The Saunders Blog

Sarasota Real Estate – St. Armands Towers

Nestled between the beautiful two-mile sandy beach of Lido Key and the elegant shopping and dining venues of St Armands Circle sit the landmark buildings of St. Armands Towers North and St. Armands Towers South.

Although both buildings boast similar names, the same palm façade and floor plans, the associations are run separately, providing something for everyone. St. Armands Towers South is pet friendly and a new owner must wait two years to rent after purchasing. Units in St. Armands Towers North have washer and dryer hookups and can be rented immediately.  (more…)

The Neighborhood Report – St Armands Circle and Lido Key

Located just off the mainland and downtown Sarasota, St. Armands Circle and Lido Key make a unique community of single-family homes and condominiums amid a string of world-class shopping venues.

Just over the magnificent Ringling Bridge and you enter the historic and beautiful St. Armands Circle, where 130 stores on the circle pamper customers from all areas of the United States and many foreign countries. These stores range from fine shops to restaurants, as continental flavor and charm grace this synthesis of past and present. Adding to the casually elegant atmosphere, lush tropical plantings surround visitors and future home owners. (more…)

The Neighborhood Report – Lido Key

Sparkling waters surround Lido Key. Pictured: South Lido Key and North Siesta Key.

Located just south of St. Armands Circle, Lido Key is a quiet respite for both boater and beach lovers. Set on the Gulf of Mexico is Lido Beach, just west of St Armands Circle. It is made up of three types of properties: single-family waterfront homes, single-family off-water homes and condominiums. Lido Key is also home to a 100+ acre public park. This park offers plenty of space for recreation, including Gulf of Mexico beaches, Sarasota Bay beaches and fishing, as well as a unique picnic area and a playground. This area creates a very unique combination of laid back housing and recreation with the Gulf of Mexico as its backdrop.  (more…)

Sarasota-Area Beaches – As Gorgeous as Ever

Our area beaches are among the finest in the world. Take a look at one of our live web cam feeds to see what you're missing.

The first thoughts of spending time in the Sarasota area often center around lazing on some of the world’s most renowned beaches enjoying the fresh sea breezes and soaking in the warm sunshine.

While you may be miles away from our sun-kissed shores, you can rest assured they maintain the pristine natural beauty that made our area a preferred destination for beach-lovers around the world. In fact, the renowned Stephen Leatherman—also known as Dr. Beach—most recently named our Siesta Key Beach in the no. 2 spot for America’s Best Beach in his annual survey.

Sarasota County’s beaches remain as gorgeous as ever, and our waters are open and inviting for a range of recreational activities and the world-class fishing that makes our area a special treasure for anglers.

We invite you to see for yourself by viewing some of the live feeds showing real-time action of beachgoers enjoying the pristine waters and sugary white sands of our area beaches.

Take a live virtual trip to Siesta Key, Dr. Beach’s number 2 ranked beach in the country HERE.

HERE’s a live look from the BeachHouse Restaurant on Bradenton Beach.

Click HERE to view beachgoers on Lido Beach.

The Neighborhood Report – Lido Shores

Lido Shores is home to an array of luxurious homes.

Established in 1950 and nestled between St. Armands and Longboat Key, Lido Shores is an intimate oasis of approximately one hundred homes. The waterfront properties have frontage on Pansy Bayou, Sarasota Bay, the Gulf of Mexico and New Pass, which provide direct deep water boating access to the Gulf of Mexico or Sarasota Bay.

Lido Shore’s location is ideal, within walking distance of St. Armands Circle and Mote Marine, and just a few miles from downtown Sarasota with its restaurants and myriad of cultural activities. Residents have a private beach with pavilion directly on the Gulf of Mexico. The voluntary and friendly Lido Shores Property Owners Association organizes social activities including sunset parties, a Fall House Tour with Dinner, and Spring Beach Barbecue. Some of the most elegant homes in Sarasota are located on Westway Drive, often called “The Rodeo Drive of Sarasota.” (more…)

Neighborhood Report – St. Armands, Bird Key and Lido Key

The St. Armands area offers a variety of lifestyle options.

Barbara Roberts, managing broker of our St. Armands Circle offices, reports an increase in walk-in activity. During the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, the agents of her office noted return customers coming in to inquire about the status of the real estate market.

We are pleased to welcome Karen Lyons Nowadly to our St. Armands offices. Karen brings over 10 years of real estate experience Michael Saunders & Company.

A premier property was just listed by Jenifer Schwell in the Grand Bay condominium community on Longboat Key. This residence is elegant and sophisticated with top-of-the-world views of the city and Sarasota Bay. This newly listed property is priced at $1.295 million. (more…)

The Neighborhood Report – St. Armands Communities

St. Armands Circle

The casually elegant St. Armands Circle on Lido Key stands as the southern gateway to Longboat Key, and presents a superlative collection of boutiques, art galleries, restaurants and outdoor cafes. Encircling a well-manicured park and enveloped by a tropical Florida ambiance, St. Armands Circle provides a memorable experience for residents and visitors alike, who seek the charms of a world-class shopping and dining destination. For those who desire their own piece of this exclusive location, the agents our longstanding St. Armands real estate office are area experts who specialize in matching people with the perfect properties.

Areas of Interest

Barbara Roberts, Managing Broker of our St. Armands office, has noticed a heightened buyer interest in available properties located on the southern end of Longboat Key and throughout Lido Key. These residential opportunities vary from elegant beachfront penthouses to modest single-family homes, so the choices are sure to please any taste. Agents working out of our John Ringling office are greeting more and more people who stop by to inquire about what “great buys” are around for them. We are also seeing more buyers who are planning to retire within the next several years and want to know how the market is faring. (more…)