Where to live in Sarasota? (Bradenton, Venice: broker, new home, neighborhoods)

[CurrentlyCT]

Family of 5 ( 3 small children) looking to move down to Florida in the next 3-6 months.

I’ve spent very little time in FL aside from from Disney / universal and some time in destin.

Looking for input on neighborhoods / areas worth living in. What to avoid and any other cities that might offer a similar vibe.

I would love to get into something around a million, but not sure that’s even possible.

[Trying941]

Originally Posted by CurrentlyCT

Family of 5 ( 3 small children) looking to move down to Florida in the next 3-6 months.

I’ve spent very little time in FL aside from from Disney / universal and some time in destin.

Looking for input on neighborhoods / areas worth living in. What to avoid and any other cities that might offer a similar vibe.

I would love to get into something around a million, but not sure that’s even possible.

You are going to get a lot of posts from people who do not want you to move here. So they try to scare people away. Things are getting more crowded and more expensive - that is true. But, it is still a very nice place to live. If it were not, they would have moved away.

Your biggest problem is not the million dollars, as the average single family home is about $675,000. Your problem is that you are looking to move in three to six months. The market is still very hot now, and might slow down in a few months, but you are not going to be able to hold off very much.

The builders I know that are selling new homes ready in December at the million dollar mark include Kolter, Taylor Morrison and Neal. Get a broker before you look at them, as the broker will help you and the builder will give them a commission making it free to you. If you look without the broker first, they will not pay for you to use one and you will have to pay.

The preowned homes that come on the market at a million or less sell in days. You need to have a broker that knows what you want and be able to move at hyper speed. Get reapproved for a mortgage.

I suggest you hop on a plane and start with a broker and Lakewood Ranch - which is Bradenton to the north (its mostly Bradenton) and Sarasota to the south. The Sarasota schools other than a few up north are all very highly rated.

I would seriously consider Parrish and Venice for better values.

I should add, I am not a broker and never played one on TV.

[FL_Expert]

The stretch between Osprey and Venice Island is a good value in my opinion, just stay west of the trail. Most places (but not all) east of the trail are okay too, but just beware some neighborhoods may not be family friendly.

[newtovenice]

This is hilarious.