NEW FLORIDA RESIDENT BLOG

I grew up on a hill which Abigail Adams climbed to watch the British Navy fire upon Boston during the revolutionary war.  Needless to say my neighborhood was not planned out at it's inception to ensure the traffic count was appropriate given the housing density, or that there were enough service businesses along commercial routes. Fast forward two hundred years or so and you'll find master planned communities all over the United States.  Many folks will say that Lakewood Ranch in Manatee County is one of the best.  The big criticism tends to be that it feels "fake" which to those of us from neighborhoods that were built around various cow paths, leaves us shaking our collective heads.  It doesn't feel fake, it feels like everything fits together perfectly. If you are considering between a neighborhood in Sarasota near Siesta and Lakewood Ranch the only measure that really matters is proximity to the beach.  Lakewood Ranch is a pleasure to shop, drive and in

Because so much real estate development depends on profitability, villas have fallen by the wayside in recent years.  If a developer has rights to increase unit density on a parcel, going up (stacking) or building a highrise is the most economical choice..  But recently that trend has reversed itself! In Sarasota, their are several newer neighborhoods that have been designed with side by side units giving the feeling of a close knit community without neighbors directly above or below you.  My favorite are the Burns Court Villas in Downtown Sarasota.  These are centrally located, are well designed and have private outdoor space in each unit. If you are in the market for a condo or a townhouse you really owe it to yourself to check out these new villas.  You'll be extremely glad you did! ©  John Gaudiano http://johngaudiano.com

With kids moving back home, grandparents visiting, golf carts and general storage the newest and fastest home design includes "more that 2 bay garages".  This is a feature that started in golf  communities then spread out for extra storage and extra vehicle needs and has quickly become extremely mainstream.  The fact is, that storage alone makes argument enough for a third bay, but the need for play or extra family cars cinch the deal. With blended families asking for more bedrooms it only makes sense that more and more home buyers are also requesting more space for their cars.  So the next time you consider a home with an extra bay consider resale and the logic is easy. At least that's one man's opinion.... ©  John Gaudiano http://johngaudiano.com