Authentic Florida

Discover Secluded Secret Islands Many of Southwest Florida’s barrier islands, spanning the coast from Marco north to Manasota Key, deliver seclusion — without the three-hour tour or that dunderhead Gilligan. The best are those accessible only by boat, chartered ferry excursions and, in some cases, a helicopter or [...]

Cash Buyers Cash on the table remains the preferred method of payment for home buyers in Southwest Florida. Florida ranked second in the U.S. with 47.6 percent of all-cash sales, second to New Jersey's 48 percent. Naples-Marco Island led the nation with 56 percent of cash sales, while Miami was third at 53.4 percent, Ocala fourth at 49.9 [...]

Rising Housing Prices Southwest Florida is among a growing number of metropolitan areas where the cost of housing — both to rent or buy — is approaching record highs. A strong turnaround in home sales and a suppressed stock of real estate listings has lifted prices to their highest level since the boom of the mid-2000s, while rents are [...]

Sarasota Real Estate Market Report - June 2015 Near Record Sales The residential real estate market in May 2015, in both Sarasota and Manatee counties, continued to produce near-record sales, pointing toward another potential record-breaking year in 2015. Overall sales in Sarasota County hit 1,182, only 42 sales below last month's all-time [...]

The condominium booms of the late 1960s, early 1980s and mid-2000s are being mirrored by the current market for luxury high rises in downtown Sarasota. From big projects like Vue Sarasota Bay to smaller but more upscale buildings such as The Jewel and One88, condominium developers are benefiting from an influx of affluent baby boomers and [...]

Population Growth in Sarasota

Sarasota County’s population increased 1.7% to about 390,000 in 2014, while the cities of Venice and North Port continue rapid growth as the economy rebounds from the Great Recession. The city of Sarasota added more than 900 residents and doubled its growth rate to 1.8% last year, echoing the upswing in [...]

Sarasota Tourism

More than 28 million visitors flocked to Florida during the first three months of the year, setting new tourism records while crowding beaches, hotels and those theme parks marked by signature black ears. As the economy mends, tourists are feeling more confident about booking a Sunshine State vacation, staying longer and [...]

Sarasota Home Prices

Home prices jumped 9.1 percent in March over the year in the Sarasota-Manatee region, again outstripping state and national gains.

• Prices increased an even stronger 11.8 percent in Charlotte County, data provider CoreLogic reported Tuesday.
• Single-family home prices climbed 7 percent throughout Florida in March, the seventh-highest rate in the
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An ambitious transformation of the mid-century modern Scott Building, in downtown Sarasota, into the Center for Architecture Sarasota and a hub for architectural studies opens with a focus to advance education, engage and celebrate architecture.

With the restoration of the original exterior lighting "the building will glow at night like a jewel [...]

A long-dormant area, sitting in the shadow of downtown, is headed for a turnaround thanks to the outward expansion of growth from the heart of the city. Right now, that’s the Rosemary District east of downtown Sarasota, where density increases and a handful of big-ticket projects have the city and investors confident that the area is [...]