Buying a home in Sarasota from hundreds of miles away can feel risky. You want the downtown lifestyle and bayfront sunsets, but you also need a safe, smooth process that you can run from your laptop. The good news is that Sarasota’s 34236 market and Florida’s digital closing tools make remote purchases very doable if you follow a clear plan. In this guide, you’ll learn the exact steps, documents, and checks that protect you, plus local insights that matter for 34236. Let’s dive in.
Why focus on ZIP 34236
ZIP 34236 covers downtown Sarasota and nearby in-city and barrier-island areas. You will find walkable condo living, cultural venues, marina access, and some properties that extend toward Lido and key-adjacent zones. Micro-neighborhoods can differ on flood, insurance, and association rules, so use address-level checks rather than broad assumptions. Downtown condos and any barrier-island homes require slightly different due diligence.
Market snapshot for remote buyers
Sarasota’s market has cooled from the pandemic peak. Days on market have lengthened and pricing has softened compared to the highs. Condos, especially in older buildings, have generally seen larger price corrections and longer marketing times than single-family homes. As a remote buyer, this can create more negotiating room on condos, while trophy waterfront and newly updated units can still draw competition.
Plan your remote-friendly closing
Florida authorizes Remote Online Notarization, which lets you sign many closing documents by secure video with an online notary. Review the requirements in Florida’s Remote Online Notarization law. Sarasota County supports electronic document recording through approved vendors, so your deed and mortgage can often be recorded digitally. Confirm details with the closing agent using the Sarasota Clerk eRecording resources.
If you are financing, eligibility for eClosings can vary by lender and underwriter. Ask your lender early whether your loan can close with RON and which platforms they accept. Review Fannie Mae guidance on eClosings and get the lender’s and title company’s approvals in writing before you make an offer.
Flood and insurance checks you should not skip
Florida expanded flood-related disclosures for residential sales. Sellers must disclose known flood damage, prior flood insurance claims, and federal assistance where applicable. Read more about Florida’s flood disclosure requirements and request elevation and insurance-claim histories in writing.
Run the property’s flood zone through the City of Sarasota flood map portal. Ask for any existing elevation certificate and review Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) for the address. Your insurance quote may require a current 4-Point or wind-mitigation inspection for older or coastal homes, so factor timing and potential repairs into your plan.
If you are buying a condo in 34236
Downtown Sarasota features many condominiums, and your diligence should focus on association finances and building health. Statewide requirements for milestone structural inspections and Structural Integrity Reserve Studies apply to many buildings by age and height. Study any completed reports, timelines, and funding plans. Learn the framework through this overview of statewide milestone inspection and reserve study rules.
You should also obtain the association’s resale disclosures, budgets, reserves, and meeting minutes. For HOAs, order the estoppel certificate early so you know transfer fees, assessments, and what will be owed at closing. Review timing and fee rules under the Florida HOA estoppel statute timelines.
Short-term rental rules if you plan to rent
Short-term rental rules depend on whether the property is in the City of Sarasota or unincorporated Sarasota County. The city allows vacation rentals with registration and a 7-day minimum, while the county generally restricts rentals under 30 days except in limited zones. Always confirm jurisdiction, zoning, and association restrictions for the exact address. Get an overview of City and County short-term rental differences.
Smart remote due diligence that works
Layer your virtual tours
Start with high-quality 3D or 360 tours and accurate floor plans to understand layout and scale. Industry guidance highlights how 3D tours help remote decision-making and cut surprises. See tips on selecting tour tech in this overview of 3D/360 virtual tour best practices.
Next, schedule a private live video walkthrough via Zoom or FaceTime. Ask the listing agent and, if possible, a licensed inspector to join and address questions in real time. Recording the session with permission is a best practice. Learn how to structure a helpful session with this guide to live video walkthroughs.
When you do a live tour, request point-of-view video of easy-to-miss areas. Ask to see the attic, roofline, electrical panel labels, water heater, crawlspace (if any), pool equipment, and garage ceiling. Confirm any upgrades against recent permits.
Inspections to order early
Never skip a full home inspection with a licensed local inspector. Use your inspection period to add targeted specialty reports as needed:
- WDO/termite inspection.
- Sewer line camera scope for older homes.
- Roof certification or drone review.
- 4-Point and wind-mitigation inspections for insurance underwriting.
Insurers often request these forms for older or coastal properties. Read background on 4-Point and wind-mitigation inspections.
If you cannot attend, many inspectors will conduct a live video inspection. They will narrate findings and still deliver a full written report with photos. See how remote inspection sessions work in this guide to live remote inspections.
Must-have documents and municipal checks
Ask for the seller’s property disclosure, including any flood-claim history, before you waive or shorten contingencies. Request available elevation certificates, recent maintenance and inspection invoices, and any current survey. Florida’s expanded flood disclosure law reinforces the need to document prior claims and flood history. Review the statute summary here: Florida flood disclosure requirements.
For condos and HOAs, request the full resale package as soon as you go under contract. Read the budgets, reserve studies, and any milestone or engineering reports for older buildings. For city or county checks, use online portals to search recorded liens, open permits, and flood map details. Start with the City of Sarasota flood map portal.
Title, survey, and insurance pre-checks
Order a title search and owner’s policy from a local title company or closing attorney. Florida closings are often handled by title companies that can support remote signings, but not every document can be eRecorded or eNotarized in every scenario. Clarify logistics early. For a process overview, review this summary of Florida’s closing process.
If the property is in a flood zone or on waterfront, plan for a boundary survey and an elevation certificate. Ask the seller if a recent elevation certificate exists. If not, consider ordering one. Find forms and guidance for elevation certificates via the city’s elevation certificate resources.
A step-by-step workflow you can follow
Use this simple timeline to keep your remote purchase on track.
- Before you offer
- Get pre-approval and verify with your lender that RON and eClosing are allowed for your file. Confirm accepted RON platforms in writing. See Fannie Mae eClosing FAQs.
- Ask the closing agent whether Sarasota County will eRecord all anticipated documents. Reference the Sarasota Clerk’s eRecording.
- Attach or request key documents up front
- Seller’s property disclosure with flood-claim history and any elevation certificate. See Florida flood disclosure requirements.
- Any recent inspection reports and a current survey if available.
- For condos and HOAs, the full resale package and an indication that the seller will provide required documents promptly.
- Inspection period discipline
- Order the full home inspection and recommended add-ons: WDO, sewer scope, roof certification, 4-Point and wind-mitigation. Learn why insurers ask for these in this inspection overview.
- For condos with milestone or reserve questions, engage an engineer or review existing reports in detail.
- Order the HOA estoppel early and confirm its effective date aligns with your closing. See Florida HOA estoppel statute timelines.
- Live verification
- Host a recorded (with permission) live video walkthrough with the agent and, if possible, your inspector. Use annotated photos and clips to support repair or credit requests. Get tips for structuring the call in this live walkthrough guide.
- Insurance and underwriting
- Get insurance quotes and confirm carrier requirements. Expect requests for 4-Point, wind-mitigation, or roof documentation on older or coastal properties. Budget for potential repairs.
- Association and assessment review
- Read reserve studies, budgets, and engineering or milestone reports. For older coastal buildings, study the milestone and reserve study rules and confirm any pending assessments.
- Closing logistics
- Lock your RON appointment and verify any wet-ink needs. If the lender or underwriter requires a few in-person or courier-signed documents, plan for that. Confirm eRecording with the title company. Refer to Florida RON rules and the Sarasota Clerk eRecording page.
- After closing
- Confirm the deed and mortgage were recorded and obtain your final owner’s policy. You can verify through the title company or the county’s eRecording confirmation.
Common pitfalls to avoid
- RON or eRecording not allowed by your lender or underwriter. Fix this by confirming policies in writing during pre-approval and keeping a courier fallback.
- Condo building issues uncovered late. Avoid surprises by demanding the resale packet, financials, and any milestone or reserve studies immediately after contract.
- Flood and insurance shocks. Run the property’s FIRM maps, review elevation data, and secure insurance quotes before waiving contingencies. See Florida flood disclosure law and the City flood map portal.
- Short-term rental assumptions that do not match the address. Verify city versus county rules and association restrictions for the specific property. Start with this summary of local STR differences.
Make your remote purchase feel local
You can buy confidently in 34236 when your process is clear, documents arrive early, and each risk is checked with local data. Pair 3D tours with live video, order the right inspections, and line up RON and eRecording with your lender and title team. If you want a concierge partner to coordinate virtual tours, inspections, and association reviews while you stay remote, connect with Jane Ebury Sinclair to start a seamless plan.
FAQs
How does a remote closing work in Florida?
- Florida supports Remote Online Notarization for many real estate documents, so you can sign by secure video and have your deed eRecorded in Sarasota County. Confirm lender and title acceptance early using Florida’s RON statute and the Sarasota Clerk eRecording guidance.
What flood information should I request for a Sarasota 34236 home?
- Ask for the seller’s flood-claim history and any elevation certificate, then verify the address on the City of Sarasota flood map portal. Florida law requires enhanced flood disclosures, summarized here: state flood disclosure requirements.
What condo documents should I review for a downtown Sarasota purchase?
- Request the full resale package, budgets, reserve details, and any milestone or engineering reports. Review milestone and reserve study requirements for older buildings in this state inspection and reserve study overview, and order the HOA estoppel early under Florida estoppel timelines.
Can I run a short-term rental in downtown Sarasota if I buy remotely?
- Many properties in the City of Sarasota can register for vacation rentals with a 7-day minimum, while unincorporated county areas generally restrict stays under 30 days. Always confirm the property’s jurisdiction, zoning, and association rules. See a summary of local STR differences.
