Sarasota Real Estate Blog

Once again, Sarasota, Florida has earned top honors by being named the “Best Place to Retire in the Country”.  This time the honor was given by the TopRetirements.com website.  John Brady, founder of that website pointed out that “the best retirement cities and towns in America have good weather, access to healthcare, low property taxes, and a certain “wow” factor.  Sarasota has all of those qualities and more.

The Sarasota area is known as "Florida's Cultural Coast"; home to the renowned the Ringling Art Museum, the Sarasota Orchestra, the Sarasota Ballet, the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall and the Asolo Center multi-theater complex as well as many art galleries, jazz clubs and local theater groups like the Manatee Players in Bradenton and the Venice Little Theater in Venice.

When the grandchildren come to visit, they will enjoy visiting educational venues like the G.Wiz Science Museum, the Sarasota Jungle Gardens, the Mote Marine Laboratory and the South Florida Museum and Bishop Planetarium in Bradenton.

Sarasota area beaches are all first-rate.  Siesta Beach was voted the “#1 Beach in the U.S.” in the 21st annual Top 10 Beach List, produced by coastal expert Dr. Stephen P. Leatherman, Director of Florida International University’s Laboratory for Coastal Research and known affectionately as Dr. Beach.  “Siesta Beach,” he said, “has the finest and whitest sand in the world; the powdery sand is nearly pure quartz crystal and the beautiful blue-colored water is clean and clear.”

Whether you view golf as a competitive sport or you're just looking for a "home course," the Sarasota area will surely meet your needs and desires. There are golf course communities like those on Longboat Key and Anna Maria Island where you can play golf practically in your front yard while your yacht rests on its mooring in your backyard.  With over 80 public, semi-private and private golf courses, there are golf courses for every level of play and golf course communities with amenities from the relatively simple to the most elegant.

Sarasota’s collection of casual and formal dining establishments and unique shopping venues like St. Armands Circle, set against the backdrop of a wide variety of affordable golf course, in-town, and waterfront communities were additional reasons why Sarasota made it to the top spot.

There is more than enough for keep active retiree busy.  Sarasota is awash in non-profit organizations that enlist volunteers wishing to remain active and involved.  Sarasota even has a website to recruit volunteers for its many organizations and activities.

This most recent #1 ranking continues a long record of Sarasota being ranked highly as a place to retire.  In previous ranking, the national business news website, Portfolio.com, named the Sarasota - Bradenton - Venice Florida area the “Single Most Desirable Community in the United States for Retirement”  and CNBC declared Sarasota to be the “Best Place to Retire.”

If you have been thinking of buying a retirement home or even a seasonal vacation getaway spot soon, Sarasota, including Longboat, Siesta, Lido, Bird and Casey Key, is surely a place you should consider.  If you’re interested in learning more about the Sarasota area, call me directly at 941-232-4053.  I would be delighted to answer your questions.