Heritage
It all started with a lady named Michael
Michael’s family has been in the business of creating community here for over 100 years. It all started in the 1890s with a steamboat and a love of Sarasota, and continues today with a longstanding commitment to enriching community life in all of Southwest Florida.
Launching Michael Saunders & Company
In 1976, with a $5,000 loan and a spirited will to create a new kind of real estate company, Michael Saunders started her business in a 1,000-square-foot office on St. Armands Circle. The company quickly gained recognition for its professionalism, personalized attention, and unparalleled market knowledge, leading to over $11 million in sales in its first year.
COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE DIVISION LAUNCHED
In 1977, Michael Saunders & Company launched their Commercial Real Estate Division. This expansion broadened their services, showcasing their commitment to offering specialized assistance in the commercial property sector.
SOTHEBY'S AFFILIATION
By joining forces with Sothebys International Realty, Michael Saunders & Company expanded their reach, gained access to exclusive marketing resources, and reinforced their commitment to delivering exceptional experiences to their clientele in the world of high-end real estate.
SOUTH SARASOTA COUNTY EXPANSION
Marking a strategic expansion, the company opens its first office in south Sarasota County, located in downtown Venice. Soon after, two additional offices opened in Plantation and Englewood, further cementing the company’s commitment to serving diverse communities across the region.
$100 MILLION IN SALES
Nine years after opening their doors, Michael Saunders & Company achieved a groundbreaking milestone by surpassing $100 million in sales for the first time. Crossing this significant financial threshold signified their success and solidified their position as a prominent and trusted real estate firm.
EXPANSION INTO MANATEE COUNTY
Michael Saunders & Company expands its reach into Manatee County, opening its first office in Bradenton to offer its renowned expertise and personalized service to clients in the growing community.
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT & LEADING REAL ESTATE COMPANIES OF THE WORLD®
Michael Saunders & Company launches their Property Management Division, adding to their comprehensive services offerings within the real estate sphere.
The company also begins a long-standing relationship with Leading Real Estate Companies of the World. This affiliation further strengthens the firm's global reach, fostering opportunities for networking, collaboration, and access to an esteemed referral network.
PALMER RANCH OFFICE OPENS
In 1998, Michael Saunders & Company opened an office in Palmer Ranch that includes a dedicated training center. With an emphasis on ongoing education, the company reaffirmed its dedication to exceptional service and the advancement of its real estate professionals.
LEADINGRE BOARD CHAIR
Michael Saunders joins the board of directors of LeadingRE® and is named board chair from 2007-2009. Her tenure underscores her influential presence and commitment to shaping the future of real estate on a global scale.
MSC TITLE IS LAUNCHED & THE RITZ
Michael Saunders & Company launches its Title Service division, providing a one-stop-shop experience for real estate transactions, ensuring a seamless and efficient closing experience.
Additionally, the firm aligns with the first Ritz-Carlton Residences built in Sarasota to represent the luxury brand to clients seeking unparalleled sophistication and opulence.
SHARED FAMILY MISSION AND VISION
In 2003, Michael's son, Drayton, joined the business and helps grow it to what it is today - a multibillion-dollar full-service brokerage offering a comprehensive range of real estate services in Southwest Florida.
MSC ASSET MANAGEMENT GROUP LAUNCHED
Michael Saunders & Company introduces its Asset Management Group, signifying a significant leap in their real estate services portfolio. This addition allows the company to cater specifically to clients seeking comprehensive management solutions for their real estate assets.
DRAYTON BECOMES PRESIDENT
Marking a generational transition, Drayton Saunders becomes president of Michael Saunders & Company. In this role, he leverages his expertise and vision to steer the company’s continued growth, technological advancement, and steadfast commitment to providing exceptional service.
MSC FOUNDATION & BOCA GRANDE OFFICE
Michael Saunders & Company opens a new branch office in the picturesque enclave of Boca Grande. This strategic move allows the company to extend its reach into this unique market, renowned for its luxury real estate offerings and serene coastal charm.
Michael Saunders also establishes the MSC Foundation - a philanthropic initiative that provides grants to organizations offering a path to self-sufficiency. Since its inception, the foundation has supported more than 250 local nonprofit organizations.
ANNA MARIA ISLAND OFFICE OPENS & MICHAEL'S AWARD
Michael Saunders & Company opens a branch office on Anna Maria Island, extending its exceptional real estate services to the popular community while showcasing its commitment to serving the island's unique real estate needs.
Michael Saunders receives The Argus Foundation's Lifetime Achievement Award, which honors business leaders who have made a significant impact on Sarasota County communities throughout their lives.
RECORD-BREAKING SALES VOLUME
Consistently ranking among the leading 15% of the top 500 brokerages in the U.S. by sales volume, Michael Saunders & Company achieves its highest-ever sales volume - $4.79 billion.
HEADQUARTERS IN NEW DOWNTOWN LOCATION
The company consolidates its corporate headquarters, title services, executive offices, developer services, commercial services, and agent services in a new state-of-the-art space at 1605 Main Street in the heart of downtown Sarasota. The move reflects the company's commitment to providing efficient services to its agents and customers in one central location while leaning into its collaborative culture.
Groundbreaking for new office in Wellen Park
Michael Saunders & Company acquires land to build an office in Wellen Park.
Acquisition of Sanibel-Captiva office and new office opening in St. Petersburg
Michael Saunders & Company acquires an office in Sanibel & Captiva, and also expands presence to Pinellas County.
As a single mother, Michael launched her real estate company with a $5,000 loan co-signed by a Canadian businessman, who was also one of her first real estate customers. At that time, banks did not lend money to women, but this did not deter Michael.
Through her distinctive and legendary style, Michael Saunders founded Michael Saunders & Company in 1976 with a revolutionary idea, distinguishing her company from the rest. Her steadfast goal of providing exceptional customer service, combined with her passion, spirited leadership, and sense of values, set the company's course for phenomenal success.
In its first year, Michael Saunders & Company achieved over $11 million in sales, setting the stage for its growth as one of Southwest Florida's largest locally owned, independent real estate firms and the area's leading luxury real estate brand.
Buying and selling property is an art
From the beginning, Michael understood the importance of marketing and branding in reaching the appropriate consortium of buyers and sellers. Michael's first office on St. Armand's Circle featured a gallery-like ambiance where her listings were proudly displayed in elaborate picture frames. The office was warm and inviting to sellers and buyers alike as they were greeted with flowers, antique furniture, hardwood floors, and armoires. Making real estate synonymous with art, her company took an artistic approach to selling unique, discerning lifestyles, something vastly different and unheard of by other area brokers.
Cultivating success
Michael's stylish courage, strong core values, and deep commitment to excellence attracted many talented professionals. Over time, the company grew steadily with like-minded individuals, and together, they created a culture of relationship selling, integrity, collaboration, and trust. Over the past 48 years, Michael has overseen the growth of her real estate firm from a single office on St. Armands Circle into a regional network of 19 full-service real estate offices that includes a team of over 800 professionals - from agents to employees to leadership - in Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte, Lee Counties, and Pinellas Counties, selling in excess of $3 billion of real estate.
Global alliances
With powerful regional, national, and international affiliations through Leading Real Estate Companies of the World®, Luxury Portfolio International®, Forbes Global Properties, and Mayfair International Realty, the company is connected to other independent elite firms across the globe, exposing listings to potential buyers through 550 companies in 70+ countries.
The legacy continues
Michael's son, Drayton Saunders, joined the company in 2003 and serves as the company's President. Together at the helm, Michael and Drayton continue to grow the company into what it is today – a successful multi-billion-dollar full-service company offering an array of extensive real estate services. These include residential real estate, mortgage, title, insurance, and relocation services, as well as commercial and developer services divisions.
From $11 million in sales in the company's first year to what is now a multi-billion-dollar business, Michael Saunders & Company is a highly regarded and recognized brand that reaches across borders and continents with a nearly 50-year reputation for being among the best of the best in the industry.
Michael's values and commitment to excellence are deeply rooted in the firm and contribute to the company’s success. This is evidenced by the loyalty of the agents, employees, and leadership teams who chose this family firm as a place to work, as well as the customers and clients who repeatedly choose Michael Saunders & Company as their company of choice.
Making a difference
From the very beginning, giving back has always been important to Michael. Early in her career, she served on numerous local boards, lending her time and financial resources to regional organizations. When Drayton joined the company, he followed that same tradition and has served in various leadership roles throughout the community.
As local business leaders, Michael and Drayton believe that a successful business should not only thrive within the community but also actively contribute to its growth and well-being. This philosophy led the company to form its own not-for-profit, the MSC Foundation, which has supported over 250 local organizations and funded over $1.4 million in grants since its inception in 2011.
Making a difference is at the heart and soul of Michael Saunders & Company.
"Giving back is woven into the fabric of our company."
— Michael Saunders
Learn more about the difference made by the MSC Foundation.
What's in a name?
Michael was named after her ancestor, Michael Drayton. Having a typically male name, she had her fair share of snafus to deal with, like receiving a draft notice, getting assigned to a boy's dormitory at college and being mistaken for a secretary making an appointment for a "Mr. Saunders." Not easily deterred, when Michael showed up for those appointments, she turned the confusion into an opportunity by getting her foot in the door and never taking it out.
Today, the name "Michael Saunders" is synonymous with excellence and trust, resonating not only within the community but also globally through real estate affiliations and partnerships throughout the nation and world.
