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Welcome Home

Congratulations on your smart decision to move to one of the most beautiful, vibrant, friendly, culturally abundant communities in all of Florida.

By Ilene Denton

Congratulations. You've made the smart decision to move to one of the most beautiful, vibrant, friendly, culturally abundant communities in all of Florida, indeed in the United States. And don't just take our word for it. That's the buzz from Money Magazine, which a couple of years ago honored Sarasota as the Best Small City in America.

Up and down the west coast of Florida, from laid-back Bradenton to sophisticated Sarasota to charming small-town Venice and beyond, our balmy climate and beautiful beaches are just the start of what makes this area so special. Are you a boater? The warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico and Intracoastal Waterway are beckoning. Is golf your bag? Tee off on more than 35 great golf courses. Artistically inclined? Sarasota alone has its own symphony, opera and ballet companies, seven professional and community theater troupes, a performing arts hall that presents top talent from around the world, and the world-class John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art. Shopper? See you on St. Armands Circle and at the area's many interesting antique shops. Sports enthusiast? Follow the Cincinnati Reds and Pittsburgh Pirates during spring training, or take the short drive to Tampa to cheer on the 2003 Super Bowl-winning Tampa Bay Buccaneers. And you can play everything from tennis to tournament Frisbee in organized area leagues. Nature lover? Myakka River State Park is one of Florida's largest, Mote Aquarium is endlessly fascinating, and Marie Selby Botanical Gardens is honored as one of America's top 10 botanical gardens.

If you're energized by all the possibilities that living on the west coast of Florida can bring, then it's time to start exploring the area's many fine residential communities. There's one that fits every lifestyle, whether you prefer a beachfront condominium or a villa with endless golf course views. And Homebuyer can help you find the one for you. Homebuyer is the only publication that gives you the definitive guide to the builders and communities in Sarasota and Manatee counties. Neighborhood profiles, tips on architectural and interior design trends, the latest word on area schools, maps, and reader-friendly listings of communities and new home products are all included. Think of it as one-stop shopping for your new home.

Homebuyer is brought to you by the publisher of SARASOTA Magazine, the region's award-winning lifestyle magazine, which every month brings its readers the first and last word on the people and places that make the area unique.

So grab a good pair of walking shoes and your copy of Homebuyer and start exploring. After all, the sooner you choose where to live, the sooner you'll start feeling at home. And then you can really get out and play!