What Does Sarasota Real Estate and Victor Hugo Have in Common?

In the musical adaptation of Victor Hugo’s 1862 novel, Les Miserables, the song “Who Am I,” is about one person’s inward look to determine who he is and what he wants. I also encourage clients looking to buy Sarasota real estate to reflect on Hugo’s question. In today’s video I discuss the single most important question you need to ask yourself, and once you’ve decided that, what the market has to offer you.

Defining Your Sarasota Lifestyle

My experience in the Sarasota real estate market has taught me that it is not enough to say, “I want to live in Sarasota.” I believe it is equally important to figure out how you want to experience Sarasota and then commit to it.

Defining that lifestyle comes down to the details of your day-to-day life and how you will live in and use the property. Don’t compromise or be less than honest with yourself on this front. We have encountered many individuals who have been lured to buy a house that is perhaps bigger or newer, yet not in the area they really want to be, and they end up disappointed in the long run with how their location compromises their quality of life.

Know how you want live, and you will find the property to match. Do you want to get into your car and drive to get coffee or do you prefer to walk to a cafe a few meters from your flat and have an Italian cappuccino?

Do you want to be driving home, view the horizon, and remark “looks like a nice sunset.” Or do you prefer to sit on your terrace and watch the sunset melt into the Gulf of Mexico every evening?

As Buyers return to the market, this is a snapshot of what they will find:

• The luxury market, which are those properties listed for $1M or more, had 20 closings in October. With 498 properties for sale there is greater than 24 months of inventory. For properties listed at $3M or more, there is 41 months of inventory.
• There are over 80 condominiums and houses in downtown Sarasota for sale under $1M that are footsteps away from parks, the bay front, and cafes.
• For those Buyers interested in full views of the Gulf of Mexico, there are nearly 200 options. 90 of them are between $500k and $1.5M.

Now may be a good time to take a second look if you are interested in any of these segments as there are ample options out there. Just know what you want and stick to it in terms of the lifestyle experience you seek in Sarasota. Don’t hesitate to give us a call at 941.587.0740 if you need more information on choosing the perfect Sarasota lifestyle.