Like any area of business, real estate experiences its peaks and valleys. Therefore, it's a good idea for people looking either to buy or sell to become familiar with its seasonal trends. Since Florida seems to stand apart from other states in so many ways, our season is a little different, offering unique opportunities for buyers and sellers.

Throughout the country, the winter months of December and January are pretty slow in the housing market. The holidays keep people busy and bank accounts somewhat limited, and most folks aren't prone to exploring open houses when it's cold outside. 

But Florida isn't like most of the country. With the mild winters here, people start house hunting after the holidays. According to Trulia, search traffic for

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Over the course of decades, The Landings has grown to encompass so much of what Sarasota is about. With over 700 residences ranging in style from single-family homes to villas in the trees, this community seems to offer a little something for everyone.

Located just west of the Trail near Proctor Road, The Landings is ideally situated just a few minutes from both downtown Sarasota and the pristine beaches for which our area is so well-known. A gated and deed-restricted community, The Landings features meandering roads that wind among large shade trees, tranquil lakes, an assortment of nature trails, and a true appreciation for Florida's natural beauty. Nowhere is this more evident than among the 76 multi-level townhouses designed to coalesce with

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[Photo of the terrace of the Cà d'Zan mansion by Hans Olav Lien (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 or GFDL], via Wikimedia Commons]

 

Newcomers to Sarasota notice right off the bat that we tend to use the name “Ringling” a lot around here. After founding the world-renowned circus with his four brothers in the late 19th century, John Ringling established Sarasota as his winter headquarters and did much to carve out the area's unique culture. Although we didn't name any of our cities after him (as in Montana and Oklahoma, where his railroads helped build towns), Ringling's influence on Sarasota can be marked in a number of important ways.

For starters, just north of the gorgeous Indian Beach and Sapphire Shores neighborhoods, there's the John and Mable

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Although the beaches hold incredible appeal for people who want to live on the Gulf Coast, there is also a great allure in the charm of Old Florida. Even the words “old Florida” conjure images of large oak trees with Spanish moss tinsel and sipping lemonade on the porch. If you're interested in simpler days, before the world got so consumed with hustling and bustling, perhaps you'll want to consider life in one of these Old Florida homes.

Starting with the oak trees, the mature landscaping at 1336 46th Street in Sarasota surrounds the main house and guest apartment/studio. In the midst of this canopied, fenced-in oasis, the main house has 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, central air, and wood laminate flooring, while the guest apartment is a 15' x 23' open

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