The average mortgage interest rate on a 30-year fixed rate loan in the United States edged up to 4.47% last week, up from 4.42% while the 15-year rate also rose to 3.51% from 3.43% the previous week. The average fee for a 30-year fixed rate remained unchanged at 0.7 points while the fee for a 15-year loan edged downward slightly to 0.6 points.
While interest rates are not the only factor in a decision to buy a home", says Dick Plumb, a Realtor who sells a lot of homes for sale in Sarasota as well as Bradenton homes for sale, "it is clearly something to watch closely as the Sarasota and Bradenton real estate market tries to extend its recovery from the bust that wrecked the Sarasota real estate market in 2008 and 2009.
Lakewood Ranch is one of the few areas that suffered relatively less than other areas because it is such an attractive place to live; a huge master-planned community that combines all the components of "a wonderful life." Located on the southeastern edge of Manatee County next to Sarasota Florida, Lakewood Ranch is a place to enjoy life, a community including more than one golf course neighborhood as well as a place that will provide you with lasting friendships and memories. Homes and condos in Lakewood Ranch come in a wide variety of styles, amenities and price ranges.
Sunday, December 22, 2013
Thursday, December 19, 2013
Introducing Central Park, A Family-Oriented Community in Lakewood Ranch
The Central Park "village" in Lakewood Ranch is currently comprised of seven distinct neighborhoods centered around the picturesque 10-acre Central Park. The perfect community for families, Central Park’s main attraction is this family-friendly park. Children will have fun with other kids in the playground and splash park, playing catch in the baseball field, or playing with their four-legged friends in the dog park. There's also two tennis courts and meandering sidewalks for relaxing strolls or bike rides.
To reach Central Park, take University Parkway east from I-75 to Lakewood Ranch Blvd. Then turn right at Malachite Drive to Central Park.
Builders in Central Park include Neal Communities, Bruce Williams Homes, Cardell Homes and Lee Wetherington Home all oexpereinced home builders.
The Brickell Park, Piedmont Part, Forest Park and Gramercy Park neighborhoods contain homes priced from the $100's while Claremont Park and Longview Lake Park neighborhoods have somewhat larger homes up to 3,000 sq ft priced from the $200's.
As with all Lakewood Ranch homes for sale, the homes in Central Park have been built to meet the Florida Green Building Coalition standards for energy efficiency, clean indoor air, sustainability and drought resistant landscaping native to Florida.
Families with children will appreciate top-rated Willis Elementary School and equally top-rated Nolan Middle School. For people of all ages, there is an comfortable home awaiting you in Central Park in Lakewood Ranch.
Monday, December 9, 2013
Intro to Edgewater
The gated Edgewater "village" within Lakewood Ranch is located right off University Parkway bordering the 160 acre Lake Uihlein. The unsurpassed views of Lake Uihlein from these homes will astound you. It's central location puts residents close to Lakewood Ranch Town Center as well as to Lakewood ranch's, golf courses, medical center and all the rest, but also handy to downtown Sarasota and the Gulf beaches.
Beyond the beautiful lake views and sunsets, Lake Uihlein is great for fishing, canoeing and kayaking. Only non-motorized boats are allowed on the lake so you'll never be bothered by noisy wave runners and powerboats.
A certified "green" community, all homes in the Edgewater village have all been built to meet the Florida Green Building Coalition standards for energy efficiency, clean indoor air, sustainability and drought resistant landscaping.
The Edgewater "village" encompasses five distinct neighborhoods, each with its own amenities. Your choice of home style is wide in Edgewater from luxurious maintenance-free condos and carriage homes priced in the $300's to single-family homes and custom estate-sized properties ranging in price up to the $500's. Within Edgewater, there is also a gated townhome community called The Moorings where units range from the high $200s to $500,000.
You'll like living in Lakewood Ranch and be amazed at how easy it is to get from here to anywhere in the Sarasota and Bradenton area.
Families with children will appreciate top-rated Willis Elementary School and equally top-rated Nolan Middle School. For people of all ages, there is a comfortable home awaiting you in the Edgewater village in Lakewood Ranch.
If Lakewood Ranch doesn't turn out to be your "cup of tea," I'd be pleased to show you other areas in and around Sarasota Florida, itself including homes for sale in The Meadows
Friday, October 25, 2013
Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club Plans Expansions
Schroeder-Manatee Ranch, Inc. the developer of Lakewood Ranch, the master-planned community that seems to be endlessly expanding, has announced an expansion plan at the Lakewood Ranch Golf & Country Club. The latest round of expansions and improvements, made necessary by the rapid expansion of the Lakewood Ranch community, will be made at the Club’s Athletic Center and at the Royal Lakes Golf Course.
The members of the Lakewood Ranch Golf & Country Club, located within the Lakewood Ranch Country Club village, was surveyed earlier this year to determine the specifics of the improvements to be made. That survey found heavy demand for classes at the club as well as crowding at the currently 11,000 square foot fitness center. The Athletic Center building will be expanded by 6,900 square feet along with lighting and HVAC upgrades. Pickleball courts will also be installed.
For those not familiar with the third course added to the Lakewood Ranch Golf & Country Club, the Royal Lakes golf course bcame the third course added after the Cypress Links course opened in late 2001 and the King's Dunes course opened in 2005. Royal Lakes course measuring 7,320 yards, was designed to be challenging to the most skilled players, yet comfortably playable for beginners from the Par 3 tees.
The Royal Lakes golf course which has been operaing out of a temporary building will see an addition of a 10,000 to 12,000 square foot permanent clubhouse with a golf shop, bar and grill. Royal Lakes will also get a driving range and practive area. Construction of the driving range is planned for 2014. The fitness center expansion and the construction of the Royal Lakes clubhouse will both be started in 2014 and expect to be finished in 2015.
Sunday, October 6, 2013
Intro to Country Club East in Lakewood Ranch
Country Club East consists of eight distinct neighborhoods. Belleisle has homes priced in the $100's, Hazeltine, Leopard Creek, Valderrama and Secret Harbor offers homes priced in the $300's and Haddington, Camargo and Royal Valley contains homes priced from the $400's to over a million dollars.
Families with children will appreciate the top-rated Willis Elementary School just outside the gates of Country Club East with and equally top-rated Nolan Middle School nearby. There's also a beautiful community park next to the school.
Residents of this Lakewood Ranch "village" may join the Lakewood Ranch Golf & Country Club and enjoy all of the amenities of this prestigious country club including an athletic fitness center with a heated pool, 18 tennis courts and the 54 holes of championship golf. The clubhouse includes dining lounges and card rooms, a pro shop, locker rooms, steam room sauna, whirlpool and cart storage.
ASll homes built in Country Club East meet the Florida Green Building Coalition's standards for energy efficiency, clean indoor air, sustainability and drought resistant landscaping.
Providing you with accurate and helpful information on golf course homes for sale in Sarasota, Bradenton and Lakewood Ranch in your preferred price range is my goal. Contact Me for a free information package or call me directly at 941.266.2512.
Friday, October 4, 2013
The Lakewood Ranch Medical Center
Located right in Lakewood Ranch, two miles from I-75 is the 120-bed acute care Lakewood Ranch Medical Center with an extensive system of fully-integrated in-patient and out-patient services that share the single purpose of providing compassionate, quality patient care to residents of Lakewood Ranch and the surrounding communities of Bradenton and Sarasota.
Lakewood Ranch Medical Center (LWRMC) has a medical staff of over 400 physicians and allied health professionals with a wide range of specialties. The medical center is complimented by an adjacent 60,000 square foot Medical Office building which houses primary and specialty care physicians, the Lakewood Ranch Imaging Center and the Lakewood Ranch Blood Center. LWRMC is one of just 620 hospitals in the United States to have earned "Top Performer on Key Quality Measures" designation.
Brian Ward, a well-known buyer's agent in the Sarasota real estate area, who also lives in Lakewood Ranch, reports that the Lakewood Ranch Medical Center is a state-of-the-art health care facility.
One of the many outstanding features of the LRMC is a new screening tool for detecting breast cancer. Breast tomosynthesis, or "3-D mammography" allows physicians to examine breasts with more precision during the first screening saving patients time, worry and exposure to radiation. Unlike traditional two-dimensional breast images, 3-D mammograms allow physicians to examine breast tissue one layer at a time, giving them increase ability to detect very small cancers.
Lakewood Ranch Medical Center is one of the many reasons why health care in the Sarasota, Bradenton and Lakewood Ranch area is rated so highly. If you are interested in investigating other facets of living in Lakewood Ranch, one of the many luxury Sarasota condos, or a golf course home and condo in the Bradenton Florida real estate market, please call Brian Ward at 941-228-2321 or Dick Plumb at 941-266-2512 for answers to all your questions.
Monday, September 23, 2013
Comfortable Lakewood Ranch Condo Available in Popular Watercrest Community
Now available in Watercrest, one of the nicest Lakewood Ranch condominium communities, is this 1,732 square foot, 3 bedroom, 2 bath unit with a private oversized 2 car garage now priced at just $349,000.
Enjoy stunning views of scenic Lake Uhilein from this unit at 6330 Watercrest Way in Lakewood Ranch. The interior of this home is perfect for entertaining as is the spacious screened patio. Upgrades throughout this lovely, "move in ready" home include crown moldings, designer tile, plantation shutters, custom pillars, and a gourmet kitchen with granite countertops and GE appliances including the Advantium oven/microwave.
The master bath includes double sinks, separate garden tub and shower. This home offers volume ceilings, a laundry room with washer and dryer and a formal dining room.
Located just off of Lakewood Ranch Blvd, Watercrest is a gated condominium community consisting of 19 buildings with many enjoying panoramic views of the 160-acre Lake Uihlein and/or the Legacy Golf Course. Condos at Watercrest range from about 1,900 to about 2,500 square feet of air-conditioned living space. The amenities at the Watercrest condo community also include a beautiful 2-story clubhouse including full kitchen, meeting, social, fitness and media rooms with internet access and a heated pool and spa.
Watercrest residents can comfortably walk or bike to the shopping and dining amenities on Lakewood Ranch's Main Street. If you seek the maintenance-free lifestyle but still love golf, you'll like the fact that Watercrest is close to Legacy golf courses as well as several other challenging Sarasota and Bradenton golf courses. This unit is poriced in the middle price range of residences at Watercrest where prices range from the high $200,000's for to over $550,000 for largerst 3/3 units with outstanding features and outstanding views.
If you think Watercrest in Lakewood Ranch may be the place you'd like to own either a second home or your permanent home, please call me at 941-266-1799 to view this and other attractive condominium and single-family homes in Lakewood Ranch. To learn more about Lakewood Ranch or the Sarasota real estate market in general, including the full range of Downtown Sarasota condos, I invite you to visit my website at Sarasota real estate website.
Thursday, September 12, 2013
The Newest Addition to Lakewood Ranch - Greenbrook
With numerous home styles to choose from, everyone from the first-time buyer young families to retirees can find the perfect home for their lifestyle in Greenbrook. There are maintenance-free condominiums, villas, cottages and town homes as well as single-family homes and estate-size properties. Homes in Greenbrook are within a comfortable walking distance of both elementary and middle schools.
One of the features that draws many young families to Greenbrook is Adventure Park where you'll find active play areas, an obstacle course, in-line skate/hockey rink and a dog park. Pedestrian trails cross the Braden River Preserve to Heron's Nest Nature Park and Braden River Nature Trail.
As in all Lakewood Ranch villages, the homes in Greenbrook East are built to Florida Green Building Coalition standards. Homes in the Banks neighborhood begin in the $100's while homes in the Ravines neighborhood range from the 200's. The larger homes in the Preserve are priced in the range from the $300's to the high $500's.
Brian Ward, an expert Sarasota homes for sale expert, would be delighted to introduce you the homes for sale in Greenbrook neighborhoods. For an immediate response to your questions, call Brian directly at 941-228-2321 or visit his Sarasota real estate website at your convenience.
Thursday, August 29, 2013
Another Lakewood Ranch Country Club Home Recently Sold
The gated Country Club community within Lakewood Ranch, presents a wide variety of homes in 7 separate neighborhoods, all built around the 54-hole private Lakewood Ranch Golf & Country Club and its attached Athletic Center. The club house offers dining lounges and card rooms, a pro shop, locker rooms, steam, sauna and whirlpool rooms and cart storage. The fitness center has state-of-the-art equipment, a heated pool and 18 lighted tennis courts. The distinctly upscale Country Club "village" includes miles of sidewalks and trails encouraging its residents to stroll the area and meet your neighbors in surroundings left largely in their natural state.
This Neal Homes "Carmel" model has 2 spacious bedrooms and 2 full baths in just over 2,150 square feet of living space with a beautiful décor and lots of upgrades including 18" tile, crown moldings, coffered ceilings and newer carpet throughout. The living area has a very desirable southern exposure. Entering the home through the mirrored cove walls of the foyer leads you to a desirable great room floor plan with a separate, spacious dining room, multi-purpose den, and a fabulous gourmet kitchen with staggered walnut cabinetry, center island, newer stainless steel gas appliances, upgraded sink and granite counter tops with an extensive bar making entertaining your friends and neighbors a delight either here or on your extended lanai outside.
The master suite, as in all Neal Homes, has many outstanding features. This homes has upgraded cherry cabinetry, a garden tub and glass block shower enclosure. To see other Lakewood Ranch homes like this one, call me today at 941-266-2512. I see other homes for sale in Sarasota Florida, I invite you to visit my website to review other golf course, waterfront and in-town communities and neighborhoods throughout the Sarasota Florida, Lakewood Ranch and Bradenton Florida real estate markets.
Monday, August 19, 2013
Intro to Riverwalk
Located in the master-planned community of Lakewood Ranch, the Riverwalk "village" is comprised of five neighborhoods; Grove, Hammock, Meadow, Oaks and Ridge.
The village of Riverwalk offers miles of serene nature trails, parks, and sidewalks that wind through the community and lead from one neighborhood street to another as well as to the new Main Street shopping district. This atmosphere of relaxed connectivity makes Riverwalk one of the most popular family-oriented communities in Lakewood Ranch. Golfers love the easy access to the River Club, Lakewood Ranch Country Club and The Legacy golf courses.
Single-family homes are the hallmark of this neighborhood and there are a multitude of these residential opportunities to explore. A variety of premier builders, and unique floor plans make this a neighborhood with a home to suit every lifestyle. There are single family homes from about 2,000 to 3,000 square feet priced from the low $200’s to the mid $400’s in 3 and 4 bedroom floor plans. As an added bonus, most of the Riverwalk homes come with a pool included in the base price.
These homes are located in a district with excellent schools including Willis Elementary School, Nolan Middle School and Lakewood Ranch High School. In addition to a Fitness Center at the Lakewood Ranch Country Club there is golf and tennis, so everyone can exercise the way they prefer. Herons Nest Nature Park, a 110 acre park is located off of The Braden River Nature Trail, which also connects 2 lakes, so there is room for kids to play or just have a quiet picnic for two in a beautiful setting. We know once you visit Riverwalk, you will never want to leave.
Whatever your needs, there are homes for sale in Sarasota, Bradenton and Lakewood Ranch that I'd be delighted to show you.
Elegant Home For Sale in Lakewood Ranch
Lakewood Ranch, the award-winning 8,500 acre master-planned community situated between Sarasota and Bradenton Florida is the location of an outstanding executive home. Within the Lakewood Ranch Country Club "village" this meticulously maintained, 3,880 square foot, 4 bedroom, 4 bath executive ranch-style home will definitely surprise you.
Locatged at 7918 Royal Birkdale Circle, the many features include an absolutely luxurious master bedroom retreat, a formal living room with coffered ceiling, a wood-burning fireplace, lighted niches and full pocketing-sliders opening onto a spacious enclosed lanai with a built-in outdoor grill area, crystal clear swimming pool, heated spa and water feature.
The gourmet cook in you will love the plentiful counter space, gas cooktop and large granite center island. The full-sized laundry room has room for a 2nd fridge, a wet-sink and lots of storage.
Although this well-equipped home is perfect for the lifestyle of an affluent family, it is also well-suited for an extended family. One of the four bedrooms has a separate side entrance with jack-and-jill bath, perfect as an in-law suite or work-at-home office.
Other notable touches include surround sound, security system, wall-sconces and built-in outdoor grill area. Optional country club memberships available.
Living in a country club community of similarly nice Lakewood Ranch homes brings to you everything you could want or need to enjoy Florida's Sun Coast lifestyle regardless of your age or income level; beautiful homes, friendly neighbors, gourmet and casual restaurants, top notch schools, unique shopping opportunities, a hospital and medical facility, 54 holes of delightful golf courses, a fitness center that includes 18 lighted tennis courts, 9 polo fields at the Sarasota Polo Club, over 150 miles of sidewalks and trails, community parks, lakes and nature preserves.
I would be delighted to show you this gorgeous home, priced now at $750,000, a really good price for such a beautiful executive home in a well-established neighborhood of similarly beautiful homes. If you prefer another type of setting, please visit my Sarasota homes for sale website to review many other Sarasota Florida area neighborhoods.
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
The Lake Club - a Tuscan-Inspired Private Club Community
As I was showing a couple moving here from New Jersey homes for sale in Sarasota, I took them to Lakewood Ranch and introduced them to the peaceful and serene settings of the homes in The Lake Club "village" in Lakewood Ranch. They were very impressed with the attractiveness of this particular part of Lakewood Ranch.
The Lake Club is a Tuscan-inspired, private club community features scenic lakes, decorative bridges, and a unique one-mile long park. Use of the Grande Clubhouse facilities are an exclusive amenity for owners of homes in The Lake Club where families and their guests can relax, mingle with neighbors and enjoy a myriad of activities all in the privacy of a fully-gated neighborhood.
This couple was especially impressed by the London Bay homes available on the 35 maintenance-free home sites in the Villas at Matera area of The Lake Club. Custom homes being built by London Bay Homes in the Villas at Matera section of The Lake Club range from just over 2,900 square feet starting at about $600,000. Other builders in The Lake Club include John Cannon Homes, Nutter Custom Construction and Todd Johnston
Homes in The Lake Club must meet Lakewood Ranch’s strict standards for energy efficiency, clean indoor air, and sustainability. If you'd be interested in seeing the fine homes in The Lake Club or other portions of the Sarasota FL real estate market, feel free to call me at 941-266-2512
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