Manatee: A Strong Magnet for Investments


 

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, June 30, 2017 – Manatee has developed a strong reputation as a business destination in the South Tampa Bay area which consequently bring tailwinds as well for homes for sale in Bradenton. A new report from New York City-based SmartAsset, a financial guidance company, ranked the county No. 7 in its Florida investment index, besting neighboring Hillsborough (No. 8). The rest of the top 10 in the ranking are located in the northeast, central or panhandle parts of the Sunshine State.

The SmartAsset investment index weighed four factors: inflation-adjusted GDP growth, business growth, federal funding and new building permits. U.S. Census Bureau statistics were used in the index, as well as data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis and from the USAspending.gov website federally mandated to publish tax dollars spending.

Major Locators’ Lead

Investment Magnet

The president and CEO of the Bradenton Area Economic Development Corporation, Sharon Hillstrom, cited a mix of other factors which helped Manatee to become an investment magnet in the region. One, she said, is the global corporations which chose to either locate and/or expand in the county, in the process strengthening Manatee’s reputation and image amongst prospective investors.

A case in point is IRISS, a UK-based manufacturer of infrared windows, which relocated its $5.7 million global headquarters in the new technology park in Lakewood Ranch in 2013. The company is now undertaking an expansion plan which would add 15,000 square feet to its existing 33,000-square-foot Lakewood Ranch facility and employ an additional 25 personnel in the next three years.

Superb Lifestyle Fit

In relocating to the local technology park, IRISS has established that the Bradenton area could provide the lifestyle right for its executives and key employees relocating from across the Atlantic. It also got a location in the Lakewood Ranch technology park at an affordable price.

Significantly, the technology park is adjacent to several communities offering a wide selection of Lakewood Ranch homes for sale. Many of these could be found at the golf community of Rosedale which is building out its additional second phase whose gate directly fronts the technology park.

Tempting New Home Choices

The available choices of Rosedale residences notably include fresh listings of new construction by some of the country’s top builders. Amongst the builders in this community are Ashton Woods Homes, M/I Homes and WCI Communities.

The price points of Rosedale homes for sale are in the $400s and the $600s designed with three bedrooms within floor areas of about 2,200 to 2,500 square feet. In addition, this community has sales listings or pre-owned homes priced in the upper $200s featuring two to three bedrooms in floor plan layouts in the 1,500–2,000-square-foot range.

Esplanade at Lakewood Ranch, just east of the technology park, offers plenty of tempting home choices as well. Recent listings in this community include luxury homes priced in the $1-million level, flaunting floor areas of over 3,000 square feet in three-bedroom layouts.

This June, several new listings were also posted in this community. These have price quotes from the $500s up to the $700s and floor plans between 2,275 and 2,862 square feet. More options could be available in the near future as Manatee sustains its strength as an attractive destination for aspiring investors in the Gulf Coast.