Happy Anniversary to a beautiful couple!! Four years ago today, on a perfect Florida day, Krissy (then York), married her sweetheart Wil. It was an absolutely charming service in a small chapel in Bradenton’s Historical Village. We continue to wish you a lifetime of blessings, love and fortune. Not only is Krissy a stunning bride, she’s also an exceptional Realtor®. Not only is Wil blessed to have this amazing person in his life, SaraBay is also blessed to call her family.

If you’re looking for a truly hard-working, sincere and professional Realtor® who also has a contagious smile and positive attitude, I’d highly recommend giving her a call @ (941) 812-3173…. read what just one of her clients had to say about her and her service…

Realtor® Nationwide Open House Weekend Provides Opportunities for Buyers and Sellers

Potential home buyers rely on open houses to help them find the home of their dreams. This weekend buyers can have a greater chance of doing just that during Realtor® Nationwide Open House Weekend, which is organized by state and local Realtor® associations across the country. This Saturday and Sunday, April 28-29, Realtors® from coast to coast will host thousands of open houses while engaging consumers on the benefits of home ownership and bringing buyers and sellers together. SaraBay Real Estate will have 7 properties open for viewing, so feel free to come visit with one or all of our exceptional Realtors® who will be available to help you with all of your real estate needs.

Open Sunday, April 29, 2012 from 12 Noon – 3:00 PM
840 Magellan Drive, Sarasota
Sara Bay Country Club Golf Course

Newer 2007 beautiful, custom-built Mediterranean home situated on Sara Bay Country Club’s Donald Ross designed course. Spectacular design features include 3/4 bedrooms, 4 baths with infinity-edged heated pool and spa under covered screen lanai and unsurpassed views of the 15th tee. Three car garage, thermo windows, central vac, volume ceilings, foam closed cell insulation. Gourmet kitchen, granite counter tops throughout and breakfast bar. Marble flooring & Cherry hardwood in office/den. Stone columns. Minutes to downtown Sarasota & her beaches.

Call Kristine Smith @ (941) 284-8744
MLS #M5821508 / Listed at $420,000

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If you’re in the market for a “sweetheart” of a deal, come out this Sunday and view these amazing properties that are currently on the market. Whether you’re looking to be poolside, on the water or near the golf course, there is something here for everyone! Our agents would “LOVE” to show you these “SWEET” properties…

435 Edwards Avenue, Sarasota

One block away from Sarasota Bay in the much sought after “West of the Trail” museum area, this mid-century “Old Florida” style home is nested in a secluded neighborhood with narrow winding streets and mature landscaping. Home has been lovingly updated, preserving much of its original vintage charm. Open and flexible interior features including ceramic tile floors, classic corner casement windows, solid wood cabinets and a warm, neutral color palette. Outdoor spaces include a secluded, tree-shaded “courtyard” patio and a newer (2010) free-from pool and paver block patio that overlooks a picturesque lake. Overvized 1 car garage with work area. Spectacular bay views of Longboat Key and the Ringling Museum & Asolo Theater are only a short walk away. Convenient to beaches, downtown Sarasota & Bradenton, St. Armands Circle and cultural facilities. Not your typical cookie cutter house or neighborhood! Owner may consider also selling adjacent lakefront parcel.

MLS #M5824982 / Listed at $229,000

844 Magellan Drive, Sarasota

Thinking green? Then this is the home for you! Situated on a spacious 1/2 acre + corner lot on legendary Sarabay Golf Course. Enjoy the views while relaxing by your pool. Wide open floor plan with beautiful hardwood floors and charming fireplace greet you upon your entrance. Kitchen with granite counter tops and breakfast bar would make any chef envious! Three oversized bedrooms with 3.5 baths compete this golf course beauty. Bonus workshop, oversized 2 car garage with separate golf cart space provide more storage than you have ever dreamed of… Seller will provide culinary membership to prestigious Sarabay Country Club.

MLS #M5814486 / Listed at $299,900

621 Chevy Chase Drive, Sarasota

Absolutely enchanting home in highly sought after community of Whitfield Estates. From the cozy fireplace, to the luxurious saltwater pool, this home will render you years of enjoyment. Custom from top to bottom; not a detail spared in the construction of this sprawling split plan ranch. With over 2000-square-feet of living space, this home offers 3 bedrooms, all with walk-in closets, 2 full baths, hurricane windows, stainless steel appliances, solid counter-tops, as well as solid custom cabinets. The two car garage with stand-up attic affords you an abundance of storage space, along with an outside storage shed for all of your lawn equipment. Entertaining is a pleasure when you and your guests gather in the great room, or retreat poolside to take in the tropical splendor. Walk outside and grab some citrus from your very own “cocktail tree” which produces lemons, oranges and grapefruit! Situated perfectly between downtown Sarasota and downtown Bradenton… and just minutes to our world famous “sugar sand” beaches.

MLS #M5826832 / Listed at $198,00

7218 Westmoreland Drive, Sarasota

Beautiful full bay front home in North Isles! Perfectly located between Sarasota and Bradenton with direct views overlooking Sarasota Bay. Walk through the front door into an open great room plan… Perfect for family gatherings or just relaxing to unlimited views of the water. The study could be used as a possible bedroom. The house is move-in condition, the landscaping is established and beautifully maintained! Once you make your way through the house — great dock complete with lift and oversized garage. A must see… to believe just how beautiful and inviting this home truly is!

MLS #M5824333 / Listed at $850,000

I can’t believe that Christmas is just around the corner and the week is coming to an end. Where has this year gone? A question I find myself asking every year… like most, I’m sure.

This year has brought challenges, celebrations, hardships, and miracles to our agents and their families. Yes, short sales, foreclosures and the ever-changing real estate market made the year interesting, but we at SaraBay have many miracles to be thankful for. Our Broker, Judy, fought through her battle with cancer — with a smile on her face — and is now healthy and cancer-free! Thank you to all of the prayers and wishes for her and her family.

Our agents have had their own personal and real estate struggles and successes as well. Kristine’s grandson, Evan, fought his way onto this earth, unwilling to give up on his chance at this big, beautiful world! He is a precious, healthy, and happy baby exploring and navigating his early stage of life. We are thrilled that Kristine and her family are getting to enjoy this joy! Lynda’s son, Andy, struggled through many surgeries and physical therapy not knowing what each new day will bring. He has shown his inner-strength and his amazing will to recover. May he continue to make strides and find comfort in his family and friends that support and surround him. They will all continue to be in our prayers. Our newest prayers go to Matthew, Darlene’s 7-year-old grandson who is fighting Leukemia. We pray that with the arrival of the New Year, yet another miracle will be sent down.

So, as we wrap-up transactions, submit contracts, negotiate deals and hopefully help someone find their perfect dream home, may we all take a moment to reflect on those blessings that we’ve had through out the year. We wish every single one of you a warm and blessed Christmas as well as a successful, healthy and bright New Year.

If we’ve done business with you, we hope to work with you again soon and if we’ve never had the pleasure, we hope you contact us if there is ever anything we can do to help you. MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

~Elsa

Now Listed at $200,000… Come See this great home this Sunday, 1-4!

2611 Espanola Avenue, Sarasota
Call Mike Holderness (941) 725-0338

This spacious 3 bedroom, 2 bath home sits on a beautiful, oversized lot with huge oak trees offering tons of privacy. Home is move-in ready with tons of extra storage and a separate bonus room off of the garage. This room would be great for guests or as a home office. Also, the 3rd garage has been converted to add tons of extra outdoor storage. A great room plan with plenty of space that offers a multitude of ideas for decorating. Come home and entertain, bring the family or just relax by the fireplace! Plus, the backyard is fully fenced. Southgate is a great neighborhood that is just minutes to downtown, the beaches, and shopping. Seller will pay for a home warranty and title insurance. MLS #M5824138

SaraBay Real Estate will be holding a multiple home Open House this Sunday, December 11th from 1pm – 4pm. Don’t miss out on viewing these 5 great properties!

2611 Espanola Avenue, Sarasota
Call Mike Holderness (941) 725-0338

This spacious 3 bedroom, 2 bath home sits on a beautiful, oversized lot with huge oak trees offering tons of privacy. Home is move-in ready with tons of extra storage and a separate bonus room off of the garage. This room would be great for guests or as a home office. Also, the 3rd garage has been converted to add tons of extra outdoor storage. A great room plan with plenty of space that offers a multitude of ideas for decorating. Come home and entertain, bring the family or just relax by the fireplace! Plus, the backyard is fully fenced. Southgate is a great neighborhood that is just minutes to downtown, the beaches, and shopping. Seller will pay for a home warranty and title insurance.

MLS #M5824138 Listed at $215,000

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Can you believe that Thanksgiving has already come and gone? I hope that everyone had a wonderful time with family and friends, and heck, maybe even had the opportunity to put up your Christmas tree. Our tradition has been to do so, but with all of us traveling this year, we will be enjoying the tree in all of its glory this coming weekend.

As I sit  and think of the hectic days that are right around the corner and I ask myself, “What can I do to stay calm, enjoy every moment and not allow myself to be overwhelmed with everything the holidays bring?” I’ve learned over the years, that no matter how much I plan for perfection, something doesn’t go the way I had planned. So, the best advice I can seem to give myself is to just “go with the flow”, “roll at the hips”, “breathe in every moment”… if I can remind myself that nothing is perfect and its the imperfections that often make the best memories, I think I’ll survive yet another holiday season. Of course, this doesn’t mean that I won’t strive for everything to be as perfect as it can be for my loved ones… I just won’t beat myself up if the potatoes are over cooked or we run out of cider So, as I prepare for the hectic days to come, I will begin to follow my advice in my every day happenings and hope that it carries through.

That being said…. I so look forward to all of the wonderful things that the holidays bring… smiles and laughter, hugs and warm wishes, togetherness, great food, traditions and family… and because we are lucky enough to live in Florida, sunshine and warmth (which means some baseball catch in the back yard)! If I focus on these things, nothing can go wrong (fingers crossed).

Please feel free to share your ideas on keeping the holidays “stress-free” and allowing yourself to focus on the important things… would love to hear from you!

As we quickly approach Thanksgiving Day, I’m sure lots of you are planning to travel to visit family and friends or have someone traveling to visit with you. As for me, I’m getting ready to make the 1,000 mile drive with my sidekick Sebastian (my little Maltese) to PA to be with my family for a bit while my boyfriend and his son are flying to CA to visit with family. We’re both traveling to colder weather, will encounter different delays, obstacles, and meet new people along the way. My wish for all of you is that no matter what type of travel and no matter where you are going, that you arrive there safely and are greeted with open arms and warm smiles. Enjoy your traditions and maybe start a new one… make memories, share stories, and most importantly cherish the time that you are sharing with those around you and enjoy the journey no matter where it will take you… after all, that’s what Thanksgiving is all about, right? What a great opportunity for all of us to show our gratitude and remind those special people just how much we love them and are thankful for them. May each of you feel the true meaning of Thanksgiving this holiday.

From our family at SaraBay to yours… we wish you a Blessed Thanksgiving.

This sunday, SaraBay will be holding several open houses for your viewing pleasure. Don’t miss out on seeing these fabulous properties from Noon to 3p.m. Bring the family, bring some friends… make an afternoon of it!

7303 Westmoreland Drive, Sarasota — Short Sale

Located just steps to maginficant sunsets with views of Sarasota Bay, this West of the Trail, custom-built, contemporary home will delight all. Enjoy your evening stroll under the canopy of grand oaks that line the winding roads to the bay front. Minutes from the world-renowned Ringling Museum, eclectic Art District in downtown Sarasota, and most desirable beaches in the world! Enter this splendid property through the custom gates to your circular paved driveway and then embark on a journey inside this majestic 4,300+ SQ. FT. home, where you are immediately encompassed by the grandeur of the space. Marvel from the second story balcony at family and friends gathering around the enchanting living room and fireplace, encircled by gorgeous wood floors and endless cathedral ceilings. The inclusive gourmet kitchen boasts Rosewood cabinets, granite counter tops, gas stove and a charming eat-in space. Ascent up the custom staircase to the bedrooms, where the sunrise will greet you each morning. Master bath is complete with jacuzzi tub and double vanities. Two additional bedrooms, 3 baths, den and an enormous 5 car garage complete this beautiful home.

MLS #M582537 Listed at $495,000

7219 Broughton Street, Sarasota — Short Sale

Revel in the magnificence of one of Sarasota’s Top 10 Most Beautiful Homes (SARASOTA Magazine, October 2009). Listed in the National Register of Historical Places and the Broughton Street Historical District. This is one of our local treasures. “This home was all our judge’s favorite. The giant oaks compete the beautiful picture – Asymmetry against geometry, dappled with sunlight” said Robert Plunkett, Senior Editor, SARASOTA Magazine. The spacious floor plan, with nearly all of the original interior features, hardwood & tile floors will transport you back to a time of elegance, with all of the comforts of today. Step outside into your private garden paradise including a covered patio, greenhouse, more than 200 species of plant life. Changing room with shower and a black lagoon pool & spa that will mimic your very own private mineral sprint. If that weren’t enough, the spacious guest cottage completes this Historic 1926 Mediterranean revival complete with fireplace and 2 car garage. Seller offering a culinary membership to famed Sarabay Country Club. Don’t let this one slip through your fingers!!

MLS #M5815550 Listed at $599,000

7218 Westmoreland Drive, Sarasota

Beautiful full bay front home in North Isles! Perfectly located between Sarasota and Bradenton with direct views overlooking Sarasota Bay. Walk through the front door into an open great room plan… Perfect for family gatherings or just relaxing to unlimited views of the water. The study could be used as a possible bedroom. The house is move-in condition, the landscaping is established and beautifully maintained! Once you make your way through the house — great dock complete with lift and oversized garage. A must see… to believe just how beautiful and inviting this home truly is!

MLS #M5824333 Listed at $850,000

602 Whitfield Avenue, Sarasota

Huge corner lot with circle driveway. This lovely mid-century home boasts a new kitchen with beautiful dark Cherry cabinets and extra drawer space. Gorgeous Corian counters and stainless appliances will keep the best cooks happy. The circular driveway has a “porte cochere” style 2-car carport with a storage room attached. Enter through the spacious covered lanai with beautiful Terrazzo flooring. French doors take you into the home. The large living room has a wood burning fireplace. The extra-wide hallway leads to 3 oversized bedrooms. The Master bedroom has sliders to an enclosed atrium which would be perfect for a secluded jacuzzi. The indoor laundry room, 16 x 16 ceramic tile floors and the slate flooring in the kitchen gives you a great head start on remodeling to suit your needs. The almost half acre lot with fruit trees is one of the largest in Whitfield. More than enough room to build the pool of your dreams.

MLS #M5824717 Listed at $149,900

435 Edwards Avenue, Sarasota

One block away from Sarasota Bay in the much sought after “West of the Trail” museum area, this mid-century “Old Florida” style home is nested in a secluded neighborhood with narrow winding streets and mature landscaping. Home has been lovingly updated, preserving much of its original vintage charm. Open and flexible interior features including ceramic tile floors, classic corner casement windows, solid wood cabinets and a warm, neutral color palette. Outdoor spaces include a secluded, tree-shaded “courtyard” patio and a newer (2010) free-from pool and paver block patio that overlooks a picturesque lake. Overvized 1 car garage with work area. Spectacular bay views of Longboat Key and the Ringling Museum & Asolo Theater are only a short walk away. Convenient to beaches, downtown Sarasota & Bradenton, St. Armands Circle and cultural facilities. Not your typical cookie cutter house or neighborhood! Owner may consider also selling adjacent lakefront parcel.

MLS #M5824982 Listed at $239,000

844 Magellan Drive, Sarasota

Thinking green? Then this is the home for you! Situated on a spacious 1/2 acre + corner lot on legendary Sarabay Golf Course. Enjoy the views while relaxing by your pool. Wide open floor plan with beautiful hardwood floors and charming fireplace greet you upon your entrance. Kitchen with granite counter tops and breakfast bar would make any chef envious! Three oversized bedrooms with 3.5 baths compete this golf course beauty. Bonus workshop, oversized 2 car garage with separate golf cart space provide more storage than you have ever dreamed of… Seller will provide culinary membership to prestigious Sarabay Country Club.

MLS #M5814486 Listed at $299,900