The Saunders Blog

The Neighborhood Report – Summerfield in Lakewood Ranch

Discover your ideal lifestyle in Summerfield in Lakewood Ranch.

One of the original villages in Lakewood Ranch, Summerfield is located just south of State Road 70 off Lakewood Ranch Blvd. The Braden River runs along the southern border and connects to many lakes and two community parks that the residents enjoy. This is a family-oriented neighborhood with abundant recreational activities and community events. The winding streets are lined with mature trees that lead you to the five different Summerfield neighborhoods. Parents love the top-rated elementary and middle schools located with within walking distance of their homes.

The homes are single-family, with one maintenance-free community and one condominium complex. Only re-sales are available in this sold-out community from the high $100,000’s to the $400,000’s. The homes range in size from 1,300 to 2,500 square feet and were built from 1995 through 2002.

Market Activity – Summerfield in Lakewood Ranch

Of the 41 properties currently on the market, 35 are single-family homes and 6 are condominium residences. In the last 30 days, 7 single-family and one condominium have sold. There are 24 homes in the pending status right now! We are definitely seeing a lot of movement in the right direction for this desirable community.

Most recently, Elsa Roth’s REO listing on 12015 Winding Woods Way closed after just 21 days on the market. This property sold for $151,000, which was $6,100 over list price.

Why Choose Summerfield in Lakewood Ranch?

Buyers are drawn to Summerfield in Lakewood Ranch because everyone enjoys the sense of small town community that exists here. Lakewood Ranch is an award-winning, 8,500-acre master-planned community, and Summerfield residents take advantage of the shops, restaurants and movie theaters of Main Street in Lakewood Ranch. They use the business parks, hospital and medical center, and the golf courses. There are over 150 miles of sidewalks and trails, and the beautiful lakes, wetlands and nature preserves are abundant with wildlife. Summerfield in Lakewood Ranch is now more affordable than ever and you are within proximity to the culture of Sarasota and the best beaches in the world.

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…)

The Neighborhood Report – Siesta Isles

The white sands of Siesta Key Beach are just a breath away from Siesta Isles.

Enjoy the best of beaching and boating in Siesta Isles, the largest subdivision of waterfront homes adjacent to Siesta Key Beach. Meticulously manicured and tropically appealing, the community was designed with winding streets and curving waterways meandering throughout. The homesites were planned with a mixture of sizes and shapes to avoid a grid-like pattern, and many of the properties are well-shaded by majestic, carefully preserved century-old oak trees. Homes situated on the waterfront offer wide seaways ideal for easy watercraft navigation.

Close-Knit Community – Siesta Isles

The Siesta Isles homeowners association hosts two neighborhood gatherings a year, one is an annual dinner and the other is a beachside cook out. Neighbors have arranged other groups within the community, including a monthly dinner party and a book club. (more…)

The Neighborhood Report – Lakewood Ranch

November was quite a month for home sales in the over $1 million range in the gated areas of Lakewood Ranch—The Country Club and The Lake Club. Four sales closed during the month and another three homes went to contract, but have yet to close. Compare these results to just 15 sales during the previous ten months of 2009.

Agent Kudos – Helping Sell Lakewood Ranch

The improvement in sales in Lakewood Ranch is a clear result of long-awaited rational pricing in this category, which is more in evidence each day. One of the best examples is a home in the luxurious Portmarnock neighborhood listed by Barbara Najmy of our Lakewood Ranch office. Barbara, who has been associated with several transactions this year in this price range, clearly outlined the pricing realities of the market for her customer. She discussed the substantial costs associated with keeping a home of this nature on the market for prolonged periods and demonstrated the best ways to prepare a home for would-be buyers. The result: the home was placed under contract in 60 days and closed in just 80 days. What a difference when compared to the other three closings that averaged nearly three years on the market before sale!

The Bottom Line

Lakewood Ranch offers four different gated communities: The Country Club, Country Club East, The Lake Club and Edgewater. Each provides a unique lifestyle and different price categories. All are part of a community with a sense of place rather than simply a collection of developments. With 46 homes available in the over $1 million category and a return to sensible pricing, there are many opportunities for others to become a part of Lakewood Ranch. Just make sure you work with someone who understands the market.

The Neighborhood Report – Siesta Key Activity

Soaring Siesta Key condominium residences offer spectacular water vistas.

Siesta Key has been bustling with activity for the past three months, according to Siesta Key office branch manager Debbie Judge. We are seeing buyers from all over the world take advantage of 2002 pricing, which is the last time we had a similar amount of inventory under $200,000. No matter what the price range, there are many options for buyers. One significant difference between 2001 and 2009 is the existence of newly/newer built product including two new subdivisions—Coronas Park and Spice Bay—as well as some new condominiums.

A Look Inside – Statistics

Consider this overview of the stats from the last three months on Siesta Key. We currently have 25 months of condominium inventory and 17 months of single-family home inventory overall. However, it is important to get a closer look to find that different price ranges had different results in terms of months of inventory: (more…)

The Neighborhood Report – Palmer Ranch Communities

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…)

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 – 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…)

The Neighborhood Report – South County Communities

Well-Manicured Courses Attract Golfers to Rotonda

The real estate market in southern Sarasota County and beyond to Charlotte County is very active, with two main driving factors: waterfront options and reasonable prices. The many available properties fronting waterways, canals and the Gulf of Mexico are cherished by those who enjoy fishing, boating, kayaking or even sunbathing along the miles of beautiful sandy beaches.

Areas of Interest

Home buyers looking for waterfront opportunities have an abundance of properties to choose from throughout Englewood, Punta Gorda and Port Charlotte. Here, we have it all for a fisherman’s dream or a boater’s delight, all surrounded by scenic enchantment. In the Stillwater and Rotonda communities, there has been a notable increase in sales activity. Both communities offer newer construction and offer a variety of housing types. The golf courses of Rotonda provide challenging, well-manicured playing grounds for enthusiasts of the game. (more…)

The Neighborhood Report – Siesta Key Communities

Summer Cove on Siesta Key

The community of Sarasota Beach stretches from the Gulf of Mexico to the Grand Canal and includes the world renowned Siesta Key Village. Its meandering boating canals and proximity to Siesta’s beautiful beaches, world-class shopping and fine restaurants have made the community’s single-family homes, multi-family properties and carefree condominiums highly sought after for those in search of a convenient island lifestyle. Current list prices throughout Sarasota Beach range from $215,000 to $3.9 million. Presently, there are 34 active homes, 13 under contract (pending) and seven have sold in the past three months. Michael Saunders & Company was involved in four of the seven closings, which demonstrates our influence in the Siesta Key market. The hottest part of this market is found in properties priced under $500,000. At the time of this report, only six homes in Sarasota Beach are priced under $500,000, which means there is just a little over three months of inventory. (more…)