Annette Smith Sarasota FL Real Estate

World Famous Siesta Key Beach

Play on One of the World's Whitest Sand Beaches

Siesta Key Florida's 8-mile long barrier island, connected by two bridges, is a lush tropical background for some of SW Florida's premier real estate. Eclectic bungalows, beachfront condos with panoramic views , small efficiency-type apartments are all to be found in this "beachy" community off Sarasota's mainland.

Siesta Key is tropical in nature and is home to approximately 24,000 full and part-time resident. Lush foliage and sand white beaches on the Gulf of Mexico is the big draw. The key has been a popular spot for families as the Intracoastal Waterway, Roberts Bay, Sarasota Bay and the Gulf of Mexico surround the Siesta Key. Residents and visitors have access to marinas offering boat rentals, charter fishing, and guided water tours. Boat dockage is also available at many condominiums on Siesta Key for renters and similarly for buyers of waterfront properties.

Water sports are plentiful on Siesta Key: sailing, snorkeling, fishing, parasailing -- whatever your energy level allows. Mainland Sarasota's dining, shopping and cultural venues are a quick 15-20 minute trip from Siesta Key providing opportunities to explore other areas or maybe take in a movie on a rainy day.

Siesta Key homes are eclectic, ranging from Old-Florida, Spanish Mediterranean to ultra contemporary. Like Longboat Key real estate and Bird Key, smaller or older homes are currently being renovated or replaced with mini-mansions and elaborate estates. The Siesta Key neighborhood of Sanderling Club illustrates an intriguing mix of old beautiful updated homes and new construction replacing older homes. Many homes on Siesta Key are on canals providing dockage for large boats and deep water access to Sarasota Bay.High rise and mid rise condos on Siesta Key line Beach Road and Midnight Pass and express the old and new Florida architecture. Each new condominium complex offers grander amenities for a complete Florida resort lifestyle.

Siesta Key properties are conveniently located near the beach, restaurants and shopping in Siesta Key Village. There are also world-class restaurants sprinkled around the key. For more information on Siesta Key homes and Sarasota real estate visit our main websites.

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Elegant Living on Longboat Key

Play on Longboat Key FL

With water on both sides of the key, the views are extraordinary and sunsets on the Gulf of Mexico are magnificent and sunrise on Sarasota Bay is breathtaking.

Residents and visitors have access to many marinas offering boat rentals, charter fishing, and guided water tours. Boat dockage is also available at many condominiums for renters, and of course, buyers of Longboat Key waterfront property. Water sports are plentiful: sailing, snorkeling, fishing, parasailing -- whatever your energy level allows!

Live on Longboat Key

Longboat Key homes are eclectic, ranging from Old-Florida, Spanish Mediterranean to ultra contemporary. Like Bird Key real estate, smaller or older homes are currently being renovated or replaced with mini-mansions and elaborate estates. The Longboat Key neighborhoods of Country Club Shores and Bay Isles illustrate an intriguing mix of old beautiful updated homes and new construction replacing older 1950s ranch-style homes. Most homes are on canals providing dockage for large boats and deep water access to Sarasota Bay.

High rise condos on Longboat Key line Gulf of Mexico Drive and express the old and new Florida architecture. Each new condominium complex offers grander amenities for a complete Florida resort lifestyle.

Many Longboat Key properties are conveniently located to restaurants and shopping on famous Longboat Key Club. There are also world-class restaurants on the key. For more information on Longboat Key homes and Sarasota Florida real estate click the highlighted link.

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Need a Community to Play with your Boat?

If you are seeking an exclusive boating community, Bird Key Florida might be perfect. Bird Key is located just across the new majestic Ringling Bridge from downtown Sarasota. After crossing the bridge from downtown, take a left at the first light. Centrally located between the city and world famous St. Armands Circle, Bird Key is known as a waterfront and boating community. There are no condos on this key.

Bird Key homes and real estate are within an enclave of approximately 500 diverse single family homes. Quiet streets and vistas of Sarasota Bay and Sarasota's city skyline abound. Architectural styles on Bird Key are eclectic, ranging from "old" Florida, Spanish Mediterranean to contemporary. In many areas, smaller or older homes are currently being renovated or replaced with mini-mansions and elaborate estates. Central to the boating community is the Bird Key Yacht Club which was recently renovated. Bird Key is home to many Sarasota professionals, baby boomers and yes, even movie stars.

Many Bird Key properties include boat docks on wide waterways or canals with good deep water for boating and no bridges to the Bay. Boaters have direct access to the Gulf of Mexico through Big Pass from their Bird Key homes. For more information on Bird Key and Sarasota Florida real estate visit our main websites.

December Sales Up 22.7 Percent from November

Sarasota had a dramatic improvement in total unit sales for December 2007 over November. The buyer's market is gaining strength as our seasonal visitors arrive in Sarasota. Showings are up and so are sales. Comparing November 2007 with December 2007, there was a 22.7percent improvement.

From the Sarasota MLS statistics, there were 426 closed transaction in December 2007, 280 single family homes and 146 condos. In December 2006, there were 440 sales.

Overall 2007 unit sales were down just 5.8 percent from 2006 totals. State sales dropped off more than 30 percent so Sarasota fared well. Total recorded sales of Sarasota homes and condos in 2007 numbered 6,113 compared to 6,491 sales in 2006.

Sarasota Association of Realtor's new President, Helen Sosso said "December's sales figures were definitely encouraging as we enter our busiest sales season." More good news occurred when the 30-year fixed interest rate was dropped to a three-year low, and the Fed lowered the key interest rate by .75 percent, to 3.5 percent.

As prices are correcting in our resort area and with low interest rates, new opportunities are becoming available as buyers weigh their options. Sarasota's natural beauty, in addition to affordable real estate prices, excellent eductional system, world-class restaurants, as well as cultrual attractions contribute this resort area's high demand for well-prices properties.