Carole Davis (
www.era-davislinn.com) has a number of listings, of which 29 Walkers Ridge, a fairway-side four-bedroom house with a pool, built in 1998, selling for $315,000 (£196,550), is fairly typical. The two Sawgrass courses are
both pay and play, so incur no upfront membership charges.
SARASOTA Sarasota house prices declined by
55.4 per cent over the downturn, but now appear to be on the mend. Home to more than 20 public and
semi-private courses, as well as 15 private clubs, this north-western city on the Gulf of Mexico is particularly golf-friendly. It has superb beaches and something of a cultural vibe. Explaining the local story,
Maureen Horn (
www.searchhomes
sarasota.com) quotes an example of a two-bedroom condo in Heritage Oaks currently listed fully furnished at $139,900 (£87,300). “At the peak, it would have fetched
$250,000 (£155,980), and last year about $127,000 (£79,240), so you can see how prices have stabilised.” This is a gated community with
a par-71 course, tennis courts, clubhouse and fi ve swimming pools. Golf costs are “bundled”, which means they are included in any home price, with annual dues bundled in with HOA fees, currently $5,830 (£3,640). British-born realtor Pat Tan
(
www.YourGlobalAgents.com) likes Lakewood Ranch, with its 54 holes of championship golf, 18 tennis courts and nearby cricket club. “We’ve got a
Sarasota is home to more than 20 public and semi-private courses, as well as 15 private clubs... this north-western city on the Gulf of Mexico is particularly golf-friendly
“WE KEEP A SET OF CLUBS IN SOUTHPORT AND IN SARASOTA”
Four-bed detached villa on Mariam Elias Way, in Jacksonville – £140,340 through David Neves (see page 59)
big three-bedroom condo there for $266,192 (£166,070).” The community isn’t zoned for
short-term rental, so isn’t ideal for a buyer looking to create income from holiday lets. “Lakewood Ranch has been hit by the recession, but is now recovering, and suits a variety of income groups,” adds Tan. With good public courses nearby,
the golf club costs about $5,000 (£3,120) to join, although, in a new promotion, that cost may have been paid by the builder. Other high-end golf communities in
the area include the Oaks and the Concession, while River Strand is more affordable.
Dentist Sheila Wooding from Southport and her American fi ancé Bill Kelly bought a two-bedroom condo overlooking the 12th green at Heritage Oaks in Sarasota in 2009 for $213,000 (£132,800). “We both play golf, and get over there about four times a year,” says Bill. What attracted them to the area? “The course, Siesta Beach is the best beach in America, and it’s only two hours from Orlando airport.” They don’t rent out their condo, although “Heritage Oaks is pretty popular with the snow birds down from Canada”. The couple are so organised, they even have a separate sets of clubs in Florida, “so we fl y from Manchester just with carry-on luggage”.
aplaceinthesun.com 61
GOLF RESORTS
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