It was a Tuesday like any other (unless you included my epic internal struggle as I am trying my best to go coffee-free). Still, I made it to the Michael Saunders & Company sales meeting on time (8:30am) and in typical fashion, I took it all in as MSC agents connected over coffee (sigh) on the state of the market, and shared new listings and real estate-related wants and needs.
The Sales Meeting at Selby Gardens
As the meeting was coming to an end, I looked closely at the day’s Caravan. Now, while the word caravan typically conjures up images of desert sands, camels, and perhaps Peter O’Toole, for Michael Saunders & Company, it is a tried and true Tuesday tradition.
MS&C homes for sale that have just hit the market are opened from 10am to 1pm after the sales meeting and are toured en masse by agents. It’s a huge benefit for our Realtors and their buyers and sellers who are immediately exposed first-hand to the latest listing opportunities.
So while there would be no desert sands to speak of, there would be plenty of Gulf-front sands given that today’s Caravan included twenty-three properties on both Lido Key and Longboat Key. (And for those who are considering purchasing on Longboat, we’d just learned at the sales meeting that there are currently 363 listings and 70% are under $500,000.)
As one on the MSC marketing team (and not a Realtor) I’d never actually partaken in Caravan, but with beautiful blue skies, temperatures in the 70’s, and a list of resort-like properties laid out before me, I figured it was a good day to join in the tour. And fortunately (as I would later discover) fate had sat me beside Pat Mudgett, a Realtor based in our Main Street office.
My first inclination was to hop in my car and head to the properties at my own island-pace but as I asked Pat if she had any advice, she started to explain something about guard gates, a harbor section, a whole procedure involving a special coin, and U-turning and…. I think upon seeing the vacant look in my eyes (granted, no coffee) she graciously offered to take me herself.
I did a happy dance in my head and was more then willing to take her up on her offer.
Next Stop, Longboat
We walked out to her car and together we headed over the Ringling Bridge to scope out the properties on her Realtor radar.
Now, to me, the narrow island of Longboat Key has always been one long road (Gulf of Mexico Drive) and everything I need to reach just appears off of that.
Not so.
We began our tour entering the south gate of Bay Isles and this Sarasota-native was shocked by how many roads and turns and gates are hiding just out of view. May I also take this moment to add that throughout the course of our Caravan, Pat needed no GPS.
At our first stop, 501 Harbor Gate Way, a beautiful waterfront home listed by Ian Addy and Gail Wittig, I met their assistant, Heather Russell, who was holding down the fort.
Heather made herself available for any questions as I dreamt about taking a dip in the pool or maybe jumping onto one of the boats in the canal and sailing off. 
From there, Pat was interested in seeing a residence at Grand Bay, a Bayfront condominium also in Bay Isles.
Grand Bay
We drove past the Longboat Key Yacht Club and a rather lovely golf course operated by the Longboat Key Club.
When we arrived to building number five at Grand Bay, we rode up the elevator with Tom Bangerter, one of the Realtors who has the 5th floor unit listed alongside Ingrid Caruso.
And this was the view.
3080 Grand Bay Blvd, #546
Not too shabby Grand Bay, not too shabby.
From there, both Pat and I wanted to view the construction progress with Infinity Longboat Key (and word at the sales meeting was they’d be handing out boxed lunches). If you do not know what Infinity is, this new condominium construction project rests on three acres of Gulf-front land and offers 11 beachfront estate residences. At the morning sales meeting, we learned there are now only four existing residence opportunities available.
Rendering of Infinity Longboat Key
While there, I met Ingrid Caruso and Lee Rugh, sales representatives for Infinity. They showed us the building progress on the fitness center and the owners’ clubhouse.
And of course on the Infinity site, here’s Pat Mudgett, my female, Realtor-version of Lawrence of Arabia, standing out among the epic sands of the day’s Longboat Key adventure.
Next stop was L’Ambiance situated behind the gates of the Longboat Key Club.
Pat knew exactly where the call box was and the trick to opening the door at the lobby. We ran into a number of other agents as we strolled through Klaus Lang’s listing at 435 L’Ambiance Drive #H202.
Beyond the stunning Gulf Front views, I was totally in love with the contemporary chandelier above the dining room table.
435 L’Ambiance Drive #H202
Our final stop was 535 Sanctuary Drive #A801 at The Sanctuary IV. Standing on the balcony and looking out over the Gulf and the Bay, I felt like I was watching an episode of House Hunters International, salivating over a tropical paradise under consideration by the onscreen couple as they sip coconut water and discuss the pros and cons of the location.
The view looking one way
The view looking the other.
This resort lifestyle is no less than fifteen minutes from my downtown desk but feels a world away.
After chatting with Carol Cohen, the seller’s agent for this dream listing, Pat and I headed back towards the mainland.
Carol Cohen and Pat Mudgett
Pat had a listing appointment in the early afternoon she needed to prepare for. Not to mention, as we cruised around St. Armands Circle, she was on the phone with her customers who had put in an offer for a property on Bird Key. She was hopeful the negotiating and inspection process would continue without a hitch but no doubt my intrepid heroine would rise to the occasion should any challenges present themselves.
Back at the Office
Returning to the office, it occurred to me that had I ventured into this trip alone (and mind you I was born and raised here) I would have been confused, lost, and dehydrated and I’m sure I would have given up before the second guard gate. Pat was like my tour guide and concierge, a life-line who knew all the ropes and just where to tie them.
And as I turned on my computer and waited for it to start, instead of sipping on my usual coffee, I poured myself a coconut water.