Sarasota Mortgage and First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit Update

Bruce Garlitz of HomeBanc just emailed to us let everyone you know that 30 year fixed conventional rates are now between 5.25% and 5.375% depending on the day. FHA rates have been between 5.375% and 5.5% depending on the day. The US government is still offering the $8,000.00 federal housing tax credit to 1st time home buyers.

Qualifications for $8,000 tax credit:

• Must purchase a home (close and receive title) between January 1, 2009 and December 1, 2009.
• Must be a first-time home buyer, which means you cannot have owned a home for the previous three years prior to purchase.
• The home must be a primary residence, cannot be used as a vacation home or rental property.
• Home can not be purchased from a close relative such as your spouse, parent, grandparent, child or grandchild.
• Buyers must make less than $75,000 for a single taxpayer or less than $150,000, if filing jointly.

For more information on the tax credit, visit the IRS page First-Time Homebuyer Credit Questions and Answers: Homes Purchased in 2009.
Contact us today for more information, or visit our award-winning Sarasota real estate website where you view detailed information on the hundreds of communities in the area and search thousands of MLS listings.

Country Club of Sarasota

Enjoy the Sarasota Golf Course Lifestyle at an Affordable Price

Bordering the fairways of the TPC at Prestancia club course, the Country Club of Sarasota offers resort style living to its owners at an affortable price. The homes in this quiet country club community were built from 1977 to 2005 and have excellent curb appeal.

Amenities offered at Serendipity Racquet Club, located within the gates of the Country Club of Sarasota, are available to residents. Fitness, tennis, pool and dining are popular activities enjoyed by the residents of this Sarasota neighborhood. Golf membership at TPC and tennis membership at Serendipity are both optional.


The Sarasota MLS lists 10 homes for sale in the Country Club of Sarasota. Current listing prices range from $349,000 to $537,900.

The Country Club of Sarasota is in a terrific location adjacent to Palmer Ranch Sarasota, close to Westfall Shopping Mall, specialty shopping, beaches and restaurants. Downtown Sarasota’s Main Street shopping, galleries and cultural venues are a short drive from Country Club of Sarasota.
Other Golf Course Communities

BuySarasota.com has extensive information on many of Sarasota's most popular golfing communities. Visit our website for more information on:

• Bent Tree


• Concession Golf Club


• Gator Creek


• Meadows


• Laurel Oak Country Club


• Misty Creek


• Prestancia


• The Oaks Club


• The Founders Club


• University Park

If you are searching for the golf course lifestyle in Sarasota, visit BuySarasota.com or contact John Allen directly at 941-544-6467. John has extensive experience in Sarasota golf course properties and can help guide you to a home and community that fits your needs and budget.

Bird Key Homes for Sale – Sarasota MLS Update

Our report on Bird Key homes for sale is often posted quarterly, but since this community is quite active we are providing an update. Our April 28, 2009 post reported 44 homes for sale on Bird Key. Read our Poston the Bird Key real estate market update in the April report. This month there are 39 Bird Key properties currently available in the Sarasota MLS.


Bird Key’s winding deep canals lead to open waters and provide a Paradise for boaters. Located between St. Armands Circle and downtown Sarasota, boaters have easy access to Sarasota Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. Many homes on Bird Key have their own dock or owners use the active Yacht Club to moor their vessels.

Buyers of Bird Key Homes can choose from old Florida style ranch and plan to redo to fit their own lifestyle or select a mini mansions with custom fishes created for the luxury buyer. Many older homes were replaced in the last several years on this popular Key. There are over 500 homes in this enclave, and buyers can select from the 39 active listings of homes for sale in the Sarasota MLS. Bird Key continues to be an active area of Sarasota for single family sales as the statistics show:

Bird Key Home Sales Update:

• Least Expensive Home: $451,000


• Most Expensive Home: $6,800,000


• Average Home Price: $2,180,397


• Median Home Price: $1,775,000


• Under Contract: 19


• *Solds: 18

For additional news and information on Bird Key real estate sales, contact John Allen at 941-544-6467. John knows waterfront properties and has the experience to guide you to a successful purchase of a home on Bird Key. If you are planning to view homes for sale on Bird Key, please give us plenty of notice as our calendars fill quickly. Owners and agents need time to make their arrangements also.

*Homes sold in the last 6 months on Bird Key, according to the Sarasota MLS database.

Lido Key Real Estate - 2009

Lido Key real estate is hot right now. Buyers are searching for small homes to purchase under $500,000. Their idea is to hold on to these homes until their retirement, refurbish or tear down and build their dream home within walking distance or a short drive from Lido Key Beach.


Lido Key condos are on the radar of buyers right now too. With price adjustments, buyers are finding deals on Lido Key condos priced under $500,000 too. Some buyers searching for second homes just don’t want the problems of dealing with maintaining a second home that is sometimes thousands of miles away. A Lido Key condo offers a carefree beach lifestyle. Stay at home and cook a seafood dinner or take a short walk to St. Armands Circle and choose your pleasure. You might just opt for a 1905 salad at Colombia instead.

Luxury home buyers from around the world are drawn to Lido Shores Sarasota. This neighborhood is home to some of the most spectacular homes on the Gulf coast of Florida. Single family home prices here currently start at $600,000 and go all the way up to $8.9 million.

If you are searching Lido Key FL real estate and are ready to view properties, call John Allen at 941-544-6467. John shows properties regularly on Lido Key and is ready to assist you with your purchase of a Lido Key condo or home.

Looking for a Casey Key Florida Beach House?

Have you been dreaming of a Casey Key beach house for the last 10 years? Perhaps you’ve recently read “Duma Key” by Stephen King and just discovered Casey Key, Florida. Regardless of how you found out about this special island Paradise, now might just be the time to begin a search for your Casey Key beach home. The winter selling season is over in the Sarasota area, prices are at reasonable levels and the selection is terrific.

Casey Key is a very private key, however you can still be in downtown Sarasota in 25 minutes from the North end of the Key. Venice, FL is only a few minutes from the South Casey Key Bridge. Many residents here enjoy the privacy that the island provides. In addition to privacy, Casey Key offers beach houses on the Gulf of Mexico from the North end of its 8 miles to the South end. Some special properties cover several acres and extend from the Bayside of the island to the Gulf of Mexico and beaches.

Currently the Sarasota MLS reports 54 houses available. Options include direct beachfront, bay front and gulf-to-bay properties. Many of the homes that are not directly on the beach have deeded beach access. If you were looking for that tiny two bedroom traditional Florida beach house, the lowest priced Gulf listing is priced at $1,599,000. If your budget is just a little over $2,000,000, you might consider purchasing a listing directly on the beach offering 3 bedrooms, 3 baths and 2300 sf of living space. Use your beach house a few years, tear it down and built your dream home. If the sky’s the limit, a cool $17,000,000 will purchase the largest of Casey Key beach houses – a Gulf to Bay estate with over 16,000 square feet of living space.

Don’t’ wait another 10 years, call John Allen, at 941-6467 with your parameters for your Casey Key beach house. John regularly shows the finest properties available on Casey Key, FL. If you want to keep up on sales, inventory and new listings, check out our new Casey Key Florida real estate blog where we will be posting regularly.

St Armands Cirlcle: Cork Restaurant

If you have a home or condo on Lido Key, Longboat Key or Bird Key, chances are you’ve been to Cork on St Armands Circle. Cork is one of the new bright spots on the Circle and quite popular with many locals. Sarasota magazine recently named Cork the "Best New Restaurant." Jeff Trefry, Executive Chef, adds his experience and culinary gifts to bring metropolitan cuisine to Sarasotans palates.


If you're in the mood of fish, try the seared mahi fillet with celery root puree. It’s a hit and a favorite of many diners. Located at 29 N. Boulevard of the Presidents on St. Armands Circle, Cork is just above the Bottle Shop.

St. Armands’s has many popular restaurants, but Cork Restaurant is exceptional. Buy a bottle of great wine to enjoy at home from the Bottle Shop on your way back to your Longboat Key home! If you can’t get a table at Cork, try Columbia, Hemingway’s Retreat or the always popular Columbia Restaurant.

For information on St Armands Key real estate for sale or properties on Longboat Key, Lido Key or Bird Key, contact John Allen at 941-544-6467. John shows waterfront properties regularly on all of Sarasota’s barrier islands.

More Good Sarasota Real Estate News

Sarasota real estate got some more good news this week. The Herald Tribune reported a $6,000 rise in the median price of homes in Sarasota-Bradenton in March from February figures. Sales rose 8% from a year ago. Read entire article.

We noted in several blog articles since the first of the year that our web traffic and showing are up. Inventory levels have gone down. Sale pendings are following the upward trend too. Foreclosures and short sales are popular right now, but there are some fabulous buys out there in properties that are not distressed too. Sellers who are realistic are making deals and buyers are taking advantage of a brisk buyers’ market.

Contact us today to help with your Sarasota Florida real estate needs or shoot us an email for a prompt reply.