Sarasota is one of those rarest of cities -- you can choose to be right in the middle of the action and settle in to a condo or a home in the downtown center of the city; or you can opt to go home at night to the relative peace and tranquility of a Gulf island surrounded by water.
Sarasota's popularity is characterized by a stable housing market, relatively high level of employment, educational opportunity, lots of amenities and easy access to the major transportation and business hub of the Tampa-St. Pete area within 60 miles. The proximity of the Gulf and the protective barrier islands make it a boating center year round, and a popular charter boat port.
So, just where are the best places to live in Sarasota? Downtown rates A's for shopping, restaurants, coffee shops, libraries, fitness facilities, parks and public transit, all available within a mile. It's also easy to get to the Florida State University Medical School campus, and it's easy to get away from it all by hopping on the freeway, or going across the bridge to one of the nearby Keys. Your address in Downtown might be a luxury high-rise condo, a smart townhouse, or a cozy bungalow, but your lifestyle will be centered in the city.
The Keys, including Siesta, Longboat, Bird and Casey, all boast interesting character, popular neighborhoods, amenities such as golf courses and marinas, the beaches of beautiful Lido Key, as well as a quieter and more secluded lifestyle, emphasizing the power, tranquility and views of the mesmerizing Gulf of Mexico. Single family homes priced from the mid-$100,000 range to well over $1 million are available, as well as condos and apartments; dockage is also available for private yachts of all sizes, and there are public ramps and marinas for boaters and fishermen of all kinds.
Sources: http://www.areavibes.com/sarasota-fl/downtown/livability/, http://www.areavibes.com/sarasota-fl/downtown/livability/
