SEE HOLMES BEACH

FROM PAGE 1 ment committee, form of government ad-hoc committee and dog park committee • Owned and operated an executive search firm for 28 years in Princeton, New Jersey, and as president of her professional personnel association • Volunteer work includes the Golden Retriever Rescue of Mid-Florida, Anna Maria Island Historical Society, Suncoast Waterkeeper, Friends of the Island Library and Roser Memorial Community Church • 11-year resident of Holmes Beach

Q: Why should voters cast their ballots for you?

A: “My civic responsibility to make our city the best coastal city in Florida is evident in my resume. For 11 years I have stepped up and served. I have been appointed to committees, volunteered at city functions, advocated for the city dog park, and attended and participated in commission meetings and work sessions. I have done hours of research in order to address areas that I felt needed resident input or clarification. I have committed myself to my city and its residents. I am a team player and a good listener. I strive to achieve fairness and compromise. My background is in Human Resources and this has taught me how to develop partnerships to bring people together for the betterment of all.”

JOHN MONETTI • Formerly served three terms as a Holmes Beach city commissioner and five years on the planning commission • Worked as the general manager of the Columbia Restaurant on St. Armands Circle for 27 years • Part of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association for 20 years, served three years as its president • Volunteer work includes The Center of Anna Maria Island, Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce and Anna Maria Elementary School Parent/Teacher Organization • 26-year full-time resident of Holmes Beach

Q: Why should voters cast their ballots for you?

A: “To elect a well-rounded individual who will try to offer a balanced approach to issues. I am a 26-year resident of Holmes Beach that can see perspectives as a family man with a wife and five children raised here, but also cognizant of our business community. They are not mutually exclusive.”

PAT MORTON • Formerly served for 17 years as a Holmes Beach city commissioner, was first elected in 2003 • Formerly served with the United States military and currently works part-time at the Holmes Beach ACE Hardware • Member of the Florida Emergency Preparedness Association and certified by FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute • Previously served as Holmes Beach city commission liaison to Waste Pro, Holmes Beach police pension board and Manatee County Emergency Operations Center • 23-year Holmes Beach resident

Q: Why should voters cast their ballots for you?

A: “Because I have a tremendous history and proven record in supporting our residents and business owners. Balance is key. Too much legislation to benefit only one aspect of the city will tip the scales in only one direction. I will continue to look at the entire picture. This, after all, is a wonderful place to visit but an even better place to live and raise a family.”

TERRY SCHAEFER • Incumbent commissioner, first elected in November 2019 • Serves as city commission liaison to the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce, Anna Maria Elementary School, The Center of Anna Maria Island, Holmes Beach police pension board. Alternate liaison for legislative matters and the Manatee County Emergency Operations Center • Worked for 35 years in banking and business management • Volunteer work includes 16 years as a public school board member in Belleville, Illinois and 12 years as a board member of the Southwestern Illinois Development Authority • Member of the Key Royale Club and served on the Holmes Beach Form of Government AdHoc committee

Q: Why should voters cast their ballots for you?

A: “I believe voters can have the confidence that my deliberations and opinions are based on solid research, fact-finding and the ultimate effect my decisions and vote will have on our community. My knowledge and experience of our city’s operations, gained over the past years’ service, provide the basis of evaluating each issue and deciding what the net benefit to our community will be. I also believe that it is vital to listen to my fellow commissioners’ statements concerning issues prior to my ultimate decision and vote. I have the time and desire to serve the city and will continue to invest the time in preparation for meetings in order to be fully prepared to discuss all agenda items. In addition, I have the lifelong desire to help when and where I can be effective.”

CAROL SOUSTEK • Incumbent commissioner, first elected in November 2014 • City commission liaison to code compliance, Grassy Point Preserve, Manatee County Emergency Operations Center, planning commission and parks and beautification committee • Worked as a corporate accountant for more than 50 years • Volunteer work includes Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring, Serving Anna Maria and Friends of the Island Library • Served as chair of the Holmes Beach Island Congestion Committee in 2013

Q: Why should voters cast their ballots for you?

A: “Much depends on your commissioners taking the right path for you. Please look at my voting record and you will see the ordinances I have voted on. Limited bedrooms in structures to four, larger setbacks between properties, house sizes to lot ratios, noise restrictions, safety on our roads and in our homes, protection of wildlife, dunes and sea oats, reduced parking in our residential areas, better site plans, mask regulations, vacation rental regulations. These are just a few of hundreds.”

Monetti Morton

Schaefer Soustek

Moriarty joining Anna Maria city staff

Mayor Dan Murphy has hired Amy Moriarty to serve as the city of Anna Maria’s new webmaster. On Thursday, Sept. 23, Murphy informed city commissioners of the hiring. He said Moriarty’s expertise includes web analysis and Google analytics.

She will also manage the city’s Home Rule Florida website. Based on her legislative expertise, Moriarty will work closely with the city’s legislative lobbyist, Chip Case, on preserving the city’s home rule rights, which include the local regulation of vacation rentals. Moriarty will also assist the city with grant writing.

“I’m really excited about this new employee. I think Amy’s going to be a great addition,” Murphy said, noting she previously served as member of the U.S. Air Force. Moriarty begins her new job on Monday, Oct. 13. She spent the past year working as a reporter for The Islander, where her duties included covering the Anna Maria mayor and city commission.

“I’m thrilled you’re going to be joining us,” Commissioner Jon Crane said. “I’m surprised, but I’m so thrilled,” Commission Chair Carol Carter added.

“I’ve enjoyed covering the city and I’ve appreciated all the input the commissioners have given me when I requested it,” Moriarty said.

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN Local reporter Amy Moriarty has been hired by the city of Anna Maria.

22 THE SUN REAL ESTATE

SEPTEMBER 29, 2021

Here today, gone tomorrow

If you want to buy a property in the Bradenton-Sarasota area you have to act fast, and I mean lightning fast. Whatever comes on the market today will likely be gone within a week, selling at record-breaking prices every month.

None of this is a surprise to buyers who are out there beating the bushes daily or to their agents who are scurrying around looking for properties to satisfy the buyers lined up at their doors. But what’s interesting about some of these buyers is that they are coming from less traditional areas of the country. Local real estate professionals are reporting buyers from California, Washington state and other areas on the west coast of the country. When this was confirmed at the Island Publix check-out when I asked where all these people were coming from, I knew it was true.

Further confirmation of our hot market came from CoreLogic when they published the hottest metro areas in the country that people are relocating to. Bradenton-Sarasota came in at #14, Tampa at #5 and five other Florida regions were all in the top 15. The New York-Newark-Jersey City region was #1 in loss of residents.

Further, the National Association of Realtors reported in their July and August existing home sales reports the four regions of the country that are seeing the most home sales: The South continues to be the highest, maintaining over 40% of the market for both months; the Midwest comes in second at over 20%; the West is third, also over 20% and the Northeast is the lowest, just breaking 10% of the market share.

In Manatee County, the sales statistics from the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee for July are: Single-family homes closed 5.8% fewer properties compared to last year. The median sales price was $430,000, up 19.8%; the average sale price was $566,595, up 19%; the median time to contract was six days, and the month’s supply of properties was .08 months.

Condos also closed fewer units, down 6.5%. The median sale price was $250,050, up 13.7%; the average sale price was $309,887, up 14.5%; the median time to contract was six days and the month’s supply of properties was 0.6 months.

By comparison, the National Association of Realtors reported the median price of existing single-family home sales for July was $359,900.

Now on to August: Single-family homes closed 2.7% fewer homes compared to last year. The median sale price was $430,000, same as July, up 19.4%; the average sale price was $579,647, up 20.5%; the median time to contract was five days and the month’s supply of properties was 0.8 months.

Condos closed 12.2% fewer units; the median price was $275,000, up 23.3%; the average sale price was $302,733, up 15.5%; the median time to contract was seven days and the month’s supply was 0.7 months.

By comparison, the National Association of Realtors reported the median price of existing single-family home sales for August was $356,700, slightly down from July.

In addition, the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee reported that August was the 15th consecutive month that the price of single-family homes increased for this region.

At this point, I don’t think there is any relief for the poor buyers. The fewer properties on the market, the higher the prices will go, resulting in fewer actual sales, as we can see from July and August. Since we’re at the beginning of our busy sale season in Florida, it will be interesting to see where we are with available properties in a few months.

Not sure when it will end, but I’m pretty sure you will find out first at the Publix check-out.

Castles in the Sand

LOUISE BOLGER