Located just southeast of the Bellevue Terrace district, Old Forest Lakes in Sarasota is an intimate collection of 72 homes built on large lots surrounded by mature tropical landscaping. This residential enclave offers prospective home buyers lots of privacy, interior space and affordable real estate less than 15 minutes away from Downtown Sarasota.

Old Forest Lakes is part of a larger subdivision that includes established neighborhoods such as the Forest Lakes Country Club and Village Green. Development in this community dates back to the 1950s; most of the properties are built in the Florida ranch style, but a few have been remodeled to feature Spanish and Mediterranean revival styles. Mature trees with flowering Spanish moss, greenbelt areas, ponds, lakes, thick canopies, and being located next to Pinecraft Park as well as Phillippi Creek make Old Forest Lakes an appealing neighborhood for families.

As of 2019, a three-bedroom Florida ranch with two bathrooms and nearly 1,700 square feet of interior was listed for $309K; this is a house located just a short walk away from the local golf course. Homes priced under $250K are known to come on the market from time to time, but homeowners are generally known to hold on to their Forest Lakes properties. Local suburban comforts include Yoder’s Restaurant and Amish Village, Der Dutchman Family Restaurant, the Levee Trail Park, and the Publix supermarket at Sarasota Village Plaza. The beaches of Siesta Key are less than six miles away, which means that you can get there in about 15 minutes.

Although this is not a gated community, residents of Old Forest Lakes enjoy the privacy created by the lakes and greenbelt sections. The homeowners association does not handle services or maintenance; instead, it collects a small voluntary fee every year to organize events such as holiday parties.