Could Sarasota and Manatee real estate finally experience a buyer’s market?

May data from the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee gave signs of a balanced market, with some data signaling the region may soon have the sort of inventory that benefits buyers over sellers. Both inventory and prices are on the rise in both counties for single-family homes, with the housing inventory in Sarasota County reaching levels unseen since early 2019. The median sales price for homes in May ended up at $525,000 in Manatee and $530,000 in Sarasota. But in both counties, the median time to contract climbed to 44 days for the entire North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton market, compared to 28 days in May 2023.

“It's important to note that the current median home price may appear skewed due to higher selling prices of new construction homes from a year ago. This lagging indicator affects the overall median home value,” said Tony Barrett, 2024 RASM President and Broker/Owner of Barrett Realty. “We will closely monitor the market over the next few months to gain a clearer understanding of how increased inventory and longer days on the market impact median home values.”

For now, both counties have a seller’s market for homes, with a 5-month supply in Sarasota County and a 4.1-month supply in Manatee. A balanced market is generally considered one with a 6-month supply of homes on the market, with a larger supply considered a benefit to buyers instead. Already, the median percentage of the original listing price that homes in the two-county area sold for was about 95%, down nearly a percentage point from a year prior. But the average price for homes remained 5% higher than a year ago, thanks to a thriving luxury market.

“We’ve seen numerous record-breaking luxury home sales in recent months,” Barrett said. “Among them is the Ohana Estate, which set a new high with its $19.75 million sale on Longboat Key.”

But the townhouse and condo market as a whole has already seen notable drops in sales. The area saw 687 closed sales during the month in the combined market, down from 797 last year. Much of the change came in Manatee County, where closed sales on condos and townhomes dropped by almost 26%. Declines were more slight in Sarasota. The same also goes for averages sales prices, which in Sarasota dropped more than 6% to around $546,000 but in Manatee dropped a sharper 32% to just over $412,000.

And that’s as inventories of units spiked to Manatee by more than 88%. That puts the inventory of condos and townhomes in Manatee County at 6.3 months. Sarasota’s inventory is at the same level. Sarasota’s inventory of active listings on units is now at 2,010, while Manatee has 1,458 listings. The two-county market overall has nearly 88% more active listings compared to May last year. 

Graphic courtesy Realtor Associationltor Association of Sarasota and Manatee.

Stroll your way into natural assisted healing with Rockstar Botanicals. These roll-on formulas feature over twenty terpene rich botanical extracts created to soothe skin, reduce inflammation, subdue redness, sustain self-healing, and more.

In 2006, Rockstar's founder, Heather Reilly Hiemstra, then the mother of a nine-month-old son, was diagnosed with colon cancer. “The tumor was the size of a peach,” she says, “The doctors removed it incredibly fast and saved my life.” Refusing chemotherapy so that she may nurse her baby, Hiemstra spent months eating clean foods, shocked to find another lump growing in her abdomen. “I thought I had cancer because I felt so tired and bloated. That was until I realized I was pregnant again,” she says. After giving birth to her daughter, Hiemstra sought out a natural approach to preventative treatment options and finally found a doctor who educated her on botanical healing. With her health and family history in mind, the doctor recommended a botanical formula to boost her immune system. “I immediately felt a difference,” Hiemstra reports, “I actually felt my body getting stronger.”

With a background in music, business and chemistry, Hiemstra began to experiment with botanicals on her own and soon started Rockstar Botanicals. “A rockstar is someone who will show up day after day and just rocks it. They show up and make people feel good,” she shares. “That’s why my formulas are called Rockstars.”

A world traveler, Hiemstra finally planted roots in Sarasota in 2015, where she refined her botanical formulas and registered Rockstar Botanicals as an LLC in 2018. She began participating in expos and events at the International Aestheticians Cosmetologists and Spa Conference and In New York City, where Amazon and ABC Carpet and Home picked-up her line of non-hemp products. When Covid hit, Rockstar Botanicals was marketed by word of mouth, and rave reviews from clients.

Rockstar Botanical roll ons are available through the company’s website: rockstarblends.com. There, you can find the Rockstar Roll On Original, made of the terpenes from lavender, blue yarrow, juniper berry, and 15 other botanicals that help battle inflammation and promote healthier, glowing skin. Hiemstra, however, is most excited about the Rockstar Woman formula. This unique topical blend is an intimate oil that includes phytocannabinoids that absorb through the skin’s endocannabinoid receptors to foster hormone balance, sexual and immune system function, and libido," she explains, “The endocannabinoid system is nourished and primarily functions to achieve homeostasis, to achieve balance. What looks like balance is a stable mood, appetite, sleep pattern, and yes, a balanced libido. As women age, things become painful, and we are not addressing it as a society.” Hiemstra explains, “All you have to do is nourish the cells--that was the basic premise of Rockstar Botanicals.”

At present, Rockstar Botanicals is crowdsourcing and looking for 11 investors because, according to Hiemstra, “In the music world, everything goes to 11.” Hiemstra aspires to temper with some of her formulas, and takes a keen interest in ozonated botanicals, or plant-based products that have been exposed to ozone, an oxidizing agent that heightens the antimicrobial and antiviral qualities of the plant procured oils. She also aims to create a home-based apothecary style salon, where she can share her botanicals with others. “We have so many amazing people here in Sarasota,” she says. “I’ve lived in a lot of places, I just think that we’re really an amazing community.” You can meet Hiemstra and her husband John at their panel at Cannadelic St. Pete on Saturday, July 13th. 

Pictured: With Rockstar Botanicals, Heather Reilly Hiemstra aims to help her customers look and feel their best. Photo courtesy of Heather Reilly Hiemstra.

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Manatee County Public Safety has joined forces with public safety telehealth provider MD Ally to improve healthcare for residents and create a stronger and more resilient public safety system. This partnership—known as Manatee Telehealth—will help increase the range of services available to 911 dispatchers, allowing them to connect non-emergency callers with a healthcare professional trained in emergency medicine via telehealth. This will enhance healthcare options for the community and improve access to care. Beginning June 18, Manatee County Emergency Communicators will now be able to transfer non-emergency medical situations to telehealth professionals in real-time. Trained experts can conduct virtual visits with patients, providing treatment recommendations, prescriptions, transportation to medical facilities, behavioral health support and connections to local community resources from the comfort of their homes. Manatee Telehealth services can handle a variety of common 911 call types, including prescription refills, chronic pain, cold and flu symptoms, gastrointestinal issues, skin conditions and migraines. This approach will allow the County to better support patients while freeing up essential Public Safety personnel and ambulances to handle urgent emergencies. Manatee County Public Safety is dedicated to improving outcomes for its residents. The implementation of Manatee Telehealth in 911 dispatch is innovative, and leadership is looking forward to the positive impact it will have on the community. 

Children’s World Uniform Supply (asi/161711) scored well in multiple areas according to employees, including knowing how their work contributes to larger company goals, peer cooperation and overall job satisfaction. “We involve everyone on our team in everything we do,” says co-owner Tim Holliday. “We keep them informed of company financials, and also ask for their input in planning and improvement.”  Holliday says Children’s World, which is making its second appearance on the Best Places to Work list, offers a hardworking-but-lighthearted environment. “Our employees are more than just employees,” says Holliday. “They’re teammates and like a family. We stayed open and fully employed through the pandemic.” How do Mimosa Mondays sound? That’s one of the many perks at Children’s World, which also offers an in-office bar, free snacks, catered lunches and surprise events. And while the company doesn’t offer a health insurance plan, it does give employees the opportunity to meet with an insurance representative on company time, and offers a wealth of secondary insurance (including dental, vision and life insurance, and FSAs and HSAs). Employees also have access to an EAP, flexible schedules, PTO, paid holidays, a retirement plan and fun events like bowling, trivia nights, kayaking trips, cooking and painting classes, improv shows, movie nights and murder mystery dinners. Additionally, Children’s World shows appreciation for the local community by supporting nearby nonprofits such as Toys for Tots, Hope 4 Communities, Josh Provides and The Patterson Foundation. Employees receive paid hours to volunteer at organizations and schools of their choice.  Three Words That Describe Children’s World: Fun, Open, Honest. 

Manatee County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller is excited to announce the launch of a new mobile app that provides customers a convenient way to access Clerk and Comptroller services. Angel Colonneso, Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller, continually strives to find innovative ways to serve customers using the latest technological advancements. “Offering a mobile app just makes sense,” said Colonneso. “With our new app, our customers will experience seamless access to the services they frequently use and receive real-time updates from our office. It’s like having the office on the go!” With the app, customers can access the following services from their smartphones: Search for court records and official records; Submit a public records request; Make online payments; Receive Clerk news and updates in real time;mAccess the Clerk’s complete office directory. The Clerk of Court’s app is available for download in the Apple Store and Google Play Store. TheGovApp.com, a division of OCV, LLC, developed the app. According to the TheGovApp.com website, the company has been the leader in mobile app development for law enforcement, public safety, municipalities, emergency management agencies, and public health departments for over nine years. 

PGT Custom Windows and Doors, America’s authority in high-performance windows and doors and the nation’s number one impact-resistant brand, will participate in the upcoming Southeast Building Conference (SEBC) at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando on July 24-25, 2024. The annual event is the largest industry trade show in the southeast, attracting more than 6,000 individuals, and offers attendees the opportunity to connect with new customers who are experienced professionals and leaders in the building industry. “As a leading window and door brand in the southeast, PGT Custom Windows and Doors is excited to be exhibiting at the Southeast Building Conference,” said Brian Covey, PGT Vice President of Sales. “This event is a great opportunity for our team to have meaningful conversations with industry professionals and leaders about the latest trends and advancements in the fenestration industry. SEBC also presents another environment for us to help drive the industry forward by sharing our knowledge around building code developments, as well as demonstrating some of our newest and most in-demand products.” Attendees are invited to stop by booth no. 915 to view the recently launched WinGuard® Vinyl Preferred View Sliding Glass Door SGD5570NS, which features a 2.5-inch panel profile that blends sophisticated design with functionality to create a show-stopping centerpiece in any home. 

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