Date Archives: September 2022

Who says you need to leave home to enjoy a vacation? When you live near Anna Maria Island, staycations are just as fun as any exotic getaway. Whether you live on the island or want to rent a local property for your getaway, here are five things you can do around Anna Maria Island at any time during the year.

• Visit Coquina Beach
  No Florida staycation is complete without a trip to the beach, and Coquina Beach is one of the best on Anna Maria Island. With everything from changing stations to picnic tables and grills and plenty of space for games like volleyball and Frisbee, you'll have everything you need for a full day of fun. When you're ready to wind down, you can stroll down Coquina Baywalk, a short, easy wheelchair-accessible trail that takes you on a picturesque journey along the island's coastline.
  
  
• Go Kayaking in the Mangroves
  Florida's coastline is known for its uniquely beautiful mangrove forests. These marshy areas are filled with tall, densely rooted trees sprouting straight out of the slow-moving water, combining land and sea in a way that few other landscapes can match. Places like Bimini Bay and the Robinson Preserve are full of mangroves that are perfect for some quiet kayaking.
  
  You're free to head out on your own, but guided tours are also available for people who want a bit more structure during their outing. Most of these tours include the cost of kayak rentals in the booking price, so they're a great option if you don't have a kayak of your own. 

• Go Parasailing
  After you've toured Anna Maria Island and sailed its surrounding waters, there's still one more way to explore this gorgeous place: by air. Parasailing is an easy and fun way to see the island from a whole new angle. It's thrilling to soar a few meters above the water, and most people find it much more approachable than similar activities like hang gliding. 
  
  There are many boat captains offering parasailing tours off the Anna Maria coastline, and some will even take you further into the Gulf of Mexico if you ask. 
  
  
• Explore Bridge Street
  When you need a break from the sun, you can head over to Anna Maria's famous Bridge Street. Take your time sightseeing among the beautiful old buildings, grab some lunch on a seaside patio, and stop into a shop or two. 
  
  There are also plenty of experiences to enjoy while exploring this area. The street contains several galleries filled with works by notable local artists, and many are free to enter. You can also visit The Fish Hole Miniature Golf to play a round of mini-golf that your whole family is sure to enjoy. Don't forget to stop by the street's 700-foot pier, the only place where you can enjoy a leisurely walk over the sea-green waters of the Gulf of Mexico. 
  
  
• Take a Sunset Cruise
  Want an unforgettable date night activity? A sunset cruise around Anna Maria Island may be just what you're looking for. There are many boats available for private and group evening tours around the 7-mile island. You'll enjoy fresh sea breezes, get a chance at spotting dolphins and manatees, and finish your ride with a view of a glorious sunset. 

Life around Anna Maria Island is so blissful that it makes every day feel like a vacation. Contact us today to take a look at our roster of properties in this area, including many Sarasota homes for sale just 20 minutes away from Anna Maria Island. We'll help you make all your seaside dreams come true.

Fall is when temperatures start to cool off in the Sarasota area, but the end of summer doesn't mean the fun is over on the Florida Gulf Coast. In fact, it's quite the opposite. 

The arrival of fall brings a plethora of fun outdoor festivals, markets, and events in Sarasota and Bradenton. It's good timing because fall is the perfect season to spend time outside in Florida. These are some of the upcoming events that our real estate agents are most excited about.

• Fruitville Grove Pumpkin Fest - 7410 Fruitville Rd, Sarasota, FL 34240
  Fruitville Grove Farm is one of the best fresh vegetable growers in the Sarasota area, and we always look forward to their pumpkin season! This year marks the 34th iteration of Fruitville Grove's annual Pumpkin Fest, which takes place every weekend throughout October. In addition to an amazing selection of pick-your-own pumpkins, the festival also includes rides, vendors, a petting zoo, and live entertainment just minutes from these Sarasota homes for sale.
  
  
• Beer, Bands & BBQ - 7289 Palmer Blvd, Sarasota, FL 34240
  The annual Beer, Bands & BBQ festival has become a local favorite since it first began in 2015. The festival is returning yet again on October 1, and it promises to be a great time! As always, you can expect some killer blues and rock bands, as well as BBQ-inspired food trucks and a great selection of local, craft, and domestic beer on draft. 
  
  
• Hunsader Farms Pumpkin Festival - 5500 Co Rd 675, Bradenton, FL 34211
  Open annually from September to June, Hunsader Farms grows a stunning array of crops that change with the seasons. Pumpkin season is a big deal here, and we're happy to report that Hunsader's Pumpkin Festival is returning in 2022 for its 31st year. Just a short drive from many Bradenton homes for sale, the festival includes arts and crafts, pony and hay wagon rides, live music, great food, and a wide range of pumpkin-themed festivities on October 15-16, 22-23, and 29-30.
  
  
• 16th Annual Hungarian Festival - 3000 Ringling Blvd, Sarasota, FL 34237
  We're really looking forward to the 16th Annual Hungarian Festival on October 15-16, 2022! It's the largest Hungarian festival in Florida, highlighting unique Hungarian cuisine, art, music, and dance. The festival returns this year to the Sarasota Fairgrounds and offers two days packed with fun and family-friendly performances, demonstrations, crafts, games, and more. 
  
  
• Fall Festival at University Town Center - 140 University Town Center Dr, Sarasota, FL 34243
  Sarasota's Fall Festival at University Town Center was a big hit in 2021, and now it's coming back for its second year! The festival takes place on October 22-23 on the Mall at UTC and will include a pumpkin patch, carnival rides, a Lil Mr & Miss Pumpkin Pageant, and a wide range of fall-themed activities and photo stops. Attendees can also explore more than 40 market vendors and get refreshments at the food and beer trucks.
  
  
• Sarasota Rocktoberfest - 199 Bayfront Dr, Sarasota, FL 34236
  The annual Sarasota Rocktoberfest makes a strong case for how much fun you can have when you combine a traditional German Oktoberfest celebration with a modern American rock music festival. It's a lot of fun! The festival returns to Downtown Sarasota on October 14-16. Enjoy exciting live music while you sample German specialties like Schweinshaxe (roasted ham hock), Knodel (potato or flour dumplings), and Kasespatzel (cheese noodles).

Contact us today to learn more about life in coastal Florida. If you're on the search for your dream home, our real estate agents are dedicated to helping you find it in Sarasota, Bradenton, and the surrounding areas. 

Renting out a home, condo, or other housing can be a great source of additional income, whether you're dealing in short-term vacation rentals or properties that are leased annually. But with the potential for profit also comes a great deal of work, from finding the right tenants to collecting rent and maintaining your property. The tasks associated with renting out your property are not only time-consuming, but it's also easy for something to go wrong.

That's why our company - through our real estate agents and a team of rental experts - offers a property management program to make things easier for you if you're renting out your property. In fact, our team currently manages more than 1,200 properties, including annuals, short/long term, and vacation rentals in Manatee and Sarasota Counties. The following are some of the benefits of utilizing a rental program.

• Expertise
  Our company has over 8 decades of rental experience, and we offer full-service property management services. Even if you're an experienced landlord, our experience, expertise, and convenient services can help you get the most out of your rental property.
  
  
• Competitive Pricing
  We'll use our market data and rental rate data, as well as our professional knowledge of the current real estate rental market, to help you set the optimal rental price. Correct pricing will help you maximize your profits while also making it more likely that your home is rented quickly.
  
  
• Marketing
  You'll need effective marketing that reaches the best potential tenants for your property. We provide this in a variety of ways, starting with utilizing our property management software to syndicate your property's listing out to multiple websites, including online booking sites. If it's needed, we can also purchase additional advertising.
  
  
• Tenant Screening
  Taking the proper steps to research a prospective tenant can go a long way toward avoiding problems. We'll require them to fill out a fee-based rental application and will then conduct a background check on criminal, credit, eviction, and sexual predator records. In addition, we'll require proof of income and will contact previous landlords and employers.
  
  
• Pre-Rental and Post-Rental Inspections
  Before a tenant moves into your home, we'll take detailed date-stamped photos to provide evidence of your home's condition. We'll do the same when the tenant moves out, and if they've damaged your home, we'll let them know and will adjust their security deposit accordingly.
  
  
• Coordination of Repairs
  At some point, your property will need a repair of some sort. We have relationships with qualified service people and will work with them to assure that you receive the best quality of work at a good price. And since some repair emergencies happen after hours, we're available for these types of calls 24/7.
  
  
• Consistent Payment Processing and Disbursement
  We'll monitor and process all your rent money, and you'll have the security of knowing you'll receive your payments when expected.
  
  
• Communication
  Our property managers will frequently communicate with you, so you're kept up-to-date on everything and will have the chance to express any concerns or ask any questions.
  
  
• Help to Comply with Applicable Laws
  Depending on where it's located, you may need a permit in order to operate your property as a rental unit. In addition, we'll make sure you understand the legalities of consent forms, lease agreements, and Fair Housing laws.

Contact us to see Sarasota homes for sale or Bradenton homes for sale or learn more about how our rental program can help you maximize your profits and minimize your problems. 

Theater season is just around the corner, and our real estate agents are already excited about the upcoming performances. Community theater is so important in our area as it serves as both a fun escape and an artistic platform for our local performers. This year's calendar is full of musicals, dramas, comedies, and even family performances, so there is sure to be something for everyone. Here are a few of the highlights that we're looking forward to the most:

Players Centre 
Located just down the road from these Sarasota homes for sale is the Players Centre. This wonderful community theater hosts everything from musicals to smaller productions and provides local artists and performers with an outlet to express creativity. Here are some of the performances in the upcoming season:

• Side By Side: September 8 - 18
  A Tony Award-winning musical is funny, heartbreaking, and full of emotion. Side By Side follows an influential artist's search for the meaning of life. 
• Little Shop Of Horrors: October 6 - 16
  One of the most creative and popular theater performances ever created, Little Shop of Horrors, is the story of a man who sacrifices his morals in search of fame and in the process creates a man-eating plant.
• Miracle on 34th Street: December 1 - 11
  A classic Christmas movie comes to life on stage as a girl's belief brings validity to a department store Santa. 
• Proof - January 12 - 22
  A Tony Award-winning drama portrays the life of a young woman coming to terms with her own identity after growing up with a famous but unstable father. 
• Always...Patsy Cline - February 2 - 12
  This show is dedicated to the famous singer Patsy Cline who was killed in a plane crash in 1963. The performance tells the story of Cline's friendship with a fan.

Venice Theater
One of the largest community theaters in the country, the Venice Theater is conveniently located near Venice homes for sale. It hosts dozens of performances throughout the year. Here are some of the highlights of this upcoming season:

• The Revolutionists - September 16 - October 2
  This performance tells the story of four women beheaded during the French Revolution. 
• Kinky Boots - October 21 - November 2
  Winner of 6 Tony Awards, Kinky Boots is a classic musical with an emphasis on friendship, fashion, and diversity as well as many big hits.
• A Christmas Carol -  Dec 9 - 20
  A classic the whole family will enjoy during the holiday season.
• The Cemetery Club: January 20 - February 12
  A popular Broadway production, this romantic comedy is about the lives of three women who meet for tea prior to visiting their husbands' graves.

Manatee Performing Arts Center
With a history spanning back to 1947, Manatee Performing Arts Center has delighted visitors and locals with stage productions near Bradenton homes for sale. There are many different ways to catch a show on their stage, but theater fans can keep their calendar full with shows when signing up for their 22-23 Manatee Players Musical Series. Musicals in that series include:

• Gypsy - October
• The Music Man - December
• Next to Normal - January
• Company - March
• Sunset Boulevard - April/May

The best part about seeing a community theater performance? When you love the community that you live in!  Contact us today for more information on local listings.