Sorrento South in Nokomis is a “West of the Trail” boater’s paradise. Many of its 123 homes lie directly on the canals or Blackburn Bay, with direct access (no bridges) to the Gulf of Mexico. Residents can enjoy the warm weather and year-round swimming, boating, fishing, golfing and more.

It’s easy to drive past the white stucco walls with signage that mark the Bayshore Drive entrance off U.S. 41 without realizing the hidden gem to the west. With little outside traffic, the neighborhood offers a leisurely, quiet lifestyle in lush tropical surroundings.

“With a central location between Venice and Sarasota, Sorrento South has a good combination of location and place,” said Mark Soravilla, the owner of Re/Max Palm Realty.

The community has its own clubhouse and a marina with 42 boat slips available on a first-come-first-served basis. In addition, boats, kayaks and canoes can be launched from Albee Boat Ramp, Blackburn Boat Ramp and Venice Boat Ramp, all within a five-mile radius.

A nine-hole golf course lies smack in the middle of the neighborhood. The Bayshore Executive Golf Course opened in 1975 and plays at par 27.

Like Sorrento Shores, its sister community to the north, Sorrento South is named after a scenic, coastal Italian town on the Bay of Naples. Both of the neighborhoods were developed in the 1960s and ’70s by C.E. Pitts and his son Lauden, who purchased the land and created the layout.

The man who sold them the land was fond of the original Sorrento, as well as fine arts painting, and named some of the streets after famous artists. C.E. Pitts was so taken with the idea that he continued the tradition.

Whenever a new street was planned, Lauden would consult an encyclopedia he owned, look under “P” which has a list of painters, and pick one. By the time they finished with all the Sorrento subdivisions, just about all the names were crossed out. As a result, in Sorrento South, there are streets named Picasso Drive, Murillo Drive, Cavallini Drive and Bellini Circle.

Most of the single-family residences are Florida ranch style, with corbelled tile, shingle or metal roofs. The two-, three-, and four-bedroom floor plans range from 1,800 to 2,600 square feet of living space. Currently, residences are valued starting in the low $500,000s in the interior and topping $3 million directly on Blackburn Bay. Many have their own docks and screened-in lanais with private swimming pools.

A number of residents have renovated their homes both outside and inside. Soravilla’s listing at 428 Bellini Circle, for example, is a four-bed, two-bath home with 2,069 square feet of living space that has been extensively updated and remodeled. Over the past five years, it has received a new roof, front door, A/C system, water heater and garage door opener.

Interior updates include a master bath addition, plantation shutters, designer fixtures, new flooring, a remodeled kitchen and new high-end appliances.

Located on a canal, the fenced in yard features a lagoon shaped swimming pool with a paver lanai, and a private wooden dock with a 10,000-pound boat lift. The asking price is $1.5 million.

“It’s ready to go for instant occupation,” said Soravilla.

Because Sorrento South is a deed restricted neighborhood, membership in the Property Owners’ Association is mandatory. Annual dues are $300. Owners of boat slips also pay dock fees twice a year. The association publishes a regular newsletter, The Sorrento Times, to keep residents apprised of community affairs.

According to Soravilla, the demographics of Sorrento South are a combination of retirees and people looking to retire soon, most of them from the baby boom generation. “The majority are year-round residents,” he explained. “It’s not a high rental neighborhood.”

He continued, “Sorrento South is a little pocket of exceptional waterfront properties, not on the keys, that hasn’t been on the radar of buyers. I expect it to attract more clients who want a waterfront lifestyle close to Sarasota at more affordable prices.”

Residents love the close proximity to shopping and restaurants along the Tamiami Trail. Oscar Scherer State Park and Spanish Point are just up the road. The Legacy Trail for walking and biking is close by, too. Nokomis Beach, the Venetian Waterway Park and several golf courses are within easy driving distance. You can get to downtown Sarasota in 20 minutes and to Venice Island in 10.

Currently, Soravilla’s listing is the only one on the market. There are also two pending sales.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Market Snapshot: Small waterfront community between Sarasota, Venice