David Barr's Sarasota and Venice Real Estate Blog

Take a look at what may be the very first aerial video of the Atlanta Braves spring training site in The West Villages in  # VeniceFL , scheduled to open in 2019.  For more about living in The West Villages, one of the country's top selling master planned communities, visit my website  davidbarrhomes.com/west-villages-venice-fl

Are you looking for a Florida beach condo but feeling shellshocked by the prices?  Give Venice a look! Beachfront condos on the Island (where downtown Venice is located) are a fraction of the cost of a similar Siesta Key condo in Sarasota.  One major difference here is that downtown Venice, just a short stroll from most of the Venice Island condos, has a long list of community events, restaurants, and attractions compared with Siesta Key Village.  Beaches are also far less crowded than Siesta Key, even in season. Visit my website for a full list of currently available Venice Island condos for sale: www.davidbarrhomes.com/venice-island-condos-venice-fl

I get asked fairly frequently how property taxes in Sarasota compare to Manatee County. This article answers the question and brings up interesting points about Longboat Key. https://www.yourobserver.com/article/longboat-proposes-one-county-initiative-to-sarasota-commissioners Also available on my website I have more information, such as when taxes are billed, market versus real estate value, and homestead exemption. Visit my website:  www.sarasotadavid.com/sarasota-property-taxes

I'm happy to announce I'm now one of a handful of certified Home Partners of America agents in the Sarasota area.   # HomePartnersofAmerica  is an innovative program that helps home buyers get a good quality home who may not be able to otherwise qualify for a conventional bank mortgage.  For more information visit  www.davidbarrhomes.com/home-partners-of-america

Coastal Living put out a list of the hottest real estate markets, and Sarasota/Bradenton/North Port ranked #6. Despite recent storms, people are still flocking to coastal cities such as Sarasota and Venice.  We have cultural attractions, gorgeous beaches, some of the best locally owned Zagat rated restaurants in the country, and a wide range of real estate options. Read the article here.    For the most up to date real estate listings visit my website and search the MLS for free, with no sign up, ever:  www.sarasotadavid.com

US News and World report named Sarasota the best place to retire for 2018. Here's a link to the article . If you can't make it down in the next few weeks to see why Sarasota is the #1 place to retire in 2018, take a look at my video, and contact me for expert real estate service.

With Irma gone and the Venice FL and Sarasota areas thankfully suffering little property damage, I'm getting questions about condo insurance. Condo associations are responsible for everything outside the stud walls of the condo:  the roof, windows, building structure, and shared plumbing.  This is a large portion of your condo association fee. Condo owners can obtain insurance for their personal property items, such as furniture, appliances, and HVAC systems.  The cost is similar to a renter's insurance policy. Condo insurance would be recommended if you are on the ground floor.  The structure would be covered by your association in the event of a flood, and your flooded personal property items would be covered by your personal insurance policy. For local insurance company contact information please visit either of my websites:   www.sarasotadavid.com/service-providers or www.davidbarrhomes.com/service-providers