An open house can be a great way to check out all of your options when you're looking for the perfect home. If you're going to make a day of it, best do it like a rockstar. Obviously, that doesn't mean that you should light the bathtub on fire and throw the bed off the balcony, and you don't even have to bring an instrument. It does mean that you should drop into each venue like you're ready to own the place -- literally.

Before we get started, there are a few things you're going to want to bring.

• Tape measure – You're going to want to take measurements.
• Notebook – You've got to write them down.
• Folder – To keep your information sheets organized.
• Camera – Since people are often still living in open houses, it's a good idea to be

2015 was indeed a stellar year for business development in downtown Sarasota, and judging by all the construction cranes, this growth spurt will spill over well into 2016. Last year at this time, we took a look at major changes coming to downtown in the year ahead; now it's high time to recap those developments and take a peek at what's in store for downtown Sarasota in 2016.

Get a Room, Sarasota!

Probably the biggest change that has come to downtown Sarasota in recent memory is the construction of quite a few new hotels. Hotels in the downtown area will bring a tremendous boom to the local economy, providing local employment and an influx of patrons for downtown businesses. Property values could also rise as more leisure and business

Beach living is an obviously huge draw for people who want to live in Sarasota, this city claiming the nation's #1 beach and all. However, even with 35 miles of beach in Sarasota County, only so many can actually live right on the edge of the sand. And once people get a feel for sand between their toes first thing in the morning, they tend to never want to leave. This makes the task of finding a beachfront home in Sarasota rather challenging ... but there are always options if you know where to look.

First off, here's proof that you can live on the beach for less than half a million dollars: Check out the 2 bedroom/2 bath unit at 8900 Blind Pass Road. It's less than 1,000 square feet of living space, but then again, you may not need a lot of space if

If you've just moved to Sarasota, you might have noticed that we celebrate winter a little differently around here. You may be used to shoveling the driveway, ice-skating, and making snowmen, but here are a few of the more unique-to-Sarasota events going on this January.

We kickstart the new year right: While our friends up north are riding around on snowmobiles, we're riding motorcycles. From January 7–10, the Thunder By The Bay Sarasota Motorcycle Festival fills downtown with music, motorcycles, and more motorcycles. Take note -- if you cherish silence, steer clear of downtown this weekend.

If you find yourself spending time with the outlaw bikers, you may want to follow up Thunder By The Bay with the Anna Maria Island Privateers Thieves Market on