Thoughts (Pro's/Cons) about where to live in Sarasota (Miami: rent, insurance)
Sarasota - Bradenton - Venice areaManatee and Sarasota Counties
Please register to participate in our discussions with 1.5 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Thoughts (Pro's/Cons) about where to live in Sarasota
Hi,
I think we finally made the decision to move back to Florida. Currently live in Maui, HI for work, but hoping to be able to relocate to Florida in 2-3 years..... Cincinnati was originally our goal but now we can't justify moving from the nicest weather on Earth to the frozen mid-west.... So we figure Florida will take care of the weather situation. And it's only a few hr. flight to both of our families cities.
I love Cincinnati for it's culture, sports and many many things to do.It's also where my wife is from. I'm from Western NY. But the weather and lack of water are really a deterent.
I lived on the east coast of Florida 15 years ago. My wife lived in Orlando, for work, for about a year. We have an idea where we don't want to live (Orlando, Miami, any where on the east coast really.) We'd like to be somewhat close to a major city so Tampa should be close enough.
We have a 3 year old daughter, so she'll be in Elementary school by the time we move... Education is probably our #1 concern.
Our budget should be between $450-$500K. I've seen quite a few nice homes in gated communities/golf course type areas in what looks to be eastern Sarasota. Maybe they are newer developments?
Are these communites good for schools? They seem like nice areas, so I was assuming so......
any Pro's or Cons about being a little farther East? Of course I'd love a million dollar home on the water, but that's just not happening
BTW we are both in our 30's. Don't care about nightlife anymore. We like a good beach bar in the afternoon. Hitting the beach, and I like catching sports events whenever possible..Otherwise I live for working on my yard and my wife has a passion for interior decorating. We're pretty much homebodies for the most part.
Sounds like you are referring to Lakewood Ranch - it's actually Manatee County, but bordering on the county line, just east of I-75. Yes, it sounds like this would be ideal for you, schools are great, as is everything else there. We have realtors on this forum who can give you more specifics, I think one or two even live in the area. You can also do a search on this forum for Lakewood Ranch for a lot more info, and google it for more info on schools etc.
Sarasota/Manatee is a great area to live - plus you are only an hour away from the bigger city of Tampa. Good luck to you!
I have to agree that Lakewood Ranch or any of the communities out this way that feed the A-rated schools would be a good choice. (How can you not agree with a 'Bohemian Beauty"?!!) We are further away from the water (although not so far that it is problematic to go boating, to the beach, or to dinner on the water) but that also means that we tend to have the newer construction, too. Newer construction translates into more current building codes and possibly lower insurance costs. It can also translate into fewer age-related repair issues, although not always and every property is unique in that way. For sports, we are closer to I-75 so you have great access to pro baseball, football, and hockey plus Lakewood Ranch has a new athletic center that attracts a variety of professional and amateur field sports teams and tournaments. Sarasota, of course, also offers wonderful arts opportunities and exposures for your kids. I grew up in Cincinnati and I still vividly remember field trips to the Cincy Symphony Orchestra. It's nice to know you can provide your kids with that kind of education here. It's not paradise...I don't mean to give that impression...but it's pretty good. If you have specific questions, please ask away.
Osprey You've got the #1 school in the state if your daughter tests in, beautiful homes in that price range, located between siesta key beach (about 10min) and Nokomis Beach (about 5 min) or Venice Beach (10 min). Tiki bar at Casey Key fish house nice & quiet area but all the shopping etc is nearby.
Sounds like the schools are very suitable for us... I figured they would be with gated communities so prevelant in the area..
I've seen alot of 3000sq. ranch homes with the usual pool/lanai (hawaiian porch). They seem very very nice and perfect for the type of homes we will be looking for!
How is the market there? Is it still falling or has it atleast stabalized a bit? I'm slightly worried that in a few years these great homes won't be available for the $$.
Southside services most of the downtown area south of Main St. North of Main would be mostly Booker school district. The Palmer Ranch area is mostly Ashton school district. There are other schools in the area but these are ones that I have either had personal experience with or I have friends that have kids in the schools.
Sarasota ranks as one of the top districts in the state by a number of measures, including test scores, graduation rates and teacher compensation.
It offers distinctive programs tailored to different student needs, including Florida's only school for the gifted, the state's largest special needs school and one of a handful of career-focused high schools.
Alright, if I were checking out schools other than Pine View these are the schools that I would look into, in order. This is also the order they fall in if you look at the stats on the state of FL.
I'll throw some zip codes in as well to use for a general guideline but make sure you double check them with the map provided and the local school board as the map/zip codes may change slightly if they add a new school.
I'm going to also include a few neighborhoods within each zip code. Keep in mind that there are many other communities in each zip code worth checking out. I'm just trying to give you a starting point. Also if the community is very large it might encompass two or three different schools.
Please use this website when searching for properties: www.myfloridahomesmls.com It's the most up to date website.
Sarasota County Schools
For Elementary Southside Elementary (34228, 34236, 34239, 34242)
Most of the downtown Sarasota condos, the condos/homes on the south end of Longboat Key, Bay Isles, Bird Key, Bungalow Hill, Cherokee Park, County Club Shores, Granada, Harbor Acres, Lido Key, McClellan Park, Poinsettia Park, St Armand's, some of Southgate.
Venice Elementary (34285, 34292, 34293)
The island of Venice, Bellagio on Venice Island, Lakes of Jacaranda, Pinebrook, South Venice, Venice Acres
Ashton Elementary (34233, 34238)-The Palmer Ranch communities(Arielle, Botanica, The Hamptons, Turtle Rock, Serenade, Stonebridge, Village Walk, Wellington Chase), Center Gate Estates, Colonial Oaks, Emerald Gardens, Grove Point, Three Oaks
Cranberry Elementary (North Port)
-(34286, a certain section)
Taylor Ranch (southern Sarasota county)-(34292, 34293)-Governors Green, Gulf View Estates, Blue Heron Pond, Lakes of Jacaranda, Myakka River Trails, Park Estates, Pelican Pointe Golf & County Club, The Plantation, Pennington Place, South Venice, Stoneybrook at Venice, Venice Golf & County Club, Southwood, Woodmere Lakes
Lakeview Elementary (34241)-Bent Tree, Country Creek, East Lake, Forest at Hi Hat Ranch, Founders Club, Foxfire, Gator Creek, Heritage Oaks Golf & Country Club, Lake Sarasota, Misty Creek, Myakka Valley Ranches, Preserve at Heron Lake, Red Hawk Reserve, Saddle Creek, Secluded Oaks, Serenoa, Trillium, Tuscana
Gulf Gate Elementary (34231, 34238)-Palmer Ranch communities-(Country Club of Sarasota, Deer Creek, Prestancia,
Marabella, Mira Lago, Palisades), Beneva Oaks, Coral Cove, Gulf Gate, Southpointe Shores,
Laurel Nokomis Elementary (mid Sarasota county)-(34229, 34275)-Bay Point, Calusa Lakes, Casey Key, Huntington Pointe, Isles of Sarasota, Laurel Pines, Laurel Woodlands, Mission Valley Estates, The Oaks, Park Trace Estates, Rivendell, Sawgrass, Shakett Creek, Silver Oak, Sorrento East, Sorrento Shores, Sorrento South, Sorrento Woods, South Creek, Southbay Yacht & Racquet Club, Stoneybrook at Palmer Ranch, Venetian Golf & River Club, Waterfront Estates, Willow Chase, Willowbend, Willowbrook
Tatum Ridge Elementary (34240)
-Barton Farms, Colonial Oaks, Deer Hammock, Founders Club, The Hammocks, Laurel Lakes, Laurel Meadows, Laurel Oak Estates, Oak Ford Golf Club, The Paddocks, Palmer Farms, Palmer Glen, Sarasota Golf Club, Sarasota Polo Club, Shadow Oaks, Summerwood, Tatum Ridge, Villages at Pine Tree-(Marsh, Ponderosa, Spruce Pine)
Garden Elementary(34285, 34292, 34293)
Phillipi Shores(34231, 34242)-Aqualane Estates, Bay Island, Florence, Hansens, Harmony, Hidden Harbor, The Landings, Mira Mar, much of Siesta Key, Oyster Bay Estates, Phillipi Cove, Philipi Gardens, Pine Shores, Point Crisp, Princess Gate, Ridge Wood, Sanderling Club, Sandy Hook, Sarasota Beach, Siesta Cove, Siesta Estates, Siesta Isles, Siesta Bayside, Tortoise Estates
Fruitville Elementary(34232)-Hidden Oaks, Nottingham, Sherwood Estates, Sherwood Forest, Woodland Park
Englewood Elementary (southern Sarasota county)(34223)-Artist Acres, Bay Vista, Boca Royale, Deer Creek, Eden Harbor, Englewood Farm Acres, Englewood Gardens, Englewood Isles, Englewood Pines, Manasota Gardens, Manasota Key, Overbrook Gardens, Stillwater
For Middle Sarasota Middle (34231-34242)
High School Riverview(34231-34242)
Manatee county Schools
Elementary Schools Robert Willis Elementary(34201, 34202)-Carlyle at the Villages of Palm Aire, Country Club East at Lakewood Ranch, Edgewater Village, Lake Club, Lakewood Ranch, Lakewood Ranch Country Club, Long Pond at Mote Ranch, Mote Ranch, Panther Ridge, Preserve at Panther Ridge, River Park at Mote Ranch, Riverwalk Ridge Cypress Banks, University Park
Gene Witt Elementary(34212)-Country Creek, Country Meadows, Foxbrook, Greyhawk Landing, Hidden Oaks, Mill Creek, Rye Wilderness,
Gilbert W McNeal Elementary(34202)-Concession, Greenbrook Village, Lakewood Ranch, Summerfield Village
Braden River Elementary(34202, 34211)-Braden Pines, Braden Woods, Oakbrooke at River Club, River Club North & South, Rosedale, Summerfield Village
BD Gullett Elementary(34211, 34212)-Central Park at Lakewood Ranch, Greyhawk Landing, Panther Ridge
Ida M Stewart Elementary(34209)-Perico Isles, Pinehurst, Riverview Landings, Shaws Point, Wisteria Park, Woodlands Park on Palma Sola Bay
Anna Maria Elementary(34216, 34217, 34228)-Anna Maria Island, Bay Palms, Bimini Bay Estates, Cortez, Emerald Harbor, Holmes Beach, Ilexhurst, Key Royale, Long Beach, Longboat Key, Shore Acres, Sleepy Lagoon, Wells Bay Harbor
Kinnan Elementary(34243)-Carlyle at the Villages of Palm Aire, Country Oaks, Desoto Lakes Country Club, Glenbrooke, Mote Ranch, Palm Aire, Palm Lakes, Quail Run, University Groves, Rio Mar, Trails, Treymore at Village of Palm Aire, Vintage Creek
Freedom Elementary(34212)-Gates Creek, Greenfield Plantation, Heritage Harbour, Lighthouse Cove at Heritage Harbor, Old Grove at Greenfield, Planters Manor at Greenfield, River Strand, Stoneybrook at Heritage Harbor, Waterlefe Golf & River Club
Tara Elementary(34212)-Barrington Ridge, Braden Crossing, Creekwood, Manatee Oaks, Mandalay, River Landings Bluffs, River Place, Rivers Edge, Silver Lake, Tailfeather Way at Tara, Tara, Tara Preserve, Wallingford, Water Oak
Middle School
Carlos E Halie Middle(34208-34212)
Braden River Middle(32401-34243)
Nolan Middle(34202, 34211, 34251)
King Middle(34209, 34216, 34217, 34228)
High School
Lakewood Ranch High(34202, 34211, 34212, 34251)
Manatee High(34205-34209, 34216, 34217, 34228)
Alternative School
Manatee School for Arts and Sciences
Having been to Hawaii many times, I'd totally suggest you go rent for a year on Siesta Key. You will surely miss the mountain/water combination but Siesta has the beach & accessability to everything you need. You know what it's like already to deal with tourists & island life so it should be that bad for you to deal with in respect to that issue. Take time to reaquaint yourself with Florida no matter where you go...
Siesta Key is just horrible for traffic though--
which I understand can be bad in Hawaii as well depending on where you live
really high density living--
what about Osprey vs Siesta Key?
Having been to Hawaii many times, I'd totally suggest you go rent for a year on Siesta Key. You will surely miss the mountain/water combination but Siesta has the beach & accessability to everything you need. You know what it's like already to deal with tourists & island life so it should be that bad for you to deal with in respect to that issue. Take time to reaquaint yourself with Florida no matter where you go...
Although I love Siesta Key, it wouldn't be practical to move there with the expectation of moving again... We won't want to uproot my daughter once she's in school.
Plus the hassle associated with moving.. We've moved 3 times in the last 6 years. (The latest due to the recession). I plan on heading down to Florida when we know a move is gonna happen. Spend a few weeks there looking, and hopefully find something so when we sell our home in Maui we can send our stuff right to an address in Florida.
Although I love Siesta Key, it wouldn't be practical to move there with the expectation of moving again... We won't want to uproot my daughter once she's in school.
Plus the hassle associated with moving.. We've moved 3 times in the last 6 years. (The latest due to the recession). I plan on heading down to Florida when we know a move is gonna happen. Spend a few weeks there looking, and hopefully find something so when we sell our home in Maui we can send our stuff right to an address in Florida.
Maui to Florida...hmmmmm, I don't ever know if I could justify leaving Maui to move here....
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $53,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 1.5 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
You've got the #1 school in the state if your daughter tests in, beautiful homes in that price range, located between siesta key beach (about 10min) and Nokomis Beach (about 5 min) or Venice Beach (10 min). Tiki bar at Casey Key fish house 
nice & quiet area but all the shopping etc is nearby.
