Sarasota Market Sees Rise in September Pending Sales

October 24, 2008

*The following press release was sent to local media on October 24 at 2:00 p.m.

Local Real Estate Market Enjoys September Rise in Pending Sales


Pending sales rose in September 2008 and overall sales stood almost identical to August 2008 in the Sarasota MLS. In fact, overall sales in September 2008 were 29 percent higher than overall sales in September 2007 - a statistic that flies in the face of the recent negativity in the media.

Overall sales came in at 438 in September, just under the 440 reported in August, and only slightly lower than the 454 in July. But the sales figure in September 2008 was much higher than the 338 sales reported in September 2007 for single family homes and condos.

The local market faired even better than the overall state of Florida, which saw a 24 percent jump in single family home sales and an 11 percent jump in condo sales over September 2007 numbers.

Single family home sales soared comparing September 2008 to September 2007. There were 360 sales reported this year, compared to only 234 last year, for a jump of almost 54 percent. The number of sales was roughly the same as last month, when 356 single family homes changed hands. While there were fewer condominium sales reported in September 2008 by SAR members (78 total), the overall numbers were strong.

The September 2008 report also continued to show strength in pending sales, which stood at 584, almost 9 percent higher than last month's total of 536. Higher pending sales, which are contracts executed by buyers and sellers during the month, forecast a stronger market, as these properties close in the coming months.

Click here for the full story.

Longboat Key Florida Living

Great article in today's CNN.com travel section about Longboat Key:

LONGBOAT KEY, Florida (CNN) -- Like any sun-drenched beach paradise, Longboat Key offers water sports, biking and tennis, but the best way to enjoy the island may be by doing nothing at all.

Low season on Longboat Key, Florida, generally starts in May and runs until late fall.

This thin sliver of land off Sarasota on Florida's west coast is home to 8,000 people year-round, but come winter, the population swells dramatically.Thousands of visitors from colder climates flock to LBK -- its shorthand moniker -- from January to April to enjoy its balmy temperatures and the sparkling turquoise waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

Off season, however, the only crowds are the sea gulls grooming their feathers on the warm white sand, and Longboat Key feels like the closest thing to having a private beach.

On a recent late-September visit, the temperatures hovered in the mid-80s, palm trees swayed gently in the wind, hibiscus flowers bloomed and the sun's rays were on par with their intensity in July.

The only signs of fall were the pumpkins on display at the local grocery store, along with regular fare, like mango Key lime pie.

See photos of Longboat Key's beaches, birds and sunsets »

Tell people you are heading to Longboat Key, and many will think it's part of the Florida Keys off the southern tip of the state, but LBK is about 200 miles to the north-northwest of -- and in some ways worlds away from -- Key West and its neighbors.

Key Facts
• Longboat Key is an offshore barrier island about 60 miles south of Tampa, Florida.
• The nearest airport is Sarasota/Bradenton International.
• The island is home to 8,000 permanent residents, but the population swells to 22,000 during peak months.
• Average daily high temperature in January: 72°.
• Average daily high temperature in July: 90°.
• Longboat Key incorporated as a town in 1955.
• There are no schools on the island.

Source: Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce

Nightlife on the island is likely to mean a moonlit walk on the beach rather than a drink at the bar, and the odds are good the locals will sport gray hair.

Elegant setting

Buffered by Sarasota Bay on one side and facing the Gulf of Mexico on the other, the Key is sheltered from the tourist hustle and bustle of mainland Florida.

At less than 11 miles in length and no more than a mile across in its widest places, LBK also feels like a secluded community with an elegant flavor of its own.

The surroundings are lush, upscale and serene. A trip down Gulf of Mexico Drive, the island's main artery, reveals golf courses, condominiums and homes ranging from newly constructed mansions to older, one-story houses.

The traffic is light, life moves at a slower pace and the mood is relaxed.

"You won't find mini-malls, towering billboards, or glaring neon signs," the local Chamber of Commerce promises.

Nonhuman island visitors also contribute to the mellow atmosphere. Dolphins regularly swim just offshore. Great egrets and great blue herons fish along the beach, while pelicans dive into the water in search of a meal. Birds of all sizes regularly patrol the palm-lined parking lot of the local supermarket looking for scraps of food from the lunch crowd.

Wingless creatures also pop up in unexpected places. Visitors walking into one establishment are greeted by a stern voice exclaiming, "Bear, no!" Bear, it turns out, is a curious 5-month old Chesapeake Bay retriever who insists on checking out all the customers entering the store despite his owner's orders to stay put.

To read the complete article, click here.

If you're considering finding a winter home or moving permanently to Florida, Longboat Key is a wonderful option. Feel free to contact me so I can show you this serene area and the many Longboat Key real estate opportunities available.

Here's a quick link to search for real estate on Longboat via my website:
Search for Longboat Key Real Estate