Crime? Relocating to Sarasota, FL (University, Brent: comparable sales, for sale, foreclosures)

[fmaon06]

Hi everyone! My boyfriend is going to be moving to Sarasota, FL soon due to a new job. We are both from North Carolina, and I'm currently in West Virginia for school, so we have no idea what to expect about living in Florida. I'm going to stay at school, so he's pretty much on his own for deciding where to live.

He's going to be working on Sawyer Road, but commuting to work (less than 45 minutes, preferably) would not be a big deal. We have a budget of ~$110,000 for a home. I would prefer a house, not necessarily a condo, but it's not a big deal either way.

Anyway, my question is: Are there any places in Sarasota that are dangerous or unsavory? If it's run down, that's fine, but crime is not okay. Every town has a "bad side" to it, I am just wondering where not to bother looking for housing, especially since our budget is quite low given the price of the area.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

[TamRE]

This question has been posted several times on city-data. If you do a search you can read some of the previous comments about different areas. Here is a link to a previous one with a crime mapping tool posted by bbronston. I would be happy to send you listings if you would like.

New Crime Mapping Tool

[Sunshine Rules]

Is your boyfriend familiar at all with Sarasota? How confident is he has job security for the next year or so?

If neither of you are familiar with Sarasota I would suggest renting for awhile until you learn your way around and decide which neighborhoods and areas appeal most to you for a permanent home. I'd suggest renting in one of the neighborhoods you are considering purchasing in.

There are several neighborhoods that fit your price range not far from Sawyer Rd. Most of the homes will be either 2 bedrooms/1 bath or 2 bedrooms/2 baths. Also, the inventory of homes in this price range at the moment, especially for homes in move in condition, is low. If you do decide to buy now, you may have to move quickly as multiple offer situations are happening more frequently.

The inventory of condos in Sarasota in your price range is larger but, as with houses, shrinking each month.

Are you looking to pay cash or obtain a mortgage? If obtaining a mortgage you should get pre-approved before house hunting as most sellers will not consider your offer without proof that you are pre-approved for financing.

As to single family homes, some neighborhoods you may want to consider are:

Brentwood, Sarasota Springs and Ridgewood in the area of Bee Ridge & McIntosh

once in awhile a 2 bdrm home comes on the market in your price range in Lake Sarasota, off Bee Ridge just east of I75

South Gate Ridge SE of Bee Ridge and Beneva - streets such as Glen Ridge, MacEachen, Warren Ridge, Watkins, Sloan, Violet & Garcia

South Gate area - south of Bahia Vista to Bee Ridge, mostly between Shade & Beneva - flower name streets + near Arlington Park (Floyd, Loma Linda, Prospect, Arlington, Hillview, Waldemere, etc)

there's a cluster of streets south of Bee Ridge & north of Clark Rd off of Swift such as Trinidad, Jamaica, Caymen, Austin, Parma, Herwald

Sun Haven area off of Clark Rd & Lockwood Ridge - streets such as Yorktown, New England, Williamsburg, Concord


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For condos:

near University Pkwy - Parkridge, Las Palmas (nice clubhouse & pool), Carolina Landings, Eagle Creek & Traditions at Palm Aire (slightly older but nice, well kept communities)

Tuttle & 12th area - Villagio

Clark Road area - Admiral Walk, Casa del Sol (can't rent out units there until 2 yrs after buying)

Palmer Ranch - Serenade(nice clubhouse & amenities), Bella Villino has a couple of nice units for sale & a beautiful clubhouse, Vintage Grand

some other older but still nice condo communities: Gulf Gate Gardens, Carrington Place, Imperial Place, Trinity Village, Village Brook


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[Ladywithafan]

There's plenty of houses for sale; let him rent for a year to get his bearings. Condominiums are a dime a dozen and there's no shrinking inventory of them either. Test the waters before you drop anchor.

[Sunshine Rules]

Condominiums are a dime a dozen and there's no shrinking inventory of them either.


Actually, it depends on the price range and type of condo. if you are looking for condos priced under $120,000 that are not age restricted, the inventory of active listings has dropped over the past 6 months but especially the past 2 months.

Last week I ran reports on the market conditions for several of the more popular condo communities (without age restrictions) in Sarasota for a customer, and the overall trend is:
total number of active listings - declining
total number of comparable active listings - declining
median comparable sales price - increasing
median comparable list price - increasing
median sales price as % of list price - increasing

[Ladywithafan]

Originally Posted by Sunshine Rules

Condominiums are a dime a dozen and there's no shrinking inventory of them either.


Actually, it depends on the price range and type of condo. if you are looking for condos priced under $120,000 that are not age restricted, the inventory of active listings has dropped over the past 6 months but especially the past 2 months.

Last week I ran reports on the market conditions for several of the more popular condo communities (without age restrictions) in Sarasota for a customer, and the overall trend is:
total number of active listings - declining
total number of comparable active listings - declining
median comparable sales price - increasing
median comparable list price - increasing
median sales price as % of list price - increasing

I will politely agree to disagree; I work in property management and we're not seeing that trend. IMO, the condo market is a dangerous game at this time, with the foreclosures & underwater owners, it's just not worth directing someone into purchasing into this arena until they've got their bearings, especially as a new move to the community. Just my thoughts...what if the job doesn't work out & unemployment looms? Now the other person would be stuck not only with a mortgage, monthly bills, but condo fees as well. Too many people move down & can't make it the first year when their job fails & then they get stuck; not that this can't happen even to a local but when you aren't familiar with the area & have everything crash, it's not a good situation. Renting for a year can give one a better perspective on work & environment.

[Sunshine Rules]

Originally Posted by Ladywithafan

I will politely agree to disagree; I work in property management and we're not seeing that trend. IMO, the condo market is a dangerous game at this time, with the foreclosures & underwater owners, it's just not worth directing someone into purchasing into this arena until they've got their bearings, especially as a new move to the community. Just my thoughts...what if the job doesn't work out & unemployment looms? Now the other person would be stuck not only with a mortgage, monthly bills, but condo fees as well. Too many people move down & can't make it the first year when their job fails & then they get stuck; not that this can't happen even to a local but when you aren't familiar with the area & have everything crash, it's not a good situation. Renting for a year can give one a better perspective on work & environment.

If you go back and read my original post, I suggested that they should rent for awhile, preferably in a neighborhood in which they think they may like to buy. I often suggest that to people that have little knowledge of our area or are moving here to relocate with a job. It makes more sense until they learn their way around and determine how secure the employment will be. So we are in agreement there.

But I will continue to disagree with you regarding the current inventory of condos for sale in certain price ranges. I just pulled up sales and inventory statistics on 16 Sarasota condo communities this past week and I stand by my report of the market conditions as I previously posted in this thread.

Prices are starting to reflect the shrinking inventory of condos for sale. I've seen sales price increases ranging from 3% to as much as 14.5% in the past 6 months in several of the more popular, newer condo communities. That does not mean prices are going up in all condo communities, especially the older ones built before 1980 and those without the amenities that buyers are looking for in a winter vacation condo.

Actually, I occassionally get asked for names of property management companies. We should talk....