Brian Ward

Soft, powdery white sand beaches, world-class shopping, fine waterfront dining and a constant flow of boating, sailing and fishing events coupled with natural beauty and year-round great weather rank Sarasota Florida waterfront communities among the nation's 15 most livable communities.

The Sarasota Waterfront is comprised of Sarasota and Manatee Counties embracing the communities of Bradenton and Anna Maria Island, which includes Anna Maria, Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach to the north, Sarasota and its distinctive barrier island keys, and the communities of Osprey and Venice to the south. The new planned community of Lakewood Ranch, while not directly on the waterfront is only a 15 minute drive to the area's beaches, marinas and waterfront parks.

Sarasota has long been known around the world for its award-winning beaches, crystal-clear gulf waters and a constant flow of boating, fishing and sailing activities on the waterfront

The barrier islands of Bird Key, Longboat Key, Siesta Key, Lido Key and Casey Key are not only pristine areas, each with it's own unique lifestyle attributes, they are also home to some of the most luxurious waterfront homes. Downtown Sarasota, itself, is also home to every imaginable housing style from modest townhomes and condos to elegant waterfront homes and estates.

The weather in Sarasota is perfect for the outdoor lifestyle enjoyed in our waterfront communities with a year-round average temperature of 71 degrees and just enough rainfall to keep the native foliage luxuriant.

AARP Magazine identified the Sarasota Florida area, known as "Florida's Sun Coast," as #4 on its list of "Best Places to Reinvent Your Life." Barbara Corcoran, a noted real estate expert, ranked Sarasota as the "Best Place to Buy a Home Right Now" on a recent Today Show video. The Natural Resources Defense Council placed Sarasota Florida at No. 4 on its list of Small "Smarter Cities" in recognition of the quality of its air and water as well as its environmental standards and programs like green building, green space and recycling. Money Magazine called Sarasota the "Ultimate Beach Town" with its 35 miles of sugary-soft pure white beaches, more than 200 sunny days a year and an average year-round temperature of 71°F.

The warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico and gorgeous sunsets over both the Gulf and Sarasota Bay just add to the appeal that Sarasota Florida waterfront communities offer.
The Arts and Cultural Center of Southwestern Florida, Sarasota provides undeniably the widest variety of arts and cultural venues including our own opera, ballet and symphony orchestra as well as the famous Ringling Museum or Art and many other exceptional settings.

For the business owner or entrepreneur, Sarasota and Sarasota County offer a business climate that is as warm and friendly as our weather. From relocation and expansion assistance to workforce development and financial incentives, Sarasota County has earned rave reviews from the business community for fostering strategic alliances between the public and private sectors. The local Chamber of Commerce reports that a record number of companies have recently relocated or expanded in Sarasota County, adding hundreds of jobs and millions in capital investment to the local economy.

Some waterfront communities such as the SouthBay Yacht and Racquet Club community in Osprey and Spanish Main Yacht Club on Longboat Key are centered around deep water marinas. For those who enjoy both water sports and golf, there are even Sarasota waterfront communities which offer both including Holmes Beach on Anna Maria Island with the Key Royale Golf Club, Longboat Key with its Longboat Key Club courses and Whitfield Estates which surrounds the Sara Bay golf course.

With all the charm of a southern town with the conveniences of a big city, the Sarasota waterfront communities offer every conceivable lifestyle option you could imagine or desire.

I invite you to visit my website at http://www.sarasotahomefinderservice.com/ and take a pictorial tour of all the nicest Sarasota area waterfront communities at http://www.sarasotahomefinderservice.com/sarasota-waterfront-homes/sarasota-waterfront-intro.shtml. Then, take advantage of my experience and expertise on Sarasota Florida waterfront real estate to find your perfect seasonal or year-round dream home.
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Sarasota and Manatee County residents are very active in assisting and protecting various members of the Florida wildlife that add to the natural beauty of the area.

Residents at Bay Tree Club on the southern end of Siesta Key, for example, are sharing their waterfront view with a pair of nesting ospreys. In past decades. Ospreys, that used to inhabit Western Florida's waterways where they found plentiful supplies of fish, their natural food, were pushed to the brink of extinction due to over-development of Florida's coastal lands.

A Bay Tree Club couple recently observed a pair of osprey attempting unsuccessfully to find a place to build a nest and decided to give them a hand. After getting approval from their condo association, this conservation-minded couple installed a "nesting platform" for the pair in late December.

Ospreys mate for life, so these residents hope that helping this Osprey pair find a comfortable nesting spot here on Siesta Key will cause them to return each year to raise more young. The osprey pair have begun building a nest on the platform provided for them. Residents of the area have dubbed the osprey pair "Oscar" and "Olivia", and are hoping to see the birth of the first baby osprey on the platform in the near future.

Ospreys are considered a good indicator of the health of a local environment. The presence here in the Sarasota area of osprey nesting pairs attests to the healthy environment being maintained and nurtured here through both government and private efforts.

The beaches and waterways of Sarasota and Manatee Counties also serve as important habitats for other endangered species. Many local residents are involved in protecting the nesting grounds of sea turtles. Other groups assist and protect the endangered manatee, injured pelicans and other waterfowl. Since the late 1990's, Sarasota County has been an leader in the development and enforcement of codes to protect various wildlife species.

A simple walk on our beaches, viewing the care with which nesting turtles are protected, hearing stories of residents like those building a nesting platform for a pair of osprey, or watching residents carefully removing fish lines and hooks from entangled pelicans will give you an idea of the extent to which our residents work singly and in groups to make the Sarasota - Bradenton Florida area one of the most attractive places for both wildlife and people to live. People from all walks of life and with many different passions find a home here and each contributes to making this an even nicer place to live, work, raise a family or retire.

For more information on Sarasota and the active lifestyles we lead is available on my website at http://www.sarasotahomefinderservice.com/ along with descriptions of all of the nicer golf course and waterfront gommunities as well as downtown Sarasota urban living spaces.

One of Sarasota's most coveted waterfront neighborhoods, Harbor Acres hugs Sarasota Bay just south of downtown. A long-established community noted for its convenience, comfort and eclectic blend of older and new homes, Harbor Acres is popular with families, professionals and executives who find its quaint ambiance and waterfront opulence very appealing.

Sandwiched between Sarasota Bay and a bustling retail and restaurant district, Harbor Acres and its approximately 170 homes, is within easy walking distance of Sarasota Memorial Hospital, Selby Botanical Gardens and all the other amenities and charms of downtown Sarasota.

The neighborhood offers large home sites on beautifully landscaped streets that wind through this stylish and comfortable neighborhood. Many of Harbor Acres' original "Old Florida" homes blend nicely with impressive new designs. Some of the older outdated homes are being replaced with new executive homes.

The neighborhood is particularly attractive for boating enthusiasts with both bayfront and canal front properties with private docks. Many of Sarasota;s executives and professionals have been drawn to this quaint neighborhood shaded by grand old oak trees.

Home prices range from low $1 millions to over $9 million for the most luxurious waterfront homes.

There is just so much to like about Harbor Acres. It is clearly one of the most popular of Sarasota's "West of the Trail" waterfront neighborhoods. I would be delighted to show you this pleasant Sarasota waterfront community in close proximity to virtually everything that is downtown.

Providing you with Sarasota Florida real estate information on waterfront and beachfront homes and condos in all price ranges is my goal. I invite you to learn more about the Sarasota, Longboat Key, Siesta Key, Bradenton, Osprey and Venice waterfront communities. Check out my Sarasota real estate website at http://www.sarasotahomefinderservice.com/

I've noticed a lot of people interested in knowing more about Florida. Since I serve the Sarasota Bradenton areas of Florida, including siesta key and Longboat Key, I offer to provide information on any specific community or neighborhood in our area at http://www.sarasotahomefinderservice.com/request-market-update.shtml

Feel free to request a free market update at any time. Or, you may wish to access all of the many pieces of information offered on my website at http://www.sarasotahomefinderservice.com/

Two championship golf courses are among the most popular features of Palm Aire, one of Sarasota's most distinguished country club communities. Located on 1,300 acres of scenic natural beauty along University Parkway, Palm Aire's convenient location and impressive roster of amenities make it a most attractive neighborhood for families, young professionals and active retirees.

In addition to challenging golf, amenities at Palm Aire include Har-Tru tennis courts, a 20,000+ square foot clubhouse and an Olympic-sized swimming pool. Home styles include maintenance-free condominiums, landscaped villas, single family homes as well as grand estates.

If you would like to know more about golf course living at Palm Aire or about nearby Sarasota facilities, I would be happy to introduce you to this moderately priced community and the lifestyle it offers.

Providing you with Sarasota golf course community information on homes and condos for sale in all price ranges is my primary goal. I invite you to learn more about the Sarasota and Manatee County real estate market. Request my free Sarasota - Bradenton Real Estate Package or call me directly at 941-228-2321 or at my Sarasota RE/MAX Office at 941-360-7777.