If you're in search of tasteful luxury and manicured surroundings, Longboat Key may just be the place for you. With its high-end boutiques, five-star restaurants, and beautiful beaches, it offers a nice balance between wildlife and upscale amenities. The only tourists who frequent Longboat Key are the ones who like peace, quiet, and privacy, and the same goes for those who decide to live here.

The island's 12-mile stretch of shoreline is just minutes away from the area's other cultural attractions, such as world-famous St. Armands Circle, Downtown Sarasota, and Siesta Key Beach, and to the north are Bradenton Beach and Anna Maria Island. 

Most of Longboat Key is occupied by single-family homes and some of the region's most coveted condominiums. In

Real estate has long been one of Sarasota's three key industries alongside construction and tourism. If you're looking at real estate as an investment opportunity, good news: That trend won't be changing anytime soon. Yet, considering how it effects the local economy, it may now be a better investment than many realize.

A recent study by Local Market Monitor, a data company that tracks home prices and economic factors in more than 300 housing markets, has shown Florida to be an excellent place to invest in real estate, with Sarasota County as one of the prime examples. Of the top 20 places to invest in real estate across the United States, 7 of them are in the state of Florida, number 12 being the city of North Port. These "best buy cities" included

For those who love the island life, condominium living may just be the best way to go. With tended grounds and terrific amenities, a condo can be a huge contributor to a life of leisure. The great thing is, thanks to the diversity of condominium types on Siesta Key alone, you don't necessarily have to be a millionaire to live there.

For instance, look at the 2 bedroom, 1 bath condo at 6157 Midnight Pass Road. Granted, with 789 square feet of living space it's not immense, but considering that it's just across the street from Crescent Beach, you've got paradise at your feet. This particular condo has been very successfully used as a seasonal rental for the last several years, so if you're looking to invest in property, this is a fantastic

March in an exciting time in Sarasota. Not only is it the height of season with all of the snowbirds in full flock, but there are also quite a few holidays. And one of the great things about holidays in Sarasota is getting to celebrate them on the beach!

But before we get into the major holiday parties, from March 10-13 you have the opportunity to go see The 88th Annual Arcadia All-Florida Championship Rodeo. It's only about an hour's drive east of Sarasota to get out to Arcadia, but if you've never seen bareback riding, barrel racing, and bull riding live and up close, Arcadia's rodeo is “The Grandaddy of 'Em All.”

On the 12th, there are a number of choices for things to do. You can go check out the hundreds of pirate-themed vendors at the

When people are looking for their dream home, sometimes they get a bit too caught up in little fantasies along the way. While it is part of my job to highlight the special features that make a home unique, I also like to remind my clients to not get too carried away and to focus on the bigger, more important picture -- the actual home. When they say "the devil is in the details," often it's that beautiful and interesting feature that makes you forget what's most important about finding your new home.

Granted, people don't generally buy a home specifically because of the special features, but I have seen them become major contributors to key decisions that were later regretted. 

For instance, I once had a client that was looking at two different