Sarasota Market News – The October real estate market in Sarasota and Manatee counties remained strong, with overall sales slightly lower than September and last October, but median sale prices up substantially over last year at this time. Property sales in October totaled 880 in Sarasota County and 708 in Manatee County, for a combined … Continue reading Sarasota Market Remains Strong in October 2015
Florida breaks tourism record in 2015
The Sunshine State welcomed an estimated 79.1 million visitors during the first nine months of 2015, the most of any such period in Florida’s history. The nine-month count was a 5.5 percent increase when compared with the same period in 2014. The third quarter of this year saw an estimated 25.5 million visitors, an increase … Continue reading Florida breaks tourism record in 2015
Sarasota Ranks No. 2 on BEST PLACES TO RETIRE List
SARASOTA – Sarasota has been riding high in the rankings of desirable places to live for the last few years. Now we can add “second-best place to retire” to the trophy shelf, courtesy of Livability. com — a website that slices data on small-to-medium-sized cities in a bunch of different ways. BEST PLACES TO RETIRE 1. … Continue reading Sarasota Ranks No. 2 on BEST PLACES TO RETIRE List
Owning vs. Renting: The Pathway to Wealth
There have been so many articles comparing “owning vs. renting” that a Google search of the phrase yields page after page of results. Clearly, if you are at a crossroads trying to decide which of the two housing paths to take, there is no shortage of advice and information to guide your thinking. The Experts … Continue reading Owning vs. Renting: The Pathway to Wealth
Longboat Key in Top 10 Conde Nast Traveler’s Islands
It’s time to invest in a larger trophy case. This time, Longboat Key has garnered national glory. Longboat Key was the No. 9 best island in the U.S. in Conde Nast Traveler’s 2015 Readers’ Choice Awards. Hawaii’s Maui, Kauai, Oahu and Big Island nabbed the top four slots. Amelia Island, which ranked No. 10, was … Continue reading Longboat Key in Top 10 Conde Nast Traveler’s Islands
Sales Strong in Traditionally Slower September
Sales Strong in September Property sales in Sarasota and Manatee counties were somewhat slower in September 2015, but the drop off from August was expected after an unprecedented six month run of record-setting closings. In addition, the start of fall 2015 looks a lot like the same time last year, but with one major exception. … Continue reading Sales Strong in Traditionally Slower September
Sarasota-Bradenton 2nd in Nation for Cash Home Purchases
Home buyers in Southwest Florida are still paying with cash at one of the fastest rates in the nation. Several recent studies show the Sarasota-Bradenton metro area maintains a higher percentage of cash buyers than almost anywhere else in the U.S. It’s a similar situation throughout Florida. Of the 10 metro areas with the highest … Continue reading Sarasota-Bradenton 2nd in Nation for Cash Home Purchases
Home Equity: You May Have More Than You Think
CoreLogic recently released their 2015 2nd Quarter Equity Report which revealed that 759,000 properties had regained equity in the last quarter. That means that 91% of all mortgaged properties (approximately 45.9 million) are now in a positive equity position. Anand Nallathambi, president and CEO of CoreLogic, reported: “For much of the country, the negative equity … Continue reading Home Equity: You May Have More Than You Think
August 2015 Inventory Drops; Prices Climb
The active inventory of properties for sale in Sarasota and Manatee counties continued to drop in August 2015, while the median sale prices skyrocketed over last year at this time, demonstrating a strong seller’s market in the region. Inventory Drops – According to the Realtor® Association of Sarasota and Manatee, the inventory of single family homes … Continue reading August 2015 Inventory Drops; Prices Climb
Sarasota No. 31 on List of Most Livable Cities
Tropical island ambiance with the comforts of craft beer and fine art helped land the City of Sarasota on the “2016 Top 100 Best Places to Live.” Most Livable Cities – Sarasota showed up as No. 31 on the list along with places like Boulder, Colorado; Santa Rosa, California; and Madison, Wisconsin. The other Florida … Continue reading Sarasota No. 31 on List of Most Livable Cities