Can someone explain Palmer Ranch? (Sarasota, Bradenton: for sale, rentals, HOA fees)

[AnnieCt]

We may be looking to relocate to Fl. Our budget will be around $500k. I think I would prefer a short term (6 month rental) while we shop but I would like to get a sense of the Sarasota/Venice area. I did not care for Bradenton, but then we have only spent a few days there. Could someone discuss the safer, nicer areas please. We are in our 50's.

[TamRE]

Here is a link to the Palmer Ranch Master Property Owners Association. palmerranch

Palmer Ranch is a master planned development in Sarasota County, Florida. The development community consists of residential, recreational, commercial, industrial and mixed use properties.

The Master Association is the Palmer Ranch Master Property Owners Association, Inc. All owners of Residential, Commercial-Industrial and Recreational properties are Members of the Master Association.

The individual neighborhoods have different HOA fees and offer different amenities. There are condos, villas and single family homes. Something for everyone. If you go to the above link and click on Members and go down to Neighborhoods you can read about the different neighborhoods within Palmer Ranch.

[bbronston]

Aside from safe, what are you looking for? What parts of Bradenton did you see?

[Sunshine Rules]

Palmer Ranch is a master planned community in south Sarasota of approximately 10,000 acres. The zip code there is 34238 for search purposes.

There are over 9000 residences - single family homes, condos, villas and townhomes. Prices start at around $78,000 for a 1 bedroom condo in Serenade to over $1 for estate homes .

Except for Wellington Chase and The Isles, most of the single family home neighborhoods within Palmer Ranch are gated, with access by a clicker or manned gates.

Except for 2 newer construction neighborhoods of Village Walk and The Isles, the other single family neighborhoods within Palmer Ranch were built mainly in the 1990's. Some of those neighborhoods have had plumbing problems from pin hole leaks in the pipes caused by the water. You'll note some listings will say the home has been replumbed.

Village Walk is gated (guard) with private roads. The Isles is not gated. Both were built by Divosta and have a lot of similarities in clubhouse size, amenities, looks. Both have single family homes and townhomes. village Walk has attached to the clubhouse a small "village" of shops, a cafe with small market, barber shop, post office and a gas pump. The Isles still has new construction going on.

The Hamptons has 3 subdivisions of single family homes, with reasonable HOA fees. The community is known for the gas street lights that line the streets.

Turtle Rock offers single family homes and villas. Some parts are considered maintenance free, ie lawn care is included, exterior painting, pressure washing of roofs. Amenities include community pool, tennis, sports courts, playground and solar street lights.

Stoneybrook is a golf and country club community with equity ownership required. Stoneybrook has a 72 hole golf course, tennis courts, walking trails and typical country club with restaurant and amenities. Stoneybrook offers homes, villas and condos. There are annual cc dues plus minimums for the restaurant.

Prestancia is golf and country club community (gated, guard) known for the large lots for the single family homes. It also has a number of neighborhoods of villas, townhomes and condos within Prestancia. Residents can join TPC Prestancia for access to golf. The golf courses are known to be crowded in the winter months. Social memberships are also available for those wanting access to clubhouse amenities without the golfing.

Deer Creek offers single family homes and villas. It is a gated (guard) of mature, tree lined streets and reasonable HOA fees. It's a beautiful community to drive through. Deer Creek is one of the communities that had a large number of pin hole pipe leak issues, although most of those have been repaired or replaced through the years. It is located close to the mall and Potter Park, YMCA center.

Marabella offers both single family homes and villas. This community also experienced a number of pin hole pipe leaks.

Mira Lago (gated, clickers) offers maintenance free homes and villas. Homes are Mediterranean in style, the community pool is salt water. Mira Lago has also had pin hole pipe leak issues.

The Country Club of Sarasota is within Palmer Ranch, although sometimes people forget that as they are located on the western edge, off of Beneva Rd. It is gated (guard), has single family homes and villas and golf membership is optional. Serendipity Racquet Club is famous for tennis.

Not located within Palmer Ranch, other nearby popular communities include Amerlea (gated), Three Oaks and Tuscana - all lcoated off of Proctor Road.

Although not near Palmer Ranch, The Landings off of US41 just south of Proctor and 41 is a slightly older, gated community with homes, estate homes and villas that may appeal to you if you're considering Palmer Ranch.


What specifics can you give us about the type of community you're looking for? Golf, country club, gated or not gated, community pool, 55+ or not, social activities, etc? What annual HOA dues do you consider acceptable? Do you need a 2 or 3 car garage? Want to mow your own lawn or have lawn service included in the HOA fees? Do you want to be closer to the beaches? New construction or is something built in the 1990's acceptable?

[Rushmore]

Elaborating in red on the excellent info Sunshine gave (as always):

Except for Wellington Chase and The Isles, most of the single family home neighborhoods within Palmer Ranch are gated, with access by a clicker or manned gates. Two of the three subdivisions of The Hamptons are also without gate.

The Hamptons has 3 subdivisions of single family homes, with reasonable HOA fees. VERY reasonable, relatively speaking. The community is known for the gas street lights that line the streets. It is a gas community; the gas yardlights and streetlights are nice, but the ability to have a gas stove is even nicer. Rare in Sarasota from what I can gather.

Stoneybrook is a golf and country club community with equity ownership required. Stoneybrook has a 72 hole golf course, tennis courts, walking trails and typical country club with restaurant and amenities. Stoneybrook offers homes, villas and condos. There are annual cc dues plus minimums for the restaurant. There are only 18 holes. Also, I get the impression that the fees are prohibitive unless you are going to center your life around golf and tennis.

Prestancia is golf and country club community (gated, guard) known for the large lots for the single family homes. It also has a number of neighborhoods of villas, townhomes and condos within Prestancia. Residents can join TPC Prestancia for access to golf. The golf courses are known to be crowded in the winter months. Social memberships are also available for those wanting access to clubhouse amenities without the golfing. The Club Course at Prestancia is really nothing special, and quite honestly, the price point of the homes throughout has been very tough to determine. We were looking at a beautiful property listed at about $600K just three years ago, but (thankfully) opted elsewhere as the HOA fees were about $700/month. This does NOT include a golf membership. That home sold last year for a little over $400K. Whew. It's a nice, safe community, but there is a lot of property for sale, and there seems to be some valuation debate.

Deer Creek offers single family homes and villas. It is a gated (guard) of mature, tree lined streets and reasonable HOA fees. It's a beautiful community to drive through. Deer Creek is one of the communities that had a large number of pin hole pipe leak issues, although most of those have been repaired or replaced through the years. It is located close to the mall and Potter Park, YMCA center. Deer Creek has the great appeal of a greater variety of home plans (less cookie cutter) and a lot of mature tree growth throughout (as SR said). You'd be surprised how much value you might put on this during your search.

Palmer Ranch is great and safe. I would mention that the FEEL behind the gates of these communities varies greatly. Some feel like a sort of senior resort, while in others you will forget the gate pretty quickly once you're in.

Good luck.

[AnnieCt]

Thank you all. That really provides a lot of info. We would qualify for over 55 but that doesn't appeal to either if us. What we loved about Sarasota in the short time we were there was the range of age. Pipe leaks, Chinese dry wall, lots of things to be aware of. With regard to Bradenton, it looked more urban/industrial to me. Our exposure of course was limited so perhaps my assessment isn't fair. We don't mind lawn care. I do need a dog friendly neighborhood for my standard poodle. I hope that is not one of the "restricted breeds" thanks again.

[bbronston]

It sounds like you saw only a limited area of Bradenton. The area around I-75 and further east is completely different and might be worth a look for you.

[SoFLGal]

Palmer Ranch one of Sarasota's most popular and largest master planned communities with over 10,000 acres. Palmer Ranch actually consists of many neighborhoods, all individually operated under their own HOA. The common areas of Palmer Ranch are maintained by a master association. The overall look and feel of PR is "green" - the roads are grass and treelined, the sidewalks wind throughout the entire community, and they have recently been able to add the Legacy Trail to the many great aspects. The Legacy Trail is a paved walking/biking trail that runs through the woods along the path of the old railroad track.

Palmer Ranch is districted for great schools, is only 10-15 minutes to the beach, and is next door to the mall, new 12-screen movie theater and a fantastic YMCA complex, including a huge waterpark. Palmer Ranch is very popular with families.

Silver Oak and Prestancia are going to be your more upscale neighborhoods. Silver Oak has a championship golf course, tennis, canoeing, nature and bike trails, clubhouse, pool/spa, exercise facility. All home sites back up to a lake or preserve. It is one of the newer neighborhoods in PR.

Prestancia has two championship golf courses, country club, etc. The boundaries for Prestancia are-Palmer Ranch Way, McIntosh and Beneva. It pretty much runs inside of those streets-it encompasses 565 acres.

Reymore St is the southern boundary for Palmer Ranch. The eastern boundary runs out to I-75, the western boundary goes to Beneva and the northern boundary runs nearly to Clark Rd. This tells a little more about Palmer Ranch: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palmer_Ranch Within Palmer Ranch is CJ Lofino YMCA Complex. It has a full aquatic center, gym/fitness, basketball, swimming, tennis, and water park for the kids.

[audreybishop]

Does the palmer ranch community offer special interest clubs like Lakewood Ranches. Does it have a Main St with weekly activities?

[Nancy in Nokomis]

You don't have to go to Palmer or Lakewood Ranch - many on-gated neighborhoods are very safe and beautiful around here - the neighborhoods with the least restrictions usually love the big breeds like standard poodles. Its going to be tough to find a nice, 6 month rental - rentals go quickly around here. 500k is a nice budget - you will find a great home.

My neighborhood has a couple of 150+ pound Great Danes - not just little ankle biters - love it