If you’re looking for that classic “old Sarasota” feel with mature trees, larger lots, and a central location close to everything, let me introduce you to Forest Lakes Country Club Estates.
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Located just west of Beneva Road and north of Webber Street, Forest Lakes is one of Sarasota’s most established neighborhoods, originally developed throughout the 1960s and 1970s around the former Forest Lakes Golf Club. Today, the neighborhood includes about 400 single-family homes, and when you include the surrounding condo and villa communities, the greater Forest Lakes area has more than 700 residences overall. What makes Forest Lakes stand out is the character, as you’ll find spacious lots, lush mature landscaping, and classic Florida ranch-style homes that give the area a timeless, established feel you simply don’t get in many newer developments around Sarasota. And the location is hard to beat since you’re only about 10 to 15 minutes to Siesta Key Beach, 10 minutes to Downtown Sarasota, around 15 minutes to St. Armands Circle and Lido Beach, close to the Legacy Trail for biking and walking, and just minutes from Pinecraft Park and everyday shopping and dining.
The vibe here is quiet, laid-back, and residential, rather than a gated luxury golf community with huge HOA fees and resort amenities, representing a more authentic Sarasota living experience. Many buyers love it because you can still find larger properties in a prime central location without West of Trail pricing. Now, because the homes are older, updates can vary dramatically from property to property, meaning some homes have been beautifully renovated, while others are still mostly original. That’s part of the charm and part of the opportunity, and overall, Forest Lakes appeals to buyers who value location, privacy, lot size, and established neighborhoods over brand-new construction and cookie-cutter communities. Then of course I end with a breakdown of Low, Median and High prices over the last year in the neighborhood, with a special tour at the “median” priced home that I personally had listed, on Riviera Circle, that went pending in only TWENTY FOUR HOURS. If you’ve been considering central Sarasota and want convenience to beaches, downtown, shopping, and restaurants while still having a true neighborhood feel, Forest Lakes is definitely one to have on your radar.
NOW FOR A SHORT Q&A:
Q1: What are the mandatory HOA or CDD fees associated with living in Forest Lakes Country Club Estates?
A1: There are no mandatory HOA or CDD fees required to live in the core single-family neighborhood of Forest Lakes Country Club Estates, offering residents authentic, unrestricted Sarasota living without the added monthly overhead of a gated community.
Q2: How quickly do homes move in the Forest Lakes neighborhood?
A2: Homes in Forest Lakes are in high demand due to their large lot sizes and central location, with well-priced properties moving incredibly fast, as demonstrated by a recent median-priced listing on Riviera Circle that went pending in just twenty-four hours.
Q3: Is there a golf club currently operating within the community?
A3: No, the original golf club is no longer active, but the neighborhood retains the expansive feel, mature green spaces, and scenic layouts established during its original development around the former golf course.
SHAYLA TWIT | Sarasota FL Realtor
941-544-7690 | shaylatwit@gmail.com
CLHMS Guild | Luxury Marketer
Corcoran Dwellings
1947 Ringling Blvd
Sarasota FL 34236
A Sarasota area luxury specialist since 2002, Shayla Twit, delivers high-performance marketing for sellers and seamless, concierge-level acquisitions for buyers across the Gulf Coast’s premier waterfront communities
