Bradenton/MCC area (Sarasota, Bayshore Gardens, Whitfield: sales, real estate, rentals)

[jimlewis427]

Hi everyone. A few quick questions. My wife is considering working at Manatee Community College. I have read all of the thoughts posted about Bradenton on here, and I was wondering if someone could comment about the area around the college. Is it a decent area? Is it the kind of place you’d want to commute to/from on the way to work? How would the commute be from a place like Lakewood Ranch? We would be moving from the west coast and would only get a brief trip to the area to decide, so I am interested to hear your thoughts.


Jim

[tyler216]

MCC is a decent area. If you are looking to live, I would look towards the south Parrish area for living. LWR is nice, but the fees are insane. You could go on the north side of 64 and look at Greyhawk or Rivers Reach or Waterlefe- beautiful neighborhoods, but not as expensive as LWR.

[Ladywithafan]

The area around MCC is ok. Bayshore Gardens to the south is probably full of real estate steals.

It depends if you want to buy or rent, also you could live on Anna Maria as well. Lakewood Ranch and Parish would be a "commute".

Personally, I'd live on the island. The drive to MCC would be 15 -20 minutes depending on the time of day.

[tngirl1031]

My husband and I were in town just this weekend to look around. I didn't care for the Parrish area. It consists of huge subdivisions and not much else. It also seemed to be quite a distance from everything. The island is wonderful though!! But I'm sure it's very expensive.

[Ladywithafan]

Originally Posted by tngirl1031

My husband and I were in town just this weekend to look around. I didn't care for the Parrish area. It consists of huge subdivisions and not much else. It also seemed to be quite a distance from everything. The island is wonderful though!! But I'm sure it's very expensive.

Renting on the island is not expensive; you'll pay the same amount off island.

[tyler216]

It is all relative. Coming from the Atlanta metro area, a 15-20 minute commute is nothing. For us, it is worth driving a little further for more house for the money and good schools.

[Ladywithafan]

I'd suggest the island. Call a R.E. company. Tell them your budget, rent first to get a feel of the Bradenton area. Rent everywhere is very competitive due to the housing market. Houses are empty and people are losing money all over the county.

On the island, Island R.E. does a lot of rentals.

My family has a home in Village Green, PM me if you're interested. To MCC is a 10 min. drive.

[Big House]

Originally Posted by Ladywithafan

I'd suggest the island. Call a R.E. company. Tell them your budget, rent first to get a feel of the Bradenton area. Rent everywhere is very competitive due to the housing market. Houses are empty and people are losing money all over the county.

On the island, Island R.E. does a lot of rentals.

My family has a home in Village Green, PM me if you're interested. To MCC is a 10 min. drive.

Rght now it seems that the housing market in SWFL has been bouncing along the bottom for a while. Recent reports show that the market is turning, investors are coming back, and housing prices are beginning to go up again. There is more and more competition for houses. I suggest that a lot of people are tired of seeing nothing happen in the stock and financial market and are looking for a tangible assest that has been a durable investment over time. The deflation of prices in the housing prices have turned housing into a potentially sound investment again.

[Ladywithafan]

I drove through Bradenton from SRQ yesterday morning around 7 a.m. as they were black topping on LBK & I had a dental apt on Anna Maria at 8 a.m.

Bradenton between the airport & Manatee Ave., has the looks of a war zone. So much out of business & for lease signs...

The papers slant the news. The housing market is not going anywhere in the Manatee County/Sarasota market. Don't let 'em kid you. If you're looking to buy, have the right criteria, yes, it's certainly a buyer's market but the bottom hasn't dropped yet.

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by Ladywithafan

I drove through Bradenton from SRQ yesterday morning around 7 a.m. as they were black topping on LBK & I had a dental apt on Anna Maria at 8 a.m.

Bradenton between the airport & Manatee Ave., has the looks of a war zone. So much out of business & for lease signs...

The papers slant the news. The housing market is not going anywhere in the Manatee County/Sarasota market. Don't let 'em kid you. If you're looking to buy, have the right criteria, yes, it's certainly a buyer's market but the bottom hasn't dropped yet.

Sorry, Lady, but I have to disagree with you here - in my neighborhood (Whitfield) activity has been very busy, and all the homes under $300,000 have sold. Also as far as Bradenton, despite it's problems I like that town, and there are some nice plans on the boards for downtown and that run-down area of North 41 - for instance there are going to be some artist loft/studios built on that large vacant parcel across from Chandler's - and the soup kitchen is moving from there. I know it won't transform overnight, but they are working on it and I give Kudos to them for that. Bradenton has a lot of potential, and it's my opinion that in a few years it will come up several notches as a great place to live.

BIGHOUSE - I completely agree with you - I am not a realtor, but I do keep up with what's happening, and sales are up, maybe just a little bit, but the market here is not dropping anymore, IMO. People are out here looking and buying.