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        <title>Sarasota Real Estate Blog - Sarasota Real Estate News</title>
        <link>http://www.luxurysarasotarealestate.com/blog/</link>
        <description>Get your fill of the latest Sarasota real estate news. This Sarasota blog is updated frequently with homes for sale, recently sold homes and condos, market updates and plenty of other valuable information.</description>
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            <guid>http://www.luxurysarasotarealestate.com/blog/video-profile-golden-gate-point.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.luxurysarasotarealestate.com/blog/video-profile-golden-gate-point.html</link>
            <author>info@dwellsarasota.com (Marc Rasmussen)</author>
            <title>Video Profile: Golden Gate Point</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
Thinking about a nice waterfront condo in Sarasota, Florida? Take a look at Golden Gate Point near downtown Sarasota. Here you will find some of the nicest condos in Sarasota. Some of them include La Bellasara, Grande Riviera, Majestic Bay and Phoenix. All of these condos include breathtaking water views. Watch the video below to learn more about this fun 22 acre peninsula and why so many yearn to live here. 


 





 


Give us a call at 941.822.0708 if we can help you buy or sell a condo on Golden Gate Point.


 


 





Video Transcript:


Imagine walking out onto your balcony in the morning to breathtaking views of the John Ringling Bridge, Sarasota Bay, the downtown Sarasota skyline, and, in the distance, the skyline of Longboat Key.


Welcome to Golden Gate Point, Sarasota’s luxurious and exclusive 22-acre waterfront peninsula.  Here you will find some of the best water views in the city and the finest high-rise luxury condos Sarasota has to offer.  Located just minutes from the white sands of Lido Beach, the high-end shopping district of St. Armands Circle, and walking distance from all the amenities of downtown, residents of Golden Gate Point find themselves conveniently located to everything.  Cultural venues such as the Sarasota Opera House and Van Wezel Performing Arts Center are within walking distance, and the Asolo Conservatory Theatre is only a 5 minute drive north. 


Living on Golden Gate Point means easy access for boaters.  Most condos have docking available for your yacht right outside, but the Point is also very close to the docking at Marina Jack’s.  Residents can easily jump on their boat for a day of fishing in the Gulf, water skiing in the bay or an evening cruise to admire the sunset.


The condos on Golden Gate Point offer everything when it comes to luxury: spacious condos with views of sparkling Sarasota Bay, security worthy of such residences, and amenities within each condo including everything from billiard rooms to spas.  If you want to live the high life in Sarasota, Golden Gate Point is the place to do it.



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            <pubDate>Wed, 22 May 2013 11:53:43 -0400</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.luxurysarasotarealestate.com/blog/mini-golf-for-everyone.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.luxurysarasotarealestate.com/blog/mini-golf-for-everyone.html</link>
            <author>dwellmanager@gmail.com (Molly Russo)</author>
            <title>My 5-Year-Old's Favorite: Mini-Golf</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
My oldest son turns 5 this week, so in honor of him, I’m going to write about his most favorite activity, the thing he asks to do every Saturday, the thing he asks to do every time we drive home from his preschool (which is [in]conveniently located right by a mini-golf course), the only thing he said he wanted for his birthday this year: “Putt-putt, Mommy!”


Like it or not, we live in vacation central down here in wonderful Sarasota.  There are a few downsides that come with being a “tourist town” (I’m looking at you, traffic!) but the perks outweigh the negatives for us.  And one of the best perks is there is no lack of things to do!  A favorite of 5-year-olds and tourists alike is mini-golf, and there are so many unique places to go to play in this town and thanks to my little boy, I’ve played them all. 


Smuggler’s Cove – “The one with the gators!”  With two convenient locations in our area, one in Sarasota on Tamiami just south of the airport and one in Bradenton on Cortez, Sarasota residents have twice as many opportunities to play this unique putt-putt course and feed the pond of alligators at Smuggler’s Cove.  This course involves lots of angled shots, but is not too tough for even the youngest player.  My three-year-old happens to enjoy this course, while his older brother sinks holes-in-one at least once per game.  So there’s your difficulty level.  However, the unique aspect of gators swimming by you, playing on a giant pirate ship, and the very visually exciting course makes up for its low difficulty level.  It’s definitely a course to check out with your kids or grandkids, as I can personally attest that children love this place.  Mine especially love feeding the alligators after they finish a round and checking out the albino alligator that lives at the Tamiami Trail location. 





Evie’s – This is a great stop if you’re coming with the whole family.  Evie’s Tavern on Bee Ridge Road in Sarasota offers not only miniature golf, but an impressive 60-station driving range, an arcade, and a bar/restaurant.  Stick Grandpa at the driving range, send bored teenagers to the arcade, and take your little ones out to the mini-golf course, or just play alone with your partner and enjoy a beer afterwards.  There is definitely something for everyone at Evie’s, and I'm pleased to saythat the food here far surpassed my expectations.  This course is much more difficult than the aforementioned Smuggler’s Cove, though the props and visuals were not quite as exciting.  I will say, I lost a ball on this course.  There is a hole where you have to hit into the water, a couple where you have to hit over water (an angled upward slope before the “river” provides you with some help here), and plenty where you have to shoot through and around tough objects.  All in all, very fun, but a little frustrating for the younger ones, who lost more balls than I can count on this one.  We spent half the game fishing them out of the water attraction and digging them out of shrubbery.





Glow Golf – Located in the mall at Sarasota Square, Glow Golf is a glow-in-the-dark mini-golf experience.  I am so glad I discovered this location, which is not far from my home in south Sarasota, because now I have a place to go when the littles want to play putt-putt on a rainy day.  There are two courses here, both are relatively short in length and relatively easy in difficulty, but this is reflected in its inexpensive price, meaning you can play at least two rounds for the same price of one round at many other putt-putt courses.  The kids of course love the fact that this is glow-in-the-dark, with dayglo colored balls that glow in black light and a course navigated only by glowing yellow paths, but my favorite thing about this course is the end.  If you’ve gotten any holes-in-one while playing this course, you get to drop a ball in a Plinko-esque board, and if you get that JUST RIGHT, you win a free game.  One day, I brought my kids to this course, paid for myself, 2 four-year-olds (a friend was with us), and my then-two-year-old got to play for free.  My oldest one two free games, so the oldest two played again for free, and then he won ANOTHER free game, which we were given a coupon to use at a later date, because we obviously were all golfed out that day.  The verdict for Glow Golf: great for the kids, great for a rainy day, easy on the pocket book, but don’t do if you’re looking to be challenged or if you don’t have any kids with you—this one is definitely for the kiddos.


So, go enjoy some of the areas best mini-golf!  Maybe I'll see you there, since we're doing a birthday mini-golf excursion this weekend, hitting up all the aforementioned courses in one day.  ;)


 





Molly Russo, Sarasota Lifestyle Guru
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            <pubDate>Wed, 22 May 2013 10:43:56 -0400</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.luxurysarasotarealestate.com/blog/sar-members-sell-over-1000-properties-in-april-2013.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.luxurysarasotarealestate.com/blog/sar-members-sell-over-1000-properties-in-april-2013.html</link>
            <author>info@dwellsarasota.com (Marc Rasmussen)</author>
            <title>SAR Members Sell Over 1,000 Properties in April 2013</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
Below is press release from the Sarasota Association of Realtor. Here are the highlights:




More than 1,000 properties sold in April 2013. 


This is the first time sales have hit four figures since June 2005.


There have only been ten months in SAR's 90-year history that sales have topped 1,000. The otehr 9 occured in 2004 and 2005


14% increase over April 2012


April 2013 median sales price - $217,000


April 2012 median sales price - $175,000


Pending sales were at 1,097, slightly lower than last month's figure of 1,221 and slightly up from last April's figure of 1,068.


The inventory is down almost 19 percent since April 2012.


The April 2013 months of inventory were 3.2 months for single family and 3.9 months for condos, with both property categories at the lowest level in the past decade.


Below is a chart showing average price range in Sarasota county for the last 12 months.







Members of the Sarasota Association of Realtors® sold more than 1,000 properties in April 2013, the first time sales have hit four figures in a single month since June 2005. There have only been ten months in SAR's 90-year history that sales have topped 1,000, and the other nine occurred in 2004 and 2005.

The spring sales surge in the Sarasota real estate market hit 714 single family homes and 303 condominiums in April 2013, for a total of 1,017 closings. That compared to 589 single family homes and 297 condos sold in April 2012, for a 14-percent increase over last year at this time. The all-time record of 1,223 sales was recorded in April 2004.


The high sales volume was augmented by an increase in the median sales prices. The figure for single family homes was $217,000 - the highest level since August 2008 and up 24 percent from last April's figure of $175,000. For condos, the median was $185,000, slightly lower than last April's figure of $191,000. The condo figure has continued to fluctuate substantially over the past few months, dropping to a low point of $130,000 in January 2013 before recovering.


"This historic number of sales is a testimony to the hard working, professional Realtors® who belong to this association," said SAR President Roger Piro. "Many agents and brokers I talk with are spending countless hours with buyers and sellers, working nights and weekends and going the extra mile to make sure they meet the needs of their clients. This has been an amazing time for the Sarasota real estate market, and it's our members who help make dreams come true for those who want to make Sarasota their new home."


Pending sales, which predict future closings, were at 1,097, slightly lower than last month's figure of 1,221 and slightly up from last April's figure of 1,068. Pending sales have topped 1,000 every month this year. This important statistic represents properties that went under contract during the month, and indicates sales in May and beyond could also be at high levels.


The available inventory remained near the lowest level in a decade, declining to 3,479 from the March figure of 3,643. The inventory is down almost 19 percent since April 2012.


The April 2013 months of inventory were 3.2 months for single family and 3.9 months for condos, with both property categories at the lowest level in the past decade. Months of inventory represents the time it would take to deplete the current inventory at the current sales rate. Last April, there were 4.7 months of inventory for single family homes and 5.1 months of inventory for condos. At the worst point of our market in November 2008, there were 24 months of inventory for single family homes and 41.7 months for condos.


Currently, only 376 properties listed for sale in the MLS are short sales or foreclosures, down 22 from last month's figure. This represents about 10.8 percent of available properties, down from last month's figure of 10.9 percent and a big drop from January 2012 when the figure represented 17 percent of the market.


Sales of distressed properties represented about 22 percent of the overall sales in April 2013, down substantially from the March figure of 30 percent, and far lower than the 51 percent figure experienced in the fourth quarter of 2010.


"Obviously, we hope this strong market continues indefinitely, and the pending sales figure indicates the market still has some legs," said Roger Piro. "With the tight inventory and improving national and local economic picture, this is still shaping up as an historic year for local real estate."




 





 
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            <pubDate>Wed, 22 May 2013 10:06:06 -0400</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.luxurysarasotarealestate.com/blog/video-profile-downtown-sarasota-florida.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.luxurysarasotarealestate.com/blog/video-profile-downtown-sarasota-florida.html</link>
            <author>info@dwellsarasota.com (Marc Rasmussen)</author>
            <title>Video Profile: Downtown Sarasota Florida</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
Thinking about purchasing a vacation property in Sarasota? One of the draws of this gorgeous beach town is our vibrant downtown area. Watch the video below to learn more about downtown Sarasota and why so many yearn to live here. 




 


Give us a call at 941.822.0708 if we can help you buy or sell a property in downtown Sarasota, Florida.


 


Video Transcript


Sarasota, Florida, is well-known as one of the region's most culture-rich cities, and downtown Sarasota is the center of it all.  Located on Sarasota Bay, downtown offers something for everyone.  It provides a wide array of big city activities and events while still retaining the small town vibe. 


Visitors to downtown will enjoy an eclectic mix of shops and dining, with everything from kicky used book shops to gourmet restaurants.  One of the most popular shopping events in the downtown area is First Friday. On the first Friday of every month, the local businesses on Main Street and Palm Avenue extend their hours, allowing shoppers to enjoy evening shopping while sipping on wine. Be sure to come back on Saturday morning to visit the Sarasota Farmer's Market at the corner of Lemon and Main. It takes place every Saturday, rain or shine.  The market features fresh produce, flowers, arts &amp; crafts, as well as just-baked breakfast food. It is a wholesome activity for the entire family, including four-legged friends.


Other fun options to partake in downtown include athletic pursuits such as walking the gorgeous (and now iconic) Ringling Bridge and renting kayaks, boats, or jet-skis from vendors along the bayfront.  Speaking of the beautiful waters of the gulf and bay, downtown is located right on the waterfront.  Residents enjoy not only the spectacular views from the condos, but also the proximity to Island Park, a great place to walk or run, and to the world-renowned beaches.  Downtown is just minutes from the sugary sands of Siesta, Lido and Longboat Key Beaches.


Another reason for Sarasota's popularity is that the city offers something for every taste. There is a thriving community of visual artists showing their works at several venues throughout the city. The world-famous Ringling complex is situated on 20 acres and contains the John and Mabel Ringling Museum of Art, two circus museums, the historic Ca d'Zan mansion, the Asolo Theater and the Ringling College of Art and Design.


Other cultural amenities include the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, featuring diverse entertainment from Broadway musicals to family fun, the West Coast Symphony, Sarasota Orchestra and Sarasota Ballet.


There is an appealing array of property available for people who want to live in the center of everything Sarasota has to offer.  High-rise condos give many residents the best of both worlds, with to-die-for water and city views and walkability to many shops, restaurants, and other amenities.  If a yard is a must for you, Laurel Park may appeal.  Located within walking-distance to everything, the neighborhood features adorable historic homes and an active and friendly community feel.


Sarasota was chosen by CNN/Money Magazine as America's Best Small City and one of the top eight Best Places to Retire in the US. Discerning people from all across the US, Canada and Europe must agree, as they flock to the area every year. 


 





 
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            <pubDate>Wed, 15 May 2013 07:03:42 -0400</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.luxurysarasotarealestate.com/blog/video-profile-lido-key-st-armands-circle.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.luxurysarasotarealestate.com/blog/video-profile-lido-key-st-armands-circle.html</link>
            <author>info@dwellsarasota.com (Marc Rasmussen)</author>
            <title>Video Profile: Lido Key &amp; St. Armands Circle</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
Watch the video below to admire the beauty and serenity of Lido Key and St. Armands Circle. Both keys are located conveniently just a couple of miles west of downtown Sarasota and offer a variety of beautiful of homes and condos for sale. 




 


 


Give us a call at 941.822.0708 if we can help you buy or sell a property on Lido Key or St. Armands Circle


 


Video Transcript


Welcome to Lido Key in sunny Sarasota, Florida. This island paradise is located just west of downtown Sarasota, over the Ringling Bridge, between Longboat Key and Siesta Key, Lido Key offers many amenities for tourist and resident alike. The entire west side of the key is covered in white sand beaches looking out over the Gulf of Mexico. The atmosphere is peaceful and quiet, as this beach typically is less populated than nearby Siesta Key. Enjoy a run or a stroll down the 2.5-mile shoreline, or simply sit and watch the sun set in a clear blue sky over the cerulean water. A well-known hot spot near Lido Key is St. Armands Circle. Another brainchild of John Ringling, St. Armands Circle was envisioned and designed by him in a European style, offering luxury shopping juxtaposed with fine dining around an easily-navigated circle. Visitors to St. Armands Circle have several ice cream shops to choose from, retailers of all sorts, from jewelry to fine art to clothing and more, and their choice of fine and casual dining establishments. The Circle itself surrounds a tranquil park which hosts numerous events year-round. Many people enjoy the traditional European experience of walking from store to store on St. Armands Key and Lido Key. Homes are situated near both beach and the Circle, offering the residents the ability to walk or bike from place to place. The waterfront homes on Lido Key offer stunning views of the city skyline and thus are among the most coveted property in Sarasota. These homes include large gulf-front or bay-front estates that offer spectacular views and superior quality of life, in additional to fantastic walkability to the beach and Circle. Lido Key also has an array of beachfront condos available, from the established and sometimes kicky buildings lining the beach to the newer and ultra-luxe Ritz-Carlton Beach Residences. Residents of most of Lido Key’s condos enjoy the ease of living literally right on the beach, as well as close proximity to the pretty trails of South Lido Park and the upscale shopping on St. Armands. For many, Lido is the perfect home or vacation spot because of its laid-back but luxurious feel and the ease of traveling to downtown and Sarasota’s other cultural destinations on the mainland. Visit Lido Key today and experience this lifestyle for yourself…


 



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            <pubDate>Wed, 15 May 2013 06:39:18 -0400</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.luxurysarasotarealestate.com/blog/sarasota-luxury-sales-hit-four-month-high.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.luxurysarasotarealestate.com/blog/sarasota-luxury-sales-hit-four-month-high.html</link>
            <author>info@dwellsarasota.com (Marc Rasmussen)</author>
            <title>Sarasota Luxury Sales Hit Four-Month High</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
A little free press doesn't hurt. Below is an article from the Sarasota Herald Tribune about all of the fabulous sales in the luxury home and condo market. They were nice enough to quote me. Here is a link to the article - Sarasota luxury sales hit 4 month high. 




Sarasota luxury sales hit four-month high




Luxury homes sales in Sarasota County hit a four-month high in April, driven by a shrinking inventory of high-end properties and the seasonal upswing in real estate activity.








Forty-six luxury residences priced over $1 million changed hands for a total of $85.3 million last month.


That topped the 40 single-family homes and condos that sold for $72.1 million in March, and outstripped the 36 sales for $76.4 million in April 2012.


The April tally was the highest number since December when 47 luxury houses and condos changed hands, driven in part by election-year politics and the fear of higher capital-gains taxes.


But Realtors said the recent sales are the result of confidence among buyers that the residential real estate market has righted itself.


"There were some big sales this season," said Marc Rasmussen, owner of DWELL Real Estate, which handled two of the top 10 deals. "I think it's just some comfort that the market has bottomed and things are going to get better."


The declining inventory at the luxury end also is a key factor. Sarasota County had a 12-month stock of high-end homes for sale in April, based on closed sales, compared with a nearly 57-month supply at the beginning of the year, according to the latest Trendgraphix report.


"There is definitely a shortage of properties for sale in the luxury market," Rasmussen said. "We have inventory, but it's less than we'd like to see."


But that is still not as acute as the overall residential market, which reported a less than four-month supply of homes at all prices.


Lois Seropian, a sales associate with Coldwell Banker on Siesta Key, said buyers also are reacting to rising prices.


"You're dealing with a very narrow group of people in the $2 million to $3 million range, but they are probably the most savvy buyers, and certainly are going to get the most bang for their buck," she said.


"The reality is that if you want a beachfront house, you're going to have to pay top dollar for it," Seropian said.


'Good buys out there'


Michael Moulton, a luxury specialist with Michael Saunders &amp; Co., says there remains a "reasonable amount" of inventory over the $1 million price point.


"People are seeing good buys out there," Moulton said. "Waterfront land is still very reasonably priced compared to what it was in the boom times. What seems to sell are well-priced properties where there are reasonably motivated sellers involved."


Another factor help with sales is that homeowners also are able to sell their properties in other parts of the country, which helps them make the move to Florida, Moulton said.


April was the best sales month since December, when 47 luxury homes sold for a combined $85 million. That was the high month for all of 2012.


The top-dollar sale in April was a condominium on Longboat Key. Michael and Joanne Masin sold a unit at 415 L'Ambiance Drive for $6.75 million to an unidentified couple from New England. The 9-year-old, recently remodeled condo has four bedrooms, six baths and terraces with sweeping views of the Gulf of Mexico.


The No. 2 sale was a 6,125-square-foot house at 112 N. Washington Drive on St. Armands Key for $4.25 million. Priscilla Doulton sold the 12-year-old house to NAH LLC, a Tampa company managed by Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik.


Also among the top sales was the Manasota Key home of the late disco diva Donna Summer. Her husband, Bruce Sudano, sold the 3,786-square-foot house for $2.85 million to Detlev and Martina Von Platen. He is the president and chief executive officer of Porsche Cars North America Inc., based in Atlanta.


Some sellers took a hit on their deals.


James and Nancy Dornan sold an Orchid Beach condo on Lido Key for $2.22 million, just over half of the $4.2 million they paid for it eight years ago.


The top 10 sales accounted for about 40 percent of the total luxury dollar volume for the month.


April is typically a strong month for real estate sales in Southwest Florida. Buyers, especially tourists, are combing the market from January through March, pulling the trigger in February and March, and closing in April and May.


"We're still busy, but the season is definitely over and things have slowed down a bit," said Rasmussen, DWELL Real Estate owner. "Finding the right property is the challenging part at this point."








 


Here are two of the sales in April's top 10 sales:




Just sold - Orchid Beach Club Part 2


Just sold - Orchid Beach Club Part 1




 


Please give us a call at 941.822.0708 if we can help you buy or sell Sarasota real estate.


 


 


 
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            <pubDate>Mon, 13 May 2013 19:56:36 -0400</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.luxurysarasotarealestate.com/blog/elevating-the-profession.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.luxurysarasotarealestate.com/blog/elevating-the-profession.html</link>
            <author>info@dwellsarasota.com (Marc Rasmussen)</author>
            <title>Elevating the Profession</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
We received a call this morning from one of our clients raving about our Realtor John Wilcher. She wanted to say this instead of typing,


"John is wonderful. We purchased a home through him, listed a home with him and plan on listing another home with him. He is very good about staying in touch and we plan on always using John for our real estate needs."


Of course, we love to receive these testimonials. We receive these for all of our Realtors.  Our agents are a reflection of the DWELL brand so it is a priority for us to hire professional and ethical agents. In a nutshell:






 We Want This:


 Not This:




 


 






If you operate like the guy on the right there is a good chance you will end up on Michael Braga's radar and be featured in an article like this - Flip Investigation.


The DWELL Way


In order for us to provide top-notch service to our clients we have implemented a series of classes for our agents. Getting a real estate license is relatively easy. Just look at the number of licensees in the state of Florida. I think it might be a requirement for moving here. Beware, just because someone has a real estate license doesn't mean they know what they are doing. Topics in our DWELL classes include:




Contracts - This helps our agents protect you better just in case something goes wrong.


MLS training - Helps our agents find the best properties.


Inspections - What to look out for and how to best address repairs. 


Authentisign - Most of our clients love signing documents electronically. It is saves them a bunch of time and faxing/scanning headaches.


Market knowledge - Having a knowledgeable agent can make the buying process more fun and efficient. We can save you hours and hours of leg work. It helps to know quickly that looking for a new condo overlooking Siesta Key beach for $500,000 is an exercise in futility.




Being proficient in these things can make the difference between having a pleasant transaction or a nightmare. 


Give us a call at 941.822.0708 if we can help you buy or sell a property in Sarasota.


 





 
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            <pubDate>Wed, 08 May 2013 15:08:28 -0400</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.luxurysarasotarealestate.com/blog/sarasota-foreclosures-update1.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.luxurysarasotarealestate.com/blog/sarasota-foreclosures-update1.html</link>
            <author>info@dwellsarasota.com (Marc Rasmussen)</author>
            <title>Sarasota Foreclosures Update</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
Buyers are not asking about bank owned and short sale properties like they used to. It seems that all of the positive real estate news in the media and Realtor community is changing the buyers from "I Need a Smokin Hot Deal!" to "I would like to buy a nice home at a good value." There are still many homeowners underwater and waiting to get through the legal system. I imagine this supply will provide a steady stream of distressed properties for the next few years.


Sarasota Foreclosures


 





Above is sales data for bank owned and short sale properties in Sarasota county since early 2006. The light green bars represent the inventory of distressed homes, the dark green bars are the sold properties and the red line indicates pending sales. Compared to the boom year of 2006 we currently have a huge number of distressed properties but compared to peak of 2009 we have only about 1/5 the inventory. 


Longboat Key Beach Condo Short Sale






SHORT SALE! 4BD/4BA and almost 2,500 square feet of wide open, Gulf-front living with an 8th floor perspective! From the enlarged living room, master suite and guest bedroom, you can enjoy their terrace walk-outs to refreshing Florida air and direct, awesome views over the Gulf and Longboat Key beaches. Situate from the kitchen, dining room and other bedrooms, is yet another elongated terrace which offers beautiful views over the community entry, tennis courts and Sarasota Bay. This home is well equipped with ample storage space, large bathrooms, oversized eat-in kitchen and a fabulous, lengthy tile-topped wet bar with mini fridge and wine chiller. The 2nd bedroom, currently used as office space, has a built in wall unit inclusive of a queen-size Murphy bed system. Located in the kitchen is an under counter washer and dryer; no need to visit the shared laundry facility. Islander Club is a lovely manicured community with the friendliest of onsite management, fitness center, game room, heated pool, social gathering room, and more PLUS direct beach access accompanied by a fishing pier. Home sale to include 2 carport spaces. SPECIAL ASSESSMENT FOR ELEVATOR MODERNIZATION INITIATED 4/11/13. TO BE PAID IN 4 INSTALLMENTS- TOTAL AMOUNT OF $4,280. WINDOWS AND SLIDERS MUST BE REPLACED UPON TRANSFER.


 


 


 


View more photos and a virtual of this short sale in Islander Club 


 


Give us a call at 941.822.0708 if we can help you buy or sell a property in Sarasota. 


 





 
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            <pubDate>Wed, 08 May 2013 12:47:54 -0400</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.luxurysarasotarealestate.com/blog/featured-listing-5040-lorraine-road.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.luxurysarasotarealestate.com/blog/featured-listing-5040-lorraine-road.html</link>
            <author>dwellmanager@gmail.com (Molly Russo)</author>
            <title>Featured: 7 Acres in Lakewood Ranch area</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
Check out this lovely home listed by DWELL Realtor Ansu Swanepoel.  Give us a call at 941.822.0708 if you are interested in this property.


Private setting within minutes of the heart of Lakewood Ranch


This unique 7.2-acre family compound is secluded, yet near the heart of Lakewood Ranch. The oak tree lined drive you past the front 2-acre pasture and follow the circular drive way to the main house. Remodeled with new roof in 2005, the western-style main house currently has 4 bedrooms, office, walk-in pantry, a huge great room is open to kitchen with a copper hooded island, breakfast nook, dining room and formal parlor. There is a 2-car garage. The master suite is spacious with sitting area and French-door out to fenced pool area. The master bath has an extra large Jacuzzi tub, and a natural stone walk-in dual-head shower. A walk-in closet completes this oasis.  Across the stocked pond, the guest house is tucked back on the property in its own secluded 2-acre oak grove. The guest house has screened porches on two sides expanding the living area. This home has a large master bedroom, office and a loft area. Open and inviting great room with eating area is connected to the kitchen. To complete the guest house has one car attached garage. Prefect for the in laws or income property.   On one side of the pond there is a separate workshop or one car garage. VIEW MORE PHOTOS AND A VIRTUAL TOUR


5040 Lorraine Road





























































View Larger Map  


 


 





Molly Russo, Sarasota Lifestyle Guru


  
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            <pubDate>Wed, 08 May 2013 11:51:10 -0400</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.luxurysarasotarealestate.com/blog/congratulations-dwell-co-broker-allison-werner.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.luxurysarasotarealestate.com/blog/congratulations-dwell-co-broker-allison-werner.html</link>
            <author>dwellmanager@gmail.com (Molly Russo)</author>
            <title>Congratulations DWELL Co-Broker Allison Werner!</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
Congratulations to DWELL co-broker Allison Werner for becoming a Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist!





Allison recently attended a conference at the Institute for Luxury Home Marketing, which exists to help real estate professionals provide high quality service to buyers and sellers of the luxury market.  The 2-day intensive-study course covered topics such as trends and amenities in today’s luxury market and creating marketing plans for multi-million dollar property, meaning that DWELL is even better equipped now to serve million dollar buyers and sellers.  Laurie Moore-Moore, President of the Institute and author of Rich Buyer, Rich Seller!  The Real Estate Agents’ Guide to Marketing Luxury Homes, said that “Allison Werner is an example of a broker who works to hone the special skills and competencies necessary to provide exceptional service in the fine homes and estates marketplace.”   Now there’s a ringing endorsement!


The designation Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist (or CLHMS designation) is given to agents and brokers who have documented performance in the Top 10% of their market, and have successfully demonstrated their expertise in the luxury home and estate market.  Allison has been selling real estate since 2009 and opened DWELL Real Estate with Marc Rasmussen in 2011.  The firm truly made waves this past year in the Sarasota real estate market, selling a whopping $36,000,000+ in their first full year of existence, and has multiple agents who have sold million-dollar-plus properties.   


In a few short years, Allison has made giant leaps in her career as a real estate professional.  This year, she’s already sold over $5.4M and executed 13 successful transactions.  She is certainly one to keep your eye on in coming years, and now she adds her CHLMS to her list of achievements.   


If you are a luxury home buyer or seller, please get in touch with us here at DWELL, 941.822.0708, to help with any of your needs.  We’re especially suited to assist you and work every day to better our qualifications to serve the luxury Sarasota market, since now both our brokers carry the CHLMS designation!





Molly Russo, Sarasota Lifestyle Guru
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            <pubDate>Wed, 01 May 2013 11:03:24 -0400</pubDate>
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