The homes of Country Club Shores offer a quaint "Old Florida" style. Pictured: 621 Ranger Lane.
Originally developed in five phases in the early 1960s, Country Club Shores has become one of the most sought-after locations on Longboat Key. With its convenient site at the southern end of Longboat Key, the neighborhood is popular with boaters as most homes are set on the open bay or deepwater canals with direct access to Sarasota Bay. Residents also enjoy beach access, just across Gulf of Mexico Drive.
Market Activity – Country Club Shores
There are currently 43 active listings in Country Club Shores ranging in price from $499,000 for a 1,600-square foot home built in 1968 to $3.7 million for a 2010-built bayfront estate. So far year-to-date, 12 properties have sold with prices ranging from $330,000 to $1.7 million. Of these 12 closed properties, four took place in July.
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…)
Surrounded by sparkling waters, Bird Key is considered the jewel of Sarasota Bay.
Considered the jewel of Sarasota Bay, Bird Key is perfectly located in the middle of Sarasota Bay between St Armands Circle/Lido Key Beach and downtown Sarasota. This manmade island is made up of 511 lots, or approximately 460 single-family homes, with the only other occupant being the Bird Key Yacht Club. The original island had a large home built on it in 1914, which was owned by a couple from Cincinnati. Since then, John Ringling bought the island, which then became home for his sister. In 1950, Arvida Development Corp—with the assistance of the Corp of Engineers—designed and built the current island.
 Market Activity – Bird Key
There are presently 39 active listings in Bird Key. Of these, 11 are off-water—known as Garden homes—15 are canal homes, and 13 are set on Sarasota Bay.
Garden homes range from $515,000 to $1,399,000; Canal homes range from $1,195,000 to $2,695,000; Sarasota Bay homes range from $1,499,000 to $9,490,000. There are five pending homes, in which two are Garden homes, two canal homes and one bay front home. In the last thirty days, one home has sold for $495,000. Year-to-date, fifteen homes have sold—ten of these were off-water; four were canal homes and one bay home. (more…)
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…)
Enjoy beachfront living in the Sanderling Club. Pictured: 7808 Sanderling Road.
The Sanderling Club had its beginnings as Siesta Properties, Inc. Its developer was Elbridge Boyd, originally from Atlanta, who was also responsible for developing Hidden Harbor, Cedar Park Circle and Cocoanut Bayou. Gulf-front lots sold for $10,000 and waterway lots for $8,000. An integral part of the plan was dredging on the east side of Midnight Pass Road to create bay access and a tidal flow for Heron Lagoon. Between 1946 and 1958, 67 houses were built in Siesta Properties. The homes built during this period were basically three-month beach houses which were furnished with wicker and had bathroom doors on the beach. As the number of property owners increased—now numbering 100—the need for a homeowners association became apparent. It was around that time, in 1951, that Sanderling Beach Club was founded in order to give non-Gulf front owners access to the beach. Paul Rudolph was commissioned to design the original cabanas, and his designs later won the grand prize at the Brussels World Fair and launched his career. He went on to become dean of the Yale School of Architecture. The Sanderling Beach House, also designed by Rudolph, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Three tennis courts and a 15-slip marina were added in later years.
A Closer Look – Sanderling Club
Powder-white beaches, a Paul Rudolph-designed cabana club exclusively for the use of residents, acre-plus lots, deed restrictions that protect the natural—what’s not to love about the very private Sanderling Club on the south end of Siesta Key? (more…)
SARASOTA, FLORIDA – (May 19, 2010) – Michael Saunders & Company recently closed the highest waterfront sale in Sarasota County year-to-date for 2010. The property—located on Westway Drive—is set in an exclusive enclave of stately residences on Lido Shores, just north of St. Armands Circle. The lot offers 150 feet of waterfront with a dock, boat lift and direct access to the Gulf of Mexico. This landmark estate closed for $8,400,000. Linda Roe Dickinson of Michael Saunders & Company represented the buyer.
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…)
See the sea up close with a snorkeling session. Photo courtesy of clydeskeywest.com.
Water. Sand. Sunshine. Fun. These are the very attributes that make our beachfront location a special destination for folks around the world. So, when graced with such a gorgeous year-round climate and proximity to beautiful tropical waters, an area resident would be remiss for not taking full advantage of the unlimited opportunities for recreation.
As our seasonal visitors slowly evaporate their way back north, take the time to enjoy the less-crowded beaches, waterways and water-based adventures available on Florida’s Gulf Coast. Here are our top 10 beach and bay activities:
1. Get off the Ground – Invigorate your senses and book a parasailing trip and soar up to 1,200’ in the air over the sparkling azure waters of Siesta Key. From your lofty perch, you will be able to take in the fabulous view of Siesta Key, Sarasota, Lido Key and Longboat Key. Click HERE for more information.
2. Catch of the Day – Explore the waters off our beautiful shores in your bid to catch the big one. Fishing boat rentals are available to be your vessel to the catch of the day. Click HERE for more information on renting a fishing boat. (more…)
Posted by Michael Saunders & Company on April 7, 2010
Prominently placed on Sarasota Bay, Downtown Sarasota is a bustling mix of culture, business, and the convergence place for its many diverse neighborhoods. Sarasota is often described having a small town feel with big city amenities and the city’s creative spirit is constantly evolving thanks to an engaged population who call this spot on the west coast home.
Posted by Michael Saunders & Company on March 11, 2010
Between the destinations of Lido Key and Anna Maria Island, Longboat Key is a fine mix of tasteful luxury and manicured surroundings.  Just minutes from the heart of Sarasota, the long and narrow island feels like a secluded community with an elegant flavor of its own.
