Attractive Pool Home Available Now in the Riverwalk "Village"

  In the very attractive Riverwalk community in Lakewood Ranch is where you’ll find this delightful 2,363 sqft. 4 bedroom, 3 bath pool home.

  With an open floor plan, a nice sized kitchen with a walk-in pantry and bar top that opens to the family room and breakfast area and a spacious living room/dining room area, this home would be perfect for any family. The breakfast area with large window in the kitchen overlooks the screened patio and pool area with its gas heated spa and pool and a gas BBQ hook-up and room available should you wish to add an outdoor kitchen. In this home, you'll be able to relax at the end of your day in the heated spa with views over the privacy hedges of a serene lake and preserve area.

  This home, built in 2000, is loaded with upscale design features like crown moldings, decorative niches, arched door openings, and a master suite with wood floor in the bedroom, and a spa tub, separate shower, and make-up vanity in the bath. In addition to the four bedrooms and 2 more full baths, there is a bonus room.

  And there’s still more. There’s an inside laundry area with ironing board center, natural gas water heater, gas heat, and a 30 ft. deep garage for the golf cart, bikes or a work area.

  This is, frankly, about the nicest layout for a home of this size you’ll find in Lakewood Ranch. It has been well cared for and painted in the last year. Nicely landscaped and tastefully decorated. The country club gated entrance to the country club is only about 500 ft. away should you wish to use your golf cart to the golf course.

  And, this home is located in the attractive Riverwalk village, one of 10 such “villages” that comprise the award-winning Lakewood Ranch master-planned community straddling the area between Sarasota and Bradenton, Florida. Lakewood Ranch offers everything you could ever want or need to enjoy living on the Florida “sun Coast;” great schools, a medical center, 54 holes of golf at the private Lakewood Ranch Country Club as well as the 18 hole Legacy public course. There is also great shopping and dining in the community’s “Main Street,” an athletic/fitness center with tennis courts and swimming pools, over 150 miles of sidewalks and trails and dozens of lakes and ponds throughout the community.

  For young families, those considering retiring in the next few years and those already enjoying retirement, there is a comfortable home attractively priced in the Riverwalk village.

  This home can be yours right now for $419,000 if you call me at 941.228.2321. I would be pleased to show you this home at 11106 Water Lily Way and other equally attractive homes in all 10 villages in Lakewood Ranch. If you’d just like to know more about Lakewood Ranch at this point, visit the Lakewood Ranch section of my Sarasota Florida real estate website.

Congratulations to the New Owners of 7969 Royal Birkdale Circle

This is a truly beautiful custom-built home in the award-winning master planned development at Lakewood Ranch. Situated in the prestigious Lakewood Ranch Country Club "village," this 3,745 square foot, 4 bedroom, 3 bath home backs to a beautiful lake. The views from virtually every window in this home are spectacular. The amenities are never-ending. From your firt step into the elegant foyer, you find yourself enveloped in elegance from the large tile floors and arched doorways to the beautiful solid wood cabinetry and granite counter tops in the kitchen and the vaulted ceilings.

The screened pool lanai is expansive with its own fireplace and plenty of room for entertaining your guests while relaxing with those spectacular views over the lake. The exterior landscaping all around the home is awe inspiring.

If this is the type of home you seek, call me at 941-228-2321. I focus my attention almost exclusively on luxury homes for sale in Lakewood Ranch and I can assure you that together we can find another Lakewood Ranch home for sale just as beautiful to you as this one is to its fortunate new owners.

Lakewood Ranch Tour of Homes Event Schedule - Much More Than a "Tour of Homes"

  Lakewood Ranch is once again presenting its “Annual Tour of Homes” with this years events being held from October 3rd through November 23rd. Yes, model homes will be open daily, including the private showcase homes at the exclusive Lake Club village and the private, gated Country Club East village but during the “Tour of Homes, there are many extra events held to showcase the wide range of Lakewood Ranch lifestyles. The Tour is a great way to experience the Ranch if you're new to the area or an established resident. Make this year your first to truly experience the Ranch.

  A few of the highlights of the upcoming events this year include:

• 10/21   BEHIND THE SCENES RANCH TOUR. Take a bus tour leaving the Lakewood Ranch Information Center, 6220 University Parkway, and explore what happens behind the gates of Schroeder-Manatee Ranch's agricultural and aggregates businesses. Four tours are available; Thursday, October 9, Tuesday, October 21, Tuesday, November 4 and Thursday, November 20 at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m mon each date. Open to the public but reservations are required due to limited seating.
  
  
• 10/24   BOO FEST from 6 to 9 pm on Main Street being held for the 8th year. Volunteers will transform Lakewood Ranch Main Street into an unforgettable sight of scarecrows, haunted houses, graveyards and lots of shady and unusual looking characters. All are encouraged to dress in costume and safely trick or treat among the merchants and sponsors. Children’s groups can register and join the community parade down Main Street at 6:30 pm.
  
  
• 11/08   UNCORKED AT LAKEWOOD RANCH. Under the tent at the Sarasota Polo Club, a charity fundraising event will be presented by the Rotary Club of Lakewood Ranch. Black tie optional, valet parking, a special wine and food pairing event followed by desert and dancing under the stars. Michael's on East will serve a 4-course gourmet dinner preceded by a champagne cocktail reception with music in the Pavilion at the Polo Club. $250 per person, $,2500 for a reserved table of 8.
  
  
• 11/15   FEST ITIALIANA from 11AM to 4PM at Greenbrook Adventure Park will offer a full line up of entertainment, children's activities, craft vendors, traditional food and a dog costume contest to benefit the Humane Society of Lakewood Ranch. A full day of acts will be presented including Jimmy Mazz withan hour-long music tribute to Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra,Joe Spinella, tenor, Devin Bradbury, a local country pop artist, and Julia Lima, a soprano and a performance by the Tarantella Dancers. Children can enjoy the park, pony rides and a make-and-take craft of noodle necklaces.
  
  
• 11/15   PUTTS FOR MUTTS, a golf tournament at the Lakewood Ranch Golf & Country Club to benefit the Humane Society at Lakewood Ranch. 4-person scramble, ladies' teams, men's teams and mixed teams. Registration includes golf, dinner, entertainment, prizes and a live auction for $175 per player. Registration deadline is October 15th.
  
  
• 11/15   HORSEPOWER FOR HOPE - The 2nd Annual "Horsepower for Hope" automotive festival will be presented by Walgreens and hosted by the Center for Building Hope in Florida. Lamborghini, Bugatti, Porsche and Aston Martin are a few of the 150+ cars that will line Lakewood Ranch Main Street for a charitable car show. The 2014 Horsepower for Hope will showcase an array of distinctive and unforgettable cars from around the world, with proceeds to benefit the Center for Building Hope in Sarasota, Florida.
  
  
• 11/23   PONIES UNDER THE PALMS - the 23rd annual car show presented by the Mustang Club of West Central Florida al Florida to benefit Tidewell Hospice and Southeastern Guide Dogs. The public is invited free of charge to see outstanding examples of older and newer Mustangs and other special interest and antique Ford cars and trucks. Owners may enter their cars for judging and award from 7 to 10AM with the awards ceremony at 3PM

  Other events planned this year include:

• 10/09 - 10/12   Ancient Oak Gun Club Harvest Moon Classic Shooting Tournament
• 10/11   Bike Ride
• 10/18   Making Strides Against Breast Cancer
• 10/18   Nature Walk
• 10/25   Boo Run
• 10/25   Dragon Boat Festival Parade
• 11/02   CycleFest
• 11/06   Empty Bowls
• 11/07   Music on Main
• 11/08   Bike Ride
• 11/15   Nature Walk

  Stop by one of the Lakewood Ranch information centers to pick up a tour guide map.

  I invite you to learn more aboutLakewood Ranch homes for sale. I'd be pleased to give you a Free MLS Access Account giving you 24/7 access to all Sarasota MLS data on Lakewood Ranch homes and condos in all price ranges just as though you were a Realtor. If you prefer, you may Contact Me on my website or, for an immediate response, call me at 941-228-2321. I'd be happy to answer your questions.

Attractive Home For Sale in Lakewood Ranch Summerfield Village for under $300,000

  Here, on a tree-lined street in the pleasant Summerfield "village" of Lakewood Ranch at 11209 Blue Sage Place is this delightful move-in ready 4 bedroom, 2 bath pool home with an open floor plan and a neutral color scheme.

Families are attracted to Summerfield Village homes for sale in Lakewood Ranch because Summerfield is a family-focused community made up mostly of single-family homes located just south of State Road 70 off Lakewood Ranch Boulevard with the Braden River running along the southern border of the village.  There's always something going on in this village with lots of activities and events.  Young families will appreciate the fact that top-rated Willis Elementary School and Nolan Middle School, are within a comfortable walking distance. Summerfield Community Park is a 15 acre kid-friendly place that includes playgrounds, a picnic area with grills, lighted tennis courts, baseball fields and basketball courts as well as the Heron’s Nest Nature Trail linking the village with 27-acre Lake Summerfield.

This 1,914 square foot home built in 1995 is a comfortable walking distance from Summerfield Park and top-rated schools. Easy access to I-75 makes this home a great choice for commuters to Sarasota or Bradenton or even to southern Pinellas or Hillsborough County. And, of course, all those beautiful soft-as-silk Gulf of Mexico beaches this area is so well know for are just a short drive from your new home in Lakewood Ranch.

Your guests will appreciate the privacy offered by the split floor plan. The kitchen boasts added cabinets for storage, a large pantry, and an eat-in area with natural light for that warm Florida feeling. The spacious family room opens onto a screened lanai with a newly resurfaced and tiled saltwater pool and spa. You'll also enjoy the secluded backyard preserve with shade trees and abundant wildlife to observe.

Many new upgrades such as 18-inch floor tile, 60,000 BTU gas hot water heater in 2014, ceiling fans and a new A/C in 2008 plus updated stainless steel appliances make this home a really exceptional deal.

The seller of this attractive home is offering 5% of the purchase price of $299,900 toward the buyer's closing costs and is also providing a American Home Shield Home protection Plan

If you would like to tour this and other attractive homes for sale in Lakewood Ranch, call me at 941.228.2321. Please mention MLS # M5901405 if this particular home is the one you've been waiting to be available to you and your family. If not, there are many more similarly priced homes here in Lakewood Ranch that I would be delighted to show you.

A Farmer's Market Returns to Lakewood Ranch

  Lakewood Ranch's "Main Street" will once again be the home of a "Farmer's Market" on Saturdays. Fresh produce and other foods grown and produced locally will once again be available at 8100 Lakewood Ranch Blvd. Vendors will be selling everything from fresh produce, wild-caught seafood, spices and sauces to organic products, arts and crafts, beverages and snacks from 10AM to 2PM on Saturdays.

  After an absence of three years, Jennifer McCafferty, owner of Jen's MarketPlace, who manages three other Farmer's Markets in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties, is betting the return to Lakewood Ranch will be a big success. "I am really excited about Lakewood Ranch Main Street. I have a passion for eating fresh, eating organic, helping the community be healthy and helping out our local farmers and small businesses," McCafferty said.

  Visitors to this pet-friendly Farmer's Market can sit st picnic tables under umbrellas and enjoy a bite to eat during their shopping in an area near the vendors. While they relax, they'll be entertained with guitar music from a local musician, and be able meet and mingle with other Lakewood Ranch residents.

  Fresh From The Boat Seafood LLC, a vendor who took pat in the previous Lakewood Ranch Farmer's Market, is among the many local and regional vendors who are returning. Asked what made him decide to participate again, Captain Bill Dyer, owner of the company said, "Thanks to McCafferty's reputation and the success we had when we operated a stand here previously, I think this will be a winner and I want to be part of it." Dyer said he also travels to "The Villages" near Ocala, the largest master-planned community in Florida, where there is a huge Farmer's Market every Saturday and it is a booming success.

  McCafferty, who has a tentative 6-month contract to operate the market on Lakewood Ranch's Main Street, is planning more Saturday Farmer's Markets Sept. 27, Oct. 18, Nov. 22 and Dec. 20.

  The Lakewood Ranch Farmer's Market is just one of the many things that bring people to Lakewood Ranch where, after even a visit or two to one of the continuous flow of free public functions or to visit with friends, many decide to stay and buy a Lakewood Ranch home or condo and become part of this vibrant community.

  I invite you to learn more about condos and homes for sale in Lakewood Ranch.  I'd be pleased to give you a Free MLS Access Account which will give you 24/7 access to all Sarasota MLS data just as though you were a Realtor.  If you prefer, you may Contact Me on my website or call me at 941-228-2321. I would be happy to answer your qustions

Price Reduced Home Now Available in Central Park

This upgraded 3 bedroom, 2 bath home with a den in the gated Central Park village in Lakewood Ranch has a great open floor plan with an outstanding over-sized lanai with a salt-water pool with a relaxing, peaceful conservation area pond view.

For families with children, it is noteworthy that top-rated schools are just around the corner from this 2,147 square foot home at 4914 Mission Park Lane.

The kitchen also features Silestone Quartz countertops, a gas range, and a tastefully added decorative backsplash. You’ll admire the wood laminate flooring in the kitchen, dining, and family room. The bedrooms and den are carpeted. The master suite and den have premium-padding under the carpet for extra comfort. Both bathrooms feature tile flooring with the master having upgraded tile.

With its extended lanai (20’ x 40’), you'll have plenty of space to enjoy the warm and sunny year-round Florida outdoor lifestyle with your family , your neighbors and friends who come to Lakewood Ranch to admire the community you live in.. The lanai is even wired for cable TV so you can relax next to your salt-water pool and watch your favorite sports team or TV drama. The lanai also has a sink and gas bib for the possible future addition of a full outdoor kitchen.

A notable upgrade of this home that will save you money is the addition of a Silver Radiant Barrier to reduce the transfer of exterior heat through the home’s roof. Pool’s upgrades include a pebble-tec floor and tile finish. Other notable upgrades are the added sink and extra cabinets in the garage for extra storage space.

To review more photos of this home from the MLS system, please Click Here.

At this recently reduced price I don’t believe this home, built in 2013, will remain available for long, so please call me today at 941.228.2321 to arrange to tour this home with me. Please mention MLS listing A3998889 when you call. Priced now at $349,999, I assure you that you’ll be impressed with both the location and the price of this deligthful home.

Executive Home Available in Lakewood Ranch Country Club

This is a beautiful home in The Country Club village in Lakewood Ranch. This home is an exquisite Wyndham II floor plan by John Neal Homes offering magnificent views beyond the pool lanai of the private Kings Dunes golf course, one of the three courses at the private Lakewood Ranch Golf & Country Club. With 4 spacious bedrooms, 4 full baths and an oversized 3 car garage, this 4,284 sq. ft. home will astound you with its architectural details, exquisite detailing and lush landscaping.

As you enter past Tuscan columns in the foyer, you see the dining room with tray ceiling and a large living room with a gas fireplace. The spacious master bedroom suite with tray ceiling includes large walk-in closets with built-in cabinetry and direct access to the pool area. The luxurious master bath features dual sinks, a jacuzzi tub and decorative shower tiling.

The award-winning gourmet kitchen layout boasts quality wood cabinetry, granite counters, under cabinet lighting, decorative tiled backsplash, a sub-zero refrigerator, 6-burner Viking gas stove, center island and a butlers bar with U-Line wine cooler. The family room with wood floors and custom built-ins has sliders to an unbelievable outdoor living area with its own outdoor kitchen, oversized pool & spa ideal for entertaining or just relaxing.

Up the stairs you find yourself in a spacious bonus room with a wet bar, an additional bedroom and the office with sliding doors to a large screened balcony. The office with wood floors is perfectly located to the rear of the home with panoramic golf course views.

Additional upgrades include crown moldings, decorative niches and custom closet cabinetry throughout this elegant home built in 2006, making it the perfect home. Located in one of the most exclusive neighborhoods in The Country Club with lush landscaping and priced at $999.000, this home is second to none.

The Country Club is an exclusive, gated community within Lakewood Ranch. Located just off I-75, 45 minutes south of Tampa International Airport, only 20 minutes east of Sarasota's world-renowned beaches and even less to the heart of Downtown Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch is the largest green-certified community in the U.S. Lakewood Ranch's top-rated schools are a primary reason families choose to live here. Put briefly, Lakewood Ranch offers a wonderful lifestyle in a warm climate, in beautiful homes in a meticulously planned and developed community close to everything you'd even need or want at any stage of your life.

If you'll call me at 941.228.2321, I would be pleased to show you this and other fine homes in The Country Club as well as other homes in the Country Club East and The Lake Club communities within Lakewood Ranch.please mention Listing # A3997384.

New Apartment Complex Coming to Lakewood Ranch

The newest addition to the living spaces in Lakewood Ranch will be The Venue, a 237-unit apartment community being built on Lakewood Ranch Blvd. next to the Lakewood Ranch Medical Center. While it was originally expected to be ready for occupancy in July, it it now projected to be complete sometime this Fall.

Consisting of three 4-story buildings in a gated community setting, The Venue is intended to have the luxury feel of a modern, downtown apartment, offering one, two and three-bedroom units with gourmet kitchens with granite counter tops, 9-foot ceilings and crown moldings, wood floors, large walk-in closets, roman tubs in spacious bathrooms and private patios or balconies. The community will offer handicap-accessible apartments and amenities including an athletic center with a cardio theatre, yoga and spin rooms, a business center with Wi Fi a salt water swimming pool area with outdoor California kitchen and an grilling area.

Further north on Lakewood Ranch Blvd. a bit past State Road 70, the 256-unit Creekside Apartments, owned by PAC Land Development of Orlando, continues to be developed anticipating opening about July 15th. This complex of 4 story buildings with elevators will have 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments and will include a lot of outdoor activity areas including a beach-entry style pool with a spa, an outdoor kitchen and grilling area and volleyball court. The units will definitely be upscale units with gourmet island style kitchens with side-by-side refrigerators, dishwahers and full size washers and dryers and walk-in pantries. The baths will feature roman tubs.

These two apartment complexes will help bring more people into the Lakewood Ranch "Main Street complex of shops, eateries and entertainment venues and provide an entree for the many people who wanth to enjoy the amenities of Lakewood Ranch but who aren't yet ready or able to purchase a home or condominium unit.

While Mortgage Interest Rates Continue to Fall, Demand for Homes in Lakewood Ranch Stays Strong

As the month of May ends, mortgage interest rates continue to fall having fallen for 5 straight weeks now.

While the housing market has picked up slightly after the slow start in March and April, it has not been active enough to cause interest rates to rise. Freddie Mac said on Thursday that the average rate for a 30-year fixed rate mortgage ended down to 4.12% down just slightly from 4.15% last week. The average 15-year fixed rate mortgage slipped to 3.21% from 3.25% last week. Looking cross the housing industry nationwide, the majority of new construction has been focused on rental apartments rather than residential homes.

But, here in the Florida Sun Coast, and particularly here in Lakewood Ranch, residential home construction has picked up dramatically driven by the seemingly never-ending demand from people who want to live in one of the ten "villages" that comprise the 15,000+ acre Lakewood Ranch development.

Why does Lakewood Ranch continue to be such a magnet for home buyers? The answer, actually, is quite simple. Lakewood Ranch offers everything a family could want or need to enjoy life; beautiful homes, friendly neighbors, great schools, shopping, dining, a medical center, 54 holes of at the private Lakewood Ranch Golf & Country Club plus the public daily-fee 18-hole Legacy golf course. The community also includes an athletic/fitness center with lighted tennis courts, the Sarasota Polo Club with 9 polo fields plus more than 150 miles of sidewalks, trails, parks and lakes.

As just one example of the wide variety of home and condo options available in Lakewood Ranch, there is a gorgeous, well kept 4 bedroom 3 1/2 bath townhome now for sale in the prestigious Lakewood Ranch Country Club "village." It has lake and golf course views. Bedrooms on both the first and second floors ,and a restful lanai area. The floor features volume ceilings, plantation shutters, granite counter tops, tile in all living areas, and a water softener and a new air conditioner/heat pump unit. he refrigerator and dishwasher were recently updated.

The Lakewood Ranch Golf & Country Club clubhouse is spectacular resembling a 5-star resort with a heated pool and spa, spotless locker rooms, fitness center, and a grill area and kitchen for members' use. Live here in the subruban splendor that is Lakewood Ranch and yet be only minutes away from Crescent Beach on Siesta Key voted one of top 10 beaches in the world. Built in 2006, with 2,733 sq ft of air conditioned space, this townhome is available for $353,000.

Call me for more information about this and other Lakewood Ranch real estate offerings at 941.228.2321 or visit my Sarasota Florida real estate site for information on all the nicest golf, waterfront and in-town real estate opportunities in the Sarasota Florida area including Bradenton and Anna Maria Island as well as on Lido, Longboat, Siesta and Bird Key. I'd be happy to answer your questions and introduce you to the relaxing lifestyle here in my home town in Lakewood Ranch.

Homes for Sale in Lakewood Ranch Summerfield "village"

Summerfield "village," located just south of State Road 70 off Lakewood Ranch Blvd., was one of the original seven villages when Lakewood Ranch development was first developed. Most of its homes were built in 1995 with the last ones built in 2001 and 2002. It is definitely a family-oriented community consisting mostly of single-family homes although there is one condominium area within the village. There are always Homes for sale in Summerfield.

A good example of the homes available today in Summerfield is this beautiful home with 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, a 2-car garage and a private backyard with mature landscaping. It is nestled on a quiet street with a garden park right across the street and, as a delightful bonus, this home has a large lanai where you can sit and enjoy all the nature surrounding you.

Built in 1995 at 11234 Primrose Circle, this home has 1,801 sq ft of air-conditioned space, new exterior paint, new stainless steel stove and microwave. With sliding doors to its screened porch, it is a very comfortable home for either a young family or a retired couple. It is conveniently located near A-rated schools, Interstate-75, and Lakewood Ranch Main Street.

It seems as though there is always something going on in Summerfield with lots of recreational activities and events. Young families will appreciate the fact that the excellent elementary schools, Willis Elementary School and Nolan Middle School, are located within a comfortable walking distance of their homes. Summerfield Community Park is a 15 acre kid-friendly place that includes playgrounds, a picnic area with charcoal grills, lighted tennis courts, ball fields, and basketball fields. The village also contains Heron’s Nest Nature Trail which links the village with it's namesake 27-acre Lake Summerfield. To tour this home and other homes for sale in Summerfield village in Lakewood Ranch, please call me at 941-228-2321 or visit my website for information about Summerfield, specifically, and all of the other nine Lakewood Ranch villages.

Don't Miss Moonlight Movie Night at Greenbrook Adenture Park

Moonlight Movie Night at Greenbrook Adventure Park is set for Saturday, April 26th at sundown.

Adventure Park is the focal point of Greenbrook. It's the hub of all community activity, a place for children to play in the well-equipped playground, an inline skating hockey rink, ballparks, walking trails. And, for your four-legged friends, there's Paw Park to walk the family dog. In addition to Moonlight Movie Nights, the park is a favorite location for other community events including the annual Lakewood Ranch EGGstravaganza which was held on April 12th and other events. The feature movie being presented on the inflatable screen on April 26th will be "Frozen," the action animation adventure. It's rated PG so bring the kids along. Come early and bring your own picnic food or buy food and drinks at the park

Bring your own chairs and blankets and claim your spot early in front of the huge inflatable screen to watch as fearless optimist Anna sets off on an epic journey, teaming up with rugged mountain man Kristoff and his loyal reindeer Sven, to find her sister Elsa, whose icy powers have trapped the kingdom of Arendelle in eternal winter. Its a fun and enjoyable flick.

To get to Adventure Park, take State Road 70 east and turn right onto Greenbrook Blvd. You'll pass Greenbrook Park but keep going.After a half mile, turn right again onto Adventure Place which takes you into the park. If it rains, the event will be cancelled and rescheduled. Call 941-757-1530 or check the Lakewood Ranch Community Activities Calendar website for up-to-the- minute updates on the day of the event.

Esplanade - An "Active Lifestyle" Community in Lakewood Ranch

What, you may ask, is an “active lifestyle” community Here’s a hint. It's not an empty-nester or retirement community with a bike trail. It's a lot more than that.

Esplanade at Lakewood Ranch is appropriate to people of all ages offering resort-style amenities and a constant flow of planned events by the full-time lifestyle director.

The centerpiece of the community is the clubhouse where everyone can stay healthy and active. Indoors there's a grand ballroom, a catering kitchen, card and craft rooms, billiards area and a library. Residents of Esplanade are encouraged to participate in a variety of organized social and recreational ativities designed to enhance their fitness, health and happiness.

Outdoors, there is a BBQ area, fire pit, an adventure playground and pickleball and bocce courts, accessible by golf cart, and a canoe and kayak launch to round out the active lifestyle concept. There is even a fenced bark park for residents' dogs to get some exercise. The grounds also includes a heated lagoon-style pool with spa.

In addition to the wide range of amenities at Esplanade, itself, residents enjoy all the cultural, recreational, commercial and health care facilities plus the miles of walking trails that wind through Esplanade and the rest of Lakewood Ranch, the largest master-planned "green-certified" community in the United States

Designed by Taylor Morrison, the residences at Esplanade offer views of eco-friendly landscaping, picturesque lakes and Florida-famous sunsets. With nearly all of the initial 400 units in the original development already sold, Taylor Morrison has opened the second phase, the Esplanade Golf & Country Club. This expansion will bring the number of residences to about 1,350 single-family homes and detached villas with the new residences to be built around a new 18-hole golf course.

The 2 and 3 bedroom maintenance-free homes with 2 to 3 1/2 baths available in Esplanade include villas from about 1,680 to 1,925 square feet. Single-family homes range from about 1,850 to nearly 3,450 square feet of air-conditioned space. All have 2-car garages.

New and resale residences are available in Esplanade at Lakewood Ranch from the high $200's to the high $500's.

Call me at 941-228-2321 if you would like more information about Esplanade at Lakewood Ranch or visit my website for information on all ten of the neighborhoods that make up the 15,000 acre Lakewood Ranch community.

Music on Main - Another Fun Feature of Lakewood Ranch

Are you new to Lakewood Ranch or just visiting and wondering about moving here? Here's a chance to get a sense of the friendly flavor of our town. If you'll still be here the first week in May, stop by on Friday, May 2nd for the monthly "Music on Main" concert that occurs the first Friday of each month.

Main Street at Lakewood Ranch, our version of "Downtown," is located across the street from the Lakewood Ranch Medical Center on Lakewood Ranch Boulevard. Get here early and take a stroll around this enticing outdoor area that includes boutique shops, famous-name stores, restaurants, the Lakewood Ranch Cinemas and even a miniature golf course. Restaurants on Main Street include about everything you could want. There's Ed's Tavern, MacAllisters Grill & Tavern, Paris Bistro, Polo Grill, HANA Sushi Lounge, Station 400, El Lago Ranchero, The Main Street Trattoria and Pincher's Crab Shack. .

The concert on May 2nd will run from 6PM to 9PM and feature "Shotgun Justice," a group that plays classic rock, southern rock and country music. Attendees are welcome to bring comfortable chairs and their dogs, but dogs must be leashed. Overflow parking will be available at the Lakewood Ranch Medical Center.

Proceeds from this event will benefit the Food Bank of Manatee, a local non-profit organization.

The Lakewood Ranch Medical Center - A Community Resource

Open since 2004, the Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, at 8330 Lakewood Ranch Boulevard, offers patient-focused medical care to residents of Lakewood Ranch and the local vicinity. Bridging Manatee and Sarasota counties, this 120-bed acute care hospital has an extensive system of fully-integrated inpatient and outpatient services that share the single purpose of providing compassionate, quality patient care.

This 120-bed acute care hospital has an extensive system of fully-integrated inpatient and outpatient services sharing as a single goal providing compassionate, quality patient care. With a medical staff of more than 400 physicians and allied health professionals in a wide range of specialties, whatever care you need is likely available there. The medical center is complimented by an adjacent 60,000 square foot Medical Office building housing primary and specialty care physicians, the Lakewood Ranch Imaging Center and the Lakewood Ranch Blood Center.

Lakewood Ranch Medical Center is one of just 620 hospitals in the United States to have earned "Top Performer on Key Quality Measures" designation.

New People moving into an area tend to look for certain key community attributes that they want to know they can count on should the services ever be necessary. The presence of Lakewood Ranch Medical Center right within the Lakewood Ranch development, itself, means that if you ever need it, medical services across a wide spectrum of specialties will be available close to home. It is one of the reasons, along with so many other facets of of the community, that make Lakewood Ranch such an attractive place to live, work and play.

I'd be delighted to tell you all the other reasons I believe buying a first or second home in one of the ten "villages" that now make up Lakewood Ranch would be a wise investment. For an immediate response to any questions you may have, please call me today at 941-228-2321.

Bridgewater - the 10th Lakewood Ranch "village"

Lakewood Ranch expanded again this past year. Lakewood Ranch, the largest green-certified master planned community in the United States has added its 10th community. Each such community in Lakewood Ranch is referred to as a "village" and this latest addition is named Bridgewater at Lakewood Ranch. Bridgewater is a gated "village" south of State Road 64 and east of Lakewood Ranch Boulevard. After ground-breaking in 2013, homes are now for sale in this newest village.

Lennar Homes is building about 290 new estate and manor homes in 10 different floor plans with 2 and 3-car garages in this new "all maintenance-free" community.

Manor homes range from 1,677 to 2,529 square feet with 4 to 6 bedrooms and 2 to 4 1/2 baths priced from the low $300's.

The estate homes, being built or larger lots, range from 2,361 to 3,814 square feet with 3 to 5 bedrooms and 2 1/2 to 4 1/2 baths with prices starting in the high $300's and reaching up into the high $500's.

All Lennar-built homes is Bridgewater come with the company's signature “Everything’s Included” set of features including granite kitchen countertops, wood cabinets and stainless steel appliances, crown moldings throughout the home, brick paver driveways and large decks, as well as Spanish tile roofs. Lennar also offers what they call "NextGen” models aimed at multi-generational families. These homes include a "home within a home," essentially an senior living space with its own bedroom, bath and kitchenette.

Bridgewater is to include a fitness center, spa and swimming pools. Residents of Bridgewater enjoy a resort-style lifestyle in a community with top-rated schools amidst natural areas and lakes while at the same time being conveniently close to both p-rivate and public golf courses, the beaches on Anna Maria Island , parks, miles of trails, shopping, the Lakewood Ranch Medical Center and all the cultural amenities both here in Lakewood Ranch and in Downtown Sarasota.

"Ponies for Pups" Raises Money for Pet Adoptions

Friends, volunteers, polo enthusiasts and dog lovers of all breeds, shapes and sizes enjoyed watching a polo match with their four-legged friends at the Sarasota Polo Club here in Lakewood Ranch last Saturday to raise money to support the care of rescued dogs and cats.

This year's fifth annual edition of the "Ponies for Pups" event was a fundraiser for Nate's Honor Animal Rescue, a Lakewood Ranch nonprofit no-kill animal shelter staffed mostly by volunteers. Last year, Nate's Honor Animal Rescue saved the lives of over a thousand animals thanks, in part, to the $10,000 raised at last year's charity polo match, but this year's event has taken on an extra importance. Nate's Honor Animal Rescue recently took in 86 dogs and cats after a raid at a local animal sanctuary in Manatee County. To accomplish this huge rescue operation, the non-profit reached out to the community for help, not only for supplies and assistance, but for temporary foster care of the rescued animals. And the Lakewood Ranch community stepped up to the need.

Karen Slomba, associate director of Nate's Honor Animal Rescue said, ""We were overwhelmed with how the community showed their support for animal welfare by such an outpouring of donations, from food, to blankets, cleaning supplies, and money to pay for the animals' medical costs."

Since it was founded in 1991, the Sarasota Polo Club at Lakewood Ranch has been providing exhilarating polo matches on their 130 acres of magnificently groomed grounds. In addition to the weekly matches every Sunday afternoon during the season from mid-December to early April, the club supports several charitable events like this one each season. Last month, the polo club held their 4th annual "Polo Under the Palms" event and, based upon its success, created an independent nonprofit corporation called Little Owl Charities, which will raise money for and boost awareness of organizations that pursue advances in research, education and treatment of cancer.

The Sarasota Polo Club is just one of the many amenities that make Lakewood Ranch such an attractive place to live. Lakewood Ranch, if you're unfamiliar with it, is a 17,500 acre master-planned community in Manatee County Florida where their motto is "where families become neighbors, neighbors become family and everyone enjoys a sense of community."

Lakewood Ranch real estate offerings include everything from condos, townhomes and single-family homes to elegant multi-million dollar custom estates. With A-rated schools, boutique shops, gourmet and casual restaurants, a medical center, public and private golf courses, an athletic center with lighted tennis courts and over 150 miles of sidewalks and trails, it's not difficult to see why Lakewood Ranch has become such a magnet for families of all sizes and all ages.

Attractive 2/2 Maintenance-Free Home Available in Lakewood Ranch

Here is a reasonably priced 2 bedroom, 2 bath maintenance-free home with a southern exposure giving you breathtaking view of a lake a scenic lake and the golf course from the lanai and your heated pool or while reclining next to your English garden patio. This 1,837 sq ft home is within walking distance of the Rosedale clubhouse and golf course.

With beautiful ceramic tile floors in all the main living areas and crown moldings throughout, this is a light and bright home. Sliding doors and windows overlook the garden courtyard and the screened lanai, pool and the scenic view beyond. The kitchen was completely remodeled and updated in 2012 with all new cabinet fronts, granite counter tops, stainless sink and all-new appliances including aFrench door refrigerator, convection oven, microwave and dishwasher. There's even a recipe desk and storage.

The master bedroom enjoys the lake view, walk-in closet, double vanities, garden tub and separate glass-enclosed shower. And, there's a guest bedroom plus a den, plenty of storage and an security system. A new air conditioner was installed in 2013. Rosedale families have access to excellent schools at Braden River Elementary, Braden River Middle School and Lakewood Ranch High School.

And, to complete the picture, this home is located in a wonderful golf course community. The 18-hole Rosedale golf course winds its way among sparkling lakes and woodlands offering both challenge and breathtaking scenery to the lucky few who live in this delightful community. The 22,000 sq ft Rosedale Golf & Country Club clubhouse with tennis courts, a heated junior olympic-size pool, fitness center and full-service dining room is the center of community activity. Those seeking a community with an active and outgoing lifestyle will find Rosedale to their liking.

At 8,726 52nd Drive East, this home now priced at $349,000 won't last long on today's very active Bradenton FL real estate market. Call me today at 941-228-2321 to arrange to tour this attractive and reasonably priced home before its too late.

Arts Festivals at Lakewood Ranch

Arts and culture play a major role in fulfilling the experience we like to call the Lakewood Ranch lifestyle. Many arts and cultural events and festivals are held in Lakewood Ranch and among them the 14th Annual "Fine Arts Festival" held this past weekend was one of the most enjoyable. Open and free to the public from 10AM to 5PM Saturday, March 14th and 10AM to 4PM Sunday, March 15th, the event

Celebrated artists from all over the United States took part in the event held on Lakewood Ranch's "Main Street." For those not familiar with Lakewood Ranch, Main Street is an outdoor venue of both stylish boutique and famous-brand stores, restaurants, theater and even a miniature golf course; a comfortable place to spend an afternoon or evening. The Main Street pavilion hosts special events, farmers markets, concerts and festivals throughout the year making this the focal point of the community and Lakewood Ranch's version of "downtown."

Many of the artists displaying their art this weekend came from as far away as Maryland, Pennsylvania and New Jersey to take part in the Lakewood Ranch fine art experience. From illustrations, paintings and mixed media to photography, glass art, pottery and jewelry, there was something t please everyone's artistic taste and style and pocketbook. The event, in addition to providing a way to observe and buy some originals works, also gave those who came a chance to converse one-on-one with the artists themselves.

As in past years, ArtCenter Manatee, a Bradenton artist retreat with galleries, an art library, gift shop, classes, and a children's summer art camp, serves as the host for this well-visited event.

f you missed the Fine Arts Festival, Main Street will the site of the 12th annual juried "Art at the Ranch" art show and sale on Mach 19th and 20th. This two-day show will present over 65 talented artists from around the country displaying a variety of media including sculpture, glass, tile, woodworking, photography, mixed media, pottery, jewelry, pastel, oil and watercolor painting. Parking and admission, as is the case for most Main Street events and festivals, will be free.

Trends Suggest Another Banner Year for Sarasota - Bradenton Real Estate Sales

Residential home sales in the Sarasota - Bradenton real estate markets continue to exhibit strength as we enter 2014.   11,184 homes and condos were sold in the Sarasota market during 2013, the second highest total ever since sales have been tracked.  And if current trends continue, it looks as though 2014 will be an even bigger year.

Sarasota Association of Realtors President Peter Crowley reported that “December was a great month for Sarasota real estate. Many of our seasonal residents and visitors have turned their attention to buying." This is attributed by some to recent news of higher mortgage rates coming in 2014 while others have suggested that the huge improvement in the stock market in 2013 has made more people willing and able to consider buying a second home in the Sarasota area.

Existing homes are selling well all over the Sarasota and Bradenton market.  In the huge 17,000 acre Lakewood Ranch cdevelopment, home sales were particularly strong in Central Park, Country Club East, and in the all-new active-adult community, Esplanade.  Interestingly, of the 573 homes sold in 2013 nearly 350 of them were newly-built homes.  The lack of enough existing homes for sale has led builders to get aggressive lately in buying up lots and raw land to meet the expected continued high level of demand for homes in 2014.

Existing luxury homes and condos on Sarasota’s barrier islands were also being bought at a rapid pace as 2013 closed out.  The recovery in the luxury homes category is occurring predominantly in the $500,000 to $2 million categories where sales increased in 2013 over 2012 by nearly 40%.  Homes and condos in the $750,000 to $1 million range saw the biggest gains while above the $2 million price, sales continued to be stalled with a few outstanding exceptions.

In addition to the continued high level of sales in the existing homes market, there has been a noticeable spurt in new construction just about everywhere lots and open land are available.  Builders and developers spent more than $60 million buying nearly 1,250 acres of raw land and 294 building lots from Bradenton and Lakewood Ranch to Punta Gorda just in the month of December. Builders buying up land locally include all the major players including Neal Homes, Taylor Morrison, DR Horton,  Ashton Woods and others.

The demand for new homes is not limited to average priced homes.  "And," says Dick Plumb, a respected local Realtor who sells a lot of Bradenton homes for sale, "the demand for homes is not limited to downtown Sarasota hi-rise and Longboat and Siesta Key condos. Homes in Bradenton and Lakewood Ranch are also selling well."  

New homes are in demand and being built everywhere including luxury homes, for example, in The Lake Club in Lakewood Ranch.  "Back in 2006, when that gated, Tuscan-inspired community opened," Plumb said, "its 10 opulent, estate-sized model homes carried price tags of $3.5 to $8.0 million, but, during the housing slump of 2008 to 2010 activity slowed to a crawl.  But, that has all now changed.   Of the 34 new-construction  homes sold in The Lake Club in 2012 the average price was over $1.2 million. And today,  there are 28 more ultra-luxury  homes in the 7,000+ square foot range being built in The Lake Club, but not as spec homes; all of them are already sold." 

With all this new demand, Pat Neal of Neal Homes, was quoted as saying  “Land prices are going up. The prices of drywall, framing labor and concrete have also been going up. And, pretty soon home prices will be going up too.”
In summary, 2014 looks to be a record breaking year for Sarasota Florida real estate sales, and with the cost of everything from the land to labor and materials rising, if you’ve been thinking about buying a home here on the Sarasota Sun Coast, you need to contact a Realtor like Dick Plumb now and get involved.  The bargain prices of yesterday are largely gone but there is still time to buy that home or condo of your dreams before prices rise much further.

If you are in the market for a homes for sale in Sarasota, a golf course condo or a waterfront home or condo, call Dick today at 941.266.2512.   He would be delighted to answer your questions and offer suggestions on where to best meet your needs and desires for a home or condo here in the sunny Sarasota Florida area.

Mortgage Rates Tumbled This Week, Take Action New

Mortgage rates tumbled this week getting closer to historic lows. Freddie Mac reported on Thursday that the average 30-year mortgage rate fell to 4.41% from 4.51% last week while the average 15-year loan rate dropped from 3.56% to 3.45%.

For those hoping to buy as a first or second home one of the Lakewood Ranch homes for sale, this is great news. Mortgage rates had risen a whole percentage over the past year since hitting record lows. The major cause of the increase3 was speculation that the Federal Reserve would cut back on its mortgage buying program, but that has been trimmed back only slightly.

While the increase in mortgage interest rates had slowed home sales which fell for three straight months, home sales in 2013 were nonetheless the best since the housing crisis began.

It is important for prospective home buyers to understand, however, that a single point increase in the interest rate will reduce your buying power by about 11%. That is to say, if you could afford the mortgage payments on a $250,000 home at an interest rate of 4.5%, you will only be able to afford the payment on a home worth about $223,000 if the mortgage interests rate increases to 5.5%, a one percentage point increase.

The Lakewood Ranch village of Greenbrook is an example of one of the nice places to consider buying a home right now. Located in the northeast section of Lakewood Ranch and has neighborhoods set amidst pristine lakes and nature preserves and wildlife habitats, Greenbrook is a community within a community with neighborhoods dedicated to a comfortable Florida lifestyle. Homes in the Banks neighborhood of Greenbrook begin in the $100's while homes in the Ravines neighborhood range from the 200's. Larger homes in the Preserve are priced in the range from the $300's to the high $500's.

So, if you are considering buying a home or condo in the Sarasota real estate market anytime in the next year or two, now is the time to get moving. As the Federal Reserve reduces its mortgage buying program, as it surely will, interest rates will go up and that will decrease your buying power. Call me today at 941-228-2321 to start looking at homes in Lakewood Ranch that may fit your needs and desires.

Elegant Home in the Lakwood Ranch Country Club Community

I want to introduce you to a home with 4 bedrooms, 4 full baths and 2 half baths that exudes private luxury with resort-quality landscaping here in the Lakewood Ranch Country Club section of this unique Florida development.

Lakewood Ranch offers some of the finest Sarasota luxury homes, albeit that they are just slightly out of the city of Sarasota, itself. Lakewood Ranch is within an easy ten to fifteen minute drive of all the amenities of downtown Sarasota and yet just comfortably away from the noise and traffic of downtown during daylight hours. The gated Country Club community within Lakewood Ranch offers a wide variety of Lakewood Ranch country club homes in seven separate neighborhoods, all built around the 54-hole private Lakewood Ranch Golf & Country Club and Athletic Center. This delightful Lakewood Ranch "village" includes miles of side walks and trails allowing you to stroll the area in view of surroundings left in its natural state.

The private Lakewood Ranch Golf & Country Club includes 3 separate 18-hole courses each of which will challenge you and your fellow residents whatever your level of play. The elegant clubhouse includes dining lounges and card rooms, a pro shop, locker rooms, steam room sauna and whirlpool and cart storage. The fitness center is filled with state-of-the-art equipment, heated pools and eighteen lighted tennis courts.

Luxurious mahogany doors introduce you to this immaculate and spacious Pruett-built home via the foyer with inset water-cut stone medallion. You'll find beyond those gorgeous doors, the interior of an elegant home with Swarovski crystal chandeliers and tremendous lake views. A uniquely gorgeous heated pool with dolphin fountain and spa, outdoor kitchen and lush gardens highlight the outdoor area of the home.

A morning Room and open-air Italian-style loggia with private garden add to feeling of luxury as you dine at breakfast or causally in the afternoon. With a formal living room with marble fireplace, formal dining room, family room, theater with seating for nine, billiard room, and a luxurious first floor master suite opening to a private courtyard, and an office. The large open kitchen has Viking appliances, raised/covered dishwasher, granite countertops, and wine storage. Plus, there's an enormous upstairs bonus area with balcony. This home is truly exceptional.

Recent upgrades to this home with 6,171 square feet of living space and a total of 8,514 under roof include hurricane-grade doors/windows, upgraded A/C, push-button shades, porcelain/maple floors throughout, and fantastic landscaping.

I don't believe you can find another home with similar features, beauty, serenity, and privacy at this price of $1,999,995 anywhere on the Florida real estate market. Contact me today at 941.232.4053 to arrange a private showing of this elegant one-of-a-kind home.