SARASOTA - Nation's Restaurant News has selected the 2009 inductees for its prestigious Fine Dining Hall of Fame. Among them is a well known Sarasota restaurant: Michael's On East. Sarasota is already known for having one of the best beaches in the nation.  Now the city has a nationally-ranked restaurant as well. This award is said to be like an Oscar of the restaurant industry.  The magazine has placed more than 220 restaurants in the Fine Dining Hall of Fame, which was started in 1980.  This year's restaurant honorees include: Barolo Grill in Denver Blue Ginger in Boston Bouley in New York City Herbsaint in New Orleans Naha in Chicago Nana Restaurant in Dallas Michael Mina in Las Vegas Michael's on East in Sarasota, Fla. New Rivers in Providence, R.I. Slanted Door in San Francisco Axe... 06/08/2009

Today "Dr. Beach," a.k.a. Stephen P. Leatherman, released his annual "best beaches" list. Topping the list was Hanalei Bay. This remote, two-mile crescent-shaped beach on Kauai where the emerald mountains meet the sparkling sea was selected No. 1 on "Dr. Beach" Stephen P. Leatherman's 2009 list of top 10 beaches, which was released Friday. But the runner-up on Leatherman's list was Siesta Beach in Sarasota, FL: "With some of the finest, whitest sand in the world, this beach attracts sand collectors from all over.  Siesta Beach has clear, warm waters that serve for ideal swimming.  The beach is hundreds of yards wide in the shape of a crescent, due to anchoring of onshore rocks to the north and a unique underwater formation of coral rock and caves, providing for great snorkeling and scub... 06/08/2009

www.TheSerenaGroup.com 06/08/2009

Whether you are renovating your own home's kitchen or working with a client here are some important points to remember and current trends to consider when remodeling a kitchen.  Everything in a home center around the kitchen.  "All the best parties end up in the kitchen, and when it comes time to sell a home, it's the kitchen that generally makes or loses the sale". Homeowners are usually renovating for two reasons. " They aren't selling their homes because the market is bad, so they've decided to imporve their immediate environment". Or, again because of the economy, consumers realize they can get more for their renovation right now, because manufactures and tetailers have lowered their prices and labor cost are down thus, making it a good time to do so. Experts at the National Kitchen... 05/17/2009

Completed in 2007, Hudson Crossing is on Orange Avenue adjacent to Selby Gardens and is on the waterfront at Hudson Bayou.  This small enclave of only 12 luxury condominiums includes boat docks on sailboat water and no bridges to the Bay.  The lowest listed condo is priced at $1,399,999 in the Sarasota MLS.  Select from 5 condos available for sale. Residents of Hudson Crossing enjoy daily visits to Selby Gardens, the Sarasota Bayfront as well as visiting downtown restaurants, specialty shops and galleries.  Cultural venues of Sarasota's arts district are a short drive from Hudson Crossing. Resident also have the opportunity to fish or kayak from their own dock. The West of the Trail shopping area of Southside Village is an alternative to downtown shopping and dining.  Restaurants such a... 05/09/2009

Sarasota single family homes# of listings in Sarasota= 2667 active listings# of listings sold from Mar 22-Apr 22: 236# of listings sold from Feb 22-Mar 22: 210# of listings sold from Jan 22-Feb 22: 180# of listings sold from Dec 22-Jan 22: 195# of listings sold from Nov 22-Dec 22: 194# of listings sold from Oct 22-Nov 22: 2061026 single family homes sold in the last six months in Sarasota. Average number of homes sold per month over the last 6 months in Sarasota: 171 homes#sold (171 homes) X 12 (months) = 2052divide 2052 by 52 weeks= 40 units per weekIf 40 units sell each week divide that number into the number of active listings 40 divided by 2052 = 51 weeks is the absorption rate or about a years worth of inventory in Sarasota.Sarasota condos and townhomes# of listings in Sarasota= 18... 04/24/2009

Sarasota:Sarasota's average listing price for the last 6 months $280,993-Average selling price for the last six months is $254,792: Average list price Mar 22-Apr 22 was $261,841 and the average selling price was $233,388. Average size home was 1655 sq ft under air.Average list price Feb 22-Mar 22 was $254,348 and the average selling price was $255,176. Average size home selling is 1671 sq ft under air. Average list price Jan 22-Feb 22 was $264,097 and the average selling price was $233,143. Average size home selling was 1621 under air.Average list price Dec 22-Jan 22 was $308,981 and average selling price was $275,978. Average size home selling was 1797 sq ft under air.Average list price Nov 22-Dec 22 was $298,134 and average selling price was $267,277. Average size home selling was 168... 04/24/2009

The West of the Trail neighborhood of Harbor Acres is seeing increased showing activity.  Located off Osprey Avenue near downtown Sarasota, this close-in community near Sarasota Memorial Hospital has been a hot Sarasota neighborhood for many years.  One of the homes listed in the Sarasota MLS was built in the 1940s.  Many other homes have dates of the 1950s and up.  Some of these older homes have been gutted and brought up to standards sought after by luxury real estate buyers.  Many other homes in Harbor Acres have been torn down to make way for newer, sophisticated waterfront mansions. Currently there are 14 homes on the market in the Sarasota MLS in Harbor Acres.  Prices in this community range from $750,000 for a house built in the 1950s on a corner lot with over 2100 sq.ft. to $8,9... 04/24/2009

Now that spring break is over and, the daffodils are starting to bloom it's time to get rid of the clutter.  Ok, some of you would rather have open heart surgery others like my mom for instance live for this kind of thing.  Me, I'll call the  heart surgeon!  Here are some Key Selling Points for organizing a sale. Get the word out!  A garage sale proprietor's best friend is a newspaper ad.  A simple classified ad in the garage sale section can open your garage sale up to hundreds of people . The ads are inexpensive, and should include a quick rundown of potential items, the date and time of the sale, and an address to reel the customers in. Involve Friends.  If you don't think you have enough quality items to sell, talk to some friends and see if they might want to clear their clutter an... 04/15/2009

Well this is why you came to Siesta Key. The sunshine, the beaches, and much more.  This is Easter weekend on the key and it should be a good one.  I think I'll take in the Beach Club for some late night revelling.  If you haven't been, it can be an experience.          This poor guy is red as a lobster.  I actually went up to him and said, "you might want to get out of the sun" and he said, "I don't care I just returned from Iraq. I told him that, he's earned the right to burn himself up if he wants to....   Check out this StarFish somebody sclupted.  Siesta Key has about 775 homes and condos for sale and about 150 are between the price of $300k-500k. If you have any questions about the Sarasota Real estate market please contact me, 941 320 6687 04/15/2009

Alinari at the Renaissance offers exceptional one, two and three-bedroom condo floorplans rqanging from 1,070 square  feet to over 2,500 square feet plus unique terrace and garden lofts and different penthouse choices including a 2-story floorplan. Alinari also offers resort-like amenities.  In the Phase 3 development of Renaissance, there will also be 2 and 3 story Courtyard Residences and the May Lane Lofts.  May Lane Lofts will provide small shops and boutique dining within walking distance to the Renaissance I and Alinari condo residences.     The Alinari condominium development is within walking distance of the acclaimed Van Wezel Performing Arts Center and the Players Theatre, and only minutes from the Sarasota Opera House, Florida West Coast Symphony, Asolo Theatre, Ringling Muse... 04/08/2009

According to a recent report from the Sarasota Association of Realtors, pending homes sales in the Sarasota Florida real estate market including Bradenton, Sarasota, the island keys, Osprey and Venice rose once again in the month of February 2009 to the highest level since April of 2006. There were 611 single family homes and 171 condos under contract in February. Buyers seem to be becoming even more aware of the opportunities to buy a home in the Sarasota Florida area at really advantage prices with unusually low mortgage interest rates.   This is particularly good news for Realtors and home buyers alike. Looking forward, we hope this demonstrates that things are finally turning around in the Southwestern Florida real estate market. If you or someone you know is thinking about buying a... 04/08/2009

In my Sarasota neighborhood, architectural elements and accents abound by my own definition: "Creative uses of fountains, birdbaths, wrought iron scraps and statuary".  On many of my walks with Snuffy Smith, I snap pictures of the neighbors' fountains for blog articles and decorating ideas.  On rainy days, the "ideas" folder gets a workout. Surfing Google this morning, the term "architectural elements" was defined as "Architectural elements are the unique details and component parts that together, form the architectural style of houses, building and structures" on Wikipedia.  Surfing right along to "architectural details", the Google results include sites about high-end architectural lighting systems, including custom glass, wood or metal products, decorative moldings and architectural ... 04/07/2009

Sadie and Cooper are regulars at Southside Village Pub. Sandy and I stopped by for a pizza after a long day working on Sarasota real estate last night. We were working with some wonderful customers who are looking for oceanfront property and were reviewing their appointments for tomorrow while sipping a glass of Pino Grigio. We chatted with Bob, Sadie and Cooper’s owners who was at the next table while Snuffy Smith visited with Sadie and Cooper. Later another neighborhood friend, Tony joined us. Southside Village, West of the Trail, in Sarasota is a great place to meet new people, visit with your neighbors and enjoy visiting with Sarasota’s well-behaved doggies who are welcome at most restaurants in this area – outside of course. Southside Village Pub is located at 1812 South Osprey Av... 04/03/2009

What are you looking for in a great neighborhood? Convenience, cleanliness, great homes, nice yards, price in ownership, low crime and great schools. The Country Manor neighborhood in Sarasota, Florida meets all of these needs. Take a drive with me through the Country Manor subdivision. Country Manor Video   The Country Manor subdivision is located at the corner of Proctor road and Sawyer road in central Sarasota. Residents can exit their neighborhood head south to Clark road, go west a few miles and have their feet in the sands of Siesta Key beach. That trip would take 10-15 minutes. If you are a beach nut and want a newer home in a great community put Country Manor on your list. View my Country Manor page to see numerous homes for sale. 03/31/2009

The Green Realtors Alliance of Sarasota will held their 2nd annual "Green Homes Expo" on Friday, March 27, 2009 from 2:00 to 7:00PM at the Chelsea Center located at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 2506 Gulf Gate Drive in Sarasota.  Exhibitors and industry experts will discuss the importance and the benefits to homeowners and home buyers of living in an eco-friendly community.     The Expo is free to the public. There will be many exhibitors dispalying products and services dealing with Green home construction Indoor air and water quality Solar products Water conservation techniques lorida-friendly landscaping Green home cleaning products Natural pest control Energy efficient products      The expo will also offer informative presentations on a wide variety of green topics every hour on... 03/25/2009

Sarasota is a sunny city on the gulf coast of Florida.  With its hip, trendy downtown lifestyle and renowned high-fashion boutiques, it is not known to have many cheap activities – let alone free ones!  But I assure you that there are several things you can do in this Southwest Florida city that will put a smile on your face without emptying your wallet. 1.    Go outside.  Get out of the house and soak up some Vitamin C at Siesta Key, one of the state’s most beautiful beaches.  Be careful not to soak up TOO much Vitamin C though; the sun’s rays can be harmful!  Be prepared before you hit the sand…pack plenty of sunscreen and some water to keep you hydrated.  If the beach isn’t your scene, try fishing from a pier, hiking through the woods on a trail or taking your favorite furry friend t... 03/24/2009

What's Proposed is, the reduction of the mortgage interest tax deduction for households earning more than $250 and up. Some basic facts of the proposal: Reductions being in 2011 The deduction would be capped at 28%.  Currently, affected households can deduct their full 35% tax rate. US homeownership rate :67.5% Canadian homeownershipe rate(Canada has no mortgage deduction) 68 .4%  Many americans view this as "practically their right" to claim the interest on their mortgage.  Many opponents say i could prolong the housing crisis by slowing sales.  Even though the intended impact is on the top 2 % of households, the result could lead to a decrease in home values for homeowners. Personally, home values are decreasing because of other reasons and by cutting the benifit won't hurt home value... 03/15/2009

I was rexcently looking over real estate websites in the Sarasota County - Manatee County area and found a partiularly good one at http://www.realestate-in-sarasota.com/   03/13/2009

Award-winning Lakewood Ranch is an 8,500 acre master-planned community encompassing all aspects of residential and commerical development.  Seven villages, offering a variety of lifestyles from town homes to estate living, share dramatic landscapes with forest and wetland preserves and hundreds of  species of native wildlife. Recreational facilites include Lakewood Ranch Country Club and Athletic Center, 54 holes of Championship golf, the Sarasota Cricket Club, nine world class polo fields and a variety of community parks, lakes and nature preserves. Below is a picture I took of newly built Main Street at Lakewood Ranch. Main Street at Lakewood Ranch offers residents the easy convenience to shop, stroll and simply indulge in many of the same shops and resturants that anchor downtown Sar... 03/12/2009