Sitting 5 miles off the coast from Sarasota, Longboat Key offers luxurious island living without the tourists. “Here we get the island life,” says Maureen Horn, a broker with Michael Saunders & Company, who’s lived on Longboat for 25 years. “This means wearing shorts year-round, being surrounded by water views and going boating whenever you feel like it.”
Bayfront Park in Longboat Key
Bayport Beach and Tennis Club condos in Longboat Key have their own fishing pier on the bay.
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Island homes offer beach access and waterfront views
“Longboat is like an island suburb of Sarasota,” says Horn, “at first people think of it as a vacation spot, then fall in love with it and buy a home.” The Key is about 10 miles long and only half a mile wide, with Gulf of Mexico Drive running from north to south, lined with dense mangroves, palm trees and entrances to waterfront communities facing the Gulf of Mexico to the west and Sarasota Bay to the east. There’s no need to worry about beach access here; whether on the main road or in a gated community, it’s a short walk away. “The beaches are relaxing with little foot traffic because it’s mostly residents,” says Horn. Single-family homes range from a three-bedroom island-inspired ranch-style with a spacious back patio within walking distance of the beach for $1 million up to a brand-new five-bedroom Spanish Revival mansion on a 1-acre beachfront lot with an infinity pool for over $18 million. For those looking for a slice of the island life at a lower price or want less space, condos range from a two-bedroom with a Spanish-inspired red tile roof and community beach access for $500,000 to a four-bedroom unit in a luxury building for $6.8 million with contemporary touches like floor to ceiling windows, full indoor and outdoor kitchens, a communal pool area and pickleball courts.
Along the eastern side of Longboat Key are waterfront communities of single-family homes.
Newly built beachside condos like this are being put up along Longboat Key
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Residents enjoy kayaking, golfing and waterfront amenities
Along with the beaches, amenities are key to the island lifestyle, so it’s no surprise that Longboat has impressive public facilities like Bayfront Park, which has a large indoor recreation facility and an outdoor playground, dog park and kayak launch looking out over Sarasota Bay. Racket-heads can join a rally at the Longboat Tennis Center, which has ten courts and a pro shop offering lessons. Golf weather is year-round, and residents can play at two semi-private courses, Harbourside and Links on Longboat, which are a part of the Longboat Key Club. This private beach club has a tennis facility, multiple dining options, a marina and a fitness center.
Many people store their kayaks at the launch area in Bayfront Park in Longboat Key
People living the golf lifestyle play at Harborside Golf Course on Longboat Key.
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Waterfront dining and boutique shopping on and around the island
With these views, there are, of course, some scenic waterfront restaurants like Dry Dock Waterfront Grill on the south end of the Key, where you can get steamed seafood straight from the water. On the north end, indulge in upscale seafood dishes like the Colossal Blue Lump Crab Salad at Shore. Drive south over the bridge to St. Armands Circle on Lido Key to sip on a latte while perusing through boutique shops. You can stay on the Key to get your groceries at Publix. While it’s relatively quiet here at night, head 5 miles to Sarasota for a night of entertainment, then return home to living the island life in Longboat Key.
Longboat Key Beach Club and Marina offers many boat slips for long-term mooring on the water.
Longboat Key has it's own brand new Publix grocery store right next to the golf course.
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Commuting to public schools on the mainland
Students may be a part of the Manatee County School District, but there are no schools on the Key, so they must drive seven miles north to begin at Anna Maria Elementary, which is graded a B-plus by Niche. They may continue on the mainland about 10 miles away in Bradenton at Martha B. King Middle, graded a B-minus, and round out their education at Bayshore High School, which received a C-plus. There are also prestigious private options across the bay, like IMG Academy, a boarding school with state-of-the-art athletic facilities and staff that have produced countless college and professional athletes.
Martha B King Middle School in Bradenton is a C+ rated school.
Bayshore High School in Bradenton has 1,774 students and a 20:1 Student to teacher ratio.
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Written By
Ed Coombs
Photography Contributed By
Pete Barrett
Video By
Brian Bernhard
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Melissa Parry,
an experienced agent in this area.
On average, homes in Longboat Key, FL sell after 90 days on the market compared to the national average of 53 days. The median sale price for homes in Longboat Key, FL over the last 12 months is $960,000, down 23% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Perfectly positioned mid-key and just 500 feet from the shell-filled shoreline, this beautiful home with a fenced-in yard spans two levels and features a separate guest house. Enter the property through the interior courtyard, past the covered al fresco dining area, to the soothing sound of a waterfall flowing from the pergola into the heated pool. Sunlight from the central courtyard brightens
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Curtis Andrews
BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS REAL ESTATE ATCHLEY PROPE
Introducing a remarkable opportunity to rent a piece of paradise at 829 Bayport Way in the scenic Longboat Key, Florida. This beautifully situated property offers an exceptional blend of modern living and serene outdoor charm, perfect for those seeking both comfort and a vibrant lifestyle by the coast. As you enter the community, you are greeted by meticulously landscaped grounds that set the
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