Consider Sarasota’s Barrier Island Communities:
These five communities are nestled in the barrier islands that are within a fifteen minute drive to mainland Sarasota. Each has its own island vibe and reasons to be explored.
Longboat Key
Crossing over the bridge to the north of St. Armands Circle, this 11-mile stretch of land has stunning views of the Gulf of Mexico and Sarasota Bay. Join the Longboat Key Club for a truly unique golfing experience with water views. And as a member you also have access to their tennis courts. If you like the idea of island living, you’ll want to be sure to look at properties on Longboat Key.
Home values start around $350,000 for a condo and increase from there to accommodate the luxury of waterfront beachside mansions. You will see a myriad of property styles from contemporary to Mediterranean, and more.
Bird Key
Take your first left after crossing over the John Ringling Causeway to enter Bird Key- an iconic boater’s paradise with deep water canals and its own private Yacht Club. You do not have to have a boat to join the Yacht Club, which is optional for home-owners on the island. This is a unique community with a long history stemming back to the early 1900’s and at one time was even the intended homesite for President Warren Harding.
However, you will only find single family residencies on Bird Key. Today, the island’s older, sometimes dated homes sell in the $700,000 range, and newer canal-front homes can be secured for upwards of $2 million. Over time these houses have been renovated and updated to resemble the homes featured in Architectural Digest, making Bird Key one of the most prestigious residential areas along the Suncoast, perfectly situated between all that Lido Key, Longboat Key, Bird Key Park, and downtown Sarasota have to offer.
Lido Key
Coming from downtown Sarasota, just over the John Ringling Causeway is Lido Key, where every evening crowds gather at Lido Key Beach to watch the magnificent sunset. As you enter the island, the first group of condos is in an area called Coon Key. Continue further to South Lido Key for its beaches, a lush park, and pavilion all for public use. Also home to St. Armands Circle, you can enjoy exceptional shopping and restaurants on the roundabout all year long just steps from your door.
Residential real estate on Lido Key includes all styles of homes, from high end luxury condominiums with five-star amenities like the Ritz Carlton Residences, inland mid-rise condos, custom built homes, to the classic Florida bungalow. You can own a condo in Sarasota Harbour for as little as $200,000 with a stylish studio, or find freedom in one of the multimillion-dollar mansions. There is something for everyone and every budget on Lido Key making it a great option for anyone looking for island life.
Siesta Key
Siesta Key is famous for its powdery soft, quartz-white sands that have been voted the nation’s best beach two times. The eight mile barrier island has a culture all its own, with a quaint and colorful shopping village and thriving nightlife made popular by MTV’s reality show, Siesta Key. A free trolley system carries residents and tourists up and down the island to make getting around convenient and fun.
Siesta Key has an eclectic mix of old and new architecture with condos starting in the $200’s to $9 million beach houses. The canal system that winds its way through the island has plenty of waterfront property, and boaters can set sail right out into the Gulf from private slips. Condos line most of the beaches and single-family homes are most commonly found nestled in the central portion of the island. Private homes on Siesta start around $1 million.
Casey Key
Author Steven King and other popular celebrities have taken to residing in their own piece of paradise on Casey Key. With one of the most picturesque drives Sarasota has to offer, much of the island is a designated conservation district to protect the gorgeous shorelines and nesting sea turtles. Dining and shopping options are limited on the island, making it a calm oasis among other more bustling neighborhoods.
This barrier island just south of Siesta Key consists mostly of luxury oceanfront properties with a few bungalows scattered throughout the Southern region of the island. Homes values begin in the low millions and reach up to almost $8 million.