Sarasota Real Estate News

Open House Sunday Aug 18, 2019, 1-4 p.m., 5212 Parisienne Place, Botanica, Palmer Ranch, Sarasota, FL 34238 (photos below).

15 minutes from downtown Sarasota, Siesta Key Beach, Nokomis Beach.

Appropriately named Botanica, homes are surrounded by ponds and a natural preserve area.  Catch a glimpse of snowy egrets, osprey, herons, turtles, ducks, hawks, bobcats, and alligators from the lanai.   Various species of North American birds, spending their winters by the shore, are known to visit Botanica.  Spiritual and earthy, this quiet and exclusive community features just 168 carriage homes that were built in the early 2000’s.

5212 Parisienne Place, listed by Michael Saunders & Company, is a 1798 square foot coveted Jasmine model with three bedrooms and a two-car garage.  Listed at $359,900, the price has been reduced to sell.  The gated, maintenance-free community is impeccably maintained year-round with seasonal flowers, much like a botanical garden.  With two pools, resort-style clubhouse, and very financially healthy homeowners association—this is a community residents proudly call home.   Everyone loves Botanica, to include two very happy Buyers of mine who are homeowners today.   

Call me if you would like more information about this property or real estate in Sarasota, Siesta Key, or Venice, Florida.  If you are in the area, come to my open house Sunday 1-4.

Most sincerely yours,

Linda Holley, Realtor, GRI, 941-914-4914.  

Check out my home page www.LindaHrealtor.com

Blog: www.LindaHrealtor.com/blog

5212 Parisienne Place, Botanica in Palmer Ranch, Sarasota, FL 34238

Tomorrow, I am holding an Open House at 7434 Botanica Parkway in Palmer Ranch, Sarasota, FL, from 1-4 p.m. This blog compares the Botanica subdivision to new home communities in Palmer Ranch. 

Botanica has 168 French-country condominiums in a totally maintenance-free, gated community.   Built in the early 2000’s on 28 acres of wetlands with sparkling fountains and natural preserves, it is lushly landscaped year around.  A beautiful resort-style, 4,000 square foot clubhouse beckons to an active community with a well-equipped fitness center, library, catering kitchen, conference room, and two heated pools with paver patios and gas grills.  It’s a short drive to Siesta Key beaches, great shopping, Legacy bike trail, and restaurants. 

Here are the homes for sale in Botanica and to see the photos, go to my home page http://www.LindaHrealtor.com and enter the MLS number beginning with an “A” in the home search box. 

You can still buy a home in Botanica today for under $200k per square foot. 

My Open House tomorrow - A4174790, 7434 Botanica Parkway

Priced to sell, Cypress model 2BR 2.5 BA plus den, ground floor, 1-car garage with private entry to the home, preserve view, new carpet and tile, 1,621 sq ft, $299k or $184/sq ft.  

A4168773, 5208 Parisienne Place

Wisteria model 3 BR 2.5 BA 2-car garage, elevator, wood flooring, lake and preserve view, 2,288 sq ft, $495k or $216/sq ft.

A4168609, 5261 Bouchard Circle

Wisteria model 3 BR 2.5 BA 2-car garage, elevator, lake view, hardwoods, glass-front cabinets, 2,288 sq ft, $475k or $207/sq ft

A4171674, 5242 Parisienne Place

Wisteria model 3BR 2.5 baths, 2-car garage, elevator, lake view, end of cul-de-sac, lake view, 2,288 sq ft, $470k. or $205/sq ft

A4170584, 5278 Descanso Court

Sandalwood model 3BR 2 BA 1-car garage, elevator, lake and pool views, ceramic tile and wood flooring, 1,969 sq ft  $374k or $190 sq ft

A4174376, 5233 Parisienne Place

Sandalwood model 3BR 2BA 1-car garage, shaft for elevator, lake view, updated, carpet and tile 1,969 sq ft, $359k or $182/sq ft

I think that the homes in Botanica are a much better value than the new homes in Palmer Ranch today.  Across Sarasota, new home sales are great, and over the past six months, 39 new homes have sold in Palmer Ranch. (I sold one in Arbor Lakes in December and another the end of 2015.)   Since I know the Botanica community and have visited all of the new home communities, I can see the advantages of buying into an established community vs. new construction.  

Botanica is a place that you really need to visit to appreciate.  From the moment you pull up to the iron gates, you know you have arrived at a very special place.  It’s a condominium community, so the owners do not have to worry about maintenance, not even for the roofs.  The homeowners association is financially solvent and well managed, so owners are not paying out-of-pocket for routine maintenance and repairs, even down to the walls and roofs, and that is very important. Landscapers and gardeners are continuously working hard on the property to keep it in pristine condition.  

New Homes:

Here is a summary of the new homes that have sold in Palmer Ranch the past six months.   Caution!  If you purchase a new single family home, you may get a roof warranty and you may not--I'm guessing you won't-- but be assured that you will absorb the cost of maintenance, repair and replacement. 

Arbor Lakes – 6 single family homes sold, most Buyers obtained conventional financing.  
Average 2,055-3039 square feet, sold for $365k (three bedroom) - $472k (four bedroom) or $156-$178 per sq ft.

Cobblestone – 9 single family homes sold; conventional and cash Buyers. Size: 1,963-2,300 sq ft, average sold price of $462k for a two bedroom or $529k for a three bedroom, or $230 per sq ft.

Hammock Preserve – 1 villa sold, cash BuyerSize 1,542 square foot, 2 bedroom, $334k, $217 per sq ft

Palmer Oaks – 7 condominiums sold, equal amount of new conventional and cash Buyers; Size: 1,407 to 1,600 sq ft, from $257k (two bedroom) - $280K (three bedroom), $175 per sq ft

Sandhill Preserves – 16 single family homes sold, mostly to cash Buyers; Size: 1,861 to 2,200 sq ft, $410k (two bedroom) to low $500’s (3 bedroom), $232 per sq ft.

So in conclusion, Sandhill Preserve attracts cash buyers who are willing to pay more per square foot than homes in Arbor Lakes.  My sales in Arbor Lakes were to families with both spouses employed full-time, 2 children, and the area was chosen because it is in the Riverview High School district.    Palmer Oaks is a condo community that is smaller and less expensive than the new villas going up at Hammock Preserve.    

Getting into a community like beautiful Botanica for under $200 per square foot is a great buy if you are looking for a smaller gated community with less noise, fewer people, privacy, great landscaping and views, and totally maintenance free.   

Do you need a realtor for new construction?  Yes and that's because when you walk into the new home sales office without your own Realtor, the on-site agent looks out for his or her boss (the developer) and not you!  So ask me or your own Realtor to be on your side to help you negotiate, keep up with the deadlines, and we can refer you to the right companies for lending, inspections, and legal review of your contract. 

Call me at 941-914-4914 if you have real estate questions, and do visit my home page http://www.LindaHrealtor.com for more information about me/home buying/selling tips or http://www.LindaHrealtor.com/blog to see my previous blog posts.  To subscribe to this blog, please email me at LindaHrealtor@gmail.com.

Most sincerely yours,

Linda Holley
Realtor, Michael Saunders & Company
Siesta Key, Sarasota, FL    

Thank you for reading my weekly blogs!  The Botanica condominium community in Palmer Ranch is just 10 minutes from Siesta Beach.  My listing is at 5222 Bouchard Circle, Sarasota, FL, 34238, and you can find it by searching by that property address on the main page of my website PalmerRanchLindaHolley.com

I will be at the property on the next two Sundays from 1-4 p.m. holding Open Houses for the Sellers so stop by if you get a chance.  This home is 1,969 square feet, 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, all rooms are upstairs with an elevator to bring you up from the front entrance and garage.  You will enjoy a private and quiet southerly view of the lake.   Each room is wired for sound, there is a reverse osmosis water system in the kitchen, and also a new water softener.   The master bath has a jetted tub, a walk-in shower, and two vanities; the master bedroom has a lake view with two large walk-in closets.  Seller will leave the beautiful furniture (not furnishings), all for $350k.  That's a DEAL because in terms of value, this home is priced at $178 per square foot and the average home sells for $184 per square foot in this community.  The price indicates that this seller is motivated!

Botanica has only 168 homes and the construction began in the early 2000's.  Residents enjoy regular activities at the clubhouse, connecting with their neighbors, and they love to celebrate with holiday parties.  The clubhouse has a catering kitchen, fitness center, grills, a conference room, and two heated pools.

I have met many residents at Open Houses in Botanica who rave about the great maintenance that is included in their quarterly maintenance fees.  That’s exactly why many of Sarasota's homeowners are moving to maintenance-free, gated communities in the $300-400k range.   You can find single family homes in Venice and Gulf Gate but most were built in 1960-1980, they are not in gated communities, do not have amenities such a fitness center and heated pools, and are not maintenance-free: let's face it: homes in Florida are all maintenance-intensive! 

Don't think you can save money on maintenance fees in a home just by hiring your own lawn crew.  Maintenance fees in Botanica also include water, cable, heated pools, fitness centers, all exterior maintenance and everything beyond the paint of your walls becomes the responsibility of the homeowners association.  That's why many buyers whom I meet insist on maintenance-free living so they don't have to worry about finding good local service personnel to do this work.

Think maintenance-free, think Botanica!

It has been my experience that often there is a "love-hate" relationship between Buyers and Sellers in a real estate transaction.  It starts in the negotiation process, through the inspection period, all the way to the closing table--and sometimes afterwards.  Legal battles are costly, and you are better off buying a Florida Lottery ticket rather than depending on the civil courts to handle your complaint quickly and to your satisfaction. 

Realtors are trained to assist Buyers and Sellers by staying on top of the deadlines specified in the contract.  Buyers and Sellers can be in default, and that's why it's important to find an experienced real estate brokerage to assist you.  If you think you may buy a home "For Sale by Owner," (FSBO), it may be in your best interest to notify your realtor and let him or her assist; if you do it in the beginning, you can get assistance and the Seller will pay the 3% commission.   IKnow when you can terminate your contract and get your deposit back, and missing the mark by a day can cost you thousands of dollars if you need to get out of the deal.

There are many horror stories about Buyers not getting the deed restrictions, not receiving or reading the condo docs, being outside the timeframe of inspection, seller deflecting responsibilities about repairs, rental and pet restrictions, special assessments, and the overall reputation of the builder or community.  Also, some real estate brokers--even in this town--don't carry Errors and Omissions insurance to protect their agents.  If your realtor drops the ball, do they have a broker who will back them up or shrug their shoulders and walk away?

In Florida, there are 5,000 applications each month for new realtors and brokers.  About half don't pass the test, but those who do are depending on their brokers and other realtors to know the laws and help them through their transactions.  Don't become a casualty, get the right help in the beginning.

Have a great day!

Linda