Part 1

A beautifully landscaped gated community with multiple pools, and water views on a protected island, two miles to the beach and sparkling Gulf waters, under $600,000. Sounds too good to be true, well it’s not. In fact, it’s right in Anna Maria Island’s back yard – Perico Bay Club on Perico Island.

The entrance to Perico Bay Club is on Manatee Avenue mid-way on the south side of Perico Island. Don’t confuse it with Perico Isles whose entrance is located on the north side of Manatee Avenue almost directly opposite the Bay Club’s.

Built between 1988 and 1992, Perico Bay Club is home to approximately 700 residential units on 13 streets organized into eight different neighborhoods. Each area has its own association, heated pool and personality. There are also four lighted tennis courts, a central clubhouse and Olympic size pool near the entrance.

As you drive through the entry gate, which is manned 24 hours, you immediately feel like you’ve entered into a lifestyle suspended between casual island and ordered mainland. And indeed you have since Perico Bay Club represents the best of both worlds, equally quick access to the beach and town and waterfront living without the exposure of the Island. There are nature walks, bike baths and a safe, friendly community feel.

Perico Bay Club has a variety of housing options and styles. There are traditional condominium buildings with two living levels. The first living level is slightly elevated with a short flight of stairs, the second level is a full flight up – no elevators. Some of the condo units have lake views and some have bayfront views on Palma Sola Bay. All have lanais, many glass enclosed. The bayfront units on Edgewater Circle have detached one car garages and there are some models with a third bedroom or den.

The villas at Perico Bay Club are not elevated and have several different models. Most are two bedrooms, two baths and some of the larger villas also have a third bedroom or den. They also come with either one or two attached garages and some models have entry courtyards. Many of the villas are lakefront with spacious decks looking over the lake off the lanais. The majority of the villas are one level with some two levels on Waterside Lane.
The condos are organized as traditional condominium associations. However, the villas are homeowners’ associations which require a survey when sold since the land under the footprint of the villa is resident-owned.

Next week we’ll talk about current values and appreciation; meanwhile keep Perico Bay Club in mind as an alternative to Island living.