5 Waterfront Communities to Float Your Boat

Find a home for your boat! A phrase many buyer's come to us with everyday and sums up many people's vision of living the Florida dream. However, slowly over the years (and over the last few months with our low inventory levels), prices for waterfront properties have gone up making the dream of living on the water and docking your boat on the same property is no longer an affordable find. We talk with people from all over wanting to do exactly this but can’t make it a reality because homes like this hover around (and above) the million dollar price point. In situations like this, finding creative solutions to give people the best Florida lifestyle in a price point that is do-able is what realtors do best. One of the options to consider would be finding a property in a waterfront community. Usually these are communities that are along the intracoastal waterway with a community marina so you can dock your boat close to home. Where on our turf along the Gulf coast can you find neighborhoods like this? Here are a few communities to consider:

TROPICAL SHORES: Located in South Sarasota, Tropical Shores is a smaller boaters community west of Palmer Ranch and Tamiami Trail right along Little Sarasota Bay. Building in this neighborhood began in the mid 1950’s and now consists of 160+ properties on 8 street with an array of property layouts and styles. Homeowners in Tropical Shores can join the optional HOA which gives them access to the community marina, clubhouse, boat slips, docks and boat ramp. From the marina, boaters have instant access to the Intracoastal Waterway and you can enjoy a relaxing boat ride north towards Lido Key to access Big Sarasota Pass right to the Gulf of Mexico. Properties that line the water will exceed $1,000,000 however there are recent sales in the community that have sold in the mid $200,000’s. A great and affordable community to own a boat and utilize it at your leisure.

PELICAN COVE: Just north of Tropical Shores in South Sarasota is the lush, gated, waterfront community; Pelican Cove. Built in the late 1970’s - early 1980’s this condo community consists of 720+ residences on 75 acres next to Little Sarasota Bay. Not only do residents get to enjoy the beautifully landscaped grounds, they also have access to 6 community pools, 3 community clubhouses, tennis courts, walking trails, a fishing pier and community activities. The 87 slip marina is nestled at the north end of the community and leads out to the intracoastal waterway and Little Sarasota Bay. Getting to the Gulf of Mexico requires boating under the non-fixed South and North Siesta Key Bridges but makes for a nice and enjoyable cruise on the water.

HARBOR TOWERS YACHT AND RACQUET CLUB: Why not have the best of both worlds. Live on Siesta Key with walkability access to the beach AND keep your boat on site so you can enjoy a day on the water. Harbor Towers is a gated community situated on the intracoastal side of Midnight Pass Road on Siesta Key with 200+ residences and a plethora of community amenities. Owners all have access to the sparkling pools, spa, fitness facility, saunas, social room with updated catering kitchen, outdoor grilling, 3 Har-Tru tennis courts, kayak launch, and 40 slip marina. Harbor Towers is one of the largest intracoastal facing properties on the key and is a short boat ride to the north end of the island to reach the Gulf of Mexico.

TIDEWATER PRESERVE: A newer, master-planned, boaters community in Bradenton situated along the Manatee River. East of I-75 just north of Lakewood Ranch, Tidewater Preserve was built on 401 acres of land with a wide selection of properties to choose from. Single family homes, villas and condos, buyer’s can live as minimally or as lavishly as they’d like. Finding and buying a residence is just the beginning, ownership offers a gated and secured community with a built-in social scene, resort style living with a full-time lifestyle director, 3 Har-Tru tennis courts, two clubhouses with fitness center and community room, three heated pools including a riverfront pool, walking trails along the river, dog park, playground and a canoe and kayak park with free use of the community's canoes and kayaks. The private marina facility has 149 slips and docks boasting 14,000 lbs lifts granting boaters access to the Manatee River and out to the Gulf of Mexico. Waterfront living made fun and easy.

SOUTHBAY YACHT AND RACQUET CLUB: Nestled west of the trail south of Sarasota in Osprey, boaters are drawn to this quaint and quiet community for its quality homes, community amenities and its waterfront location along the intracoastal across from Dryman Bay and Casey Key. Built in the late 1970’s - early 1980’s Southbay is one of the best-kept secrets in the area consisting of 350+ homes with low HOA fees plus amenities including tennis courts, pickleball, a clubhouse, community pool, walking paths, and a bayside park. Owners that are boaters relish in the deep-water marina where the residents-only quarterly fees offer slips with water and electricity. The marina easily accommodates small and large boats as well as sailboats. From the marina it's direct access to the intracoastal waterway and easy sailing down to the Venice Inlet to reach the Gulf of Mexico. 

These are just some of the handful of great waterfront communities boaters can look into to float your boat. For more information on these communities and others CONTACT US at 941.200.HOME or [email protected]

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