I'm selling my home in Florida
A ‘3-years-new’ Florida home with beautiful spaces inside and out, an incredible water view, wonderful neighbors, and upgrades that have transformed a new house into a perfect home.
Sunrise to Sunset
The south-facing backyard offers beautiful views across the pond, with tranquil fountains, the sunrise to the east, and sunset to the west.
The Perfect Florida Backyard
A fenced and beautifully landscaped backyard with a large patio, fire table and plenty of room for dogs, kids, friends and barbecues.
Right in the Middle of It All
Perfectly positioned between Tampa and Orlando, with beautiful beaches, endless things to do and so much of Florida within easy reach.
Perfectly Positioned between Tampa and Orlando
BEAUTIFUL BEACHES, ENDLESS THINGS TO DO, SO MUCH OF FLORIDA WITHIN EASY REACH
One of my favorite things about living here is how close I am to so much of what makes living in Florida absolutely amazing—without having to live in the middle of the traffic, tourism and congestion that can come with some of its most popular destinations.
Tampa is right there for everyday life. My favorite grocery stores, Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s, are just 30 minutes away, and the airport, shopping, restaurants, excellent chiropractors, naturopathic and holistic practitioners, the Riverwalk and waterfront, museums, interesting and quirky shopping, and so many other things I enjoy are all within about 45 minutes of home. The Riverwalk and downtown are especially magical at Christmastime. And, of course, Tampa also brings all the arts, live music, concerts and professional sports you'd expect from a major city.
Then there are the day trips and weekend adventures. Within an hour or two of home are some of the most beautiful beaches in the country, Walt Disney World and the Orlando attractions, crystal-clear natural springs, lakes, rivers, state parks, hiking and kayaking, waterfalls and some pretty extraordinary opportunities to enjoy Florida wildlife. Manatees, stingrays, sharks, alligators and an incredible variety of birds are all part of this very different world—and sometimes the wildlife is much closer than you'd expect. Some of my favorite bird sightings have happened on walks right through my own neighborhood.
I also chose this spot because I loved the idea of having the coast close enough to enjoy without actually living on it. Beach days are an easy part of life, while beach traffic, tourist congestion, salt exposure, red tide and direct coastal storm-surge concerns stay closer to the coast. I get to enjoy the best parts of being near the beach and then head home.
It's a pretty amazing spot to call home—close to so much of what Florida has to offer, and at the end of the day, back home among ponds, fountains, palm trees, beautiful views and a neighborhood that feels worlds away from all the activity.
When I built this home three years ago, my family was here and the long-term plan was Florida. For various reasons, those plans have changed for the rest of my family, and I've realized that no matter how much I love Florida, I don't want to spend my time here without them. I'd simply rather be where my family is. And so, that's why I'm selling.
Some of the Most Beautiful Beaches in the Country
Living here means some of Florida’s spectacular Gulf Coast beaches are close enough for an easy beach day. In about an hour, you can trade ponds and palm trees at home for white sand, warm Gulf water and those incredible Florida sunsets.
And these really are extraordinary beaches. Clearwater Beach, St. Pete Beach and the beaches stretching south along the Gulf Coast offer that soft white sand and clear blue-green water people travel from all over the world to experience. Whether it’s a full day at the beach, dinner on the water or heading over later in the day just to catch the sunset, the coast is close enough that it’s simply part of everyday life whenever I’m in the mood to put my toes in the sand, float in the Gulf or sit and watch the sun disappear into the water.
A Beach Just for the Dogs
And if your dog loves the beach as much as you do, Brohard Paw Park in Venice is about an hour and a half from home—and absolutely worth the drive for an amazing day with the dogs! It's a true off-leash beach where dogs can run through the sand, splash in the waves, swim in the Gulf and simply have the best Florida beach day right alongside their people.
It's one of those places that makes living in Florida with a dog especially special. No leaving your best friend behind while you head to the beach—at Brohard, the beach day belongs to them, too.
A Neighborhood That Still Feels Like Florida
One of the things that makes this community so beautiful is how much of the natural Florida landscape was preserved as it was developed. Miles of walking trails wind throughout the neighborhood, past ponds and wetlands, beneath beautiful old oak trees and palms, and among flowering trees and tropical blooms that bring splashes of pink, purple, yellow, orange and red to all that green as the Florida seasons change. Many of the paths lead right out of the residential areas and into preserved natural spaces where the houses disappear from view and it feels like you've simply gone for a walk in nature.
The water, trees, wetlands and open natural areas bring an incredible amount of wildlife with them, especially the amazing variety of Florida birds that call the neighborhood home. On one walk, I managed to capture six different kinds of large birds in a single photo—and those are the kinds of moments that happen right here in the neighborhood.
It's a wonderful place to walk, run, ride a bike, take the dog out, meet up with friends or stop along the way and get to know a new neighbor.
Plenty to Do Without Leaving the Neighborhood
The community has two huge swimming pools, and one even has a real waterslide—the big, curly kind with water coming down! We also have a fitness center, basketball court, dog park and a beautiful community center, giving you plenty of ways to get outside, be active or just spend an afternoon close to home.
And the trails... well, they're nothing short of amazing! Peace, beauty, wildlife, and fresh air right out the door!
And I love the social side, too. The community hosts family-friendly events throughout the year and regularly brings food trucks to the community center. There's even an old-fashioned ice cream truck, complete with the bell, that drives through the neighborhoods. There are plenty of opportunities to gather, meet neighbors and enjoy being part of the community, without feeling like you have to—you can join in when you want to and simply enjoy your own corner of the neighborhood when you don't.
The Lot I Chose Before the Street Was Built
When I built the house three years ago, I had the opportunity to choose my lot before there were even houses on this street. I chose this one specifically for the south-facing backyard and the view—and three years later, it's still my favorite thing about my home.
It's truly hard to describe what makes the view so special, but I'm going to give it a shot.
The backyard looks out over a large pond with peaceful fountains and palm trees across the water. The pond stretches far enough in both directions that the sunrise comes up over the water to the east and the sunset goes down over the same water to the west. That entire view is right outside both the living room and primary bedroom, so I get both ends of the day over the pond—sometimes soft and peaceful, sometimes absolutely spectacular, and never quite the same twice.
Early mornings are pretty incredible. Before the sun comes up, everything is still and peaceful, sometimes with a layer of fog resting over the pond. Then, just before the sun breaks the horizon, the birds begin to wake up—singing, flying across the sunrise sky and landing on the water. Whether I'm enjoying it through the window while still cozied up in bed or sitting on the back patio with my coffee, completely immersed in the sights and sounds of the morning, it's an experience that's hard to put into words or even capture in pictures.
And every once in a while, when the morning is especially quiet and the breeze is just right out of the south, I can hear the distant train horns carrying softly across the miles as they pass through the little towns to the south. It's a quiet, nostalgic sound—just one more unexpected little blessing that came with choosing this spot.
And then there are the sunsets. The same pond that catches the morning sky to the east stretches toward the sunset in the west, and some evenings the entire sky and water seem to change by the minute. Sitting out on the patio at the end of the day watching one of those Florida sunsets over the water is every bit as special as watching the neighborhood wake up in the morning.
Views like this are few and far between—I don't think anyone has ever walked into my home without commenting on it. You can upgrade a kitchen, build a patio, or landscape a backyard, but a view like this isn't something you can create. I was incredibly fortunate to have the opportunity to choose it, and then to experience and enjoy it, and now I truly hope the next person who calls this home will be as blessed by it as I have been.
A Backyard Made for Florida Living
I installed a black wrought-iron-style fence because I wanted a fully fenced backyard for dogs and visiting little ones without giving up that beautiful view. I also specifically didn't want a six-foot privacy fence. I wanted to be able to visit with my neighbors across the fence and still have that friendly, connected feeling between our yards.
Along both sides of the fence, I had pink muhly grass planted to create just enough separation between the yards—especially for dogs on opposite sides of the fence and little hands that might otherwise reach through—without walling anyone off. For much of the year it's a beautiful soft green, and then in the fall it puts on that amazing display of feathery pink color that completely changes the look of the backyard.
And then there's the large brick patio, which I added specifically to make the backyard a place for gathering and enjoying Florida evenings—barbecuing, eating outside, or pulling chairs around the gas fire table and watching the sunset over the pond. With a dog happily running around the fenced yard, friends gathered around the fire, and that beautiful water view beyond it all, it's a pretty perfect backyard.
The Kind of Neighbors You Hope For
And speaking of neighbors, I couldn't have been more blessed. I have truly wonderful neighbors on both sides of my home, across the street, and down the way—kind, friendly people who look out for one another, stop to visit across the fence or along the sidewalk, and are there when someone needs a hand.
They're the kind of neighbors who save your Christmas-morning hash browns when you discover you're out of ketchup, are delighted to help eat the extra apples you brought back from your tree in Minnesota, and whose teenagers take care of the house when you're away. They're little things, but they're the things that turn people living nearby into neighbors—and neighbors into friends.
Good neighbors are one of those things you can't see in a listing or add to a house later, but they can make such a difference in how home feels. I've been incredibly blessed to share life with these wonderful neighbors, and I know the next family who calls this house home will be too.
A Home That Fits Real Life
This three-bedroom, two-bath home has 1,468 square feet of living space, plus the attached 2-car garage, with an open kitchen, dining and living area that flows naturally together. Large sliding glass doors bring in tons of natural light and put that beautiful backyard and pond view right at the heart of the main living space.
The primary bedroom shares that same beautiful water view, while the other two bedrooms and second full bathroom create a perfect space for kids, guests, an office, a hobby room, or whatever combination fits the way you live.
The home is only three years old and has been immaculately cared for inside and out. It's a floor plan that works equally well for a family or an empty-nest household that wants a comfortable home with room for an office or hobby room and overnight guests.
The Finishing Touches Are Already Done
Because I had the home built just three years ago, everything was new when I moved in. Like many builder homes, the finishes and features were largely predetermined, and I quickly figured out there were a few things I wanted to add or upgrade that would make it even better.
The kitchen has an upgraded, double-door, bottom freezer drawer refrigerator, and I replaced the dishwasher with an upgraded heavy-duty washing, top control, smart model this spring.
I also added a whole-house water filtration and softener system, along with reverse-osmosis drinking water at the kitchen sink.
I had a 30-amp outlet installed on the outside corner of the garage—perfect for an electric car, a Class B RV like mine, or anything else that needs 30-amp service—and added aluminum, pneumatic pull-down stairs in the garage for easy access to the attic.
And then, of course, there are the fence and all the other special touches I've added to the backyard that we've already talked about.
The best of both: a “3-year-new” house with thoughtful upgrades that have transformed it into the perfect home.
An Unusually Good Start—and Carefully Kept That Way
One of the things I'm especially grateful for about this home actually happened before I ever moved into it. I knew that building a home in Florida came with the risk of rain and moisture during construction, so I was paying close attention as it went up. And I praise the Lord that we had an exceptionally dry Florida spring that year—the house made it all the way from the foundation and concrete block walls through the roof and windows without a drop of rain falling on the building materials or structure before the home was enclosed.
The concrete block construction is another plus from a mold-prevention perspective, since the exterior walls are concrete block rather than wood-framed. Of course, there are still plenty of other building materials involved in constructing a home—which is why having everything stay dry until the house was enclosed was such a blessing.
That's especially significant in Florida, where heavy spring and summer downpours can soak exposed building materials and lead to mold problems found in so many Florida homes. This home had the tremendous advantage of starting out dry.
All of this matters more to me than it might to some because of CIRS, so maintaining a dry, mold-free home is non-negotiable for me. I've been very intentional about moisture and humidity control and mold prevention from day one.
If you've never thought about mold, this may simply be reassuring history about how the home was built and cared for. But if you understand mold and biotoxin illness, you know how difficult it can be to find a home with this kind of history. Either way, a home that started out dry and has had moisture control and mold prevention prioritized from day one is a very good place to start.
And from day 1, my home has been intentionally maintained as a mold-free, chemical-free, synthetic-fragrance-free space. I use only 100% natural products - and for those who need to avoid all fragrances, even natural ones, I DO use Young Living essential oils as a part of my health maintenance routine and so my home may not the best fit.
The Practical Details
There are a few different possibilities depending on what works best for you.
$315,000 — FURNISHED
SOQI Bed negotiable.
$312,000 — UNFURNISHED
RENT-TO-OWN — MAY ALSO BE POSSIBLE
If you need a little more time to strengthen your credit or build up your down payment, aren't quite ready to take on today's mortgage payment, or simply aren't sure you're ready to buy in Florida without living here first, a rent-to-own might be an option worth considering.