Bradenton

Samoset, an established residential neighborhood conveniently located between Bradenton and East Bradenton, offers attractively priced housing for experienced homebuyers and those new to the market.<br><br>Housing in the community typically ranges from the mid $100,000s to the low $300,000s. “It’s great for investment opportunities or first-time homebuyers,” says Avian French, a Realtor with Keller Williams On The Water. Made up primarily of established homes, newer custom homes have begun to pop up in recent years. “It’s a mixed neighborhood,” says French. “You have the older homes and newer homes as far as individual properties. “There are houses built in the 1960s and some built in the 2000s.” Most of the established homes occupy spacious lots, which leave room for sizable yards. Newer homes tend to be built on smaller lots. Private driveways are a standard feature throughout the neighborhood, and carports are more common than garages.<br><br>Samoset also includes several amenities-filled manufactured home communities. Casa Loma is an all-ages, deed-restricted community where homeowners also own the lots. Golf Lakes is a 55-plus community that features a 9-hole golf course and two dozen lighted shuffleboard courts among its array of amenities. Homes in both communities typically range from around $100,000 to the low $200,000s. <br><br>The neighborhood is home to a trio of public schools, including William Monroe Rowlett Academy for Arts and Communication, a high-performing charter school that serves students in kindergarten through eighth grade. Graduates can attend Southeast High, an International Baccalaureate school with a rich sports tradition. Several former students have gone on to play professional sports, including eight in the NFL. The other school is Samoset Elementary, which features an arts and music program that begins in kindergarten.<br><br>Much of Samoset is bounded by U.S. Route 301 and U.S. Route 41, also known as Tamiami Trail, the Gulf Coast’s primary retail and dining corridor. Both roads provide direct access south to neighboring Sarasota, although 301 is the less-trafficked of the two. Tamiami Trail also runs north through greater Bradenton and into Tampa. Retail and dining options are concentrated along Tamiami Trail on the neighborhood’s west side. Acapulco Tropical Supermarkets is a recently renovated independent grocer with a popular buffet located in the DeSoto Junction Shopping Center, and Sprouts Farmers Market anchors the Cortez Plaza. Highly rated neighborhood eateries include Sam’s Seafood & Grill and Food+Beer, a popular sports bar. Residents also have access to a movie theater and a Walmart Supercenter on the other side of the neighborhood along 301.<br><br>Surrounded by the manufactured home communities is the Greens of Manatee, a daily-fee executive golf course. The 18-hole, par-61 layout stretches for more than 3,500 yards. Less than 3 miles away in neighboring East Bradenton is River Run, a links-style municipal course along the Braden River. In fall 2024, residents will have access to an array of upgraded amenities at nearby John H. Marble Park. The 7-acre complex will reopen after undergoing almost $20,000 in upgrades. When it reopens, it will include an expanded gymnasium, extended pool deck and a new splash pad. Existing athletic courts and maintenance/storage buildings will be removed to make room for more green space and new, ADA-compliant pathways.

East Bradenton, a sprawling community bounded by the Manatee River and a pair of major roads, offers a wide variety of housing options in one of the fastest-growing areas on the Gulf Coast. “It’s a real mixture,” says Greg Owens, a Realtor with TeamWorks at Keller Williams on the Water. “You have more affordable established housing, but you also have acreage homes with a farm and horses. And, of course, you have homes on the river itself. Those tend to be pricier. There are golf course communities. too, and new housing is being developed.”<br><br>Housing is highlighted by multimillion-dollar homes and a collection of historic homes on and around the Manatee River. Established and custom homes in subdivision settings are spread throughout East Bradenton. Peridia Golf & Country Club is the premier golf-course community, while separate 55-plus communities feature traditional single-family homes and manufactured housing. The average listing price for a home is around $560,000. New development includes single-family homes and town houses, which start in the mid-$300,000s. The recent sale and closure of Mixon Fruit Farms, which had been part of East Bradenton for more than 80 years, will result in continued residential development along the 26th Avenue East corridor. <br><br>East Bradenton stretches from U.S. Highway 301 on the west side to Interstate 75 on the east. An offshoot of the much-busier Tamiami Trail, 301 offers quick and convenient access south to neighboring Sarasota. “I’m a big fan of 301,” says Owens, a former resident of East Bradenton. I-75 provides efficient travel north to St. Petersburg and the Tampa region. The primary retail and dining corridor is State Road 64, also known as Manatee Avenue, which connects directly west to Bradenton’s beaches. Heading east, it provides convenient shopping options such as Publix, Home Depot and Walmart. Along the way is Michael John’s – French-American Steakhouse, a fine-dining brasserie. “Great food, great service,” says Owens. “Just an excellent restaurant. A real discovery.” <br><br>Students in kindergarten through 12th grade can attend a pair of traditionally high-performing institutions in Louise R. Johnson K-8 School of International Studies and Braden River High School. William H. Bashaw and Manatee elementary schools also are available in East Bradenton.<br><br>Boating is prevalent on the Mantee River, and Bradenton Riverwalk amenities include the relaxing confines of Regatta Plaza and a skate park. Canoes and kayaks are common on the Braden River, a tributary of the Mantee that runs through East Bradenton. Residents can launch watercraft from Braden River Park, which also provides play areas for young children and competition on its athletic fields. Tom Bennett Park combines classic recreation with nature-based activities. Amenities at the 200-acre complex include a disc golf course, fishing pier and nature trail. Creekwood Park is the proverbial hidden gem. “There’s a really great dog park, and it’s a great place for children’s activities and to picnic and barbecue,” says Owens. <br><br>And, of course, there’s golf. Peridia Golf & Country Club is open to the public and features a highly rated 18-hole executive course. River Run Golf Links is a municipal course that offers a laidback 18 holes along the Braden River. Closer to the center of town is the 13th Avenue Dream Center, which offers afterschool and summer camps, reading and cultural programs and an array of organized athletic activities that includes baseball, basketball, track, cheerleading and Manatee Mustangs football.

Northwest Bradenton stands out, albeit quietly, among the city’s neighborhoods. “It’s like a community within a community,” says Jade Eller, a Realtor with Preferred Shore who grew up there. “It’s very secluded and private. It’s a really good family neighborhood.”<br><br>The neighborhood is known for its housing. “There are some nice upscale neighborhoods and a lot of upscale homes on the Manatee River,” says Kathy Valente, a Realtor with Michael Saunders & Company. The riverfront estates are the neighborhood’s largest and most-expensive homes, typically listing for $5 million or more. Inland, prices range from $500,000 to almost $2 million. Established midcentury homes often featuring ranch-style architecture occupy the lower end of the range, while custom homes typically featuring private pools occupy the higher end. The most sought-after of those homes are found at The Loop, a prestigious gated community that features a variety of architecturally distinct homes typically listing in the $1.5 million range. “The home values just keep going up because it’s a very desirable place to live,” says Eller. <br><br>Younger students can attend neighborhood schools Stewart Elementary, a traditionally high-performing institution rated 9 out of 10 by GreatSchools, and Martha B. King Middle. Older students can attend Manatee High, the oldest public high school in the city.<br><br>Northwest Bradenton is surrounded by water – the river on the north and Palma Sola Bay on the south and west. The Palma Sola Causeway on Manatee Avenue is a popular spot for residents who want to launch a boat, fish or just relax on a convenient stretch of beach. A few miles further west, Manatee Avenue connects directly across the bay to Anna Maria Island and its miles of white-sand beaches. The island can be accessed from the river as well. That journey often begins at Blenkers Boatworks & Marina, a full-service facility where boaters can stock up for a quick trip west to Anna Maria or east along the scenic Bradenton riverfront. And when the day is done, you can return home with your boat in tow. “There are no significant HOAs or any CDDs, so you’ll see a lot of boats parked in driveways,” says Eller. “It’s nice to be able to do that in a very popular boating neighborhood.”<br><br>The neighborhood is home to a pair of popular waterfront attractions. DeSoto National Memorial park commemorates the 16th century arrival of Spanish explorers to the Tampa Bay region. It’s a popular spot for kayak tours and summer youth camps. Robinson Preserve is a sprawling 600-acre tract that serves as a neighborhood park. Visitors can access the park through the main entrance, via boat at the aquatic entrance or by foot through a hike-in entrance from nearby Perico Island. “The preserve is really nice,” says Valente. “There are about 4 miles of hiking and walking paths. You can ride a bike. You can launch a kayak. People really like that aspect of living here.” Adds Eller, “It’s definitely an active neighborhood.” There’s more activity than ever before after a recent expansion, which added roughly 150 acres. New amenities include an observation tower and state-of-the art rubber mulch trails. “It’s like you’re bouncing along,” says Eller. <br><br>Retail and dining is concentrated on the south side of the neighborhood along Manatee Avenue. Beachway Plaza is anchored by a Publix and also includes the neighborhood’s favorite pizza place. “Danny’s Pizzeria is really popular,” says Eller. “It’s back in the original owner’s hands, and everyone is really happy about that.” Manatee Avenue is lined with stores and eateries. A few miles east is a Bradenton institution. The Shake Pit has been serving up ice cream and comfort food for decades. “That’s been there since my dad was in high school!” exclaims Eller. <br><br>High-end homes and natural attractions make Northwest Bradenton a uniquely appealing choice.