David Barr's Sarasota and Venice Real Estate Blog

Barton Farms is an established neighborhood of single family homes in Sarasota, located east of I-75 off Bee Ridge Road and Iona Road. The 324 homes in Barton Farms have 3 to 5 bedrooms, with 2300 to up to just over 4000 square feet of living space.  Most homes were built between 2000 and 2004.  When the real estate market crashed, there were a few vacant lots left over, so you will see a few homes there built more recently in 2015 or 2016. Amenities in Barton Farms include a clubhouse, community pool, and tennis, in addition to the neighborhood being gated.  Barton Farms HOA fees are a low $1300 annually. Home buyers will appreciate open floor plans and serene water views.  The larger homes in the neighborhood provide lots of interior space to spread out, with split bedroom floor plans and open kitchen/living room. Home prices range from the high $300,000's to the mid $500,000's.  If your home buying budget is in this range, you may also wa...

Aqualane Estates is one of a quartet of Sarasota waterfront neighborhoods on the mainland, across the ICW from Siesta Key. You'll find Aqualane Estates just north of the Stickney Point Bridge.  Turn north on Beechwood Avenue from Stickney Point Road.  The streets in Aqualane Estates are Ridgewood Lane, Shelburne Lane, Stanford Lane, and Meadowood St. Get an Aqualane Estates demographic report Homes in Aqualane Estates run from original ranches and ramblers from the 60's and 70's, to new construction luxury waterfront homes on canals.  Because of the canals and ICW access, Aqualane Estates is attractive to boaters.  There's only one bridge to the Gulf of Mexico at the north end of Siesta Key, which offers clearance for all except the largest yachts. Please visit my website for a list of current homes for sale from the MLS, and recently sold properties.

The topic of the neighborhood specialist is always a cause for debate on real estate websites and blogs. Old school thinking holds that a Realtor who is a neighborhood specialist is the best choice for home buyers and sellers when selecting an agent. I couldn't disagree more. I act primarily as a buyer's agent and I cover a 3-county area on the Gulf Coast of Florida, including Manatee, Sarasota, and Charlotte Counties. Right now I am working with buyers from out of state who have vacationed on a certain barrier island and are ready to purchase a vacation condo.  The market is very active and the shrinking inventory of condos is rapidly pricing these buyers out of the market based on their budget.  After showing these buyers the available options, they are uncomfortable with the compromises they would have to make. Would a typical "neighborhood specialist" have the experience or knowledge to compare different areas and suggest alternatives?  Not likely.  I ha...