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Should Sarasota Florida Be In Your Future Plans?

Posted August 01, 2011

    Here's an interesting statistic, I just found. There are 78 million baby boomers in the U.S., and professionals predict that one-sixth of them will spend part of their lives in the state of Florida. That's almost 13 million new residents of Florida between now and 2023."

    Those future residents will be looking for attractive places in Florida in which to live. The Sarasota Florida area will be high on their list of "most attractive places."

    You may ask yourself, "Hmmm..., should I be considering the Sarasota area in my plans?" The answer is "yes"! Here's why:

    For starters, Sarasota County, and its neighbor Manatee County, offer over 80 golf courses. "Our golf courses range from public courses to semi-private and private courses. One of them will challenge whatever level of play you are at," says Rich Stover, a respected Sarasota Florida real estate agent and avid golfer. Many of our golf courses are within planned golf course communities like Lakewood Ranch which has a wide range of housing options including single-family homes, condos and villas in every price range.

    The Sarasota area is known as "Florida's Cultural Coast"; home to the renowned Ringling Art Museum, Florida West Coast Symphony, Sarasota Ballet, Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall and Asolo Theater as well as many art galleries, jazz clubs and local theater groups like the Manatee Players in Bradenton and the Venice Little Theater in Venice. Downtown Sarasota offers dozens of upscale shops and restaurants. And no one disputes the charm of the eclectic shops at famous St Armands Circle. For a less formal experience, Village of the Arts is a vibrant artist community in Bradenton. Throughout the year, there are arts and cultural events, festivals and parades.

    For sun and surf lovers, there are 35 miles of white sand beaches including world-famous Siesta Beach, voted the "Top Beach in the U.S." in 2011, with the softest, whitest quartz sand in the world. And for lovers, nowhere will you find more romantic sunsets than on Florida's West Coast.

    Powerboat lovers, fishermen, sailing enthusiasts, and scuba divers love the warm, clear waters of Sarasota Bay and Gulf of Mexico according to my friend Bob Henley, who specializes in serving buyers of Sarasota waterfront homes and condos. For those with larger crafts, some communities offer deep water marinas and yacht clubs.

    Money Magazine listed Sarasota among "the nation's 15 most livable communities" calling it a city with the charm of a smaller southern town with the conveniences of a big city. CNBC said Sarasota Florida is one of the "most popular retirement destinations." And, AARP Magazine listed the Sarasota - Bradenton area as one of the four "best places to reinvent your life.”

    Sarasota and Manatee County's public schools serve over 80,000 students. There are also many private schools. Nearly 80% of Sarasota teachers have post-bachelor degree training. Two-thirds of high school graduates go on to college; some at local institutions like University of South Florida - Sarasota, USF - New College, Ringling School of Art & Design, University of Sarasota, Eckerd College, and The State College of Florida - Manatee-Sarasota.

    If your youngsters, or grand children, enjoy educational experiences, they'll enjoy the G.Wiz Science Museum, the Sarasota Jungle Gardens and the Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota and the South Florida Museum and Bishop Planetarium in Bradenton. All offer informative displays and tours attractive to kids "of all ages."

    Sarasota and our Island Keys, Longboat, Siesta, Lido and Casey Key, offer the widest possible variety of residential properties from downtown condos, penthouses and townhomes to Sarasota golf course communities and Sarasota waterfront homes in the city or on one of our Island Keys in a price range to meet every imaginable desire.

    Whether you're a “snowbird,” a one-time visitor, a professional, or an employee being relocated to the fast-growing Florida West Coast, you should get to know the Sarasota area including the Bradenton - Lakewood Ranch area. Somewhere int he greater Sarasota Florida area may, in fact, be a place you'll want to call home now or in the future.