Some neighborhoods in Palmer Ranch come closer to realizing the vision that real estate pioneer Bertha Palmer had in mind when she arrived in Sarasota. Like American circus magnate John Ringling, the late Palmer had traveled extensively in Europe, and she fell in love with the classic look of coastal communities near the Mediterranean.

Ms. Palmer would have loved to see the completed Plaza de Flores, a low-rise condominium that borrows certain architectural design elements from the French Riviera. The developers of Plaza de Flores have created a place where neighbors can enjoy courtyards, fountains, walkways, and gardens lined with colorful flowers. Aside from these nice botanical details, Plaza de Flores is further beautified by lakes and tropical landscaping.

Although there are 200 units at Plaza de Flores, listings do not come on the market as often as house hunters would like them to. Homeowners in this condominium tend to enjoy their neighborhood and their cozy properties, which have been appreciating in value over the last few years. There are five floor plans at Plaza de Flores; even the coziest units have at least two bedrooms and two full bathrooms on 950 square feet of air conditioned space. Larger units with more than 1,300 square feet of interior space feature three bedrooms. Pricing will vary according to the size of floor plan, the interior upgrades and the exterior views; in mid-2015, asking prices started around $150K.

A heated swimming pool, a spa, a clubhouse, and a tennis court are available within Plaza de Flores. A greater range of amenities can be found just outside gate: Three golf courses and racquet clubs, an aquatic center, a splash park for children, a climbing wall, a YMCA sports complex, and a 10-mile trail for walking, jogging and riding bicycles. A major shopping mall and commercial district are about five minutes away.