Downtown Sarasota is where the city comes alive: high-rise condos over Sarasota Bay, Main Street restaurants, the Opera House, and a Saturday farmers market. If you want to walk to dinner, the theater and the water, downtown is the place to look.

I’m Bill Garrison with RE/MAX Palm Realty, a 40+ year local. I started selling properties on Siesta Key in 2012 and have a very nice office there today. Here’s a plain-English guide to living downtown and on the bayfront, plus live searches of every home for sale.

Downtown Neighborhoods

• The Bayfront: condo towers along the bay, Marina Jack and its 298 boat slips, and The Bay Park, which opened in 2022 on Sarasota’s 53-acre bayfront.
• Main Street & Five Points: the heart of downtown, with restaurants, shops and the Saturday farmers market (7 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Lemon Avenue).
• Rosemary District: north of Fruitville Road, a newer area of townhomes, condos and apartments with restaurants mixed in.
• Burns Court & Laurel Park: historic, tree-lined streets of cottages and bungalows on the south side of downtown.

Arts & Culture Downtown

Downtown is home to the Sarasota Opera House, opened in 1925, the Van Wezel on the bay, theaters and galleries, with Selby Gardens just to the south. The Ringling’s museums and Ca’ d’Zan mansion are a short drive north.

Homes Downtown

Most downtown homes are condos, from older mid-rise buildings to new luxury towers with bay views. You’ll also find townhomes in the Rosemary District and historic cottages around Burns Court and Laurel Park. Search by price below.

What to Know Before You Buy

• Condo rules & reserves: Florida’s condo safety law requires milestone inspections and funded reserves for older buildings. Ask for the inspection reports, reserve study and any planned assessments before you write an offer.
• HOA fees: full-service towers can carry high monthly fees. Ask what’s included (insurance, valet, amenities).
• Rental rules: many buildings limit rentals. Check the documents if renting matters to you.
• Flood zones: bayfront buildings are usually in flood zones. See my flood zone guide and flood insurance info.