Marc Rasmussen's Blog: All Categories

Cozy. Popular. Peaceful.

Sitting peacefully on the east coast of Florida in the city of Sarasota is the popular neighborhood of Cherokee Park. Located west of the trail and just south of downtown Sarasota this is one of the cities most sought after communities. Residents are convenient to Siesta Key beach, shopping, restaurants, entertainment, attractions and are close enough to ride a bike to downtown.

The homes in Cherokee Park are a mix of Old Florida ranch style homes to McMansions. Most of the homes have been remodeled or completely rebuilt. The lush landscaping and mature trees gives this old Sarasota neighborhood a cozy, relaxed and family oriented feel to it. The school districts are considered by many to be the best in Sarasota, Florida.…

Have foreclosures peaked in Sarasota, Florida? The Sarasota Herald Tribune reported today that number of Sarasota foreclosure filings dropped by 8.4% in September. It is too early to celebrate in my opinion but this is some positive news. Perhaps the bailout talk prevented some banks from initiating the foreclosure proceedings. It doesn't seem like the fundamental have improved in the last two months so perhaps the drop in filings is a fluke or just a wait and see attitude taken by some of the banks.

I remain optimistic about the future of Sarasota real estate activity. Properties have really come back to a "make sense" price. I remember in 2004 and 2005 I would walk into these 40 year 2 bedroom/2 bathroom starter homes that were selling for over…

Longboat Key is one of the barrier islands of the coast of Sarasota, Florida. It sits just to the north of Lido Key. Assuming no traffic jams the south end of the island is within a 5 minute drive to St. Armands Circle on Lido Key and a 10 minute drive to downtown Sarasota, Florida. Real Estate on Longboat Key is made up of condos, single family homes, resorts and commercial property. It is the only barrier island off the coast of Sarasota that has a golf course.

Longboat Key has a more manicured feel than its neigbors to the south of Lido Key, Siesta Key and Casey Key. People who want that pristine feel would appreciate Longboat Key over the other islands. I just sold a condo on the beach in Longboat Key Towers. They liked the other islands but was…

Siesta Key is a gorgeous barrier island off the coast of Sarasota, Florida. Two bridges provide easy access to the island. Real Estate on Siesta Key is largely made up of single family homes, condominiums and commercial property. Visitors and residents enjoy the fine powdery sands of Siesta Key and Crescent beach. The beaches consistently rank as one of the prettiest in America. I took the family out last Sunday night to enjoy the sunset and beach.  Many truly consider Siesta Key paradise.

Siesta Key Condos

• 380 condos currently for sale
• From $170,000 to $4,250,000
• Median asking price - $624,950
• 16 condos sold in October 2008
• Least expensive condo sold in October - $140,000
• Most expensive condo sold in October -…

I just listed this lovely home in the Country Club of Sarasota. It offers lovely views of the golf course from the rear of the home as well as the front of the home. The golf course community is gated and is convenient to Siesta Key beach, I-75, downtown Sarasota, countless restaurants, great shopping and several golf courses.

The home is a 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom spit floor plan with over 3,200 square feet. The master bedroom, den and living room flow out to the pool area and screened in patio offering the ultimate Florida lifestyle. This is the perfect home for a family or winter snowbirds looking to get away from the cold. The sellers are offering owner financing to qualified buyers with at least a 20% down payment. To view this home call me at…

The salt air smell. Ocean waves rolling onto the beach. Seagulls chirping. Breezes blowing. Imagine sitting on your large personal terrace overlooking the clear blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Sounds inviting doesn't it? Many would consider this to be paradise. The Positano condos on Longboat Key could provide this paradise lifestyle for you.

Built in 2005 this luxurious beach front community sits on the middle to north end of Longboat Key. There are only 28 fortunate owners that enjoy the beach front living on this 10 acre parcel. Positano is made up of 5 buildings that all offer breathtaking views of the water and beach. This truly is an island paradise.

Located just north of the middle of Longboat Key, Positano residents can be on St.…

I have had the pleasure of showing several condo units in the Orchid Beach Club on Lido Key. This fifty four unit complex is located on south Lido Key. Conveniently located with seconds to the world famous St. Armands Circle and only minutes to downtown Sarasota. The luxurious building was constructed in 2005 and sits directly on Lido Key beach. Residents enjoy breathtaking views of the Gulf of Mexico, Lido Beach, big pass at north Siesta Key, Lido Key and the Sarasota bay. It really is a special place.

There are 2 buildings in the complex. One tower sits on the beach, gulf view building, while the other tower, bay view building, is located just behind it. Both of them offer different but still spectacular views. Amenities are located in the bay view…