Neighborhood · Sarasota, Florida
Bay Island
Bridge-close island living between downtown and the Gulf
16
Homes for sale
$3,270,000
Median list price
$1,165
Avg price / sqft
94
Median days on market
Bay Island sits on the strip of land linking Sarasota's mainland to St. Armands and Lido Key, which means you're minutes from Gulf sand in one direction and the restaurants of Five Points downtown in the other. This is a small, water-oriented enclave where pools are the norm and many homes look out over the bay. If you want walkable island life without giving up quick access to city amenities and neighborhoods like Arlington Park, this pocket delivers it.
The market here is decidedly high-end and moves at its own pace. Of the 16 active listings, 14 are priced above $1M and the median list sits at $3,270,000, with homes averaging $1,165 per square foot. Expect to negotiate — properties take a median of 94 days to sell, and over the past year sellers have averaged 93% of asking, so there's room for a serious buyer to work.
Bay Island is a community in Sarasota, Florida.
Quick facts
$750,000 – $13M price range
3,645 sqft median home
$10/mo median HOA
$17,000/mo median rent
25 sold in 12 months
Drive times
On the market now
Homes for sale in Bay Island
View all 16 →
$12,500,000
546 FREELING DRIVE, SARASOTA
5 bd · 6 ba · 4,353 sqft
$4,490,000
604 NORSOTA WAY, SARASOTA
5 bd · 5.5 ba · 4,536 sqft
$3,950,000
847 FREELING DRIVE, SARASOTA
4 bd · 4.5 ba · 4,034 sqft
$949,900
617 SIESTA DRIVE, SARASOTA
4 bd · 4 ba · 2,709 sqft
$10,500,000
3441 GULFMEAD DRIVE, SARASOTA
6 bd · 6.5 ba · 4,769 sqft
$1,549,000$1,600,000
3360 HIGEL AVENUE, SARASOTA
4 bd · 3 ba · 2,006 sqft
$750,000
749 SIESTA DRIVE, SARASOTA
4 bd · 2 ba · 1,978 sqft
$2,200,000$2,250,000
3508 LA PALOMA AVENUE, SARASOTA
5 bd · 3 ba · 3,195 sqft
$12,900,000
3750 BAYOU LOUISE LANE, SARASOTA
5 bd · 6.5 ba · 5,273 sqft
$1,800,000
3515 LA PALOMA AVENUE, SARASOTA
5 bd · 3 ba · 2,233 sqft
$1,000,000
226 OGDEN STREET, SARASOTA
2 bd · 2 ba · 1,559 sqft
$5,825,000
527 FREELING DRIVE, SARASOTA
4 bd · 4.5 ba · 4,310 sqft
Every active listing inside the Bay Island boundary
Open full map search →Find your fit
Browse Bay Island
By feature — on the live map
Where the market lives
The numbers that matter
The Bay Island market
25
Sold, last 12 months
$2,695,000
Median sold price
93%
Sale-to-list ratio
What sellers actually get vs asking
35 days
Median time to sell
Bay Island vs Sarasota
Median list price
Price per sqft
Days on market
Median sold price — 3-yr, 3-mo rolling
▲ 219.9% yr/yr
Homes sold per month
Live Stellar MLS data — every listing and closed sale inside the Bay Island boundary. Rolling medians smooth single-month swings in small communities.
For the school run
Schools Bay Island is zoned for
Attendance boundaries overlapping this community — always verify zoning with the district.
What it really costs
Owning here
Owning the median Bay Island home
≈ $18,869/mo
$3,270,000 median · 20% down · 30-yr fixed at 6.9% · taxes/HOA from live listing data · insurance is a Florida estimate.
$10/mo
Median HOA
From current listings inside the boundary
$17,000/mo
Median rent
Homes for rent inside the boundary
Population
531
Median age
61
Median income
$151,850
Median home value
$2,000,000
Beyond the listings
Living in Bay Island
Culture
Top 1% in the U.S.Sites to See
This population finds the most beautiful sites just by looking up. Sunrise, sunset or sometime in between, these people love to marvel at man-made and natural wonders.
Hobbies & Interests
Top 4% in the U.S.Wanderlust
Always thinking about their next destination, this population loves exploring new places abroad or right in their own backyard. They hold onto past trips by sharing their favorite memories and pictures year round.
Beliefs
Top 5% in the U.S.Conservation
Good stewards of the earth, this population advocates for a cleaner environment and responsible use of resources. They often encourage others to recycle and use clean energy.
Lifestyles
Top 7% in the U.S.Wealth Signaling
Interested in the finer things life has to offer, this population wants to display their lifestyle by discussing luxury products. Often references jewelry, cars, and home features.
Relationships
Top 10% in the U.S.Dating Life
With dating comes highs, lows, and lots of questions. You can find this population talking about dating advice, breakups and how to express their feelings.
Hobbies & Interests
Top 11% in the U.S.Natural Beauty
This population marvels at the beauty of nature, and they want to capture every breath-taking scene.
Straight answers
Bay Island FAQs
Is Bay Island a good place to live?+
It's a strong fit if you want island proximity with city access — you're a short hop from Lido Key beaches and downtown Sarasota alike. Assigned schools include Phillippi Shores Elementary, Brookside Middle, and Sarasota High. The neighborhood is small and residential, with pools on nearly every property.
Is Bay Island expensive?+
Yes — this is one of Sarasota's premium waterfront pockets. The median list price is $3,270,000 and homes average $1,165 per square foot, with 14 of 16 active listings priced above $1M. Prices range widely, from $750,000 up to $12,900,000.
What do homes cost in Bay Island?+
Active listings span $750,000 to $12,900,000, with a median list of $3,270,000 and a typical home around 3,645 square feet. Over the last 12 months, 25 homes sold at a median price of $2,695,000. For context on the broader market, see Sarasota homes for sale.
How is the market in Bay Island?+
It's a patient, negotiable market at the top end. Homes take a median of 94 days to sell, and sellers have averaged 93% of their asking price over the past year. With 16 active listings and 25 sales in 12 months, inventory turns slowly, which favors a prepared buyer.
What about HOA fees and property taxes?+
HOA costs are remarkably low here, with a median of just $10/month. Property taxes run higher given the price point — a median of about $17,045 per year. Together that's a light carrying structure relative to the home values on nearby islands like Indian Beach / Sapphire Shores.
Keep exploring
More Sarasota neighborhoods
Neighborhood boundary by edgeAI; listings matched to the polygon. IDX information is provided exclusively for consumers’ personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing. Data is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed accurate by Stellar MLS.
Never miss a listing
New Bay Island homes, in your inbox
A daily digest of new Sarasota listings — straight from the MLS. Unsubscribe anytime.