Osprey, an inviting census-designated community in Florida, takes its name from the majestic bird-of-prey which hunts for fish in the region. This elite suburb with deed-restricted properties lies just south of Florida’s city of Sarasota and the Gulf Gate Estates, extending from Little Sarasota Bay to the Oscar Scherer State Park.

The area stretches over a little more than 6 square miles and is endowed with rich wildlife, miles of coastline, and countless lagoons, inland lakes, ponds and creeks. Home buyers looking for waterfront properties, as well as nature, golfing, boating and hiking enthusiasts, will find Osprey to be a very alluring place to put down roots or to get a foot on the Florida property ladder. The Oaks Country Club, with its championship golf courses, the Southbay Marina and the Southbay Yacht and Racquet Club, the Willowbend fitness center, and the Oscar Scherer State Park should provide copious entertainment to nature and sports lovers. Beachfront estates facing the Gulf of Mexico, in Casey Key, are some of the most luxurious properties in the region. However, single-family homes also provide access to the climate, the community, the suburban amenities and the comforts of the Osprey lifestyle at a fraction of the cost.

The communities of Osprey and its immediate vicinity, including The Oaks, The Woodlands at Rivendell, Southbay, and Sorrento, are served by the prestigious Pine View School. A local public school addressing the needs of gifted children, Pine View was recently rated as one of the best national schools. The Historic Spanish Point, with its 30 acres of prehistoric artifacts and the Blackburn Point Bridge hold the secrets to prehistoric dwellers in Osprey and their lives. The Oscar Scherer State Park, with its bald eagles, blue herons and ospreys, and the Scherer Thaxton Preserve, with its Florida Scrub Jay, protect the vast habitat of diverse species of wildlife. Osprey blends historic charm with the serene, relaxed atmosphere typical of a resort, to create a real estate investor’s haven.

Osprey architecture is atypical in that it deviates from the Mediterranean style, which is prevalent in Southwest Florida, and it drifts into Plantation style, Spanish Colonial Revival style, Florida Ranch style, and French Riviera-type residential property design. Luxury tower condominiums with panoramic views Gulf of Mexico and townhomes are also available as well as vacant lots.

Shopping districts are a stone’s throw away, on Highway 41, along the Tamiami Trail, so you can easily alternate between the calm and relaxation of these extremely peaceful communities and the hustle and bustle of malls and restaurants. With a lifestyle as accommodating and pleasant as the one Osprey has to offer, you’re bound to want to call this place ‘home’ at first sight, so be sure to check out the latest Osprey Real Estate for sale.