My sincere thoughts and prayers for the victims of the earthquakes and Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria. It’s been a nail-biting season, but remember that hurricanes are cyclical. We always go through a few years where we see many, and then it stops for several years. This part of west coast Florida has not had a direct hit since hurricane records were kept beginning in the mid-1800’s. Is it because of the 30’ sandbar off the coast, or the old Indian legend that this area is “protected” and that is why early settlers came here? Google “Herald Tribune the Legend of Sarasota Storm Protection.”
Michael Saunders & Company Realtors worked very hard to get furniture moved in at properties we have on the market, and then went back in to check for damages, take photos, and clean up “freezer melt” on the floors. Our Rental Division moved furniture in for 400 homes. On the gulf side of Siesta Key Beach, there was minimal damage—mostly limbs and branches, a true miracle. One former Buyer asked me to check his condo in Peppertree, and there was a little water intrusion above the lanai windows. I have a unit under contract in Excelsior with a direct gulf view, and there was no water intrusion. Hurricane Irma’s winds came in Sarasota from the east, so the properties facing the beach (west) did not have direct hits, so our beautiful white sand beach is still intact.
I evacuated with Burt Reynolds (my cocker spaniel dog--photo below) to north Georgia, but my family stayed here until the last minute. Even though we suffered no damage to our homes, I still know the panic, fearing for the lives of family, teammates, and friends who chose to ride out the storm; grabbing important papers, a few photos, and driving 35 miles an hour for a 16-hour trip that should have taken 8 hours. My family has a cabin on Lake Hartwell in North Georgia, which they offered to me. My first thought was, “Of course, I won’t stay here, I’ll be happy to stay in your beautiful lake cabin.” But the guilt of enjoying their place while they faced the danger of Hurricane Irma got to me, and I cried most of the way to Georgia and the next few days until I knew they were out of Florida and safe. What I fear now is that Sarasotans have a false sense of security and won’t evacuate when the next storm is expected. And I learned a lot about my customers, friends and family who offered their homes and others across the country who were concerned and checked in. Thank you all!
Many people are still without power here; in Cherokee Park, huge trees fell on power lines and need to be removed by cranes before electricity can be restored. New properties on the east coast are built to hurricane standards to withstand winds of 180 mph but the west coast standard for new construction is 160 mph. Our new Edgewater condos are built to east-coast standards. Two days before the storm, we had two new reservations at the new Grand condominiums. A Buyer walked away from a transaction for a gulf-front property, and then came back after the storm and offered $250,000 less, and the Seller accepted it. We are expecting a surge in new construction sales because people who went to shelters for days vow that they will never do that again. Homeowners will be installing hurricane windows and buying hurricane shutters. Will the cost of new homes increase because of building materials needed to repair the homes in Florida?
Here are 11 apps to keep people in the know and help them cope with Hurricane Irma:
Redcross.org/mobile-apps/hurricane-app (alerts, ways to connect with family/friends).
NOAA Radar US (weather radar images).
Weather Underground (weather app).
Waze (traffic and road conditions).
Tracker.gasbuddy.com (finding available gas).
Zello (free walkie-talkie).
Snap Map (Snapchat – sharing your location).
Nextdoor (Neighbors helping neighbors).
WhatsApp (Fast, simple, secure messaging).
Firechat (communicate with people around you).
Headspace (Yoga).
The west coast of Florida is open for business! We are recommending that Sellers get a 4-point inspection of their homes which includes plumbing, electrical, and the roof.
Sarasota’s Palmer Ranch new construction! There are TEN new home communities within a five-mile radius of zip code 34238, and this is inland about 15 miles from Siesta Key Beach and Nokomis Beach.
Linda’s List – Properties listed by Michael Saunders & Company; go to www.LindaHrealtor.com and enter the MLS number below that begins with “A” in the home search field:
A4190275 - 144 N. Casey Key Road. 4BR 5BA $4.5 million “House of Dreams.”
A4195593 – 5772 Ivrea Drive in Village Walk, 2BR 2BA, $325k, kitchen and master updated.
A4194773, 3940 Wilshire Cir E., Lakeshore Village, 2BR 2BA, $262K, immaculate and updated.
Thank you for reading my blog, please don’t text and drive, and remember those whose lives have been torn apart in Texas, Mexico, south Florida, and the Caribbean with the recent storms and earthquakes. I’m at 941-914-4914, www.LindaHrealtor.com, so please call me if I can assist you with your real estate needs in Sarasota, Venice, or Siesta Key on Florida’s west coast.
Most sincerely yours,
LindaLinda Holley and Burt Reynolds
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 HolleyRealtor, Michael Saunders & CompanySiesta Key, Sarasota, FL
Good morning! I want to tell you about our award winning website, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and my Siesta Key Open Houses this weekend.MichaelSaunders.com was named “best overall” website in the real estate industry by a panel of technology and marketing experts, plus and our mobile site is also #1! I encourage you to take a look at our website and the features to search for homes by communities and lifestyle.
Michael Saunders and Company beat out many of the largest national real estate brokerages, as determined by REAL Trends real estate analysis publishing company. See http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20150831/ARTICLE/150839971/0/search
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