David Barr's Sarasota and Venice Real Estate Blog

I'll be starting a series of what I call "explainer videos" for Sarasota real estate. Topics will include the buying process, the selling process, how to find helpful features on my websites, new home buying, and more. In this video, I discuss what happens once you put a condo under contract in Sarasota.  Watch my video:  My YouTube channel is youtube.com/c/davidbarrhomes, and you can learn more about Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch, and Venice FL real estate on one of my three websites, each with current MLS listings and sophisticated search. sarasotadavid.com lakewoodranchdavid.com davidbarrhomes.com

Today I showed a condo to a customer in Sarasota in Beneva Ridge. Condo for sale in Beneva Ridge Beneva Ridge is a small condo complex right at the intersection of Bee Ridge and Beneva, behind the Publix shopping center. I get inquiries from buyers about these condos because many have 3 or 4 bedrooms and 2 and a half baths.  Prices are under $100K, and the location value is good because you are only 15 minutes to downtown and about 20 minutes to Siesta Key beaches. Seems too good to be true in Sarasota, right?  Yes, you'd be right. These are wood frame condos that have experienced a lot of neglect.  The condo fees are astronomical for properties in this price range: up to $608 per month (per month, not per quarter).  Leaky roofs, termite damage, and past abandonment by former owners have put a strain on the association finances. In most cases, your association fees for a unit in Beneva Ridge would be much higher than your mortgage payment.  As an ...