Located in the eastern section of the Fruitville district, Sylvan Lea in Sarasota is currently one of the cities most attractive neighborhoods. The history of Sylvan Lea dates back to the 1980s; the goal has always been to preserve as much nature as possible through restrictive covenants. Initial development moved slowly, and it suited the developers. Over time, custom Florida ranches, New England homes and Modernist estates were completed, giving the neighborhood a nice touch of architectural diversity.

In 2017, renowned developer M/I Homes purchased a few acres of undeveloped forest at Sylvan Lea to design The Woods, a new residential section that smartly combines modern luxury with aesthetics and nature. Home buyers looking for new construction listings in 2019 should not pass up the opportunities that Sylvan Lea offers: spacious country estates inspired by Mediterranean revival architecture, filled with extras such as natural stone counter tops, his-and-hers closets, double sinks, decorative lighting fixtures, energy-efficient appliances, and more.

The first construction phase at The Woods was completed last year; the second phase started in 2019, and these are very attractive listings with prices starting at $454K for a four-bedroom home built on 2,309 square feet of interior. The Woods is not a large neighborhood; there are only 47 home sites, and the original Sylvan Lea section features 46 residences. When taking into consideration how much the original Sylvan Lea homes have appreciated in terms of value in just three decades, you can safely assume that the same will happen in The Woods at an even faster rate.

Sylvan Lea feels very secluded, but its location offers many suburban comforts. A full row of restaurants such as Fresco’s Italian Pizza, JR’s Old Packinghouse Cuban Cafe, Sommers Dutch Family, and Mr. Tequila are on the other side of I-75. Driving to the beach at Siesta Key will take you about 30 minutes, and the Centergate Village shopping center is where you can find a Publix supermarket just 10 minutes away.