As real estate activity increases in Manatee County, more home buyers are looking beyond Lakewood Ranch and Sarasota. The communities located east of I-75 in Bradenton have traditionally attracted families looking for a more spacious and affordable exurban experience, but more home shoppers these days are feeling motivated by the prospect of new construction.

Earlier this year, Matt Johnson of the Bradenton Herald reported on the brisk sales enjoyed by home builders Ashton Homes in Rosedale and Ryland in GreyHawk Landing. The Concession in Bradenton will also be active with construction. The lots at GreyHawk Landing were sold by Ryland faster than expected, and thus the building goals of the project have been adjusted to 400 single-family residences.

While some house hunters are looking for rare waterfront homes and dwindling foreclosure properties, families and smart real estate investors are flocking east. The burgeoning Rosedale and Concession communities are anchored by golf communities, which is odd since the country club type of neighborhoods have seen diminished interest elsewhere in Southwest Florida.

The bottom line for home buyers in East Manatee is that they can afford larger and newer properties than in other regions of the county. For example, families moving to GreyHawk Landing can enjoy a four-bedroom and three-bathroom home built on a 14,714 lot for less than $380K. Developers are successfully attracting home buyers with family-friendly activities such as nature trails, swimming pools, recreation centers, playgrounds, picnic areas and more.

Thanks to the renewed interest in the eastern region, Manatee County now enjoys one of the best indicators of real estate activity. The area’s supply of new homes is currently at nearly three months; in average markets, a six-month supply is optimal, and thus it is safe to say that Manatee County is a leading regional housing market at this time.