Sarasota Florida Real Estate Blog

Siesta Key: Sarasota Florida Real Estate

TK — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 19:10:57 +0000

Siesta Key is an 8 mile long tropical paradise that although populated by many luxury waterfront homes, still maintains the “old Florida” charm and artist’s “Funky” look in many of the older neighborhoods. Siesta Key also embraces a waterfront and gated community called the Sanderling Club, a community of private beaches, cabanas, and tennis courts enhance the multi million dollar homes on the gulf, and more affordable properties on the tropical paradise interior properties. Siesta Key’s Beaches are among the most beautiful in the world and Siesta Key’s Crescent Beach is ranked No. 3 for “The Most Beautiful Beaches in the Nation” by USA Today International Edition and ranked No. 8 by Traveler’s Conde Nast for “The Best of the Best Sand”. The sand is 99% quartz and cool to the touch even on the warmest days for those glorious sunset walks in Paradise.

After a day at Turtle or Crescent Beach many of Siesta’s residents turn to Siesta Key Village for it’s Night Life, full of eclectic restaurants and open air bars to enjoy and reflect the days accomplishments.

There are many places to stay on Siesta Beach, but none is more charming and the amenities more plentiful than the accommodations at Horizons West. Horizons West is a community on 6 acres of Gulf Front, the properties include 63 residences for purchase or rental in the High-Rise and 71, 2 bedroom villas as well as 24, 2 bedroom Bayside Units.
There is a rental office on site that keeps the rentals available, booked all year long.

Siesta Key Condos For Sale!

Siesta Key Single Family Homes For Sale!
Sarasota Waterfront Homes For Sale!

Brighter times ahead…..not likely but deals are plentiful!

TK — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 14:11:15 +0000

I have been conspicuously absent as of late writing about this troubled market and overall economy due to some difficult news for my sellers….the Florida Real Estate market is getting worse! At least for the next year in my expert opinion, I hate to be Mr. Doom and Gloom but it is getting worse and I don’t see any real hope on the horizon ( expect maybe in “Horizons West”), I only say this because I am deeply troubled about what is happening in Europe and their looming debt crisis. It plays out like this, the U.S. economy had been chugging along for a good 8 months without any real issue, slogging between Low 12,000’s and 12,500, which was exceptionally good considering no real great news about Job Growth since the beginning of the year. But due to the terrible issues the EU has had with Greece, Spain and Italy basically failing to pay their upcoming debts, investors have been dumping Greek, Italian and Spanish Bonds as fast as they can leaving cash rich countries like France and Germany to have to pick up the tab if they want the Euro to continue. This has been roiling our U.S. Markets as a whole giving back all the gains we have had since late November 2010.

21% of our Exports are going to Europe and that is not good news for this U.S. Economy. The last 3 weeks of Wall Streets dismay have been based on the uncertainty that Europe’s future has to hold and as we know the market hates uncertainty which conveys to fear and in turn indecisiveness which means that nothing happens anytime soon on Wall Street in terms of good news for the Dow and S&P’s growth.

Now you are thinking, “what does that mean for Florida Real Estate?” Well, I will tell you what that means for Florida, it means that those steadfast sellers will be coming down to earth and will deal with any reasonable offer no matter what the listing price is. I have pended 3 properties in the last week and have closed 2 in the past week as well, it seems that what is bad for Wall Street is good for Florida, in terms of a Great Deal in Real Estate!

If you are interested in discussing or looking at Real Estate in Southwest Florida, please feel free to call me anytime at 941-320-5530.

Happy Hunting!

Sotheby’s Brand in Southwest Florida is Spreading!

TK — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 20:03:01 +0000

It’s amazing, in the 2 years since Judy Green has opened the Signature Sotheby’s office she has been able to acquire several leading market leaders including Premier of Sarasota and Richard Bradway’s office in Venice, now comes the newest acquisition and coup, the Sotheby’s brand has spread to Naples. Judy will be President of the Naples Office, which will be named Premier Sotheby’s and will also continue to run the Signature Sotheby’s office in SRQ and Venice. To round out the company’s success in it’s acquisitions Judy has just signed a lease to open Signatures newest office in Long Boat Key, all these components will make Judy Green the newest power broker and most influential leader in Southwest Florida. stayed tune for more in this ever changing market…..http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20101116/ARTICLE/11161034

Are We There Yet?……

TK — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 15:24:33 +0000

Are we there yet?….That’s what I keep hearing and if we are not we certainly don’t have too much farther to go. I was having this same conversation with many of my friends and colleagues this past year and the obvious concern at that time was the BP oil spill in the Panhandle, which helped put even more pressure on our sales this past year. Yet I still see hope and a light at the end of the tunnel provided the boys on the Hill don’t screw things up too badly battling for control in Washington.

To say the least 2010 was dreadful and the numbers prove it, our median home sales in the Sarasota-Bradenton market is $152,900 down 10% Year to date and about 50% of those sales are distressed properties, this does not bode well for the good people of this town who have been responsible and want nothing more than to trade their properties for something better and to watch as there nest egg evaporates in to thin because the guy next door fancied himself a “Real Estate Guru”. Unfortunately we are not alone in this conundrum, there are 5 other markets that fare worse than we do, and they are as follows: http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20101112/ARTICLE/11121017/2416/NEWS?p=3&tc=pg&tc=ar Ocala, Melbourne, Tampa-St. Pete, Fort Walton Beach and Orlando.

Do we have much farther to go, only time will tell, and it feels like it has been an eternity in this market, but now for the positive news, wealth is created in dark times like these, the darkest moments of historical economic times proves this point, many companies were developed out of necessity, or a entrepreneurial vision that could not be stifled any longer. Those companies include Microsoft, Fed-Ex, General Electric, Trader Joes’, Burger King and Hyatt http://www.insidecrm.com/features/businesses-started-slump-111108/ to name a few.

My only point is that for every action there is an equal yet opposite reaction, and just like you can’t catch a falling knife you also can’t mark the bottom of the market which is to say that any buyer out there now can buy confidently now if there plan is long term (5-7 years) and make money in this market, buy when it is not popular to do so and you will look back and realize that you were a genius!

7755 Alister Mackenzie Dr in Laurel Oak Estates in SRQ

TK — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 17:56:17 +0000

Here we go again, talk about a steal, this Direct Golf Course home on the West Course of Laurel Oak Estaets Reese Jones golf course, http://mfr.mlxchange.com/Pub/EmailView.asp?r=1509988002&s=MFR&t=MFR developed 3 years ago, is simply put, Stunning! This home boasts 3 bedrooms 3 Full Bathrooms and a 3 car garage at 3667 squre feet, if you a numbers guy and you like “threes” then this home is for you. It was completely remodeled just 2 years ago and has been redone from head to toe, all new Mud set Travertine floors, not one ounce of carpet in this home, all new Woodmode cabinets in the Kitchen and Master bath as well as the built in entertainmnet center. The home has all new baseboard and crown mouldings as well as all new granite in kitchens and baths with all new hi-line applianaces including a 6 burner Thermadore stove, Sub zero refrigerator and boch dishwasher. The pool area is over 2500 sqare feet and has been completely redone. there is so much more I could say about this home but a picture is worth a thousand words so I will attach this link and we can go from there, call me with any questions anytime at 941-320-5530.

Casarina 5880 Midnight Pass road Unit 802

TK — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 17:30:43 +0000

I wanted to start right off today by talking about one of the “Best Deals” on Siesta Key’s Gulf Front, it’s Casarina, a Gulf Front Community located at 5880 Midnight Pass road on the Gulf side of the road http://mfr.mlxchange.com/Pub/EmailView.asp?r=1840132582&s=MFR&t=MFR. This unit is something of an estate sale and is has two Gulf views from the North and South side of the unit, this extremely unique since most of the units have only one view point often from the living room, biut this unit has a true water view from each room in the unit, one looking south on to Point of Rocks and the other unobstructed view is looking North all along the beach, it is quite spectacular. Casarina is charming and quite with an almost exclusive feel nestled among the Australian Pines with a short walk along the raised boardwalk to the sugary sands of Siesta Key’s #2 Beach in the Nation, according to Dr. Leatherman’s annual assesment of the nations best beaches. This unit is priced at $695,000, and is a tremendous value with the squre footage reaching 1624 square feet, which is well below the average price per squre foot for Direct Gulf Front views at $545-$550 a square foot. Also keep in mind that the average size of a 2 bedroom on Siesta Key is about 1296 Squre feet and this unit is over 1600. Sounds like a real opportunity to me. If you have any questions feel free to call me on my cell anytime at 941-320-5530. See you there!

Back after all this time…rough times behind us and better times ahead.

TK — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 15:27:33 +0000

Hello World,
It has been almost an entire year since I posted last, it has been tough for the Kelley’s this year due to 3 sudden and untimely deaths in my family. My Dad Tom Sr. died on December 8th 2009 from a massive stroke just before turning 70 years old. At the wake I was able to see the more than 600 people that came to honor my father including my Uncle Joe Gannon who was one of my favorite all time uncles for his joy, laughter and great big hugs, he also died 63 days later of a massive heart attack. My cousin Mike Brown, who was 42 years old and was one of my best friends growing up, was at Dads wake and we had not spoken in the last 3 years over something so stupid that I cant bear mention what it was, I only spoke to Mike for a very short time at my dad’s wake and the very last thing he said to me before leaving my father’s wake was “don’t be a stranger, call me”, I did, 2 weeks later, but got his voice mail and left a message, he called later and I saw his call come up on the phone and chose not to take it, big mistake, he died 35 days later, I still have the message on my voice mail and listen to it often.

How does this incorporate in to Sarasota or Siesta Key real Estate, it doesn’t, I just had to vent and remind people that life is too short and bury all hatchets and grudges that do nothing for us but harbor resentment. I will regret not picking that phone up for the rest of my life.

Selling Steals on Siesta Key, Open House 1 to 4 10/18/09

TK — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 15:17:29 +0000

A REMODELED SIESTA STEAL!!…Enjoy this Completely Remodeled Two Bedroom, Two Bath Villa in Horizons West, the largest floor plan of its kind in the community. The remodel included, New Kitchen and Appliances and Baths, New tile throughout the Open Plan, New Doors and New Roof. This meticulously remodeled unit is located on the Bay side with Deeded Beach Access to Crescent Beach in the Gulf and Bay Community of Horizons West. Horizons West lies front and center on Siesta’s award winning cool quartz sand of Crescent Beach. This unit could possibly be part of Horizons West Rental Program, as they are currently available. Priceless memories and Sunsets galore make this unit a treasure among million dollar properties that share the same views. Own a piece of Siesta Key today.

This unit si ridiculously priced below market value and should be sold inside of a week, we are holding an open house this Sunday, October 18th, 2009 from 1 to 4. just google 6145 Midnight Pass Road unit E-4 and we will see you there.

Despite what many people think our inventory of really great listings are going away at rock bottom prices and as you may know our prices are actually going up. I can attest to that because I just got another Gulf front unit under contract and based on the last sale it looks as if prices are going up. That’s good news for us all, not so good for those folks waiting on the side lines for a bottom that has already passed.

Sarasota Ranked #1 Best Buy Value in the country…..

TK — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 13:10:57 +0000

We all new it was a matter of time, does this proclamation mark the bottom for Sarasota’s Home values???

Barbara Corcoran , real estate mogul, business consultant and speaker, states that Sarasota, Florida is the best place to get the biggest bang for your buck! Please review the video on our blog by clicking the link below!

http://www.oursignatureblog.com/biggest-real-estate-bang-for-your-buck-sarasota-florida/

SRQ Inventory At Its Lowest Point In More Than 5 years!

TK — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 19:15:21 +0000

I was out showing property late yesterday afternoon for one of my listings in The Lido Ambassador, Unit 410 on Lido Key. It’s a nice end unit with lots of daylight, the lanai has just been revitalized with new enclosures and the unit has a partial gulf view. Although the unit is older and needs some form of a remodel, it’s very clean and has the right location, directly on Lido Beach. The agent I showed it to yesterday had looked all over Longboat Key and Lido key in our price range, which is $425,000., and had found nothing, and her reason “there is nothing out there in this price range remodeled or not.” She told me that the inventory simply isn’t there. I thought to myself, “is it possible we have arrived at the bottom and the need for demand has exceeded the supply?”

So I checked the stats for the MLS and there are roughly 101 active listings on Lido Key, which includes Condos and Single Family. When I break it down for condos only there are 69 active listings. according to the Sarasota Association;

“Sales in July 2009 up 29 percent over July 2008 in Sarasota market”

The Sarasota real estate market in July 2009 was substantially healthier than last year at
this time, with total unit sales up 29 percent to 595, and the months of home supply on
the market once again dropping to levels not seen in three years. There were 450 single
family and 145 condos sold in July, compared to 331 and 130 last July.
July 2009 sales were only slightly lower than the 610 sales in June 2009, when overall
sales rose above the 600 level for only the second time in 26 months. The statistics all
continue to point to a market in the initial stages of recovery.
Inventory levels continued to decline. There were 4,067 single family homes for sale at
the end of July, down from 4,477 at the end of June. Condos experienced a similar
decline, to 2,447 from 2,587. Inventory is now at its lowest point in more than 5 years.
The number of months of inventory – the time it would theoretically take to.

Conclusion: if there was or is a bottom to this market we surely have been there or are there as we speak. Sales in communities that long have had a dry spell in terms of sales, like Deer Creek in Palmer Ranch, which has in the past had no sales or Pending Sales for months has in the last 60 days 8 Pending Sales, 4 sales and only 14 active properties for sale. As far as active sales in Deer Creek that’s only 5% of the communities overall existing homes. “By now or Be Sorry”