You do not need to venture too far beyond I-75 to find spacious and affordable real estate near Sarasota. Located in the southern section of the Fruitville district, just west of I-75 and north of Webber Street, Oak Vistas is a nice residential community completed by D.R. Horton a few years ago; most of the homes are neatly arranged along two lakes and a large pond, which means plenty of opportunities to enjoy relaxing water views.

What stands out about Oak Vistas, aside from its convenient location, is that D.R. Horton chose large floor plans filled with attractive features and extras. Interiors range between 1,700 square feet for two-bedroom homes to 3,638 square feet for the largest five-bedroom properties. In April 2019, one of the best listings was a 5/5, two-level Mediterranean estate complete with a staircase featuring wrought iron handrails, a breakfast bar with granite counter tops, garden bathtub, linen closets, kitchen pantries, and a media room; priced at $495K, this was probably one of the best real estate deals in Southwest Florida. Keep in mind that these affordable prices tend to attract many bidders, and they may not last long.

Small nature preserves, walking trails and a small gazebo by one of the lakes round out the amenities at Oak Vistas. This tranquil neighborhood will certainly appeal to families with young children because of its generous space and overall safety. This part of Sarasota mostly consists of residential communities, but a large shopping district is located on the other side of I-75, and this is where you can find restaurants, cafes and small grocery stores. Some of the dining options located just five minutes away from Oak Vistas include PizzaSRQ, the Cock and Bull Farmhouse, and Big Top Brewing Company. For more shopping, there’s Sarasota Crossings to the north and Centergate Village to the south, both anchored by Publix supermarkets.

Getting to Siesta Key beach from Oak Vistas is a matter of heading west on Webber Street before merging onto Siesta Drive, a 15-minute trip at the most. Downtown Sarasota is about the same distance away.