Sarasota Waterfront Luxury Real Estate

The Upper End: Win, Place, or Show?

2010-04-27T15:21:00.000-04:00

Luxury Real Estate in Sarasota Selling in 1st Quarter

2010-04-05T11:15:00.003-04:00

I am so happy to report that the first quarter of 2010 for luxury real estate in Sarasota sales looks nothing like it did a year ago! This year at the end of the quarter, 82 properties with list prices over $1,000,000 are under contract while 55 ($1m+) properties have actually sold and closed!

While many of these contracted properties are short sales and foreclosures (at least 1/3 in both categories), inventory is finally being moved and buyer's choices are rapidly dwindling.

SalkinSoublis have just listed a gem of a home poised on a deepwater basin on North Siesta Key at 930 Siesta Key Place. It's been totally and tastefully redone and we have it listed at a very reasonable $1,495,000. Take a tour, Sunday April 11 from 1 to 4 p.m.

2010-The Year of Waterfront Living in Sarasota

2010-03-11T14:11:00.004-05:00

The tides are turning....

In the first 60 days of 2010, 46 waterfront homes with list prices over $1 million have either closed or under contract in Sarasota.

We still have some great properties in our inventory...but, showings are way up over last year and people are buying their dream homes on Sarasota's waterfront!

Baby Boomers Get Connected with Social Media - eMarketer

2010-01-28T12:21:00.001-05:00

We are all connected! Read this great article showing the embrace of social media by the Baby Boomers! SalkinSoublis are connected. Join us on Linked In, Twitter and Facebook!

Baby Boomers Get Connected with Social Media - eMarketer

Today's Hottest Home Trends

2010-01-27T14:31:00.002-05:00

The February edition of REALTOR magazine featured 12 Hot Home Ideas....

1. INDUCTION COOKING-Why trendworthy: 30% more efficient than gas or electric.
2. ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY CABINETRY-Why trendworthy: Popular with green movement.
3. ENERGY-SIPPING REFRIGERATORS-Why trendworthy: Pares the electricity consumption of a standard guzzler
4. INTEGRATED STONE COMPOSITE SINKS-Why trendworthy: They blend seamlessly into a countertop for a cleaner look, plus they are more durable and easier to clean.
5. WHITE AND BEIGE COLOR PALETTES, SOME GRAYS AND PINKS, BOLD ACCENTS-
Why trendworthy: Less intense colors to calm jittery nerves.
6. CONDO HOME OFFICES- Why trendworthy: To help home owners maximize small spaces-and obtain a tax deduction.
7. INTERIOR WALL TREATMENTS BESIDES PAINT-Why trendworthy: Easier to install; more personalized patterns, colors, textures
8. DO-IT YOURSELF PROJECTS-Why trendworthy: Less costly, more personal.
9. OUTDOOR CURTAINS-Why trendworthy: Even backyard "rooms" require some privacy
10. DUAL-FLUSH, ENVIRONMENTALLY EFFICIENT TOILETS, PLUS MORE HEALTHFUL DESIGNS-Why trendworthy: Greater recognition that liquid and solid waste have different flush requirments.
11. 3-D HDTV-Why trendworthy: Images are becoming more lifelike.
12. RELAXATION RETREATS-Why trendworthy: Increased need to unwind.

$2 Million Price Reduction on Sarasota's Bird Key Most Gorgeous Bayfront Residence

2010-01-08T10:54:00.022-05:00

It takes a very special property to cause seasoned Realtors participating in Sarasota Luxury Real Estate to "ooh and aah" and pull out their Blackberry contact list. They recognize that we have now arrived at "sweet spot" pricing on our listing at 467 Meadow Lark Drive on ultra-convenient Bird Key located minutes between Lido Beach and Downtown
Sarasota.

Very few properties in the area rival the beauty of La CasaBella on Sarasota Bay with old-world Italian detailing and craftsmanship and the magnificent vision of Addison Mizner's iconic Florida design. Vast, open interior spaces with its multitude of columns and archways gracefully transitioning to courtyards, loggias and the coral stone pool deck.

And the views? Only the best in Sarasota, stretching 143' across Sarasota Bay with a lighted boat dock with both boat and kayak lifts.

Hopefully, you have received your Realtor phone call...if not, feel free to contact us at our Longboat Key Office (941) 376-6121 for a personal tour.

Sarasota's 2009 Luxury Real Estate Sales

2010-01-06T15:53:00.005-05:00

Fifty-three residential properties with a sales price of over $2,000,000 SOLD in Sarasota and on her barrier islands in 2009. Out of these 53 sales, 50 of these luxury properties were either on the beach or on boating water. Paulene and I have said for years ...if you can...BUY on the water!

There were 35 single family homes sold...32 were on the waterfront. 18 luxury condos sold and they were either on the Beach or Downtown.

Here's a quick look at what lifestyles and where buyer's choose to live last year

Single Family Homes

11 Sarasota Mainland

4 Longboat Key

10 Bird Key/Lido Key

6 Siesta Key

4 Casey Key

Condominiums

2 Sarasota Mainland

5 Longboat Key

8 Bird Key/Lido Key

3 Siesta Key

With only six days into the new year, we are already seeing lots of interest and multiple showings on our high-end luxury listings. If you have been waiting on the sidelines, it may be time to jump into the game before all the prime inventory is gobbled up this season.

LARGEST RESIDENTIAL SALE IN 2009

2009-12-08T16:14:00.004-05:00

With great glee, I am proud to announce the sale of 1588 N. Casey Key Road. An unbelievably gorgeous gulf-to-bay manse with all the "bells and whistles". List price: $11,500,000. Sale Price: $9,900,000.

As we forecast 2010 sales, we undoubtedly include the one-of-a-kind SalkinSoublis listing at 3410 Flamingo Avenue on the north end of Siesta Key. With nearly 500 feet of waterfrontage and a double vessel boathouse, this 2-acre gated estate named "Snook Inn" features the most beautifully balanced 6 bedroom waterfront residence, guest house and resort-like pool and magical water views overlooking Downtown's city lights.

NEW WATERFRONT HOMES..."an endangered species"

2009-12-04T13:02:00.016-05:00

Finding a never lived-in home on Sarasota's waterfront is becoming increasingly difficult in today's marketplace.

Paulene and I are very proud to be representing 3 exceptional residences in 3 different areas of town that have never been lived-in and surpass the current flood regulations.

HARBOR ACRES- 1204 Hillview Drive

"The Best Address in Town" with forever bay views! Classic six bedroom estate with perfect proportions and exquisite finishes spanning across 170' of unobstructed bay frontage, resort-like pool and boat dock.

Was: $11,400,000 Now: $8,500,000

NOKOMIS- 457 Anchorage Drive

In the small gated community of Enchanted Isles, this 6,000 square foot home will exceed all your expectations. Furniture grade cabinetry, a master suite "that will knock your socks off", intricate light and sound sytems, poolside living room and boat dock.

Was: $4,750,000 $2,975,000

LONGBOAT KEY- 521 Ranger Lane

On sailboat water with a new dock and seawall, this richly detailed four bedroom pool home features wood-trimmed ceilings, fireplace, bonus room and beach access.

Was: $1,695,000 Now: $1,580,000

EVEN PARADISE NEEDS A BOOST

2009-10-09T13:23:00.001-04:00

Longboat Key, a picture-perfect island off the coast of the ever evolving city of Sarasota, has a onetime only opportunity to roll out the red carpet and embrace change. The world famous Longboat Key Club & Resort wants to enhance its facilities with private funding which will, in turn, benefit all of us living and working on Longboat Key.

The well thought out Islandside Redevelopment Plan includes a much needed new 5-star hotel and a new meeting center, 176 new residences, a brand new Rees Jones designed 18-hole golf course, a new clubhouse and restaurant and a new Wellness Center including spa, fitness facility and a Mind & Motion Studio.

The Club's redevelopment will continue to bring affluent visitors to our community as tourists or meeting attendees. They will "discover" our beautiful beaches and island lifestyle and eventually buy our real estate and become our neighbors. They will eat at our restaurants, buy at our shops and become the ambassadors for Longboat Key, St. Armand's Circle and Sarasota.

In this economic climate, we applaud the Longboat Key Club for its vision and its belief in our beautiful island paradise. If you believe the Club's proposal is positive, join the Club's rapidly growing list of supporters: supporter@longboatkeyclub.com.

Sarasota...Hottest Real Estate Market in the Country!

2009-10-06T11:33:00.001-04:00

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

The Hottest Real Estate Market in the Country!

2009-10-06T11:29:00.000-04:00

Those Were The Days My Friend

2009-09-30T15:21:00.002-04:00

"We thought they'd never end
We'd sing and dance forever and a day
We'd live the life we choose
We'd fight and never lose
For we were young and sure to have our way"

Five years ago (9/28/04), Paulene and I sold our waterfront home listing at 1345 Westway Drive… a gorgeous Lido Shores home with all the bells and whistles directly on New Pass… sale price of $5,300,000.

Just a few days ago (9/23/09), all the realtors in town heralded the sale of this same home, same location, same bells and whistles (although, we are sure not in the same pristine condition)…multiple offers… sale price of $3,250,000.

THERE ARE TREMENDOUS VALUES TODAY IN THE SARASOTA LUXURY WATERFRONT HOME MARKET. Someone just got a fabulous deal, where were you?

THESE ARE THE DAYS MY FRIEND…please, do not miss them!

Please call SalkinSoublis at 941-376-6121 or email us at salkinsoublis@michaelsaunders.com.

Summer is Sizzlin' for Sarasota Luxury Real Estate

2009-07-22T09:52:00.011-04:00

It's heating up in Sarasota...and, I'm not just talking about the temperature.

The Realtors in Sarasota (especially the Michael Saunders agents) have been very busy this year- not so much with the actual selling of property but more with understanding and advising our sellers to re-price their homes for today's marketplace.

Buyers were on the fence not making reasonable offers and sellers were not budging in price still clinging to 2005 dream prices of days gone by. There was a standstill in the marketplace-especially in the upper end.

Today, we see a new trend bubbling up. Gorgeous high end homes that have lingered on the market for years are now being sold! For example, after almost three long years on the market 1301 Westway Drive closed last week for $7,423,500.

According to Sarsota's MLS, since June 1, 2009, we have put 16 residential properties priced over $2 million under contract. And, even better, 10 luxury homes have closed since the beginning of June.

We are experiencing a market shift.

It is our time and we are ready, willing and able!

REAL ESTATE MARKETING….. ”The Times They are A-Changin”

2009-07-16T16:23:00.006-04:00

Did full page color ads in the Robb Report ever sell a house in Sarasota? After 27 years in the real estate business and always doing whatever it takes to market and sell our listings, I'm not sure I can answer "yes" to that question.

There was a time when our coveted customers would leisurely flip through a magazine, jot down our phone number and maybe call us, but, not now. Our phones no longer ring with someone on the other line inquiring about a home that he saw on Page 57. Now, we get an e-mail.

Today, that same coveted customer will go on-line where he/she can get in-depth knowledge of the neighborhood, take a virtual tour of the home, check the comps and then, e-mail us "armed and ready" for the one-on-one interaction.

If print advertising is no longer bringing the same results that it once did; then, we as an industry, as a company and we as individual agents need to make some changes. So, Michael Saunders & Company and Paulene and I are tweaking our ways and adapting our marketing strategies to reach today's customer.

Yes, we will continue promoting our properties in print but we are expanding our on-line presence in order to reach the world-wide attention that our properties deserve.

And, please don't forget we are only a phone call away…or better yet, e-mail us, text us, read our Blogs, Friend us on Facebook, Tweet us, or get Linked-In with us!

Celebrating Freedom in Sarasota

2009-07-04T14:40:00.005-04:00

Throughout my 6-mile walk today from Marina Jack over the Ringling Bridge and around St. Armand’s Circle, I kept thinking how lucky I am to live and work in Sarasota. At a young age (24), I made a rather gutsy choice to move here by myself and start my “adult” life. Almost everyone here has relocated from somewhere else, each making their own choice to live their life in Sarasota.

So, on this 4th of July, I celebrate the FREEDOM OF CHOICE. That we have the ability, the right, to choose wherever we want to live and to work. As long term Realtors, Paulene and I are not happy right now with the Real Estate market. We find no delight in telling Sellers that their property value has gone down from the year before or, working with buyers panting to jump into the market and not a lender around willing to fund their dream. It’s tough talk, but we are choosing to have the conversations with our Clients and we will help guide them through this challenging time.

Because, we have the FREEDOM TO BELIEVE. Paulene and I believe that Sarasota is the Best place to live. This Independence Day morning , I saw so many people laughing, fishing, boating, cycling and groovin’ to their I-pods…there were coolers and grills, families and lovers and like every other day, so many gathering around our Bayfront’s "Unconditional Surrender" statue with camera in hand believing that today is good and tomorrow will be even better.

LUXURY SARASOTA HOMES SELLING

2009-06-19T10:37:00.005-04:00

This week, two ultra-luxury homes went under contract! Both on water, both incurred dramatic price reductions and both had been on the market for quite some time. We have said it many times before, we never know when the buyer will come and " it only takes one"...one buyer who has to have it!

One buyer is swooping up 1538 N. Casey Key Road listed at $8,295,000. This Gulf-to-bay stone manse was originally listed with a smaller property next door for $20,035,000 in March 2007. The second home to go under contract is a lovely $8,999,000 Lido Shores residence directly on New Pass originally listed for $11,000,000 in October 2006.

There are some terrific opportunities in the luxury waterfront home selections in Sarasota. The SalkinSoublis listing at 1204 Hillview Drive is a perfect example of a gorgeous home with a great address and awe-inspiring water views. This never lived-in Bayfront six bedroom home in exclusive Harbor Acres is on the market for $8,500,000 (reduced from $11,400,000).

For more information on this property and more luxury waterfront homes, please visit our website at http://www.sarasotabestproperties.com/.

ART DECO MASTERPIECE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA

2009-06-18T09:04:00.003-04:00

From the moment you open the solid glass and bronze front doors, you instinctively know that this is "no ordinary home". You are about to discover a newly built Art Deco treasure warmed by precious woods and magnificient stones.

Custom built for sophisticated world travelers, the light-filled residence becomes a museum-like backdrop for prized possessions and walls of art. Accented by the Calacatta Gold marble floors and original 1930's Art Deco pendants and fixtures, the home speaks to you as "any great piece of art" should...inviting you to relax, have a glass of wine and unwind in the privacy of your own home.

And, private, it is. There are no other homes in sight. Instead, you gaze upon the magnificent sunsets over the bird-filled nature preserve and enjoy the water views from the roof top terrace and master suite sanctuary.

Inspired by nature, experience the art of luxury living at 162 Osprey Point Drive in the exclusive Bayside community of The Oaks Golf and Country Club.

SARASOTA LUXURY REAL ESTATE

2009-06-18T07:32:00.003-04:00

Thursday 6-18-2009

SRQ DAILY (info@srqmagazine.com)

[Real Estate] Is Luxury Real Estate Back on Track?Jacob Ogles, jacob.ogles@srqmediagroup.com
Realtors specializing in high-priced homes say stability seems more elusive on high-end properties, but that sales are happening in greater numbers. So far this year, 83 homes have sold for more than $1 million in Sarasota County and 49 sales are pending for homes of that value or higher, according to the Sarasota Association of Realtors. Judy Kepecz-Hays, a Realtor with Coldwell Banker, made headlines this year when she sold a home on Spoonbill Drive on Bird Key for $4.75 million. Along with a couple major sales by Michael Saunders and Company this year, optimism seems to again be returning to the local market. Marcia Salkin, who helps run the website sarasotabestproperties.com, says there is even renewed interest in the uber-luxury homes. She has showings scheduled for a $15 million Flamingo Drive property, an $8.5 million property of Hillview Drive and $6.8-million home on MeadowLark Drive. “We are showing our ulta-luxury homes once again,” she said. But it could still be a couple months before Realtors know they are in a real market again, Salkin said.

DOES ANYONE KNOW TIM McGRAW AND FAITH HILL? If so, let them know that we have the perfect home for them!

2009-06-12T12:14:00.013-04:00

Sometimes, you just can't shake a feeling...something that you know is "just right" deep down into your core. That's the feeling that I have had ever since we first put Snook Inn on the market. I remember laughingly brainstorming with the owners that Tim McGraw and Faith Hill would be the perfect buyers for their special property. Refined yet comfortable where "it's all about the water".

Not that I profess to be an expert on the likes and dislikes of the McGraw/Hill family clan, I can only imagine that Faith Hill would be "at home" in this wonderfully balanced, exquisitly detailed Coastal home while Tim McGraw would be one happy man with the one-of-a-kind deepwater boat house on 500' of the most beautiful waterfront on the West Coast of Florida.

Located on the North end of Siesta Key overlooking the bright blue waters of Big Pass and the skyline of Downtown Sarasota, this gated, nearly two-acre estate was fashioned after the Old Florida Inns of yesterday with six en-suites, resort-like pool, covered shuffleboard court and oversized watefront verandahs. In my mind's eye, I can see them, their family and friends living, playing and loving the property. (There's even a perfect spot for a recording studio!)

Now, I am not going to stalk the couple and this will probably be my one and only outreach to the mega-stars. I've said what's on my mind but I willl ask one more time "if any knows Tim McGraw and Faith Hill", please let them know we have a home for them in Sarasota, Florida.

To view the virtual tour of this great property, click on 3410 Flamingo Avenue, Sarasota, FL

ALOHA FROM SUNNY SARASOTA

2009-06-09T16:00:00.004-04:00

Sited high above the waves with forever bright blue waters, our value priced GULF FRONT property in The Sanderling Club on the south end of Siesta Key is reminiscent of the panoramic scenes in From Here to Eternity.

Picture point property jutting out into the Gulf of Mexico giving you magnificent crescent coastal views as you look north and south. There are no other houses in sight, only your very own fishing cabana feet away from our area's only natural reef. Known as "Tarpon Point", an angler's delight as you catch Snook, Cobia and, of course, Tarpon right in your own backyard.

The inspirational setting beckons the book writers in all of us. It's been 50 years since Michener's Hawaii was written and surely this property is suited for the sequel. On nearly two acres this one-of-a-kind estate off the coast of Sarasota is fine as it is, although a new, luxury home would truly enhance a property of this magnitude....An unrivaled waterfront estate in paradise.

REALTORS CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE

2009-06-08T13:13:00.003-04:00

In a recent and very insightful Michael Saunders & Company Conference titled "ReInvent Yourself", real estate trend guru Steve Harney was one of the featured speakers. Putting political persuasions aside, he spoke candidly about the economy and the important role that we Realtors have in today's economic recovery.

"The World is counting on the U.S. economy to solve the global economic crisis.
The U.S. economy will not recover until the housing industry recovers".

This CALL TO ACTION reverberating in many of our hearts and souls as his words echoed

"If not us, who"?

Our jobs as Realtors is tougher than ever...we are battling daily with a rapidly changing market compounded by more stringent insurance, appraisal and mortgage guidelines. The "order-taking" Realtor of yesterday is dead and those of us still standing should applaud ourselves, go out, and change the world...by selling one house at a time.

LIFE’S A BEACH and We’re Proud of It

2009-05-30T09:59:00.013-04:00

The powdery, white sands of Siesta Key beach has been recognized as the Number 2 beach in America (number 1 on US mainland) by “Dr. Beach”. In analyzing the country’s finest beaches, Dr. Stephen P. Leatherman, Director of Florida International University for Coast research, uses 50+ point criteria including water quality and temperature, weather, sand, safety and facilities.

AMERICA'S BEST BEACHES 2009
1.Hanalei Bay , Kauai, Hawaii
2.Siesta Beach, Sarasota, Florida
3.Coopers Beach , Southampton, New York
4.Coronado Beach , San Diego, California
5.Hamoa Beach , Maui, Hawaii
6.Main Beach , East Hampton, New York
7.Cape Hatteras ,Outer Banks, North Carolina
8.Cape Florida State Park , Key Biscayne, Florida
9.Coast Guard Beach ,Cape Cod, Massachusetts
10. Beachwalker Park ,Kiawah Island, South Carolina

Two exciting examples of "living on Siesta beach at its best" are our listings at 220 Tenacity Lane, quality-built four-bedroom beachfront home, and the four bedroom Penthouse unit at Crescent Royal.

220 Tenacity Lane
Sarasota, Florida 34242
$5,450,000.00
See the full listing, photos and virtual tour
of this Siesta Key Home for Sale

777 Beach Road #7A
Sarasota, Florida 34242
$1,875,000.00
See the full listing, and photos of this
Siesta Key Penthouse Condo at Crescent Royale for Sale

There’s No Place Like Home

2009-05-26T12:16:00.001-04:00

Sometimes you have to leave home to appreciate what you have...

After almost 20 years in the original office of Michael Saunders & Company, my business partner, Paulene Soublis, and I decide to leave our comfortable nest, spread our wings and fly off when we heard that the “Michael Saunders of Naples” was opening a brand new office in Downtown Sarasota. Being well-established real estate agents focused on the upper end market, theoretically, it was a perfect fit.

We were going to be a blended family successfully working and living in Sarasota and referring back and forth along the Gulf Coast. Along with our clients, we enjoyed the impressive January 2008 Grand Opening, the attention of the Sarasota press and community leaders and the Naples based leaders were all smiles reveling in the Naples to Sarasota mantra. And, as we have for the last 25 years, Paulene and I went to work promoting our listings and selling properties. We had a record breaking $6.9 million sale on Bird Key and soared to the top of the Sarasota Association of Realtors.

The market began changing and those new to the area and/or the real estate business in general began closing their doors. In less than two short years, “The Michael Saunders of Naples” went back to their homeland and Paulene and I ran as fast as we could to the open doors and open arms to the one and only “Michael Saunders of Sarasota.”

We are back home with Michael Saunders & Company and just as Paulene and I sell real estate one home at a time, Michael has built a family-based company one person at a time.

At Michael Saunders & Company, we have LOCAL leadership with tons of support. We have an entire interactive marketing department; we have ongoing and up-to-the minute education, leading- edge technology, offices in every part of town, worldwide first class affiliations and the best sales agents in the industry. We share, we care and we have long-term relationships with each other.

Our roots are grounded again and we are ready to soar.

Top Premier agents leave on news of sale

2009-01-07T10:03:00.002-05:00

By Aaron Kessler
Published: Saturday, December 13, 2008 at 1:00 a.m. Last Modified: Friday, December 12, 2008 at 11:45 p.m.
Sarasota Herald Tribune

SARASOTA - One day after Signature Sotheby's International Realty announced it was acquiring Premier Properties of Southwest Florida's Sarasota office, Premier's two top agents made the decision to leave.

The veteran team of Marcia Salkin and Paulene Soublis decamped Thursday to Michael Saunders & Co., bringing along more than $85 million in listings.

Salkin said that the abrupt purchase of Premier was "shocking," but that she kept an open mind while Signature and the Sotheby's corporate officials made their case.

"We listened to everything Sotheby's had to offer, listened to their presentations," Salkin said. "But we decided with Michael. This is where we feel comfortable. Sotheby's is a good brand, but when it came down to it, there was really no comparison for us."

The move returns Salkin and Soublis to familiar territory: The pair worked for Saunders for nearly two decades prior to joining Premier. As of Friday, they had moved into their new offices at Saunders' Longboat Key South site.

Salkin and Soublis have consistently ranked in the top tier of Sarasota area agents. So far this year, they have closed more than $22 million in sales, despite the struggling housing market.
When Signature announced its takeover of Premier on Wednesday, there was some question about whether the company would try to keep for itself the listings of agents who wanted to leave. But Salkin said she so far has not had any problems taking her clients to Saunders, and does not expect a fight.

"The brokers have to work out all the details, but I think it's just semantics at this point," she said. "All of our sellers want to come with us."

She said that in the ultra-high-end market, sellers really choose an individual agent more than they do a company, and that those intentions should be respected.

"Our sellers signed up with us; they didn't really sign up to be part of a franchise environment," Salkin said.

As of Friday, a number of other former Premier agents contacted by the Herald-Tribune were weighing their options, and had yet to reach decisions on whether to stay or go. Signature is doing its best to get people on board as quickly as possible, asking all former Premier agents to formally sign an agreement to join the Sotheby's affiliate.

Signature's managing partner, Judy Green, did not return phone calls on Friday.

One thing seems to be clear: There is a growing movement within the ranks of the former Premier agents to control the fate of their listings. If Signature Sotheby's attempts to force the issue, the company could be in for a lengthy fight.

Signature and Sotheby's have a strong interest in keeping the sellers with the company.
While the terms of the Premier acquisition have not been made public, it is not uncommon for such deals to involve little money changing hands, and instead for the proceeds to come out of future commissions. If the agents and their listings go elsewhere, so too does that money.

Using Salkin and Soublis as an example, and to demonstrate the magnitude of their departure: Their $85 million in listings could potentially translate someday to roughly $300,000 in franchise fees to Sotheby's and nearly $1.2 million for Signature itself, based on the firm's 75/25 commission structure and the 6 percent franchise fee charged off the top of each sale.

This story appeared in print on page D1

REALTOR Retreat - October 29th

2008-10-21T09:47:00.007-04:00

Article from LuxuryRealEstate.com

SARASOTA, Fla. – (Oct. 10, 2008) – Premier Properties’ luxury home specialists, Marcia Salkin and Paulene Soublis, will host a REALTOR® Retreat on October 29, 2008 at their newest listing “The Lodge of Osprey Woods,” 32 Blake Way (just South of The Oaks).

The talented team will honor their fellow REALTORS® with a special day of exciting events and activities. In conjunction with the launch of Ed Bertha’s REAL Magazine, top area associates will be invited to a day of pampering with an afternoon of massages by Massage Envy, makeovers by Saks Fifth Avenue and short game golf instruction by the Ritz-Carlton Members Club. Chef Paul Mattison will prepare a bounty of food and beverages to include wine tastings by Stanley Lambert Premium Barossa Valley Wines and Vodka tastings by Szambelan Vodka. Guests will enjoy daylong service provided by Savannah’s Elite Concierge as well as a showcasing of luxury and exotic automobiles provided by Encore Motorcars and a “Life as a REALTOR®” fashion show by Saks Fifth Avenue.

The afternoon will energize all attendees. “When it involves getting other REALTORS® to view our listings, we will give them an experience they won’t forget. Their time is valuable and we need to be creative when showcasing our extraordinary properties,” says Marcia Salkin. “We want to reach out on a more personal level and this property, with its spa-inspired architecture and award winning pool area, would be an ideal setting for a relaxing afternoon of camaraderie. We know times are tough and everyone could use a day of pampering.” Salkin has even asked associates from other companies to model in the Saks fashion show. “Talk about a winning combination!” she said. “It helps everyone, as friendly competitors, to share in business and pleasure.” “We refer to it as influencing with integrity and absolute elegance”, says Sheryl Vieira, Director of Marketing for the Sarasota office of Premier Properties.

The 17,000 square foot Lodge at Osprey Woods harmonizes Pacific Northwest architecture with Sarasota’s resort atmosphere. On nearly two acres, this large, lakefront $6,300,000 estate includes a grand five bedroom, seven and a half bath main residence and three bedroom, three bath guesthouse. The property features a double-level home theatre, four bar areas plus 750-bottle wine cellar, book-shelved lined study, billiards room, craft room with five work stations, 1,200 square foot spa-like master suite with steam shower and sauna, regulation racquetball court, exercise room, RV and 6-car garage, whole house generator and an award-winning three-tier design pool with ten person hot tub, lounging pool and large main pool. “The estate is just down the street from Pine View School for the gifted and minutes from beaches, shopping and golf courses,” said Salkin.

Premier Properties of Southwest Florida, Inc.With over 230 licensed sales professionals, Premier Properties represents buyers and sellers of luxury properties throughout Southwest Florida. Premier Properties is a division of The Lutgert Companies, a group of affiliated private companies involved in real estate development, real estate brokerage services, and developer consultation services, personal and commercial insurance services. The Lutgert Companies presence in Southwest Florida dates to 1964.

From the desk of Marcia Salkin

2008-08-28T15:59:00.002-04:00

Art and Architecture

We are proud to be ambassadors for the Sarasota Museum of Art SMOA, Sarasota’s first museum of modern and contemporary art. In partnership with the Ringling College of Art and Design, the historic Sarasota High Scholl will be transformed into a state-of-the-art education center which will also house the museum. The Visual Arts Education Center will feature Ringling College’s continuing education classes, workshops and studio spaces creating art. Housed on the second level, SMOA will feature Overlooks and bridges to provide visual access between floors allowing visitors to experience the relationship between the creative process and the finished product.

Modern art can be shocking, challenging, empowering and awe-inspiring. By engaging community involvement through educational programs, lectures and workshops, SMOA will strive to foster a dialogue between art and civic life. Visitors will not only be introduced to great 20th and 21st century art; they will also have the opportunity to meet many of the artists who create this work. The visiting lecture series and outreach initiatives will showcase the talents of regionally and nationally acclaimed artists, scholars, curators, critics and historians who will illuminate the cultural and intellectual forces that have informed modern and contemporary art and ideas.

Be a Part of the Art. We invite you to join us on this exciting journey of artistic and creative discovery. Please contact Mary Lee Ritchey, Development Officer of Ringling College of Art and Design at mrichey@ringling.edu.

Successfully Selling Sarasota's Finest Luxury Homes

2008-07-22T11:49:00.001-04:00

Look for our luxury properties in England and throughout Europe this summer!!

2008-05-05T10:59:00.003-04:00

From the Desk of Marcia Salkin

We have so often heard that “you are judged by the company that you keep” and we, at Premier Properties of SW Florida beg you to Judge us! We are proud to be a member of RESIDENCE INTERNATIONAL, the ultra-marketer of luxury properties! Their magazine distribution to the world’s most affluent individuals is triple the nearest competitor and they have only just begun.

This week Residence International announced the formation of a London office and a distribution partnership with Borders in their 42 United Kingdom stores. In addition, Residence International digital edition will be e-mailed to 153,000 European real estate professionals and 225,000 European real estate investors. Each digital magazine will be translated into the language associated with its destination.

In addition, Residence International is displayed in over 100 luxury hotels throughout Europe, in airport terminal locations and in high end grocery stores and bookstores. Each quarter, Residence International mails nearly 100,000 magazines and over 2,000,000 digital editions annually.

Tally ho!

America's wealthy see buying opportunities in sluggish real-estate market

2008-04-24T15:22:00.001-04:00

From The Wall Street Journal

Sunny Side of the Street
America's wealthy see buying opportunities in sluggish real-estate market
By AMY HOAK
MarketWatch - April 16, 2008

CHICAGO -- Is now a good time to buy real estate? The size of your paycheck likely will play a big part in how you answer that question.

While many average Americans are skittish about the housing market, some of the country's richest citizens see the current conditions as perfect for buying, according to the Annual Survey of Affluence and Wealth in America, released on Tuesday by the American Express Publishing Corp. and Harrison Group, a market research and consulting firm.

Seventy-seven percent of the wealthiest people surveyed think real estate presents a "real opportunity" right now. In the survey, "wealthy" meant having discretionary household income of more than $500,000 a year.

And these high-income earners are putting their money where their mouths are: 40% said they are in the market to acquire real estate this year.

The survey was originally conducted late last year with 1,800 people representing the wealthiest 10% of American households. But the more recent figures are from a follow-up survey with a smaller sample of the original participants, conducted last week to ensure the study reflects rapidly changing market dynamics.

Other survey participants are "upper middle class," with incomes between $100,000 and $149,000; "affluent," with incomes between $150,000 and $249,000; and "super affluent," with incomes between $250,000 and $499,000.

Associated Press
The wealthy aren't alone in their belief that the real-estate market represents a buying opportunity: 67% of the upper-middle-class participants also agreed with that statement, as did 72% of the affluent and the super-affluent.

"There are bargains out there...severe price pressure across the board," said Jim Taylor, vice-chairman of Harrison Group. That said, at the very top of the market, there is an abundance of buyers and that is holding prices steady at that level, he added.

Still, the wealthiest were the most committed to buying soon. Only 17% of upper-middle-class participants said they were in the market to buy real estate this year, while 24% of the affluent and 26% of the super-affluent said the same.

Home sweet second -- and third -- home

Forty-one percent of those in the wealthy category said owning a second home was "almost a requirement" for people of their economic means, according to the survey.

Thirty-three percent of the wealthiest who said they intended to buy this year are now in the market for a second home, and 25% said they are in the market for a finished third home, according to the survey.

"They're treating it as a portfolio play, rather than a recreation play," Taylor said. "They've moved off the notion that it's just pleasure real estate," he said, adding that the wealthy use second homes to help balance their overall investment portfolio.

Recession now, but rebound coming

Seventy-nine percent of the survey's respondents said the country is in a recession now, but 88% said they are confident that property values will eventually rebound. Still, 18% of respondents said the equity in their home is worth less than what they owe.

Many respondents expressed significant anxiety over the recession, Taylor said. That was especially true of the upper-middle-class and affluent groups, he said.

But not everyone is worried about their own financial stability. Taylor said he expects the number of millionaires to increase by another 6% this year.

Passion for home improvement

A separate survey of senior-level executives found that high earners often are passionate about improving their homes -- even more passionate than they are about spending time on the golf course.

Thirty-nine percent of 552 high-level executives said they were passionate about home improvement, compared with 32% who said the same about playing golf, according to a recent survey by Doremus, a business communications agency.

"Home is seen by most as a respite from the world, a place where people feel they can be themselves." said Hope Picker, director of research for Doremus, in a news release. "And high-powered senior-level executives are no exception.

"Golf is a game, but it's another form of competition and, in many cases, it's also a surrogate conference room where business is conducted and deals made. But home, even for many high-level professionals, is a safe haven. In addition, home-improvement projects tend to be both tangible and finite, in contrast to much of their work."

The company recommended that marketers interested in reaching these high-net-worth individuals should target them through publications, broadcasts and online sites that feature decorating and improvement ideas for the home and garden. End of Story

Amy Hoak is a MarketWatch reporter based in Chicago.

Recent spot on SNN6:

2008-04-24T08:50:00.001-04:00

In today's Herald Tribune

2008-03-17T08:10:00.005-04:00

BY THE BAY, A NEW CACHET
By Michael Pollick and Toni Whitt
STAFF WRITERS
The wealthy have long come to Sarasota, but these days Sarasota is developing something more: cachet.

WEALTH DENSITY WITHIN FLORIDA
Percentage of households with more than $1 million in investable assets.
Source: National City Private Client Group, 2006 statistics
from TNS, SNL Datasource

Within the last few weeks, Sarasota got the official word that both Waldorf-Astoria and Nederlander Worldwide plan to join the Sarasota scene, signing up for a lavish four-star hotel, condos and an 800-seat off-Broadway performing arts center at the $1 billion development to be known as the Proscenium.

They aim to join the Ritz-Carlton Sarasota, whose November 2001 arrival helped set the stage for a string of global names -- Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Van Cleef & Arpels and Lilly Pulitzer -- and left other brands sniffing around the territory with renewed enthusiasm.

"Even in the five years we have been in business we have seen a noticeable difference," said Susan Robinson, whose Key Concierge on Longboat Key caters to those whose Sarasota abode is their second, third or even fourth home. "Increasingly we are picking them up at the jetport -- at Dolphin Aviation -- instead of the airport, so they are flying in on their corporate jets or in their private jets.

"Some clients are flying their own personal chefs in with them."
The Waldorf-Astoria Collection, a high-end resort unit of Hilton Hotels, has just five other properties, including the Arizona Biltmore, The Grand Wailea in Hawaii, and La Quinta in Palm Springs. The company, now owned by the muscular Blackstone Group, plans to roll out the brand into a string of Waldorfs around the world.

The customers?
"Higher household income, highly educated, generally well-heeled travelers," said Edward J. Russo, Waldorf-Astoria's senior director of marketing. "Our customers are very experiential. They are not going to these locales and staying in their room."

In Sarasota, that might mean not only going to the beach, but also golfing or boating, going to a play, visiting a museum and experiencing the architecture, Russo said.

You can bank on it
Once the wealthy begin populating a place, the people who take care of their money show up, too.
The latest to see the need in Sarasota is National City Corp.'s Private Client Group, a wealth management organization handling not just banking, but also every single financial need the wealthy could possibly have.

"We've been in Florida for about 20 years, both in Naples and in Palm Beach," said Matthew Lowell Bower, the senior vice president who opened the Sarasota office on Jan. 4.

While the firm is willing to deal with the emerging affluent -- those with investable assets of $500,000 to $1 million -- its core customers have assets of $1 million to $20 million.

"One out of nine individuals in the Sarasota market has a million or more in investable assets," Bower said. "Just the corridor from Naples up into the Tampa-St. Petersburg market is probably the sixth or seventh most wealthy corridor in the United States."

Sounds operatic
The region's evolution into a watering hole for the wealthy began long ago, always focused on watery views with cultural overtones.

Its nascence goes back to 1910, with the arrival of Chicago heiress Bertha Palmer. She built a bayfront winter home south of downtown Sarasota, "The Oaks." In the succeeding years, the Ringlings and friends built their homes on the north side of town, leaving room for yachts to dock.
"The entire west coast of Florida is the best cruising market, in my opinion, of anywhere in the world," said Carmine Galati, co-owner of Galati Yacht Sales, just named the best yacht sales organization in the world by Boating magazine. He runs the firm's yachting centers at Naples, Anna Maria Island and Tampa.

By 1926, downtown Sarasota was strutting its stuff with the opening of the A.B. Edwards Theater, an early mixed-use development graced by an elaborate three-story-high entrance. In addition to a movie theater, the building had ground-floor shops, second-story offices and third-story apartments.

In 1983, it was dusted off as the Sarasota Opera House.
Just in time to save the 2008 winter season, the opera house reopened March 1 after extensive updating and remodeling, to the tune of $20 million. It has medium-sized Sarasota being written up for opera by both London's Financial Times and L'Opera magazine, based in Milan, Italy.

The presence of the opera, the Ringling College of Art and Design, the Ringling Museum and dozens of downtown art galleries -- well-established features of the cultural landscape -- made it all the easier for those who came during this decade's boom years. In the Ritz-Carlton Sarasota's wake came a passel of fancy condominiums and upscale shops and restaurants. The people who moved into those new condos, in turn, encouraged Whole Foods to establish its downtown Sarasota store, giving the area even more of a center of gravity.

Back when Ritz announced it would build a hotel here, Lynn Robbins of Coldwell Banker began making calls to Naples to find out what difference the hotel might make. The answer, she found, was that it would completely change the landscape for the rich.

"What it did do, it brought a lot of people here who heard about Sarasota, but they wouldn't come here unless there was a Ritz or a Waldorf or a Four Seasons," Robbins said. "And they come here and they fall in love with it and buy a second, third or fourth home."

This Ritz effect continues to generate ripples.
Consider Hyde Park Steakhouse -- scheduled to open Tuesday -- where Kobe beef burgers and Russian caviar are on the bar menu -- or the Paris-based jewelry house Van Cleef & Arpels, which moved into Southgate mall late last year.

No quiet ribbon-cutting would do for the jeweler. Instead, Van Cleef & Arpels flew in soprano Patricia Johnson, a specialist in the Italian bel canto repertoire. Johnson has performed at The Met with the New York City Opera, and her European debut was as Konstanze in Mozart's "Die Entführung aus dem Serail" with the Komische Oper Berlin.

"It appealed to our core client," said Nathalie Diamantis, a vice president for the New York-based jeweler. "We often do things with the arts."

Jet set
One solid barometer of how Sarasota is catching on with the jet set comes from Flight Options, which sells flight hours aboard a private, crewed jet.

"You put a deposit down, draw travel time against that," said company spokeswoman Cindi Deutschmann-Ruiz. "It takes $100,000 to begin."

With prices of $3,400 to $8,000 per hour, $100,000 can be exhausted quickly.
Flight Options recently cranked out a Top 10 list of places rich people want to take its jets during the winter. Sarasota came in at No. 6.

Palm Beach was No. 1, and the Sundance Film Festival pushed Salt Lake City into the No. 2 slot. After that came Las Vegas, Naples and Boca Raton. The ski village of Aspen, Colo., was No. 8.

Retail cachet
Retail is another sign of Sarasota's growing cachet.

Before signing on the dotted line in Sarasota, Neiman-Marcus studied, among other things, just how many black-tie events were held each year. The company did extensive demographic and psychographic research, said Wayne Hussey, the company's vice president of development.

The Dallas-based retailer is known for selling Armani tuxedos and gowns, as well as fashions by Versacci, Gucci, Roberto Cavelli, Nina Ricci and Carolina Herrera, and it operates just 39 stores. They are in places like Bal Harbour, Palm Beach, Beverly Hills, New York, Honolulu, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Boston and Denver.

The Sarasota community has "a very sophisticated and fashion-conscious segment of residents," Hussey said.

"The thing that appeals to us is its diversity -- its strong business environment, the cultural element that it offers, compared to other Florida cities, and its high level of season."

Read the article in the Herald Tribune...

Record sale on Sarasota's Bird Key

2008-01-24T15:20:00.000-05:00

Excerpt from Harold Bubil's Herald Tribune Blog:

Tuesday, January 22, 2008, 8:37 am

Mickey and Brooke Callanen have sold their home at 643 Mourning Dove Drive for a Bird Key-record $6.9 million, according to Premier Properties of Southwest Florida. The brokerage firm's Marcia Salkin and Paulene Soublis marketed the listing.

The five-bedroom estate has a waterside pool, spa and deep-water dock. Views sweep from downtown to Big Pass. The Callanens hired Bella Casa to build the luxury property, with architecture by Cliff Scholtz. The buyers were not disclosed.

"This sale demonstrates the drawing power of Sarasota, especially the appeal of waterside living," said Steve Bailey, vice president and regional manager of Premier Properties. "We continue to experience robust activity in the luxury home market here, as established by this record-breaking sale price."

The Callanens live on Siesta Key and have built four luxury homes in the Sarasota area. They were real estate developers in Connecticut, although Mickey Callanen is best known for developing the Guess watch line in the 1980s.

From the Desk of Marcia Salkin - thisweekinsarasota.com

2008-01-16T08:58:00.000-05:00

We are proud to announce that we are a Real Estate partner with “This Week in Sarasota”, our area’s most active and up-to-date events and happenings web-based calendar. We invite you all to click and save this site to your favorites, send them your e-mail address and definitely check out their REAL ESTATE section. We absolutely love how the colorful, artistic tiles by Ringling School of Art graduates represent each section of our community.

The chance to get an oversized deal

2008-01-14T14:21:00.000-05:00

By MICHAEL POLLICK
michael.pollick@heraldtribune.com

Can there be such a thing as value pricing for homes in the $10 million-plus range?

Excerpt from Sarasota Herald Tribune article below published on 1/12/08 ... full article here

...If you come into Big Pass by boat, it is hard to miss the second most expensive residential listing in the Sarasota Multiple Listing Service, or maybe the first -- the $19.5 million "Snook Inn."

Once you are through the pass into Sarasota Bay, turn your 50-foot yacht right into Hanson Bayou, go just past the two-story mansion perched on its own hill, and glide into one of the two private boathouse slips.

A yachtsman could back out of the boathouse and be out in the open Gulf within five minutes from this privileged spot."

Say they have their own plane," said Premier Properties co-listing agent Marcia Salkin. "In a half hour they can be down here from the airport and be out on their boat."

The mansion, nestled on a two-acre site, with six bedrooms, six-and-a-half baths, and views from almost every room, has been on the market since March.

Mickey and Brooke Callanen built the home for themselves nine years ago and have lived there until now. Mickey Callanen founded Guess Watches, sold it to Timex in 1991, and has become a serial mansion builder ever since.

Sellers like the Callenens are fortunate in that they seem to be able to continue turning over properties, if at a slower pace than during the boom.

They are in the midst of closing on a multimillion dollar home they built speculatively on Bird Key. And they just listed a third spec mansion, with dock, at the end of Hillview Drive within Harbor Acres, for $11.4 million...

November sales numbers indicate 2007 mirroring 2006

2008-01-02T10:39:00.000-05:00

Jan. 2, 2008

*The following press release was sent to local media on Dec. 31 at 11 a.m.*

Property sales in the Sarasota market are off by only 7.2 percent for the first 11 months of 2007, compared to the same period in 2006. The total sales dollar volume is also close to the 2006 figure, bolstered by stronger condominium sales and sale prices during 2007.

More condominiums sold over the first 11 months of 2007 than in 2006, 1,973 to 1,924, for an increase of almost 3 percent. The median sale price for condos also increased, from $315,000 in the first 11 months of 2006, to $335,000 for the first 11 months of 2007 - a 6.3 percent increase. The figures are in stark contrast to the overall state of Florida, in which condominium sales are down 27 percent year-to-date and prices are down 3 percent year-to-date..

During the same time period, local prices dropped for single family homes, from $345,000 to $306,500 (11 percent), and sales fell from 4,127 in 2006 to 3,640 in 2007 (11.8 percent). While these numbers tended to pull down the overall local market, the drop has not been nearly as much as the drop seen statewide during 2007, when sales have dropped 29 percent.

Pending local sales, a strong indicator for future market activity, have been heading up for two successive months, following a lull in September. Pendings reached 489 in November for combined condos and single family homes. They were only at 446 in October, and only 397 in September. Normally, sales begin to pick up as seasonal residents and tourists begin to arrive in the winter months.

Word on the street indicates activity has already been on the increase at open houses, and real estate agents are beginning to get busier as the season starts to heat up, both good signs from a market undergoing a positive transition.

In total, 5,613 closings were reported through the end of November 2007, compared to 6,051 closings through the end of November 2006. The total volume of sales for the first 11 months of 2007 was $2.7 billion, compared to $2.98 billion in 2006. If the trend continues through the end of December, 2007 will rank is one of the five top years in the history of SAR for volume of sales, despite the gloom and doom of media reports.

"The buyer's market that was predicted for 2007 has definitely come true, and the message we have stressed that now is the time to buy is proving out," said Joe Hembree, 2007 SAR President. "It's really difficult to time a market's bottom, but 2007 numbers have consistently indicated that the Sarasota market is fast reaching normalcy. With the Fed continuing to ease interest rates, this remains an incredible time to get into a local home."
There are many other factors that continue to make Sarasota a great choice for potential home buyers, including the affordable cost of living, tremendous natural beauty, great education system, fabulous restaurants, recreational and cultural opportunities, safe and clean environment, and world-class health care.

Sarasota Association of REALTORS®

New York Times Article

2007-12-30T10:16:00.000-05:00

36 Hours in Sarasota, Fla.
By PAUL SCHNEIDER
link to original article

SET on a sparkling bay, behind a necklace of sandy barrier islands, the resort town of Sarasota was pioneered in the Roaring Twenties by the immensely wealthy John and Mable Ringling of circus fame. The couple didn’t come to get away from the clowns and freaks; they brought the entire circus with them to pass the winter in warmth and style. To this day, this scrubbed, suntanned and artsy little town offers just enough of a city vibe to sustain great food and a little night life. Plus, the circus still comes down in the winter.

Friday 5 p.m.

1) FLASHING COCKTAIL
Get sand between your toes before the sky goes dark, and head to Lido Key beach, a relaxing stretch of white sand across the bay from downtown Sarasota. Park near the Ritz Carlton Beach Club (1234 Benjamin Franklin Drive) and make a beeline for the Lido Key Tiki Bar (941-309-2581). Leave your shoes in the car but don’t forget to bring cash, so you can order the signature Green Flash Cocktail, a rum, pineapple and Midori concoction served with flashing ice cubes. A resident bongo player is there to provide a live soundtrack for the spectacular sunsets.

8 p.m.

2) CEVICHE CHOICES
Darwin Santa Maria, the chef and owner of the Selva Grill (1345 Main Street, 941-362-4427; http://www.selvagrill.com/), is originally from Peru, and the flavors of his country of mountains and coasts infuse almost everything on the menu. And everything on the menu is worth trying, as Selva serves quite possibly the best food in town. The ceviches de la casa alone offer 10 choices ($11 to $17), not including the daily specials. It’s a tough decision, but the Selva ceviche, made with corvina, cusco corn and roasted camote (sweet potato), tastes like the first day of summer. It’s served up in a lively space, with a crowded bar and friendly patrons who wave to one another as they come and go.

10 p.m.

3) RHYTHM AND BALLS
Sarasota’s night life is a mixed bag, so for surefire action, head to the Gator Club (1490 Main Street, 941-366-5969; http://www.thegatorclub.com/), a popular dance club with red brick, polished brass and R & B tunes. Not a dancing fool? Head upstairs to the billiards bar, where they serve 125 different single-malt Scotches. Don’t try them all. For other options, pick up a copy of Creative Loafing (http://www.sarasota.creativeloafing.com/), a free arts and entertainment weekly.

Saturday 8:30 a.m.

4) POLISH THAT BACKHAND
Your morning tennis is about to begin. Though the Colony Beach and Tennis Resort (1620 Gulf of Mexico Drive, 941-383-6464; http://www.colonybeachresort.com/) is a little frayed, it frequently ends up on the lists of top tennis resorts for its first-class instruction. Most patrons sign up for multiday packages, but the pros are happy to accommodate shorter lessons (dial extension 2312 to reserve). The adult clinics start at $50 for a 90-minutes lesson and private lessons start at $80 per hour. And if your traveling partner doesn’t need as much help with follow through, the glorious white sands of Longboat Key beach is a ball toss away.

1 p.m.

5) HEALTHY TO GO
The thing about Floridian sprawl is that the best eats are sometimes in the most unassuming places. Such is the case with Simon’s Coffee House (5900 South Tamiami Trail, 941-926-7151; http://www.simonstogo.com/), which serves one of the best lunches in town in a nondescript shopping plaza. Nothing fancy, just whole grain breads, meaty panini, fruity smoothies and creative sandwiches like roasted butternut squash, with soup, ($9.50) that taste too good to be vegan. It’s a local favorite.

2 p.m.

6) VIVA LA SIESTA
Sarasota Bay has plenty of sandy beaches on the gently lapping Gulf of Mexico. But Siesta Public Beach, on Siesta Key, is widely considered by locals to be the fairest of them all, with talcum-powder-soft sands that never get too hot to the touch. And it draws a mixed crowd — the young and ancient, locals and tourists, active volleyball players and laid-back lollygaggers. Best of all, it rarely feels crowded.

5 p.m.

7) AMBER AND BANDANAS
St. Armand’s Circle is the vaguely touristy heart of Sarasota shopping. There are a few big-name stores like Tommy Bahama, but mostly it’s jammed with smaller boutiques like the Baltic Amber Gallery (9 North Boulevard of the Presidents, 941-388-2651, http://www.ambershowroom.com/), where handmade earrings from Latvia, Poland, and elsewhere start as low as $18 a pair. If you forgot your bathing suit, there are plenty to choose from at the Beach House (331 John Ringling Boulevard, 941-388-1025; http://www.thebeachhouseswimwear.com/). If you forgot sandals, check Foxy Lady West (481 John Ringling Boulevard, 941-388-5239, http://www.foxyladysarasota.com/). And if you forgot your New Year’s resolution, grab a homemade waffle cone at Big Olaf Creamery (561 North Washington Drive, 941-388-4108), a sort of homegrown Ben & Jerry’s.

8 p.m.

8) PAN-AM DINING
By day, sleepy Hillview Street seems an unlikely spot for night life, but when the weekend rolls around, good luck finding a parking spot. A handful of buzzing restaurants and bars have recently opened along this block-and-a-half stretch. For lively ambience and inventive food, go to the Table (1936 Hillview Street, 941-365-4558, http://www.thetablesarasota.com/), an upscale restaurant that serves so-called Atlantic Rim cuisine, which blends Caribbean, South American and southeast American flavors. Favorites include spring rolls with Havana short ribs ($7.95) and grilled salmon encrusted with Venezuelan crab and served with purple sticky rice ($23.95). Ask for a table in the back room; a D.J. starts spinning at the bar around 9 p.m. By 10 p.m., it’s a full-on dance.

10 p.m.

9) ROCK ON
If D.J.’s aren’t your thing, head next door to the Five O’Clock Club (1930 Hillview Street, 941-366-5555; http://www.5oclockclub.net/), a rocking dive bar that’s been showcasing live music since 1955. On any given night, there might be reggae or an eccentric AC/DC tribute band.

Sunday 10 a.m.

10) WEIRD GROWTH
Had enough sun and sand? Stroll around the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens (811 South Palm Avenue, 941 366-5731; http://www.selby.org/), a 9.5-acre park with bamboo, banyans and shady benches where you can enjoy great views of Sarasota Bay. But the real prize is the tropical display house, which has rare orchids, psychedelic caladiums and a strange yet beautiful society of pitcher plants that trap insects.

1:00 p.m.

11) FREAK SHOW
The Ringlings left behind more than just a circus. They amassed a large art collection, including a series of gargantuan paintings by Rubens that are displayed at the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art (5401 Bay Shore Road, 941-359-5700; http://www.ringling.org/), on the 66-acre bayside estate where they wintered. But the main event is the Howard Bros. Circus, a miniature model of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus at its height in the early 20th century. Created over half a century by a passionate circus fan, Howard Tibbals, the three-quarter-inch-to-the-foot scale replica covers 3,800 square feet and is, as one might say, the Greatest Historical Installation on Earth.

The Basics
JetBlue has direct flights from Kennedy Airport to Sarasota, with round-trip fares starting at about $200 for travel next month. More flights and airlines service the much bigger Tampa airport, which is about an hour’s drive away.

If your budget is up to it, the Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota (1111 Ritz-Carlton Drive, 941-309-2000; http://www.ritzcarlton.com/) offers all the usual big hotel pleasures, plus access to its private beach club on Lido Key. Double occupancy rates range from $399 to $5,000 a night.
Groovier and cheaper in-town lodging can be found at the Hotel Ranola (118 Indian Place, 866-951-0111; http://www.hotelranola.com/). Rooms with full kitchens start at about $159 a night.
On Lido Key, Coquina on the Beach (1008 Ben Franklin Drive, 800-833-2141; http://www.coquinaonthebeach.com/) has clean and simple rooms that offer views of the Gulf of Mexico, but not a whole lot more. Double occupancy with beach views start at $189.

Sarasota Herald Tribune Article

2007-12-24T10:07:00.000-05:00

REAL ESTATE PROFILE
Partners work together for winning formula
By STEPHEN FRATER
stephen.frater@heraldtribune.com

SARASOTA -- At a time when realty brokerages are under pressure across the board and many have merged or been bought out, it is increasingly unusual for a partnership of individual Realtors to survive and thrive for nearly a quarter-century, as have Marcia Salkin and Paulene Soublis of Premier Properties of Southwest Florida.

The pair worked together in three separate brokerages and along the way racked up close to a quarter of a billion dollars' worth of closed Southwest Florida real estate.

Salkin grew up in the real estate business, the fourth generation in her family of Realtors. Born and raised in Louisville, Ky., she used to help her father set up for open houses when she was 4 years old. She moved to Sarasota in 1979.

Trained in journalism with a minor in business marketing from the Ohio State University, she has honed her interviewing, marketing and negotiating skills. She says the real estate business is her "passion and excitement."

Salkin says she "doesn't sweat the small stuff." She raised her son alone while taking care of her parents, an experience she says taught her to keep her eyes "on the big picture."

Her family's real estate legacy continues with her son, David, a 2003 graduate of Pine View School in Osprey. He is in his final year at Tulane University's School of Architecture in the master's program.

Upon entering the local real estate market in 1981 at Merrill Lynch Boomhower Realty, she soon decided to partner with Soublis, whom she had met there."

I listened to Paulene, who is the much more quantitatively oriented one of us," Salkin said. "I admired her attention to detail, her persistence and follow-through on behalf of her clients. She would speak with everyone involved in the transaction: the termite inspector, the appraiser, the lender, the attorney, the title companies, etc."

The partners joined Michael Saunders & Co. in 1986, where they became a top team by setting records and placing in the upper tier of powerhouse producers year after year.

They continued their successful collaboration after deciding to join Premier Properties of Southwest Florida in 2006.Real estate has also been Soublis' passion from an early age. Every Sunday when her father brought home the newspaper, she said, she would go straight to the real estate section and read every ad, visualizing each home."

While other girls were playing with dollhouses, I would send away for floor plans for real houses and study them," Soublis said.Born and raised in Philadelphia, the daughter of Greek immigrants, Soublis speaks Greek fluently. She married and raised three daughters while working in her husband's restaurant business. When they sold that business, Soublis pursued her longtime interest in real estate and earned her Pennsylvania real estate license.

Upon moving to Sarasota in 1984, Soublis joined Merrill Lynch Boomhower Realty and met Salkin. She says she realized that Salkin had great people skills and marketing savvy that complemented Soublis' own self-described analytic approach.

As Soublis' business grew, so did her family. Married for 41 years, Paulene and her husband, George, owner of Sarasota's El Greco Café, enjoy spending time with their three daughters and their five grandchildren, all of whom live in the Sarasota area.

An interesting note is that their boss at Premier Properties, Steve Bailey, is not really a big fan of realty teams.

Bailey says he would prefer agents to manage their client portfolios solo but makes exceptions when he sees strength of teamwork, as he does in the Salkin-Soublis partnership. He calls the duo "one of the successful teams at Premier."

Sarasota Market Continues to be Bright Spot in Florida Real Estate

2007-08-29T15:58:00.000-04:00

August 29, 2007

*The following press release was sent to local media on Aug. 27 at 11 a.m.*

Sales of homes and condominiums compiled in the Sarasota MLS system, and sales within the Sarasota-Bradenton Metropolitan Service Area (MSA), are continuing to reflect strength compared to the overall state of Florida.

Statistics indicate the summer months have actually seen a strengthening of sales activity in the Sarasota real estate market, with overall sales in July 2007 up 7 percent from July 2006.

There were 369 single family home sales recorded in the Sarasota MLS in July 2007, compared to only 351 sales in July 2006 - a 5 percent increase, while the MSA showed a drop of 4 in single family home sales for the period. But even that figure stands out in stark contrast to other MSAs across the state. A total of 14 MSAs saw double-digit percentage declines in single family home sales, and statewide the real estate market saw a sales decline of 24 percent from July to July for single family homes.

Condominium sales were also up in the Sarasota MLS, with 159 sales in July 2007 compared to 141 sales in July 2006, for a 12 percent increase. Condos also saw a median price jump of 14.8 percent for the Sarasota MLS, from $269,990 in July 2006 up to $310,000 in July 2007.

The MSA fared better, with a 41 percent increase in condo sales, July to July. This was the third best performance in the state, and Sarasota-Bradenton was one of only six MSAs to show positive condo sales growth in July. Only two much smaller MSAs - Panama City (up 78 percent) and Fort Walton Beach (up 49 percent) - fared better than the local MSA. Statewide, condo sales were down 19 percent.

"When you look at the numbers, we are clearly seeing the Sarasota market taking the lead in the anticipated real estate market recovery in Florida," said Joe Hembree, 2007 SAR President. "Our Association has taken the lead in educating the public concerning the fundamentals of our market, and this has made a big difference. Local real estate agents have also done an excellent job of counseling sellers on the need to price their properties realistically."

With an eye toward the bigger picture, and discounting the historically abnormal years of 2003-2005, we have seen a return to the normal market experienced as recently as 2001 and 2002, Hembree noted.

In July 2001, there were 359 homes and 175 condos reported sold in the Sarasota MLS. In July 2002, there were 328 homes and 187 condos sold. The biggest difference this July is that the median price, even with recent declines, is still much higher than those recent years.

The median home in July 2001 sold for $176,000, and the median condo sale price was $132,000. The numbers went up a little in July 2002 - $190,000 for a single family home, and $179,900 for a condo. But the figures are much higher today - $299,000 for a home, and $310,000 for a condo - so the overall sales volume is far greater.

"The current market is in a normal adjustment period, which makes this an historic buyer's market," Hembree continued. "Our area has always offered tremendous amenities, abundant cultural assets, and great natural beauty and climate. Now, it's all more affordable than it was two years ago."

The lowest point in the recent local market was apparently reached in December 2006, when only 355 sales closed. Sales have escalated since then, and were much higher in July 2007, with 528 total sales - almost 50 percent higher than the sales low. The strong pending sales numbers - nearly 500 reported pending sales - continue to reflect a brighter future as the Sarasota area begins to enter the traditionally stronger fall and winter sales period.

SarasotaRealtors.com Statistics Released for July 2007

SENSATIONAL SARASOTA REAL ESTATE

2007-07-31T11:04:00.000-04:00

BARRIER ISLANDS

Single Family Homes, Lots, Waterfront

$19,500,000.00 View Details

$4,195,000.00 View Details

$3,599,000.00 View Details

LONGBOAT KEY

$1,975,000.00 View Details

http://www.realestateshows.com/175656

BIRD KEY

$7,800,000.00 View Details

LIDO SHORES

$3,950,000.00 View Details

COUNTRY CLUB COMMUNITY

Single Family Homes, Waterfront

$6,195,000 View- Country Club Community

DOWNTOWN
Condominiums, Single Family Homes, Waterfront

SOLD $3,250,000

$2,990,000 More Info

RENAISSANCE $795,000 More Info

http://www.realestateshows.com/191250

MAINLAND

Single Family Homes, Lots, Waterfront

Sold $5,000,000 View Details

$395,000.00 View Details

http://www.realestateshows.com/202979

$4,200,000.00 View Details

$439,000.00 View Details

$198,000.00 View Details

SARASOTA-The Top of the Small Business List

2007-07-24T12:58:00.000-04:00

10 Best Places for Starting a Small Business Florida is the best state to grow a small business, according to a new study by Bizjournals, the Web site of American City Business Journals Inc. Bizjournals used a 12-part formula to rate the vitality of small-businesses in the nation's 75 largest metropolitan areas. These 75 markets, taken as a group, had 179 million residents as of mid-2005, accounting for 60 percent of the nation's total population. They also included 4.5 million small businesses, a number that rose by 7 percent between 2000 and 2005. The study's objective was to identify those metro areas that are most conducive to the creation and development of small businesses. The highest scores went to areas that have prosperous economies, are expanding rapidly, and are densely packed with small businesses.

The top 10 are:
1. Orlando
2. Sarasota-Bradenton, Fla.
3. Miami-Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
4. Las Vegas
5. Jacksonville, Fla.
6. Raleigh, N.C.
7. Washington, D.C.
8. Salt Lake City, Utah
9. Oxnard-Thousand Oaks, Calif.
10. Minneapolis-St. Paul

Source: Biz Journals, G. Scott Thomas (07/10/07)
Daily Real Estate News

FIVE STAR REAL ESTATE AGENTS

2007-07-10T14:05:00.000-04:00

The Best in Client Satisfaction is the resulting list of Five Star Real Estate Agents, an elite group, representing less than 7 percent of licensed agents in the Sarasota area. Among this elite group are our very own Marcia Salkin & Paulene Soublis of Premier Properties. Please feel free to travel through their website to see why this Team has been chosen top of their class. Congratulations!
www.SarasotaBestProperties.com

The complete list can be viewed in the Summer 2007 issue of Sarasota Magazine http://www.sarasotamagazine.com/

2007-06-25T09:59:00.000-04:00

Real Estate Gossip
Everything you want to know about Sarasota luxury property sales.
Mary Alice Collins

CHARMED, I’M SURE When the market slows and sellers grow uneasy, clever realtors generate excitement in creative ways. Marcia Salkin and Pauline Soublis of Premier Properties teamed with Carol Clark and Joel Schemmel of SKY Sotheby’s to stir interest—along with mint juleps—for their listings in The Oaks Bayside. The Old Southern-style homes, at 100 Osprey Point Drive and 136 Osprey Point Drive, are offered for sale at $10.8 million and $7.7 million, respectively. Guests were steeped in Southern hospitality, from icy mint juleps to the lovely ladies dressed as Southern belles who served as greeters and tour guides. “We had a wonderful turnout with over 100 people,” says Clark. “Guests responded with very positive comments, and we were fortunate to experience gorgeous weather and a magnificent sunset. The event was a fun way to showcase these residences, which really are the pinnacle properties of The Oaks Bayside.”

GO LONG Ever dreamed of living like an NFL star? Quarterback Kurt Warner of the Arizona Cardinals is selling his vacation home in Sabal Cove on Longboat Key for an asking price of $1,724,900 and will even autograph the deed of sale. Warner purchased the 4,000-square-foot, four-bedroom home when he was still with the Super Bowl-champion St. Louis Rams. Built in 1994, it has expansive lake and golf course views. Warner’s home is listed with Tom and Andy Cail of SKY Sotheby’s International Realty.

GOING, GOING, GONE! Marsha Wolak is trying to shatter the image of real estate auctions as the last step before foreclosure. “Auctions are no longer the last resort of desperate sellers,” explains Wolak, who started Marsha Wolak Auctions earlier this year, “but an alternative for individuals seeking a different approach to buying and selling property. Buyers usually get a bargain, but sellers get a good deal, too, because they can rid themselves of properties in a hurry without fees and without hassles.”

Wolak’s new company specializes in residential and commercial properties, with offices in Tampa, Sarasota and Naples. A short-sale division handles sales for financial institutions, but Wolak also sells for individuals who are looking for an innovative way to showcase their properties.

At a recent auction Wolak sold a Ritz-Carlton penthouse for $3 million, her largest residential sale to date. She’s currently preparing to auction off a buildable canal-front lot at 505 Avenida de Mayo on Siesta Key. And with each successful sale, her telephone starts to ring. “We’re a nice alternative to real estate agents for people who want a different approach, say a faster resolution or results without the marketing costs,” she says.

Wolak explains that sellers have to be motivated and not looking for top dollar, although there are occasions when the competitive nature of the auction drives price up. Sometimes bidding starts with a reserve amount and the sale price is subject to seller confirmation. Then there are absolute sales, where offers can begin at any amount and the property sells to the highest bidder, creating tremendous excitement in the crowd.

Wolak has the genuine patter of an auctioneer. “I love to hold my auctions on the property, with a big tent filled with chairs so bidders can see the land, see the waterfront and walk around the neighborhood,” she says. Wolak also offers a bidder reward program for high rollers and frequent bidders, including VIP seating in a special roped-off section along with beverages and appetizers. “We don’t just sell property at our auctions, we create events,” she says. “The atmosphere is exciting and fun.”

IN ANY LANGUAGE Candy Swick felt certain she could loll around the house in her pajamas on New Year’s Day. But the telephone rang very early, and the caller begged Swick to show her prospective buyers a house that Swick had listed for sale. One hour later, Swick met the enthusiastic clients at the property only to find out that neither spoke or understood a word of English.

The buyers hastily called a multilingual friend, and he hurried over to the house to act as interpreter. The buyers loved the place and decided right then and there to buy. But the friend could not accompany them to the bargaining table, and once again Swick was left to negotiate the contract and explain the subtle nuances of the transaction.

“I was lucky enough to locate someone through MLS, Tania Corredor, who was fluent in Spanish and English, and I hired her to facilitate the transaction,” Swick says. As luck would have it, the deal did not go through. But Swick was so impressed by Corredor’s people skills and professionalism that she hired her to come aboard and work at Swick & Associates. Not long afterwards, the Spanish-speaking couple called back. “This time, the details all came together,” says Swick. “They got the house; I got a brilliant new associate and a few words of Spanish on my vocabulary. Gracias.”

SARASOTA MAGAZINE June 2007

The Magazine of Sarasota and the Barrier Islands

Lutgert Insurance Joins Premier Properties of Sarasota

2007-06-06T12:46:00.000-04:00

We are thrilled to offer our clients and customers the services of Lutgert Insurance of Sarasota, a full service agency that has served Southwest Florida individuals and businesses for over fifty years. Lutgert Insurance of Sarasota has a dedicated “Premier Client Services” division which was specifically designed to properly cover our client’s with significant assets.

Working in our Premier Properties Sarasota office, Lutgert Insurance of Sarasota comes armed with waterfront home insurance options that are not currently offered in our area.

They will have the ability to write coverage on coastal properties and to provide personal lines of coverage for high wealth clients with homes in excess of $1 million.

Please Contact John Taylor at

941-366-6100 office 941-228-3589 cell.

Lutgert Insurance of Sarasota
Plaza at Five Points
50 Central Avenue
Sarasota, FL 34236

Clearing the Quay to Make Way...

2007-05-31T15:47:00.000-04:00

...for Developer Patrick Kelly of the Ireland-based company that wants to build 701 condominium units and 175 hotel rooms in the 14.5 acre development. It will also include 189,000 sq. ft. of commercial space, over 39,000 sq. ft. of office space, 18 boat dock slips, several restaurants, a night club, and a waterfront multi-use recreation trail open to the public. For those environmental conscious readers, it may interest you to know that roughly 90 percent of the demolished materials will be either inventoried, recycled or reused.

Information courtesy ofwww.HeraldTribune.com

Our Residence International Summer Edition

2007-05-30T16:48:00.000-04:00

EXCEPTIONAL QUALITY, UNSURPASSED CIRCULATION AND THE MOST ELITE FRATERNITY OF REALTOR MEMBERS HAVE ESTABLISHED RESIDENCE INTERNATIONAL AS THE PREEMINENT BRAND FOR THE MARKETING OF LUXURY REAL ESTATE.

The Summer Edition of RESIDENCE INTERNATIONAL features one of our listings, SNOOK INN of Siesta Key offered at $19,500,000. We invite you to log onto our exclusive Ultimate Yachtsman site for a closer look at: http://www.ultimateyachtsmanestate.com/ and www.ResidencesLuxuryHome.com

Premier Properties of Southwest Florida, Inc.

The Plaza at Five Points, 50 Central Avenue, #110 Sarasota, FL 34236 Phone: 941-364-4000 Website: http://www.premiersarasota.com/

Today's Catch May Depend on Yesterday's Home

2007-05-30T16:15:00.000-04:00

By: Aaron Adams, Ph.D.

Magazine Articles
On the Line with Aaron Adams, Ph.D.

Walk into any fishing shop and you’ll likely overhear anglers recounting big-fish tales. Whether they’re talking about a 150 pound tarpon, 20 pound snook or 15 pound redfish, the story is just as exciting whether the fish was landed or not.

As an angler, I’ve both listened and told these stories myself.

But as a fish ecologist, my research focuses on understanding how such fish use coastal habitats to grow to the sizes that warrant such excited tales, and how such habitats support populations large enough to sustain the fisheries.

Anglers pursuing a trophy may not think about how much the fish depend on healthy habitats for survival, but as primary users of the marine environment – whose sport depends on healthy fish populations – they need to understand the importance of healthy habitats to the fisheries and help conserve the places where fish grow and live.

A local favorite – snook – is a good example of just how important healthy habitats are to an economically and ecologically valuable species.

Snook gather in aggregations to spawn during summers around the time of the full moon, on outgoing tides late in the day, usually in coastal inlets. Like most marine gamefish, snook gather in mixed-sex groups and males and females eject sperm and eggs into the open water. Egg fertilization is external in this process of “broadcast spawning.” One female may have hundreds of thousands of eggs.

The larvae that hatch aren’t recognizable as snook – they are clear and shaped differently. They live as plankton in open coastal waters and estuaries for a couple of weeks before moving into backwater mangrove creeks, wetlands and ponds. It’s been estimated that only one-tenth of one percent of the larvae survive, but that’s still a lot of snook being produced from the millions of eggs fertilized each spawning season.

Once in backwater habitats, the larvae metamorphose into miniature snook. These juvenile snook are able to survive in water with very little oxygen, which we think helps them avoid many fish predators that need water with a greater amount of oxygen. As they grow, the juveniles migrate down the creeks, eventually joining the adults in estuaries and along the coasts.

And as any angler who fishes for snook knows, adult snook are able to use most coastal habitats, including mangrove shorelines, mangrove creeks, rivers, seagrass beds and beaches.

So what does this say about the habitat snook need to reach that trophy size – the catch of a lifetime for many anglers?

The trophy fish’s parents had to have a good location with clean water and good tidal flow to spawn; The larva had to have clean water to survive and good current flows to provide access to backwaters; The juvenile needed a place with clean water, safe from predators, and with plenty to eat; The growing snook needed mangrove-lined creeks so it could move slowly toward more open habitats; The adult snook needed healthy habitats with plenty of prey. It’s been a successful – if complex strategy for snook.

And take a lesson: Knowing how snook use habitats at different times of the year, and at different points in their life cycle, anglers can focus efforts on the habitats most likely to harbor snook. After all, knowing more about where snook live and why can’t do anything but improve your odds at catching that once-in-a-lifetime fish.

Dr. Aaron Adams is manager of Mote’s Fisheries Habitat Program in the Center for Fisheries Enhancement and an avid fly fisherman whose been known to tell a few “fish-that-got-away” tales himself.

www.mote.org