Hi Joanne!

Based on what I can find in the MLS, it looks like you'll pay $914 per quarter for a Single Family Home in the Isles and $941 per quarter for a Single Family Home in Village Walk.

Don't take these communities at face value though, you will want to check them both out for yourself. I assure you that they are both quite different and also have different amenities. Both communities are truly beautiful, but each has their pros and cons, as Charles has pointed out. Both communities are in wonderful locations and have the "basic" amenities that you would expect such as a community pool and rec center, but Island Walk is also a security gated community. Some people prefer gated communities, others try to stay away from them! It just depends on you and what you're looking for.

Good luck!
Shannon Moore

Joanne,
Here is a link to the 20 or so Oakmont listings. Do you want updates when new ones, possibly foreclosed properties, in Palmer Ranch Sarasota FL, come on the market? Email us through the website and we will send you updates.
http://mfr.mlxchange.com/Pub/EmailView.asp?r=1247532782&…
Are you familiar with the process of a short sale? You may be able to pick up a great deal by having a real estate professional negociate on your behalf.
Call us and we can give you insight on where the banks are coming from and their REO and Short Sales procedures.
Brooke O'Malley P.A GRI ePRO
BROKER
CLUB REALTY
941-726-2677
Realtor and Mortgage Broker
Real Estate Auction Updates at http://www.MyClubRealty.com

The association fees for the Oakmont model in The Isles and VillageWalk are pretty comparable. VillageWalk charges about $912 per quarter, and The Isles fee is listed at $305 per month. What you need to ask is what you get for the money, and I think that you'll find that VillageWalk provides more amenities for your dollar. The major obvious differences are the gated security and far more impressive community center in VillageWalk. Keep in mind that there are far more homes in VillageWalk than in The Isles, and there are economies of scale that enable VillageWalk to keep the cost per home reasonable. If you are considering The Isles, you might ask what will happen to the fees in the future. I am not certain, but it is likely that current fees are subsidized by the developer, meaning that fees could be significantly higher when the developer is gone.

There are other significant differences between VillageWalk and The Isles. some people will be attracted by the fact that The Isles is newer, but you should also know that most Isles homes are not of the poured concrete construction that was used throughout VillageWalk. To me, that is a significant difference. You might or might not be able to purchase an Oakmont in The isles for less than one in VillageWalk, and only you can decide which is the better deal for you. I like both communities, and would not discourage you from buying in either one.

I live and work on Palmer Ranch, and am very familiar with all of its communities. If you would like more information or would like to view some properties, please contact me at your convenience.

Charles Offer
Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate
423 St. Armands Circle
Sarasota 34236
(941) 321-9664
charlesoffer@comcast.net