• Alternate Text
  • Loading

  • Sand Bucket List
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App
  • Longboat
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Opinion
  • East County
    • News
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
  • Sarasota
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Siesta Key
  • Arts + Entertainment
    • Eat + Drink
    • Arts + Culture
    • Reviews
    • Things To Do
    • Black Tie
    • Spotlight Partners
  • Things to Do
  • Galleries
  • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Elections
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Calendar
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Longboat
    • Longboat
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Opinion
  • East County
    • East County
    • News
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
  • Sarasota
    • Sarasota
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Siesta Key
  • Arts + Entertainment
    • Arts + Entertainment
    • Eat + Drink
    • Arts + Culture
    • Reviews
    • Things To Do
    • Black Tie
    • Spotlight Partners
  • Things to Do
  • Galleries
  • More
    • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Elections
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Calendar
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Sand Bucket List
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App

Beachfront estate offers lots of features, privacy

North Longboat property listed on the market for $14.75 million


  • By Eric Garwood
  • | 10:16 a.m. June 30, 2017
  • Longboat Key
  • News
  • Share

You know it’s a special piece of property when it has a name.

Villa Sena, a 2-acre beachfront estate on Longboat Key, fits that description. And, it can be yours for the asking price of $14.75 million.

“This is an unprecedented opportunity to own two, rare acres on Longboat Key’s coveted private beachfront directly on the Gulf of Mexico,’’ said Barbara Ackerman of the Ackerman Group, affiliated with the Longboat Key office of Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate, the home’s listing agent. “Every inch of this home has been thoughtfully designed and features the finest materials and craftsmanship.”

Among its features

 

  • A master suite that includes: a separate office, a morning kitchen and craft center with French doors leading outside to a private balcony overlooking the beach
  • Separate master baths that each offer walk-in showers. The “hers” bath also includes a garden tub, spa and boutique-style dressing room.
  • An elevator
  • A two-level guest house, connected to the main house via a breezeway
  • A walk-in saltwater pool
  • A four-car garage
  • Other luxury touches inside the residence include a two-story library modeled after the Biltmore Hotel, a grand, double-mahogany staircase with wave and seashell wrought iron railings, cathedral ceilings, and opera balconies.

 

The home at 5965 Gulf of Mexico Drive offers 150 feet of beach frontage and 10,000 square feet of main-house living space. The home was built in 2007 and is owned by Joseph Sena, according to county tax records. Manatee County taxes on the property in 2016 were $77,084.

The property sits off the highway, behind a gated entrance. There are seven bedrooms and six-and-a-half bathrooms. There are arched windows, cathedral ceilings, balconies, marble and wood flooring throughout.

The home is as unusual as it sounds, even for Longboat Key. Unlike in other areas of Longboat Key, there is some width and depth to the estate-style property, which sets it away from Gulf of Mexico Drive and the homes on either side.

“You feel like you’re the only one around,’ Ackerman said. “When you come in, it feels very tropical.’’

Ackerman, who works with her son Ryan as a team, sold the home to the current owner and is excited about the new opportunity.

She called the property prime beachfront, because of that part of the key’s stable beach. “Casey Key has a lot of beachfront, when there’s a beach,’’ she said.

Ryan Ackerman said the privacy of the beach is important to highlight. “That has helped Longboat Key lead the market,’’ he said.

Both brokers say the marketing reach for a property like this has to be global, but the previous buyer of the property came from Tampa, Barbara Ackerman said.

“You do not know where buyer will come from. It’s very hard to predict.’’

But not hard to predict the attraction of Longboat Key, Barbara Ackerman said.

“Longboat is unique,” she said. “Try to find a place with a golf course, one of the biggest marinas on the west coast, a country club, all within walking distance.

“You can go to Longboat and never leave.’’

 

A walk-in saltwater pool.
A walk-in saltwater pool.
Other luxury touches inside the residence include a two-story library modeled after the Biltmore Hotel.
Other luxury touches inside the residence include a two-story library modeled after the Biltmore Hotel.
Villa Sena offers  a grand, double-Mahogany staircase with wave and seashell wrought iron railings.
Villa Sena offers a grand, double-Mahogany staircase with wave and seashell wrought iron railings.
The home's gulf frontage is 150 feet, which sets it off from its neighboring properties.
The home's gulf frontage is 150 feet, which sets it off from its neighboring properties.

 

Latest News

Reclaimed water systems run separately from drinking-water systems.
  • June 24, 2026
Dry weather cuts into Manatee reclaimed-water system's pressure
This house in Plantation Oaks is advertised on several booking platforms as sleeping up to 32 guests.
  • June 24, 2026
Manatee County commissioners consider regulating vacation rentals
The Longboat Library is a privately-run organization in a town-owned building that neighbors Town Hall.
  • June 24, 2026
Longboat Key begins budgeting for uncertainty
An affordable housing program is being administered through Sarasota County's Housing and Community Development Program.
  • June 24, 2026
Sarasota County offers funding help for low-income housing developers, buyers

Sponsored Health Content

Sponsored Content

The best of Your Observer, delivered directly to your inbox

Get the latest in news, sports, schools, arts and things to do in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Longboat Key and East County.

Sign Up

Latest in News

The Longboat Library is a privately-run organization in a town-owned building that neighbors Town Hall.
  • June 24, 2026
Longboat Key begins budgeting for uncertainty
A feather banner is anchored next to the sidewalk on Gulf of Mexico Drive. Longboat Key staff are preparing an amendment that could prohibit that type of sign by refining the definition of flag in town code.
  • June 23, 2026
Flag or sign? Town may tighten code as banners sprout on GMD
The Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce and town of Longboat Key joined forces to organize the first Let’s Talk Longboat business roundtable Wednesday, June 17 at Christ Church of Longboat Key.
  • June 23, 2026
Business owners, town and chamber discuss 'surviving the summer'
A May 2024 rendering of the Sarasota County library on Longboat Key.
  • June 22, 2026
Property tax overhaul may put Longboat Key library in jeopardy
St. Lucie County Administrator George Landry has been recommended by Howard Tipton to replace him as town manager as Tipton prepares to retire.
  • June 19, 2026
New town manager recommended for Longboat Key
Work was underway along Madison Drive at Boulevard of the Presidents in late May.
  • June 18, 2026
St. Armands landlord formally applies for Shore restaurant remake work

App

Download the Your Observer app

Stay in the know with the latest local news. Any device, anytime, anywhere.

DOWNLOAD NOW

Contact

  • 1970 Main St.
  • Third Floor
  • Sarasota, FL 34236
  • Phone: 941-366-3468
  • FPN Verified

Extra, Extra!

  • Newsletters
  • App
  • Crossword
  • Contests

more

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Classifieds
  • Advertise
  • Rack Locations
  • Jobs
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Options

sister sites

  • Business Observer
  • Jax Daily Record
  • Orange Observer
  • Accessibility Options
  • Copyright © 2026 Observer Media Group Inc., All Rights Reserved
Sign Up for Daily Headlines

A daily dose of news from Longboat Key, East County, Sarasota and Siesta Key.

Sign Up for In Case You Missed It

A Saturday dose of the week's top stories from Sarasota, Longboat Key and East County.


Anytime. Anywhere. Observer.

From in-depth local reporting to real-time breaking news, stay connected to the stories shaping our community with the Your Observer app.

Download Now for Free