Category: News

As the new year begins and people come off the high of the holidays, it’s a hot time to buy a home—especially in West Florida.

Why? The weather is at its annual peak time. People are out and about. Florida home prices are leveling off—but these aren’t the only reasons.

Here are the nine reasons to buy a home (or at least begin home shopping) in Sarasota-Manatee this year.

Pristine weather

There’s nothing but gorgeous, dry and breezy days during West Florida’s winter. Shoveling snow? More like offshore fishing. You’ll find all kinds of catches in the Sarasota Bay, which is nationally-renowned for its plenty of good fishing spots.

Shopping and entertainment

Both Sarasota and Bradenton’s quaint downtown areas offer plenty of unique shopping options for every type of shopper. Whether you’re a top-of-the-line shopper or casually looking for some hidden thrift gems, Sarasota-Manatee is the perfect place to spend an afternoon wandering. When Spring rolls around stop by CoolToday Park and catch the Atlanta Braves in action.

Dining options for everyone

With casual bistros, eateries, cafes, and high-end restaurants at every corner, residents of Sarasota-Manatee have to fight the temptation to go out every night!

Beautiful sandy beaches

Current residents and visitors of West Florida all rave about the area’s white sandy beaches (or “Florida snow” as it’s known around Sarasota). Siesta Key Beach is a favorite spot for locals—take a walk down its shores and you’ll surely see why!

Growing arts & culture scene

In Sarasota especially, you’ll find opera, theatre, art galleries, symphony, the famous John and Mable Ringling Museum and music performances nearly every weekend. There’s no shortage of arts and culture around the city!

Golf courses galore

Some of the most beautiful and rigorous golf courses in the country can be found in both Sarasota and Bradenton. Keep the clubs within range—you’ll likely find yourself on the course all year long.

A true family environment

While Florida beaches often carry the “party town” reputation, Sarasota-Manatee boasts a quieter, pristine, and more laid back environment. An area perfect for parents raising children and empty-nest couples, Sarasota and Bradenton are communities made for those who enjoy a more tranquil, coastal lifestyle.

Shining real estate markets

In Sarasota and Bradenton, home shoppers will be pleased to find a diverse range of home sizes, styles, and features. Whether you’re looking for something closer to the water, a luxury home nestled under giant Florida oak trees, or a modern home nearby vast greenlands, Sarasota-Manatee County has homes to fit every style.

Within Sarasota-Manatee, Sam Rodgers Homes builds its finest homes. With each and every home design, Sam Rodgers considers the details, the long-term investment on the buyer’s end, and the elements that make Florida outdoor living truly enjoyable in one of the finest counties in the state.

Because every Sam Rodgers home can be customized exactly how you imagined it, there’s no better outdoor living experience in West Florida. When other builders say no to custom home features, Sam Says Yes.

With all nine reasons above, there’s not a better time to get in touch with Sam Rodgers Homes. Contact us today to explore the joys of building a home in Sarasota-Manatee!

To our Sam Rodgers Homes family —

It’s that time of year again. The time of get-togethers, gatherings, travel, warmth, food, presents, friends, and family galore. It’s the time of year when we spend more time with those we love most, new friends and old.

Stores are flooded with last-minute shoppers, people are rushing for holiday presents, and restaurant reservations are set. Let’s face it—holiday mode can get a bit hectic.

But even during this season of rushing, the joy of the holiday season is what helps us to slow down, take a deep breath, and reflect on the best part of life—spending it with those we love.

As a family company for over 50 years, we understand the immeasurable value of loving, laughing, and living among family. Business is important and the joy of home ownership is what fills us, but the holidays remind us that our people are everything to us.

At Sam Rodgers Homes, we are so grateful we can play a part in helping you and your own family realize your dreams of home ownership.

No matter the need, preference, or ask—when it comes to your home, Sam says YES!

From our entire Sam Rodgers Homes family, we wish you and your family a happy, healthy, and joyful holiday season.

Happy Holidays,
Sam Rodgers Homes

With Thanksgiving week upon us, we’re baffled by how quickly 2018 has flown by.

As we sit down with our families to exchange words of gratitude and share plenty of food (and pie!), we consider the root of our thankfulness: is it circumstantial? Is it grounded in the idea of always giving thanks, because whether it’s family, friends, or food, we always have something to be thankful for?

As you sit down with your loved ones, we encourage you to consider the same things: is there a roof over your head? Do you have food to eat? Have your needs been met in this last year that may have been overlooked?

When we root ourselves in thankfulness, we’re striving to spend this Thanksgiving weekend—and every day—as a positive and grateful response to all of life.

Let’s be grateful together for what we have, what we share, and what is to come in the new year.

At Sam Rodgers Homes, we are immensely thankful for your interest, your home purchases, your referrals, and—most of all—we’re thankful for the opportunity to help your home ownership dreams come true.

From the whole Sam Rodgers team, we wish you a happy and healthy Thanksgiving holiday in a home that you’re proud to call your own.

Blessings to you and your family,
The Sam Rodgers Team

SARASOTA — Last week, the annual Manatee-Sarasota BIA Celebration of Excellence Awards announced Sam Rodgers Homes as the winner of the 2018 Best Social Media Marketing Award, a prestigious recognition among home builders in the industry.

For luxury builders like Sam Rodgers, social media channels are where prospective buyers consistently spend their time. To stay front of mind with online users, posting regularly and keeping the company page interesting with engaging content is a must.

Sam Rodgers Homes was able to do just that—and do it better than anyone else.

With the help of CEA Marketing, a Clearwater-based advertising agency specializing in homebuilder promotions, Sam Rodgers Homes created a consistently positive mobile experience popular among prospective homebuyers. 

“There’s no doubt that our social media provides a connection to our buyers as well as current homeowners,” a Sam Rodgers associate said.

To stay connected with more information about Sam Rodgers Homes and to view the award-winning social media channels, follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/samrodgershomes

While Florida is known as a beach destination all year long, the Florida weather does start to cool and the ocean gets a little chillier when autumn rolls around. Florida’s fall season is never short on outdoor activities, however. In fact, with lower humidity (and even a need for a light jacket at night!) fall is ideal for spending time outside. There are paddleboarding, kayaking, team sports, and the list goes on. But perhaps the most fun (and affordable) activities this fall are right in your backyard. Although Florida is slow to cool off, it’s a sweet relief after a grueling summer. Time to invite over some friends and family and put that backyard to use! Whether you are working strictly on a lanai or encompassing the entire backyard, lighting, seating/dining areas, fire pits/fireplaces, and grills are given top priority when it comes to outdoor décor.

There are 7 key elements to crafting an outdoor living area.

Covered Lanai
The lanai (or covered porch/patio) is a versatile area of your Florida home. Decorating it—and your entire backyard—will bring personality and character to your backyard.
Under the lanai, enjoy alfresco meals rain or shine, a perfect choice for those who love sipping on afternoon tea in the shade!

Outdoor Kitchen
Take your barbecue pit to the next level. With an outdoor kitchen, the days of carting dishes across the house are long gone. Cook, eat and clean all on one terrace. Outdoor kitchens always draw crowds—where there’s a kitchen, there’s a party bound to take place.

Outdoor Bar
If you’re the life of the party, an outdoor bar is just the thing for you. Flex your mixology skills in front of friends, family, and guests.

Smart Features & Entertainment
With football season in full swing, a TV is one of the better choices for the perfect outdoor living atmosphere. Grab some chips and salsa, hit the patio, and watch your team compete every weekend.

Swimming Pool
Not only is a pool a beautiful centerpiece for your outdoor living experience, but it’s great for exercise, perfect for cooling off, and it gives your home a true luxury feel.

Outdoor Fireplace
Pour your go-to drink, gather with your favorite people, and sit around an outdoor fireplace chatting for hours under the beautiful Florida night sky.

Oversized Lots
If you and your family spend a lot of time outside, consider purchasing an oversized lot. If kids need more space to run around or you’re looking to make additions to your outdoor living experience, this is the perfect way to do it.

With each and every home it designs and builds, Sam Rodgers Homes considers the details, the long-term investment on the buyer’s end, and the elements that make Florida outdoor living truly enjoyable.

Because every Sam Rodgers home can be customized exactly how you imagined it, there’s no better outdoor living experience in West Florida. When other builders say no to custom home features, Sam Says Yes.

Get in touch with a Sam Rodgers sales rep today to explore a beautiful Sam Rodgers home for yourself!

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With the holidays just around the corner, the time is ripe to start thinking about home preparations.

Is your home ready for guests? Are you looking for in-home upgrades? Is a new or renovated kitchen in order? If you start now, you can make all of the necessary upgrades, or consider moving into a Sam Rodgers home with an existing dream kitchen. If by some chance, it’s not quite what you had in mind, it can be, because Sam Rodgers says Yes to customization. Either way, plenty of entertaining is on the horizon and a new kitchen is one of the most practical upgrades to be enjoyed this time of year.

Before you make any calls to upgrade your current kitchen, here are 5 things you should know.

Pay for your design.

At the end of the day, your kitchen renovation will only be as good as its design. By hiring a veteran designer with plenty of experience, you won’t be incurring the risk of something to regret. The cost for the design portion of a renovation is typically anywhere from 3 to 10% of your overall budget and well worth it.

Because the paychecks for designers at home centers, cabinet shops, and kitchen stores come from the retailers of products they’re selling, your design choices will be limited to the options they make available. When you pay for your renovations yourself, however, you don’t need to worry about limitations or conflicts of interest.

Keep your budget on track.

To avoid “over-improving,” it’s a good rule of thumb to cap your kitchen renovation budget at 15% of your home’s value, according to John Bredemeyer, President of Realcorp. (Check your town assessor’s site or a real estate site). According to Money Magazine, divvying up the budget should look something like this: about 30% on cabinets, 14% on appliances, 10% on countertops, 5% on lighting, 4% on plumbing fixtures, 2% on paint, 1% on tiles, and 35% on windows, labor, flooring, etc.

Upgrade without breaking the bank.

Because many currently occupied homes were built before the turn of the century, many kitchens are undersized. If a significant renovation is what you want (i.e. knocking down walls and starting from scratch), there are a couple things you can do to expand your kitchen space affordably:

• Use current space. By stealing some prime square footage from a hallway, closet, porch, or something unneeded, you can expand your kitchen space at up to half the cost (depending on project, location, the home, etc.).
• Use light, airy colors. Ample light is critical. White, light neutrals (i.e. pale gray, beige), and pale pastel shades reflect natural light, keeping the kitchen clean and fresh. Just a few popular choices to accompany this thought include white subway tile, quartz, and light granite.

If it ain’t broke, keep it.

By limiting how much of your old kitchen you replace, you can cut your upgrade costs pretty significantly. If your original kitchen windows are in fair shape, or if the original wood floors underneath your tiling are decent, you could potentially save thousands of dollars. Keeping the appliances and plumbing fixtures where they currently are (instead of having to remove and reinstall them) will save you a few hundred dollars as well.

Moving soon? Keep it cosmetic.

If you plan to list your home for sale within the next 5-10 years, it’s better to keep your kitchen renovations cosmetic rather than spending thousands of dollars on tear-downs and complete overhaul projects. For instance, consider repainting old cabinets, refinish your wood flooring, install a new faucet, or touch up other current kitchen hardware. Whatever the project, keeping it strictly cosmetic is a better time and money saver for those looking to put their home on the market within the next decade.

Because a kitchen upgrade is one of the most significant changes you can make to a home (and a huge player in increasing your home’s resale value), it’s well worth the work (and the cost) to give yourself your dream kitchen.

At Sam Rodgers Homes, our kitchen designs are customizable and personalizable from the largest fixtures to the smallest details. Our Design Studio team is always ready to address your kitchen needs and preferences.

Get in touch with a Sam Rodgers Homes rep today to start  building your dreams in one of our homes!

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In general, the inventory of available homes in the United States has been fairly low over the past few years.

As the national housing market has picked up stronger steam and home prices have skyrocketed, prospective home buyers have become increasingly frustrated as their quest for “the dream home” seems endless.

Florida is no exception. Since the housing market in Florida, was off to a strong start as 2018 rolled in, buyer motivation to keep their home search going is as high as ever—especially for those who plan to stay in a new home for at least the first five years.

A Boost in Local Home Values

While home sales may have declined during the summer of 2017—the housing market has been widely regarded as strong since the start of this year.

Declining home sales did not reflect a lack of interest among prospective buyers. If anything, it was quite the opposite. Those looking to buy a home last summer were gung-ho in their searches, with in-home tours and offers flying across the local market. They just couldn’t find what they were looking for.

What was lacking, was inventory—and in sufficient quantities. The lack of available homes coupled with a steady stream of attracted buyers kept home prices climbing through the end of 2017. Homes on the market became much more demanded and desirable, even for those in the luxury market.

Changing Course

It’s no wonder more prospective buyers are looking to make a move to this area.

Zillow recently reported that the markets that have appreciated the most in 2018 included the surrounding area, where values are up by 95.2 percent.

In all likelihood, encouraging appreciation figures like this will drive buyers to continue searching for a West Florida dream home.

Time to Find What You’re Looking for?

Yes, it can be tough to find your luxury dream home with less homes on the market, but Sam Rodgers Homes is constantly building and has homes ready now.

While it may be difficult to find exactly what you’re looking for elsewhere, we guarantee you’ll find it here. Sam Rodgers Homes offers Florida luxury through quality construction and while many builders say no to customization, Sam says YES!

Whatever your customization preferences may be, Sam Rodgers Homes can get you into your dream home in no time. Before you invest countless hours searching, simply visit Sam Rodgers Homes before summer’s end!

By sitting down to discuss your family’s specific home needs, we’ll determine:

1. Which of our magnificent, move-in ready homes is the one for you
2. How we can collaborate to design and build the home you’ve always dreamed of

Get in touch with us today to schedule a tour in one of our beautiful model homes!

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Get the Most out of the Market with Sam Rodgers Homes.

The sunniest time of year is tailor-made for exploring new neighborhoods, walking through potential dream homes, and daydreaming about future patio parties with family and friends.

Before you begin any serious home shopping, however, understand where the housing market sits with buyers, and know what you can do to ensure you walk away with the best price for your home (and the most bang for your buck!).

This summer, the national housing market is looking as buyer-friendly as it has all spring. While list prices and home sales have both been on the rise in 2018, it’s actually a prime time to house hunt.

Many people fall into the trap of, “why not wait for the weather (and prices) to cool down before shopping around?” or “why battle the crowds and bidding wars if we’re not in a rush to move?”

Here’s why: as long as you can stand the heat of a little competition, there are distinct advantages to home shopping during the hottest season in residential real estate.

Check out these four facts, tips, and good-to-knows to get the most out of this year’s summer housing market.

1) Prices begin to drop in the summer

With more homes available, buyers reap the benefits of the season’s adverse effects: home prices start to come down, home sales start to increase, and buyers enjoy a bit more leverage.

In less competitive markets, buyers can take advantage at the negotiating table and, if need be, walk away with the knowledge and peace of mind that more homes are waiting to be viewed just around the corner.

If you’ve singled out a home and you’re highly interested in moving forward, there are other ways to negotiate outside of writing a check—generous contingencies such as a shorter closing period, inspection period, or drafting a well-written offer letter can help you shine a bit brighter among other offers sprawled across the table.

2) Summer may be ideal for buying and selling at the same time

If you need to sell your current home before buying a new one, it’s easier to handle this balancing act during the summer months. Instead of getting pinned down by two concurrent mortgages, you can enjoy a more seamless transition in busier market—if a home must be sold before you can buy, the home will be more likely to sell (and potentially at a good price), enabling the new home purchase to happen sooner.

Keep in mind, however, that these transactions don’t happen overnight. If you’re planning to pull off a quick upgrade, get ready as soon as possible so you’re free to make your move in summer.

3) Waiting to buy until summer can minimize change in your family’s routine

With kids out of school in summer, be intentional about bringing them into the homebuying process with you—let them tag along during showings, ask their thoughts on each potential home, and get them as excited as you are!

Getting your children involved in these types of decisions (which school they’ll attend, where they’ll spend recreational time, etc.) helps them adapt more quickly while reassuring you that this is the right move for everyone involved.

Get in early, meet your new neighbors during the summer, and try to make new friends before the school year starts.

4) Get to know the lay of the land

When the weather is warm and the days are longer, doing a little “detective work” is much more enjoyable!

With trees and flowers in full bloom, step onto your back porch and envision all the fun to come—pool parties, BBQs, late-night hangouts, and everything in between! With more neighbors out and about, you’ll get a better feel for the community vibe.

In competitive markets, you may be tempted to make an offer on any available property that comes close what you’re looking for in a home… pump the brakes! Buying a home is a massive financial move, and it’s worth it to take the time to make sure you’re in love with a home you’re about to purchase. Do some community scouting before making an offer!

Here’s the good news: if you don’t find exactly what you’re looking for with other homes, you will find it with Sam Rodgers Homes—while many builders say no to customization, Sam says YES!

How do we know you’ll find what you’re looking for? Every Sam Rodgers master-planned community is centrally located for easy access to top Florida schools, luxury shopping malls, exceptional dining, serene beaches, and the best amusement parks in Florida.

With community clubhouses, fitness centers, and pools, a new Sam Rodgers home will feel like a resort-style vacation for you and your family all year long. Before you buy somewhere else, be sure to visit Sam Rodgers Homes and take advantage of the housing market this summer to land your dream home.

Get in touch with us today and schedule a tour in one of our beautiful model homes.

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With Summer officially here, pool parties and weekend BBQs are popping up all around.

In a brand new Sam Rodgers home, your summer is bound to get off to a hot start with the following upgrades. Let’s dive in!

1. Outdoor kitchen

   Is there an outdoor living feature more attractive (and practical) than an outdoor kitchen? Grill up some burgers, set up a mini bar, and entertain family and friends all summer long. While the family relaxes in the pool, you can play host and chef while spending time with everyone in the warm weather. Speaking of pool…

2. Pool

   If your new home doesn’t already have one, now is the time to add it to your outdoor living experience! A place to splash around and cool off for your loved ones (and little ones) will provide endless entertainment all throughout summer.

3. Tiled patio

For a more luxurious look, build your custom patio with porcelain, brick, concrete, or stone tile. Ideal for Florida’s wet season, all four of these tiles detract water easily, so you don’t have to worry about anyone slipping and falling on a humid or rainy afternoon.

Whether you’re looking to host loved ones at your home’s premier outdoor living space or at the resort-style amenities in each Sam Rodgers community, pool parties and BBQs are just around the corner this summer.

The fresh designs and customized floor plans for Sam Rodgers Homes offer a classic Florida lifestyle with plenty of luxury features for your guests to enjoy. With us, you can be the summer host of the year!

Get a closer look at each of our floor plans today at www.LiveSamToday.com

From all of us at Sam Rodgers Homes, we wish you and your family a Happy Independence Day!

• Gran Paradiso in Venice starting from the $400s
• GreyHawk in Bradenton starting from the $300s.

Over the holiday weekend, many Americans will camp, boat, fish, hike, and grill with family and friends.

While Memorial Day is a great opportunity to spend time with loved ones, it’s much more than a Monday off of work — for Americans across the country, Memorial Day is a time to remember the men and women who have served or are currently serving in our nation’s armed forces.

We recognize the deep sacrifices and radical service made by each of these men, women, and their families, and we appreciate so much so that their service has afforded us the freedom to pursue happiness and live safely and securely.

For all who serve, all of us at Sam Rodgers Homes are here to celebrate you, honor you, and thank you, and we’re here to remember the service of those who have passed on.