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Chamber Business Award 2019 for Duncan Real Estate

Chamber Business Award for Duncan Real EstateLast Friday night Duncan Real Estate was honored with a Chamber Business Award 2019 by the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce. During the yearly Award Ceremony and Board of Directors Installation at the Seafood Shack four Business Awards were presented. There were awards given in four categories for small, medium and large business of the year and including the new “Non Profit of the Year”.

Additionally, the Rotary Club of Anna Maria Island co-directors Judy Rup and Dennis Schuermann awarded the Rotary Club’s Businessperson of the Year award to John Horne, the Anna Maria Oyster Bar owner.

Chamber Board member Karen LaPensee awarded Darcie Duncan with the large Business Award.

Darcie’s experience in Real Estate for more than 2 decades shows proven results with her exceptional real estate service. As a strong leader she built a positive working environment and is supporting and nurturing those around her. Growing by building client relationships she provides above industry standards in times of constant change with the necessary dose of optimism that conveys the strength and security of the business.

 

Team Duncan is proud to participate many volunteer hours in various non-profits and organizations:

  • Chairman of the Manatee Chamber of Commerce
  • Membership engagement council for Manatee Chamber of Commerce
  • Leadership Manatee Alumni Association President and Board member
  • Past board member of Anna Maria Chamber
  • Founding Member of the AMI Chamber
  • Holmes Beach Police Pension Board
  • Friends of Manatee County Animal Services
  • Nate’s Honor
  • Realtor to the Rescue
  • Dachshund Rescue
  • Volunteer at the Farmer’s Market in downtown Bradenton
  • Event committee with the Anna Maria Chamber of Commerce
  • Serve at the Salvation Army, St Bernard Church, Our Daily Bread
  • Sea Turtle Watch Volunteer on AMI
  • Gulf Shore Animal League
  • Habitat for Humanity
  • AMI Public Library
  • Volunteer at Anna Maria Elementary School
  • Keep Manatee Beautiful – volunteer to clean up
  • Support PACE Center for Girls, Woman’s Resource Center of Manatee County, Suncoast Reading, Manatee County Education Foundation, The Center of AMI, AMICCO, Art Hop, AMI Players, Foundation for Dreams, American Cancer Society, Manatee Players, Red Cross, St Jude, Bradenton Christian School, Good Will, Humane Society.

 

Chamber Award Darcie Duncan

Darcie Duncan accepting Business Award

Please call Team Duncan for all your Real Estate and Vacation Rentals needs at 941 779 0304 or send us a quick message.

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Sandcastle Contest

Sandcastle ContestAlthough there is hardly anything better than spending time on the beautiful beaches on Anna Maria Island check out the sandcastle contest on Siesta Key. If you are looking for a special outdoor plan for this weekend head towards Sarasota and explore the annual sand sculpting festival on the barrier island just to the South of us.

The International Sand Sculpting Festival is starting today and lasting through Monday, Nov 12th. In its 9th year there will be twenty four master sand sculptures to compete for the 1st place on the Siesta Key Public Beach. A new solo competition will also be introduced.  Artists have only 24 hours to create their master piece of sand which will be displayed for 4 consecutive days in the beach outdoor gallery. Daily tickets will be sold and over 50 000 attendees are expected.

 

There will be more than just sand! This open air festival also features live music, a large village of shopping and food vendors. Check out the sand sculpting lessons and the amateur sculpting competition. Have fun in the party tent on Saturday and Sunday night and admire the sculptures lit through a fabulous light display.

Anna Maria Island also features a sandcastle contest which is usually held in November. It was postponed this year to an undetermined date.

Find out about more events or call our knowledgeable Duncan Vacation rental team for more information at 941 779 0304.

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Introducing Beach N Lake House

Serene views of Spring LakeAptly named Duncan Vacation Rentals is introducing “Beach N Lake House”, situated by Spring Lake on Anna Maria Island. This beautiful brand new vacation rentals delivers a great location with serene lake views. The ground level home is located on a quiet side street in Holmes Beach within an easy 4 minute walk to the glorious white beaches on the Gulf of Mexico. Get lulled into vacation mode by enjoying tranquil views of the lake from almost every room of the house.

Recently updated, this house is very comfortable and spacious with several sitting areas to spread out the family. Up to 8 guests have plenty of room to relax.  You enter and be welcomed by the lake views. There is the main living area with TV, another hang out area and a large dining table all facing the lake. The fully-equipped kitchen sits next to a breakfast nook. The split layout plan offers 2 bedroom wings. From the kitchen area you proceed to the dedicated kids’ side. There is a sitting area with TV, a full bathroom with laundry access and a bedroom with 2 bunk beds. The other side of the house features the master bedroom with its own bathroom. The guest bedroom feature a queen bed and has access to the hall bathroom with tub/shower combo.

The backyard invites to take full advantage of island living. Off the kitchen area you can serve meals by the outdoor dining area complete with umbrella and charcoal grill. Bring your fishing pole to catch dinner right from the lake.

With its plush furnishings, flat screens, wireless access, new linens and beach towels this house is perfect for a wonderful island getaway. Stroll to the beach within a few short minutes. Take the trolley and explore the rest of the island. The house sits in between the North and Southbound route of the free island bus.  Walk to restaurants and shops of Holmes Beach or play some tennis or pickleball at the nearby public courts. If you bring your doggie meet new friends at the dog park behind close by Holmes Beach City Hall.

This sounds like a fun time! Book your stay at Beach N Lake House for a great island vacation!

Beach N Lake House on 68th St Holmes Beach

 

Please call Team Duncan at 941 779 0304 to learn more about this fantastic house or send us a quick message.

 

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Economic Impact of Red Tide

Congressman Vern Buchanan held a round table discussion with a small group of area businesses on the economic impact of Red Tide on Friday, August 24th 2018.
Red Tide has hit the Gulf coast of Florida and reached Anna Maria Island about 2 weeks ago.
Dr. Crosby, the CEO of Mote Marine, explained the scientific side of it. Red Tide is a natural phenomenon and the severity of the bloom might be influenced by humane impact in form of terrestrial water runoff. The main focus is to forecast and control the blooms of Red Tide. The existence of this algae has been documented for centuries and the field is usually located about 30 miles offshore. If scientists can control and attack an outbreak before it reaches the shore the devastating effect on marine life, people and tourism could be prevented. Also, being able to forecast the movement of Red Tide will help the coastal communities.

Congressman Buchanan (right) listens to Dr. Crosby’s (left) Red Tide summary.

Island Impact of Red Tide

Duncan Real Estate represented the only real estate company on Anna Maria Island to discuss this year’s outbreak and the effects on the real estate market. The biggest battle is conveying the most accurate information. Social media and general misinformation can spread improper details about the situation. Red Tide is influenced by wind and currents and daily changes occur.
The impact on the vacation rentals and other tourism related businesses like island restaurants, shops and water sport activities has been immediate. Rental owners and management companies are using their discretion regarding their guest reservations.

Daily Updates

Team Duncan offers daily updates on our beach conditions. One of our team members is checking the beaches in the morning for the most accurate report.
Additional information regarding the beach conditions can be found on various sites.

Manatee Beach Report:

August 27, 2018 Report

If you like to talk to a Team Duncan member about the latest update please call us at 941 705 3344 or send us  a quick message here.
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AMI – The One Million Dollar Island

If you have you been watching the Anna Maria Island Real Estate market recently you might have noticed many sales that reached or passed the one million Dollar mark.

Investing in Real Estate has always been an American strategy to begin building wealth. It can generate ongoing passive income and can be a good long term investment if the value increases over time.  A decade after the financial crisis and drops of over a third in value homeowners have regained their worth led by a robust labor market with economic activity and housing demand. According to a Reuters poll US house prices will rise at twice the speed of inflation and pay with an expected gain of 5.7% this year.

US Wide Median Home Values

Looking at the median value the wealth building strategy seems to hold true for many metropolitan areas. Exclusive suburbs close to finance or tech hubs have seen drastic value increases over the last 2 years like San Jose (by 53.8%), San Fransisco (by 45.5%) and Seattle (by 44.7%). Both US coasts are clustered with million dollar markets. According to Zillow there are 197 cities where you will need a 7 figure check to purchase real estate. California features more than half of these markets, followed by New York and New Jersey. 

The One Million Dollar Island

Florida has seen its share of rising median values. Miami tops the list with an increase of 30.4%. For example, Fisher Island is the home of the stars that features a median value of about $ 3.2 million.

The other 2 larger cities in the Sunshine State are Tampa and Orlando that also saw a higher than average growth with over 20% value increases. However, no other Florida area than Anna Maria will join the exclusive list of the million dollar municipalities next. Zillow is projecting that the median price of island homes will rise to $1.0094 million from the current $964,200.

Looking at sales in Holmes Beach over the last 3 months the sold prices seem to confirm this trend.

One Million Dollar Sales

 

 

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SeaStar Villa

Welcome to SeaStar Villa – Duncan Real Estate’s newest vacation rental home on beautiful Anna Maria Island!

This newly constructed property offers the comfort and relaxation you are looking for during your Florida holiday.  The townhome features 2 bedrooms, a study and 3 bathrooms with plenty of room to spread out. A larger family of up to 6 can enjoy the open floor plan with comfortable island style furnishings and entertainment features. Enjoy family meals, cocktail hour, and preparing your catch of the day in the fully appointed kitchen. With plenty of space for all of your groceries, enjoy updated appliances, granite countertops, and all the comforts of home to prepare all of your family treats!

Splendid interiors with supremely cozy beds make falling into bed after a long day on the water so relaxing. The wonderfully inviting master bedroom has an en-suite bathroom with a walk in shower. There is a large balcony that overlooks the pool too. The second bedroom has a queen size bed and en-suite bathroom with walk in shower. The study is set up as additional sleeping area with two twin beds and a hall bathroom for convenience.

Guests are sure to take full advantage of all the outdoor, Florida lifestyle features! The conveniently located covered porch area has an outdoor TV to watch the game or enjoy an afternoon cocktail. Splash in the great private swimming pool, refresh under the outdoor shower and relax soaking up the sun on the outdoor loungers. There is also a table sitting group for a grill night prepared on the provided gas grill.

The beach is easily accessed via the numerous beach paths in Holmes Beach. The closest is on Gulf Drive in the 5600 block which is about 0.3 miles away. It will take about 5 minutes and should be a pleasant stroll through the quiet side streets and the provided beach cart with beach chairs and toys.

 

SeaStar Villa on 306 60th St, Holmes Beach

Put SeaStar Villa on your list for a great Anna Maria  Island getaway. If you like more information on this or other Duncan Real Estate vacation rentals please contact our knowledgeable reservationists. We are happy to help assisting with your beach vacation plans. Call our office at 941 779 0304 or send us a a quick message here.

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Turtle Season starts!

The official start of the Anna Maria Island Turtle Season was May 1st.  Loggerhead nests were already found on Captiva Island and Longboat Key. This indicates that Anna Maria Island will soon see its first nest as well. For over 30 years the volunteers of the Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch have made tremendous efforts to help our sea turtles. They are monitoring 12 miles of Manatee County shoreline. Each morning the beaches are walked and new nests are getting staked and observed for the next two months. After about 60 days the little hatchlings are making their way to the water during night time. Once the nest has hatched, it is getting inspected and shells are counted. Sometimes straggling hatchlings are left behind and get saved. So far, the Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch has protected 4454 nests, counted 301 694 turtle eggs and helped about 271,680 hatchlings.

You can show your support for the Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch by adopting a sea turtle nest laid on Anna Maria Island. A plaque of your choice will be placed for a $100 tax-deductible donation. There are also Turtle Talks organized which take place every Tuesday at 10 am at the CrossPointe Fellowship, 8605 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach. Stop by and experience a 35 min presentation which informs via video and photo displays, Q&A session and other interactivities.

There are a few simple rules all of us enjoying this island can follow to make it another successful turtle season this year. The mother turtles and the hatchlings are easily distracted by artificial lights that appear visible on the beach.  Unfortunately, disorientations happen every year.  If you encounter a nesting mother do not take flash pictures or disturb in any way. Loggerheads don’t have a “reverse gear”. For that reason, beach chairs or other items left behind on the beach can become deathly traps for the turtles. Also, sand digging is fun but fill in any holes after your beach day.

The turtle season runs until Oct. 31. and the 2018 hatchlings will return to this region once they reach maturity in about 20 years.

 

If you like more information about the Turtle Watch volunteers stop by at our office 310 Pine Avenue. Our team has some past and current members.

Are you looking for a beach front rental to be close to the natural display of nightly nesting activity? Call our rental team at 941 779 0304 to secure the best spot on our beautiful white beaches or send us a quick message here.

 

 

 

 

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In the Mood for Florida Cuisine?

Anna Maria Island Beachside DiningPlenty of restaurants on Anna Maria Island offer the Florida Cuisine that travelers are looking for. Vacationing here means to enjoy beautiful beaches during the day and unwind when dining at sunset. A popular variation is the “Floribbean Cuisine”. It combines Caribbean, Latin American,  classic American and European traditional elements with fresh Florida produce and seafood. 

There are also specialty stores on Anna Maria Island that offer local products like fresh fish, the famous Florida orange juice or other citrus related products. Stop by the new Farmers Market on Pine Ave by the City Pier. It offers fresh produce every Tuesday from 11am-5pm during season. If you see jumping fish in the island canals it is probably mullet. Smoked mullet is a delicacy that should be on your shopping list. Enjoy it on a great lunch sandwich or as cold dinner spread.

Here are other area typical items that you will find on the Anna Maria Island restaurant menus.

Conch Fritters: This edible marine mollusk has a mild and sweet clam-like flavor. You can order a fried version in ball shape or a tomato-based conch chowder. Pronounce it “konk” to sound like a local!

Cuban Sandwich: Derived from the influence of Cuban immigrants this tasty sandwich is a favorite lunch menu item. A buttered Cuban bread comes with sliced pork, ham, Swiss cheese and pickles, will then be heated and flattened with a sandwich press for a crunchy treat.

Florida Lobster: It is also called spiny or rock lobster, has no claws and offers the best meat in the tail.

Grits:  Made from hominy or coarsely ground corn grits are part of a good, old-fashioned Southern breakfast.  Cheese grits are often served as side dish for dinner.

Grouper: This is probably the most popular fish. It is firm and white and served in many variations: grilled, blackened, fried, grouper fingers, seafood quesadillas and in fish tacos. Some dishes are offered at market price. Please ask before ordering!

Gulf Shrimp: The Gulf of Mexico shrimp is tender and sweet.  Restaurants offer them in endless variations.

Hush Puppies: They are cornmeal fritters that are served as a side at lunch or dinner with seafood items like fried fish, oysters, shrimp or scallops.

Key Lime Pie: Key limes are the yellow variety from the Florida Keys which tart flavor gives a Key Lime pie the delicious taste. A Must dessert when visiting Anna Maria Island.

Mahi Mahi: Also known as Dorado or dolphin fish is a lean, sweet fish. Try the Rod ‘n Reel Pier Restaurant for lunch and order their superb Mahi-Mahi sandwich.

Snapper: The Florida Red snapper is the other favorite next to Grouper and is served pan-seared, crab-stuffed, cashew-encrusted, barbecued, baked or grilled.

Stone Crab Claws: During October through May local fishermen will set their traps. The crabs are de-clawed and returned to sea, therefore preserving a bountiful supply of claws for next seasons to come.

Please click here for information on Anna Maria Island restaurants.  Stop by or call our local Duncan Real Estate team at 941 779 0304 for more eatery tips or send us a quick message here.

 

Florida Cuisine

Scrumptious Red snapper, Florida lobster, Gulf shrimp, Stone crabs

 

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Island Tour of Homes This Saturday

Island Tour of HomesIf you have not gotten your tickets to the annual Island Tour of Homes please stop by at our office Duncan Real Estate to buy some this week to this cherished Anna Maria Island tradition. This event is the 25th edition of the Tour of Homes and is scheduled from 10 am to 4pm this Saturday, March 17. The tour will showcase 5 new and recently remodeled homes graciously opened by the owners. The Center of Anna Maria Island located on 407 Magnolia Avenue organizes the tour and will feature the Center Bazaar where you will find original art and crafts and food vendors.  The Bazaar is hosted by Duncan Real Estate and you can meet some of our office sales agents at the stand.  The yearly raffle price, a beautiful handmade quilt by the Eyeland Needlers, is displayed and raffle tickets at $1 or six for $5 can be purchased at the Center. You might even be lucky enough to win a free Center membership.

The Island Tour of Homes tickets are $30 and can also be purchased on Saturday at the participating 6 locations. Tour of homes volunteers will be offering complimentary golf cart rides to the homes on the tour. With the forecast of temperatures in the 70ies and sunshine this sounds like a fun outing! We hope to see you there. You can reach us at 941.779.0304 or send us a quick message here.

Team Duncan

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Team Duncan Welcomes Scott Twait!

Scott Twait

 

Duncan Real Estate is excited to announce that Scott Twait has joined the real estate sales team!

Scott grew up in the Western Suburbs of Chicago, and has spent time on Anna Maria Island visiting family since 2010. He immediately fell in love with the white powder sand beaches and the laid back lifestyle, so he now lives on the Island!

Scott Twait honorably served for 11 years in the U.S. Army, and has resided in Florida, Wisconsin, Missouri, Alabama, Colorado, Texas, Virginia, Germany, and the Middle East. Scott has founded and operated numerous successful businesses, and he has an extensive background in business development, marketing, and investments. He also possesses an outstanding reputation with providing personalized customer service, which his clients absolutely love.

Scott began his real estate career as an investor in 2004 and has bought and sold numerous investment properties. He also has experience with buying and selling multi-million dollar homes.

When buying and selling your home, Scott is here to provide you with the highest level of personalized service, using the latest technology to deliver the best results for you. Combined with his excellent customer service, attention to detail, extensive marketing, and a stress-free transaction, let Scott be your Real Estate Expert.

Scott demonstrates the energy, determination, and success that you would want in the Real Estate Agent that is representing you.  Scott is looking forward to helping you find your perfect home on Anna Maria Island, so please call, text, or email any time!

You can contact Scott directly at Scott@teamduncan.com or on his cell at 239-451-1661.    Welcome Scott!

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Contact us or call Duncan Real Estate today at 941-779-0304 to speak with our knowledgeable real estate specialists.