Date Archives: October 2020

Our real estate agents invite you to come and enjoy relaxed living right along the Gulf of Mexico on Longboat Key. A quaint coastal getaway only twenty minutes from downtown Sarasota, Longboat Key is nestled between the Gulf and the Sarasota Bay. With just over 7,000 residents, this cozy haven is a perfect place to live all year or use as a warm winter getaway.

Living in Longboat Key

Longboat Key is located between Manatee and Sarasota Counties and offers 12 miles of white sand beaches. A luxurious Gulf Coast resort community, Longboat Key offers endless opportunities for waterfront dining, boating, fishing, tennis, golf...or just relaxing. Only a short drive from the bustling St. Armand's Circle, Longboat Key offers a leisurely atmosphere for those who want to get away from the crowds and clamor of the other Gulf Coast cities.

There are numerous access points to public beaches, but you'll feel like you're on a private beach with limited beachgoers. A majority of residents are retired, giving Longboat Key a truly laid-back lifestyle. Luxurious resorts like the Resort at Longboat Key Club, Cedar's Tennis Resort, and Silver Sands Gulf Beach Resort provide hours of fun.

For foodies and fine diners alike, Longboat Key provides plenty to satiate any appetite. Fresh seafood is always within reach, available in both beachside bites and elegant eateries. Harry's Continental Kitchen offers amazing coastal cuisine while the Chart House Waterfront Grill has the steak and seafood combinations that'll make your mouth water.

Sample a Slice of Life on Longboat Key  

Are you interested in discovering what life would be like living on Longboat Key? We encourage you to spend a few days enjoying everything the area has to offer in one of our stunning rental properties. Conveniently located steps from the Gulf and only a few blocks from the best shopping, dining, and entertainment in Bradenton and Sarasota, our spectacular Longboat Key rentals allow you to envision life along the shore.

• Arbomar 201 – 4485 Gulf of Mexico Dr., Longboat Key, FL 34228
  This beachside vacation rental offers a Gulf view for visitors. Two bedrooms and two bathrooms provide room for four on the second floor of this condo. This fully-equipped, turnkey furnished residence has everything you need to feel right at home. Property amenities include a fitness center, sauna, swimming pool, and putting green.

• Bayport Unit 738 – 738 Bayport Way, Longboat Key, FL 34228
  A wonderful two-bed, two-bath condo in the Bayport Beach and Tennis Club, this unit is only steps away from the beach, pool, and tennis courts. This unit sleeps four and can accommodate pets by request. Other property amenities include a fitness center, fishing pier, nature trails, and clubhouse.

• Cedars East 531 – 531 Forest Way, Longboat Key, FL 34228
  Perfect for up to six guests, this two-bedroom, two-and-a-half bathroom townhouse features a balcony, screened lanai, fully-equipped kitchen, and laundry units. Located in the Cedars East Resort, this townhouse is conveniently located only blocks from the beach, boutiques, and restaurants.

Come and enjoy relaxed living on the Gulf. Contact us today to schedule private tours of our finest Longboat Key homes for sale.

Decorating your entryway can be an easy, fun way to shift into the fall season without exerting too much effort. It's a smaller space so that you can create an effect with just a few accents. Maybe you're expecting company, but you're too busy to decorate the whole house, or you're expecting potential buyers to visit since you've listed your home among Sarasota homes for sale or Bradenton homes for sale. Why not just focus on the entryway, and say it all with a great first impression?

We're sure you'll love these tips for fall entryways that will dazzle your company.

1. Start with a Bench 
   You need a bench -- or something like it -- in your entryway, no matter what the season. If you've already got a nice entryway table or hall tree, so much the better. Metal, wood, wicker -- whatever suits your style. This piece of furniture will be the stage for all your decorating efforts. Here's where you change your seasonal pillows. Display your decorative gourds and pumpkins on top of it or under it. 
   
   
2. Chalk it up
   What could be simpler for wishing your visitors well than a fall greeting on a chalkboard? Think your artistic skills aren't up to the mark? Go online and look for some simple examples of chalkboard art, and you'll be surprised at how well you can do by just imitating and adapting. Your message and art can welcome visitors but can also be directional, as in, "Follow the pumpkins to the kitchen for Fall fun," or "This way to hot apple cider."
   
   
3. Did We Mention Pillows?
   A changing cast of seasonal pillows is an easy way to mark the passage of the seasons. Set the mood: spooky, fun, festive -- you decide. If you're handy with the sewing machine, you can make seasonal covers to slip over the pillows as the mood strikes you. For fall, you can, of course, go with traditional orange, cinnamon, and rust, but you can also jazz things up with a vivid purple or a striking green. 
   
   
4. Go Vertical
   Make use of the space above the bench or to the side of the chalkboard. Hang some decorative hooks or install a rustic coat or hat rack to hang stuff: a wreath, a lantern, or seasonal garlands. 
   
   
5. Seasonal Wreaths
   One of the best ways to mark the change of seasons is through wreaths, but you don't have to limit your display efforts to the front door. You can hang fun Halloween wreaths with pumpkin lights in the entryway to mark the spooky season, but also dried botanicals to signify the arrival of fall. 
   
   
6. Lots of Pumpkins
   Pumpkins just lend themselves to inspiring creative fall displays and arrangements. Big ones, middling ones, ginormous ones -- mix and match -- you can paint your entryway masterpiece on a palette of pumpkins and gourds. Put 'em on top of the entryway table or under the bench. Draw or paint faces on them to set the mood, or decorate your pumpkins with garlands of fall leaves. If you'd rather avoid the messiness of carving, create Halloween creatures or fall figures out of them, using felt or construction paper and a hot glue gun. 

Our real estate agents are always ready to share good ideas that can help you sell your home. Contact us today. 

One of the perks of living in Florida is the year-round warm weather. With high temperatures and the cool ocean breeze, any day is a perfect day for a picnic. Our real estate agents encourage you to pack up a basket of your favorite snacks and head down to one of these inviting outdoor spaces for a picnic with family and friends.

1. Jiggs Landing Outpost – 6106 63rd St. East, Bradenton, FL 34203
   Opened in 2019, Jiggs Landing Outpost quickly became one of the best local spots to grab a drink while listening to live music. The Outpost boat launch and picnic tables are open now, and this fantastic waterside hangout will soon be reopening for boat tours, cabin rentals, and kayak rentals. If you're in town searching for Bradenton homes for sale, stop by Jiggs Landing Outpost and mingle with a few of your new neighbors.
   
   
2. Coquina Beach – 2650 Gulf Dr., Bradenton Beach, FL 34217
   As you visit Bradenton Beach homes for sale, you'll love the serenity that fills every inch of Anna Marie Island. Coquina Beach is on the southern end of the island, inviting locals and visitors to enjoy their unspoiled sands from sunrise to midnight. A wonderful place for a picnic, Coquina Beach also offers a host of amenities for visitors, including a sand volleyball court, a paved multipurpose trail, changing cabanas, grills, a playground, beach wheelchairs, and pavilions. If you don't want to bring your own food, you can grab a snack from the Coquina Beach Café and enjoy it at one of their picnic tables.
   
   
3. Lido Beach – 400 Ben Franklin Dr., Sarasota, FL 34236
   With so many beaches near our Sarasota homes for sale, you'll have near-endless options for afternoon picnics. Lido Beach offers lovely parks, one just across the bridge from the city, another past the Lido shopping area, and a third on South Lido Beach. There are tree-shaded, dedicated picnic areas on the South Lido Beach. There you can walk the nature trails, let the kids enjoy the playground, or launch a canoe or kayak to enjoy the water trail.
   
   
4. Joan M. Durante Park – 5550 Gulf of Mexico Dr., Longboat Key, FL 34228
   To retain Longboat Key's natural habitat, Joan M. Durante Park was restored to become a viable wetland and coastal hammock forest for wildlife and visitors to enjoy. Visit the 32-acre site, and enjoy a beautiful hike through the natural trails, watch the pelicans as you gaze out over the bay, or settle into one of the picnic facilities and enjoy an afternoon spent surrounded by nature.
   
   
5. Caspersen Beach – 4100 Harbor Dr., Venice, FL 34285
   If there's one thing you must do after touring Venice homes for sale, it's having a picnic on Caspersen Beach! This serene beach is a treasure trove of seashells and sharks' teeth. A highlight of this park is the boardwalk that extends along the Gulf of Mexico, allowing you to enjoy the waves without the sand. Nature trails also stroll deep into the secluded coastal hammock, so you can enjoy nature's splendor after lunch. With a playground, restrooms, and lots of shark's teeth to hunt for, you can easily spend the entire day on Caspersen Beach.

Would you love to enjoy the sun, sand, and surf every day of the year? Contact us today.

If you're currently a homeowner or are planning to purchase one of these Bradenton homes for sale, familiarizing yourself with basic fire prevention tips is one of the most important things you can do to protect your assets. While no one wants to think about losing their home to a fire, knowledge is power when it comes to preventing a disaster. With National Fire Prevention Week starting Sunday, October 4th, it's a great time to review some common fire prevention strategies. Our real estate agents pulled together a quick list of tips to review:

1. Test Your Smoke Alarms Regularly
   Ensuring your smoke alarms are in working order is arguably the most important fire safety tip. Functioning smoke alarms can alert you and your family to potential danger before it's too late. Testing your smoke alarms is easy -- simply press and hold the button until you hear a loud sound. If you don't hear a sound, or if the sound is weak, replace your batteries right away. Make sure to test each of your home's smoke alarms every month.
2. Keep Your Dryer Clean
   The most common cause of a dryer fire is a failure to clean it. Dryer lint is extremely combustible, so you must remember to clean it every time you put in a new load of laundry. Otherwise, it could continue to build-up until it reaches the heating element.
3. Keep Cords in Working Condition
   Frayed or chewed cords can be a fire hazard, so be sure to check the cords of all appliances before plugging them in. Never plug an appliance into an extension cord and avoid running any cords under carpet or rugs, as this could cause them to overheat.
4. Don't Forget About Candles
   Candles are one of the leading causes of house fires year after year. Never leave a room or fall asleep with a candle burning unattended. Also, be sure not to place them on uneven surfaces and keep them far away from flammable materials such as clothing or blankets.
5. Invest in a Fire Extinguisher
   If a fire does occur, a fire extinguisher is your best bet at putting it out. It's usually a good idea to keep a fire extinguisher in every room with a significant fire risk. If you're considering one of these Sarasota homes for sale, make sure to purchase an adequate number of fire extinguishers before moving in. Also, make sure everyone in the house knows the proper way to handle and use a fire extinguisher.
6. Cook With Caution
   If you're cooking, always remain in the kitchen while the oven, stove, fryer, or grill are on. If you have to leave, be sure to turn your cooking unit off, or at least reduce the heat. After you're done cooking, make sure to remove any leftover food particles from the oven or stove, as they could potentially catch fire the next time you cook.
7. Grill Safely
   Everyone loves to grill, but grills can create a fire risk. Always place your grill well away from your home, be sure you keep the grill clean, and never leave your grill unattended. Have baking soda on hand to control a grease fire and a fire extinguisher nearby for other fires. If you don't have a fire extinguisher, keep a bucket of sand next to the grill. Never use water to put out a grease fire.

By taking the necessary precautions and educating yourself on fire safety, you can minimize risk and prevent loss from fire. For more tips on fire prevention, visit www.firepreventionweek.org.

Are you searching for a place where you can relax with your family and friends? Our real estate agents invite you to leave your worries behind and spend hours enjoying a staycation at One Particular Harbour.

Only moments away from the beach, award-winning golf, shopping, dining, and entertainment, One Particular Harbour is a gated community that caters to adults and families of all ages.

Short term stays include access to amenities such as a deep-water marina, restaurant, pool, grilling area, and children's area. For those visiting for more than 30 days, enjoy the extended amenities of Harbour Isle. A waterfront beach club, private pool, sky bar, kayak launch, fitness center, and yoga lawn can be yours to enjoy throughout your staycation.

• One Particular Harbour 376 – 303 | 3/3 Sleeps 7
  Spend quality time with your family in this luxurious three-bedroom condo. The open floor plan includes a screened-in lanai that accommodates indoor/outdoor living. Designed to comfortably sleep seven, there are two bedrooms with queen beds, one of which as an in-suite bathroom. The master has a king bed, an amazing view, and a lavish bathroom.

• One Particular Harbour 387 – 402 | 3/3 Sleeps 7
  This penthouse with a lagoon view will make you feel on top of the world during your stay. Both the master suite and one guest room host a king bed. The third bedroom has a queen bed and bunk beds, perfect for children! Enjoy cooking meals conveniently in the island kitchen before relaxing in the spacious entertaining room. With laundry and cooking appliances in the unit, as well as equipment like bikes, fishing poles, snorkeling gear, and beach items for guest use, you'll feel like you're living in an exclusive resort.

• One Particular Harbour 380 – 103 | 3/3 Sleeps 7
  Lose track of time admiring gorgeous sunsets from the screened-in lanai of this unique unit. One king bed sits in each master and guest suites while the third bedroom features a queen bed and two twin beds. Stay in and entertain as you enjoy the convenience of a fully-stocked kitchen and spacious dining area. With everything you need to make you feel at home, this unit was designed for R&R.

• One Particular Harbour 387 – 201 | 2/2 Sleeps 5
  Cozy into this two-bedroom unit and take advantage of its proximity to the shore. A queen sleeper sofa and queen bed in the guest room offer comfortable accommodations for guests while the king in the master bedroom offers hours of privacy. With a spacious kitchen, entertaining area, and lanai with seating, you can spoil yourself in this charming unit.

• One Particular Harbour 388 – 301 | 2/2 Sleeps 5
  This new unit is ready to provide an exceptional staycation to two couples or a small family who want to get away. King beds are in both rooms while the living room sofa pulls out to a queen bed for additional guests. A dream kitchen and courtyard views from the lanai offers plenty of spaces to relax after a day spent on the beach.

Are you ready for a staycation on Anna Maria Island? Our team receives approximately 10 rental inquires for this property daily, so don't delay booking your getaway.

Better yet, would you like to call this slice of paradise home? Whether you want to visit for a week or live here for years to come, contact us to discover our best Bradenton homes for sale and for rent in the area.