SARASOTA, FLORIDA, March 12th, 2014 – The U.S. Federal Reserve began the anticipated taper of its bond-buying economic stimulus this January, a move widely expected to drive mortgage rates higher. Builders in Southwest Florida, however, appear confident that the Fed’s move won’t have a significant negative impact on the home market’s recovery and are pushing through with their projects. Indicators on building permits, indeed show that builders remain gung-ho on the region’s home market.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, March 12th, 2014 – A more vibrant lifestyle awaits home buyers eyeing golf communities, Sarasota Bay Real Estate reports. The realty company notes that the healing U.S. economy has started to reinvigorate these residential developments which experienced a beating in the last home market downturn. Significantly, both new and existing golf communities are also being reshaped by the new preferences of well-to-do baby boomers seeking homes for their retirement.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, March 12th, 2014 – Rosedale Golf and Country Club marked its 20^th year in the last quarter of 2013 poised for a new era of growth in its popular location in Bradenton, Florida. Sarasota Bay Real Estate notes the steady expansion in this community set up in 1993, one year ahead of its neighboring master-planned development Lakewood Ranch. The spades of four homebuilders in Rosedale are busy at work these past few months and are expected to remain so in 2014.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, March 12th, 2014 – Prospective home buyers and sellers in Sarasota can expect a high degree of professionalism among real estate agents whose ranks have been rising significantly Florida-wide as a result of the dramatic improvement in the residential property market. According to statistics from the Florida Division of Real Estate, over 42,000 aspirants took the state’s realtor exam this year, double the annual counts in 2009, 2010, or 2011.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, February 18th, 2014 – The pieces look falling in the right places for a more dynamic economy in Charlotte County, Sarasota Bay Real Estate reports, adding that one emerging catalyst for growth is the Punta Gorda Airport. Las Vegas-based Allegiant Air, the airport’s lone commercial carrier, added two more Punta Gorda flight destinations in December on top those it has added in previous months. These latest route additions are Long Island, NY, and Cedar Rapids, IA.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, February 17th, 2014 – Activity in the property market around Warm Mineral Springs currently appears slack due to the continuing closure of this popular Southwest Florida tourist attraction. Sarasota Bay Real Estate reports that some opportunities to grab a good home purchase deal may be in store during this lull which contrasts with the dynamic real estate sector in the North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota metro area this year. This possible window of opportunity can’t be expected to last too long.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, February 7th, 2014 – More resale homes became available in Manatee and Sarasota counties in November, a development that could help provide further buying stimulus moving into the new year, Sarasota Bay Real Estate reports. Quantified through the number of months it would take for available properties to be depleted at current sales pace, inventory of single family homes for sale in Sarasota stood at the 5.4-month level in November. Read More…..

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, February 7th, 2014 – Residential and commercials developments in Parrish, once a small rural community in north Manatee County, are expected to pick up further momentum next year. Sarasota Bay Real Estate reports that a recent decision by online retail giant Amazon.com to locate a distribution center in nearby South Shore Corporate Park in Ruskin, Hillsborough County, can spark a revival of the mothballed projects in Parrish following the real estate downturn.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, February 7th, 2014 – Even if mortgage interest rates rise to 6% (which compare with the 5% level that Freddie Mac expects by the end of 2014), it would still be cheaper in the long run to buy rather than rent a home in the largest U.S. metro areas. This projection was based on a recent study by the online real estate marketplace Trulia which factored in the transaction costs of buying and renting, taxes, and opportunity costs. Its computation methodology takes into account the mortgage rate for a 30-year fixed-rate loan… Read More….

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, February 7th, 2014 – Fresh indications of continuing employment gains in Florida, including those in its construction sector, augur well for the 2014 prospects of the Sunshine State’s economy and ultimately its residential property market, Sarasota Bay Real Estate reports. In October, data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics showed that 44,600 new jobs were created in Florida. This was the strongest month-to-month gain in the state since June 2006.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, February 7th, 2014 – As some analysts expected earlier, the 16-day shutdown of the U.S. government in October had no significant effect on the local property market, particularly on single family home sales, Sarasota Bay Real Estate reports. The fluctuations in the 30-year fixed rate mortgage rate which ranged between 4.13% and 4.28% for the month appear to have had no adverse repercussion on the local market as well, the full service realty firm adds.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, February 7th, 2014 – The residential property market is growing more hospitable to home buyers who rank energy efficiency high in their purchase criteria, Sarasota Bay Real Estate reports. More purposive efforts are now underway among realtors, lenders, builders, appraisers, and legislators toward recognition and valuation of home-energy efficiency. An added boost can also be expected from a bipartisan legislation, the Sensible Accounting to Value Energy (SAVE) Act, filed in the Senate.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, February 7th, 2014 – Expectations that Florida is emerging as a U.S. residential real estate hotspot may have begun to materialize, Sarasota Bay Real Estate reports. Recent data on pending sales, an indicator of future market activity, bolster the recent bullish views on the Sunshine State’s home market, the brokerage company notes. In contrast with a decline in the national level, Florida’s pending sales of single family homes in October rose year-over-year by 3.4% to 22,927 units from 22,174 a year earlier.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, February 7th, 2014 – The rise in national home prices, which was estimated at a 12.8% clip in October, seems providing a tailwind for retirees to settle in Southwest Florida, Sarasota Bay Real Estate reports. The full service realty firm says it goes along with industry observations that the sustained home price gains this year come as an incentive, particularly for homeowners aged 55-plus, to consider selling and settling in the warmer climes of the Sunshine State.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, February 7th, 2014 – The consumer outlook appears dreary as 2013 winds up but builders nonetheless seem steadfast on their optimism on the housing market. The overall index of consumer sentiment in November fell to 72.0 in November, the lowest level since December 2011, a Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan survey showed. In contrast, the NAHB/Wells Fargo builder sentiment index for November stood at 54, unchanged from the reading in October.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, February 7th, 2014 – With exciting new neighborhoods added to its older communities, Lakewood Ranch successfully wound up its annual Tour of Homes last November. The foot traffic to this showcase was reported to have risen some 25% last year, boosted by better economic conditions and by the superior offerings of some of the country’s top builders. All told, visitors and aspiring buyers had access to 41 models from 15 builders in this extravaganza of residential choices.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, January 27th, 2014 – The sub-tropical climate of Sarasota, one of few in the U.S., is invariably among the reasons why many would want to settle in this Southwest Florida locale. And being spared from freezing winter weather isn’t only the motivation in a search for Sarasota homes for sale. Florida’s warm environment has likewise created a slew of wildlife habitats wherein many leisure activities are being woven around, thus further boosting the quality of life in the local communities.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, January 27th, 2014 – The positive results of the aggressive campaign of Sarasota’s tourism agencies to draw more visitors provide further incentives for investors eying home rental business opportunities in the city. A new survey by the tourism marketing agency Visit Sarasota County found out that leisure bookings for winter 2014 are now already trending ahead of 2013’s pace which was a record for the local travel industry. Owner-occupied homes, which accounted for 61.3% of all residences in 2007–2009, has dropped to 54.5%.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, January 27th, 2014 – North Port, Florida, again demonstrated why it is a superior choice for prospective home buyers. At the annual conference of the National League of Cities this November, it was recognized among the top 10 small cities utilizing digital technology to provide improved services to their constituents. This is the third year in a row that North Port received this recognition. The awards were based on an annual Digital Cities Survey by the Center for Digital Government.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, January 27th, 2014 – With inventory of resale homes estimated to be as low as two to three months, the residential real estate market in Venice, Florida, appears headed toward heightened activity this winter selling season, Sarasota Bay Real Estate reports. The recent entry of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices in Southwest Florida has pumped up industry players locally. Prudential Florida Realty officially joined the Berkshire Hathaway franchise in October

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, December 23rd, 2013 – Residential buyers who have newly built model homes as priority in their choices are likely to have wider options in communities being developed by the well-capitalized homebuilders, Sarasota Bay Real Estate, reports. The realty firm notes that not too many homebuilders currently have the financial strength to build speculative or model homes for prospective buyers to inspect. Banks and other lending institutions are still wary about extending loans to homebuilders

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, December 23rd, 2013 – Prospective home buyers of properties in Manatee at listed prices under the $200s need to act quicker on buying opportunities. Sarasota Bay Real Estate reports that sales-listed residences in this low-end segment currently don’t stay too long in the market. e inventory of these homes is declining sharply as well, in September, the median days on market (DOM) of Manatee homes for sale in the $150,000–$199,000 range stood at 20 days, down 64.3% from a year earlier.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, December 23rd, 2013 – The impact on the home market of October’s 16-day partial U.S. government shutdown proved to be rather minimal, Sarasota Bay Real Estate reports. Our firm notes that the prevailing sentiment in the industry is that there wasn’t much damage to the home market with the stoppage in the operations of such government agencies as the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Loan processing and closing continued during the hiatus… READ MORE…

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, December 5th, 2013 – The property market in Manatee County is generating keen interest from serious buyers nowadays. This rising demand for residences in the county was seen in July as double-digit gains were posted on the number of single family homes, townhouses and condos sold by members of the Manatee Association of Realtors. The high demand resulted in a 20.5% year-over-year increase in July sales of single family homes to 506 residences.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, November 27th, 2013 – The recent announcement that sales is being launched for AQUA, a waterfront luxury condo tower at the 22-acre Golden Gate Point Peninsula, came at a very opportune timing. For September, it was estimated that sales of luxury condos or units priced from the $700s upward to over the $1 million level rose by a remarkable 367% from the sales last year. Notably, one of the luxury condo deals for the month was for a 3,751-square-foot unit in at the Ritz Carlton…

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, November 27th, 2013 – Home sales in Sarasota look slowing down in the last two months, with September closed deals down 14.6% from August. However, Sarasota Bay Real Estate maintains that this decline which follows the 1.2% retreat in August sales from the July level doesn’t portend dreary days are ahead for the local home market. On the contrary, Florida and its metro areas are expected to grab the limelight from California, Las Vegas, and Phoenix.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, November 27th, 2013 – Institutional buying interest may be waning in Florida but competition among home buyers can be expected to remain. The state’s residential properties continue to draw a growing number of prospective foreign buyers eying investments on rentals. As most foreign buyers are ready to pay in cash, locals who are funding planned purchases of Sarasota homes for sale through mortgage loans could be at a disadvantage.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, November 27th, 2013 – Prospective sellers in the home resale market risk missing out on opportunities if they fence-sit amid the upbeat mood in new home construction, Sarasota Bay Real estate reports. Newly built residences are drawing an increasing number of buyers, prodding homebuilders to step up construction, the full service realty firm says, citing a research from Houston-based market analytics firm Metrostudy.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, November 22nd, 2013 – The current tight inventory of Sarasota homes for sale has again rekindled the thinking among prospective sellers that listings of “for sale by owner” or FSBO which forego with the services of a Realtor would be an advisable way to engage the market. It is unlikely, however, for FSBOs to become a norm, even as current inventory levels have created a seller’s market, Sarasota Bay Real Estate observes.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, November 22nd, 2013 – First-time home buyers can easily get in the groove of the home market in Southwest Florida with the increasing choices in the region geared toward the entry-level homeowners, Sarasota Bay Real Estate reports. A national homebuilder, Maronda Homes is but one of the developers in the forefront of providing affordable residential choices in the area, this builder stepped up its local activity and acquired some six acres in Palmetto Estates.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, November 22nd, 2013 – Sarasota has again raised its profile as a hub of regional economic development, Sarasota Bay Real Estate reports. The recognition this time came in a silver excellence award to the county’s public–private partnership with Benderson Park for the hosting of the 2017 World Rowing Championship. County and park officials received this award as part of the annual meeting of the International Economic Development Council (IEDC)held this October in Philadelphia.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, November 22nd, 2013 – The recent completion of a project to boost the capacity of Port Manatee to serve container ships stands to bring a wide-ranging economic lift in Southwest Florida. The new real estate developments and residential communities near this shipping center are among those which could immediately benefit from the multiplier effect of this development. A total of $13 million from federal, state and the Port Manatee Authority funds were spent for this project.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, November 22nd, 2013 – Southwest Florida appears riding on the same tailwinds that have boosted new condominium construction southeast at the Gold Coast, Sarasota Bay Real Estate reports. In particular, the full service realty firm notes that Sarasota and Longboat Key seem getting echoes from the spate of current condo building projects in the coastal Miami-Dade, Palm Beach and Broward area where construction of over 20 high-rise condominiums is in full swing.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, November 22nd, 2013 – Expect the stepped-up pace of home construction in Southwest Florida to continue in the closing months of 2013. The Haddington of Country Club East in Lakewood Ranch is but one of the neighborhoods where a good winter building season can be anticipated. One of the builders in Haddington, John Neal Homes broke ground recently for its Palmavera model, featuring an open great-room design, three bedrooms, and a den within its floor area of 2,884 square feet.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, November 22nd, 2013 – Institutional buyers who were earlier active in the Manatee and Sarasota counties appear to have shifted their attention to other metropolitan areas, Sarasota Bay Real Estate reports. This development should be good news to individual and first-time home buyers who were being crowded out earlier by corporate investors which saw potential profits in lower-priced Sarasota homes for sale, particularly those opportunities in distressed properties.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, November 7th, 2013 – Enterprising and career-oriented individuals eyeing to relocate in Southwest Florida would be well-advised to consider the North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota area among their top options. This metropolitan statistical area (MSA) has been ranked by Forbes magazine as one of the top 200 Best Places for Business and Careers for 2013. The MSA was ranked 92^nd in the Forbes list which homed in on North Port in its area description as this is Sarasota County’s largest city.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, November 7th, 2013 – Prospective home sellers may have to take decisive action before year-end as the recent spike in home prices may soon decelerate as a result of improving inventory and higher levels of new builds going into 2014, Sarasota Bay Real Estate reports. The 14.7% year-over-year increase in the national median price that the National Association of Realtors (NAR) reported for August may be the tail-end of the impressive appreciation of home prices in recent months.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, November 7th, 2013 – Sales of distressed properties in Florida remain among the highest in the U.S. at 29% of total sales state-wide in August, but a decline from this level is likely in the coming months, Sarasota Bay Real Estate reports. This September, the Florida Housing Finance Corp. opened the Florida Principal Reduction Program, the newest among the state government’s measures to help underwater homeowners or those who owe more than their properties’ value.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, November 7th, 2013 – A steady inventory of single family homes in Sarasota can be expected in the remaining months of the year, Sarasota Bay Real Estate reports. The likelihood of this development, the full service realty firm notes, can be gleaned from the substantial increase in new listings of Sarasota homes for sale in August. Encouraged by the sustained rise in residential property sales and prices in the county, sellers this August listed an additional 885 single family homes in the market.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, November 7th, 2013 – Choices from among homes for sale in Manatee county stand to be enriched further with Scottsdale, AZ-based homebuilder Taylor Morrison set to build a community under its prolific Esplanade brand in Artisan Lakes, Palmetto. This new development is located close to Interstate 75 and US 41 in northern Manatee. Encouraged by the resurgence of the home market in Southwest Florida, the company earlier initiated building projects in Lakewood Ranch and Siesta Key.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, October 28th, 2013 – Close to 30 years since its establishment, Lakewood Ranch still remains strongly headed for growth, Sarasota Bay Real Estate reports. Two major projects on the horizon in this master-planned development put it in a position to further elevate its status among the fastest growing and fastest selling mega-communities in the U.S. One of these undertakings is the Villages of Lakewood Ranch South, a mixed business and residential development which has been mothballed for three years.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, October 28th, 2013 – Activity in the condo market in Manatee has stepped up in recent months, with the momentum of rising sales and prices accompanied by substantially reduced inventory levels. Despite the low availability of Manatee condos for sale prospective buyers can still find some great choices of affordable units approximating current median sale prices in the county. A 20.6% increase in the median sale price of townhouses and condos was recorded in Manatee in August to $117,000.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, October 28th, 2013 – The Federal Reserve’s recent decision to keep its bond buying as part of monetary measures to stimulate the U.S. economy augurs well for prospective home buyers wary of the increases in mortgage interest rates, Sarasota Bay Real Estate reports. In recent months, the Fed’s plans of scaling down its bond purchases have been exerting upward pressure on mortgage interest rates, thus causing some concern in the housing market.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, October 28th, 2013 – The city government of Punta Gorda, a local nonprofit, and area developers are pursuing plans mothballed by the Great Recession to revitalize the city’s downtown, Sarasota Bay Real Estate reports. A drive to draw more tenants to the largely empty Herald Court Centre is part of this initiative which could boost the attractions of Punta Gorda homes for sale, the full service realty firm says. City Marketplace is another centerpiece to the planned Punta Gorda downtown redevelopment.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, October 28th, 2013 – There’s a rising trend among retirees and those at pre-retirement age to move from the suburbs to the cities, Sarasota Bay Real Estate reported. John Brady, founder of the website TopRetirements.com and one of those who have perceived this development, also singled out Sarasota as an attractive destination for retirees, the full service realty firm added. This February, Brady’s TopRetirement.com website included Sarasota anew in its list of the best places to retire for 2013.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, October 28th, 2013 – The property market in Manatee County, particularly Bradenton homes for sale, is generating keen interest from serious buyers nowadays.. This rising demand for residences in the county was seen in July as double-digit gains were posted on the number of single family homes, townhouses and condos sold by members of the Manatee Association of Realtors.T he high demand resulted in a 20.5% year-over-year increase in July sales of single family homes to 506 residences.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, October 28th, 2013 – Property buyers from abroad would be making a smart move if they put Bradenton or Sarasota real estate on their shopping list. The realtors and property brokers in these two Florida cities are continuously upgrading their capabilities to provide services addressing the special needs of their foreign clients, Sarasota Bay Real Estate reports. An annual international real estate conference forms as an integral part of the local agents’ capability-building programs.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, October 21st, 2013 – The Sarasota condo market appears headed for a price breakout after a 15.6% drop in median prices this July to $162,900 from the $192,500 level in June. Inventory of available condo units remains thin at 4.6 months supply. Prospective buyers, it notes, will have to contend with a supply near the record low of 3.9 months set in May this year. This inventory measure represents the number of months it would take to consume listed Sarasota condos for sale at the current sales pace.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, October 21st, 2013 – Aspiring home buyers who have previously encountered difficulty in meeting the tough standards of banking institutions for mortgages may now be in a better position to have their loans approved, Sarasota Bay Real Estate reports. The full service realty company notes that a Federal Reserve survey in July showed that senior loan officers at domestic banks were mostly easing their lending standards for consumer loans, including those for housing.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, October 21st, 2013 – Here’s a piece of encouraging news for those homeowners thinking of selling their residence for an upgrade or change of domicile. Sarasota Bay Real Estate reports that housing figures for this July indicate that home buyers may be drifting more toward the market for existing homes. According to statistics released by the Commerce Department in late August, purchases of new homes in the U.S. nosedived 13.4% in July from June to 394,000 annual pace, the steepest drop in over three years.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, October 21st, 2013 – The bidding wars between individual home buyers and property investors which have developed recently may be showing signs of diminishing. The current regime of rising mortgage rates appears to have grown unprofitable for investors.. The company notes that this development can be gleaned from the recent quarterly results of the largest U.S. homebuilder D.R. Horton which reported a gain of 12% in new orders, which was far below analysts’ forecast of a 28% increase.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, October 21st, 2013 – Access to superior schools is coming on its own as a magnet for prospective home buyers in Venice, Sarasota Bay Real Estate reported. This source of strength for the residential market in the Southwest Florida city has been reaffirmed in the recent completion of the reconstruction of Venice High School. The project, programmed for $91 million including equipment and furniture, was started in 2011 and was carried out in several stages.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, October 8th, 2013 – Aspiring home buyers eying opportunities at the Suncoast of Florida are headed on the right path based on recent industry data from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). In particular, the North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton MSA in the southwest Florida coastal area has emerged as one the country’s homebuilding hotspots. Statistics from the NAHB’s First American IMI for August showed that single family housing permits in this MSA have risen by 7.2% since the record low.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, October 8th, 2013 – Plans set in motion to repair, rehabilitate, or replace Cortez Bridge linking Anna Maria Island and the Manatee County mainland stand to have a significant impact on property values around the locality, Sarasota Bay Real Estate reports. The full service realty company notes that the plans brewing for the Manatee bridge recalls the positive impact that the evolution of Ringling Causeway Bridge has created around its Sarasota vicinity and the boost in local property values.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, September, 27, 2013 – Single family home prices in the North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota MSA have been registering double-digit annual growth rates for the past six months. However, these gains shouldn’t serve as a disincentive for prospective home buyers, particularly the would-be first-time homeowners. Attractive interest rates are still being offered and fuel the potential for further gains. The median home price in Bradenton and Sarasota counties in June rose 13.8% to $198,000.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, September, 25, 2013 – Legacy Trail, a 10.6-mile public recreational pathway which opened in 2008, promises to add more value not only to the properties it traverses but also to the community at large in both Sarasota and Venice. Sarasota Bay Real Estate notes that appreciable benefits could be derived in a $1.5-million project that has been set in motion this August to establish a Legacy Park at the southern Venice end of the trail.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, September, 25, 2013 – The continuing advance in the quality of healthcare services and facilities in Sarasota and Manatee adds further luster on the two counties as a destination for prospective home buyers, particularly senior citizens and retirees. This appreciable development, the full service realty company notes, was manifested recently in the upgrade that the Sarasota Memorial Hospital achieved in the annual “Best Hospitals” ranking of the U.S. News & World Report.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, September, 25, 2013 – A vast improvement in traffic flow from downtown Sarasota northward to the Bradenton-Sarasota International Airport and vice versa can be expected upon completion of the reconfiguring of the Old Bradenton Road. The nearby neighborhoods, including those around the University Parkway and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way, will be among the direct beneficiaries of this road enhancement project which began this July.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, September, 24, 2013 – Downtown Sarasota is taking its share of the reinvigorated home building recently seen in the popular master developments of Lakewood Ranch and Palmer Ranch in Southwest Florida. Sarasota Bay Real Estate reports that ground was broken this July for the complex of urban lofts that Atlanta, GA-based Jebco Ventures is developing along Ringling Avenue. A short distance northwest at Main Street and Gulf Stream Avenue, The Jewel, a high-rise condominium is likewise set to start construction.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, September, 24, 2013 – Luxury homebuilder WCI Communities has recently provided fresh indications that activity in the high-end home market is building up momentum. Toward this direction, Sarasota Bay Real Estate notes a recent Associated Press report that WCI is planning an initial public offering of about 8.4 million shares of its common stock. The Bonita Springs, FL-based company is reportedly eying to raise about $135.5 million in this IPO at a target price of between $21 and $23 per share.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, September, 24, 2013 – Prospective home buyers who have an extended family to consider in their residential purchase decision will likely be drawn in by the multigenerational scheme that Lennar has introduced in several U.S. markets Sarasota Bay Real Estate reports.The national homebuilder since last year has been offering its Next Gen™ – The Home With a Home® models in an increasing number of states including Florida, North Carolina, and Minnesota.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, September, 24, 2013 – The robust momentum in property developments in Southwest Florida can be expected to continue in the medium term, based on authoritative economic forecasts made recently. The full service realty firm sees strong credence to the projections of Sean Snaith, the director of the Institute for Economic Competitiveness at the University of Central Florida (UCF), that the pace of recovery in Sarasota and the rest of Florida will begin to accelerate moving into 2014 and beyond.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, September, 23, 2013 – Palmer Ranch of Sarasota is set to be enriched with another new community which DiVosta Homes is breaking ground in the popular master-planned development in Southwest Florida. Set on the drawing boards is the Sandhill Preserve, an active adult community. It will showcase the consumer-inspired homes and neighborhoods thriving on casual, resort-style living that DiVosta is noted for.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, September, 13, 2013 – Longboat Key reaffirmed recently its lofty status as host to some of prime beachfront homes in Florida as the Clean Beaches Coalition awarded to its Whitney Beach the Blue Wave Certification, Sarasota Bay Real Estate reports. This standard is the first national environmental certification program developed to contribute in helping maintain healthy, robust and vibrant beaches. Five other nearby beaches in Longboat Key and in Bradenton and Anna Maria Island have also received similar designations.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, September, 13, 2013 – Local efforts initiated recently by civic groups to educate prospective first-time homeowners could help further reinvigorate the real estate industry and prevent a repeat of the housing market crash in 2008, Sarasota Bay Real Estate reports. One of these initiatives, the full service realty firm notes, is the First Time Homebuyer Class which the Catholic Charities, Diocese of Venice, Inc. has offered in the past.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, September, 13, 2013 – Bradenton has served strong notice that it is out to win this year’s title of the Friendliest City, an award that slipped off its grasp last year, Sarasota Bay Real Estate reports. This contest forms the core of a nationwide tourism campaign to highlight Small Town America. Its prime mover is Rand McNally, a trusted online source of travel content, maps and directions. Known as the Best of the Road program, this search focuses on these categories: Most Beautiful, Most Fun, Most Patriotic, Friendliest, and Best for Food.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, September, 13, 2013 – Yet another family-oriented attraction was added recently at Lakewood Ranch, already one of the most popular residential and commercial developments in Southwest Florida. This new addition is Jumpin’ Fun Sports, the first trampoline park in the area. It occupies 13,000 square feet at 7321 Trade Court which was formerly home to Sanborn Studios in the Corporate Park of Lakewood Ranch. The trampoline park can accommodate 105 jumpers at a time and was inspired by a similar facility in Tampa.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, August, 23, 2013 – The Bradenton-Sarasota-North Port metropolitan area emerged with the third highest median price for single family homes in May. This uptick underscores the value of realtors who could walk their clients through the choices that are more affordable and suited to the buyers’ desired lifestyle. This May, the median price for single family homes in the area rose year over year by nearly 20% to $201,521.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, August, 23, 2013 – The thinning inventory of available homes in GreyHawk Landing can be expected to ease up a bit with California-based Ryland Homes set to build in this community located at the northeastern outskirts of Bradenton, Florida. This early June, Ryland acquired 40 home sites in the new phase being developed at the western section of this neighborhood. It shelled out a total of $2.04 million for this acquisition or the equivalent to $51,000 for each lot.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, August, 23, 2013 – Sarasota County is set to launch “a pilot program” wherein it will sell the (TDR) for 635 homes off the county’s Deer Prairie Creek property, Sarasota Bay Real Estate reports. This move is designed to encourage developers who need such transfer development rights to get the viable densities they need in creating communities east of Interstate 75 which is covered by the Sarasota 2050 Development Plan. This I-75 area is zoned under the 2050 development plan for one home per a minimum of five acres.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, August, 22, 2013 – Homeowners in popular coastal communities in Venice and Anna Maria Island in Florida need not be overly concerned about beach erosion brought by tropical storms would significantly affect values of their properties, Sarasota Bay Real Estate reports. The full service realty firm notes that budget allocations totaling nearly $32 million are in the pipeline for the restoration of the beaches in these two areas damaged by Tropical Storm Debby last year.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, August, 13, 2013 – Platforms appear robust for the U.S. residential market to sustain its growth in the 2013 second half, Sarasota Bay Real Estate reports, as it noted recent indicators from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) showing continued strength in home resale accompanied by prices rising at a double-digit clip. Buyers now could expect further price appreciation gains into 2014 making real estate a good investment once again.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, July, 30, 2013 – Joint efforts to protect and preserve the estuarine environment of Sarasota paid off handsomely, Sarasota Bay Real Estate reports, noting the city’s inclusion in the top 10 great waterfronts to visit across North America. This listing compiled by USA Today is among the “best of” features that the publication regularly comes out for a variety of tourism-related topics in its travel section.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, July, 29, 2013 – Prospective home sellers stand to attract a sizable selection of home buyers, based on recent economic indicators from the national and local level. One encouraging sign was the significant increase in consumer confidence which rose to 76.2 this May from 69 in April, as per the reading of the private research group Conference Board. The May level is the highest since February 2008.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, June, 30, 2013 – Residents of a small community in Sarasota, Florida, have transformed their charming neighborhood in recent years, creating yet another quaint local attraction for prospective buyers searching for Sarasota homes for sale near the city center, Sarasota Bay Real Estate reports. Presenting itself as the Historic Downtown Village of Sarasota, this community is a cluster of small cottages circa the 1920s supposedly built for the Ringling Brothers’ circus workers.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, June, 27, 2013 – The stage seems set for a vigorous summer selling season in the property market in Sarasota as home sales activity accelerated in the county this April, Sarasota Bay Real Estate reports. The full service realty firm notes that based on figures from the Sarasota Association of Realtors (SAR), pending sales—an indicator of future closed deals—remained above the thousand mark at 1,097 for the fifth consecutive month since the beginning of 2013.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, June, 10, 2013 – The dynamics of the residential market in the North Port–Bradenton–Sarasota is being enriched further with the entry of retail chain Wawa and the redevelopment of a local Publix Supermarket. Based in Pennsylvania, the gas station and convenience store chain Wawa already got a special use permit from the planning commission in Bradenton to set up shop at State Road 64 in the eastern side of the city.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, June, 4, 2013 – Concerted efforts at state and county levels to attract new business locators and spur job creation augur well for the Florida real estate industry. Among these initiatives is the $71 million that Florida legislators have approved as economic incentives for enterprises choosing to relocate their businesses in the state. These come-ons were included in the Florida budget passed this May for the fiscal year to start this July.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, June, 3, 2013 – A $112-million project which would link Lakewood Ranch on the eastern side of Braden River with Cortez Road toward the west coast of Bradenton, Florida, has drawn opposition from residents along the corridor of the planned road construction, Sarasota Bay Real Estate reported. This project, which essentially involves the extension of 44^th Avenue East in Bradenton, was presented to the Manatee County commissioners this May.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, May, 24, 2013 – It would be an apt choice for searchers of Sarasota County homes for sale in kid-friendly communities to start looking for options in the city of North Port, Sarasota Bay Real Estate reports, noting that this city was named anew this May as a “Playful City USA.” This marks the fourth consecutive year that the city, located in southern Sarasota County, earned the distinction which was also extended this year to 216 other awardees across the US.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, May, 22, 2013 – Continuing efforts to upgrade the Sarasota–Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) and boost its patronage among major airlines and passengers stand to add further impetus to the growth of the local real estate market, Sarasota Bay Real Estate reports. Sarasota International Airport (SRQ) serves more than 1.3 million passengers annually, with more than 100,000 aircraft operations in its fold. It is easy to see how this airport contributes to the local economy and the local real estate values.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, May, 21, 2013 – The real estate market in Manatee continued to exhibit vigor as new listings of available single family homes rose this March, an unbroken uptrend which began in April 2012. Figures from the Florida Realtors Association showed that a total of 401 new listings of residences for sale were recorded based on activities of Manatee realtors in March 2013. This total was up 24.1% from the year-earlier level, the largest gain in a year.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, May, 20, 2013 – The property market and the tourism industry in Sarasota, Florida, stand to reap rewards from environmental efforts benefitting the local beaches which are among the primary magnets for both home buyers and tourists in the county. Dividends from conservation initiatives manifested recently in the inclusion of Siesta Key Beach in the TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Beaches and in one of the beaches in Longboat Key having been named as among Florida’s cleanest.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, May, 18, 2013 – The extension of Honore Avenue in Sarasota, Florida, garnered this April the statewide Project of the Year Award for transportation public works in the $5-million to $25-million bracket. This recognition, held under the auspices of the American Public Works Association, has contributed to the value appreciation of properties around the project. Completed in November 2011, the road extension was cited for its protection the surrounding neighborhoods’ character.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, May, 17, 2013 – Enhanced values of properties can be expected around the intersection of Laurel Road and Pinebrook Road in Venice. On the southwest corner of this junction close to a new interchange of Interstate 75, fast shaping up is the Plaza Venezia, a shopping center anchored on a Publix Supermarket. Additionally, the 19-mile north–south connector road of Honore Avenue from Sarasota County is scheduled to punch through this area by 2014.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, May, 16, 2013 – The accelerating entry of institutional investors in residential communities through the acquisition of single family homes and converting these into rental properties can significantly alter the profile of their neighborhoods or the subculture among residents, some industry analysts believe. As a consequence, prospective home buyers now would have to do deeper due diligence on deed restrictions in the properties that they are considering.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, May, 15, 2013 – A couple of beneficial additions to the Emerson Point Preserve in Manatee County, Florida, inaugurated this April promise an added boost to values of the residential communities around the area. The preserve’s new features just opened to the public consist of two buildings: a welcome center and an educational field study station. Located at the mouth of the Manatee River as it joins Lower Tampa Bay, Emerson Point Preserve consists of 365 acres.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, May, 14, 2013 – M/I Homes, one of the area’s premier homebuilders which has built two communities in the Manatee–Sarasota area, is set to further expand its footprint in the region via a multifamily residential project just west of University Town Center Mall. This new community, dubbed as Muirfield Village, is programmed for 62 townhouses which M/I was reported to start building this June and have the first model ready by year-end.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, May, 11, 2013 – The marketability of Bradenton homes for sale around IMG Academy in west Manatee, Florida, rose some notches higher as the sports-oriented school broke ground this April for a world-class, multisport complex, Sarasota Bay Real Estate reports. The construction of the state-of-the-art facility is part of a five-year, multimillion-dollar project which would eventually expand the academy to 500 acres and become one of the largest sports facilities of its kind in the US.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, May, 11, 2013 – A more dynamic market for multifamily homes can be expected for the rest of 2013, as demand continues to grow in this real estate segment, Sarasota Bay Real Estate said. Whatever second thoughts of prospective sellers of townhouses and condo units have on engaging the market, the full service realty firm noted, should be dissipated by substantially improved prices and rising sales.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, May, 10, 2013 – The Florida legislature recently approved two multimillion-dollar budget allocations which add further momentum to the growth of the Manatee–Sarasota County Area (MSA) as a sports tourism destination reports Sarasota Bay Real Estate. Besides diversifying the area’s attractions to tourists, local tourism officials also view such initiatives as invaluable in beefing up efforts to showcase Sarasota homes for sale to potential home buyers.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, May, 9, 2013 – There are so many things to consider when you’re looking to buy a new home. As consumers over the years we’ve been taught to think of only three things when it comes to buying real estate…location, location, location. For some reason this “Old School” way of thinking still resonates with many people today. However, today’s consumer appears to be more concerned with how they live as opposed to where they live. Reports John Conde, Orlando Realtor.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, May, 7, 2013 – The continuing efforts at a makeover of the downtown district in Sarasota which have been intensifying recently augur well for property values in the downtown area. This May, widening and bricklaying in city sidewalks and parking areas are scheduled to start around Gulf Stream Avenue, Main Street, and Palm Avenue, where a new condominium, The Jewel, is set to break ground this July.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, May, 6, 2013 – Further stability in the home market in Florida is expected should State Governor Rick Scott sign a bill laying the groundwork for a speedier disposition of foreclosure cases. The Florida legislature approved the measure recently with a 26-13 vote in the Senate and an 87-26 vote in the House. The office of the governor is now reviewing the measure, and earlier indications are that Governor Scott will sign it reports Sarasota Bay Real Estate.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, April, 26, 2013 – It would be advisable for prospective home buyers to exercise closer due diligence on purchase options in residential developments which may have CDD fees. Based on a recent media report CDD defaults have emerged as a serious concern in some Florida residential properties. One logical move is to focus home searches on communities developed already with existing infrastructures set up prior by the local government, and therefore charge no CDD fees.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, April, 25, 2013 – The expansion initiatives at Port Manatee on the Gulf Coast of west central Florida augur well for property values around the area, including those residential communities in Palmetto, a few miles south of the port, Sarasota Bay Real Estate said. Values of undeveloped lands around the port should also escalate notches higher and enlarge residential real estate development options in the Bradenton–Sarasota real estate market, the full service realty firm added.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, April, 24, 2013 – Walkability is gaining more weight as a factor in residential property purchase decisions, the results of a study released this March by The Center for Neighborhood Technology. The research, entitled “The New Real Estate Mantra: Location Near Public Transportation,” concluded that the high location efficiency of compact neighborhoods “contributes positively to property value.” Access to jobs and a wide array of services are also added positive attributes for these neighborhoods.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, April, 22, 2013 – The current redevelopment efforts in Palmetto can inject new dimensions in real estate property choices in Southwest Florida, Sarasota Bay Real Estate reports. The grants, tax credits, and similar benefits to property owners within Palmetto Economic Enhancement District created in December of last year are just the right incentives to lure private investments to redevelop the locality and bring it at par with real estate offerings of nearby Bradenton and Sarasota.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, April 21, 2013 – Available condominium units in the Manatee–Sarasota MSA present some of the most attractively priced multi-family homes in the U.S., based on recent reports from the realtor associations in the area. Statistics released by the Manatee Association of Realtors placed at $102,000 the February 2013 median condo sale price as per its members’ activity reports. The Sarasota Association of Realtors estimated condo median price for the same month in its jurisdiction at $173,000

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, April, 20, 2013 – Foreign home buyers from China are potent sources of strength which can contribute to the further growth of the real estate industry in Florida, Sarasota Bay Real Estate said. Their presence in the market, the full service realty firm observed, can help ease the downward pressure on home prices created by the shadow inventory of distressed or foreclosed properties. This foreclosure situation has been a disincentive for homeowners wanting to sell in order to upgrade their residences.