Sarasota - Such conflicting perspectives! (Tampa, Bell: house, neighborhoods, movies)
Sarasota - Bradenton - Venice areaManatee and Sarasota Counties
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Good luck on your Texas trip. I've been there several times. I really liked the Katy/Cypress area which is NW Houston outside the second beltway as well as 'The Woodlands' a spectacular heavily treed planned community 30 miles north of town with about the nicest town center in the nation. You can get a very nice huge two story home under $140k in most exhurbs of Houston plus there are tons of professional jobs. Few people are aware that Houston is second after NYC for the number of Fortune 500 companies. They apparently keep the pay scale low there like in Florida. Houston MSA also built 130k new homes in the past year so opportunities there too..
As a different choice from the largest cities you must check out Austin too if you have some time. One of my favorite cities.. nice downtown, state capital, high tech, very educated work force but not huge like a Houston or Atlanta.. I think after Vegas it was the fastest growing along with Raleigh since 1990.
With the crash in prices you might be able to cash out all that equity and live it easy in North Port which is now or certainly soon to be cheaper than Raleigh and perhaps even Charlotte. Tons of options.. best of luck..
Thanks very much for the advice about Texas. The areas you mentioned around Houston I have already targeted for research. I really like what I've seen available in the price range you mentioned. I'm gonna check out Dallas too, but unfortunately, don't have enough time to check out Austin on this trip. I don't forsee moving to Texas on a whim, and would actually like to spend more than just a few days there in each city on this trip.
As for North Port, I suppose that from a financial perspective, it might make some sense to downsize to a place like that. However, I've been in Sarasota so long, that I really couldn't consider relocating there. If I decide to sell here in Sarasota, I'll most likely move on to another state. At this point in my life, I could really use a change of scenery.
Thanks very much for the advice about Texas. The areas you mentioned around Houston I have already targeted for research. I really like what I've seen available in the price range you mentioned. I'm gonna check out Dallas too, but unfortunately, don't have enough time to check out Austin on this trip. I don't forsee moving to Texas on a whim, and would actually like to spend more than just a few days there in each city on this trip.
As for North Port, I suppose that from a financial perspective, it might make some sense to downsize to a place like that. However, I've been in Sarasota so long, that I really couldn't consider relocating there. If I decide to sell here in Sarasota, I'll most likely move on to another state. At this point in my life, I could really use a change of scenery.
Houston, as you probably already know. has a similar climate and terrain to central Florida.. If you really want a big change in scenery by leaving Florida but still affordable still you might want to check Salt Lake City, Albuquerque or Denver on another trip. You won't get the same deal on a house like in Texas but you also don't get the same long muggy summers or high RE taxes and insurance out there either.. Lots of choices, lots of tradeoffs best of luck
We live in Sarasota near Ashton Elementary and Sarasota Middle School. (it's about 3/4 mi away) According to the state's sex offender regisistry there are 105 sex offenders within 5 mi. To me thismeans trouble! The kids in our neighborhood walk to school. Most of them walk inlarge group, however any adult can over take 4 or 5 elementary kids. We are moving to Indiana to get away from the sex offenders, crimes, and lack of income in Sarasota. Yes, if you have money and can live in a gated community or don't have kids or need a job then Sarasota is the place for you. The areas we are looking at in Indiana are family oriented and have jobs for both white and blue collared people. I hope if you move to Sarasota, you (a) buy my house and (b) are ready to live here. If you are moving with a family, please please please research more than the internet, visit Sarasota. It may be the place for you or it may be as many of us have stated.
I agree with sandbunne81. Sarasota is absolutely gorgeous, and I'll take it any day over North Port. It's a better place for those without children and a laid back life style. But I would have still lived there with two children. I loved living there, but we headed to an area where there were more job opportunites. I worked in North Port, and I strongly suggest to visit the town for a few days and NIGHTS (go out to some restaurants and see the people who live there, and talk to locals). Some posters suggest families move to North Port to save money, but I whole heartedly disagree. If there's no need to leave your house, than perhaps it would be for you. But please don't let your children live there for too long in NP
(which is in Sarasota county, but a completely different beast).
I've lived in many different areas working with children and teens, and North Port made me cringe more than any other. Many of us have been here more than twenty years, and have seen what's happening. If you have any questions pleas feel free to pm me.
What cracks me up are the ones who reply by saying they have lived in Florida for 17 years, or 30 years, or whatever.
What these people are really saying is, "I've lived in Florida all my life and have never lived anywhere else so I have nothing to compare to and therefore don't know what I am talking about"
Being from MI (a totaly depressed state of being), and having lived in NYC, Wayne, NJ, Morgantown, WV, Bradenton, Holmes Beach & now downtown Sarasota...I imagine, although, I've lived here in FL over 20 years, if you count after MSU, but, I HAVEN'T LIVED HERE ALL MY LIFE, #1.
Next, your list of what looks like "issues with Florida"...might occur in any of our southern states..., #2.
Apparently your eyes were bigger than your stomach when you looked at the Florida menu. Next time you move somewhere, do a Zagat search.
You have permission to tailgate your way out of the state on I-75, oh, & don't forget to speed...
I vacationed in the area last May and talked to many people concerning relocating to Sarasota, Bradenton, Anna Maria, Siesta, Longboat, etc. The best advice that I got was from a gentleman on Anna Maria who advised me to rent for a yr. or two wherever I thought I thought it was that I'd like to be. That was the best advice that I got and in December will be doing exactly that!
I find it funny that many post about Sarasota , but it sounds as if many don't live here. I have been here for 18 years and yes Lakewood Ranch is cookie cutter, very stale feeling and uptight for my liking. If you are interested in something behind those gates, just demand entry as they are public roads . It is illegal for security to deny you entry. Several posts have claimed 250k houses in decent areas but none address the median income of 42k a year. People are being forced out of areas in Sarasota they have lived in for years. Just pick up any local paper and everyday you will read the tales and woes of the market here. It is not good, and any that say it is are blind. Experts in an article today expect the market here to hit 30% decrease in values and the market crash over the next 2 if not 3 years. We are only seeing the begining and if working class cannot afford to live here we are doomed to see an area with a complete lack of services. They want Sarasota to be the next Naples, look how bad that town sucks. Sarasota county layoffs are expected to hit 130 by year end, that equals loss of services. Parks and libraries now closing at 5 pm as part of county cutbacks, again loss of services. If you are coming here and are not working class, you will be fine. If you need to work for a living, go somewhere else. And as far as the police, what a joke. We were walking the dog 2 weeks ago (we live in Venice) and found a hypodermic needle in the grass on the street corner. There are alot of kids in the area, older people that walk etc. We called the police non emergency number right away while standing next to the needle. Dispatch told us someone would call us to show the location if the officer could not see it. She never told us it was going to take 4 days !!!! It took 4 days and calls from ourselves and 3 neighbors calling everyday, along with pictures of the needle and a threat to have the media report the story before they came and got it. You call that public safety ??? Someones kid could have fallen on it and got AIDS or who knows what from it. As far as the housing market, the market cannot continue without working class being able to live here. It is very simply, no working class homes, no working class people. Sarasota has already seen an estimated 17% of working class leave in the last 3 years. Just my 2 cents worth
Where are the worst areas of Sarasota? I will be moving there in December and I want to avoid renting in any high crime/ghetto areas. What are some of the top rated elementary,middle and high school?
Where are the worst areas of Sarasota? I will be moving there in December and I want to avoid renting in any high crime/ghetto areas. What are some of the top rated elementary,middle and high school?
Worst area in Sarasota? I don't know what you might consider worst area. It's funny, for people living here, they consider 301 & MLK going north 301 is Ghetto. I have to laugh, do people really know what Ghetto is? Yeah, you would't want to hang out there at night for sure.
Anywhere you live you have to use common sense. Don't get yourself in a situation that you might regret later. I don't walk streets at night, so i wouldn't know. Sarasota is pretty much safe place, just like anywhere, you have your bad and good neighborhoods. What type of research have you done before moving here?? Are you moving for good??
DON'T MOVE TO SARASOTA!!!!! We are looking to leave ASAP!! I am a special education teacher and my husbad drives a drywall truck for a living. We are not rich, but are in the medium income braket for the state. However in Sarasota we just at or below poverty level.
Like I said, I'm a teacher. The superindent makes almost 200K with a $700 monthly car allowance (which we pay for). I make about 35K and work with kids who hit, spit and bite me daily. There are fewer kids in SRQ county than other neighboring counties but school officials (Dr. Norris) make more than neighboring counties superindents.
There are snowbirds here year round. You can identify them easily - continuous blinkers, 15 mph in a 45 mph zone, or cars with no drivers (they are to short to be seen over the steering wheel). This last summer we drove the Cinnicinatti and Virginia and back (paid for by my inlaws, we couldn't afford to do it ourselves). The worst traffic was in FL! We were cut off, flicked off, and almost wrecked leaving and coming back into FL.
We have a house which we bought for 165K, it's 3 bedroom with 2 bathroom. It's built crooked. No kidding, the entire house leans! It was about 11 yrs old when we bought it. It was all we could afford that was not in the projects. It's on less than an 1/4 arce. The backyard is one large ditch which I'm sure breeds all types of snakes and bugs (we don't go back there often because it's a ditch!). We live near Ashton elementary (less than 1/2 mile), one of the best public ele schools in the area. There are several pedifiles in the area and a couple of crack houses.
Yes there are a lot of cops! They keep the streets very safe unless you talk about the pedifiles, drugs, shootings, bulgerlies, ... We have a watch dog. Get one, you'll need it in SRQ! The cops are there for the middle or low income classes, without us they's have no one to wrongfully accuse of riddiculous crimes. Remember Carlie Bruccia (we knew her, she smoked pot near our house) she was killed in Sarasota, there was a body found under a bridge on 75 and it only took the cops 3 days to determine if it was man or woman (they're getting much better, they much be watching CSI)...
There is little to do here. We have a 1 yr old and going to Mote Marine gets lame (we haven't done it yet because it cost money, but I go with school). We can go to the movies or get a baby sitter, not both. We can out to dinner and drink soda, you have to eat before you get there because it's so expensive!
Yes we have our fair share of celebritries - Pee Wee Herman (don't remember his real name), Jerry Springer, (Mr. Meister said Bryan Adams, it's Bryan Johnson), ...
If you want your 10 yr old to get an education don't come to FL. There's a reason the state ranks in the low 40s (I believe it's 49th right now). He'll be bored out of his mind with the lack of activities. He'll suffer irreversibe pyschological damage that even the best therapist can't counter act!
FORGET ABOUT SARASOTA NOW! You live in Sarasota, you die in Sarasota (due to boredom and lack of funds to leave)!
I just had to really read this thread again...
Let me interject something...there is somewhat of a difference between living in Sarasota and living around the downtown area.
1. If you like NYC & the whole art scene you will totally enjoy "downtown".
2. If you like suburbia, you will find yourself in a community east of town.
3. If you love the beach scene, you will just need to know, like in any other coastal area of Florida, from Nov through April, it will take longer to get there, eat at a restaurant & drive anywhere...DUH?!!!! That is Florida during "SEASON" EVERYWHERE IN FLORIDA.
4. Teachers have never been paid well, & certainly not in Florida.
5. If your house was built crooked, your realtor and seller were responsible to acknowledge that fact or you could sue due to misinformation. IMO this is pretty questionable situation & hope that whole situation has "staightened up" for you.
6. I think the police in SRQ are the meanest I've seen....and the indigents you describe as also "EVERYWHERE" in the U.S....in fact, many of SRQ's have migrated to Brandenton due to the new homeless laws.
7. Education has never been a strong point in Florida.
8. Little to do? Either you don't get the "Ticket", Creative Loafing, or listen to the radio or tv. There is always something going on: 1st & 2nd Friday art walks, bands once a month downtown, the Farmer's market every Saturday morning, Asolo Theater, Ringling Museum of Art & Design, Selby Gardens, Downtown Merchant's Association events...Sarasota Film Festival, one of the top ten in the country...and just yesterday, we had the captains of the fishing vessel, the Time Bandit, from the Discovery Channel's "Deadliest Catch" downtown signing autographs for free. In the spring, the SFF puts on free outdoor films for the children every friday night after the festival as well, Mot Aquarium has wonderful children's programs in the summer as well.
We have the Van Wezel very active from fall to spring with plays, concerts, etc...as well as our playhouses...sorry you're so bored!
9. I do agree, movies are expensive at $8 a ticket but that's everywhere, just like dining out.
10. There are many free and inexpensive things to do around SRQ; it's all in how you walk the city.
Oh, and I forgot to add, I make $30K a year and surviving just fine.
Last edited by Ladywithafan; 08-27-2007 at 10:22 AM..
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. It is illegal for security to deny you entry. Several posts have claimed 250k houses in decent areas but none address the median income of 42k a year. People are being forced out of areas in Sarasota they have lived in for years. Just pick up any local paper and everyday you will read the tales and woes of the market here. It is not good, and any that say it is are blind. Experts in an article today expect the market here to hit 30% decrease in values and the market crash over the next 2 if not 3 years. We are only seeing the begining and if working class cannot afford to live here we are doomed to see an area with a complete lack of services. They want Sarasota to be the next Naples, look how bad that town sucks. Sarasota county layoffs are expected to hit 130 by year end, that equals loss of services. Parks and libraries now closing at 5 pm as part of county cutbacks, again loss of services. If you are coming here and are not working class, you will be fine. If you need to work for a living, go somewhere else. And as far as the police, what a joke. We were walking the dog 2 weeks ago (we live in Venice) and found a hypodermic needle in the grass on the street corner. There are alot of kids in the area, older people that walk etc. We called the police non emergency number right away while standing next to the needle. Dispatch told us someone would call us to show the location if the officer could not see it. She never told us it was going to take 4 days !!!! It took 4 days and calls from ourselves and 3 neighbors calling everyday, along with pictures of the needle and a threat to have the media report the story before they came and got it. You call that public safety ??? Someones kid could have fallen on it and got AIDS or who knows what from it. As far as the housing market, the market cannot continue without working class being able to live here. It is very simply, no working class homes, no working class people. Sarasota has already seen an estimated 17% of working class leave in the last 3 years. Just my 2 cents worth 
