Located within the barrier island of Siesta Key, Palm Island is unique in the sense that it offers home buyers the opportunity to own a very special piece of Florida. This waterfront neighborhood is actually “an island within an island;” it consists of a heart-shaped canal, a perimeter road, two cross streets, a bridge that connects to Siesta Key, a water trail to Sarasota Bay, and 140 single-family homes.

The history of Palm Island dates back to the pre-World War II period of residential development in Sarasota. This is the kind of neighborhood that circus magnate John Ringling had in mind when he came back from European cities such as Venice. Palm Island is surrounded by water and nature, and it offers house hunters a nice sense of seclusion without having to move too far from the city or from the beach.

The homes at Palm Island include a few cottages, Florida ranch-style homes, and a few waterfront estates built in the Key West or Mediterranean styles. Some of the homes listed in 2015 include swimming pools and elaborate private docking space; Palm Island is certainly a neighborhood that will appeal to boaters and anglers. Some of the most modest listings three and four bedrooms built on more than 1,400 square feet of interior space; these homes tend to start under $550K. The stateliest properties are modern waterfront mansions priced around $1.6 million.

Palm Island will equally appeal to families, seasonal residents and retirees. The white sands of Siesta Beach are just a walk away. The small Siesta Village shopping center and Glebe Park are also within walking distance. Driving to the Downtown Sarasota arts and culture district is a matter of getting on Midnight Pass Road and Ocean Boulevard for a few minutes, then connecting with Siesta Drive. Even better, launching a boat from Palm Island to the Sarasota Bay takes less than 20 minutes.