Have you ever imagined living on a beautiful island surrounded by breathtaking turquoise waters? If so, Longboat Key is the ideal destination for you. Its 12 miles of pristine beaches, luxury resorts, and top-notch restaurants make Longboat Key one of Florida’s most sought-after places to live.
And if that’s not enough to convince you, Longboat Key also boasts some of the best single-family home neighborhoods in the state. Whether you’re looking for a quiet and peaceful community in the south Longboat Key neighborhoods or something a little more eclectic from the north Longboat Key neighborhoods, Longboat Key has it all.
Here are six of the most beautiful Longboat Key single-family neighborhoods you’ll want to call home.
Lighthouse Point
This waterfront neighborhood is located on the south end of Longboat Key and is home to some of the most luxurious homes on the island. The large-scale homes range from 4,000 square feet to over 8,000 square feet, featuring large lots and unrivaled vistas.
Lighthouse Point’s isolated location, with its own private entrance and a roadway leading to The Resort at Longboat Key Club off Sands Point Road, adds to the appeal. The Longboat Key Club Resort is within walking distance, while St. Armands Circle and downtown Sarasota are only a few minutes away.
With only 16 residences, it is rare that a home in Lighthouse Point comes on the market, making it one of the most desirable Longboat Key neighborhoods.
Country Club Shores
The Arvida Realty Company transformed the south end of Longboat Key in magnificent ways. They built the Longboat Key Club, but they also created Country Club Shores. This vintage, waterfront neighborhood is another Longboat Key favorite, thanks to its location on the bay, beach access, and proximity to all the amenities of the Longboat Key Club (membership required).
If you’re looking for a relaxed and casual Florida lifestyle, Country Club Shores is the perfect place to call home. Located on the southern portion of Longboat Key and nestled along the bay, this wonderful island neighborhood features 18 deep water canals and 369 single-family homes, a majority with private docks.
Country Club Shores is a mix of 1960’s ranches and newer construction. This community has become one of the most popular for demolishing and replacing older homes with larger, more luxurious waterfront homes.
This is one of several Longboat Key neighborhoods that has recently experienced a shift in demographics, with more young professionals and families than before.
Bay Isles
In the mid-1970s, Arvida Corp. drew the master plan for the southern section of Longboat Key, which included Bay Isles, a massive residential bayside community at the island’s widest point. Its collection of Longboat Key neighborhoods features more than 1,100 homes beyond the mid-key gates of the Longboat Key Club.
It’s a great active community for fishing, boating, and golfing. Private docks are available in the waterfront neighborhoods. The Longboat Key Club Moorings, the community marina, has 291 slips for sale or rent to fit large sailboats and yachts.
This luxurious and gated community offers residents a private beach, tennis courts, a pool, and more. This is the only one of all the island neighborhoods in which you automatically become a member of a private beachside retreat known as the Bay Isles Beach Club.
The Bay Isle Beach Club is located at 2111 Gulf of Mexico Drive.
The Bay Isles Beach Club amenities include:
- Private beach access
- Gated entrance
- Parking
- Outdoor pavilion
- Bbq grills
- Picnic tables
- Volleyball
- Storage for beach chairs
- Private restrooms and showers
The neighborhood of Bay Isle is located mid-key. It is within close proximity to the Shops of Bay Isles and the Avenue of the Flowers Town Plaza where you will find Publix, CVS, a nail salon, and more.
Emerald Harbour
Developed in 1959, Emerald Harbour is a small and intimate island community located 2.2 miles from the northern end of Longboat Key. This neighborhood features 82 homes, all of which are situated on deepwater canals with private docks.
Emerald Harbor’s canals provide direct access to Sarasota Bay and the Intercoastal Waterway. Both its streets, as well as the canals, are publicly maintained. Sea walls are privately maintained by homeowners and all access to the canals from Emerald Harbor properties is private.
Residents and visitors will enjoy viewing the manatees as they enter Emerald Harbor at the canal frontage pullover. In addition, residents can take advantage of the private, deeded beach access located directly across Emerald Harbour on Gulf of Mexico Drive.
Longbeach Village
If you’re looking for a glimpse of one of Longboat Key’s first neighborhoods, head to the historic Longbeach Village, also known as “The Village” at the island’s far north end.
This quaint beach community is made up of a variety of cottages, bungalows, and quirky houses that were built mostly in the 1950s, some dating back to the early 1900s. Longbeach Village was the first neighborhood on Longboat Key and many of the lovingly cared-for homes are still standing and occupied today. Currently, there are 290 homes in Longbeach Village.
The Mar Vista restaurant’s historic building dates back to 1913 is located in the Village and is one of the most popular dining destinations on Longboat Key. The Longbeach Village neighborhood is also home to the Shore Restaurant. Both sites offer stunning bay views. Beach access is located directly across Gulf of Mexico Drive.
If you love historic homes, we have curated a list of three historic neighborhoods in Longboat Key whose current day charm has deeply woven roots into the island’s past.
Conrad Beach
Conrad Beach is a beautiful neighborhood located on the very north end of Longboat Key. 27 houses make up this neighborhood, all of which are located on the gulf side of Gulf of Mexico Drive.
Residents of Conrad Beach have direct access to one of the most breathtaking stretches of Longboat Key beach. Many homes enjoy stunning views of the Gulf of Mexico and Longboat Key’s lush tropical landscaping.
The Key West style homes were designed by architect, Frank Folsom Smith. Homes feature open floorplans, porches, and playful coastal-colored exteriors in pink, green, blue, and yellow hues.
Click here to search all homes for sale in Longboat Key neighborhoods
No matter which Longboat Key neighborhood you choose, you’re sure to fall in love with this charming barrier island. So, what are you waiting for?