Sarasota, Longboat Key, SIesta Key - Florida

Sarasota has a distinct vibe that’s different from Florida’s relative coastal cities, with its own vibrant arts scene, beachy atmosphere and burgeoning food culture. People who choose Sarasota as their home are generally called by its unique charm. This metro area of just over 800,000 people has a renowned opera house, a number of rooftop bars and the popular beach of Siesta Key. What makes the region special is its duality – downtown Sarasota boasts resorts and fine dining, but strolling Siesta Key Village or St. Armands Circle offers a more intimate, seaside ambience.

There was once a time when Sarasota was dismissed as a playground for retirees, but that reputation is slowly changing as more young professionals begin to make it their own. One of the city’s up-and-coming neighborhoods is the Rosemary District, where eclectic murals decorate storefronts and modern condominiums and hotels sit near casual breakfast cafes. 

In Sarasota, residents pay a combination of local property taxes from the county, city and school districts. Florida is one of a few states that do not have a state income tax, but many residents say that is offset by the state’s high property taxes. With the state’s homestead exemption, however, if property owners can prove that their Florida home is their primary residence, the assessed value of their home will only go up by a maximum of 3% each year. That grandfathers in a number of property owners who are paying low property taxes relative to the overall current value of their home.

https://realestate.usnews.com/places/florida/sarasota