When Spanish explorer Hernando De Soto arrived in the part of Sunshine State we now know as Bradenton, he had been looking for the mythical land of El Dorado. He looked around for a city of gold; instead, he found nothing but pristine Florida nature and an indigenous settlement, and thus he headed north and continued his search.

If De Soto could only see what Bradenton has become, he would have reported back to the Spanish Crown that he had indeed found El Dorado. In the 21st century, Bradenton has become one of the most attractive housing markets in Florida, and it is for good reason that it is known as “The Friendly City.” This city has received awards and accolades from organization such as the National Arbor Day Foundation, the Florida League of Cities and the American Trails Developer Award.

House hunters have every reason to like Bradenton. This small city has arts, culture, gorgeous beaches, great weather, nature preserves, recreation, sports, and very high quality of life. Sports tourism has become a major industry thanks to the world-famous IMG Academies and the region’s status as an incubator for future soccer stars. Lecom Field is the spring training home of the Pittsburgh Pirates, and the award-winning Lakewood Ranch residential community has close ties to the Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League.

Bradenton is a very family-friendly real estate market. This was recently made evident by the inauguration of Riverwalk, a magnificent waterfront park that simply begs to be enjoyed. Just about all outdoors activities, from hiking to camping and from kayaking to fishing, can be practiced in Bradenton. The Manatee School District is emerging as one of the best in Florida, and many residents relocate here to enroll their children in one of the various private academies.

The housing market in Bradenton offers many affordable opportunities. This is a market where historic subdivisions compete against waterfront properties and modern residential developments. Single-family residences are predominant, but there are many maintenance-free condominiums as well as villages to choose from. In the wake of the real estate crash of 2007, Bradenton has shown strong resilience thanks to healthy and active residential construction.

In essence, Bradenton residents take comfort in knowing that their commitment to quality of life will keep their dreams of hope and prosperity alive.