Not many people in Sarasota know that you can still find spectacular homes with at least 3,000 square feet of living space sitting on five acres of land for less than $500K. To find such properties, all you have to do is drive east on Fruitville Road past the Tatum Ridge Golf Course to reach the Ranches at Bern Creek.

Located about 30 minutes away from Downtown Sarasota, the Ranches at Bern Creek is a hidden equestrian community that is ready to welcome families and retirees in search of a wholesome and peaceful life. The real estate opportunities of this neighborhood are too good to pass up. Most homes sit on five-acre lots; a few of the properties built on 10 or more acres have horse stables, barns and fenced-in pasture fields.

The homes at Bern Creek were built on spec from the 1980s to the 1990s. As can be expected, many of them are Florida ranch-style homes; other architectural styles include Mediterranean and New England. Prospective home buyers can expect to find listings that feature between three and six bedrooms. The median listing prices is about $400K.

There is plenty of nature to enjoy at the Ranches. Bern Creek runs behind many homes, and a few properties have their own natural ponds. There’s even a wetlands preserve with horseback riding trails within the community. This is mature Florida forest land, which means that residents enjoy giant oak trees with thick canopies that provide lots of shade in the summer.

With so much space to enjoy at the Ranches, homeowners tend to get creative with their property improvement projects. Aside from barns and horse stables, many homes have swimming pools, sundecks, gazebos, basketball half-courts, outdoor kitchens, guest houses, and more.

School-age residents of the Ranches are picked up by the district school buses. The nearest shopping centers are less than 15 minutes away at Bee Ridge and Sarasota Crossings. Driving to the beach takes about an hour, but the nearest golf course is just a short drive away.