Sarasota, FL

[Zoocat]

Can anyone tell me about Sarasota? Is it beastly hot in summer? What kind of place could I buy for around $200K? Would I find other compatible singles of the 60+, progessive/liberal persuasion? Is the beach dog friendly?

[Rich_by_the_Bay]

Moemg should be along shortly.

It is hot in the summer, 90ish and humid but rarely over 92 due to proximity to the beach. Beautiful downtown water front, beaches, fancy stuff as well as regular amenities. Lovely area if you like subtropical. It would be on my top 3-4 choices for places to live in Florida.

Under $200k will limit you somewhat in that market.

[Zoocat]

Just curious about real estate prices and wondering if they are falling. I'm actually looking for a warm beachy place for next January and thinking about Sarasota. It would be a long drive but I could bring my dog unlike Hawaii or Mexico. S. California would be a possibility too and am looking into that.

[BunsGettingFirm]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oldbabe Just curious about real estate prices and wondering if they are falling. I'm actually looking for a warm beachy place for next January and thinking about Sarasota. It would be a long drive but I could bring my dog unlike Hawaii or Mexico. S. California would be a possibility too and am looking into that.

REALTOR.com - Real Estate Listings & Homes For Sale. Never thought about Sarasota, but I will be going to Tampa and Miami in June to see if my skin will fall off from the heat. Frankly, you can get used to anything. I just got through a winter in which there was snow every week in Boston. There were weeks where I had to scrape the ice off the car everyday. Each time it would take me 40 minutes. There is no perfect place. I take that back. If Colorado overall were a bit more sophisticated, it would be the perfect place. Boulder would be just about perfect for me.

[lazygood4nothinbum]

never lived there but have been visiting since a friend right out of high school moved there (they owned a hotel in sarasota were we partied way too hard) and now another old friend from grade school has just bought his retirement home there.

most everywhere is hot in summer. we do not get heat waves like summers in unprepared chicago which kill people. the problem with florida in summer is a) humidity but the seabreeze mitigates that a tad (though five miles inland, forget it); and b) it doesn't cool off at night so you get this sense of no break from the heat. even just taking the dog for a walk at night, you'll break into a sweat. we change shirts a lot around here. otherwise you'll go from your air conditioned house to your air conditioned car to the pool or beach. it is hot & sticky but it can be managed.

i've read that sarasota has weathered the housing crisis better than some areas, but i've read also that it is bad there as well. dq news shows sarasota (jan 07-jan 08 ) down another 13.8% on resale house medium prices & down 24.5% on resold condos at the medium price. but keep in mind that both shiller and nar recently recanted on some of their figures by saying that medium does not tell the story, that it needs to be looked at in at least three ranges, high, medium and low, with the low generally falling the farthest. dq shows sarasota medium at $210k so figure from there.

for comparison, dq shows miami same period down 9.4% on resold houses & down 10.7% on resold condo's so from that alone it looks like sarasota weathered worse in 2007.

other studies i've read show less inventory there so maybe it will pick up faster than here. but at this level of the bottom i doubt it makes much difference.

looks like there is a dog friendly beach, not in sarasota but nearby per DogFriendly.com's City Guide: Sarasota, Florida

buns, june is our rainy season. last year i think it rained 30 days non-stop. you'll be lucky to see the sun. i think you will find sarasota much more family and less singles-oriented than either tampa or miami. not that there isn't fun to be had, just not in the same abundance.

edit: take that dq news with at least a grain of salt. just checked out inherited house area which dq shows up more than 30%. quick, call the realtor. raise the price.

[Rich_by_the_Bay]

Quote:

Originally Posted by BunsGettingFirm I will be going to Tampa and Miami in June to see if my skin will fall off from the heat. Frankly, you can get used to anything.

One thing about these "dry runs" in hot places to see how you like it: it takes close to 2 weeks for the basic physical heat adaptations to really get established, maybe more if you're sedentary. That's too long for most casual vacationers to spend.

So if you like it and are serious about relocating some day, take 3-4 weeks before you make up your mind, should the heat be an issue for you.

[REWahoo]

Rich, I don't think you can associate the term "dry run" with a summer visit to Tampa or Miami...

[simple girl]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich_in_Tampa One thing about these "dry runs" in hot places to see how you like it: it takes close to 2 weeks for the basic physical heat adaptations to really get established, maybe more if you're sedentary.

So does this work in reverse? We moved from the north to the south a few years ago. Now when I go up north I am a major whimp and can't seem to stand the cold at all (I never liked it, though). So is this is a physiologic adaptation?

[Rich_by_the_Bay]

Quote:

Originally Posted by simple girl So does this work in reverse? We moved from the north to the south a few years ago. Now when I go up north I am a major whimp and can't seem to stand the cold at all (I never liked it, though). So is this is a physiologic adaptation?

Good question - don't know the answer, but a lot of people seem to experience that. I'll see what I can dig up.

[Rich_by_the_Bay]

Quote:

Originally Posted by REWahoo Rich, I don't think you can associate the term "dry run" with a summer visit to Tampa or Miami...

How true. I just got back from a long (for me) 1 hour jog. It's about 80 degrees and maybe 70% humidity. I was drenched from head to toe, polished off 32 oz of water en route.

[jambo101]

Lots of people in Florida live in mobile home parks,the seasonal crowd particularly like them as a lot of these mobile home parks have security year round and a double wide unit can be had for considerably less than $200k.
I lived in the St Pete area for 10yrs and can say you do get somewhat used to the heat and humidity but it takes a month or more,i found the weather for 10 months a year is a bit too predictable as every day its going to be 90+ degrees with high humidity,I really enjoy all the outdoor activities Florida has to offer and the beaches are some of the best in North America.

[socca]

I survived my first summer in Florida (and Sarasota) last year. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be; in fact, the summers in the Washington DC area were just as bad (if bad = heat and humidity). One 'feature' of the summer months is that it doesn't cool off in the evening (well, it cools down to around 80F). Late last summer I found myself hankering for an evening chill (think: Maine). Really, though, in general the weather here is delightful if you like warmth and sunshine. No wonder so many Canadians lust for this place (at least during the winter).

Sarasota is a great place for retirees, just because there are so many of them. We have one of the highest densities of >55 folks in the country. Since I'm only 45, I consider this a disadvantage. On the other hand, I kind of like older folks - they tend to be more polite than the young 'uns. We enjoy excellent air quality due to the regular gulf breezes. I don't know about the beaches & dogs - you can probably find this out online. Sarasota likes to bill itself as the arts capital of Florida. Since I'm not into the arts world I can't comment. The weekly farmer's market in downtown Sarasota is good for folks who like fruit and veggies.

Prices have plunged in Sarasota, and there is a huge backlog of unsold properties. You can pick up a quite decent condo for under $200k. This wasn't true in the pre-bust days.

I haven't decided whether to make Sarasota my permanent home yet. It isn't exactly a high-tech mecca, so I may have to relocate to get my fledgling little business off the ground.

Good luckl

[Moemg]

If you are looking for beachy may I recommend Anna Marie Island . It's a real beachy island off Bradenton . Another beachy area is Siesta Key which is off Sarasota . There are tons of singles over 60 in Sarasota especially in the winter . Lots of guys for the fishing , baseball spring training and golf . Real estate prices especially condos have dropped a lot plus there seems to be a lot of vacancy signs on the rentals even during the peak season . I live in Sarasota so feel free to pm me with any questions . There are a few very active single groups in Sarasota so you would have plenty to do .

[BunsGettingFirm]

Quote:

Originally Posted by lazygood4nothinbum buns, june is our rainy season. last year i think it rained 30 days non-stop. you'll be lucky to see the sun. i think you will find sarasota much more family and less singles-oriented than either tampa or miami. not that there isn't fun to be had, just not in the same abundance.

Thanks for the warning on the rainy season. I suppose that it will be a can-I-survive-the-worst kind of trip. If I can stand the tropical weather at its most tedious, then I may consider moving to Florida.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich_in_Tampa One thing about these "dry runs" in hot places to see how you like it: it takes close to 2 weeks for the basic physical heat adaptations to really get established, maybe more if you're sedentary. That's too long for most casual vacationers to spend. So if you like it and are serious about relocating some day, take 3-4 weeks before you make up your mind, should the heat be an issue for you.

Thank you for letting me know that one week is too short to adapt. Then I suppose I will need another dry run in October. BTW, before you moved from Arizona, did you do a long-term recon? I have lived in the mountain west, and I would have to say that mountain climate is quite different from the subtropical climate.

[Zoocat]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moemg If you are looking for beachy may I recommend Anna Marie Island . It's a real beachy island off Bradenton . Another beachy area is Siesta Key which is off Sarasota . There are tons of singles over 60 in Sarasota especially in the winter . Lots of guys for the fishing , baseball spring training and golf . Real estate prices especially condos have dropped a lot plus there seems to be a lot of vacancy signs on the rentals even during the peak season . I live in Sarasota so feel free to pm me with any questions . There are a few very active single groups in Sarasota so you would have plenty to do .

Thanks, Moemg! I really would like to escape winter next year. Maybe I'll join you!

[Moemg]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oldbabe Thanks, Moemg! I really would like to escape winter next year. Maybe I'll join you!

I think you would really enjoy it . Lots of sidewalk cafes ,antique stores ,dog friendly restaurants ,beautiful beaches , nice theaters and pretty lay back in an upscale way . I'm in Pa . right now maybe when I return I'll post some pictures since several people have asked about the area .

[lazygood4nothinbum]

video on high end siesta key real estate market (sarasota area) from the wall street journal

http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid452319854/bctid1568135115

[BunsGettingFirm]

OK, I'm now convinced that lazy and hobnob are one and the same. I just have yet to figure out how he transports himself so quickly between SF and FL.

[Zoocat]

That's some beautiful real estate, Lazy. Thanks for the post.

[W2R]

Even at the newly lowered prices, these properties still aren't cheap! Apparently I expected the Florida real estate slump to be more marked than it has been.

Beautiful beaches.