The Saunders Blog

Table Tops – More of Our Favorite Sarasota-Area Restaurants

Romantic or casual? Discover your favorite dining spot in Sarasota.

The Sarasota area offers an array of dining choices, covering all corners of the world in terms of styles and flavors. As longtime area residents and people about town, our agents and branch managers have sought, savored and selected the preferred dining spots they enjoy sharing with guests, clients and family alike.

So here—in no particular order—is the second sampling of a multi-part series highlighting some of our favorite Sarasota-area restaurants:

• VIZEN Japanese Cuisine – Located at 6559 Gateway Avenue in Gulf Gate, VIZEN Japanese Cuisine comes as the preferred choice for Main Street agent Tammy Garner. Housed in contemporary décor, VIZEN presents its guests with fresh sushi and an assortment of interesting dishes using a combination of great herbs, vegetables and meats selected by the owners/chefs. Chef Masaki “Matsu” Matsunae brings over 20 years of experience creating authentic Edo-style recipes mixed with a bit of French influence fusion to please sushi lovers. Tammy suggests making reservations. Smart casual attire required. Click HERE for more information.

• Mediterraneo – With its convenient downtown Sarasota location, Mediterraneo is named as the favorite area dining spot by Main Street agents Kim & Michael Ogilvie. With a casual yet chic style and a combination of consistent great northern Italian food, Mediterraneo offers a real “big city” atmosphere and the friendliest staff in town to keep Kim & Michael going back for more. “We feel like one of the family with complimentary rosemary flat bread right out of the oven and oftentimes a Limoncello to cap off the evening. Our favorite maître de and the boys from Milan are engaging and entertaining. So passionate are they about their beloved futbol, once there were tears whilst taking our wine order as the Italian team was upset in the World Cup and the lad just had to excuse himself and return to take our order.” It’s also perfectly located for a pre-movie meal. Visit HERE for more information. (more…)

For the Dogs – Top 10 Area Places to Take Your Dog

Treat your furry friend to a day at one of our area paw parks.

While our gorgeous coastal area provides plenty of fun for those who enjoy the outdoors, fine dining, world-class shopping and some of the most beautiful beaches found anywhere, there are also a number of recreational spots designated and built especially for Fido to get his exercise and socialize with style. After all, it’s important to keep in mind the old saying, “If your dog is fat, you aren’t getting enough exercise.”

So, here are our top 10 places to take your pooch, including beaches, trails and parks where dogs are allowed, but do not feature fenced leash-free play areas. Remember, some locations require leashes, others don’t, so be sure to check the rules before you go.

1.  17th Street Paw Park – Located in north Sarasota, this expansive dog park features acres of grassy and wood-chip-strewn play space for pooches. It provides plenty of room for off-leash play, shade/shelter, pick-up bags, and agility equipment for large dogs.  Hours are dawn to dusk. Adjacent to the paw park are baseball, softball and soccer fields, a snack bar and restrooms. Call 941-861-9830 for more information.

2.  Lakeview Paw Park – Located next to Lakeview Elementary School off Proctor Road at 7150 Lago St., Sarasota, Lakeview Paw Park offers a cool, shady oasis on hot summer days. This 26-acre park features a picnic shelter, playground and restrooms. Open from dawn to dusk. Adjacent to the paw park is an area with a jogging and fitness trail, restrooms and picnic tables. For more information, call 941-861-9830. (more…)

The Neighborhood Report – Harbor Acres

A range of home styles in Harbor Acres sure to please any taste. Pictured: 1535 Hillview Drive.

Harbor Acres is a special and unique waterfront community noted for its convenience and interesting blend of homes. Residents of this well-manicured neighborhood enjoy proximity to both the cultural, shopping and dining amenities of downtown Sarasota and Sarasota Memorial Hospital. Renowned for its ideal location for boaters, many of the homes are set directly on Sarasota Bay or a navigable inlet with deep sailboat water and no bridges to the bay.

Market Activity – Harbor Acres

There are currently nine homes on the market ranging in price from $675,000 (lot value only) to $8,500,000 for a new 7,600-square-foot home on a double point lot. Among the listed properties is 1535 Hillview Drive, a gorgeous 3,700-square-foot home priced at $1,595,000 by Stacy Hanan and Kristen Srur of the Main Street office of Michael Saunders & Company.

Sales activity in Harbor Acres has been steady, with recent sales ranging from $1.7 million to $2.4 million. The residence located at 1357 Harbor Drive sold in May for $1.7 million, and the buyers were brought to the property and purchased it through Maria Beck and Anja Deichmann from the Main Street office. (more…)

The Neighborhood Report – Downtown Sarasota

Discover an extraordinary lifestyle in downtown Sarasota. Pictured is the breathtaking view from La Bellasara.

Living in the heart of downtown Sarasota offers access to an array of dining and theater attractions along with an abundance of social activities, all within the convenience of walking distance. Where else can you live so close to everything that your car can stay in the garage? Discover an assortment of residential opportunities available in all price ranges, from charming single-family homes to soaring condominium estates and more.

Market Activity – Downtown Sarasota

If you are considering buying a home in downtown Sarasota, there are presently 274 listed properties priced from $114,000 up to $6,850.000. Recent market activity in this area has been strong, with 66 pending sales between $118,900 to 1,775,000 and 102 downtown condominium sold year to date. (more…)

The Neighborhood Report – Main Street Sarasota

Downtown Sarasota offers an abundance of exciting lifestyle options.

The greater Sarasota area exudes an air of relaxed sophistication, complete with an abundance of recreational activities and a variety of breathtaking cultural attractions, all surrounded by picturesque natural beauty. The residential opportunities are just as diverse, from Gulf-front condominiums, golf course villas and beach houses to traditional single-family neighborhoods. And in today’s market, the choices available are both attractively priced and sure to please any taste. 

Gary Loughlin, branch manager of Michael Saunders & Company’s longstanding Main Street office, is pleased top report increasing sales activity throughout the area. New residential property sales in October were up 50 percent over sales in September and over 100 percent ahead of October of 2008. (more…)

The Neighborhood Report – Downtown Sarasota

Alinari - Downtown Sarasota Living

The condominiums gracing Sarasota’s downtown offer a carefree lifestyle among an assortment of exciting amenities. As area prices have decreased considerably, buyers from around the world are taking advantage of once-in-a-lifetime values in some of downtown’s most sought-after complexes, namely One Hundred Central, Plaza at Five Points, Condo on the Bay, The Ritz-Carlton Tower Residences, The Residences at The Ritz-Carlton, Kanaya and The Renaissance, among many others. Gary Loughlin, branch manager of Michael Saunders & Company’s Main Street office, reports a standout opportunity in residences in Alinari. This beautiful location has experienced dramatically reduced developer prices on units, some up to 40 percent lower than the beginning of 2009, resulting in a steady flood of homebuyers taking interest.

Success Stories from Main Street

Main Street agent Karen Wall is the site representative for Michael Saunders & Company at Alinari. In the last few months, Karen has been involved in ten closed sales and currently has several more under contract. One recent buyer found the opportunity so exceptional that they purchased two units.

Until the price modifications were put into effect, the sales in the building had been quite slow for an extended period of time. These adjustments have definitely created a very strong buyer interest, with many people who previously viewed the units returning to purchase.

Gary’s Bottom Line – Advice to Homebuyers

Do not try to time the bottom of the market!  Right now, there are many fine properties and very attractive prices. Buyers are finding extraordinary values and moving on them.

The Neighborhood Report – Main Street

MS&C Main Street Office

Sarasota’s downtown is a vibrant destination brimming with a wealth of fine restaurants, specialty shops and splendid cultural attractions. With lifestyle options varying from soaring penthouse residences to quaint cottage-style homes, the downtown area boasts the perfect opportunities for anyone seeking the vivacious pace of city life. Centrally located at 1801 Main Street, Michael Saunders & Company’s downtown office is perfectly sited to allow our Realtors the convenience to serve property buyers and sellers throughout Longboat Key, Lido Key, Bird Key, Siesta Key and anywhere in Sarasota quite easily. 

How is the Downtown Sarasota Market?

Gary Loughlin, branch manager of the Main Street office, finds the market to be improving in general with property pricing being the most important consideration for both buyers and sellers. As of July 17, the downtown Michael Saunders office has over 40 pending transactions, a number that already exceeds the total of July 2008. This month’s closings span the pricing spectrum and involve properties that have spent a variety of time on the market. Of course, some are very quick closings and others have been in the works for quite a while. (more…)