Anna Maria Island

Anna Maria Island

Stretching seven miles out into Florida’s Gulf Coast is Anna Maria Island. Named after the Virgin Mary by pish explorers, Anna Maria Island is divided into 3 major areas, the City of Anna Maria in the north, Holmes Beach which is more central, and Bradenton Beach just south of Holmes Beach. It’s as you would imagine a Florida coastal city would be, beautiful weather, pristine beaches, and a laid-back lifestyle that makes the most of the natural surroundings. The area is a great place to buy a home for those looking for a beachfront lifestyle but it also presents strong opportunities for investors looking to capitalize on the growing number of tourists who visit the island every year. 

Here, we’ll explore the 3 major areas as well as give you an insight into life on the island. We’ll also look at the housing market and homes for sale in Anna Maria Island, FL to guide you on your investment or house buying options.  

City of Anna Maria

The City of Anna Maria has a local population of 1,800 people however this is swelled throughout the year by a stream of visitors to the city. Note that the City of Anna Maria has a large number of homes that are rented out to vacationers, a testament to the resort city’s appeal to tourists. 

What you’ll loveRod and Reel Pier was built in the mid-20th century and since then, it’s been an important feature of Anna Maria City. The restaurant could be termed casual, however, that doesn’t quite capture the sense of fun and the relaxed ambiance of the place. With fishing also available, it’s an experience that should be tried at least once, then it’s almost certain you’ll return. The food as you would expect, is freshly caught. 

Island Players Community Theater was founded at almost the same time as Rod Reel Pier and has been just as beloved as the restaurant. The building itself has a rich and fascinating history, but what is so vibrant about the theater is how active they are, with 5 different productions brought out each year. Anyone on the island can audition to be part of the productions, but do take note, the quality of the productions is exceedingly high. 

To further enhance that community feel there’s a Weekly Farmers Marketwhere residents and visitors can enjoy the sun while buying the freshest produce available. Note that the market is open every Tuesday from mid-October through early May.

Holmes Beach

Although the first home in Holmes Beach was put up in 1896 by a couple named Sam and Annie Cobb, the name of Homes Beach comes from a developer called Jack Holmes, creator of a 600-acre community. Today, Holmes Beach has a canal-front community as well as beachfront housing. 

What you’ll love

Covering 7 acres, Manatee Beach is where a lot of the fun happens in Holmes Beach. You can do a wide variety of activities here and the beach has a host of amenities at the public’s disposal. There are picnic tables, grills for families who want to cook at the beach, shower and changing rooms, as well as volleyball courts. Note that there are regulations in place not only  to keep the beach in pristine condition but also to allow everyone to enjoy the beach in a fair manner. Unfortunately, this does mean that pets are not allowed on the beach.

If fishing is your passion, or even if you just want to try it out, book a fishing charter at Keyes Marina. Expert guides will take you out into the sea to the best fishing spots, and provide all the tackle bait and advice to help you land your prize catch. The Keyes Marina is also the place where residents with boats can dock and have repairs carried out.  

All the fun on the beach will make you hungry and if you’re looking for something upscale, head over to Beach Bistro. The menu is exquisite and the surf or turf is executed to perfection. To go with your meal, you can choose from a comprehensive selection of wines and liqueurs from all over the world. There’s not only an extensive collection from pish, French, and Italian vineyards, but there are also South American and Antipodean wines to try. 

Holmes Beach is not just about the sand and the sea. Become a member of the Key Royale Club and you not only gain access to a fantastic 32 par 9 hole course, you also have access to the clubhouse that is open 7 days a week. Here it’s easy to mingle, make friends, and even make great professional connections. 

Bradenton Beach

Bradenton Beach is the furthest south of the 3 cities on Anna Maria Island. This area is noticeably much more relaxed than the 2 cities a little further north but it does have its own bustling beach center around Bridge Street. With a population of just a little over 1,500, the locals are able to maintain a very warm and strong sense of community. 

What you’ll love

Even though it has the smallest population of the 3 cities, it has the longest stretch of beach shoreline on the island. Inevitably, you’ll spend some time on Coquina Beach. Like Manatee Beach, you’ll also find an array of amenities such as changing rooms, picnic tables, and public grills. However, there are also pavilions available for rent, granting you and your party a private shelter on the beach which have their own amenities such as electricity and water as well as tables and chairs. Do check which pavilion you’d like to hire as they are not uniform and have different features. They are also priced differently. 

A lovely place to visit is Bridge Street Pier which was originally a bridge and the only means to the island over land. Made into a pier after the creation of the Cortez Bridge it is now a place where you can happily spend a few leisurely hours. You can fish from this pier and if you need a break, (or you’re not having too much luck) take a stroll and enjoy a raft of shops and dining spots. 

Right on the pier itself is the award-winning Anna Maria Oyster Bar. It’s fun and casual but make no mistake, the food is first-rate, a testament to this is that they’ve been serving the community for 25 years. Family-friendly, it’s also a great place for adults to just relax and enjoy a cool drink by the ocean. 

Possibly the best view on the island can be had from the Leffis Key Preserve, a collaboration of government and other parties which has restored a once derelict and unsightly area back to its natural beauty. Here you can fish, although being a preserve, it will be under certain conditions. More likely, you’ll want to explore the hiking trails where you’ll discover the rich variety of flora and fauna of the island. 

While we’ve listed just a few of the many interesting attractions found on Anna Maria Island according to their respective cities, it’s worth remembering that geographically, the island is relatively small. It would be easy to enjoy all of the attractions and hotspots anytime you like from whichever island you happen to be visiting or living in. 

Anna Maria Island Real Estate Overview

The real estate market on the island is incredibly stable and balanced and homes for sale in Anna Maria Island, FL are generally considered strong investments. Like most areas, there have been times when house prices peaked and when they dipped, however over a prolonged period, Anna Maria is a market that steadily and strongly appreciates. 

In the last 3 years, we see that the market in Anna Maria Island has appreciated at a stable rate. If you had bought a home on the island in August 2020, you would have likely paid in the region of $1,185,000. A year later in August 2021, the median home value on the island was $1.6M, an almost 30% increase. 

The pandemic and the heated market at the time did cause a massive spike in the median price of home sales in  2022 and if you wanted to buy a home in Anna Island in August 2022, you may have paid in the region of $3.2M, double the median price of only a year back. However, the market has corrected itself and prices have returned to more sustainable levels. 

In May 2023, the median price of a home sold was $2,160,000. This means that the house you bought in August 2020 for $1,185,000 would have risen in value by almost 60%. Of course, it is important to bear in mind that the median prices do not tell the whole story; a particularly luxurious home, sold for many millions above the median price can very well skew the figures. The best way to learn more about the market and understand its nuances is to personally discuss the market with a real estate professional. 

Types of homes

There’s a variety of styles of homes for sale in Anna Maria Island, FL. What is often said is that the area reflects a sense of the past, and here the architecture captures old Florida. There’s everything from wooden cottages to high-end luxury homes. More recently, there’s been the development of low-rise luxury homes, and condos, predominantly built to take advantage of the burgeoning popularity of the area as a tourist destination. While the median price of a home on the island is over $2M, some luxury homes in prime locations are much closer, or even over the $10M mark. 

Getting around the island

If you are considering buying one or more of the homes for sale in Anna Maria Island, FL, you’ll need to know how to get around. Almost all of the island is accessible by car and while there may be some traffic around the popular beaches, it’s never near as bad as what you would expect in a metropolitan area. 

It is possible to cycle around the island. This is not only a healthy option, but it also gets you the best feel for the island. It also avoids parking difficulties, which can become a small issue around the popular beach areas. 

There’s also Uber and Lyft but an alternative would be to rent out golf carts which are reasonably priced and a breezy way to make your trips. 

Tax advantages

Florida is one of 9 income tax-free states, meaning that if you are a resident of Anna Maria Island, you will not have to pay any income tax. This can be a massive boon for those who have investments that are paying well, all of the returns will go straight into your pocket.  One way a no-income-tax state can afford not to tax personal income is to raise sale tax rates, however, Anna Maria has a lower sales tax rate than the US average. 

So who would move to Anna Maria Island?

The answer is simple. That’s anyone who wants to live a beach lifestyle but away from what can be the overcrowded scene found on the mainland. There’s a strong sense of community that perfectly balances with the level of tourists drawn to the island, great amenities, and luxurious properties. Also, there’s the draw of it being a tax haven shielding you from personal income tax. Young professionals, families, and retirees will find a great home on this island just off the Florida Keys. 

Work with the professionals

Get the right support and guidance as you look at homes for sale in Anna Maria Island, FL. Dania Perry of Dania Perry Luxury has attracted clients from all around the world for her peerless reputation in the real estate industry. Winning the No.1 Selling Century 21 Realtor ten times doesn’t happen by accident. It takes a winning combination of skills, know-how, dedication, and the highest levels of integrity and discretion. 

As well as helping you land homes for sale in Anna Maria Island, Dania can also help you find a home in North Beaches, Tampa Bay, St. Petersberg, and the surrounding areas. Contact Dania at 727.215.2045 or leave a message here and begin your journey to a better life in the sun.