Three Things: A Happy Median

The median price of a home in Sarasota these days is $215,000, meaning half the houses cost more and half cost less. But what will this tidy sum buy you? It’s probably no surprise that with our pricey real estate, the pickings are pretty slim at this price point. But look around and you may get lucky. Here are some Sarasota homes priced at the median that are anything but average.

Suburban Style
5058 82nd Way E.

This home may seem typical of the many three-bedroom, two-bath family homes that can be found in the northeast part of town, but it has some special features that make it a stand out. Vaulted ceilings in the living area add a spacious feeling, and six skylights make it exceptionally light and bright. There’s also a fireplace and a lanai overlooking a lake. Built in 1988, it has been completely remodeled, with an upscale kitchen and all-tile flooring — there’s even a butterfly garden out back.

Priced at $224,900. For more information, call Steve Dutoit of Keller Williams at 556-5151.

Southgate Winner
2440 Valencia Drive

Everybody loves Southgate. It has the perfect location, five minutes from everything, and the solidly built housing stock of 1950s and ’60s ranch homes is infinitely adaptable and updateable. Here is a recently remodeled home that’s both a little old-fashioned and yet up-to-date. It’s a bit on the small side — 1,344 square feet — but with three bedrooms (one is currently used as a den) and two baths, it will happily accommodate a couple or a small family. We particularly like the elegant kitchen with its stainless steel appliances. The interior has a designer feel, and the refinished terrazzo floors add a retro touch. There’s a one-car garage and a deck overlooking the fenced backyard. An excellent school district adds to the appeal.

Priced at $218,900. For more information, call Lori Carey of Premier Sotheby’s at 780-3427.

Snowbird Nest
7794 Fairway Woods Drive, Unit 1205

Sarasota is full of two-bedroom, two-bath condos designed to lure snowbirds, but this unit in Fairway Woods has a gracious feeling that so many of the others lack — particularly at this price point. The key here is space — and lots of it. At a house sized 1,956 square feet, it has large rooms, vaulted ceilings, a den, a breakfast area, a fireplace and an extra-large master bath. It’s set in a beautiful gated community with mature landscaping and several pretty lakes, just off Beneva, in the south part of town. True, there’s an ’80s feeling to the kitchen and baths, but the home’s great bones would make an update well worth it.

Priced at $208,000. For more information, call Lyn McDonald of Coldwell Banker at 302-0054.