The Saunders Blog

The Neighborhood Report – Rivendell

Discover the ultimate Florida lifestyle in Rivendell.

A newer community located in the village of Osprey, Rivendell includes almost 500 homes in various neighborhoods spread among 400 acres, which include 14 wetlands and more than 20 lakes and ponds. Located conveniently within walking distance from the Pine View School, this master-planned community is designed to complement your active Florida lifestyle

Rivendell is governed by an active volunteer board of committed residents who are interested in maintaining the beauty of the natural surroundings and upholding the property values.

Market Activity – Rivendell

Home sales have been brisk this year so far, as 15 properties have sold with prices ranging from $200,000 to $585,000 with the time from listing to contract averaging three to five months. There are currently 13 properties actively listed for sale priced from $238,500 to $495,000. There are also eight under contract listed between $220,000 and $519,000.

Sales comparisons for the past few years show that the Rivendell market is “holding its own.”

2008: 23 sales at an average sale price of $393,000, days on market averaged 3-5 months. (more…)

The Neighborhood Report – Harbor Section of Bay Isles

Homes in the Harbor Section of Bay Isles range in sizes and styles. Pictured: 500 Harbor Cove Circle.

The Harbor Section of Bay Isles is a prestigious waterfront community located within its own private gated enclave in Bay Isles at the south end of Longboat Key. The Harbor Section has long been considered by many to be among the most desirable communities on Longboat Key. Incidentally, Annette Rogers of Michael Saunders & Company had the first sale in Sarasota exceeding $1 million, which was a property in the Harbor Section.

The custom estate-sized homes in the Harbor Section have boating access with deepwater dockage that leads directly into Sarasota Bay. Homeowners in the Harbor Section of Bay Isles also enjoy membership to the Bay Isles Beach Club, with its gated access and pavilion directly on the beautiful Longboat Key beach. (more…)

The Neighborhood Report – Riverwalk Village

Find the perfect home for you in Riverwalk. Pictured: 10912 Bullrush Terrace.

Nestled in a gorgeous, natural setting perfect for hometown living, the Lakewood Ranch community of Riverwalk is comprised of four neighborhoods—Riverwalk Oaks, Riverwalk Meadow, Riverwalk Grove and Riverwalk Ridge. Homes in these communities range in price from the low $200’s to the high $400’s, and offer a variety of layouts and features to suit any taste.

Market Activity

Sales are brisk throughout Riverwalk, resulting in a decline in inventory. For example, a recent flurry of sales activity in Riverwalk Ridge, a small enclave of upscale homes priced under $500,000, indicates positive buyer response in the marketplace for homes in this price range and of this caliber in Lakewood Ranch.

Of the 80 home sites located in Riverwalk Ridge, three are currently under contract—all within only a matter of days on the market.  Four properties have recently closed at prices within 96 percent of their asking price—another signal that buyers are jumping in the market quickly when they recognize true value. (more…)

The Neighborhood Report – North Port

Heron Creek in North Port offers remarkable home choices around a beautiful golf course.

The city of North Port—Florida’s fourth fastest growing city and fourth largest in land area—is strategically located midway between Tampa and Naples. This thriving young community was founded in 1959 and has the amenities and assets that make it an attractive location for new businesses, industrial projects, office development and quality city living. Over the past ten years, North Port has experienced a steady increase in population, and in July of 2008 became the largest city in Sarasota County. Additionally, impact fees, utility and land cost in North Port are among the lowest in southwest Florida.

Sales Activity – North Port

Properties throughout North Port are selling faster than they are coming onto the market, indicating a shift in inventory that has been long needed. Within the past 30 days, there have been 11 closed deals in North Port, and only four newly listed properties. (more…)

The Neighborhood Report – Downtown Punta Gorda

Revitalized and Refreshed: Discover the charms of downtown Punta Gorda. Image courtesy of tampabay.com.

The City of Punta Gorda was founded in 1882 by Colonel Isaac Trabue on 30 acres of land on the southern shore of Charlotte Harbor. A fire downtown destroyed almost all of Punta Gorda in 1905. After this disaster, the city council mandated all new businesses and homes be constructed of brick or concrete. After the completion of the first bridge across Charlotte Harbor in 1921, the great Florida boom reached the fishing village of Punta Gorda, and several key structures were built including City Hall, the Old Courthouse, Charlotte High School and the Punta Gorda Ice Plant

An Area of Revitalization – Downtown Punta Gorda

In 2004, the damage Hurricane Charley inflicted on the Punta Gorda area included many homes, structures and historical landmarks. A number of revitalization projects took place in the following years involving federal grants for restorations and amenities throughout the downtown corridor. Laishley Park Municipal Marina was constructed along Charlotte Harbor, the second largest harbor in the State of Florida with world-class fishing and access to the Gulf of Mexico. The marina has 85 boat slips and a boat launch for public use. A newly constructed Boat and Sail Club at Alice Park offers a kayak and canoe launch, along with powerboat dockage. The new construction of the Charlotte Event Center on Charlotte Harbor will bring culture and special events to the downtown corridor, and 800 new hotel rooms and restaurants add charm to the historic and downtown feel of the city. (more…)

Do it Right – Top 10 Home Buying Mistakes

Your dream home is out there. Be sure to take the right steps to get it. Courtesy of positiverealestateprofessionals.com

With any significant purchase, it is always important to have everything in order to ensure a smooth, stress-free transaction. From planning to payment, the smallest discretion can lead to a nightmare of results and regret. Buying your next—or first—home deserves the same close attention and scrutiny.

As anyone who has ever bought a home or property can attest, the process involves many decisions to be made and even more documents to be signed before the purchase is complete. Along the way, you want to be confident that you took the right steps to protect your best interests. So, if you are about to take the plunge, here are some mistakes to avoid that could mean the difference between a satisfied new homeowner and an unhappy climber on a mountain of debt:

1. Not checking your credit report and score - Review your credit report a few months before you begin your house hunt, and you’ll have time to ensure the facts are correct and dispute mistakes before a mortgage lender checks your credit. You can access a free copy of your credit report HERE once every 12 months. Remember, the cleaner your credit report and the higher your credit score, the more likely you are to be preapproved for a mortgage at a low interest rate. (more…)

The Neighborhood Report – Silver Oak Estates

Enjoy a luxurious lifestyle within minutes to Siesta Key Beach at Silver Oak Estates.

Completed in 2007, Silver Oak Estates offers newer, custom homes nestled behind 24-hour guarded gates, just minutes from Siesta Key Beach. With 179 homes, the exclusive Estates section offers magnificent, totally custom designs ranging up to 7,000 square feet with three- to six-car garages, while the maintenance-free, single-family villas in the Vineyards of Silver Oak combine a carefree lifestyle with clubhouse, fitness center and lap pool in an intimate enclave of 72 homes. The third community is the maintenance-free, custom single-family homes of The Enclave.

Market Activity – Silver Oak Estates

Part of master-planned Palmer Ranch, Silver Oak Estates is lushly landscaped with beautiful lakes and preserves, all within proximity to miles of paved hiking and biking trails, including the 26-mile Legacy Trail. A recent sale at 8993 Wildlife closed for $680,000 for a lakefront estate built by John Cannon Homes with four bedrooms, a home theater and a European, state-of-the-art kitchen. Listed by Maripat and Bob Flood of Michael Saunders & Company’s Palmer Ranch office, the home was sold by Nicole Hammons-Dovgopolyi, also of the Palmer Ranch office. (more…)

The Neighborhood Report – Long Beach Village

• Long Beach Village offers an array of residential properties. Pictured: 6832 Pine Street

Longboat Key‘s northern-most community called The Village—also known as Long Beach Village—is proud of its rich history dating back to Thomas Mann, who brought the original settlement to Longboat Key in 1891. The Village is a diverse neighborhood with bungalows built as early as 1940 along with multi-million dollar bay front homes built as recently as 2008. You will find homeowners living there who are longtime locals of Longboat Key to CEOs of major corporations.

Market Activity – Long Beach Village

There are over 300 single-family homes and town homes in the Village with 20 currently available through MLS. The active listings range from a 1,075-square-foot home listed at $329,000 to a 4,172-square-foot bay front home listed for $3,900,000. Michael Saunders & Company excels at selling properties in the Village and has 60 percent of the active listings there. In 2009, eight properties sold ranging in price from $285,000 to $699,000. The average selling price was $525,000. (more…)

The Neighborhood Report – Venice Island

A stroll along the storefronts along Venice Avenue on Venice Island.

People love to live in and visit downtown Venice—located on Venice Island—where they find a small town atmosphere with plenty to see and do. Here, there is an active center of town where you can stroll down Venice Avenue and enjoy the shops and outside cafes, just a breath away from beautiful area beaches. Convenience is key, as one can ride a bike or walk to most places of interest on Venice Island.

Market Activity – Venice Island

In the past 30 days, 17 properties sold and 58 have gone under contract on Venice Island, according to Venice office branch manager Kathy Wood. Recently, Venice office agents Jo-Anne Sckowska and Nell Taylor worked with a vacationing couple who wanted a condominium to use as a vacation place for now and eventually move into. All the properties that met their criteria were in different areas off the island, and Jo-Anne and Nell could tell the homebuyers weren’t very enthusiastic about them. So, the team suggested they view a listing across from the beach with a nice side Gulf view. This listing was a bit dated and needed updating, but was near where they were staying and convenient to all of downtown’s charms. As they walked in and looked out the window at the wonderful view, they were able to overlook the updating needs. They wrote a contract for cash on this island condominium and will go to closing very soon. (more…)

The Neighborhood Report – Siesta Estates

Homes in Siesta Estates rarely go on the market. This one is currently listed by Harvey and Ethel Lovelace.

Tucked away at the corner of Beach and Midnight Pass roads on Siesta Key is a private enclave of 16 homes in a private, gated community called Siesta Estates. The homes are newer, built since 1995, and the community offers privacy walls, lush tropical landscaping and underground utilities including natural gas. Although this community lives like a single-family community, it has yard and private pool maintenance included, which make it ideal for owners that travel or want to use the home part time.

Market Activity – Siesta Estates

Homes in Siesta Estates are a minimum of 2,000 square feet with the average being around 2,500 square feet. In June of 2009, the only remaining lot was put under contract by Mary Jo Violett and Kristina Rain with the Siesta Key office of Michael Saunders & Company. A new home is being built on that site. (more…)