Less than half a mile north of U.S. Highway 301 in Ellenton is South Oak, a pretty, family-friendly neighborhood. The two entrances off 36th Avenue East, a short distance apart, are attractively landscaped. Inside, 13th Street East forms a rectangular block with 14th Court East, which continues and, after a dog-leg turn, ends in a cul de sac.

Green belts replete with mature oak trees and a wetland preserve with a small lake, border the community to the north, west and south, providing beautiful natural surroundings. Many of the homes display palms, Norfolk pines and other trees and ample shrubbery in their yards as well

“South Oak is a quaint little neighborhood, very conveniently located – close to I-75, 275, and the Ellenton Premium Outlets mall,” said Mary Ann Fenton, an agent with Bright Realty.

Lynette White, a Realtor with Keller Williams on the Water, agreed. “It’s in the heart of the Ellenton-Palmetto area – convenient to everything.”

Developed from 2011 to 2014, South Oak features 45 single-family residences, with three and four bedrooms, that range in size from a little over 1,200 to nearly 2,100 square feet of living space. The houses in Florida contemporary design have painted bricks, high ceilings, shingle roofs, and two- and three-car garages.

Fenton’s listing at 3310 14th Court E., built in 2014, is a four-bed, two-bath home with 2,014 square feet under air. The split floor plan has the master bedroom on one side of the house, with a walk-in shower and a walk-in closet, and three smaller bedrooms on the other. The current owner uses one of them as a home office.

The kitchen boasts granite countertops, wood cabinets, stainless steel appliances, and a breakfast bar and dinette area. A covered, screened-in lanai with pavers overlooks the private, fenced-in yard, which has several fruit trees.

The asking price is $399,000.

White shares her listing at 3203 14th Circle W. with her business partner, Selina Waters, also a Realtor with Keller Williams on the Water. Built in 2012, the four-bed, three-bath home has 2,094 square feet of living space and features a split bedroom floor plan as well. A private exit leads from the master bedroom directly onto the lanai, where a hot tub promises leisurely relaxation.

“The house has a beautiful layout and has been well-kept by the original owner,” said White. “Located at the end of the cul de sac, it’s private and quiet.”

The asking price is $488,000.

According to Fenton, the demographics of South Oak are “a mixture of families with children, retirees and working people – most of them year-round residents.”

They appreciate the close proximity of I-75 and 275, which makes it easy to get to Tampa and Saint Petersburg, as well as destinations to the south in Bradenton and Sarasota.

Parents of younger children like that Blackburn Elementary is only a little more than a mile to the north. The other district schools, Buffalo Creek Middle and Palmetto High, lie within a 5-mile radius.

The Ellenton Ice and Sport Complex, which houses hockey rinks, indoor soccer and football fields, a fitness center and a video game room – and offers programs for young children, teens and adults – is just 3 miles away.

Across the street from South Oak lies the 16-acre Gamble Mansion Historic State Park. The only surviving antebellum plantation in South Florida, the site now features extensive gardens. The mansion was home to Maj. Robert Gamble, a sugar plantation owner, and has been refurnished in 19th century style. Visitors can go on guided tours, Thursday through Monday, and enjoy the picnic tables on the grounds.

Nearby amenities include a large Detwiler’s Farm Market, an Aldi, a Walmart Supercenter, and the Bradenton Area Convention Center. All are within easy driving distance. Manatee Memorial Hospital and downtown Bradenton across the Manatee River are only a mile or two farther south.

Homeowners association fees of $150 a quarter take care of the upkeep of all common areas in South Oak.

Because of the subdivision’s small size, homes don’t come on the market very often. So far, there has been only one sale in 2022, a three-bed, two-bath home with1,300 square feet under air, that closed in September for $350,000. Currently, the only active listings are Fenton’s and the other by White and Williams.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Ellenton homes for sale: Small community near outlet mall, I-75