Bird Key Real Estate

Situated just off the coast of Sarasota, Florida sits a boaters dream. Bird Key offers residents a spectacular location, deep boating water and luxurious homes. Residents can be walking on Lido Key beach, shopping in downtown Sarasota, playing golf with friends at The Longboat Key Club or eating a nice meal at one of St. Armands outdoor restaurants within minutes of their home. Bird Key location is one of the best.

Bird Key History

In 1911, Thomas Martin Worcester of Cincinnati began to build on Bird Key by dredging a channel through the grass flats to his dock and using the dredged material as fill to raise the level of the land. Worcester built the first expensive home on any island in the Sarasota Bay region.

In the 1920's John Ringling purchased Bird Key and several other keys in the Sarasota, Florida area. Ringing planned to convert the Worcester home into a summer White House for President Warren Harding, but Harding's death in 1923 prevented that. The Bird Key mansion then became the home of John Ringling's sister, Ida Ringling North, until her death in 1950.

In 1959 Arvida Realty, Inc. purchased the Ringling Interests' holdings on Bird Key. Arivida planned to fill in the island to allow for 511 lots, 291 waterfronts and 220 dry lots. Arvida began to promote Bird Key heavily by the use of newspapers and the media. One example of these ads in the following that appeared on January 17, 1960, in the Herald-Tribune: "Who hasn't dreamed of living on a tropical island? Where the climate is always mild, where the beauty is everywhere, where silence is broken on by the rustling of the palms and the sound of the sea as it washes the shore. All of this is yours on beautiful Bird Key, set like a jewel in the waters of Sarasota Bay."

Bird Key Homes

The island is made up of only single family homes. Many of the homes were built in the 1960's. However, since the land values and location are so desired many of the older homes have been torn down to make way for larger, more impressive homes. Many of the bayfront homes are magnificent newer homes with breathtaking views of either downtown Sarasota skyline, Lido Key, or Siesta Key and Big Pass.

2008 Bird Key Activity

So far this year (11/20/2008) there have been 27 sales on Bird Key. Currently, there are 7 homes under contract waiting to close. There are 42 homes for sale on the island.

• Highest sales price - $3,350,000
• Lowest sales price - $500,000
• Median home price - $950,000
• Average Days on Market - 282

If you would like to view all homes for sale on Bird Key please visit my Bird Key real estate page. Call me at 941-812-6272 or email me if I can help you with a Bird Key home purchase.

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