Updates from October, 2009

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  Spooky Sarasota – Top 10 Sarasota Area Haunts

  John Butzko 2:54 pm on October 22, 2009 | Comments:0 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Englewood (7), longboat key (17), Sarasota County (19), venice (11)

  

  Sarasota's past comes alive for Halloween. Pictured is an artist's rendition of a spooky Sarasota.

  The mere mention of the name Sarasota is enough to cast fear into the minds of those who are aware of its terrifying past. No other place in the world is home to a more gruesome, bone-chilling history of blood-curdling horror and shocking tales of ghastly fright sunken deep within… 

  Ok, I apologize. None of that is even remotely true. But with Halloween just around the corner, I would be remiss to let this moment pass without researching and digging up the scary tales and spooky celebrations found throughout the Sarasota area. Turns out, our sleepy waterfront destination is more sun drenched than blood drenched, which is fine by me. 

  While we may not boast the macabre notoriety of places like Salem or Transylvania, you can rest assured that Sarasota does have some skeletons hiding in its tropical closet. Here are the top 10 most horrifying stories and scary places of Halloween celebration throughout the Gulf Coast area. Beware—some of these may cause nightmares. Probably not, though.  (More …)

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  The Neighborhood Report - Palmer Ranch Communities

  John Butzko 3:28 pm on September 15, 2009 | Comments:1 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: pending sales (14), real estate market (100), Sarasota County (19)

  

  Lake and Golf Views from 4005 Las Palmas in Prestancia - Listed by Jane Rees.

  A sprawling, master-planned community, Palmer Ranch offers a myriad of lifestyle opportunities for any taste. Residential sales activity in Palmer Ranch has been lively, according to Palmer Ranch office branch manager Darla Furst. Convenient to Sarasota’s beaches, vibrant downtown and cultural attractions, the communities in Palmer Ranch include: Country Club of Sarasota, Deer Creek, The Hamptons, Huntington Pointe, Marbella, Prestancia, Savannah at Turtle Rock, Stoneybrook and Turtle Rock.

  A Closer Look at Palmer Ranch Sales

  There have been 35 single-family homes to have gone under contract (pending) within the last 30 days. Of those pending sales, six homes (17 percent) are in the Deer Creek subdivision, five are in Village Walk, and four in Turtle Rock. A majority of these properties were listed under $400,000, which universally seems to be the most active price range for the area. Twelve of the homes were listed under $300,000. The average days on the market for these properties were 99, which is also a good indication that the market is healthy. (More …)

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  If They Gave Awards for Sand ... Well, They Do (nytimes.com article)

  Michael Saunders & Company 3:01 pm on September 4, 2009 | Comments:0 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: nytimes.com, Sarasota (46), Siesta Key (13)

  

  Fate smiled on Siesta Key, near Sarasota on Florida’s Gulf Coast, giving it powdery white quartz sand that stays cool even in the hottest summer weather. Photo by Chip Litherland for The New York Times/NYTimes.com

  ~ By ELIZABETH MAKER,  NY Times

  SUMMER may seem an odd time to flee to Florida, but thanks to a happy accident of geology, there’s one small island there that may be better to visit the more the mercury rises.

  “Do you really have to put this in your paper?” asked a frequent visitor, Linda Guckenberger of Columbus, Ind. “Siesta Key is a hidden treasure, especially in the summer. The heat in Indiana is oppressive in August, so when we tell people we’re going to Florida, they think we’re nuts. They say, ‘Why aren’t you going north?’ ”

  Siesta Key, an eight-mile-long, crescent-shaped barrier island on the Gulf Coast south of Sarasota, is becoming more popular in hotter months as tourists discover its powdered-sugar white sand that seems always to stay cool, no matter how high the heat outside. Other enticements include cool gulf breezes; clear, temperate, turquoise water; and huge discounts on accommodations from July through September at luxury high-rises, cozy cottages and funky beachfront bungalows.

  (More …)

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  Englewood's Star Rises

  Michael Saunders & Company 10:20 am on July 31, 2009 | Comments:0 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: charlotte (11), Englewood (7)

  Recently, Tripadvisor.com named Englewood, FL SECOND on a list of top emerging destinations in the U.S.  This is very exciting and positive news for our area as well as for the company! Please see the article below that recently ran in the Charlotte Sun Newspaper:

  Englewood is second on a list of top emerging U.S. destinations, according to TripAdvisor.com.

  It is No. 1 in terms of being the best, affordable neighborhood to retire to in the U.S., according to walletpop.com.

  In less than a year Englewood has scored high on several quality-of-life indexes and the accolades are beginning to pay dividends.

  “You can’t buy that kind of publicity and recognition — you can’t put a price on it. It’s beyond anyone’s budget,” said Becky Bovell, director of the Charlotte Harbor Visitor and Conventions Bureau.

  Now Englewood will be featured in stories appearing in “Southern Boating Magazine” in August and again in October in “PassageMaker,” a magazine for trawler and ocean motor boats. (More …)

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  The Neighborhood Report - St. Armands Circle

  John Butzko 2:02 pm on July 14, 2009 | Comments:0 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: bird key (7), inventory (25), longboat key (17), Market News (7), Michael Saunders (30), real estate market (100), Sarasota (46)

  

  St. Armands Office

  As Sarasota’s hub of fine dining and world-class shopping, St. Armands Circle attracts local visitors and international travelers to its casually elegant island location. Set just a stroll from the marketplaces on the circle, our St. Armands site is the company’s flagship office and proudly specializes in serving homebuyers and sellers throughout Lido Key, St. Armands Key, Longboat Key, Bird Key and throughout the Sarasota area.

  How is the Market on St. Armands?

  Barbara Roberts, the longtime managing broker of the St. Armands office, is pleased to report a very active market—thanks to an abundance of interested folks stopping by while enjoying a day at the Circle. Barbara finds that most of those who inquire about our services and available homes are long-range buyers, not necessarily looking to purchase a home immediately. Their increased curiosity in the market is a good sign for future transactions. This past June has been a great success, as the office booked more than $40 million in open sales. In fact, the last time St. Armands has seen such a high figure was in 2005. (More …)

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  The Neighborhood Report - Englewood

  John Butzko 3:00 pm on July 9, 2009 | Comments:1 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Englewood (7), financing (2), first time buyer (14), foreclosures (10), Mortgage (16), Short Sales (4), tax credit (22)

  Visitors from around the world choose Englewood for its unspoiled beaches and some of the richest fishing grounds found in the Gulf of Mexico. Staffed by an exceptional team of area specialists, our Englewood office is strategically located at the intersection of Highway 776 and Beach Road, along the shores of Lemon Bay.

  How’s the Market in Englewood?

  According to Barbara Fendley Saputo, branch manager of Michael Saunders & Company’s Englewood office, business to date in 2009 has surpassed 2008 in the same timeframe by 27 percent. Every component necessary to make this an opportune time for a buyer is in place:

  • Low interest rates
  • Reasonable prices
  • Favorable exchange rates for foreign buyers (More …)

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  The Neighborhood Report - Siesta Key

  John Butzko 11:55 am on July 7, 2009 | Comments:0 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: inventory (25), Mortgage (16), real estate market (100), Siesta Key (13), siesta key village, waterfront (12)

  

  Siesta Key Office

  Renowned around the world for its sugary sand, Siesta Key is a major attraction for those in search of a property close to the area’s finest beaches. Our Siesta Key office is located on the north end of Siesta Key Village, which also serves as quite an attraction for visitors and residents alike. Picture perfect and ideal for laidback tropical afternoons, the Village was recently transformed into an inviting pedestrian-friendly area, where benches, streetlights, additional crosswalks and a gazebo create an attractive setting. Additionally, the great restaurants and vibrant nightlife make this a destination not to be missed.

  How is the Market on Siesta Key?

  Debbie Judge, branch manager of Michael Saunders & Company’s Siesta Key office, reports positive news for Siesta Key’s inventory of available properties. For the first two quarters of 2009, the supply of available single-family homes is down 22 percent compared to the first five months of 2008. Furthermore, condominium inventory is down 9.2 percent. After a very strong June, Debbie expects to see a further decline in properties available for buyers. Her conclusion: Educated buyers are scooping up the values. (More …)

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  The Neighborhood Report - Lakewood Ranch

  John Butzko 10:28 am on July 2, 2009 | Comments:1 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: housing recovery (9), inventory (25), lakewood ranch (9), Market News (7), multiple offers, real estate market (100), Sarasota (46)

  

  Lakewood Ranch

  Similar to the regional highs and lows of the national housing market, our local neighborhoods and communities experience differing results relating to home sales and inventories. To help you understand the ongoing dynamics that shape Florida’s Gulf Coast real estate, we shine a spotlight on each of our offices to present an intimate peek inside the conditions and trends observed by our team of branch managers.

  How’s The Market?

  Gloria Weed, branch manager of our Lakewood Ranch office, is pleased to report strong activity throughout the communities of Lakewood Ranch. Here, our agents are consistently showing and writing contracts for the properties priced correctly—further reinforcing the importance of pricing in accordance to the market’s demand. In fact, our Lakewood Ranch agents are receiving multiple offers on some of the more aggressively priced properties, a definite sign of a vibrant market. (More …)

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