Unspoiled natural beauty and huge home sites of one to 15 acres lure buyers to the east Manatee County neighborhood of Panther Ridge. The development encompasses 4,600 acres on either side of S.R. 70, contiguous to both the shopping and restaurants of Lakewood Ranch and Jack Nicklaus’ ultra-ritzy golf course, The Concession. The community is set on an actual ridge rising significantly higher above sea level than surrounding land, and it includes three family parks and miles of hiking trails and bridle paths.

Number of Panther Ridge properties: 700
Number of sales 1/2006 to 1/2007: 22
Range of sales prices 1/2006 to 1/2007: $630,000 to $1.4 million
Average sales price: $895,000
Square footage: 2,500 to 7,500

Sample Listing
A six-bedroom home at 24015 E. 83rd Ave. is offered for sale at $1.275 million. The nearly 5,000-square-foot residence was built in 1999 on a very private cul-de-sac amid 8.6 acres of land overlooking a lake and lagoon. The two-story home has an open swimming pool designed to resemble a tropical paradise with swaying palm trees, natural rock formations and free-form design. Ronnie DeWitt of RSVP Associates is the listing agent.

Recent Sale
An elegant, four-bedroom country estate at 19005 E. 69th Ave. recently sold for $1,156,000 after an original list price of $1.25 million. Built in 1999, the two-story traditional home has 25-foot ceilings, a soaring stone fireplace, custom-built wet bar and chef’s kitchen. The master suite has a sunken reading room. Zoned for horses and nestled on 7.8 acres secured by gates and fencing, it’s an ideal location for the equestrian lifestyle. Ronnie DeWitt of RSVP Associates was the selling agent. Previous sale: $750,000 in 2004.

MLS statistics courtesy of Al Horrigan of RSVP Associates. MLS records transactions and listings by members of the Sarasota Board of Realtors Multiple Listing Service.

Top of the Market
A custom home on the Gulf of Mexico with a private 100-foot beach and 16,654 square feet of total living space captures the top spot this month for most expensive residential sale in Sarasota County. The five-bedroom residence at 1101 Casey Key Road was originally listed at $10.5 million and sold for $8.5 million. It has five full baths and three half-baths with Corinthian entry columns, marble and stone floors, detailed faux painting, custom cabinetry and a 40-foot master suite. The disappearing-edge swimming pool and his-and-hers hot tub are the centerpieces of a lavish outdoor entertaining area. Kassandra Hugil and Matt Schulz of SKY Sotheby’s were the listing agents, and Gail Wittig of Michael Saunders & Company was the selling agent.

Sales information provided by Kim Ogilvie of Michael Saunders & Company.

IN ANY LANGUAGE Shirley Dabringhaus of Sunset Realty speaks fluent English, French and German, and last fall she sometimes spoke all three languages during a single day.

"I was inundated with European visitors interested in Sarasota for vacationing and investing," says Dabringhaus. "There was an especially large number of Germans who had heard good things of Sarasota and decided to take a look. Some flew into Miami and others flew into Tampa and then rented cars and drove over. They were absolutely delighted with our weather and our beaches."

Dabringhaus has one client from Austria who even brought his own master craftsman to help remodel his beachfront condominium. "This gentleman wanted to update his residence and he speaks no English," she explains. "So he flew his trusted craftsman to Sarasota with him and is putting him up in the guest room while the job is ongoing." The remodeler is going to the beach on his days off.

QUEEN OF THE CASTLES Debra Pitell is one of Sarasota’s reigning ladies of luxury, with two awards from Michael Saunders & Company for highest sales earnings and an impressive portfolio of listings in the uppermost strata of high-end properties. Among her current listings:

A stunning 8,000-square-foot home in the Addison Mizner style at 558 Harbor Point Road in the gated Harbourside section of Longboat Key’s prestigious Bay Isles. It’s on very deep boating water with room for a yacht. The list price is $7,975,000.

A traditional bayfront estate in the grand manner of Southern Living homes at 1233 Hillview Drive in Harbor Acres. It has expansive porches, hardwood floors, a paneled library and stunning views of Sarasota’s skyline and the John Ringling Bridge with two boat docks. It’s offered at $8.75 million.

A Mediterranean masterpiece at 925 Whitakers Lane occupies a double mainland lot directly on Sarasota Bay. Waterfront property includes 312 feet of seawall with panoramic views overlooking a 50-foot lap pool. There’s an eight-car garage. This Christie’s Great Estates listing is priced at $5.95 million.