19 minute read
REAL ESTATE
26 THE SUN REAL ESTATE
Money flowing into Florida
Irecently read an interesting historical novel about the wealthy landowners in the South in the years just before the Civil War. These privileged folks moved their entire households, including their money - carried in the form of gold transported in chests - to escape the summer heat. Well, things haven’t changed that much, only this time the money is in the form of wire transfers and the migration isn’t from a warm climate but to a warm climate.
According to the IRS’s report about migration of taxpayers between states, 2020 was a banner year for states with low tax policies, and guess which state accrued the most income? Florida had $23.7 billion more in income for 2020, followed by Texas with $6.3 billion and Arizona with $4.8 billion. Of the remaining top income-producing states, no one was even close to Florida, which stands alone in this area.
I probably don’t need to tell you where all of this wealth is being transferred from, but I will: California, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey and other Northeastern states. New York state lost the most income, topping out at $19.5 billion.
Obviously, the flow of money is attached to their owners moving to our state and looking for properties to purchase, which accounts for the following analysis of $1-million-and-over properties in our area. This report covers six months from Nov. 1, 2021, through April 30, 2022. The available and pending properties are from the realtor. com website and the closed properties are from the Manatee County Property Appraiser’s website.
In Cortez, currently on the market or pending there are three properties listed over $1 million; at $4,750,000, $3,350,000 and $2,950,000. The new community of Hunters Point has several properties listed, all of them over $1 million, starting at $1,850,000.
Anna Maria has 44 properties listed or pending $1 million or over; three over $8 million, two over $6 million, three over $5 million, seven over $4 million, nine over $3 million, 17 over $2 million and three over $1 million. The combined cities of Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach have 69 properties listed or pending over $1 million; one listed over $28 million, one listed over $14 million, one listed over $11 million, one listed over $19 million and one listed over $7 million. There are also four listed over $6 million, one listed over $5 million, five listed over $4 million, seven listed over $3 million, 24 listed over $2 million and 23 listed over $1 million.
As far as closed properties, Cortez had five over $1 million. Anna Maria had 82 over $1 million, two over $9 million, one over $7 million, two over $6 million, three over $5 million, five over $4 million, six over $3 million, 29 over $2 million and 34 over $1 million. The combined cities of Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach closed 128 properties over $1 million, five over $9 million, one over $8 million, one over $5 million, 12 over $4 million, eight over $3 million, 26 over $2 million and 75 over $1 million.
All three areas increased their closed sales from the previous six months by approximately 30% to 50%. The available and pending listings also increased, but by a much smaller amount. In addition, the selling and listing prices are also higher than six months ago.
Our new residents may not have gold in their suitcases, but the cash keeps flowing into Florida anyway, and not for just a visit, as in years past, but for a lifetime. The rest of the country may be slowing down, but Florida isn’t getting the message.
Castles in the Sand
LOUISE BOLGER
A new business on Anna Maria Island is bringing fresh coconuts to locals.
BY KRISTIN SWAIN
SUN STAFF WRITER | kswain@amisun.com
Getting coconutty on AMI
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Very few things bring to mind the feeling of lazing on a white sand beach enjoying the ocean breeze like drinking from a freshly cracked coconut. The couple behind AMI Coconuts is committed to bringing that piece of paradise to Manatee County.
When Robert and Jennifer McGraw relocated from Ohio to Anna Maria Island in August 2021, it was to bring their children to a place where they could ride out the COVID-19 pandemic in a warmer climate. After making their home near the beaches of Anna Maria Island, the couple became involved in the community and decided to launch a new business.
“We didn’t really expect the community that’s here,” Jennifer McGraw said. “They’ve all supported us and our new business. It’s been incredible.”
While holding a coconut one day while talking to a friend, Robert McGraw said he came up with the idea to bring fresh coconuts to the Island. Only a few months later, AMI Coconuts now imports fresh coconuts from Costa Rica and serves them at private events and several local restaurants.
“They’re the freshest coconuts you can find,” Jennifer McGraw said, with her husband adding that rather than several weeks old, like many of the coconuts imported from Thailand, the coconuts they bring to the Island are only five days old.
The coconuts brought in by the couple are served locally at Mar Vista, The BeachHouse, The Sandbar, the Moose Lodge in Bradenton Beach, the Kokonut Hut at the Gulf Drive Café and aboard the Island Princess. While some of the coconuts and the coconut water inside them are used to make mixed drinks, others are used as drink containers and all the coconuts are custom branded with each location’s logo, making them a fun souvenir to take home.
In addition to their work with local restaurants, the McGraws also host their own coconut cocktail parties, serve coconuts at special events and provide coconuts for weddings and other private events. For anyone wanting something special for their event, the couple will create a custom brand to mark the coconuts, given about two weeks’ notice. For orders without a custom brand, the McGraws can make local sameday deliveries.
For more information about AMI Coconuts or to arrange for an order or special event, visit the McGraws online at www. AMICoconuts.com.
SUBMITTED | AMI COCONUTS Robert and Jennifer McGraw are the husband-andwife team behind AMI Coconuts, a new boutique business bringing fresh coconuts to Southwest Florida. Right, Jennifer McGraw shows off some of AMI Coconuts’ custom branded coconuts.
A PARADISE Helen Ross - Listing Doug Walker - Selling
AN ISLAND PLACE REALTY Doug Shaw - Listing Tanya McCormick and Sue Carlson - Selling
DUNCAN REAL ESTATE Darcie Duncan – Listing Lindsey Leech Strickland - Selling EDGEWATER REAL ESTATE Listing & Selling Lynn Zemmer
FRAN MAXON Listing & Selling Stephanie Bell
ISLAND REAL ESTATE Josh Bernet and Adele Holland - Listing Ryan Sheck – Selling
MICHAEL SAUNDERS Kathy Harman – Listing Hannah Hillyard - Selling
MIKE NORMAN Listing & Selling Marianne Norman-Ellis
PREMIER SOTHEBY Listing & Selling Shellie Young
REMAX ALLIANCE GROUP Listing & Selling Cindy Quinn
SALTY MERMAID REAL ESTATE Listing & Selling Liz Blandford SATO REAL ESTATE Jason Sato – Listing James Wilson - Selling
WAGNER REAL ESTATE Listing & Selling Becky Smith and Elfi Starrett
The Center of Anna Maria Island needs a few new camp counselors to join the staff team for the summer. Summer camp runs Monday to Friday through July 29 and with more campers than anticipated, enthusiastic counselors are being sought for the season. Counselors help to plan events, keep campers engaged in activities, complete reports and generally make sure that kids have a fun, safe summer at The Center. While first aid and CPR certifications are not required for counselors, they are preferred qualifications for the position. All camp counselors must either be actively enrolled in school or have a high school diploma, physically be able to participate in camp activities and be able to pass a background check. For more information, or to apply, contact The Center at programs@centerami.org.
Perico Bay Club—As Good As It Gets!!
Business As Usual…..Just A Li le Differently. If you’re looking to buy or sell in Perico Bay Club, or know someone who is, please give me a call!
Give me a call today if yo oGive me a call today if you’u re looking ge lookine re to Buy or Sell on Anna Maria Isla yBuy or Sell on Anna M Maria Isla MariaMari nd d or the surroundi a ng area!
anIsla ounding aoun a!ding g ng area ea Lynn Zemmer 941 41-1 730 30-0 1294 94 9 941.209.1542 I Lynn@Edgewaterami.com www.EdgewaterRealEstateInc.com 106 Bridge Street, Bradenton Beach, FL 34217 941.730.1294 | Lynn@Edgewaterami.c www.EdgewaterRealEstateInc.com om
Transparency in real estate is paramount.
HONEST COMMUNICATION IS A WIN-WIN FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED
HANNAH HILLYARD
RANDEE LONG GEORGE MYERS
LOUISE HOLLANDER KATHY HARMAN
VICTORIA SPEROUNES BECKY SIRIGOTIS
CHELSEA OELKER LAURA RULON
AMY WARD KEN KAVANAUGH
JODY MALEENY BETSY HAGEN
Honest communication is essential to every successful real estate transaction. As a buyer or seller, you deserve an agent you can trust to provide complete information every step of the way. We are committed to full transparency throughout every phase of the buying and selling process. Not only is it the right thing to do, but it benefits everyone involved by ensuring they see the entire picture, not just part of it. Michael Saunders & Company. Transparent real estate professionals you can trust. Connect with a local. 941.896.9981
LAWSUIT: Filed against vacation rental owners
FROM PAGE 1 your seatbelts.”
Judge Edward Nicholas has been assigned to the case. In 2019, Nicholas ruled in favor of the city of Bradenton Beach in a Sunshine Law lawsuit that city filed against six former city advisory board members. He later ordered three of the defendants to pay the city $369,498 as partial reimbursement for the attorney fees the city incurred when prevailing in that case.
LAWSUIT COMPLAINT
The lawsuit was filed in the Circuit Court of the 12th Judicial Circuit in Manatee County on June 8, naming Mangoes on Magnolia LLC as the defendant.
The city seeks a court ruling that the rental property is a public nuisance and therefore can be prohibited from operating as a vacation rental for one year.
According to the complaint, “This is an action for injunctive relief, seeking to judicially declare the vacation rental property located at 313 Magnolia Avenue to be a public nuisance because of five egregious noise violations in the short period of nine months, and to close such public nuisance as a short-term rental for a period of one year. Such action is necessary to protect the public health, safety and welfare of the citizens of and visitors to the city of Anna Maria.”
The complaint cites city code regarding multiple noise violations: “Three or more violations occurring at the same premises within any rolling 12-month period shall be deemed prima facie evidence that the premises is a public nuisance and subject to being temporarily and/or permanently enjoined.”
According to the complaint, “The mere imposition of fines through the normal code enforcement process is not a sufficient mechanism to compel compliance with the Anna Maria code of ordinances, and the city of Anna Maria has no reasonable expectation of being able to abate the violation on the subject property now and into the future to prevent further violations which significantly negatively impact the quality of life of the affected residences in proximity to the subject property.”
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN This vacation rental home at 313 Magnolia Ave. is the now the subject of a noise complaint-related lawsuit.
GREEN: The villager who could, and did
FROM PAGE 15 School, dedicated to preserving the state’s seafaring culture. When Manatee County took over the museum, she led the Cortez Village Historical Society to obtain the historic Monroe cottage and have it moved from Bradenton Beach to Cortez and renovated as the Cortez Village Historical Society’s Cortez Cultural Center. There, she worked to create a Cortez Family Life Museum to preserve the fishing history and heritage of Cortez, with a special exhibit on veterans. She dressed in vintage clothing as her grandmother to tell stories of old Cortez to groups visiting the center. Her storytelling was captured on video in “Gone Fishing For Old Florida: Voices of Cortez,” which aired on the WEDU series, “Diamonds Along the Highway” in 2019.
“The veterans and fishermen of Cortez were two of her biggest loves, with her goal yet to be realized of providing for a Cortez Veterans Memorial Center,” von Hahmann said. “With her gone now we shall see whether that dream can come to fruition.”
In another building move, Green pioneered the preservation and relocation of the 1890s-era Burton/Bratton store from the west end of Cortez village to the east end at the Florida Maritime Museum. The store now serves as a music stage at the annual Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival, where she volunteered.
The history devotee authored “Cortez - Then and Now” with Linda Molto in 1997. The two also produced the “Walking Tour Map of the Cortez Fishing Village.” Green also was a cookbook author, locally famous for her strawberry shortcake.
A project she did not have time to realize was writing the book, “The Little Fishing Village That Could - and Did.” It was to detail the many challenges that development posed to the village’s historic district, which she actively opposed.
With her razor-sharp mind and matching speaking manner, Green protested planned marinas and condos and a plan to demolish the Cortez Trailer Park and other proposed encroachments into the village. She opposed the planned closure of the Cortez post office in 2021, voicing the concerns of senior residents like herself with limited mobility who would have to arrange travel to the Palma Sola branch 4 miles away. She also opposed efforts to replace the Cortez Bridge with a larger one. The marina and condo plan were scrapped. The Cortez Trailer Park remains intact. The post office remains open. And neighbors residents have taken up the charge against a new, larger Cortez Bridge.
The Manatee County Commission gave the Cortez native her own day; April 14, 2012 was named Dr. Mary Fulford Green Day. But Green’s impact on Cortez will last lifetimes.
“She was amazing,” von Hahmann said. “Some might say a pain once in a while because of her passion, but boy, what an incredible life she lived, and what a loss I for one feel at her passing. I will miss her but I know how faithful she was and that she is now in her new Heavenly home! She closed every conversation we ever had with “God Bless” and He did that for me just in my knowing her. I will miss her!”
228 GLADIOLUS ST, ANNA MARIA
LISTED FOR $1,900,000 SOLD FOR $1,920,000
Lindsey Leech Strickland
105 ELM: Extension tentatively approved
FROM PAGE 3
Hennessy said Campbell would bear all costs associated with the road extension. He said Campbell’s property was platted in 1912 and purchased by her father in 1925.
Campbell, a Bradenton resident, said she began visiting Anna Maria when she was about 2 years old, and when her parents later moved the family to Anna Maria, her father built a hotel on Spring Avenue that’s still standing.
“When we lived on Spring, we used the lot in question often. My mother loved the beach. As I was growing up, we had many parties there – cookouts, bonfires and wiener roasts. This road we’re talking about now, we traveled on to our property. It was just sand and shell. Hopefully, I can build a home that I’ve been dreaming of for many years. My children are all here today and this is something I want to do for them. I want it to stay in our family for my grandchildren,” Campbell said.
Hennessy said that in 2020, FDEP issued Campbell a notice to proceed and a permit to build seaward of the Coastal Construction Control Line (CCCL). That permit was then challenged by a group of potentially-impacted property owners whose attorney argued that Campbell should not be allowed to build seaward of the CCCL.
Hennessy said the Jordans knew about the permitting challenge when they purchased the home at 107 Elm in April 2021. In June 2021, an administrative law judge recommended FDEP enter a final order granting Campbell’s CCCL permit, which interim FDEP Secretary Shawn Hamilton issued the following month.
Hennessy also mentioned the Preserve AMI opposition campaign the Jordans launched in response to the FDEP permitting process – a campaign that Commissioner Jon Crane said somewhat offended him.
PUBLIC INPUT
During public input, property owners and FDEP permit challengers Richard Theidel and David Morris expressed concerns about the frequent flooding along Elm Avenue. Participating by phone, Steven Hanson said he purchased and developed the 107 Elm property later sold to the Jordans and he expressed concerns about flooding and the impact Campbell’s construction would have on the coastal dune system.
Hennessy said those concerns were among those raised and dismissed during the administrative hearing. The flooding concerns led Murphy to propose the additional street-side drainage elements required for the issuance of the right of way permit.
Representing the Jordans, attorney Lionel Rubio suggested the street extension would create traffic and parking issues and hinder first responders. Minor said West Manatee Fire Rescue personnel reviewed the plans and had no concerns about Campbell’s home impeding emergency access.
The construction of Campbell’s home would significantly impact the Jordan’s current beachfront view. Wendy Jordan acknowledged they were aware of the permitting challenge when they purchased the home at 107 Elm but were told the challenge would likely succeed. She also said they tried to purchase the vacant lot from Campbell to preserve that undeveloped property.
Commission Chair Carol Carter asked about the impact the street extension would have on the existing wooden dune walkover bridge and beach access at the end of Elm Avenue.
Murphy said the right of way permit would not grant Campbell the exclusive use of the extended street and street end and pedestrians and motorists could use that portion of the street to access the beach. Murphy said the walkover bridge could be removed and/or relocated depending on the additional drainage elements to be presented by Campbell’s engineer.
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN The existing beach access and dune walkover will need to be reconfigured to accommodate the westward extension of Elm Avenue.
Key Royale golf heats up
MAY 30 - MEMORIAL DAY SCRAMBLE
Fifty-nine golfers at the Key Royale Club enjoyed ideal weather for the annual Memorial Day Scramble.
Finishing in first place were John Kolojeski, Betsy Meyer, Pat Olesen and Steve Vasbinder with a net score of 25.37, narrowly edging Ann and John Hacksinson and Jenny and Ron Huibers at 25.65. Finishing in third place were Trudy and Ed Chelminiak and Brenda and Bob O’Brien with a score of 27.75.
Lori Hicks won closest to the pin on Hole #8 for the ladies and Gary Duncan won for the men on Hole #3. Launching the long drive for the ladies was Lori Waggoner, while besting all the men was Dan Hamilton.
Straightest drive went to Carol Duncan for the ladies and Dan Hamilton beat all the men.
After the event, players and guests enjoyed beef sliders, Caesar salad, fruit salad, mac and cheese and cheesecake tarts.
MAY 31 - LOW NET SCORE
First Place Roxanne Koche 29
Second Place Terry Westby 31
Third Place Meredith Slavin 33
JUNE 2 - SHAMBLE
First Place - Mike Cusato, Tom Solosky and Quentin Talbert with a score of 64, two over par
JUNE 6 - STAPLEFORD
First Place - Tom Solosky with a score of +3
Second Place - John Kolojeski, Tom Nelson and Terry Schaefer with a score of +2
JUNE 7 - LOW NET SCORE
Flight A
Margrit Layh 32
Roxanne Koche 32
Jenny Huibers 35
Flight B Terry Westby 34 Marilyn Niewijk 36
JUNE 9 – SCRAMBLE
First Place - three-way team tie with a score of one under par (31):
Mike Gillie, Jenny Huibers and Kurt Snouffer;
Mike Cusato, Ken Nagengast and Tom Solosky;
Ron Huibers, John Kolojeski and Blake Ress.
