Sarasota Confidential

The Locals' Guide to Sarasota

Whether you’re visiting, new to town or just need a refresher on the joys of living here, explore our only-the-locals-know guide to our region.

05/04/2026 By The Editors

Big Dip

Saucy! By KFC Is Bringing Its Sauce-Obsessed Chicken Concept to Lakewood Ranch

The new Manatee County restaurant opens today, Monday, May 4, in a former PDQ space on Lena Road.

05/04/2026 By Kim Doleatto

Market Report

March's Real Estate Data Shows Sarasota Prices Are up for the First Time This Year

March median sale prices reached $485,000 for Sarasota single-family homes and $494,205 for Manatee County single-family homes.

04/21/2026 By Kim Doleatto

Flashback

Photo: Goliath Grouper, 1899

The fish—as photographed on April 15, 1899, in what was then known as Braidentown (now Bradenton)—measured 6 feet 4 inches and weighed 262 pounds.

04/01/2026 By Megan McDonald

New Development

New Development Bringing Attainable Housing to Sarasota-Manatee Border

Milhaus plans 231 apartments near SRQ Airport, including 92 workforce units, thanks to the state's Live Local Act.

03/18/2026 By Kim Doleatto

Real Estate Report

A Split Market Emerges in Sarasota and Manatee

February home sales data showed Manatee’s single-family market rose, Sarasota’s condo market surged, prices softened in most segments and buyers gained more room to negotiate.

03/17/2026 By Kim Doleatto

River Revival

Bringing Oysters Back to the Manatee River

A Palmetto project is restoring oyster reefs to improve water quality and rebuild habitat in the Manatee River.

03/10/2026 By Kim Doleatto

Care by Numbers

The Case for Keeping Seniors at Home, in Dollars and Cents

In a region where nearly four in 10 residents are 65 or older, a new report argues that keeping seniors at home isn’t just humane, it’s economically smarter.

02/09/2026 By Kim Doleatto

Real Estate Report

The Local Housing Market Loosens Up at Just the Right Moment

Single-family sales surged in some corners while condos piled up in others, pushing some prices down, timelines longer and deal-making back on the table as Christmas approaches.

12/22/2025 By Kim Doleatto

Real Estate Report

Sarasota and Manatee Housing Market Sales Jump as Prices Ease and Timelines Stretch

Home sales jumped across Sarasota and Manatee counties in September, while prices dipped and listings lingered longer.

10/27/2025 By Kim Doleatto

Suncoast Searchlight

Most Suncoast Lawmakers Quiet as Charter School Expansion Fuels Local Upheaval

The same lawmakers who voted earlier this year to let charter schools move into underused public campuses have stayed quiet as a Miami-based charter operator’s early push to occupy local schools set off confusion and concern among parents and educators.

10/20/2025 By McKenna Oxenden/Suncoast Searchlight and Derek Gilliam/Suncoast Searchlight

Farmers Market Madness

Palmetto's New North River Community Market Features More Than 70 Vendors

The new monthly market is hosted monthly at the Palmetto Marriott Resort & Spa

09/19/2025 By Lauren Jackson

Powered by Philanthropy

10 Major Philanthropic Moments

From big gifts to grassroots campaigns, here are 10 of the year’s major philanthropic moments with huge community impact.

09/01/2025 By Lauren Jackson

Real Estate Report

Condo Prices Dip in Sarasota and Manatee Counties as Single-Family Homes Hold the Line

"If the home is priced appropriately, buyers should stop and offer that price instead of trying to beat it down."

08/22/2025 By Kim Doleatto

Real Estate Report

Buyers Gain Leverage as Prices Drop and Listings Climb in Sarasota and Manatee

“We’re in a buyer’s market now. There’s a huge amount of inventory to choose from, and people are no longer making random offers. They’ll pay full price—but only if comps support it.”

07/24/2025 By Kim Doleatto

Dune Duty

A New Volunteer Initiative Aims to Plant 12,000 Sea Oats in Manatee County

Keep Manatee Beautiful is looking for 300 volunteers to help plant sea oats along the dunes of Anna Maria Island in an effort to shore up the natural protections between the island and the water.

07/16/2025 By Kim Doleatto

Stats

How Much Does It Actually Cost to Live in Sarasota and Manatee Counties Right Now?

According to the United Way Suncoast's 2025 ALICE Report, the basic survival budget for a family of four is $104,425 in Sarasota County and $95,004 in Manatee County.

07/07/2025 By Megan McDonald

Blast Off

Is SpaceX Coming to Myakka City?

The aerospace company, which was founded by Elon Musk, has proposed a "fenced, gravel compound on a 0.73-acre area with 40 satellite antennas" at 3350 C.R. 675.

07/07/2025 By Megan McDonald

Going Up

New 276-Unit Apartment Community Breaks Ground in North Manatee

The Kolter Group is building "market rate" apartments, adding to the growing footprint of mid-rise housing in Palmetto.

06/23/2025 By Kim Doleatto

A River Runs Through It

Doug Baker and Lauren Crist’s Riverfront Estate Merges Wild Old Florida With Timeless Style

This is more than a home—it’s a lifestyle. 

06/06/2025 By Kim Doleatto