NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH
CHARMING CHEROKEE PARK
The serene and settled neighborhood of Cherokee Park is tucked between Tamiami Trail and Sarasota Bay behind pretty whitewashed walls overgrown with bougainvillea vines and hibiscus blooms. Wide boulevards and a parklike setting create a welcoming entry. Neighbors know each other by first name and frequently gather for holiday parties and potluck suppers. Impressive new residences stand alongside gracious older homes occupied by longtime Sarasotans who have seen the town change significantly since the 1930s and 40s, when many of these first houses were built. Quietly prestigious and ideally located between downtown Sarasota and the beaches of Siesta Key, Cherokee Park remains a sought-after address.

Total number of sales 12/2006-12/2007: 5
Total number of property owners: 94
Range of sale prices: $804,000 to $6.6 million
Range of square footage: 2,852 to 10,000

Sample Listing
A spectacular new waterfront home on a double lot at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac is currently offered for sale for $4.7 million. Located at 1509 Lodge Drive, it has four bedrooms, five full baths, a media room, an 800-bottle wine room, library, chef's kitchen, lavish swimming pool and outdoor kitchen. Luxurious finishes include Brazilian cherry and pecky cypress, natural stone counters and travertine floors. Beautiful architectural details abound, including vaulted ceilings, arched doorways and windows, and a tile roof. Boat and jet ski lifts are situated on a private canal with no bridges to the bay and full water views. R. Craig Adams of Paradigm Properties is the listing agent.

Recent Sale
A Key West-style home at 1766 Cherokee Drive sold recently for $1,735,000 following a list price of $1,895,000. The 4,393-square-foot open floor plan has bamboo and tile floors, crown molding, 10-foot ceilings and custom woodworking, and a gourmet kitchen with six-burner gas stove. The oversized pool with brick-pavered deck provides a spacious entertaining area with open and covered patios. The property was listed by Peter Snyder of Century 21 Dockside Realty, and Frank Goerdes of Re/Max Properties was the selling agent. Previous sale: $540,000 in June 2003 (the current home was built in 2004).

MLS statistics courtesy of Dede Curran of Michael Saunders & Company. MLS records transactions and listings by members of the Sarasota Board of Realtors Multiple Listing Service.

Top of the Market
A three-story Georgian mansion overlooking Sarasota Bay in The Oaks captured top price for Sarasota County real estate sales in December at $6,077,500, after a list price of $7.9 million. The 11,293-square-foot home at 120 Osprey Point has seven bedrooms and seven full baths, a chef's kitchen, media room, bonus room, office-library and attached mother-in-law suite. Large outdoor verandas, second-floor balconies and ground-level terraces surround an oversized pool and spa. The property has 145 feet of bayfront with private boat dock and sunset views to the Gulf of Mexico. Jason Grande of SKY Sotheby's International Realty was the listing agent; Deborah Beacham of Premier Properties of Southwest Florida was the selling agent.

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

Backyard Bonanza
Good things come in small packages. And a quaint bungalow with a beautifully landscaped back yard offers a wow factor that few buyers can resist. The two-bedroom, two-bath home in the Ringling Museum area was already loaded with charm, featuring 10-foot ceilings, stone floors and a wood-burning fireplace. But when owners Bill Couch and Jesse Poston transformed the yard into a Shangri-La of waterfalls, fountains, flowers and handsome pool with deck, the property truly became someplace special.

“These two guys are so good at what they do, I really believe they could go into business and make a small fortune,” says Lynn Robbins of Coldwell Banker.

“They took a ho-hum back yard and created this beautiful space that draws everyone outside and offers a sort of al fresco living room. They did every bit of the design and labor themselves, and the finished result is just spectacular.” The 1,100-square-foot bungalow is just two blocks from the bay. Tall trellises atop a six-foot fence are covered with blooming jasmine and offer total privacy. Robbins recently listed the property for $390,000.

Turning the Key
Casey Key reflects the sluggish real estate market with only 10 sales in
2007, half of those tagged with prices below $3 million. But there is a silver lining. Tom Stone, realtor with Michael Saunders & Company, has just listed three Casey Key properties—two of them waterfront, the other with water views—for $1,495,000, $1,585,000 and $1.65 million. He believes these properties at these prices are going to create some momentum.

“When people wake up and realize they can live on Casey for a million and a half, they are going to make a move,” says Stone. “These are quality homes that have already been remodeled. For land value alone, these properties are priced to sell.”