The Saunders Blog

Point Crisp, FL – Neighborhood Video

Point Crisp may be small – less than 15 homes – but its unique location and beautiful blend of the natural and the manmade make it one of Siesta Key’s most desirable neighborhoods. Situated just south of the Stickney Point bridge and directly across from the Sanderling Club, it consists of a narrow peninsula of land extending out into Sarasota Bay. Most of the homes are on the water and many of them have views in several different directions – a very special occurrence in a town famous for its water views.

Point Crisp is discretion personified. A hard-to-find sign is its only marker. The one road is a single lane that meanders past the homes. A few of the old ones are still left – rambling wooden structures shaded by giant oaks – but the Point’s newer homes are what gives it special cachet. They tend to be large and architecturally unique. Various styles are represented, but everything blends perfectly, giving Point Crisp a tropical yet sophisticated atmosphere.

Sarasota County, FL – Neighborhood Video

Sarasota is recognized around the world as a special place. It’s like Santa Fe or Santa Barbara – blessed by nature, with a unique beauty that stirs the soul. Mankind has been gentle to its delicate environment. Sarasota homes celebrate the sunny, tropical atmosphere, and as a community, both city and county achieve a harmony of place that attracts people from all over the world. Those who could live anywhere choose to live here.

What makes Sarasota so special? First of all, its spectacular 35 miles of white sand beaches. They are recognized as among the finest in the world. Some have white talcum powder sands of pure quartz – cool and soft to the touch. Others are perfect for shelling and bird watching and fishing. Some attract families, with gently lapping waves perfect for children – and grandchildren. On others you may well be the only person in sight. But sunset turns each of them into an unforgettable experience.

Bay Isles, FL – Neighborhood Video

Bay Isles is what most people think of when they picture Longboat Key. It is gated, of course, and impeccably manicured, with lavish yet discrete homes. Views of the water or the golf course – or both – are everywhere. The lifestyle epitomizes affluent Florida living – year round golf, tennis, boating, with the famous cultural pursuits and fine dinning of Sarasota just a few minutes away.

Located at the southern end of historic Longboat Key on land that was first developed by John Ringling, the common thread that runs through Bay Isles’ collection of gated communities is a unique level of taste and luxury.

Point of Rocks, FL – Neighborhood Video

The world famous white quartz sand of Siesta Key’s Crescent Beach ends with a stretch of limestone rocks, a formation unique on Florida’s west coast. This is Point of Rocks, the Key’s highest elevation. The homes set on the bluff above the rocks are among the Key’s most desirable. Those facing the Gulf have spectacular views and the neighborhood itself retains touches of Siesta Key as it used to be.

It’s a low key community, intimate in scale, with less than 100 homes. Some are remodeled and expanded classics from the 1950’s and 60’s; other are newer and contain every luxury. A canopy road adds to the old fashioned, tropical atmosphere.

Oyster Bay, FL – Neighborhood Video

Every town has a neighborhood like Oyster Bay. It’s “old Sarasota,” where the homes are large and discrete and traditional. Other neighborhoods may be newer, but few can match the prestige of Oyster Bay.

Much of Oyster Bay remains hidden from the casual visitor. The two lakes upon which many of the homes look out are barely visible from the Road. And the splendor of the homes that face Sarasota Bay can only be appreciated from the water. A drive down the winding lanes showcases quiet luxury.

The location is certainly one of the attractions. It’s tucked away West of the Trail yet a ten or fifteen minute drive from just about everywhere.

University Park, FL – Neighborhood Video

University Parkway is fast becoming one of the top neighborhoods in Sarasota. Everyday new stores and restaurants are opening. A luxury mall is being planned. The schools are new and top-rated. There’s gourmet food shopping at Fresh Market and the latest movies in nearby Lakewood Ranch. And the location can’t be beat – just fifteen minutes to downtown and twenty to the beaches.

Originally called County Line Road, the Parkway marks the boundary between Sarasota and Manatee counties. Once a largely rural area, the Parkway has grown to become a collection of upscale, sophisticated communities. This is modern Florida living at its finest, with a wide variety of housing choices.

East Manatee, FL – Neighborhood Video

Just a few years ago East Manatee was considered beautiful but definitely off the beaten track. The development of the I-75 corridor has changed all that. Now this area of old Florida farms and ranches has become one of the fastest growing parts of the state. And while new planned communities dot the landscape, the giant oaks and pine groves remind us of the area’s historic past.

Some of the new communities in East Manatee are among the most luxurious in Florida. The lavish Concession Golf Club boasts world class dinning and was rated “Best New Course” by Golf Digest. Greyhawk Landing is family oriented, with a resort-style clubhouse and a pool that kids love. Waterlefe and Heritage Harbor – both gated – feature golf and tennis. Other communities include the River Club, Greenfield, Mill Creek – each with its own special flavor.

Bird Key, FL – Neighborhood Video

Bird Key is quintessential Sarasota. An island set in the middle of Sarasota Bay, it was first developed by circus magnate John Ringling back in the 1920’s as a retreat for his own family. Today it glitters as one of the finest neighborhoods in town. Thanks to an extensive network of canals, more than two thirds of Bird Key’s 500 homes are on the water, many with dockage for large yachts. Spectacular views abound, both of the downtown skyline and of the lush mangrove islands that dot the bay.

Bird Key has what may be the best location in Sarasota. It is five minutes to the shops, restaurants, and cultural activities of downtown, and even less to glamorous St Armand’s Circle and the white sand beach of Lido Key. The new Ringling Causeway, built in 2004, replaced a drawbridge and now offers convenient, unimpeded access to all the pleasures of Sarasota. The bridge also offers a perfect jogging path with a spectacular view of the city and the bay.

Manasota Key Neighborhood Video

Manasota Key is one of Florida’s best kept secrets. It offers superb shelling, swimming, and beautiful sunsets in glorious “Old Style Florida” fashion.

Manasota Key is a classic narrow barrier island nestled along Florida’s west coast. With the Gulf Of Mexico along the west and peaceful Lemon Bay along the east, this is a place for water lovers, with water never more than a short walk away.

Manasota Key is home to some of the most exclusive homes around. There are no high-rises or traffic lights- just a two-lane road and pristine beaches. The northern and central part of the island, located in Sarasota County, is completely residential. Private homes sit on one-acre lots, tucked behind lush tropical foliage. Many of the homes have their back yard on the bay and their front yard on the Gulf. The southern part of the island is in Charlotte County and has more development. There are low-rise multi-family condos and old fashioned beach cottages on the south end. The southern tip of Manasota Key is occupied by Stump Pass Beach State Park.

Osprey Neighborhood Video

Osprey, located directly south of Sarasota, is the best of both worlds. It has a small town feeling, with tree-lined streets that end with a glimpse of the bay. But it’s less than 30 minutes from the sophisticated pleasures of downtown Sarasota.

What sets Osprey apart from its neighbors is its historic pedigree. This is where Bertha Palmer, grand dame of Chicago society, built her famous home, The Oaks. Her arrival in1901 gave Osprey a certain cachet that it has maintained ever since.