One of the best uses of tax payer money so far in Sarasota is the creation of Rothenbach Park which is a 450 acre park and conservation land. On its lands are shaded playgrounds and pavilions, walking and biking trails of various lengths, and lots of wildlife and natural beauty. Almost in tandem with a renewed sense of vigor on this long vacant plot of land, there has been a resurgence in real estate sales in this area. Neighborhoods like Laurel Lakes, Laurel Meadows, and the Enclave offer unmatched value-$300,000 can get an expansive newer home in a peaceful and quiet community. Even the once almost dead real estate market in Laurel Oak Estates is now alive and kicking with plenty of activity. If you want to see some examples of where you can live the Sarasota lifestyle and get a great value, feel free to contact me, DrewRussell@MichaelSaunders.com.

Posted by:Drew Russell

Hosting two 18 hole golf courses and located in the Palmer Ranch area of Sarasota, Florida is the world class TPC Prestancia Country Club and gated community. TPC Prestancia is a private, non-equity club which is owned and operated by the Heritage Golf Group. The club house at TPC Prestancia is a 35,000 sq. ft. facility which features a professional golf shop, locker rooms, dining and bar services. The club house sits in the center of the gated community of 12 neighborhoods, on a hill overlooking the two 18 hole championship courses. The club opened in 1985 and is a member of the TPC network of clubs across the country. Since opening the club has hosted 5 American Express Invitationals and 8 Chrysler Cup Tournaments.

TPC Prestancia is home to 2 very distinct courses. The stadium course was fashioned after the TPC course at Sawgrass. This course has been built for galley crowds. The Stadium course was designed as a par 72 course by Ron Garl with PGA Tour Pro Mike Souchack as a consultant. The Club course has been designed by Robert Von Hagge with PGA Tout Pro Bruce Devin as a consultant. The Club course has a more traditional Florida style with many doglegs.

TPC Prestancia also shares tennis, swimming, and fitness facilities with a reciprocal agreement with the Sarasota Country Club of Serendipity which is intertwined with the courses of Prestancia.

If you are a seasoned golfer or a beginner, Prestancia offers professional instructions and excellent practice facilities. The clubhouse plays host to you for lunch or special functions from corporate parties to weddings.

If you are looking for a private club, with first class service, with the quality of golf and tennis facilities that you deserve, then come to Sarasota and make Prestancia your next home. If you would like to view homes that are available or link to the TPC Prestancia club house for more information view Prestancia Homes for Sale. If I can be of any assistance please do not hesitate to contact me at saraleicht@michaelsaunders.com or call me at (941) 586-4790.

Come join us in paradise, where the sun spends the winter, on the beaches and golf courses of Sarasota.

Posted by:Sara Leicht

Living in Sarasota, Florida offers many different styles of living. Sometimes when people hear about Sarasota they only think of beaches and boating. How about acreage, a country setting, horses, golf courses, and 20 minutes from one of the best beaches in America. This home at 7700 S. Gator Creek Blvd. offers all of this while sitting on 6.9 acres of land. Having just over 2,000 sq. feet of living space this home offers 3 bedrooms, an oversize 2 car garage, a large cathedral living room with a fireplace, and a pool. The property already has a deep water pond on the property and there is plenty of room to make this into your personal country retreat. The Gator Creek gated neighborhood surrounds the Gator Creek Country Club which is a private 18 hole men’s only club designed by Joseph L. Lee. Membership at the club is not required in order to be a resident of the neighborhood. This home is also a short distance down the street to the country clubs of Heritage Oaks and Misty Creek Country Clubs.

To View all the homes currently for sale in Gator Creek click on this link Gator Creek Homes for Sale. To view other Golf Course communities click Golf Course Communities.

Come and join us in Sarasota. Bring your golf clubs and your horses. We would love to have you join us in paradise, where the sun spends the winter, on the beaches and golf courses, and horse farms of Sarasota.

Email me at SaraLeicht@MichaelSaunders.com or call me at 941.586.4790 if you have any questions.

Posted by:Sara Leicht

HGTV’s top-rated television show House Hunters airs their show “Seaside in Sarasota” tonight - Thursday, July 16 at 9pm . The show will feature three downtown Sarasota condo buildings as well as Bayfront Park, Marina Jacks and a favorite local restaurant Caragiulos on Palm Avenue. This episode will be aired again on Sept. 10, at 9pm.

Click Here to Read More.

Posted by:Maureen & Pat Doherty

“A Community is only as strong as the education of its youth.”

The Sarasota County School System is comprised of over 40,000 students with an annual operating budget of over $403 million dollars. Two independent rating firms have rated Sarasota County Public Schools as one of the top in the state and the nation, citing sound financial management practices. Rated by the state as an “A” District, Sarasota County Schools is one of the leaders in the State of Florida for educating its students.

With a strong commitment to educating her youth, the 5 member school board, administration, and the tax paying community has consistently invested in hiring the best teachers and building the best facilities for the students of Sarasota. The newest addition to this commitment is the opening of the newly constructed “New” Riverview High School. The grand opening is on schedule for the opening of school this August. Let me share with you a little flavor of the size of this new $100 million dollar facility that has been years in the planning. Total square footage of the new school is 532,000 square feet, that will house seven small learning communities, six in building 5 (two on each floor) and one for the International Baccalaureate program in building 1.

• 72 classrooms for English, Math, Social Studies, World Languages, average size 860 sq. ft. which includes four classrooms to be utilized by the Cyesis program for pregnant teens/young parents.
• One day-care facility of 11,370 sq. feet.
• 19 Science classrooms of 1,320 sq. feet
• 12 Career & Technical Educational classrooms of 1,315 sq. feet
• 5 Art classrooms
• 7 Music classrooms
• 2 Drama classrooms
• 2 Junior Reserve Officers Training corps classrooms
• 6 Exceptional Student Education (ESE) classrooms
• 1 English for speakers of other Languages (ESOL) classroom
• 2 READ 180 (reading program) classrooms
• 1 Newspaper and English classroom
• 1 Yearbook and English classroom
• 5 Physical Education classrooms
• One auditorium with seating for 1,100
• One gymnasium with seating for 2,200 (18,000 sq. feet, can be divided into two sections)

Having world class teaching facilities like Riverview High School makes moving to Sarasota a wise decision for your family. Having had 2 of my sons graduate from Riverview High School I can tell you personally that the administration, teaching, and coaching staff really care about their students. Now with this new facility, Sarasota has gone from great to greater!

If I can be of any assistance in helping you find a home to raise your family, please contact me at saraleicht@michaelsaunders.com or if you would like to preview homes please go to my web site, SaraSellsSarasota.com to view properties by areas and neighborhoods .

For more information on the Sarasota County School System please click on SarasotaCountySchools.net.

Posted by:Sara Leicht

One of my favorite places to sell in Sarasota is Palmer Ranch. This area almost sells itself with ample access to best in healthcare, education, beaches, fitness facilities, and shopping in the area. Couple these features with excellent newer communities and pristine natural surroundings and it is not difficult to understand how many Sarasotans and part time residents choose to live here.

While Palmer Ranch traditionally has a very healthy sales market, it has as a whole, weathered this recession better than a lot of other micro-markets in the area. Prices have declined that is for certain- but the numbers tell a very positive story. In the last 15 months, Palmer Ranch single family homes are down 44% in availability. Sales levels have remained fairly level over the last 15 months. What I am most excited about is that months of inventory based on closed sales has dropped from 15.1 months in April of 2008 to 9.3 in May of 2009. Approaching six months is a sign of a more balanced and healthy market.

For more detailed analysis of the Palmer Ranch Market and its many and varied communities, check out my interactive Palmer Ranch Map Guide. Palmer Ranch is a special pocket of Sarasota, and I am happy to answer any questions about it- email me at DrewRussell@MichaelSaunders.com with questions.

Posted by:Drew Russell

Located in the heart of the Palmer Ranch area of Sarasota, Florida is the exclusive gated community of Prestancia. This community is host to the world golfing at the TPC Prestancia Country Club. This is a 24 hour guard attended gated community that features 12 different neighborhoods with over 495 full and part time residences. Prestancia homes vary from large prestigious single family homes such as this home at 4005 Las Palmas Way which is on the market for $2,599,000, to spacious villas such as the one located at 8057 Via Fiore Way, which is on the market for $375,000. Prestancia is a great area for your primary or your second home.

If you are looking for a golf course view or a view of a natural preserve, a maintenance free condo, a free standing villa, or a home with a pool, Prestancia on Palmer Ranch has a home to fit your lifestyle. Currently there are 34 homes for sale ranging from $300,000 to over $2 million. To view the current homes that are for sale please visit

Prestancia Homes for Sale on my web site. If you would like more information on these or any new homes that are becoming available please contact me either by email at saraleicht@michaelsaunders.com or call me directly at 941-586-4790.

Come join us in paradise, where the sun spends the winter, on the beaches and golf courses of Sarasota.

Posted by:Sara Leicht

As a visitor to Sarasota for the past 42 years and a fortunate full time resident for the past 10 years, I have seen a great deal of change in Sarasota, a few more buildings and a lot less green. Understandable change in one of the world’s most beautiful places to live! As a frequent visitor to Selby, I am forever grateful to Marie Selby for bestowing such a treasure to our community. There is never a visit where I have not learned something or walked away inspired. As things change so quickly in Sarasota, it is always a treat to go back in time and know it will carry on that way for generations to come. If you haven’t visited lately, do stop by.

Posted by:Denise Mattmuller

My husband and I were reluctant to leave Chicago, Illinois and all of its fine schools to travel to Florida, where we believed we would have to make a concession in terms of our children’s education. If anything, the opposite has been true. Not only have we been greeted with several options, my children have excelled in their selected school. My son started at Out of Door Academy as a pre-k and graduated from the 8th grade in June. He and my daughter, who is also in attendance at ODA for 9 years, have not only enjoyed going to school (which is priceless in my book) but have excelled. I am confidant they are excelling on a national scale as measured by the ERB test and as noted by the school’s prestigious induction into the Cum Laude Society in 2006 which is held by just a handful of Florida prep schools. As mentioned at the beginning of this blog, ODA is among a number of wonderful options we have in Sarasota. I hate for others to think they have to sacrifice a good education to live the dream!

Posted by:Denise Mattmuller