Sarasota Lifestyle
Plenty of magazines and blogs list Sarasota, Florida as one of the best places to live, retire, raise a family, etc. But why? What is the hype about living in Sarasota, FL? Being in real estate, I see people relocating to Sarasota quite often. Working alongside many of them, I've learned their reasons behind the move. So, take a look at FIVE reasons people are living in Sarasota, FL.
1. Weather
It really doesn’t take a genius to know that we don’t get any snow here in South Florida. In fact, we have around 300 days of sunshine every year. Sarasota has an outdoor lifestyle...and with the sunshine, that outdoor lifestyle can be maintained all year long. Beaches, parks, exercise, and outdoor dining are enjoyed in the spring, summer, fall, and winter. Not only that, but the simplicity of the sunshine tends to be a lot less work than living in the snow.
2. Beaches
Sarasota is home to Siesta Key Beach! Siesta Key is consistently ranked as a top beach in the US, and often ranked the #1 beach in the US. Siesta Key is famous for its white quartz sand, which is buttery soft. From the beaches of Longboat Key, to Lido Key, to Siesta Key, to Venice; each beach throughout Sarasota offers its own environment and atmosphere, different from the rest. They have calm West coast waters, orange sunsets, and parking is primarily free across all of our beaches. And to be honest, the beaches are amazing! But even more than the beaches, I simply enjoy being on the waterfront. The waterfront dining, the waterfront parks, the waterfront views… these are my favorite. And, don’t forget to throw a good boat day in the mix. But that’s a whole other reason to live here!
3. Lifestyle
Sarasota has so many amazing sights and things to do. When I work with people who aren't familiar with the area, I love to ask them, “What do you like to do?” Because Sarasota is a lifestyle destination. You don’t HAVE to live here, you GET to live here.
Like to golf? Sarasota has top ranked courses, golf communities, public courses, and private courses.
Love to boat, kayak, fish? Boat in the bay, kayak through the mangrove tunnels, and fish off the pier.
Love to exercise and be outside? We’ve got the Legacy Bike Trail, Nathan Benderson, The Celery Fields, Bayfront Park and Marina, The Ringling Bridge, and more parks than I can count.
Have kids? Sarasota has Mote Marine, Big Cat Habitat, Sarasota Jungle Gardens, Selby Gardens, and A-rated schools.
Like to eat? I mean, I’m pretty sure that’s all of us. Sarasota has downtown dining, St. Armand’s dining, waterfront dining, and casual dining.
I really could keep going, but you get the idea. Sarasota offers residents quite a variety of lifestyles, which is one of the reasons so many people are looking to call Sarasota "home".
4. Cost of Living
So, everything above is FUN. But, the nitty gritty does come down to the cost of living in Sarasota. For those looking for a more in-depth synopsis on the cost of living in Sarasota, check out my blog and video on that here. But in short, Florida has NO state income tax, which is a huge plus when it comes down to your cost of living. We are also a homestead state, which gives homeowners a savings of around $600 dollars per year in property taxes. More breakdown on that can be found on my resource here.
5. Housing Options
The more time I spend in my real estate career, the more I continue to be surprised about the vast variety of housing options across Sarasota. Seriously, within a 30-minute drive you can be on the ranch with cattle OR soaking up the sun at Siesta Key beach. Time and time again, I help someone relocate to Sarasota. A few years later, more of the family makes the move. And what I notice is that they all move to different areas of Sarasota. One picks the beachfront condo, while the other settles down in the perfect 4-bedroom pool home. But, that’s simply another reason people are relocating to Sarasota. Its real estate options ARE NOT one size fits all; it really can be tailored to your preferences and lifestyle. Downtown condos, homes with acreage, new construction, luxury private beach homes, homes with neighborhood amenities, fixer uppers, and modern designs are just some of the Sarasota real estate you’ll find.
Questions about Living in Sarasota?
That's what I'm here for. I work with many clients looking to relocate to Florida and call Sarasota their new home. In fact, I love this part of my job. I love teaching clients about the area and helping them settle in the right place to fit their unique lifestyle needs. Have a question? Reach out!
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