Free guide for Sarasota home buyers
Buying in Sarasota? Don't buy a bad deal.
An 11-page guide with this fall's real market numbers, five checks that tell a fair price from an overpriced one, the true monthly cost of a Florida home, and the insurance questions to ask before you offer.
Send me the free guideFree. From Julie Giancola, REALTOR® · eXp Realty.
For anyone buying in Sarasota, from Bradenton and Lakewood Ranch down to Venice: a home to live in, a winter home or an investment.
The price is only the start
A listing shows you a price. It doesn't show you what similar homes actually sold for, what insurance will cost, or how much the taxes jump once the home is yours.
Sarasota prices are up 7.8% from a weak fall last year. But sellers are getting about 94% of their first asking price, so there's often room to talk, if you know the numbers before you write an offer.
You don't have to know it all. That's what this guide is for: the straight answers, in order, before you sign anything.
What you'll know by the last page
- Sarasota County's September 2026 numbers, and the one that gives buyers room to negotiate
- Five checks that tell you if a home is priced right, before you fall for it
- The true monthly cost: two $485,000 homes, $352 a month apart
- What you'll bring to closing, and why it changes by county
- The insurance and flood questions to ask before you make an offer
- What to check on a condo or in an HOA or CDD community
- Buying a winter home or a rental: taxes, rental rules and the math
- How to offer without overpaying, and a 9-step plan to the closing table
A look inside
What happens when you hit the button
- Your guide opens right away on the next screen, ready to save or print.
- I'll check in personally over the next week, in case you have questions.
- That's it. No automated drip, no call center, and I never sell your information. Reply anytime to stop.
Ready to look at homes? Book a free 15-minute buyer call.
Who wrote this
Communication is my background, and it's how I run every deal.
I'm Julie Giancola, a REALTOR® with eXp Realty. I've lived in Sarasota for five years and work from Bradenton and Lakewood Ranch down to Venice.
- I've bought and sold 5 homes of my own, so I know what it's like to sign those papers. As an investor, I learned to look at every home by its numbers, so you'll get a straight answer on price and on the costs people don't see coming.
- I'm with eXp Realty, so if you're coming from up north or moving on, I can connect you with a trusted agent wherever you're headed.
- In real estate since 2022, with ten years coordinating projects before that. I run the whole deal to the finish line.
- I'm a numbers person. If a home is overpriced, I'll tell you straight. If I don't know something, I'll find out fast.
Expect a prompt, personal reply from me, never a call center.
Questions
Is it really free?
Yes. No cost and no catch. It's the guide I'd want if I were buying.
Do I have to work with you?
No. Use it however you like. If you want a second set of eyes on a home, I'm here.
I'm not ready to buy yet. Is it too early?
Not at all. Reading it a few months ahead gives you time to talk to a lender, learn the costs and know a fair price when you see one.
Will you call me?
I'll check in personally a few times over the next week. If you checked the box, one may be a call or text; if not, it's email only. Reply anytime to stop.
Are the numbers current?
Market numbers are RASM's September 2026 numbers for Sarasota County, released Oct 16, 2026. I refresh the guide every three months.
Do you help with loans?
I'm a REALTOR®, not a lender, so loan questions go to your lender. I'll help you compare the costs that come with each home.
Know your numbers before you offer
Eleven pages of straight answers for Sarasota and Southwest Florida buyers. Free.
Send me the free guide