Articles by Audra

Sarasota's cultural identity was shaped in large part by the singular patronage of John and Mable Ringling, who chose this then-small coastal town as their winter home in the 1920s and left it a legacy of art, architecture, and institutional infrastructure that the city has spent a century building upon. What follows is a guide to the major arts institutions and performing arts organizations that define Florida's Cultural Coast.

The Sarasota area and surrounding barrier islands offer some of Florida’s most diverse coastal experiences — whether you’re seeking powdery white sand, family-friendly amenities, nature trails, or soft-surf shoreline perfect for sunsets.

Discover Calusa Country Club, Lennar’s newest bundled golf community in Lakewood Ranch, FL. Explore new construction homes, 30 holes of golf, and resort amenities perfect for a lock-and-leave Florida escape.

Is Florida Insurance Finally Getting Better? Yes, the numbers suggest that it is. But there's an important distinction between saying the market is improving and saying the problem is solved. We're now seeing: More private insurers. More competition. More insurance capacity. Lower reinsurance costs. More rate filings for reductions or no increase. A dramatically smaller Citizens.

Luxury in today’s golf world is increasingly defined by experience rather than exclusivity. Walkable layouts, strategic design, strong course conditioning, and a welcoming yet polished atmosphere often matter more than membership structure — particularly for second-home owners, snowbirds, and international buyers. Sarasota’s best public courses quietly reflect these values, attracting serious golfers who appreciate the game itself as much as the lifestyle that surrounds it.

Monterey is shaping up to be one of the more interesting options in southeast Lakewood Ranch because of the balance it strikes. You get a quieter, nature-forward setting with lakes and trails, while remaining close to Sarasota, the beaches, Waterside and the shopping and dining around UTC. You also get the consistency of a Toll Brothers community with a wide range of home sizes and price points, from more approachable new-construction options to significantly larger luxury e

Across Sarasota and the Gulf Coast, pickleball has become part of our daily rhythm, particularly in and around some of the area’s most desirable residential areas, including downtown Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch, Venice, and Longboat Key. While pickleball may be the fastest-growing sport in the country, here it feels like something more enduring: a part of our culture that shows how people really enjoy and live life to the fullest in Florida.

Rising 29 stories above downtown’s vibrant streets, the Roche Bobois St. Pete Tower is poised to become the defining address in Tampa Bay luxury real estate. Developed by Clearwater-based Valor Real Estate Development in partnership with the iconic Parisian furniture house Roche Bobois, this is not simply a new condominium — it is a landmark, a statement, and a once-in-a-generation opportunity for buyers who understand the difference between a place to live and a place to tru

From Flower Farm to Coastal Village: The Story Behind SeaFlower. Something new is taking shape in west Bradenton, and if you’ve been watching the real estate market along Florida’s Gulf Coast, SeaFlower deserves your full attention. This isn’t just another subdivision, it’s a 1,175-acre mixed-use coastal village rooted in a nearly 90-year family history, thoughtfully designed to bring back the charm and community spirit of Old Florida coastal towns.

From Wild Blue at Waterside to the barrier islands — who's building the finest homes on Florida's Suncoast, and what sets each apart.

SeaFlower is one of the most exciting new communities on Bradenton's coastal mainland, and one of its biggest draws is the sheer variety of home styles available within a single, walkable neighborhood. Five builders were hand-selected to bring SeaFlower to life, each contributing a distinct product type, price point, and design sensibility.

A Dog Lover’s Guide to the Suncoast | The Best Dog Parks, Pet-Friendly Patios & More in Sarasota, St. Pete & Lakewood Ranch | Whether you’re drawn to the vibrant patio scene of Sarasota, the waterfront parks and one-of-a-kind Dog Bar of St. Pete, or the beautifully built-out community infrastructure of Lakewood Ranch, one thing is clear: this stretch of Florida’s Gulf Coast was practically designed for life with a dog.

If you’re considering buying in Florida, especially in coastal or condo markets, understanding the homeowners insurance changes — and how they impact affordability and resale — is just as important as the location or purchase price.

Cardel Homes traces its roots to 1973, when Calgary teachers Del and Caryl Ockey founded the company. What began as a family-owned homebuilding business has grown into a North American builder operating in Alberta, Ontario, Colorado, and Florida. The name Cardel comes from the first three letters of Del and Caryl's names. More than fifty years later, Cardel says it has shaped more than 150 communities and built more than 20,000 homes across North America.

Lakewood Ranch isn't one luxury market — it's a collection of very different new-home lifestyles. Golf, resort amenities, custom estates, larger homesites, waterfront settings, and low-maintenance living can all look very different from one community to the next. In 2026, several communities are particularly worth watching, from the bundled golf lifestyle of Calusa Country Club to the estate-scale homes of Monterey and the custom-builder lineup at Wild Blue.

Top ten reasons Canadians make a move to Sarasota, Florida. Whether you’re considering a second home, a retirement retreat, or simply a seasonal escape, here's why Sarasota and the Suncoast make sense.

If you’re considering a move to Southwest Florida, one of the biggest questions buyers ask is: “Should I live in Sarasota County or Manatee County?” The truth is that both counties offer beautiful Gulf Coast living, strong lifestyle appeal, excellent master-planned communities, and access to beaches, boating, golf, arts, and dining. But there are important differences in taxes, schools, development patterns, pricing, traffic, and overall lifestyle feel.

Rising 42 stories above Central Avenue, Art House arrived as more than a new address. It is a considered answer to the question that anyone who has fallen for this city eventually asks: What would it mean to actually live here, at the center of all of it? Art House isn't just another luxury tower — it's a deliberate statement about how one of Florida's most vibrant cities wants to live, work, and breathe.

Beginning November 2, 2026, a new residential appraisal standard known as Uniform Appraisal Dataset (UAD) 3.6 becomes mandatory for appraisals delivered to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. It represents the most significant redesign of the residential appraisal reporting system in more than a decade, replacing the industry's longstanding form-based reports with a more flexible, data-driven reporting format.

Buying real estate with cryptocurrency is one of those topics that sparks immediate curiosity — and just as much confusion. Yes, real estate transactions involving cryptocurrency happen today, including residential homes, condos, and investment properties. But they don’t quite work the way most people might imagine, and understanding the mechanics upfront can save buyers a lot of frustration (and taxes) later.