Under contract-accepting backup offers. OWNER IS MOTIVATED AND ENTERTAINING ALL OFFERS! Myakka Valley Ranches, “Sarasota County’s last frontier:” Great opportunity to acquire a beautiful, very private, 5-acre lot with 2 big homes (each with an attached air-conditioned garage), a spectacular pool, and a big air-conditioned outbuilding for a remarkably low price. The 3,515 SF 2-story home in the front has a ground floor master suite with skylights, and two bedrooms upstairs, both with en suite bathrooms. The large kitchen was fully renovated in 2011, with quartz countertops, center island and seating peninsula; walk-in party. Large living room with fireplace, and dining room, fully renovated in 2023. The home has four baths, an upstairs balcony/deck with beautiful views of the pond, and several screened porches. The downstairs master is currently used as a work area. This could also serve as a rental since it has a utility kitchen and a bathroom. In front of the home is a 1,092 sf air-conditioned building, which was once a 3-car garage (the overhead doors are still in place). It features a kitchenette and a half bath. This would be a great space for a studio, caretaker, home-schooling office, you name it. On the left side of the house is an attached carport, which is connected to an air-conditioned 702 sf 2- car garage. The 2,848 sf home in the back of the property features a big (1,800 sf) pool deck with a spectacular ray-shaped heated pool. In its center is a built-in hot tub with ray-shaped grotto and waterfall. A huge industrial fan is one of the first things you notice upon entering the light and bright 20 x 40 studio/office on the south side of the house. A breezeway connects the house to an 1,131 sf 3-car air-conditioned garage. The 5+ acre lot is spectacular: a big pond in the center separates the two homes, while many big live oak trees, all kinds of palm trees, and bamboo clusters give it a distinctly tropical, “Florida” vibe. The reason that this property is priced so competitively (7,455 SF airconditioned living space, at $199/SF, compared to a median sale price of $401/sf in the community since 1/7/23) has to do with the unfortunate effect of hurricane Ian, an exceptionally destructive storm: the back house flooded in 9/23, and will need a major make-over. A beginning has been made: floors, doors, closets, bathroom fixtures, appliances, kitchen cabinets, and all the affected sections of drywall have been removed, and mold remediation has taken place. The A/C is running, and the pool is clean. It was planned as a 3/2 house, but it would be rather easy to change this configuration. Because the front house is higher (flood zone x), it only had minor water intrusion, which has been professionally restored. Myakka Valley Ranches is one of the most beautiful equestrian communities in Sarasota. The ca. 280 homes are all situated on at least 5 acres. Winding roads and nature trails provide its residents with the opportunity to walk, ride their bicycle or horse in a stunningly beautiful environment. There is even a community park (close to the listing), where one can launch a kayak, and paddle to the Upper Lake of Myakka River State Park, Florida’s biggest state park at 37,000 acres. Downtown Sarasota, with its many cultural amenities, is only 40 minutes away, as are the award-winning beaches of Siesta Key. Great restaurants, shops, and good public and private schools are all within 30 minutes from “the Valley,” as the locals call their slice of paradise.