$99,000 Specials

Three deals in Sarasota real estate.

By Robert Plunket

Click here to see our Real Estate Junkie discuss these great buys on ABC7.

I’ve been combing the listings to see what sort of house you can get for $99,000 in Sarasota at the moment. This is a very popular price these days. But frankly, most of the houses were shabby and/or inconveniently located. Sad-sack short sales in depressing neighborhoods. Were than any real deals?

Surprise! There were. Here are the three I found the most interesting.

2625 Floyd St.

This cute s retro gem has a lot going for it. It’s in great shape and is neat as a pin. And the location is terrific – on the edge of downtown, right near Arlington Park (desirable for its walking trails, pool and tennis courts). It’s concrete block and has two bedrooms, one bath, terrazzo floors, a fenced yard, a screened lanai, a nice shell driveway, an eat-in kitchen. Best of all, it’s just real darn cute. It would make the perfect starter home for a young professional who wants to be close to downtown activities. And with conventional financing and $20,000 down (borrow it from your grandparents) your monthly payments will be under $500.

Drawbacks? It’s a short sale and it’s small – barely 800 square feet. And I’m not sure about the orange interior. But a can of paint would change all that. Call Tom Hedge, Jr., at (941) 587-6660.

3803 Woodrow Ridge Dr.

Let’s move on to Southgate Ridge, a nicely kept neighborhood of small homes that’s right in the middle of everything. It’s just east of Beneva and Bee Ridge and is 10 minutes from everything – downtown, the beach, the Interstate – you name it. The area has a nice family feel and it’s got great suburban shopping – Publix, Starbucks, etc.

This ranch at 3803 Woodrow Ridge Drive is a nice solid 1960s home distinguished by its landscaping. I’d describe it as tropical and jungle-like, with fairly dense plantings all around the house. If you’re a Florida gardener this would be a great place to take over and make your own. I was impressed with the bougainvillea and the big agaves – or were they split philodendron? The landscaping also gives it extra privacy.

The interior is a relatively spacious 1,440 square feet, with a large living-dining area, two bedrooms, and it also has a second bath, a big plus. The kitchen is nice and the living area is tiled. This is a perfect example of how infinitely adaptable these Florida ranches are. This one is also a short sale. Call Jean Brewer at 941-925-4375.

828 Myrtle St.

And now for something completely different. This 1925 cottage at 828 Myrtle St. is right across the street from Jungle Gardens. This charming little West of the Trail neighborhood of modest homes was originally a Mennonite community – there’s still a Mennonite church – but nowadays it’s surrounded by the hip Indian Beach neighborhood, and barely a block away are multimillion dollar mansions facing the bay.

I had no idea what to expect when I went inside – and boy, was I surprised. The owners are in their 90s and the place – while well maintained – hasn’t been altered in decades, if ever. It’s like entering a nostalgic 1920s farmhouse. The ceilings are high (10 feet or so) and the original wooden floors are gorgeous. It also has the original windows and hardware. There is a fireplace (maybe working, maybe not) and what looks like the original kitchen sink. (The kitchen and bath have been altered, but need work.)

In fact, the whole house needs work. But as a restoration project this one is great. You just can’t find anything this authentically old-fashioned anymore. It’s got 1,210 square feet, two bedrooms (the cute sun porch can be a third), a big eat-in kitchen, and a nice size dining room, a big enclosed back porch, a detached garage. The lot is 140 feet deep, with a wonderful back yard.

The house is being sold “as-is” and furnished (I noticed a great Haywood Wakefield desk.) Yes, it does have central air. And a pug named Katy lives next door.

Call Eli Miller at 941-921-5351.

Posted: 2/3/2010 10:36:53 AM | 0 comments

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