The Anna Maria Island Sun Newspaper


Vol. 16 No. 8 - December 23, 2015

REAL ESTATE

Flying over paradise

 

Carol Whitmore

Louise Bolger | sun

Airline passengers are treated to
a gorgeous view of the Island from the air.

The next time someone asks you what’s so special about Anna Maria Island, I want you to show them this picture. I shot it shortly after taking off from Sarasota-Bradenton Airport in early October on my way to the first leg of an international trip. I looked down as we flew over gorgeous Anna Maria Island, Cortez where I live and the Skyway Bridge and wondered what the heck I was doing on that plane.

When I was first introduced to Anna Maria Island by a friend sometime in the mid 1990s I thought what a unique place and wonder what it would be like to live and work in this little mini paradise. No high rise buildings, no fast food drive-ins, no crowds on the beach, warm Gulf water, traffic a non issue and affordable homes. A lot of that has changed during the past 20 plus years, but much has stayed the, same and that’s what we need to concentrate on this holiday season.

We all know that the popularity of Anna Maria and the surrounding areas has brought a flood of visitors as a result of both media exposure and word of mouth. This has been a double edged sword. Businesses and especially real estate have benefited but crowds and traffic have not.

As far as real estate values are concerned, think about this. According to the Manatee County Association of Realtors’ Website in December 2007, just about the high point of real estate values, the average sale price for single family homes in Manatee County was $424,900 and for condos $508,941. In October this year, the average sale price for single family homes in Manatee County is $329,268 and for condos $204,200.

Granted our values, especially on Anna Maria, are moving up steadily, but there is still plenty of recovery to be had which may give everyone crawling along at 10 miles an hour along Gulf Drive in February something to think about.

So that’s my feel good column for Christmas. This week you don’t have to read about what the real estate market has in store for this season, or how bad flood insurance premiums could be in the future or how many houses are being rented. This is the week to remember and appreciate the essence of Anna Maria and why so many people want to visit and live in Anna Maria and the waterfront communities surrounding Manatee County. This the week to view the island from loftier heights before we all get back to business.

Wishing everyone a wonderful and peaceful holiday.

Real Estate Transactions
August 2015

Sponsored by Alan Galletto Island Real Estate

Sold Date | List Price | Sold Price | Address | Provision | Property Style

Anna Maria

2015-10-29 265000 250000 522 Pine Ave # 8d 822 2 Br/1 Ba Condo

Bradenton Beach

2015-10-15 599000 540,000 2206 Avenue C 1557 4 Br/2 Ba SFR
2015-10-02 2,650,000 2,600,000 109 13th S St 3017 8100x100.4 8 Br/8 Ba SFR
2015-10-08 649,000 590,000 903 S Gulf Dr 51x96 SFR Lot
2015-10-20 399,900 370,000 2310 Gulf N Dr # 104 651 2 Br/1 Ba Condo
2015-10-08 385,000 372,000 117 10th N St # 112 873 2 Br/2 Ba Condo
2015-10-07 725,000 700,000 2311 Gulf N Dr 2975 50x100 Duplex

Holmes Beach

2015-10-06 450,000 390,000 410 Bay Palms Dr 1535 2 Br/2 Ba SFR
2015-10-05 435,000 400,000 2918 Avenue C 1196 2 Br/2 Ba SFR
2015-10-23 469,000 462,000 5800 De Palmas Ave 964 2 Br/2 Ba SFR
2015-10-26 499,900 475,000 204 83rd St 1454 2 Br/2 Ba SFR
2015-10-15 599,000 580,000 212 71st St 1380 2 Br/2 Ba SFR
2015-10-08 689,000 675,000 310 58th # B 1251 3 Br/2 Ba SFR
2015-10-29 1,070,000 985,000 603 Baronet Ln 2717 95x130 4 Br/4 Ba SFR
2015-10-15 1,499,000 1,200,000 611 Key Royale Dr 2784 103x162 3 Br/3.5 Ba SFR
2015-10-14 1,895,000 1,850,000 688 Key Royale Dr 3725 4 Br/3 1/2 Ba SFR
2015-10-06 3,495,000 3,200,000 2907 F Ave 2300 4 Br/4.5 Ba SFR
2015-10-05 255,000 249,000 3607 E Bay Dr # 103 1000 2 Br/2 Ba Condo
2015-10-16 324,900 315,000 709 Manatee Ave 709 1179 2 Br/2 Ba Condo
2015-10-14 375,000 350,000 6400 Flotilla Dr # 98 1185 2 Br/2 Ba Condo
2015-10-19 399,000 385,000 6500 Flotilla Dr # 185 1185 2 Br/2 Ba Condo
2015-10-15 399,900 387,000 207 75th St # East 800 2 Br/1 Ba Condo
2015-10-30 435,000 400,000 100 73rd St # 203a 100x102x68x96 1Br/1 Ba Condo
2015-10-09 585,000 555,000 244 S Harbor Dr # 3 1330 2 Br/2 Ba Condo
2015-10-15 399,000 385,000 6250 Holmes Blvd # 63 1224 2 Br/1 Ba Townhome
2015-10-02 675,000 625,000 203 77th St # A & B 2632 75x100 Duplex
2015-10-22 595,000 550,000 3801 Gulf Dr 2188 Irregular Duplex
2015-10-09 359,000 311,500 5405 Gulf Dr # A 1080 2 Br/2 Ba 1/2 Duplex

Source: Mid Florida Multiple Listing Service


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