The Turnberry Estate model by Todd Johnston Homes is scheduled to be completed in early December.  The 5,056 square foot residence on one living level features a Low-Country architectural style and uncompromised detail and appointments.  The Turnberry is located on the 11^th tee, with a dramatic vista of golf course, wetland and lake.  Todd Johnston is in the process of sharpening his pencil on pricing.  If you would like more information about the Turnberry or to schedule an appointment to view the model, please contact a Signature Sotheby’s Sales Associate at the Sales Gallery.

Baseball Hall of Fame Catcher Carlton Fisk To Host

2^nd Annual “Fisk & Friends” Celebrity Golf Classic

SARASOTA, FL November 4, 2009 –The 2^nd Annual “Fisk & Friends” Celebrity Golf Classic, is scheduled for Monday, November 9, at The Founders Golf Club.  Proceeds will benefit the Suncoast Foundation for the Handicapped, Inc.  Foursomes are $2,500 and include a hole sign autographed by all of this year’s celebrity players. Among those joining Carlton Fisk include Hall of Famers Lou Brock, Phil Esposito, Grant Fuhr, John Havlicek, Stan Mikita, and Jim Rice.  Other sports celebrities confirmed include Dwight Evans, M.L. Carr, Marv Foley, Ken Frailing, Bruce Howard, Gary Peters, Shane Rawley, Bob Stinson, and Steve Yoder.

The event kicks off with a Pre-Tournament Reception and Auction on Sunday, November 8, at the Hyatt Regency Sarasota from 6-9 pm.  A limited number of tickets will be available to the public for $125 each.  On Monday, November 9, registration and a breakfast buffet will be available from 8-10 am followed by a shotgun start with lunch being served on the course.   A “Sweet Ending” reception, helicopter ball drop and awards presentation will conclude the day’s events.  For information call (941) 371-8820 Ext. 1800 or email fiskandfriends@yahoo.com

“Florida is my home now and I am thrilled that I am able to give back to the community through this fun and exciting event” said Carlton Fisk.  “ It is my hope that we continue to grow the tournament each year -- we want to help as many needy children and families as possible.”  Thanks to the efforts of the Suncoast Foundation for the Handicapped, Inc. over $14 million in facilities have been constructed for various local charities serving children with special needs.  These charities include The Florida Center, Special Olympics, Loveland Center, United Cerebral Palsy, community Haven and Adult Center and Oak Park School.  The Suncoast Foundation for the Handicapped, Inc. will continue to support local charities that serve children with special needs,  thanks to proceeds raised from special event fundraising.

Carlton “Pudge” Fisk has served more years behind the plate (24) than any other American League catcher.   He started his career with the Red Sox in 1969 and played in Boston until 1980.  Fisk also played for the Chicago White Sox from 1981 to 1993.  In 1972, the 11-time All-Star won both the American League Rookie of the Year and an American League Golden Glove.  He hit 376 home runs in his career, including the famous “Go-Fair” home run in Game 6 of the 1975 World Series.  Fisk was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2000.  The White Sox retired his number, 72, and the Red Sox retired his number, 27.

The Suncoast Foundation staff  is working in partnership with Blue Sky Sports & Entertainment to produce this year’s tournament.  Blue Sky Sports & Entertainment has over 30 years combined experience in events and athlete representation. 

Despite a challenging financial environment, The Founders Golf Club is experiencing great success in attracting new Members.  With the generous incentives offered for Equity Memberships, Invitational program for those seeking non-Equity membership, Associate Memberships for local professionals or those with limited time to play golf and a Junior Membership that offers over 60% in dues reduction for younger Members, the Club has attracted 16 new Members since October 1.  If you are interested in joining one of the finest clubs in the country, please contact our Membership Director at 941.371.9720 or email to info@thefoundersclub.com. 

There are many benefits of membership in The Founders Golf Club:

~ No Tee Times and Professional Caddie Program
~ Robert Trent Jones, Jr. "Core" Golf Course
~ Indoor Golf Training Facility with Launch Monitor and Video
~ Some of Sarasota's Best Casual and Fine Dining
~ Fitness and Massage Facilities
~ Private Meeting Space

The Founders Club is pleased to announce that there have been 17 sales or pending contracts in the community since June!  These record setting results are a good indicator of the overall market recovery, appeal of The Founders Club as a new community and attractive values offered today.  The Club is filling up with new Equity and Invitational Members as more and more active residents move into the community.

Move-in ready homes are going fast, so please contact a member of our sales team today if you are interested in purchasing a resale residence or Builder model.  With all-time low home site prices and construction costs, building your dream home has never been more appealing.  Our Builders are designing fresh product to reflect the lifestyles of today's market and also working with individuals on fully custom designs. 

A Signature Sotheby's International Realty agent would be happy to discuss your property interest with you or bring you up to speed on the latest community developments in The Founders Club.  Please call or email us today!

Phone: (941) 378.0900
Toll-Free: (866) 508-0900
Email: info@thefoundersclub.com

Real estate expert Barbara Corcoran listed Sarasota as the number one place in the nation to buy a property in her latest "hot market" prognostication. She cited the lower property prices - 30 percent below last year at this time - combined with a recent price surge of 13 percent in the last quarter, plus Sarasota's unique "metropolitan" cultural appeal for boosting this area to the top spot.

On the Oct. 6th Today Show, Corcoran said Sarasota was the top place to buy real estate in the nation today, an opinion shared by SAR and most area real estate professionals.As a confirmation of Corcoran's report, home and condo sales jumped by 35 percent in September 2009, compared to the same month last year, and 9.7 percent from the August 2009 stats in the Sarasota market. Total sales stood at 554 in September, compared to 409 total sales in September 2008. The breakdown was 399 single family homes and 155 condos sold last month.

Sales in September 2009, traditionally a slow month at the end of the summer, were unexpectedly higher than in August 2009, perhaps signaling an early end for the traditional slower season as we head into a hoped for robust fall and winter.

The median sale prices continued to be held down by the high number of bank-owned property sales and short sales, which accounted for half of the single-family home sales and a third of the condo sales. But the "discount rack" is beginning to thin out, and once the bargains are gone, there is the potential for price appreciation on a stronger scale. The median sale price for single family homes was $165,000 last month, up slightly from the previous month, but down 21.8 percent from a year ago. The condo median sale price was $162,500, down significantly from September 2008's $190,000 figure.

The future price trend might well be upwards, as about half of the single family sales and one third of the condo sales involved short sales and foreclosures. Once these distressed properties are off the market, the normal, arm's length sales should bring the median prices to higher, true value levels.

"We certainly agree with Barbara Corcoran, and her conclusions are what we've been saying for many months," said Bill Geller, 2009 SAR President. "This is an amazing time to buy Sarasota properties at prices not seen since the early 2000s, or even earlier. But the public needs to understand - these prices won't last. Once the market reaches equilibrium, and we've exhausted the distressed property pool, we will start to see more and more multiple offers on choice homes."

The $8,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit was one of the factors in the recent market resurgence, which produced sales in September that nearly topped the 600 level for the second time in 2009. In addition, investors seem to have returned to take advantage of the price drops. Pending sales in September have also continued to show strong levels - very near the 800 mark - as the real estate market recovers after a two-year recession.

Pending sales have now exceeded the 800 level for seven out of nine months in 2009, after lingering in the 400 to 500 per month range for much of the previous two years. The statistic is a strong indicator for the next two or three months of sales, when many of these pendings will become closed sales. Pending sales are sales where an offer has been accepted during the month, but the sale has not yet closed. Even though some pending sales never close, pending sales are an indicator of current buyer activity.

Most of the statistics continue to point to a market in the initial stages of recovery. Inventory levels continued to decline and are now at the lowest point since the boom ended - a good sign for a market in recovery. There are now only 3,915 active single family listings and 2,337 active condo listings, figures not seen since August 2005 and earlier when the boom first started.

The "months of inventory" - the number of months it would take to sell all the available properties at the current sales rate - was down for both single family and condos. The figure is 9.8 months for single family and 15.1 months for condos. A figure of 6 months is considered to be a market in equilibrium between buyers and sellers.

Work on Fruitville Road from Coburn to Debrecen roads continues this week, with the installation of erosion control measures, clearing, waterline and stormwater pipe installation, utility relocations, the excavation of pond sites and road construction on both sides of the existing road. Construction of temporary pavement will continue from Coburn to Tatum roads and traffic will be slightly shifted to the north on the morning of Friday, Oct. 16. Two lanes of traffic will be maintained at all times on Fruitville Road with equipment and personnel working on the road shoulder areas. Motorists are reminded to use caution throughout the work zone as there will be periodic slowdowns and stoppages due to heavy equipment and materials crossing and offloading along Fruitville Road. The posted speed limit has been reduced to 35 mph in the work zone for the safety of the workers and the traveling public. This project will include the construction of four 11-foot-wide travel lanes, 4-foot-wide bicycle lanes and 10-foot-wide sidewalks on both sides of the roadway. In addition, there will be roadway lighting, medians, concrete curbs and gutters, stormwater pipes, inlet structures, stormwater ponds and a water supply pipe. The project is expected to be complete in the winter of 2010.

This morning on the Today Show,  Al Roker interviewed real estate guru Barbara Corcoran on the Top Ten cities in the US to buy real estate. Barbara Corcoran said that Sarasota, Florida was named the number one city in the US to buy right now as "they are snapping up bargains".

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/33191501#33191501

INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT:

AL ROKER: How did you determine the top cities?  What were the criteria that you used?
BARBARA CORCORAN:     These are the top ten cities across America where prices have dropped the most.  Bt in the last quarter prices are shooting up.  If you could time a real estate market, which you can't often do this is the time to buy these particular places.

AL ROKER:  Alright now lets start off, #1 Sarasota FL
BARBARA CORCORAN:  Sarasota FL is probably what is a symbol of the worst real estate market in the country.  The Florida markets were hit early.  Last year alone prices went down by a full third in Sarasota FL, but prices are already up 13%

AL ROKER:  So that’s good there is a rebound.
BARBARA CORCORAN:  Its moving fast, they're snapping up bargains.

AL ROKER:  The median home price is almost $176,00 BARBARA
CORCORAN:  You got it. But remember  that used to be a third a higher

AL ROKER:  Wow and the good thing about Sarasota, it's got a lot of the beachy attributes that people always think about Florida
BARBARA CORCORAN:  It's a beautiful beach but on top of that it is a sophistacted city and it's an urban city with all the things that sophisticated people like to find there.

The first major contract on a project to widen Fruitville Road east of Interstate 75 was awarded Tuesday.  Wilbur Smith Associates won a $1.82 million contract for engineering and construction oversight of the project whose first phase is expected to start in mid-July.  Originally estimated to cost $26 million, the project would widen Fruitville to four lanes over a 2.4-mile-long stretch. Initial construction bids, however, appear to be coming in below estimates.  The first phase involves widening Fruitville between Tatum Road and Sarasota Center Boulevard. The second phase, expected to start in September, is from Coburn Road to Tatum.  Besides widening the road, the project will add bike lanes, street lighting, sidewalks and street trees.