Sarasota bayfront estate lists for $33.8 million
By Breanne Williams
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Published: Sep 13, 2023

A Bayfront estate in Sarasota’s Harbor Acres neighborhood has been listed for $33.82 million.

The 11,275-square-foot home at 1233 Hillview Drive has eight bedrooms and 12 bathrooms. The listing price breaks down to $3,000 per square foot. The home sits on nearly an acre and has more than 140 feet of water frontage.

Barbara Sassen May with Michael Saunders & Co. is the listing agent for the property.

Sassen May told the Tampa Bay Business Journal the owner built the custom home as a second home and listed the property because they weren’t using it as much as anticipated. She said many residents are moving to the area from out of state and are drawn to the price point and lifestyle offered on the Gulf Coast.

“The perfect blend of unparalleled quality and thoughtful design, this remarkable home is perfect for everyday living and entertaining,” Sassen May said in a release. “It also offers incredible views and is located in a long-established, sought-after neighborhood convenient to Sarasota’s vibrant downtown.”

The home was built in July 2022 and was designed by Naples-based Stofft Cooney Architects. It has a British West Indies theme and was built by Perrone Construction of Sarasota. The landscaped grounds were designed by Stephen Hazeltine of Venice.

The estate includes multiple terraces with views of the bay, a primary suite, and two “substantial private wings” for guests. There is also a clubroom with a bar, lounge and media area. Other amenities include a multitiered overflow pool and spa, an outdoor kitchen and “expansive gathering areas overlooking the bay.”

The low inventory of luxury assets makes areas like Harbor Acres highly desirable to incoming residents. The neighborhood is just south of downtown Sarasota and is walkable to the Southside Village neighborhood.

“Our market is slower, and people can finally start to take their time, unlike what we’ve been seeing the last couple of years where everyone was in a bidding war,” Sassen May told the Business Journal. “There’s still a lot of people who want to come here, and Florida is still a bargain in comparison to areas people are moving from. What we’re seeing is the luxury market has plateaued a little bit, but the good buyers are still out there.”

Last year, another waterfront estate in Harbor Acres sold for $15.5 million. The transaction was one of the “highest-priced residential sales in the tri-county region of Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties,” according to Michael Saunders & Co. Sassen May represented the buyers in the transaction.

Last summer, another property in Harbor Acres, located at 1423 and 1435 Hillview Drive, sold for $17.5 million, the highest-ever home sale in the tri-county region.