Newsletter 23
Dear friends,
You may be experiencing fall weather, however it’s still very much summer on the Suncoast.
Sarasota continues to rack up accolades, having recently been named “the sexiest small city in America” and the “top place to retire in the United States”. Virginia Haley, president of Visit Sarasota, the county’s tourist agency states: “Now that we’ve cracked the top 10 lists, I think it subtly validates our destination – even the gimmicky ones”. It all started when Siesta Beach was named the “#1 Beach destination in the nation”, and the attention continues to build. July occupancy and average daily room rate numbers were the best on record, topping even numbers before the Great Recession.
Why just visit? Become part of it all. Invest in a piece of paradise and plan your dream retirement. Anything is possible, and we can help make your dreams come true. Visit our website for more information on our services and how we can help: Suncoast Home Concierge
Here’s some recent Suncoast area news:
OCTOBER 16 WILL UNVEIL A SHOPPER’S DREAM: Just wait until you see the new $315 million Mall at University Town Center. The buzz is reaching a fever pitch as retailers prepare to fill the shelves with merchandise just waiting to be purchased by eager shoppers. The massive UTC mall is set to open it’s doors in one month. Anchored by an 80,000 square foot Saks Fifth Avenue along with Macy’s and Dillards, the mall brings many retailers to the area for the very first time. Get ready for the sales and traffic jams!!! Click here to read more, courtesy of our own Sarasota Herald Tribune: Is October 16 here yet?
WATERFRONT LIVING HAS PERKS AND STEEP COSTS: While it’s no secret that waterfront properties can be pricey, a new study concludes that the gap between waterfront and other homes in Sarasota is the second-greatest in the nation. Waterfront homes in Sarasota carried a median value of $1.76 million, while the middle value of non-waterfront homes was just $143,000. Waterfront homes are defined as properties on an ocean or lake with a combined size of at least 3.8 square miles. “The allure of ocean and lakefront living is powerful and undeniable, and millions of homeowners one day dream of owning a home on the water” says a local economist. “But those dreams come at a price. Waterfront properties are both relatively scarce and highly coveted, and the great demand a limited supply leads to higher home prices”. For more on this story, please click here: Waterfront is pricier here than there
SURVEY REFLECTS SHIFT IN COUNTY: In a sign of an improving economy, an annual survey of Sarasota County residents showed their top concerns have been shifted from jobs and the economy to development, population growth and traffic. Over the past three years, the number of people citing concerns about growth and development has spiked from 3% to 21%. The population of Sarasota increased by 2.9% from April 2010 to July 2013, while Florida’s population during that time has increased by 4%. Follow the jump for more: Survey sees a priority shift
TOP HONORS FOR ARCHITECTURAL ACHIEVEMENT: Pulling the spotlight away from some of Florida’s best-known building designers, four respected architectural firms from Sarasota won design awards during the recent 2014 American Institute of Architects Florida/Caribbean convention in Miami. The top award is the “Honor Award of Excellence for New Work”. Two were presented by a panel of judges – to Guy Peterson OFA, for The Spencer House on Orange Avenue in Sarasota, and Sweet Sparkham Architects, for its collection of Sarasota County beach pavilions. Sweet Sparkham also won an honor award for “Theoretical and Research Design” for “Origins”, its interpretation of Siesta Key beach sand. It was created with students from Ringling College of Art + Design. Click here to see the winners: Top Architectural Honors
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