What’s the one thing that can lift your spirits, make you forget about the stock market, real estate values or those extra 10 pounds? A day at the beach, of course. And if living on the beach is one of your life’s dreams, I have just the place for you.

It’s 5400 Condos located at 5400 Gulf Drive in Holmes Beach, is a great little complex sitting right on one of Anna Maria’s finest beaches. The 44 condo units were built in the mid 1960s with both one bedroom, one bath and two bedroom, two bath floor plans. Square footage runs between 800 and 1,200 square feet and maintenance fees are based on the size of the unit.

The buildings are two story with the first floor units at a comfortable ground level, an important feature for some older residents in this age restricted community. There is a small clubhouse, shuffleboard, heated pool and assigned covered parking. But, perhaps the most wonderful perk at 5400 Condos is the paved deck directly on the beach available for all residents, even those who do not have direct beach views. Since 5400 Condos only allows rentals four times a year, the community does not have the weekly and monthly rental turnover some other condos on the Island have.

In early 2003 when I first wrote about 5400 Condos, listing prices for two bedroom units were between $490,000 and $570,000 and one bedroom units in the mid $200,000 range. Sales in 2002 for two bedroom units were between $410,000 and $535,000.

Properties on the market in 2008 are looking a little like 2002 with five two bedroom units listed between $389,000 and $700,000 and a one bedroom for $295,000. Unfortunately I could not find any sales in all of 2007 or in 2008 as of the date of this writing.

You don’t have to look far on Anna Maria to find a sign that says "Life’s A Beach," and you certainly don’t have to look far to find the actual beach at 5400 Condos or the great sunsets. 5400 Condos beachfront living is for children of all ages.

Anna Maria

217 Pine Ave.     Mixed use      $750,000
413 Poinsettia Rd.      Single family      550,000
308 Pine Ave.      Single family      525,000
161 Crescent Dr.      Single family      390,000
215 Palm Ave.      Single family      380,000
407 S. Bay Blvd.     Single family      359,500

Bradenton Beach

200 Gulf Dr. S. #3      Condo     $750,000
205 Church Ave.      Single family      539,000
1105 Gulf Dr. S. #3      Condo      350,000
1801 Gulf Dr. N. #104     Condo      186,500
117 Seventh St. N. #20     Condo      150,000
2601 Gulf Dr. N. #303     Mobile      83,400
117 7th St. N. #16     Condo      60,000

Cortez

4003 129th St. W. #102      Condo     $495,000
4104 128th St. W. #702      Condo      345,000

Holmes Beach

524 67th St.      Single family     $700,000
623 Foxworth Ln.      Single family      632,000
222 82nd St.      Condo      575,000
213 67th St. #B      Condo      510,000
229 South Harbor Dr.      Single family      485,000
668 Key Royale Dr.      Single family      475,000
203 71st St.      Duplex      475,000
204 71st St.      Single family      442,000
3400 Sixth Ave. #5      Condo      305,000
3701 Fifth Ave. #1      Condo      299,900
3601 East Bay Dr. #10     Condo      245,000

Source: Manatee County Property Appraiser’s Office.