The first three days of September have resulted in four waterfront sales over $1 million and an additional three properties, listed at $1 million plus, received contracts during this timeframe. Here’s what’s happening in the Sarasota waterfront market:

1300 Ben Franklin Drive, Unit 701 Sells for $2.75 Million Cash

A luxury condominium located at 1300 Ben Franklin Drive, at The Beach Residences on Lido Key (managed by the Ritz Carlton), originally listed for $4,199,000 sold for $2,750,000 (which included furnishings). This unit was on the market for just over a year. It is a gorgeous southwest corner unit with over 4,000 square feet of living area, tasteful furnishings and spectacular views of the Gulf of Mexico.

The other sales this week were single family residences:

805 Casey Key Road, Casey Key FL Sells for $1.7 million

805 Casey Key is a perfect get-away on the private beach of Casey Key, where there are no high rise condominiums and no traffic lights, and where I have called home for the past 16 years. This cottage is situated on about ¾ of an acre and sits at one of the higher elevations on the key, at about 13 feet above sea level. The home had been remodeled in 2000 and has a gulf side pool and patio area. It was listed at $2.385 million and sold for $1.7 million, with a conventional mortgage, in 8 months.

236 N Washington Drive, Sarasota FL Sells for $3.25 million Cash

236 N Washington Drive is a waterfront home with 5400 square feet of living area near St. Armand’s Circle. The home boasts 5 bedrooms, mahogany staircase, 12 foot ceilings, outdoor kitchen and a dock with two lifts. The views over to downtown Sarasota and the John Ringling Bridge are just spectacular. The property sold for $3.25 million; list price was $3.995 million, and it sold in just 5 months.

1340 Tangier Way, Sarasota FL

1340 Tangier Way is a Key West style home in the San Remo neighborhood, a great location on the mainland of Sarasota, close to Southside Village with great restaurants, a gourmet grocery store, and boutiques. The home overlooks Little Sarasota Bay with really spectacular views. The home has a generator, hurricane shutters, and space for 8 plus cars in the garage. This property was well priced at $1.975 million and sold for $1.825 million in just four months.

For the three properties that received contracts this week, two are condominiums and one is a single family residence:

1000 Seagrove Lane, PHN8, Siesta Key FL

A penthouse condominium at Seagrove on Siesta Key’s Crescent beach, with 3 bedrooms, 3.5 baths offering over 3,000 square feet of elegance plus a rooftop garden with sweeping views of the Gulf of Mexico. With only 12 residences, this location affords privacy and low density. The rooftop kitchen has a bar and there is a hot tub as well. This one has it all, and is listed at $4.25 million; expected to close on 10/30/09. We will report back to you on this sale.

3040 Grand Bay Blvd Unit 285, Longboat Key FL

This 8th floor “Biscayne” floor plan in Grande Bay on Longboat Key provides beautiful bay views, the golf course, downtown Sarasota, and even the Gulf of Mexico. The property has a list price of $1.085 million and is expected to close on November 6, 2009. It was under contract in just over 7 months.

3334 Sabal Cove Lane, Longboat Key FL

Situated behind the gates of Bay Isles Harbourside, this 3BR plus den “Old World” style residence built in 1994 has a Mediterranean flair with 25 foot beamed ceilings and handcrafted woodwork throughout. It features 2 fireplaces, elevator to 3 car garage & over sized lanai and caged pool with spa. There is a bonus/fitness room on the lower level. This property was on the market for over 2 years and is expected to close on October 1st. The list price is $2.349 million.

To view properties for sale by community in Sarasota, go to my website’s home page by community. I invite you to call me at 941-376-2688 to discuss your real estate goals. Don’t wait too long to call, for your dream property could very well be sold. The number of waterfront homes for sale in Sarasota county has dropped 25% since 2005. Compared to a year ago the number of sold homes increased almost 22% and homes under contract have increased nearly 35%. The times, they are a-changing!

Posted by:Deborah Beacham