Sarasota Ranked # 4 as a "Smarter City"

The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) has just ranked Sarasota Florida at the Number 4 spot on its list of the top small “Smarter Cities.” Sarasota was recognized for the quality of its air and water as well as its environmental standards and participation in programs like green buildings, green space and recycling. Its transportation network and standard of living are also part of the evaluation of a city's rank. "Smarter cities" are considered to be more efficient, more livable and cleaner communities to live in.

Sarasota was scored by www.smartercities.nrdc.org, a website affiliated with the Natural Resources Defense Council. The city of Sarasota ranked 4th after Bellingham, WA, Mountain View, CA and Norwalk, CT in that order among cities with populations between 50,000 and 100,000. No other city in Florida made the top 10 list of "Smarter Small Cities."

The SmarterCities.nrdc.org website said the following about Sarasota:
“... Sarasota has involved its residents through environmental education at schools, community groups including the local women’s club and Boys & Girls Club, and outreach programs like Sustainability Advocacy Volunteer Educators, which provides green internships for high school and college students.

“To increase public awareness of the need for water conservation and protection, Sarasota started a water quality program in 1989. The city’s water system now reclaims 70% of waste water annually. Conservation-pricing encourages consumers and businesses to use less water. Watering of lawns is limited to just one day per week. Sarasota has even started a "rain-barrel demonstration" project at City Hall for watering flower beds without sprinklers, and created a how-to guide for residents to use at home. To protect local landscapes and irrigate efficiently as well as to promote native growth and wildlife, the city encourages Florida-friendly landscaping through websites like floridayards.org.

“The city’s Environmental Management Task Force, formed in 2007, is drafting a Local Climate Action Plan. In April 2008, the city created a full-time Environmental Services position. The city government expedites permits for Green Development and Green Building.”

A few examples exhibit the dedication of the community and its residents to environmental quality. Since initiating a "tree-planting" program in 2000, over 100,000 trees have been planted in City right-of-ways. Sarasota has committed $1.5 million in the next 10 years to the "Green Canopy Partnership" tree-planting program. The North Sarasota Public Library was only the second library structure in the nation to be certified as a "Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design" LEED Gold structure for its use of low-VOC paint and carpeting, water-wise landscaping, and use of recycled building materials.

The city helped found the "Sarasota Bay Estuary Program," dedicated to protecting Sarasota Bay and its connecting waterways. And, Sarasota has a "Green Business Directory" giving visibility to those businesses which provide green products and services.

There is a lot to like about Sarasota Florida including its warm balmy climate, abundant sunshine, golf courses of every type and level of difficulty, soft white beaches, and a vibrant assortment of recreational and cultural activities for every taste and budget. Sarasota offers big-city amenities with a small-town way of life, but its also refreshing to live in a community so actively involved in assuring that the quality of life currently enjoyed by residents stays that way and even improves over time.

Sarasota Home Sales Continued to Grow in June

Home sales in the Sarasota real estate market rose above the 600 level for only the second time in 26 months in June 2009, while the median sale price rose for both single family and condos, once again demonstrating a market in the initial stages of recovery.

The overall sales level of 610 included 449 homes and 161 condominiums which exceeded sales last month of 506 home and condo sales. The median sale price for single family homes in June was $190,000 up 22.6% from May, 2009. The median sale price for condos was $250,000 up 38% from the level in May. Inventory levels of homes for sale also dropped markedly to under 10 months of supply for single family homes and 16 months supply for condos both again down from previous months.

While Sarasota real estate prices have begun to climb, they are still lower than a year ago primarily due to high numbers of short sales and foreclosures. "Our (Sarasota real estate) market was one of the national 'hot spots' for the real estate boom in 2003-2004, so naturally we experienced a rough couple of years as the market moved toward more normal, realistic pricing." said Bill Geller, Sarasota Association of Realtors president. "But now, the community's incredible amenities and these attractive real estate prices are taking center stage and we're seeing a recovery take root."

At long last, Sarasota real estate prices have started to recover. And, we all know what that means -- "they're going nowhere but higher, and soon!".

Have You Visited Bradenton Beach Florida ? Please Do.

Bradenton Beach, one of three communities on Anna maria Island is a vibrant waterfront community of about 1,500 residents with waterfronts on both Sarasota bay and the Gulf of Mexico. This charming village sits at the southern end of Anna Maria Island, just North of Longboat Key, where the Sarasota Bay meets the Gulf of Mexico.

Laid back, friendly and big-hearted, the residents of Bradenton Beach welcome visitors and new residents with equal parts warmth and hospitality.

there are miles of sugary white sand beaches on the Gulf of mexico side and picturesque natural mangroves on the Sarasota Bay side. Bradenton Beach is an ideal waterfront community if what you are looking for is a casual ambiance set in a secluded village.

You can sail on the warm Florida Gulf waters with steady winds off Bean Point or enjoy exhilarating kite-surfing just south of the Beach House Restaurant. Go parasailing or snorkeling or scuba diving on reefs just off shore of Anna Maria Island. Fish from the popular City Pier or hop aboard a charter fishing boat to go after tarpon, grouper, dolphin and sailfish. For the more sedate, relax while paddling through mangroves or collecting seashells on Bradenton Beach's soft white beaches
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In the middle of town, just back from the beach, you'll find a charming village famous for its ultra-casual beachcomber lifestyle. Seaside inns and “Old Florida” cottages that have been fastidiously preserved join many other residential choices varying from classic to modern, from bungalows to beach villas.

What a grand place for a seasonal get-a-way now, and when it's time to retire, to while away your retirement years having bought now while prices are lower than they've been in years.

If you would like to know more about Bradenton Beach waterfront homes or about our white sand beaches, shopping and dining, there are three Realtors that I'd recommend who would be happy to show you around this wonderful island community.

Brian Ward, an Accredited Buyer Representative and Bradenton Florida Real Estate expert is a Realtor who focuses all of his efforts on behalf of Sarasota and Bradenton area home buyers. Connie Belmont, who has a Sarasota real estate website worth visiting and Dick Plumb, whose Bradenton real estate website is informative are also competent and honest Realtors in our judgment. Call or e-mail any of them from the information on their respective websites for up-to-the-minute information on Bradenton Beach and all of Anna maria Island.

Siesta Key - The More Casual Waterfront Community

Siesta Key's famous soft white powdery beach is unsurpassed in its beauty. Residents and tourists alike marvel at its beauty from dawn until late evening romantic sunsets. But just back from that marvelous beach is an artist and writer's colony, with shops, fine restaurants and boutiques, as well as homes and condos to match every taste.

The Travel Channel said of Siesta Key "Relaxing is easy on Siesta Key; sand soft and white as sugar, brilliant sunshine and azure waters abound. But be prepared — with so much to see and do, it's almost impossible to lie idle on this Sarasota area island!"

Go sailing, boating or fishing every day of the year. Play tennis, go shopping or just relax under the warm sun. There is a waterfront home or condo to suit every taste on the Siesta Key real estate market. Siesta Key real estate offerings includes every imaginable form of home from simple beachfront, seasonal and year-round< waterfront homes and condos to the most elegant estates.

If your dream is the casual lifestyle amidst every conceivable convenience, yet close to downtown Sarasota's more formal restaurants and arts and cultural attractions, Siesta Key may be perfect for you.

Solymar Community on Siesta Key

Nestled on the northern end of Siesta Key, behind towering wrought iron gates and is the private,and exclusive beach community of Solymar.

Solymar is a very private community of just nine Spanish Mediterranean style single family facing directly on the Gulf of Mexico on Siesta Key. These homes are all in excess of 4,000 square feet each one overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. Residences at Solymar feature open living spaces and sweeping balconies that take full advantage of water views. Prices range upwards from about $ 4 million.

Live your dreams in one of these luxurious homes on the white sands of Siesta Key. And yet, just a short walk beyond the unique entrance gate lie all the eclectic shops and restaurants of Siesta Key Village. Come experience the casual, yet refined lifestyle at the northern end of Siesta Key.

I invite you to learn more about the many waterfront properties available on beautiful Siesta Key and all along the gulf coast of Sarasota and manatee Counties of Florida.

Request a Sarasota Waterfront Real Estate Information Package from Brian Ward, Sarasota Realtor or request more information from Bob Henley a Sarasota real estate professional who lives in one of these waterfront communities. I know from experience that either of these REMAX Alliance Group Realtors would be pleased to be of assistance to.

Sarasota Area Home Sales Exceed 500 in May

Home sales in the Sarasota real estate market exceeded 500 again in May. Inventory levels dropped and the median sale price for both single family and condominiums stabilized. These statistics all point toward a normalization and moderation of the market following the volatile period of the past two years.

Based upon information provided by the Sarasota Association or Realtors, overall home sales of 506 included 375 single family homes and 131 condominiums. Pending sales also remained at highly elevated levels, with 719 pending sales for single family homes and 210 pending sales of condominiums in May. The trend for pending sales has been upward for several months beginning in March.

“We are all encouraged by the recent strength of the Sarasota real estate market, and we're hopeful that this upward trend will continue as we enter the traditionally slower summer season,” said Sarasota Association of Realtors President, Bill Geller. “Of course, until we get through this period of elevated foreclosures and short sales, the median sales price will remain artificially low."

The median sale price for single family homes in Sarasota stood at $155,000 in May 2009, down slightly from the figure of $160,000 in April. The median sales price for condos was $181,000 in May, also slightly lower than last month’s figure of $182,750. While prices have leveled off, they are still much lower than May of last year, primarily due to the high number of short sales and foreclosures, which have pulled down the median prices from last year’s levels.

The upside to a reduction in the median home price level is that there are bargains available on Sarasota area homes and condos at prices not seen for several years. Even once very pricey waterfront homes and condos are selling at exceptionally modest prices right now. It should be noted, however, that waterfront real estate prices are expected to begin an upward trend sooner than the overall market.

If you would like to know more about homes for sale in Sarasota, on its island keys or its surrounding communities, visit one of our respected Realtor clients' websites. We recommend you visit Judie Berger's website at Sarasota & Siesta Key real estate website. I know Judie and I'm certain she would be more than happy to answer any questions you may have.

Welcome to Sarasota's Waterfront Communities

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 among the nation's 15 "most livable communities," according to a recent Money Magazine.

The pure white sand on our beaches is legendary and the weather is beyond unbeatable. Add in the ever-warm and inviting waters of the Gulf of Mexico, wide expanses of powdery sand and gorgeous sunsets, and it's easy to see why Sarasota Florida holds such appeal.

The Sarasota - Bradenton - Venice area has all the charm of a southern town with the conveniences of a big city. There are opportunities for waterfront living in both downtown Sarasota, on our popular Island Keys. Siesta Key will captivate you with powdery white beaches, artist colonies, eclectic shops and boutiques. Longboat Key offers a more private, opulent lifestyle. Bird Key, Lido Key and Casey Key each have their own charm. Waterfront communities on Anna Maria Island and in Bradenton, Osprey and Venice round out the delightful waterfront lifestyle available only here.

We hope you enjoy this pictorial tour of many of the nicest waterfront communities and developments in Sarasota and Manatee Counties. Then, use the experience and expertise of Sarasota Realtors who are ready to help you find your perfect seasonal or year-round waterfront property. Whether you want a permanent home, a vacation getaway or an investment property, the Sarasota real estate market after its recent price correction is hard to beat.

We invite you to learn more about the Sarasota waterfront real estate market including the wonderful homes for sale on our Island Keys, Casey Key, Lido Key, Longboat Key, Lido Key and Siesta Key. There are also wonderful waterfront homes in Bradenton, on Anna Maria Island and just slightly south of Sarasota, itself, in Osprey and Venice Florida.