Bird Key Real Estate
Located between downtown Sarasota and Lido Key is the exclusive waterfront neighborhood of Bird Key. There are only about 510 fortunate residents that call Bird Key home. The John Ringling Causeway, the new fixed span bridge, allows residents of Bird Key to be just a few minutes away from the attractions and excitement of Downtown Sarasota, the beaches of Lido Key and Longboat Key, as well as the popular destination spot of St. Armands Circle.
Bird Key real estate is made up of bay front homes, canal homes and garden (non-waterfront) homes. This is one of the most sought after areas in Sarasota, Florida. You will notice that many of the homes on Bird Key are newer. The island was developed in the 1950's and 1960's yet the area is in such high demand that many of the older homes have been torn down to make way for newer ones.
If you are searching for a luxurious waterfront similar to Bird Key you should also explore Lido Key, Casey Key, Siesta Key and Longboat Key as well.
Table of Contents
Bird Key Homes For Sale - Updated Daily!
| All Listings | $500,000 - $600,000 | $600,000 - $700,000 |
| $700,000 - $800,000 | $900,000 - $1,000,000 | Over $1,000,000 |
You Have To See The Marketing That's Been Created To...
- Price:
- $7,900,000
- City:
- Sarasota
- Beds:
- 5
- Baths:
- 7
- Type:
- Residential
- MLS® #:
- A3959099
- Provider:
- Signature Investment Prop Inc
You Have To See The Marketing That's Been Created To Showcase This Signature Property, Its Amazing. The...
Piazza On The Bay. This Iconic Modern Home Rises Above...
- Price:
- $5,479,000
- City:
- Sarasota
- Beds:
- 5
- Baths:
- 7
- Type:
- Residential
- MLS® #:
- A3939198
- Provider:
- Coldwell Banker Res R E
Piazza On The Bay. This Iconic Modern Home Rises Above A Curb To Seawall Plaza That Incorporates The...
It's Impossible To Exaggerate The Beauty Of Sarasota's...
- Price:
- $4,295,000
- City:
- Sarasota
- Beds:
- 4
- Baths:
- 6
- Type:
- Residential
- MLS® #:
- A3957458
- Provider:
- Michael Saunders & Company
It's Impossible To Exaggerate The Beauty Of Sarasota's City Skyline From This Magnificent Property. Poised...
Outstanding Waterfront Opportunity On Bird Key In This...
- Price:
- $3,850,000
- City:
- Sarasota
- Beds:
- 5
- Baths:
- 6
- Type:
- Residential
- MLS® #:
- A3956290
- Provider:
- Coldwell Banker Res R E
Outstanding Waterfront Opportunity On Bird Key In This 2007 Built Home Situated On A Wide Open Protected...
This Architectural Masterpiece Awakens Your Senses...
- Price:
- $3,690,000
- City:
- Sarasota
- Beds:
- 4
- Baths:
- 6
- Type:
- Residential
- MLS® #:
- A3951191
- Provider:
- Coldwell Banker Res R E
This Architectural Masterpiece Awakens Your Senses With Spectacular Views Of The Downtown Skyline And...
Indulge Your Passion For Waterfront Living In This...
- Price:
- $2,495,000
- City:
- Sarasota
- Beds:
- 3
- Baths:
- 4
- Type:
- Residential
- MLS® #:
- A3959814
- Provider:
- Premier Sotheby's Intl. Realty
Indulge Your Passion For Waterfront Living In This Stunning Bird Key Home Perfectly Positioned On A Wide...
Stunning New Waterfront House On Bird Key. Built 2010,...
- Price:
- $2,450,000
- City:
- Sarasota
- Beds:
- 4
- Baths:
- 5
- Type:
- Residential
- MLS® #:
- A3960617
- Provider:
- Keller Williams Lakewood Ranch
Stunning New Waterfront House On Bird Key. Built 2010, Professionally Designed And Furnished. Home Features...
Bird Key Full Bayfront Home With Breathtaking Views...
- Price:
- $2,395,000
- City:
- Sarasota
- Beds:
- 3
- Baths:
- 4
- Type:
- Residential
- MLS® #:
- A3959253
- Provider:
- Premier Sotheby's Intl. Realty
Bird Key Full Bayfront Home With Breathtaking Views And Brand New Dock. This Lovely Home, Ideally Located...
"short Sale". Priced To Sell! All Offers Must Be...
- Price:
- $1,895,000
- City:
- Sarasota
- Beds:
- 4
- Baths:
- 5
- Type:
- Residential
- MLS® #:
- A3936580
- Provider:
- Coldwell Banker Res R E
"short Sale". Priced To Sell! All Offers Must Be In Writing On The "as-is" Contract. Stunning Foyer...
One Of The Best Lots In Bird Key, This Grand Home Offers...
- Price:
- $1,890,000
- City:
- Sarasota
- Beds:
- 4
- Baths:
- 5
- Type:
- Residential
- MLS® #:
- A3956836
- Provider:
- Sarasota Premier Properties
One Of The Best Lots In Bird Key, This Grand Home Offers A Perfect Location And Spacious Living Area...
Bird Key - Sarasota's "urbane Island". Only South Facing...
- Price:
- $1,600,000
- City:
- Sarasota
- Beds:
- 3
- Baths:
- 2
- Type:
- Residential
- MLS® #:
- A3959493
- Provider:
- Michael Saunders & Company
Bird Key - Sarasota's "urbane Island". Only South Facing 120' Sailboat Waterfront. Compare La Difference,...
Stunning, Spectacular And Special Are Just A Few Choice...
- Price:
- $1,299,000
- City:
- Sarasota
- Beds:
- 5
- Baths:
- 5
- Type:
- Residential
- MLS® #:
- A3951715
- Provider:
- Coldwell Banker Res R E
Stunning, Spectacular And Special Are Just A Few Choice Words To Describe This Unique Custom Built Contemporary...
View from Meadow Lark Drive
Bird Key, Florida Map
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Bird Key Florida Homes
The Bird Key real estate area is much admired by serious boaters. The canal front and bay front homes on the island can accommodate both large yachts and sailboats, and the bay front estates offer unparalleled views of the water and downtown Sarasota. Bird Key also has its own private yacht club.
Bird Key Waterfront Homes
Homes on Bird Key essentially fall into three categories - Homes on the Bay, Canal homes and Garden (interior, non-waterfront) homes. Prices start around $400,000 and go up into the multi-millions.
Bird Key Homes on the Bay
I have heard it time and time again. I will be driving over the Ringling bridge west towards Lido Key with a potential buyer in the car and hear, "Wow, there are some pretty homes over there." They are of course referring to the bay front homes on Bird Key. They are usually commenting about the grandiose waterfront homes on the east side of Bird Key along Seagull Lane, East Royal Flamingo, Robin Drive and Meadow Lark Drive. The views from these homes overlook Marina Jack's, downtown Sarasota skyline and Sarasota Bay. They are some of the nice waters views that you can find in Sarasota, Florida. The bay homes on the west of Bird Key include those along Mourning Dove Drive, South Spoonbill Drive, West Royal Flamingo, Bird Key Drive, South & North Warbler Lane and Seagull Lane. These also have amazing water views. The bayfront homes to the west have stunning sunset views over the Sarasota Bay looking towards Lido Key and St. Armands Key. On the south end of the island the bay homes along South Spoonbill Drive and Mourning Dove Drive have amazing water views overlooking the north end of Siesta Key, south end of Lido Key and Big Pass. I challenge anyone to find a bad bay view on Bird Key.
Bird Key Canal Homes
Bird Key is blessed with wide deep canals that make it easy for boaters to navigate. There are no bridges to worry about so large yachts and sailboats are welcome. The Sarasota Bay and Gulf of Mexico are within a very short boat ride. The water views behind the Bird Key canal homes are pleasant. It is a great place to enjoy your morning coffee as well as a tasty dinner and drink with your family. Imagine jumping on the boat behind your house for a day on the water or a late day cruise to catch the magnificent sunsets.
Bird Key Garden Homes
These are the non-waterfront homes on Bird Key. These are great for those looking to get into Bird Key on the lower end of the price spectrum. Garden homes make great investments since they are surrounded by many multi-million dollar waterfront estates.
Bird Key Foreclosures & Short Sales
Looking for a great deal on Bird Key? Visit my Bird Key foreclosures page to view all bank owned and short sale homes for sale on the island. It is updated daily with pictures, virtual tours, Birdeye images, addresses, descriptions and maps of all homes. You won't find many distressed sales on Bird Key.
Sold Bird Key Homes
Visit my Bird Key homes sold page to view some of the homes that have sold on the Bird Key. This is a good way to learn the market and manage expectations. You can also contact us if you would like us to email you everything that has sold on the key.
Bird Key Realtor
If you are looking to buy a Bird Key home make sure you are represented by a knowledgeable agent with extensive experience. A real estate purchase will be one of your largest investments so make sure you are represented adequately. I have sold several Bird Key homes over the years. A few of my more recent sales include:
- 429 Pheasant Way
- 115 South Warbler Lane
- 492 Partridge Circle
DWELL Real Estate offices are only about five minutes from Bird Key. My experience will be very helpful in your home search. Hire the services of a Bird Key Realtor who works hard, has vast market knowledge and years of valuable experience.
Bird Key Market Statistics
Average Price per Square Foot of Bird Key Homes
Below is a chart representing the quarterly calculations of the average price per square foot of Bird Key homes for sale for over the last 11 years.
Average Days on Market for Bird Key Homes
Below is a chart showing the average days on market for Bird Key homes that have sold over the last 11 years. The blue line represents the Sold Price/Last List Price.
Average Price of Bird Key Homes For Sale & Sold
The chart below shows the average prices of homes for sale on Bird Key as well those that have sold over the last 11 years.
Months of Inventory of Bird Key Homes
The chart below shows months of inventory of Bird Key homes for sale for the last 11 years. These calculations are based on closed sales and not pending sales.
Bird Key Photos
History of Bird Key
In the early 1900's Lindsay Worcester of Cincinnati was vacationing in Florida to recover from an illness. She and her friends took a boat ride to Bird Key for a picnic. She ultimately fell in love with the small island and told her husband that she wanted to spend her final years there. Thomas Worcester, her husband, purchased Bird Key from the state of Florida. Their goal was to build a grandiose waterfront home.
Construction of their new home began around 1911/1912. Worcester added to the 14 acre island by dredging up 30,000 cubic yards of dirt. He also planted trees and other tropical foliage for the island to take shape. Worcester named it New Edzell castle after the ancestral Scottish estate of his wife. The home took 3 years to build at a cost of over $100,000. Unfortunately, Lindsay Worcester died in 1912 prior to the completion of the home.
John Ringling ultimately purchased Bird Key in the 1920's with a plan of building a vacation home for his friend and U.S. President Warren Harding. Unfortunately, that never came to fruition as Harding died in 1923.
Ringling built the Ringling Causeway from the mainland for easy access to Bird Key, St. Armands Circle and Lido Key with plans for houses, restaurants, shopping, hotels and entertainment. This was the first bridge to traverse the Sarasota bay. He even used his own circus elephants to haul timber for the bridge. In the late 1920's the country went into a depression and the real estate market collapsed.
Ringling's sister, Ida Ringling North, moved into the Worcester mansion on Bird Key. In 1936 John Ringling died and bequeathed the island to his sister Ida. She lived there until her death in 1950. Bird Key saw little activity during this time period.
In 1951 Ida's son, John Ringling North, was the President of the Bird Key Development Corporation. They intended on expanding Bird Key to over 300 acres. However, the Sarasota community wasn't excited about the plan. During a contentious public hearing, State Representative James Haley asked the Ringling group's attorney, "Why don't you go back to New York and run your own business?" After several modifications and a number of hearings, votes and court actions, the Ringling proposal was shelved.
In 1959 Arvida purchased Bird Key. The approved plat included 511 lots, 291 of which are bay or canal front properties, and 220 of which are landlocked (now called "garden homes"). Lots were priced from, $9,000 to $32,000 and sold quickly.
Bird Key Yacht Club
Bird Key Yacht Club is a comprehensive yachting and social club located in a quiet setting on the Sarasota waterfront. It offer boating, waterfront dining with the best views in town, tennis, a fitness center, a full schedule of social events and a wide array of special activities for boaters and non-boaters alike. Golf privileges are provided through an exclusive reciprocal arrangement. Membership hails from throughout the Sarasota area. View their website at www.BirdKeyyc.com.
Resources
- Bird Key Lots
- Bird Key Sold Homes
- Bird Key Florida
- Bird Key Market Updates
- Bird Key Yacht Club
- Sarasota Yacht Club
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Listing information is provided for consumer personal, non-commercial use, solely to identify potential properties for potential purchase; all other use is strictly prohibited and may violate relevant federal and state law.
Listing data comes from My Florida Regional MLS.
Listing information last updated on May 21st, 2012 at 4:25am.
