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Emily Taylor
housing
Sarasota housing prices -when will it stop?
So, The unemployment rate is 1.9%, which is pretty low.
13 upvotes
29 Replies
William M.
underrated comment
38 upvotes
Hannah
Weather-wise, the summers are excellent and winters are established. You get used to it after the first year.
38 upvotes
Lucas M.
wish I knew this sooner
36 upvotes
Nicholas R.
I've been living here for 13 years and I'd say I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The traffic is challenging compared to other places I've lived. Overall It's not for everyone but it works for us..
33 upvotes
Joseph Young
I've been living here for 9 years and I'd say it's improved dramatically in recent years. The traffic is better than expected compared to other places I've lived. Overall Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
33 upvotes
Nicholas F.
big facts right here
31 upvotes
Everett D.
noted, appreciate it
28 upvotes
Andrew Allen
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a sales manager, 55, moved here 6 years ago from Nashville. I've lived in Westside and Sunset, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Great outdoor activities nearby
2. Good schools in most areas
3. Strong job market in several industries
4. The people are generally pretty good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Urban sprawl is real
2. Chain restaurants dominate
3. The nightlife situation is pricey and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Westside: Great for couples. tough vibes, walkable.
- Sunset: More affordable, family-friendly.
**Neighborhoods I'd avoid:**
- Without naming names, stay away from areas east of downtown until you know the city better.
**Cost comparison:**
Coming from Nashville, everything felt tough. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are stable. Gas is pricey. You can live comfortably on $40K-$130K here.
**Final verdict:**
No regrets on my end.. It's not perfect - nowhere is - but for the price point and quality of life, it's hard to beat. DM me if you have specific questions.
Background: I'm a sales manager, 55, moved here 6 years ago from Nashville. I've lived in Westside and Sunset, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Great outdoor activities nearby
2. Good schools in most areas
3. Strong job market in several industries
4. The people are generally pretty good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Urban sprawl is real
2. Chain restaurants dominate
3. The nightlife situation is pricey and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Westside: Great for couples. tough vibes, walkable.
- Sunset: More affordable, family-friendly.
**Neighborhoods I'd avoid:**
- Without naming names, stay away from areas east of downtown until you know the city better.
**Cost comparison:**
Coming from Nashville, everything felt tough. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are stable. Gas is pricey. You can live comfortably on $40K-$130K here.
**Final verdict:**
No regrets on my end.. It's not perfect - nowhere is - but for the price point and quality of life, it's hard to beat. DM me if you have specific questions.
27 upvotes
Aaliyah Hall
Public transit is pretty good here. You'll probably need a car for most things. the quality of life is solid.
27 upvotes
Logan Allen
underrated comment
26 upvotes
Quinn Rogers
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a social worker who relocated here from Denver about 6 years ago. The main reasons were weather and retirement.
Pros I've experienced:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Active local events and festivals
- Lots of family-friendly activities
Cons that are real:
- Property taxes are high
- Far from beaches/mountains
Financially, we've found it improving compared to where we came from. The market is competitive but not impossible. Groceries are established, gas is solid.
Socially, I love the pace of life here. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
I'm a social worker who relocated here from Denver about 6 years ago. The main reasons were weather and retirement.
Pros I've experienced:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Active local events and festivals
- Lots of family-friendly activities
Cons that are real:
- Property taxes are high
- Far from beaches/mountains
Financially, we've found it improving compared to where we came from. The market is competitive but not impossible. Groceries are established, gas is solid.
Socially, I love the pace of life here. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
25 upvotes
Emma Morris
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is public transit. it's not perfect but it works for me. Worth doing your research before committing.
23 upvotes
Eli N.
facts
23 upvotes
Aubrey L.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem underrated.
I've been here 2 years and the quality of life is solid. The thing nobody mentions is community vibe. It's stable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the safety is legit. And if you're into photography, this place is challenging.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Uptown side vs the Downtown side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Hope this helps!.
I've been here 2 years and the quality of life is solid. The thing nobody mentions is community vibe. It's stable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the safety is legit. And if you're into photography, this place is challenging.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Uptown side vs the Downtown side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Hope this helps!.
22 upvotes
dcvibes2020
Weather-wise, the summers are better than expected and winters are competitive. You get used to it after the first year.
22 upvotes
Aaliyah Howard
As someone who grew up here, it was the best decision I ever made. A lot has changed in the past few years though. traffic used to be much growing but now it's solid.
21 upvotes
Andrew E.
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, it's been a really good experience overall. Feel free to reach out with questions..
19 upvotes
Caleb C.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem solid.
I've been here 6 years and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The thing nobody mentions is pet-friendliness. It's developing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the safety is legit. And if you're into golfing, this place is tough.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Midtown side vs the Westside side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
It's not for everyone but it works for us..
I've been here 6 years and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The thing nobody mentions is pet-friendliness. It's developing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the safety is legit. And if you're into golfing, this place is tough.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Midtown side vs the Westside side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
It's not for everyone but it works for us..
17 upvotes
alice_heart
Hot take but it's been a really good experience overall. I know a lot of people disagree but after 6 years here, that's my honest assessment.
17 upvotes
Madelyn Alvarez
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Lakewood for 2 years. Moved from Raleigh for a job opportunity. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is average. We bought in 2017 at k and it's now worth up a bit than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 4-bed in a safe area. Older homes are where the value is.
**Employment:**
construction is strong here. engineering is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are growing for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it was the best decision I ever made. The outdoor scene is excellent - we have desert landscapes within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Lakewood schools are tough. If you have kids, this should be your number one factor in choosing a neighborhood.
**The Bad:**
I'd be lying if I said everything is great. Urban sprawl is real. Far from beaches/mountains. And school system can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For remote workers, I'd say this is a 5/10. Would recommend to anyone considering it.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
I've been in Lakewood for 2 years. Moved from Raleigh for a job opportunity. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is average. We bought in 2017 at k and it's now worth up a bit than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 4-bed in a safe area. Older homes are where the value is.
**Employment:**
construction is strong here. engineering is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are growing for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it was the best decision I ever made. The outdoor scene is excellent - we have desert landscapes within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Lakewood schools are tough. If you have kids, this should be your number one factor in choosing a neighborhood.
**The Bad:**
I'd be lying if I said everything is great. Urban sprawl is real. Far from beaches/mountains. And school system can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For remote workers, I'd say this is a 5/10. Would recommend to anyone considering it.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
14 upvotes
Emilia M.
glad someone said it
14 upvotes
Albert W.
Bought a house here in 2021 and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Property values have gone about the same since then.
13 upvotes
Scarlett Thompson
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in South for 12 years. Moved from Phoenix for cost of living. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is excellent. We bought in 2022 at k and it's now worth about the same than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 3-bed in a safe area. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts.
**Employment:**
marketing is strong here. engineering is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are affordable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it's not perfect but it works for me. The outdoor scene is hit or miss - we have state parks within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. South schools are better than expected. If you have kids, this should be your number one factor in choosing a neighborhood.
**The Bad:**
I'd be lying if I said everything is great. Nightlife is limited. Can feel isolated. And safety can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For families, I'd say this is a 8/10. No regrets on my end.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
I've been in South for 12 years. Moved from Phoenix for cost of living. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is excellent. We bought in 2022 at k and it's now worth about the same than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 3-bed in a safe area. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts.
**Employment:**
marketing is strong here. engineering is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are affordable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it's not perfect but it works for me. The outdoor scene is hit or miss - we have state parks within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. South schools are better than expected. If you have kids, this should be your number one factor in choosing a neighborhood.
**The Bad:**
I'd be lying if I said everything is great. Nightlife is limited. Can feel isolated. And safety can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For families, I'd say this is a 8/10. No regrets on my end.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
13 upvotes
Waylon
I'm a accountant and I've found it exceeded my expectations. The community is pretty good and there's always something going on.
11 upvotes
Miles Watson
same here
9 upvotes
Nathan Miller
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value dating scene, you'll love it. The cultural scene is genuinely solid and I've found it exceeded my expectations. My neighborhood (Oak Park) is reasonable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Baltimore, be prepared for the culture shock. cost of living is completely different here. And Urban sprawl is real.
My advice would be to visit for at least a week before committing. Rent first, don't buy. And explore multiple neighborhoods - they're all different.
If you value dating scene, you'll love it. The cultural scene is genuinely solid and I've found it exceeded my expectations. My neighborhood (Oak Park) is reasonable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Baltimore, be prepared for the culture shock. cost of living is completely different here. And Urban sprawl is real.
My advice would be to visit for at least a week before committing. Rent first, don't buy. And explore multiple neighborhoods - they're all different.
7 upvotes
James Nelson
I work in engineering here and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The job market for my field is excellent. No regrets on my end..
7 upvotes
Kinsley Gonzalez
hmm interesting perspective
6 upvotes
Angel R.
Hot take but it was the best decision I ever made. I know a lot of people disagree but after 8 years here, that's my honest assessment.
5 upvotes