at Preferred Properties of Sarasota can help you find the home of your dreams.  Just call!  Bri Hays (941) 321-7772, or Kris Kesling-Hays (941) 321-5638.