Simone Schaerf

Born in Vienna, Austria, Simone Schaerf brings a truly global perspective to real estate in the Sarasota and Bradenton area. Her connection to the region began in 1991 when she moved here to attend the prestigious Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy (now IMG Academy). Living both on campus and on Longboat Key, she experienced firsthand the growth and transformation of this beautiful coastal community.
After graduating high school, Simone studied business and history at New York University. She went on to build a successful international career in the media industry, working in New York, Hong Kong, Berlin, and Vienna. In 2003, she launched her first company—The Bagel Station, a bagel franchise that quickly expanded across Austria, Germany, and Malaysia. She later sold the company in 2006 and relocated to Costa Rica, where she began investing her own capital in real estate. This marked the start of her long-standing passion for the industry.
Simone has since built a diverse real estate portfolio that includes investment properties and multiple short-term rentals in both Vienna and Costa Rica. Her entrepreneurial spirit also led her to initiate an equine therapy center (www.be-kunterbunt.com) for children with special needs in Austria—a project close to her heart.
In 2023, Simone returned to Sarasota, earned her real estate license, and joined Michael Saunders & Company, where she now helps clients navigate the market with insight, integrity, and international experience.
Beyond her professional achievements, Simone is an avid pickleball player, an aspiring polo player, and a certified Pilates and Yoga instructor as well as a trained Equine Therapist. Her passion for wellness, community, and living an active lifestyle mirrors the very lifestyle she loves helping her clients find in Florida’s Gulf Coast.