REAL ESTATE
On a Personal Note
Happy holiday season to everyone!
Writing my newsletter is one of my favorite and also most difficult things to do. My On A Personal Note is a chance for me to express myself and I try to write in an unfiltered and personal way and also provide helpful insights into the world of real estate.
The theme of this Note is Resilience and Positivity. I was reading a blog and will borrow some words I read: “My philosophy about copy is that it should always be a tool for honesty, integrity and encouragement.” We all know that the storms of August-October brought serious hardships for so many. As I write this newsletter on my daily walk, I am inspired by the resilience of so many. Debris is in process of being cleared, St Armand’s and other barrier island stores and restaurants are open, opening, or in the process of renovation and homeowners are making important decisions regarding their properties. Now that’s resilience! Please support your friends and favorite businesses as they get back on their feet.
Recently, I successfully closed on a Siesta Key home which had storm damage while we were in contract. I represented both buyer and seller. Navigating the issues was not easy but I approached them with honesty, integrity, encouragement and sometimes an unfiltered firm hand to
successfully get us to the point where closing was complete and buyer and seller celebrated together. It was a career highlight!
On a very personal note, I celebrated a big birthday in October. No need to guess, I proudly say that I am now 70 and had the privilege to celebrate in a big way - in Japan with my children and spouses, my partner John and his sons. It was a fantastic trip with loved ones that I will always cherish. A life highlight! Segueing to real estate, the market is active! November has ushered in more calls, showings, listings coming to market, contracts written and sales made. My Team will help you navigate this dynamic market with expert counsel, honesty, integrity, and encouragement. Read more below about the market data, my exciting sales and new listings. There are more to come!
Thank you for listening. Wishing you a holiday season filled with joy, resilience and positivity.
– Lenore
Lenore
LENORE TREIMAN MBA, REALTOR®
bayso
alinari Luxury
Real Estate & Lifestyle News
OUR BIG LIST OF UPCOMING HOLIDAY EVENTS https://www.sarasotamagazine.com/news-and-profiles/sarasota-holidayevents-2024
OCEAN PRIME WILL OPEN AT THE QUAY IN DECEMBER https://www.sarasotamagazine.com/eat-and-drink/2024/11/sarasotaocean-prime-will-open-in-december
FLORIDA’S OCT. HOUSING: INVENTORY UP, PRICES EASE https://www.floridarealtors.org/news-media/news-articles/2024/11/ floridas-oct-housing-inventory-prices-ease?utm_campaign=11-2224+Florida+Realtors+News&utm_medium=email&utm_source=iPost
ARCHITECTURE SARASOTA LEADS EFFORT TO REPAIR HISTORIC BUILDINGS IN WAKE OF HURRICANES https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2024/nov/21/architecture-sarasotarestore-historic-buildings/
FIESTA DRIVE, SARASOTA, FL 34231
Sarasota Ranks No. 4 on U.S. News & World Report’s List of Best Places to Retire in 2025
Sarasota has landed at No. 4 in U.S. News & World Report’s list of best places to retire. The annual list evaluates 150 cities nationwide based on six criteria—happiness, affordability, health care, desirability, retiree taxes and job market—aimed at capturing what retirees seek in their golden years. As part of the same report, Sarasota came in at No. 11 for the nation’s best places to live—although we’re guessing it may have been too late in the year for the report to make note of the effects of recent hurricanes and natural disasters, which devastated some local areas, especially the barrier islands.
Once known mostly as a retirement haven, Sarasota is seeing more young professionals and families, with rapid development in both residential
and commercial areas intensifying.
Overall, the Sunshine State, long known for its retireefriendly climate and lifestyle, boasted eight cities in the top 25, including Naples (No. 1), Jacksonville (No. 7), Tampa (No. 18), Port St. Lucie (No. 19), Melbourne (No. 20) and Fort Myers (No. 24). Sarasota was ranked No. 1 in 2020 and 2021.
But in more recent years, the scoring had more heavily weighed affordability, the top concern among retirees, according to U.S. News. Highpriced Sarasota, as a result, fell to No. 11 in 2022 and No. 18 in 2023 as local real estate prices soared due to new migration following the pandemic.
According to the Realtor Association of SarasotaManatee, in 2023, the median
price for Sarasota condos was $410,000; for single-family homes, the median price was $515,000—much higher than the national median sale price of an existing home which was roughly $389,000.
In the report, U.S. News admitted that for a city of its size, Sarasota is not a cheap place to live. In fact, median rental prices for an apartment are even slightly higher in Sarasota than in larger nearby cities like St. Petersburg and Tampa. In other words, it offers a lower value than similarly sized cities when you compare housing costs to median household income.
But this year, U.S. News adjusted its methodology, revealing that retirees are increasingly prioritizing a sense of happiness, fulfillment and belonging over financial concerns. That paved the
way for major cities like New York (No. 3) and Washington, D.C. (No. 12) to place higher, despite their well-known affordability challenges. U.S. News reporters say these urban centers excel in terms of happiness, health care and desirability, balancing their drawbacks with cultural and recreational opportunities.
That methodology shift also propelled Sarasota back to the top of the rankings. Despite losing points on affordability, we gained them on happiness—as well as health care, desirability, taxes and the job market.
By Kim Doleatto • November 18, 2024
