From The Editor

It seems it was alligator mating season, and the seven-foot-long gator was crossing the road to get to another lake in search of an assignation. When the couple’s car approached, the gator reared up and bit the front grille—hard enough to do close to a thousand dollars worth of damage.

Those of us who’ve lived in Florida a long time (I moved here in 1967, so I’m practically a native) have heard odd tales like this before. But if you’re a newcomer, I guess the moral of the story is: Be prepared for anything.

That’s where Sarasota Magazine’s Homebuyer can help. Our comprehensive guide to new-home communities is indispensable in this topsy-turvy real estate market, where residential construction in Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties rose through the roof in 2004 and 2005 before falling back to earth last year. (Home prices sailed skyward, too; in first quarter 2005, the median price of existing single-family homes in Sarasota" target="_blank">Manatee County, for example, jumped 45.6 percent, earning it the No. 1 spot in the nation for price appreciation.) Happily, those prices have moderated somewhat as an unprecedented inventory of homes is being absorbed. That means more choices and better value, and it’s why realtors are telling us there’s never been a better time to buy.

Because Homebuyer is produced by the same team that brings you the award-winning Sarasota Magazine, you can trust that we know Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties well. We’re the best source to bring you the latest building and design trends, a colorful look at our many neighborhoods, the latest stats on area public and private schools, and an invaluable list of new-home communities and the amenities they offer.

With such useful information at your side, unlike that St. Louis couple, you won’t be in for a wild ride.

—Ilene Denton, Editor