The Pros And Cons Of Living In Sarasota, Florida
Did you know that Sarasota, Florida gets an average of 251 days of sunshine every year? I’ve had a 30-year love affair with this city and that love just continues to deepen! On this episode of Live To Give, I’m going to give you all the pros and cons of living here in Sarasota. If you're thinking about moving here but want to know more about it, than this video will help you decide if it’s right for you.
The Pros And Cons Of Living In Sarasota, Florida
Sunny Skies And Sandy Beaches
Let’s first talk about the pros of living in Sarasota. As we mentioned, first and foremost is the great Florida weather you’ll have to enjoy year-round. With an annual average of 251 days of sun, you’ll enjoy plenty of vitamin D about 70% of the time—plenty to keep your spirits up. We also have about 106 days of precipitation—or less than 1/3 of the time—which mostly falls in summer. This is great because it helps keep the temperatures down, as summer highs can reach the low 90s. In the winter, temperatures rarely dip below the 50s, and the best part? No snow!
Another pro to living in Sarasota is access to all the top-ranked beaches in the United States. With powdered quartz crystal sand that feels and looks like sugar, relaxing in Sarasota’s beaches is a true treat. There are no tolls on any bridges to access the beach, with plenty of public points of access.New Paragraph
Culture And Learning
You’ll also be able to find a variety of cultural amenities that you’d normally only see in big cities. This includes the theater and opera, a ballet, orchestra, symphony, museum, and a live music scene that's very active. Additionally, something near and dear to my heart is that Sarasota is a community of givers. Per capita, across the nation, we're one of the most giving communities.
The schools in Sarasota are another pro of living here. As a former special ed teacher at Sarasota Middle—and having raised both my children here in Sarasota—I can tell you that our school system is top-notch. Florida has 62 school districts, and Sarasota County has always ranked number one or two, year in and year out. Sarasota also has a school called Pine View School of the Gifted, currently ranked as the number one best school in the entire United States.
Additionally, Sarasota has two colleges here. The first is New College, a liberal arts college just ranked by US News and Report as the number six best school in the nation. There is also the Ringling College of Art and Design. Alumni from this school have gone on to receive Oscars, ADDYs, and Emmy's. Clearly, our colleges are top-notch.
The schools in Sarasota are another pro of living here. As a former special ed teacher at Sarasota Middle—and having raised both my children here in Sarasota—I can tell you that our school system is top-notch. Florida has 62 school districts, and Sarasota County has always ranked number one or two, year in and year out. Sarasota also has a school called Pine View School of the Gifted, currently ranked as the number one best school in the entire United States.
Additionally, Sarasota has two colleges here. The first is New College, a liberal arts college just ranked by US News and Report as the number six best school in the nation. There is also the Ringling College of Art and Design. Alumni from this school have gone on to receive Oscars, ADDYs, and Emmy's. Clearly, our colleges are top-notch.
An Active Life And Affordably Priced
Sarasota is set apart from other areas of Florida in that the community is very active. This is not your stereotypical retirement community. We’re very health-conscious, and you’ll find everything from organic markets and restaurants to a variety of ways to exercise. Sarasota residents are true foodies. There are very few franchises and chains here, with most of our restaurants locally-owned and operated serving up delicious food.
As far as the cost of living, the numbers are pretty good here in Sarasota. One of the best things about living here is that there's no income state tax in Florida, with Sarasota tax at only 7%. The average rent for an apartment is about $1100 and the average price for a home here is $280,000. Overall, our cost of living is pretty darn good, especially for a resort beach town that's a destination place for many people. New Paragraph
As far as the cost of living, the numbers are pretty good here in Sarasota. One of the best things about living here is that there's no income state tax in Florida, with Sarasota tax at only 7%. The average rent for an apartment is about $1100 and the average price for a home here is $280,000. Overall, our cost of living is pretty darn good, especially for a resort beach town that's a destination place for many people. New Paragraph
The Cons Of Living In Sarasota, Florida
Of course, no town is perfect, so let's talk about the cons of living in Sarasota.
Traffic And Diversity
The first con of living in Sarasota is the traffic. During what we locals refer to as the “high season,” or January through March, we have a lot of traffic. This happens because people from the midwest and northeast flock here during the winter months to escape the cold weather farther north. Additionally, Sarasota is not very economically, racially, or age-diverse. Despite this, we're making strides in those areas to better diversify our community.
The Weather
While the weather is one of Sarasota Living’s pros, there are also two cons to consider. The first con is that August and September are flat out hot and humid. Because Florida is a peninsula, we do get a lot of sea breezes—and they say that humidity is great for the wrinkles. However, some people might not be used to hot and humid temperatures.
The second con is that we don't have traditional, four-season kind of weather. In winter, you'll see flora and fauna just like you would in summer. Our trees don't lose their leaves and they don't remain barren through the winter. So if you’re used to enjoying the change between seasons, you won’t really get a lot of that here in Sarasota.
The second con is that we don't have traditional, four-season kind of weather. In winter, you'll see flora and fauna just like you would in summer. Our trees don't lose their leaves and they don't remain barren through the winter. So if you’re used to enjoying the change between seasons, you won’t really get a lot of that here in Sarasota.
The Pros Outweigh The Cons
I hope you can see why I've had a 30-year love affair with Sarasota. Despite the cons, the pros outweigh any inconveniences of living in this amazing city. Between having sunshine most days, award-winning beaches, quality schools, a ton of arts and culture, being health-oriented, and having a community of givers, I can't imagine living anywhere else.
So if you have any additional questions about Sarasota, don't hesitate to reach out to me. You can also subscribe to my videos, where you can learn all about Sarasota living and what this place can offer you. Make sure to stay tuned to the next episode of Live To Give to see what I feature next!
So if you have any additional questions about Sarasota, don't hesitate to reach out to me. You can also subscribe to my videos, where you can learn all about Sarasota living and what this place can offer you. Make sure to stay tuned to the next episode of Live To Give to see what I feature next!
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Are you thinking about selling your house but don't know what route to use to sell it? Is it even worth using a realtor or can you sell it on your own? We’re about to find out! Hi, I'm Sherri Mills with Michael Saunders & Co. and today, I’m going to walk you through the process of selling a home so that you can decide if hiring a real estate agent is right for you. HAT 1- An Educator As a former educator, I am just the person to help you understand market conditions, how your home compares to others on the market and keep you informed through every step of the selling process. Hat 2- Home Designer Once we come up with a plan of action that fits your specific situation, I’ll get to work. First, we need to begin preparing the property for the market so we need to become your home designer. Next, I’ll help you determine what in your home needs to be addressed and what doesn’t and I’ll be there to schedule any vendors we may need to bring in to ensure your home is ready to show in its best light. Getting top dollar only happens if we do this step right! Hat 3- Marketing Guru Eventually you’ll get your property ready to list and then we become your marketing guru. Selling a house takes a lot more than just putting a sign in the yard and listing it on the MLS, you need to position and market it correctly. You can find me shouting from the rooftops to let everyone know that your property is for sale. Hat 4- Ambassador And it’s during the time that your house is being actively marketed, I become your ambassador. It’s not only my job to sell your house, but I need to make people fall in love with it. This includes finding information about the schools, shopping, and even commute times. Hat 5- Negotiator And once we do get an offer on your property, I become your negotiator. This is where the magic happens. You see you don't want some push over type of agent, you want someone who is going to fight for every penny. But, it doesn’t have to be like WWIII during this period! I use my soft skills too to get you exactly what you want! Hat 6- Therapist Once we are under contract, I’ll become your therapist... because you’re going to need it. Especially if you are buying and selling at the same time or doing so long distance. My job is to worry about the details so you don’t have to. Hat 7- Firefighter Things will happen and when they do it’s my job to put that fire out… so we can get you the house you deserve! Hat 8- Closer My last job is that of The Closer! I coordinate all the professionals such as the appraiser, inspector, closing agent, buying agent, etc. to make sure we get you to closing day! Not to mention, mounds of paperwork! Selling real estate doesn't have to be stressful but selling your home is a big deal and shouldnt be taken lightly. You want to make sure that who you hire to sell your home can wear these hats seamlessly. Thanks for watching another episode of Live2Give and if you have any questions, please feel free to reach out!
