Aerial Views
See This Amazing Custom Estate Sunday 1-4pm If there is a home that truly demonstrates what this community is about and the potential for true estate home living it’s this one. Join this Sunday, November 10th from 1-4pm for tours of the original model by Lee Weatherington Homes. It’s set on a beautiful wooded acreage ... Read More →
The Forest At Hi Hat Ranch Lifestyle Video In many ways, there is no better way (short of living in one of the 54 residences) to experience The Forest at Hi Hat Ranch than in a video with aerial views. The extensive forested natural preservation areas and large estate homesites make if difficult to see ... Read More →
Another in the series of drone flyover videos. See the birds eye view of this ranch home in The Forest. This one combines landscaping with the natural wooded environment to create a beautiful setting. These flyovers are the best way to really get a sense of scale for homes. It’s hard to tell from driving ... Read More →
Here is another in our series of videos using drones to provide a quick flyover of custom estate homes in The Forest. This is a beautiful two-story Mediterranean home on a homesite that is more open to the front with a lushly wooded rear view. These flyovers really provide insight into just how private and ... Read More →
Here is the next in our series of flyover videos of custom estate homes in The Forest. This is a former builder model on a lovely lake view homesite. These flyovers are the best way to really get a sense of scale for homes here and see what you can’t when driving through the community. ... Read More →
Builder News
Strong Sales Pace Continues Through Summer With three more home sites closings this month, making six so far this year, 2019 is proving to be one of the best years for sales in some time at The Forest. According to Brian Wood, Forest’s exclusive Sotheby’s Agent, there is continued strong interest from potential buyers and ... Read More →
See the difference acreage makes. This short video demonstrates the difference between The Forest and typical master planned community “estate lots.” See how long it takes to drive by one of the homesites in The Forest at idle speed. Only 9 original developer homesites remain. However, there is still a good selection of prices and ... Read More →
Learn more about the company from founder Michael Padgett Vision Group has joined the elite team of custom home builders at The Forest. Founder Michael Padgett sat for a short video interview to share more about his company and what they offer in The Forest. He specializes in building custom homes and brings years of ... Read More →
Jeff Eslinger of E-M Custom Homes on Building at The Forest E-M Custom Homes is a new builder in The Forest. Jeff Eslinger, one of the company founders, shares insights on their homes and construction standards in this short video on The Forest You Tube Channel. Watch it now to learn more about this quality ... Read More →
There was a strong increase in activity at The Forest to close out the fourth quarter of 2018. That has resulted in three closings of estate home sites to kickoff what looks to be a busy 2019 Winter/Spring season. The Forest was also featured in the Sarasota Herald Tribune’s annual real estate Market Snapshot, which ... Read More →
Vision Group Bringing Their Unique Home Building Style To The Forest Another of Sarasota’s premier local custom builders, Vision Group, has joined The Forest. Co-Owner and Partner Mike Padgett brings years of experience in real estate, construction and custom home building to the company. Vision Group has built hundreds of custom homes in many of ... Read More →
Riverside Is The New E/M Custom Home Featured at The Forest E/M Custom Homes recently introduced their first featured home plan for The Forest. The Riverside is a classic Florida home featuring great curb appeal and a floor plan with even broader appeal. The stylish Mediterranean architecture sets the stage for great living on the ... Read More →
E/M Custom Homes Introduces New Opportunities in The Forest A new builder has joined the elite team at The Forest. E/M Custom Homes will bring new opportunities for home buyers in Sarasota’s only gated master planned community designed exclusively for estate homes. E/M Custom Homes combines the talents of Jeff Eslinger and Rick and Dan ... Read More →
Latest Award-Winning Plan From Arthur Rutenberg There is a magnificent new home being introduced to the community this year: an award-winning plan from Arthur Rutenberg Homes. In fact, it took best overall, best floor plan, best curb appeal, best master suite, best kitchen, and best architectural detail in the 2016 Parade of Homes. This spacious ... Read More →
The Forest is one of the few private gated master planned communities in the Sarasota/Manatee region where buyers can choose their homesite and select from several of the area’s best custom builders. The builder program currently includes: Arthur Rutenberg Homes Anchor Builders John Cannon Homes Neal Signature Homes Todd Johnston Homes “Many of the custom ... Read More →
Nelson Homes is the independent Arthur Rutenberg franchisee builder for Sarasota. Derek Nelson and his team have built some of the most impressive estates at The Forest. Those include one of the original model homes that was the “talk of the town” in Sarasota, along with several custom homes on double estate home sites. Derek ... Read More →
Anchor Builders’ president Roy Dupuis has been one of Sarasota’s top custom home builders for over 25 years. He is building estate homes in The Forest and recently shared insights about his company and how they help home buyers create their dream homes. Roy and his team work closely with customers to create one-of-a-kind homes ... Read More →
The Emerald Homes Florencia Model has sold and set a new record sales price for The Forest – $1,525,000. This fantastic show home has been the focal point of activity at The Forest since the preview event last December with the Asolo Rep. That Starry Night party created a buzz that continued through a near ... Read More →
Anchor Builders continues to increase their activity in The Forest with new custom homes being readied for clients and exciting new floor plan selections. Anchor Builders has been crafting custom residences in the region since 1989. Owner Roy Dupuis has achieved a renowned reputation for working closely with customers to ensure that their finished homes ... Read More →
Tour several brand new estate homes this Sunday, August 2nd from 1 – 4pm in The Forest at Hi Hat Ranch. Join Brian Wood of Premier Sotheby’s International Realty for a rare opportunity to go behind the gates and into some of Sarasota’s most impressive homes. The tour includes two Emerald Homes being finalized now. ... Read More →
A special new private estate was recently completed by Arthur Rutenburg Homes in The Forest. This custom designed home takes full advantage of the acreage available in The Forest doubling down on home sites 49 and 50 for an even larger estate setting. Take the aerial video preview and fly around this amazing property. This ... Read More →
The new Florencia Model by Emerald Homes at The Forest dominated its category in the 2015 Manatee and Sarasota BIA Parade of Homes taking the top award plus several others. The 2015 Parade is one of the biggest in years locally, and around the state, with 93 homes entered across the two county region. The ... Read More →
The first new model home to open in years at The Forest is being readied by Emerald Homes. Final touches are underway preparing the beautiful Florencia model for its debut during the Manatee & Sarasota Parade of Homes that starts February 21st. A special sneak preview is being offered exclusively for The Forest Blog, Website, ... Read More →
Emerald Homes broke ground recently on their new Florencia Model in The Forest at Hi Hat Ranch. This exciting Mediterranean style home is well underway on home site number 1 at the main entrance to the community. Two other homes are also now under construction at Sarasota’s only gated master planned community with a neighborhood ... Read More →
The Forest at Hi Hat Ranch team is excited to announce that Emerald Homes has joined the builder program at the master planned community. Emerald Homes is bringing exclusive new home designs and a model home to The Forest with plans to start construction immediately. The inclusion of Emerald Homes will expand what is already ... Read More →
The Forest at Hi Hat Ranch currently has thee estate homes under construction for buyers by Arthur Rutenberg Homes. All will be impressive additions to the neighborhood, but two are part of a trend for doubling down on land by combining two home sites into even larger acreage estates. “The option of a double home ... Read More →
A modernization on classic Florida Mediterranean with an advance design by John Neal Homes offers buyers many options for fine living at Sarasota’s premier master planned estate home community. Neal has recently introduced The Barbados II in The Forest at High Hat Ranch. It’s the perfect combination of classic Florida style with a modern touch. ... Read More →
A surge of homesite sales last year at The Forest planted the seeds for new homes to begin appearing this Spring. Our excellent Premier Sotheby’s agent Brian Wood made five sales in fourth quarter alone confirming what our team has been sensing and the Sarasota Herald Tribune recently wrote about–the housing recovery is strengthening in ... Read More →
We are noticing that our clients are giving serious consideration to new construction when making a decision to buy a home. With existing home inventories falling there are less homes available that fit each client’s needs. In addition the builders have really sharpened their pencils and are offering some incredible opportunities that buyers can really ... Read More →
SIGNATURE SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL REALTY AND ASSOCIATE, BRIAN WOOD, PROUDLY ANNOUNCE THE SALE OF A NEW ESTATE HOME AT THE FOREST AT HI HAT RANCH DEVELOPMENT SARASOTA, Florida (September 3, 2010) Signature Sotheby’s International Realty is proud to announce the recent sale of a new estate home at The Forest at Hi Hat Ranch, a private ... Read More →
Home packages starting in the $700,000’s. Southwest Florida … Three of Sarasota’s most renowned locally owned and operated builders have been selected exclusively to build in The Forest at Hi Hat Ranch. Mention custom, one of a kind homes and one will hear, Anchor Builders, Gibraltar Homes and John Cannon Homes. Each of these builders ... Read More →
Community Involvement
The sponsor team hosting Asolo Repertory Theatre’s Starry Night dinner at The Forest is offering guests at the exclusive event the first opportunity to see the newest estate model home in the community. Emerald Homes, The Forest, Premier Sotheby’s International Realty and Morton’s Gourmet Market and Catering are thrilled to be christening the Emerald Florencia Model ... Read More →
There were blue skies and big smiles at the rest stop hosted by The Forest and the Sarasota Manatee Bicycle Club for the recent Pedal For Pups 70 mile cycle fundraiser. Pedal For Pups: Ride to the Rescue raised funds to help support Nate’s Honor Animal Rescue. The marathon ride wound and traversed its way ... Read More →
Southwest Florida … The Forest at Hi Hat Ranch recently contributed a total of $600 to New Gate School’s scholarship fund. The contribution kicks off the school’s fundraising initiative. New Gate School is an independent, coeducational college preparatory school that serves more than 250 boys and girls, young women and men from ages 18 months ... Read More →
Southwest Florida … This holiday season, students of Sarasota’s New Gate School will be demonstrating their aesthetically pleasing creative skills as they adorn The Forest at High Hat Ranch community with elegant, oversized decorations. Residents, guests and passersby of The Forest will feel the joyous warmth of the holiday season as they notice magnificent holiday ... Read More →
Hi Hat Ranch
A Community That Lives Up To It’s Name The land plan at The Forest sets aside about half of the community in preservation space including uplands, forested wetlands, ponds and open space. In addition, most of the large 3 to 5 acre homesites are heavily treed and add to the overall preservation feel in the ... Read More →
The Forest at Hi Hat Ranch is surrounded by the Suncoast’s biggest private land holding and one of the largest active working ranches in Southwest Florida. Beyond the beautiful forested community and impressive estate homes lies a productive ranch that has been managed under the stewardship of the Turner family for nearly a century. The ... Read More →
The Hi Hat Ranch development team has decided not to open future phases for The Forest. The current 54 home sites, of which approximately 20 remain available, will be the only ones offered in this gated neighborhood designed exclusively for large estate properties. Three home sites, previously held for future model homes, are also being ... Read More →
The Forest at High Hat Ranch is situated on some of the most beautiful forested land in Sarasota County. Walking the property, one quickly gets a sense of what a heavily treed setting surrounds the estate homes. But seeing it at ground level along the streets only hints at how lush and majestic this community ... Read More →
Emerald Homes, The Forest and Premier Sotheby’s International Realty are teaming up with the Asolo Repertory Theatre to bring their prestigious Starry Night event to the new Emerald Florencia Model. The exclusive dinner event is set for December 15, 2014. It will be the first opportunity for people to see and tour the new Emerald ... Read More →
Amid all the recent negative publicity around the VA it’s nice to report some good news about the nation’s Veterans Affairs Administration happening right in the neighborhood around The Forest. The new Patriot Plaza at the Sarasota National Cemetery had it’s grand opening dedication recently. It was well deserved recognition for this very impressive facility ... Read More →
Emerald Homes broke ground recently on their new Florencia Model in The Forest at Hi Hat Ranch. This exciting Mediterranean style home is well underway on home site number 1 at the main entrance to the community. Two other homes are also now under construction at Sarasota’s only gated master planned community with a neighborhood ... Read More →
We here at The Forest at High Hat Ranch continue to see a surge of activity in our master planned community as interest in the Sarasota real estate marketplace continues to swell. Spring is always one of the most beautiful times of the year in Sarasota. It’s also typically a very busy time for real estate. This ... Read More →
Another sale topping the $1.5 Million mark closed this week at The Forest continuing the strong sales pace for homes and home sites at Sarasota’s neighborhood designed exclusively for large estate homes. The activity at The Forest is a good example of the recent upswing of economic activity in the Sarasota area and across the ... Read More →
The Forest at Hi Hat Ranch team is excited to announce that Emerald Homes has joined the builder program at the master planned community. Emerald Homes is bringing exclusive new home designs and a model home to The Forest with plans to start construction immediately. The inclusion of Emerald Homes will expand what is already ... Read More →
The Forest and Sarasota Manatee Bicycle Club are teaming up to help support Nate’s Honor Animal Rescue. A rest stop for the March 2nd benefit cycle event will be staged in the Welcome Center at The Forest. Riders on the 70 mile course will be able to refresh before continuing on the course which winds ... Read More →
The continued strengthening of the Sarasota real estate market has been reported on frequently over the past year in the Sarasota Herald Tribune. The Forest is also enjoying a surge of builder activity as the local and national economic recovery has sparked interest again in new homes. Families looking to build an estate home are ... Read More →
The news of improving homes sales and prices making headlines locally and around the nation since early this year has been mainly on moderate priced properties. Now, the story is shifting to a surge of sales in the luxury category. It’s good news for Sarasota which is known around the world for its premier real ... Read More →
Residents at The Forest at Hi Hat Ranch have remarkable educational opportunities close to home and in the area. Education near the community, and convenient to the I-75 and Clark Road corridors, includes some of the best public and private school options in the Sarasota/Manatee area. People from all over the two counties make long ... Read More →
Jim Turner is a highly respected Real Estate Attorney in Sarasota. He is also a member of the family that has owned and operated the Hi Hat Ranch for some 70 years. The Ranch is a big part of Sarasota’s history – figuratively and literally – as one of the largest private land holdings in ... Read More →
The Forest is the latest chapter in a rich history of Hi Hat Ranch. This community is part of a land holding that has been in the Turner family for generations. Unlike most “developments” where a company buys land and develops a community, The Forest is actively managed by the family. Rick Turner is one ... Read More →
News
See This Amazing Custom Estate Sunday 1-4pm If there is a home that truly demonstrates what this community is about and the potential for true estate home living it’s this one. Join this Sunday, November 10th from 1-4pm for tours of the original model by Lee Weatherington Homes. It’s set on a beautiful wooded acreage ... Read More →
New Brokerage Representation With Same Well Known Agent The Forest sales expert Brian Wood has joined Michael Saunders & Company who is now representing developer home sites at The Forest. The change comes as the community is nearing sellout of the original developer owned sites. Wood has worked in the community since the beginning and ... Read More →
Another Sale Leaves Just 5 Developer Home Sites in The Forest The strong sales pace this year continues at The Forest with the closing of home site 54. There are now just five of the original developer home sites available in Sarasota’s only master planned community designed exclusively for large acreage estate homes. The selection ... Read More →
Strong Sales Pace Continues Through Summer With three more home sites closings this month, making six so far this year, 2019 is proving to be one of the best years for sales in some time at The Forest. According to Brian Wood, Forest’s exclusive Sotheby’s Agent, there is continued strong interest from potential buyers and ... Read More →
See the difference acreage makes. This short video demonstrates the difference between The Forest and typical master planned community “estate lots.” See how long it takes to drive by one of the homesites in The Forest at idle speed. Only 9 original developer homesites remain. However, there is still a good selection of prices and ... Read More →
A Community That Lives Up To It’s Name The land plan at The Forest sets aside about half of the community in preservation space including uplands, forested wetlands, ponds and open space. In addition, most of the large 3 to 5 acre homesites are heavily treed and add to the overall preservation feel in the ... Read More →
Preview the latest custom estate home built in The Forest. Anchor Builders worked with the buyers to design and build this one-of-a-kind custom home on lot 51. They took advantage of the deep homesite, setting this large home well back with an impressive entry and paved driveway to set the stage for great estate living. ... Read More →
Residents Tracy and Bob Seidle moved to The Forest from Southeast Florida in late 2018. They sat recently for a brief interview to share their story of discovering Sarasota and choosing to make their new home in The Forest. Like all the residents that have shared stories, Tracy and Bob have a unique insight and ... Read More →
There was a strong increase in activity at The Forest to close out the fourth quarter of 2018. That has resulted in three closings of estate home sites to kickoff what looks to be a busy 2019 Winter/Spring season. The Forest was also featured in the Sarasota Herald Tribune’s annual real estate Market Snapshot, which ... Read More →
Vision Group Bringing Their Unique Home Building Style To The Forest Another of Sarasota’s premier local custom builders, Vision Group, has joined The Forest. Co-Owner and Partner Mike Padgett brings years of experience in real estate, construction and custom home building to the company. Vision Group has built hundreds of custom homes in many of ... Read More →
Former Rutenberg Model Sells For $2.15 Million in The Forest A former Arthur Rutenberg model home in The Forest at Hi Hat Ranch has sold for $2.15 million. Located at 10862 Leafwing Drive, it was the highest-priced sale in the neighborhood during the last two years. The Forest’s Premier Sotheby’s International Realty agent Brian Wood ... Read More →
E/M Custom Homes Introduces New Opportunities in The Forest A new builder has joined the elite team at The Forest. E/M Custom Homes will bring new opportunities for home buyers in Sarasota’s only gated master planned community designed exclusively for estate homes. E/M Custom Homes combines the talents of Jeff Eslinger and Rick and Dan ... Read More →
The Forest In Sarasota Herald Tribune Market Snapshot Thanks to Chris Angermann for including The Forest in his popular Market Snapshot series. Great to see the update available for area real estate readers with his concise article on our community. Read it now on the Herald Tribune website. The Forest is located on Clark ... Read More →
The Forest Difference: Real Estate Living Without High HOA Fees The cost of living at The Forest is substantially less than other private gated communities east of I-75 in Sarasota and Manatee County. True estate homesites offer privacy, peace and quiet and the option for residents to design amenities right into their estate homes. Residents ... Read More →
Myakka Communications Installing Fiber Optic System A new high speed communications system is coming to The Forest. Managing Partner Tom Dabney has been working for the past few years to bring enhanced communications to residents. He, along with representatives of other neighboring communities, finalized an agreement with Myakka Communications to bring a fiber optic network ... Read More →
World Class Rowing Facility 20 Minutes From The Forest The world Rowing Championships were recently held at Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota. These were the top rowing athletes in the world helping the event to draw thousands to the region over two weeks. The Forest premiered a thirty-second video as one of the sponsors for ... Read More →
Save 10% On Homesites At The Forest In Sarasota This fall there is more than just leafs falling at The Forest. Prices on estate homesites are also falling for a limited time. Those thinking about building a private estate home can take advantage of Fall Incentive with 10% off list price on all remaining developer ... Read More →
Sarasota Ranked Best Retirement Location On U.S. News List Sarasota has been ranked as the best place to retire in the U.S. for 2018. This nod came in the venerable U.S. New & World Report’s annual list. The reviewer in the article referred to Sarasota as a “paradise, mixed with hints of realty…as traffic congestion ... Read More →
The Forest Attracts Impressive Resident Deer Herd The Forest lives up to its name with so much of the community set aside in wooded preserves, pines and old growth oak trees. There is really no other private gated community quite like it in the region. Acreage home sites add to the feel and also provide ... Read More →
A Diverging Diamond Interchange (DDI) is planned for construction at Clark Road and I-75. For residents of The Forest this means easier access on and off the Interstate, a much more convenient method of accessing the shops, services and employment centers located west of I-75, and a safer, more efficient commute through the interchange. The ... Read More →
The Forest at Hi Hat Ranch is surrounded by the Suncoast’s biggest private land holding and one of the largest active working ranches in Southwest Florida. Beyond the beautiful forested community and impressive estate homes lies a productive ranch that has been managed under the stewardship of the Turner family for nearly a century. The ... Read More →
The Forest At Hi Hat Ranch Lifestyle Video In many ways, there is no better way (short of living in one of the 54 residences) to experience The Forest at Hi Hat Ranch than in a video with aerial views. The extensive forested natural preservation areas and large estate homesites make if difficult to see ... Read More →
The recent sale of the original Arthur Rutenberg Homes’ model in The Forest has set a new bar for property values. The former model sold for $3.2 million within a month of listing. It resets the top selling price for homes in Sarasota’s only master planned gated community exclusively designed for custom estate homes on ... Read More →
The Forest is closer than you think. Comparing distances to key locations from the four most popular gated communities east of I-75 in Sarasota and Manatee Counties is telling. The chart below shows distances using Google Maps. All the communities are relatively similar overall. But, The Forest is closest to the beach and the only ... Read More →
If you have been driving around over the peak season in Sarasota and Manatee counties announcement this week the area is one of the top 20 fastest growing in the nation comes as no surprise. Being number 11 on the census list for population increase means a robust local economy and improving financial quality of ... Read More →
Finding acreage estate sized home sites is a challenge in Sarasota. Finding one with old growth trees in a premier private gated community is even harder. I hear these comments often when touring visitors around The Forest. Most have been through the other “estate” neighborhoods in the area and are surprised to learn there is ... Read More →
WalletHub.com has just published a report ranking the best states to retire in and Florida tops the list. That will be no surprise to many retirees already living the good life here in Sarasota and particularly at The Forest. The WalletHub study ranked states on three primary criteria: Affordability, Quality of Life and Health Care. ... Read More →
Scott and Marcia Corbett recently made the decision to move from their Siesta Key, Fl house of several years to a new estate home in The Forest. Watch this short video interview as they share their story about finding The Forest and making the move to Sarasota’s premier estate home community. Scott is one of ... Read More →
In what has become an annual event, the Sarasota Manatee Bicycle Club included a rest stop at The Forest during its recent 2015 Cyclefest. The event is one of the club’s biggest of the year and includes 20, 35, 62 and 100 mile routes. This year there were hundreds of riders out to enjoy the ... Read More →
The Emerald Homes Florencia Model has sold and set a new record sales price for The Forest – $1,525,000. This fantastic show home has been the focal point of activity at The Forest since the preview event last December with the Asolo Rep. That Starry Night party created a buzz that continued through a near ... Read More →
A special new private estate was recently completed by Arthur Rutenburg Homes in The Forest. This custom designed home takes full advantage of the acreage available in The Forest doubling down on home sites 49 and 50 for an even larger estate setting. Take the aerial video preview and fly around this amazing property. This ... Read More →
The Hi Hat Ranch development team has decided not to open future phases for The Forest. The current 54 home sites, of which approximately 20 remain available, will be the only ones offered in this gated neighborhood designed exclusively for large estate properties. Three home sites, previously held for future model homes, are also being ... Read More →
It’s now easier than ever to experience estate home living in The Forest. Emerald Homes’ new Florencia Model is now open for tours by appointment. This is an exceptional home on one of the best home sites in the community. See preview photos below and then plan to visit. Contact The Forest exclusive Sotheby’s agent ... Read More →
The new Florencia Model by Emerald Homes at The Forest dominated its category in the 2015 Manatee and Sarasota BIA Parade of Homes taking the top award plus several others. The 2015 Parade is one of the biggest in years locally, and around the state, with 93 homes entered across the two county region. The ... Read More →
The reviews are in and the new Florencia model by Emerald Homes was a hit with some 70 guests at the Asolo Rep’s Starry Night event for The Match Maker. Guests enjoyed a beautiful evening in this luxurious new estate home at The Forest. It was a fantastic setting outside and inside the Florencia. Here ... Read More →
The Asolo Rep Starry Night party was a huge test for the entertainment capabilities of Emerald Homes’ new Florencia Model at The Forest. This fantastic estate home proved up to the task with almost 70 people in attendance for the sneak preview event. Morton’s Gourmet Market & Catering of Sarasota catered the lavish event on ... Read More →
There was picture perfect fall weather for the 2014 Gulf Coast Cyclefest, where The Forest hosted a rest stop for one of the legs on this major road biking event. It has been forty years since the Sarasota Manatee Bicycle Club began promoting cycling in the area. Now, with a wealth of history behind them, ... Read More →
On Friday, October 16, 2014 residents of The Forest will be about 15 minutes away from the first new major enclosed shopping mall to open in the U.S. in almost 10 years. The University Town Center features over 880,000 square feet and more than 100 stores, specialty shops, restaurants and cars. “The wait is over ... Read More →
Amid all the recent negative publicity around the VA it’s nice to report some good news about the nation’s Veterans Affairs Administration happening right in the neighborhood around The Forest. The new Patriot Plaza at the Sarasota National Cemetery had it’s grand opening dedication recently. It was well deserved recognition for this very impressive facility ... Read More →
Our Story, a new video on life in The Forest at Hi Hat Ranch, is a moving three minute movie on Sarasota’s only master planned community with a neighborhood designed exclusively for acreage estate homes. Three families from The Forest tell their stories over the backdrop of beautiful footage of the property. Our Story was ... Read More →
We here at The Forest at High Hat Ranch continue to see a surge of activity in our master planned community as interest in the Sarasota real estate marketplace continues to swell. Spring is always one of the most beautiful times of the year in Sarasota. It’s also typically a very busy time for real estate. This ... Read More →
The continued strengthening of the Sarasota real estate market has been reported on frequently over the past year in the Sarasota Herald Tribune. The Forest is also enjoying a surge of builder activity as the local and national economic recovery has sparked interest again in new homes. Families looking to build an estate home are ... Read More →
Residents at The Forest at Hi Hat Ranch have remarkable educational opportunities close to home and in the area. Education near the community, and convenient to the I-75 and Clark Road corridors, includes some of the best public and private school options in the Sarasota/Manatee area. People from all over the two counties make long ... Read More →
Even in the summer, the Sarasota real estate market is hotter than ever. Interest in The Forest at Hi Hat Ranch is also heating up as the real estate market rebounds and prices continue to grow. Buyers from all over the two-county area and beyond are discovering that the combination of beauty and privacy The ... Read More →
A recent story in the Sarasota Herald Tribune had some very surprising news about tourism in Sarasota and Florida. Visitors are attracted to the state for many obvious reasons including the weather, beaches and of course golf. Most people would think golf ranks higher than bird watching. But in a recent interview with the Tribune, ... Read More →
The Forest is the latest chapter in a rich history of Hi Hat Ranch. This community is part of a land holding that has been in the Turner family for generations. Unlike most “developments” where a company buys land and develops a community, The Forest is actively managed by the family. Rick Turner is one ... Read More →
There is a new way to preview The Forest with videos online. A new YouTube Channel has just been launched for The Forest. It includes four videos that provide an excellent overview and insight into Sarasota’s exclusive gated estate master planned community: The Forest Overview – Watch beautiful aerial footage for a bird’s eye view ... Read More →
Residents of The Forest at Hi Hat Ranch may soon look forward to seeing one of the world’s most preeminent rowing events take place a quick 25 minute drive away. The Nathan Benderson Park has been a major site of local and regional rowing competitions for the past few years but the scope of ... Read More →
The Forest continues to see strong interest and price appreciation with the most recent home sale topping the $1.5 million mark. This comes on the heels of the five homesites we sold over the last three months. I represented the seller for Premier Sotheby’s International Realty in the sale of this $1.55 million home in ... Read More →
The Hi Hat Ranch has a big place in Sarasota’s history. At one time it was the area’s largest private land holding in the county after Herman Turner assembled three large parcels in the mid 1940s. It encompassed one-eighth of Sarasota County at that time. A Sarasota Herald Tribune article from those days called the Turner ... Read More →
It’s not hard to find large homes around Sarasota. But it can be hard to find larger lots around those homes. Especially in gated master planned communities. The Forest at Hi Hat Ranch is designed to fill the gap between rural acreage properties and gated community “McMansions.” This is a community where families can have ... Read More →
Special Events
See This Amazing Custom Estate Sunday 1-4pm If there is a home that truly demonstrates what this community is about and the potential for true estate home living it’s this one. Join this Sunday, November 10th from 1-4pm for tours of the original model by Lee Weatherington Homes. It’s set on a beautiful wooded acreage ... Read More →
Tour A Custom Private Estate March 3 At The Forest Come tour the Castella Rossa Sunday, March 3rd. The Tuscan inspired former Lee Wetherington model is a must-see to get a glimpse of estate living at The Forest. This estate home features five bedrooms, four baths and two half baths in the main house and ... Read More →
Join Us For Our Next Home Tour In The Forest at Hi Hat Ranch Our Premier Sotheby’s agent for The Forest, Brian Wood, has organized a tour of homes to kickoff summer this Sunday, June 10th from 1pm to 4pm. Tour three unique custom estate homes including one of the original award-winning model homes in ... Read More →
Three Custom Homes On Tour In The Forest at Hi Hat Ranch Brian Wood, the exclusive Sotheby’s agent for The Forest, has organized a tour of three custom homes for Sunday, April 29th from 1pm to 4pm. A special Spring Sale on all remaining developer home sites will also kickoff Sunday with a 10% discount ... Read More →
It’s a rare occasion when Sarasota’s premier master planned gated estate home community has one of its impressive custom homes open for touring. Brian Wood, the exclusive Sotheby’s agent for The Forest, is hosting the open house event Sunday, January 28th from 1pm to 4pm. This is a great way to kickoff 2018 and get ... Read More →
World Class Rowing Facility 20 Minutes From The Forest The world Rowing Championships were recently held at Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota. These were the top rowing athletes in the world helping the event to draw thousands to the region over two weeks. The Forest premiered a thirty-second video as one of the sponsors for ... Read More →
Save 10% On Homesites At The Forest In Sarasota This fall there is more than just leafs falling at The Forest. Prices on estate homesites are also falling for a limited time. Those thinking about building a private estate home can take advantage of Fall Incentive with 10% off list price on all remaining developer ... Read More →
In what has become an annual event, the Sarasota Manatee Bicycle Club included a rest stop at The Forest during its recent 2015 Cyclefest. The event is one of the club’s biggest of the year and includes 20, 35, 62 and 100 mile routes. This year there were hundreds of riders out to enjoy the ... Read More →
Tour several brand new estate homes this Sunday, August 2nd from 1 – 4pm in The Forest at Hi Hat Ranch. Join Brian Wood of Premier Sotheby’s International Realty for a rare opportunity to go behind the gates and into some of Sarasota’s most impressive homes. The tour includes two Emerald Homes being finalized now. ... Read More →
The new Florencia Model by Emerald Homes at The Forest dominated its category in the 2015 Manatee and Sarasota BIA Parade of Homes taking the top award plus several others. The 2015 Parade is one of the biggest in years locally, and around the state, with 93 homes entered across the two county region. The ... Read More →
The first new model home to open in years at The Forest is being readied by Emerald Homes. Final touches are underway preparing the beautiful Florencia model for its debut during the Manatee & Sarasota Parade of Homes that starts February 21st. A special sneak preview is being offered exclusively for The Forest Blog, Website, ... Read More →
The reviews are in and the new Florencia model by Emerald Homes was a hit with some 70 guests at the Asolo Rep’s Starry Night event for The Match Maker. Guests enjoyed a beautiful evening in this luxurious new estate home at The Forest. It was a fantastic setting outside and inside the Florencia. Here ... Read More →
The Asolo Rep Starry Night party was a huge test for the entertainment capabilities of Emerald Homes’ new Florencia Model at The Forest. This fantastic estate home proved up to the task with almost 70 people in attendance for the sneak preview event. Morton’s Gourmet Market & Catering of Sarasota catered the lavish event on ... Read More →
The sponsor team hosting Asolo Repertory Theatre’s Starry Night dinner at The Forest is offering guests at the exclusive event the first opportunity to see the newest estate model home in the community. Emerald Homes, The Forest, Premier Sotheby’s International Realty and Morton’s Gourmet Market and Catering are thrilled to be christening the Emerald Florencia Model ... Read More →
Brian Wood, the exclusive Sotheby’s agent for The Forest, is hosting an open house Sunday, October 19th that will offer tours of one of the most impressive estate homes in the community. Get a first hand feel for the lifestyle at Sarasota’s only master planned gated community designed exclusively for acreage estates. 9273 Swaying Branch ... Read More →
Emerald Homes, The Forest and Premier Sotheby’s International Realty are teaming up with the Asolo Repertory Theatre to bring their prestigious Starry Night event to the new Emerald Florencia Model. The exclusive dinner event is set for December 15, 2014. It will be the first opportunity for people to see and tour the new Emerald ... Read More →
There were blue skies and big smiles at the rest stop hosted by The Forest and the Sarasota Manatee Bicycle Club for the recent Pedal For Pups 70 mile cycle fundraiser. Pedal For Pups: Ride to the Rescue raised funds to help support Nate’s Honor Animal Rescue. The marathon ride wound and traversed its way ... Read More →
Brian Wood, the exclusive Sotheby’s agent for The Forest, will be hosting an open house on March 9th showcasing a featured estate home and newly cut trail-tours of undeveloped home sites. This event will be open to the public and it will be a terrific opportunity to tour one of The Forest’s grand estates. Visitors will ... Read More →
The Forest Happenings
See This Amazing Custom Estate Sunday 1-4pm If there is a home that truly demonstrates what this community is about and the potential for true estate home living it’s this one. Join this Sunday, November 10th from 1-4pm for tours of the original model by Lee Weatherington Homes. It’s set on a beautiful wooded acreage ... Read More →
Flock of wild turkeys bring early Thanksgiving to The Forest Our Premier Sotheby’s agent Brian Wood was the man-on-the-scene as a flock of wild turkeys enjoyed The Forest. Their timing could not have been better with the Thanksgiving holiday just days away. The Forest lives up to its name as one of the most forested ... Read More →
Join Us For Our Next Home Tour In The Forest at Hi Hat Ranch Our Premier Sotheby’s agent for The Forest, Brian Wood, has organized a tour of homes to kickoff summer this Sunday, June 10th from 1pm to 4pm. Tour three unique custom estate homes including one of the original award-winning model homes in ... Read More →
Three Custom Homes On Tour In The Forest at Hi Hat Ranch Brian Wood, the exclusive Sotheby’s agent for The Forest, has organized a tour of three custom homes for Sunday, April 29th from 1pm to 4pm. A special Spring Sale on all remaining developer home sites will also kickoff Sunday with a 10% discount ... Read More →
The best perspective on just how wooded and private the estate homesites are at The Forest is from above. This is the first in a series of short drone aerial videos designed to help people better understand why The Forest is so different from virtually all other new home “estate” communities in the Sarasota region. ... Read More →
Scott and Marcia Corbett recently made the decision to move from their Siesta Key, Fl house of several years to a new estate home in The Forest. Watch this short video interview as they share their story about finding The Forest and making the move to Sarasota’s premier estate home community. Scott is one of ... Read More →
In what has become an annual event, the Sarasota Manatee Bicycle Club included a rest stop at The Forest during its recent 2015 Cyclefest. The event is one of the club’s biggest of the year and includes 20, 35, 62 and 100 mile routes. This year there were hundreds of riders out to enjoy the ... Read More →
The Emerald Homes Florencia Model has sold and set a new record sales price for The Forest – $1,525,000. This fantastic show home has been the focal point of activity at The Forest since the preview event last December with the Asolo Rep. That Starry Night party created a buzz that continued through a near ... Read More →
A special new private estate was recently completed by Arthur Rutenburg Homes in The Forest. This custom designed home takes full advantage of the acreage available in The Forest doubling down on home sites 49 and 50 for an even larger estate setting. Take the aerial video preview and fly around this amazing property. This ... Read More →
It’s now easier than ever to experience estate home living in The Forest. Emerald Homes’ new Florencia Model is now open for tours by appointment. This is an exceptional home on one of the best home sites in the community. See preview photos below and then plan to visit. Contact The Forest exclusive Sotheby’s agent ... Read More →
The Forest at High Hat Ranch is situated on some of the most beautiful forested land in Sarasota County. Walking the property, one quickly gets a sense of what a heavily treed setting surrounds the estate homes. But seeing it at ground level along the streets only hints at how lush and majestic this community ... Read More →
There is nothing like a dinner party for 70 hosted by one of Sarasota’s most prestigious cultural icons to demonstrate true estate home living. Our team was on hand December 15, 2014 to shoot this historic event at The Forest as Asolo Rep staged the ultimate model home sneak preview. The Starry Night to promote ... Read More →
The reviews are in and the new Florencia model by Emerald Homes was a hit with some 70 guests at the Asolo Rep’s Starry Night event for The Match Maker. Guests enjoyed a beautiful evening in this luxurious new estate home at The Forest. It was a fantastic setting outside and inside the Florencia. Here ... Read More →
The Asolo Rep Starry Night party was a huge test for the entertainment capabilities of Emerald Homes’ new Florencia Model at The Forest. This fantastic estate home proved up to the task with almost 70 people in attendance for the sneak preview event. Morton’s Gourmet Market & Catering of Sarasota catered the lavish event on ... Read More →
There was picture perfect fall weather for the 2014 Gulf Coast Cyclefest, where The Forest hosted a rest stop for one of the legs on this major road biking event. It has been forty years since the Sarasota Manatee Bicycle Club began promoting cycling in the area. Now, with a wealth of history behind them, ... Read More →
The sponsor team hosting Asolo Repertory Theatre’s Starry Night dinner at The Forest is offering guests at the exclusive event the first opportunity to see the newest estate model home in the community. Emerald Homes, The Forest, Premier Sotheby’s International Realty and Morton’s Gourmet Market and Catering are thrilled to be christening the Emerald Florencia Model ... Read More →
Emerald Homes, The Forest and Premier Sotheby’s International Realty are teaming up with the Asolo Repertory Theatre to bring their prestigious Starry Night event to the new Emerald Florencia Model. The exclusive dinner event is set for December 15, 2014. It will be the first opportunity for people to see and tour the new Emerald ... Read More →
The Forest has a diverse mix of residents who make this such a great place to live. Watch videos on the Forest YouTube Channel featuring brief interviews with several of these homeowners. Learn more about the community through their stories of discovering The Forest and the many things they enjoy about life here. Meet Mike ... Read More →
Our Story, a new video on life in The Forest at Hi Hat Ranch, is a moving three minute movie on Sarasota’s only master planned community with a neighborhood designed exclusively for acreage estate homes. Three families from The Forest tell their stories over the backdrop of beautiful footage of the property. Our Story was ... Read More →
There were blue skies and big smiles at the rest stop hosted by The Forest and the Sarasota Manatee Bicycle Club for the recent Pedal For Pups 70 mile cycle fundraiser. Pedal For Pups: Ride to the Rescue raised funds to help support Nate’s Honor Animal Rescue. The marathon ride wound and traversed its way ... Read More →
Looking for something to do other than watch football and eat leftover turkey Sunday, December 1st? Come tour The Forest at Hi Hat Ranch as we kickoff the holiday season with an Open House Tour. Join me from 1 – 4pm for a chance to tour two beautiful private estate homes. Experience the unique lifestyle ... Read More →
Join me at our Labor Day Open House Tour Sunday, September 1st from 1 – 4pm. It’s your chance to tour two of the finest private estates in The Forest at Hi Hat Ranch. I am hosting a special Holiday Open House with a rare opportunity to see and tour these impressive homes. We will ... Read More →
Sunday, June 9th from 1 – 4pm is your chance to tour three exceptional private estate homes in The Forest at Hi Hat Ranch. I am hosting a special Summer Kickoff Open House with a rare opportunity see and tour some of the area’s most impressive homes. We will also be featuring the newly per-developed ... Read More →
The Land Rover team was on hand for a rocking Land Rover Experience at the April 6th REAL Magazine Realtor Day. The Forest set the stage for a beautiful day of food, fun and rough riding on the private Land Rover test driving course at Hi Hat Ranch. Guests were greeted at The Forest in ... Read More →
Residents of The Forest at Hi Hat Ranch who enjoy the game of golf have a lot of options nearby. Within a 10 minute drive of the Forest there are seven Sarasota exclusive golf clubs with beautifully maintained courses. Each golf course has its respective highlights and each course represents a challenging set of greens, ... Read More →
Land Rover is staging a special event at The Forest at Hi Hat Ranch. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to drive a Land Rover in extreme off -road conditions with a professional driver. The Land Rover Experience is presented by Land Rover Southpointe of Sarasota. The event is set for April 6, 2013 from 11am until ... Read More →
There is a new way to preview The Forest with videos online. A new YouTube Channel has just been launched for The Forest. It includes four videos that provide an excellent overview and insight into Sarasota’s exclusive gated estate master planned community: The Forest Overview – Watch beautiful aerial footage for a bird’s eye view ... Read More →
Herald-Tribune Real Estate Editor Harold Bubil speaks with Tom Dabney, developer of The Forest at Hi Hat Ranch, and Forest homebuilders John Cannon of John Cannon Homes, Roy Dupuis of Anchor Builders, and Albert Sanchez of Gibraltar Homes about the state of local home building and the decision to restart the development’s marketing effort. Joining ... Read More →
Uncategorized
Looking for something to do other than watch football and eat leftover turkey Sunday, December 1st? Come tour The Forest at Hi Hat Ranch as we kickoff the holiday season with an Open House Tour. Join me from 1 – 4pm for a chance to tour two beautiful private estate homes. Experience the unique lifestyle ... Read More →
Join me at our Labor Day Open House Tour Sunday, September 1st from 1 – 4pm. It’s your chance to tour two of the finest private estates in The Forest at Hi Hat Ranch. I am hosting a special Holiday Open House with a rare opportunity to see and tour these impressive homes. We will ... Read More →
The Forest at Hi Hat Ranch is located in the corridor east of I-75, and that corridor is about to become home to two world-class attractions. World Class Rowing The Benderson Park rowing facility upgrade will guarantee that the world’s eyes will be looking dead center at the I-75 corridor in Sarasota. It will be ... Read More →
Sunday, June 9th from 1 – 4pm is your chance to tour three exceptional private estate homes in The Forest at Hi Hat Ranch. I am hosting a special Summer Kickoff Open House with a rare opportunity see and tour some of the area’s most impressive homes. We will also be featuring the newly per-developed ... Read More →
Residents of The Forest at Hi Hat Ranch who enjoy the game of golf have a lot of options nearby. Within a 10 minute drive of the Forest there are seven Sarasota exclusive golf clubs with beautifully maintained courses. Each golf course has its respective highlights and each course represents a challenging set of greens, ... Read More →
The Hi Hat Ranch has a big place in Sarasota’s history. At one time it was the area’s largest private land holding in the county after Herman Turner assembled three large parcels in the mid 1940s. It encompassed one-eighth of Sarasota County at that time. A Sarasota Herald Tribune article from those days called the Turner ... Read More →
The Forest at Hi Hat Ranch lives up to its name when it comes to tree cover. Most of the 3 to 5 acre homesites are densely wooded with old growth oaks and other native Florida trees. This makes for beautiful estate living and lush natural settings when building a new home at Sarasota’s premier ... Read More →
It looks to be a hot real estate market as we head into the winter/spring season in Sarasota. The Sarasota Herald story from this week confirms what we have been seeing here at The Forest–inventories are low and buyers are coming back with pent up demand. All signs appear to be pointing toward a continued ... Read More →
2009
Home packages starting in the $700,000’s. Southwest Florida … Three of Sarasota’s most renowned locally owned and operated builders have been selected exclusively to build in The Forest at Hi Hat Ranch. Mention custom, one of a kind homes and one will hear, Anchor Builders, Gibraltar Homes and John Cannon Homes. Each of these builders ... Read More →
Southwest Florida … This holiday season, students of Sarasota’s New Gate School will be demonstrating their aesthetically pleasing creative skills as they adorn The Forest at High Hat Ranch community with elegant, oversized decorations. Residents, guests and passersby of The Forest will feel the joyous warmth of the holiday season as they notice magnificent holiday ... Read More →
Herald-Tribune Real Estate Editor Harold Bubil speaks with Tom Dabney, developer of The Forest at Hi Hat Ranch, and Forest homebuilders John Cannon of John Cannon Homes, Roy Dupuis of Anchor Builders, and Albert Sanchez of Gibraltar Homes about the state of local home building and the decision to restart the development’s marketing effort. Joining ... Read More →
2010
We are noticing that our clients are giving serious consideration to new construction when making a decision to buy a home. With existing home inventories falling there are less homes available that fit each client’s needs. In addition the builders have really sharpened their pencils and are offering some incredible opportunities that buyers can really ... Read More →
SIGNATURE SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL REALTY AND ASSOCIATE, BRIAN WOOD, PROUDLY ANNOUNCE THE SALE OF A NEW ESTATE HOME AT THE FOREST AT HI HAT RANCH DEVELOPMENT SARASOTA, Florida (September 3, 2010) Signature Sotheby’s International Realty is proud to announce the recent sale of a new estate home at The Forest at Hi Hat Ranch, a private ... Read More →
Southwest Florida … The Forest at Hi Hat Ranch recently contributed a total of $600 to New Gate School’s scholarship fund. The contribution kicks off the school’s fundraising initiative. New Gate School is an independent, coeducational college preparatory school that serves more than 250 boys and girls, young women and men from ages 18 months ... Read More →
2011
2012
It looks to be a hot real estate market as we head into the winter/spring season in Sarasota. The Sarasota Herald story from this week confirms what we have been seeing here at The Forest–inventories are low and buyers are coming back with pent up demand. All signs appear to be pointing toward a continued ... Read More →
It’s not hard to find large homes around Sarasota. But it can be hard to find larger lots around those homes. Especially in gated master planned communities. The Forest at Hi Hat Ranch is designed to fill the gap between rural acreage properties and gated community “McMansions.” This is a community where families can have ... Read More →
2013
Looking for something to do other than watch football and eat leftover turkey Sunday, December 1st? Come tour The Forest at Hi Hat Ranch as we kickoff the holiday season with an Open House Tour. Join me from 1 – 4pm for a chance to tour two beautiful private estate homes. Experience the unique lifestyle ... Read More →
Join me at our Labor Day Open House Tour Sunday, September 1st from 1 – 4pm. It’s your chance to tour two of the finest private estates in The Forest at Hi Hat Ranch. I am hosting a special Holiday Open House with a rare opportunity to see and tour these impressive homes. We will ... Read More →
The news of improving homes sales and prices making headlines locally and around the nation since early this year has been mainly on moderate priced properties. Now, the story is shifting to a surge of sales in the luxury category. It’s good news for Sarasota which is known around the world for its premier real ... Read More →
The Forest at Hi Hat Ranch is located in the corridor east of I-75, and that corridor is about to become home to two world-class attractions. World Class Rowing The Benderson Park rowing facility upgrade will guarantee that the world’s eyes will be looking dead center at the I-75 corridor in Sarasota. It will be ... Read More →
Residents at The Forest at Hi Hat Ranch have remarkable educational opportunities close to home and in the area. Education near the community, and convenient to the I-75 and Clark Road corridors, includes some of the best public and private school options in the Sarasota/Manatee area. People from all over the two counties make long ... Read More →
Even in the summer, the Sarasota real estate market is hotter than ever. Interest in The Forest at Hi Hat Ranch is also heating up as the real estate market rebounds and prices continue to grow. Buyers from all over the two-county area and beyond are discovering that the combination of beauty and privacy The ... Read More →
A recent story in the Sarasota Herald Tribune had some very surprising news about tourism in Sarasota and Florida. Visitors are attracted to the state for many obvious reasons including the weather, beaches and of course golf. Most people would think golf ranks higher than bird watching. But in a recent interview with the Tribune, ... Read More →
Sunday, June 9th from 1 – 4pm is your chance to tour three exceptional private estate homes in The Forest at Hi Hat Ranch. I am hosting a special Summer Kickoff Open House with a rare opportunity see and tour some of the area’s most impressive homes. We will also be featuring the newly per-developed ... Read More →
Jim Turner is a highly respected Real Estate Attorney in Sarasota. He is also a member of the family that has owned and operated the Hi Hat Ranch for some 70 years. The Ranch is a big part of Sarasota’s history – figuratively and literally – as one of the largest private land holdings in ... Read More →
The Forest is the latest chapter in a rich history of Hi Hat Ranch. This community is part of a land holding that has been in the Turner family for generations. Unlike most “developments” where a company buys land and develops a community, The Forest is actively managed by the family. Rick Turner is one ... Read More →
The Land Rover team was on hand for a rocking Land Rover Experience at the April 6th REAL Magazine Realtor Day. The Forest set the stage for a beautiful day of food, fun and rough riding on the private Land Rover test driving course at Hi Hat Ranch. Guests were greeted at The Forest in ... Read More →
Residents of The Forest at Hi Hat Ranch who enjoy the game of golf have a lot of options nearby. Within a 10 minute drive of the Forest there are seven Sarasota exclusive golf clubs with beautifully maintained courses. Each golf course has its respective highlights and each course represents a challenging set of greens, ... Read More →
Land Rover is staging a special event at The Forest at Hi Hat Ranch. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to drive a Land Rover in extreme off -road conditions with a professional driver. The Land Rover Experience is presented by Land Rover Southpointe of Sarasota. The event is set for April 6, 2013 from 11am until ... Read More →
There is a new way to preview The Forest with videos online. A new YouTube Channel has just been launched for The Forest. It includes four videos that provide an excellent overview and insight into Sarasota’s exclusive gated estate master planned community: The Forest Overview – Watch beautiful aerial footage for a bird’s eye view ... Read More →
Residents of The Forest at Hi Hat Ranch may soon look forward to seeing one of the world’s most preeminent rowing events take place a quick 25 minute drive away. The Nathan Benderson Park has been a major site of local and regional rowing competitions for the past few years but the scope of ... Read More →
The Forest continues to see strong interest and price appreciation with the most recent home sale topping the $1.5 million mark. This comes on the heels of the five homesites we sold over the last three months. I represented the seller for Premier Sotheby’s International Realty in the sale of this $1.55 million home in ... Read More →
The Hi Hat Ranch has a big place in Sarasota’s history. At one time it was the area’s largest private land holding in the county after Herman Turner assembled three large parcels in the mid 1940s. It encompassed one-eighth of Sarasota County at that time. A Sarasota Herald Tribune article from those days called the Turner ... Read More →
The Forest at Hi Hat Ranch lives up to its name when it comes to tree cover. Most of the 3 to 5 acre homesites are densely wooded with old growth oaks and other native Florida trees. This makes for beautiful estate living and lush natural settings when building a new home at Sarasota’s premier ... Read More →
A surge of homesite sales last year at The Forest planted the seeds for new homes to begin appearing this Spring. Our excellent Premier Sotheby’s agent Brian Wood made five sales in fourth quarter alone confirming what our team has been sensing and the Sarasota Herald Tribune recently wrote about–the housing recovery is strengthening in ... Read More →
2014
The reviews are in and the new Florencia model by Emerald Homes was a hit with some 70 guests at the Asolo Rep’s Starry Night event for The Match Maker. Guests enjoyed a beautiful evening in this luxurious new estate home at The Forest. It was a fantastic setting outside and inside the Florencia. Here ... Read More →
The Asolo Rep Starry Night party was a huge test for the entertainment capabilities of Emerald Homes’ new Florencia Model at The Forest. This fantastic estate home proved up to the task with almost 70 people in attendance for the sneak preview event. Morton’s Gourmet Market & Catering of Sarasota catered the lavish event on ... Read More →
There was picture perfect fall weather for the 2014 Gulf Coast Cyclefest, where The Forest hosted a rest stop for one of the legs on this major road biking event. It has been forty years since the Sarasota Manatee Bicycle Club began promoting cycling in the area. Now, with a wealth of history behind them, ... Read More →
The sponsor team hosting Asolo Repertory Theatre’s Starry Night dinner at The Forest is offering guests at the exclusive event the first opportunity to see the newest estate model home in the community. Emerald Homes, The Forest, Premier Sotheby’s International Realty and Morton’s Gourmet Market and Catering are thrilled to be christening the Emerald Florencia Model ... Read More →
Brian Wood, the exclusive Sotheby’s agent for The Forest, is hosting an open house Sunday, October 19th that will offer tours of one of the most impressive estate homes in the community. Get a first hand feel for the lifestyle at Sarasota’s only master planned gated community designed exclusively for acreage estates. 9273 Swaying Branch ... Read More →
On Friday, October 16, 2014 residents of The Forest will be about 15 minutes away from the first new major enclosed shopping mall to open in the U.S. in almost 10 years. The University Town Center features over 880,000 square feet and more than 100 stores, specialty shops, restaurants and cars. “The wait is over ... Read More →
Emerald Homes, The Forest and Premier Sotheby’s International Realty are teaming up with the Asolo Repertory Theatre to bring their prestigious Starry Night event to the new Emerald Florencia Model. The exclusive dinner event is set for December 15, 2014. It will be the first opportunity for people to see and tour the new Emerald ... Read More →
Amid all the recent negative publicity around the VA it’s nice to report some good news about the nation’s Veterans Affairs Administration happening right in the neighborhood around The Forest. The new Patriot Plaza at the Sarasota National Cemetery had it’s grand opening dedication recently. It was well deserved recognition for this very impressive facility ... Read More →
Emerald Homes broke ground recently on their new Florencia Model in The Forest at Hi Hat Ranch. This exciting Mediterranean style home is well underway on home site number 1 at the main entrance to the community. Two other homes are also now under construction at Sarasota’s only gated master planned community with a neighborhood ... Read More →
The Forest has a diverse mix of residents who make this such a great place to live. Watch videos on the Forest YouTube Channel featuring brief interviews with several of these homeowners. Learn more about the community through their stories of discovering The Forest and the many things they enjoy about life here. Meet Mike ... Read More →
Our Story, a new video on life in The Forest at Hi Hat Ranch, is a moving three minute movie on Sarasota’s only master planned community with a neighborhood designed exclusively for acreage estate homes. Three families from The Forest tell their stories over the backdrop of beautiful footage of the property. Our Story was ... Read More →
We here at The Forest at High Hat Ranch continue to see a surge of activity in our master planned community as interest in the Sarasota real estate marketplace continues to swell. Spring is always one of the most beautiful times of the year in Sarasota. It’s also typically a very busy time for real estate. This ... Read More →
Another sale topping the $1.5 Million mark closed this week at The Forest continuing the strong sales pace for homes and home sites at Sarasota’s neighborhood designed exclusively for large estate homes. The activity at The Forest is a good example of the recent upswing of economic activity in the Sarasota area and across the ... Read More →
The Forest at Hi Hat Ranch team is excited to announce that Emerald Homes has joined the builder program at the master planned community. Emerald Homes is bringing exclusive new home designs and a model home to The Forest with plans to start construction immediately. The inclusion of Emerald Homes will expand what is already ... Read More →
There were blue skies and big smiles at the rest stop hosted by The Forest and the Sarasota Manatee Bicycle Club for the recent Pedal For Pups 70 mile cycle fundraiser. Pedal For Pups: Ride to the Rescue raised funds to help support Nate’s Honor Animal Rescue. The marathon ride wound and traversed its way ... Read More →
Brian Wood, the exclusive Sotheby’s agent for The Forest, will be hosting an open house on March 9th showcasing a featured estate home and newly cut trail-tours of undeveloped home sites. This event will be open to the public and it will be a terrific opportunity to tour one of The Forest’s grand estates. Visitors will ... Read More →
The Forest at Hi Hat Ranch currently has thee estate homes under construction for buyers by Arthur Rutenberg Homes. All will be impressive additions to the neighborhood, but two are part of a trend for doubling down on land by combining two home sites into even larger acreage estates. “The option of a double home ... Read More →
The Forest and Sarasota Manatee Bicycle Club are teaming up to help support Nate’s Honor Animal Rescue. A rest stop for the March 2nd benefit cycle event will be staged in the Welcome Center at The Forest. Riders on the 70 mile course will be able to refresh before continuing on the course which winds ... Read More →
A modernization on classic Florida Mediterranean with an advance design by John Neal Homes offers buyers many options for fine living at Sarasota’s premier master planned estate home community. Neal has recently introduced The Barbados II in The Forest at High Hat Ranch. It’s the perfect combination of classic Florida style with a modern touch. ... Read More →
The continued strengthening of the Sarasota real estate market has been reported on frequently over the past year in the Sarasota Herald Tribune. The Forest is also enjoying a surge of builder activity as the local and national economic recovery has sparked interest again in new homes. Families looking to build an estate home are ... Read More →
2015
Nelson Homes is the independent Arthur Rutenberg franchisee builder for Sarasota. Derek Nelson and his team have built some of the most impressive estates at The Forest. Those include one of the original model homes that was the “talk of the town” in Sarasota, along with several custom homes on double estate home sites. Derek ... Read More →
Scott and Marcia Corbett recently made the decision to move from their Siesta Key, Fl house of several years to a new estate home in The Forest. Watch this short video interview as they share their story about finding The Forest and making the move to Sarasota’s premier estate home community. Scott is one of ... Read More →
In what has become an annual event, the Sarasota Manatee Bicycle Club included a rest stop at The Forest during its recent 2015 Cyclefest. The event is one of the club’s biggest of the year and includes 20, 35, 62 and 100 mile routes. This year there were hundreds of riders out to enjoy the ... Read More →
Anchor Builders’ president Roy Dupuis has been one of Sarasota’s top custom home builders for over 25 years. He is building estate homes in The Forest and recently shared insights about his company and how they help home buyers create their dream homes. Roy and his team work closely with customers to create one-of-a-kind homes ... Read More →
The Emerald Homes Florencia Model has sold and set a new record sales price for The Forest – $1,525,000. This fantastic show home has been the focal point of activity at The Forest since the preview event last December with the Asolo Rep. That Starry Night party created a buzz that continued through a near ... Read More →
Anchor Builders continues to increase their activity in The Forest with new custom homes being readied for clients and exciting new floor plan selections. Anchor Builders has been crafting custom residences in the region since 1989. Owner Roy Dupuis has achieved a renowned reputation for working closely with customers to ensure that their finished homes ... Read More →
Tour several brand new estate homes this Sunday, August 2nd from 1 – 4pm in The Forest at Hi Hat Ranch. Join Brian Wood of Premier Sotheby’s International Realty for a rare opportunity to go behind the gates and into some of Sarasota’s most impressive homes. The tour includes two Emerald Homes being finalized now. ... Read More →
A special new private estate was recently completed by Arthur Rutenburg Homes in The Forest. This custom designed home takes full advantage of the acreage available in The Forest doubling down on home sites 49 and 50 for an even larger estate setting. Take the aerial video preview and fly around this amazing property. This ... Read More →
The Hi Hat Ranch development team has decided not to open future phases for The Forest. The current 54 home sites, of which approximately 20 remain available, will be the only ones offered in this gated neighborhood designed exclusively for large estate properties. Three home sites, previously held for future model homes, are also being ... Read More →
It’s now easier than ever to experience estate home living in The Forest. Emerald Homes’ new Florencia Model is now open for tours by appointment. This is an exceptional home on one of the best home sites in the community. See preview photos below and then plan to visit. Contact The Forest exclusive Sotheby’s agent ... Read More →
The new Florencia Model by Emerald Homes at The Forest dominated its category in the 2015 Manatee and Sarasota BIA Parade of Homes taking the top award plus several others. The 2015 Parade is one of the biggest in years locally, and around the state, with 93 homes entered across the two county region. The ... Read More →
The Forest at High Hat Ranch is situated on some of the most beautiful forested land in Sarasota County. Walking the property, one quickly gets a sense of what a heavily treed setting surrounds the estate homes. But seeing it at ground level along the streets only hints at how lush and majestic this community ... Read More →
The first new model home to open in years at The Forest is being readied by Emerald Homes. Final touches are underway preparing the beautiful Florencia model for its debut during the Manatee & Sarasota Parade of Homes that starts February 21st. A special sneak preview is being offered exclusively for The Forest Blog, Website, ... Read More →
There is nothing like a dinner party for 70 hosted by one of Sarasota’s most prestigious cultural icons to demonstrate true estate home living. Our team was on hand December 15, 2014 to shoot this historic event at The Forest as Asolo Rep staged the ultimate model home sneak preview. The Starry Night to promote ... Read More →
2016
The Forest is one of the few private gated master planned communities in the Sarasota/Manatee region where buyers can choose their homesite and select from several of the area’s best custom builders. The builder program currently includes: Arthur Rutenberg Homes Anchor Builders John Cannon Homes Neal Signature Homes Todd Johnston Homes “Many of the custom ... Read More →
The recent sale of the original Arthur Rutenberg Homes’ model in The Forest has set a new bar for property values. The former model sold for $3.2 million within a month of listing. It resets the top selling price for homes in Sarasota’s only master planned gated community exclusively designed for custom estate homes on ... Read More →
Another in the series of drone flyover videos. See the birds eye view of this ranch home in The Forest. This one combines landscaping with the natural wooded environment to create a beautiful setting. These flyovers are the best way to really get a sense of scale for homes. It’s hard to tell from driving ... Read More →
Here is another in our series of videos using drones to provide a quick flyover of custom estate homes in The Forest. This is a beautiful two-story Mediterranean home on a homesite that is more open to the front with a lushly wooded rear view. These flyovers really provide insight into just how private and ... Read More →
Here is the next in our series of flyover videos of custom estate homes in The Forest. This is a former builder model on a lovely lake view homesite. These flyovers are the best way to really get a sense of scale for homes here and see what you can’t when driving through the community. ... Read More →
The best perspective on just how wooded and private the estate homesites are at The Forest is from above. This is the first in a series of short drone aerial videos designed to help people better understand why The Forest is so different from virtually all other new home “estate” communities in the Sarasota region. ... Read More →
The Forest is closer than you think. Comparing distances to key locations from the four most popular gated communities east of I-75 in Sarasota and Manatee Counties is telling. The chart below shows distances using Google Maps. All the communities are relatively similar overall. But, The Forest is closest to the beach and the only ... Read More →
If you have been driving around over the peak season in Sarasota and Manatee counties announcement this week the area is one of the top 20 fastest growing in the nation comes as no surprise. Being number 11 on the census list for population increase means a robust local economy and improving financial quality of ... Read More →
Finding acreage estate sized home sites is a challenge in Sarasota. Finding one with old growth trees in a premier private gated community is even harder. I hear these comments often when touring visitors around The Forest. Most have been through the other “estate” neighborhoods in the area and are surprised to learn there is ... Read More →
WalletHub.com has just published a report ranking the best states to retire in and Florida tops the list. That will be no surprise to many retirees already living the good life here in Sarasota and particularly at The Forest. The WalletHub study ranked states on three primary criteria: Affordability, Quality of Life and Health Care. ... Read More →
2017
Myakka Communications Installing Fiber Optic System A new high speed communications system is coming to The Forest. Managing Partner Tom Dabney has been working for the past few years to bring enhanced communications to residents. He, along with representatives of other neighboring communities, finalized an agreement with Myakka Communications to bring a fiber optic network ... Read More →
World Class Rowing Facility 20 Minutes From The Forest The world Rowing Championships were recently held at Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota. These were the top rowing athletes in the world helping the event to draw thousands to the region over two weeks. The Forest premiered a thirty-second video as one of the sponsors for ... Read More →
Save 10% On Homesites At The Forest In Sarasota This fall there is more than just leafs falling at The Forest. Prices on estate homesites are also falling for a limited time. Those thinking about building a private estate home can take advantage of Fall Incentive with 10% off list price on all remaining developer ... Read More →
Sarasota Ranked Best Retirement Location On U.S. News List Sarasota has been ranked as the best place to retire in the U.S. for 2018. This nod came in the venerable U.S. New & World Report’s annual list. The reviewer in the article referred to Sarasota as a “paradise, mixed with hints of realty…as traffic congestion ... Read More →
The Forest Attracts Impressive Resident Deer Herd The Forest lives up to its name with so much of the community set aside in wooded preserves, pines and old growth oak trees. There is really no other private gated community quite like it in the region. Acreage home sites add to the feel and also provide ... Read More →
A Diverging Diamond Interchange (DDI) is planned for construction at Clark Road and I-75. For residents of The Forest this means easier access on and off the Interstate, a much more convenient method of accessing the shops, services and employment centers located west of I-75, and a safer, more efficient commute through the interchange. The ... Read More →
The Forest at Hi Hat Ranch is surrounded by the Suncoast’s biggest private land holding and one of the largest active working ranches in Southwest Florida. Beyond the beautiful forested community and impressive estate homes lies a productive ranch that has been managed under the stewardship of the Turner family for nearly a century. The ... Read More →
The Forest At Hi Hat Ranch Lifestyle Video In many ways, there is no better way (short of living in one of the 54 residences) to experience The Forest at Hi Hat Ranch than in a video with aerial views. The extensive forested natural preservation areas and large estate homesites make if difficult to see ... Read More →
Latest Award-Winning Plan From Arthur Rutenberg There is a magnificent new home being introduced to the community this year: an award-winning plan from Arthur Rutenberg Homes. In fact, it took best overall, best floor plan, best curb appeal, best master suite, best kitchen, and best architectural detail in the 2016 Parade of Homes. This spacious ... Read More →
2018
Vision Group Bringing Their Unique Home Building Style To The Forest Another of Sarasota’s premier local custom builders, Vision Group, has joined The Forest. Co-Owner and Partner Mike Padgett brings years of experience in real estate, construction and custom home building to the company. Vision Group has built hundreds of custom homes in many of ... Read More →
Flock of wild turkeys bring early Thanksgiving to The Forest Our Premier Sotheby’s agent Brian Wood was the man-on-the-scene as a flock of wild turkeys enjoyed The Forest. Their timing could not have been better with the Thanksgiving holiday just days away. The Forest lives up to its name as one of the most forested ... Read More →
Former Rutenberg Model Sells For $2.15 Million in The Forest A former Arthur Rutenberg model home in The Forest at Hi Hat Ranch has sold for $2.15 million. Located at 10862 Leafwing Drive, it was the highest-priced sale in the neighborhood during the last two years. The Forest’s Premier Sotheby’s International Realty agent Brian Wood ... Read More →
Riverside Is The New E/M Custom Home Featured at The Forest E/M Custom Homes recently introduced their first featured home plan for The Forest. The Riverside is a classic Florida home featuring great curb appeal and a floor plan with even broader appeal. The stylish Mediterranean architecture sets the stage for great living on the ... Read More →
E/M Custom Homes Introduces New Opportunities in The Forest A new builder has joined the elite team at The Forest. E/M Custom Homes will bring new opportunities for home buyers in Sarasota’s only gated master planned community designed exclusively for estate homes. E/M Custom Homes combines the talents of Jeff Eslinger and Rick and Dan ... Read More →
Join Us For Our Next Home Tour In The Forest at Hi Hat Ranch Our Premier Sotheby’s agent for The Forest, Brian Wood, has organized a tour of homes to kickoff summer this Sunday, June 10th from 1pm to 4pm. Tour three unique custom estate homes including one of the original award-winning model homes in ... Read More →
Three Custom Homes On Tour In The Forest at Hi Hat Ranch Brian Wood, the exclusive Sotheby’s agent for The Forest, has organized a tour of three custom homes for Sunday, April 29th from 1pm to 4pm. A special Spring Sale on all remaining developer home sites will also kickoff Sunday with a 10% discount ... Read More →
The Forest In Sarasota Herald Tribune Market Snapshot Thanks to Chris Angermann for including The Forest in his popular Market Snapshot series. Great to see the update available for area real estate readers with his concise article on our community. Read it now on the Herald Tribune website. The Forest is located on Clark ... Read More →
It’s a rare occasion when Sarasota’s premier master planned gated estate home community has one of its impressive custom homes open for touring. Brian Wood, the exclusive Sotheby’s agent for The Forest, is hosting the open house event Sunday, January 28th from 1pm to 4pm. This is a great way to kickoff 2018 and get ... Read More →
The Forest Difference: Real Estate Living Without High HOA Fees The cost of living at The Forest is substantially less than other private gated communities east of I-75 in Sarasota and Manatee County. True estate homesites offer privacy, peace and quiet and the option for residents to design amenities right into their estate homes. Residents ... Read More →
2019
See This Amazing Custom Estate Sunday 1-4pm If there is a home that truly demonstrates what this community is about and the potential for true estate home living it’s this one. Join this Sunday, November 10th from 1-4pm for tours of the original model by Lee Weatherington Homes. It’s set on a beautiful wooded acreage ... Read More →
New Brokerage Representation With Same Well Known Agent The Forest sales expert Brian Wood has joined Michael Saunders & Company who is now representing developer home sites at The Forest. The change comes as the community is nearing sellout of the original developer owned sites. Wood has worked in the community since the beginning and ... Read More →
Another Sale Leaves Just 5 Developer Home Sites in The Forest The strong sales pace this year continues at The Forest with the closing of home site 54. There are now just five of the original developer home sites available in Sarasota’s only master planned community designed exclusively for large acreage estate homes. The selection ... Read More →
Strong Sales Pace Continues Through Summer With three more home sites closings this month, making six so far this year, 2019 is proving to be one of the best years for sales in some time at The Forest. According to Brian Wood, Forest’s exclusive Sotheby’s Agent, there is continued strong interest from potential buyers and ... Read More →
See the difference acreage makes. This short video demonstrates the difference between The Forest and typical master planned community “estate lots.” See how long it takes to drive by one of the homesites in The Forest at idle speed. Only 9 original developer homesites remain. However, there is still a good selection of prices and ... Read More →
A Community That Lives Up To It’s Name The land plan at The Forest sets aside about half of the community in preservation space including uplands, forested wetlands, ponds and open space. In addition, most of the large 3 to 5 acre homesites are heavily treed and add to the overall preservation feel in the ... Read More →
Learn more about the company from founder Michael Padgett Vision Group has joined the elite team of custom home builders at The Forest. Founder Michael Padgett sat for a short video interview to share more about his company and what they offer in The Forest. He specializes in building custom homes and brings years of ... Read More →
Preview the latest custom estate home built in The Forest. Anchor Builders worked with the buyers to design and build this one-of-a-kind custom home on lot 51. They took advantage of the deep homesite, setting this large home well back with an impressive entry and paved driveway to set the stage for great estate living. ... Read More →
Jeff Eslinger of E-M Custom Homes on Building at The Forest E-M Custom Homes is a new builder in The Forest. Jeff Eslinger, one of the company founders, shares insights on their homes and construction standards in this short video on The Forest You Tube Channel. Watch it now to learn more about this quality ... Read More →
Residents Tracy and Bob Seidle moved to The Forest from Southeast Florida in late 2018. They sat recently for a brief interview to share their story of discovering Sarasota and choosing to make their new home in The Forest. Like all the residents that have shared stories, Tracy and Bob have a unique insight and ... Read More →
Tour A Custom Private Estate March 3 At The Forest Come tour the Castella Rossa Sunday, March 3rd. The Tuscan inspired former Lee Wetherington model is a must-see to get a glimpse of estate living at The Forest. This estate home features five bedrooms, four baths and two half baths in the main house and ... Read More →
There was a strong increase in activity at The Forest to close out the fourth quarter of 2018. That has resulted in three closings of estate home sites to kickoff what looks to be a busy 2019 Winter/Spring season. The Forest was also featured in the Sarasota Herald Tribune’s annual real estate Market Snapshot, which ... Read More →
