5654 GARDENS DRIVE, SARASOTA, FL, 34243
Active159 days on marketListed Feb 25, 2026MLS #TB8479707
About this home
5654 GARDENS DRIVE
Breathtaking Lakefront Condo in Gardens at Palm-Aire. Discover serene Florida living in this beautifully maintained second-floor 2-bedroom, 2-bath condo offering unobstructed lake views from your private screened lanai and both bedrooms—an exceptional feature in the highly desirable Gardens at Palm-Aire. Fully furnished and move-in ready, this light-filled home features an open-concept living and dining area designed for comfort and easy entertaining. A convenient kitchen pass-through enhances flow and functionality, while the spacious primary suite includes a walk-in closet for ample storage. In-unit laundry adds everyday convenience. Major system updates provide peace of mind, including a new A/C system (9/24/23) and water heater (10/25). This well-maintained residence allows for true maintenance-free living. Enjoy resort-style community amenities including a heated pool, clubhouse, tennis and shuffleboard courts, sauna, game room, and barbecue area. Ideally located just minutes from I-75 and close to University Town Center, downtown Sarasota, St. Armands Circle, and the Gulf’s world-famous beaches—including Siesta Key, Lido Key, and Longboat Key—this lakefront opportunity blends tranquility with convenience. Now newly priced for improved value, this turnkey lakefront condo offers one of the best opportunities in one of Sarasota’s most established and convenient communities.
Facts & features
The home at a glance
2
Bedrooms
2
Bathrooms
1,080
Sqft
2.42 ac
Lot size
1985
Year built
One
Levels
$199
Per sqft
Inside
Outside & construction
Community & fees
Utilities & systems
The numbers
What it really costs
Built from this home's actual numbers — the most recent property-tax bill on record and the real association fee — not generic estimates.
$2,229 /mo · 3.5% down FHA, 30-yr fixed at 6%
The assumptions
FHA is the default here because it gets you in the door with just 3.5% down. Switch to Conventional or VA below.
These numbers assume a generic buyer — your credit, down payment and loan program change them. Get the real quote in minutes:
Andrew Acosta
Acosta Home Loans with PRMG · NMLS #1468866
Run your own numbers
Estimated payment
$2,229/mo
Includes FHA mortgage insurance and the financed 1.75% upfront premium. Taxes reflect the most recent bill on record; insurance is a typical-Florida estimate. Your lender’s numbers will differ. CENTURY 21 Edge partners with Florida’s best lenders.
Value check
Is the price right?
The internet’s favorite home-value number comes from a single automated model that has never seen the street, the finishes, or the view — which is why it routinely misses by tens of thousands of dollars. The edgeAI estimate combines multiple independent data sources with our team’s on-the-ground expertise in this exact market.
$/sqft vs Sarasota actives
$199 vs $343
Days on market
159 vs 58 typical
Where $199/sqft sits among the 400 Sarasota actives
The edgeAI estimate is a starting point, not an appraisal or a broker price opinion. It is generated from public records, listing data and market modeling, and is subject to change once a licensed real estate professional personally inspects the property. Condition, floor, view and lot are not fully captured by any model — ask us for a full comparative market analysis.
Where it sits
Inside Sarasota
Drive times from this address
Estimated driving times, typical traffic. Data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Get to know Sarasota. See the full Sarasota guide →
SARASOTA 34243 — neighborhood snapshot
Population
31,773
Median age
51.4
Median income
$79,799
Median home value
$395,000
Avg household
2.26
Households w/ children
2,313
For the school run
Manatee County School District
School assignments and ratings via edgeAI — always verify with the district.
The numbers that matter
The Sarasota market
$470K → $470K
Sarasota median sold, yr/yr
95.1%
Sale-to-list ratio (12 mo)
152 of 400
Sarasota actives have cut their price
Median sold price, Sarasota, trailing 36 months (3-month rolling) · live MLS data.
This home is listed 34% below the SARASOTA 34243 median. See the full Sarasota market guide →
Paper trail
This home's history
Reality check
What actually sold near 5654 GARDENS DRIVE
Asking prices are opinions — closed sales are facts. The most comparable homes that actually changed hands nearby in the last twelve months.
Sold · May ’26$165,000
5312 VENTURA AVENUE
2 bd · 1 ba · 1,066 sqft · $155/sqft · 0 DOM
Sold · Jan ’26$250,000
4412 WINSTON LANE N UNIT 6
2 bd · 2 ba · 1,064 sqft · $235/sqft · 33 DOM
Sold · Mar ’26$276,000
5633 MONTE ROSSO ROAD
2 bd · 2 ba · 1,115 sqft · $248/sqft · 142 DOM
Closed-sale data from the MLS, last 12 months, selected for similarity in size and location. No two homes are identical — ask us for a full comparative analysis.
Your home team
The pros in your corner
Buying a home is two conversations — the home and the money. Here’s who handles each, side by side, already working together.
Your agent
Kat Bonelli
REALTOR® · CENTURY 21 Edge
Tours, negotiation, and every question about 5654 GARDENS DRIVE — start here.
Your lender
Andrew Acosta
Acosta Home Loans with PRMG · NMLS #1468866
Pre-approval, rates, and the real monthly number for 5654 GARDENS DRIVE — before you fall in love.
See it in person
Schedule a tour
Pick a day that works — this goes straight to Kat's phone and CRM.
Straight answers
5654 GARDENS DRIVE FAQs
What would the monthly payment be for 5654 GARDENS DRIVE?+
With 3.5% down on a 30-year FHA loan at 6%, the all-in payment lands around $2,229/mo — principal and interest, the actual property-tax bill, the $448/mo association fee and typical Florida insurance. The payment calculator on this page lets you switch loan type (FHA, Conventional, VA) and adjust the down payment, rate and term.
How much are the HOA fees at 5654 GARDENS DRIVE?+
The association fee works out to $448 per month. Ask us for the full association documents — they spell out exactly what the fee covers.
What are the property taxes on 5654 GARDENS DRIVE?+
The most recent tax bill on record (2024) was $3,119. A new owner's bill can differ once the sale price resets the assessed value — we can walk you through what to expect.
Are pets allowed at 5654 GARDENS DRIVE?+
The listing reports pets: Dogs OK. Communities often layer on breed or weight rules — we'll verify the specifics with the association before you commit.
How does the price compare to other homes in Sarasota?+
At $215,000, this home is listed about 62% below the Sarasota median of $570,000. The market section on this page shows how the area is trending.
Which schools are assigned to 5654 GARDENS DRIVE?+
Braden River High School (high), Braden River Middle School (middle), Robert Willis Elementary School (elementary) — Manatee County School District. Always verify school assignments with the district before relying on them.
The brief
Five things that matter here
01Under the SARASOTA 34243 market on paper
$215,000 is 34% below the SARASOTA 34243 median of $325,000, and at $199/sqft it sits under the Sarasota average of $496.
02Waterfront living
This home sits directly on the water — the single scarcest feature in Florida inventory and the strongest long-term value anchor.
03Time on market is leverage
159 days on market against a Sarasota median of 58 — sellers in this position are usually ready to negotiate.
04Strong assigned schools
Braden River High School, Braden River Middle School, Robert Willis Elementary School — Robert Willis Elementary School rates 4 of 5. Always verify assignments with the district.
05The price has already moved
Listed at $235,000, now $215,000 — a $20K cut. The full history is in the market section below.
Keep looking
Similar homes nearby
Listing courtesy of CHARLES RUTENBERG REALTY INC · John Nowicki. MLS #TB8479707.
IDX information is provided exclusively for consumers’ personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing. Data is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed accurate by Stellar MLS.
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