There are pros and cons to owning any type of investment property, but here in the recovery phase of the Great Recession, condo ownership has become a popular choice. The reasons for this are pretty simple. With many ex-homeowners and renters downsizing their lives, condominiums offer a more affordable and low-maintenance alternative to renting an entire free-standing home. For a person investing in property, this means a bigger market of renters.

But there are some cons to owning a condominium as an investment property that should be considered before you sign on the dotted line. It is easy to get caught up in a market frenzy, but by now we should all know the results of not doing your homework before buying any property -- especially if your goal is

Have you noticed all the construction going on in downtown Sarasota? There are some big changes coming in 2015 that could bring a lot more vibrancy and tourism to our little city by the bay. If you had dismissed all the work as just more condos going up, you are in for a pleasant surprise.

Hotels
The biggest change coming in 2015 is undoubtedly the opening of five new hotels right in the middle of downtown SRQ. Hotels mean more visitors, both tourists and business travelers, who will find themselves a short walk from all our downtown restaurants, pubs, movie theaters, playhouses, and other businesses.  Below are two of the most noteworthy hotels, as they will specifically market Sarasota as a walkable, modern city.

Aloft Sarasota – Aloft's

Above: Original Sarasota snowbird Bertha Palmer (foreground) takes a stroll on her property in what is today known as Palmer Ranch. [Image courtesy of Sarasota History Alive!]

Of all the communities within Sarasota, few showcase the lifestyle that's been developed here quite like Palmer Ranch. Encompassing a number of unique neighborhoods, the 10,000-acre area has evolved dramatically since its beginnings.

When the Scots first came to Sarasota in the late 1800s, the land upon which Palmer Ranch would be founded was largely palm trees and palmettos. It wasn't until Bertha Palmer came to town that the land started adding to the culture of Sarasota, and has continued to do so ever since.

Mrs. Palmer came to Sarasota from Chicago in 1910 as a