Forest Lakes
Homes for Sale in SARASOTA, FL
True comps, carrying-cost math, and listings before the portals.
Market Heat
Forest Lakes right now
🔴 Off the recent peak. The trailing-12-month median ($647K) is down 10.8% from the prior 12 months ($725K) and up 304% since 2012. With about 3 sales a year, a single closing can swing this number, so read the level and the decade, not one year's move.Momentum Research, record-level Stellar MLS closed sales, 12-month windows ending August 2. Confidence: Medium (6 and 7 sales in the two windows).
Jump to: Price history & scorecard · Homes for sale · Schools · FAQ
Updated August 2, 2026 · Live data: Stellar MLS, refreshed twice daily · MLS facts carry their source; interpretation lines are Momentum Research · Data sources & freshness
The 60-Second Overview
Forest Lakes market snapshot (as of August 2, 2026): the median sale price is about $647K ($266 per sq ft over the trailing 12 months of closed sales), and a median 78 days on market for closed sales. The trailing-12-month median is down 11% from the prior 12 months and up 304% since 2012, computed from record-level Stellar MLS closed sales (6 closings in the current window).
Forest Lakes is a community of 733 homes in SARASOTA, Sarasota County, built between 1925 and 2024 (median 1969), with a median living area of about 2,031 square feet. 62% of parcels are homesteaded, the owner-occupancy proxy in the Florida DOR assessment roll (2025 roll, public records).
The setting & the homes.
Aerial and on-site photos of Forest Lakes. Swipe to explore the community.
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Forest LakesPrice History: What Homes Here Have Actually Sold For
Median sale price over the trailing 12 months ending August 2 of each year, from record-level Stellar MLS closed sales. Same methodology as every appreciation figure on this page: the 2026 point ($647K) IS the median in the snapshot above, and the move from 2025 ($725K) IS the -10.8% one-year change.
Windows contain 0 to 11 sales each (6 in the current window); every figure carries its sample size, and thin markets swing on single closings. Based on Stellar MLS data distributed by MLS GRID for the period 2004 through 2026. Deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
The real cost & risk here
Before the list price, the Florida math the portals skip. These are Sarasota County typicals — your exact home, flood zone, and insurance quote will vary, so verify each before you offer.
Check it for your address: look up your flood zone (FEMA) · insurance by county · true-cost calculator · Sarasota County scorecard.
County typicals from Momentum’s Florida housing data (Zillow & Realtor.com aggregates, Census, FRED), updated monthly; insurance modeled. Flood zone is property-specific — always confirm via FEMA.
Forest Lakes Market Scorecard
Forest Lakes is currently a thin data market. Limited supply, a median asking price of n/a.
Go deeper: true cost calculator · affordability calculator.
Live data: realMLS, refreshed twice daily. Typical value: Zillow Research. Market metrics only; these describe homes for sale and recent sales, not residents.
Housing distress & ownership in Forest Lakes, SARASOTA
Who owns here, how much is not owner-occupied, and how much for-sale inventory is under distress.
Source: Momentum Realty Research. Ownership & parcels from the FL DOR 2025 tax roll; distress from MLS active-listing status/remarks; price from MLS closed sales. Based on Stellar MLS data distributed by MLS GRID for the period August 2026 through August 2026. Deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
Schools
- Sarasota County Public Schools
- Verify the zoned schools by address
- Magnet and choice options may be available
- Sarasota County Public Schools (verify by address) · Public
- Confirm zoned elementary, middle, and high · By address
- Magnet and choice options may apply · Choice
Zoned schools reflect the assignments reported on recent Forest Lakes listings and can change; always confirm with Sarasota County Public Schools for a specific address.
Buying with schools in mind? We can confirm the exact zoned schools for any Forest Lakes address.
The Forest Lakes buying strategy.
If we were buying in Forest Lakes today, this is the order of operations we would run for our clients.
Underwrite the condition first. Price the roof, HVAC, and systems honestly before judging any list price; condition swings value here more than square footage alone.
Match the home to real comps. Recent sales of similar condition and lot, not the asking price, tell you what a home is worth.
Move deliberately, not desperately. Neither side has a decisive edge, so a well-prepared, fairly-priced offer wins without overpaying.
Line up financing and inspection early. A pre-approval and an inspection plan let you act fast and negotiate from evidence.
Keep an agent in your corner. The listing agent works for the seller; we represent you and prepare a hand-built valuation before any offer in Forest Lakes.
A closer look at the Forest Lakes market
At a median of $266 per square foot, Forest Lakes prices sit in a fairly defined band, so condition and updates — more than the list price — tend to separate one home from the next.
The trailing-12-month median down 11% year over year. Homes that do trade take a median 78 days on market, useful leverage on any listing that has lingered.
The housing stock is 733 homes built between 1925 and 2024, and 62% of parcels are homesteaded — the owner-occupancy proxy in the Florida DOR assessment roll.
The location and the amenities are priced into every listing in Forest Lakes. The deal is won or lost on condition, the comps, and the renovation math.
Momentum Buy Score.
Our proprietary 0 to 10 read across the factors that decide how a home in Forest Lakes buys, holds, and resells. Momentum Research; not an appraisal.
Momentum Intelligence Scores are our proprietary, qualitative assessment on a 0 to 10 scale, built from the record-level market data on this page. They are a framework for comparing communities, not a guarantee of future value and not advice on a specific home; unlike an automated value estimate they do not price your home, they grade the community on evidence you can inspect. Composite is the plain average of the 4 factors (5.3). Basis: Long-Term Appreciation +304% since 2012; Recent Direction -10.8% year-over-year; Owner Commitment 62% owner-occupied; Pricing Power 87.2% sale-to-list. Refreshed with each data update.
HOA, CDD & Fees
- Mandatory HOA - confirm current dues
- Any club/amenity membership is billed separately
Confirm the current HOA dues, exactly what they cover, and any CDD bond or special assessment for a specific address before you offer.
Tools for a Forest Lakes buy.
Free calculators to pressure-test the real cost before you tour.
Selling here is won on condition and pricing to real comps, not an automated estimate. The right number comes from closed Forest Lakes sales matched to your home.
Price it to the comps and condition, not an automated estimate.
If you are thinking about selling in Forest Lakes, the right list price comes from recent comparable sales matched to your home's condition and location, not an automated estimate.
What is your Forest Lakes home worth?
Get a no-obligation home value based on real comparable sales in Forest Lakes, not an automated guess. Tell us about your home and we will personally prepare your numbers and a pricing strategy. No obligation, no spam.
See homes for sale in Forest Lakes on the map →
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the median home price in Forest Lakes?
How long do homes in Forest Lakes take to sell?
How many homes are in Forest Lakes?
What share of Forest Lakes is owner-occupied?
When were the homes in Forest Lakes built?
Do cash buyers compete in Forest Lakes?
Have Forest Lakes home prices gone up?
What schools serve Forest Lakes?
Who is the best real estate agent for Forest Lakes?
How do I find a top SARASOTA real estate agent who knows Forest Lakes?
Can Momentum Realty connect me with an agent for Forest Lakes?
Nearby Communities
Explore more neighborhoods near Forest Lakes with Momentum Realty’s local guides.
Data sources & freshness
| Live listings | Stellar MLS, refreshed twice daily (last: June 30, 2026) |
| Community market stats | Stellar MLS closed sales, 12-month windows ending August 2, 2026 |
| Housing stock & ownership | Florida DOR 2025 assessment roll (street-list match (9 streets, ZIP 32817/33771/34232/34233/34239/34677)) |
| Under-contract shares | Stellar MLS records, as of 2026-08-01 |
| Schools | 2025-26 district assignments + FLDOE school grades; verify with the district |
| Historical depth | Closed-sale records back to 2004 (103 transactions analyzed) |
Verify the primary sources yourself: Florida DOR · U.S. Census · FEMA flood maps · Citizens Property Insurance.
Momentum Research figures are our own analysis of Stellar MLS records; MLS data is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Methodology: how Momentum market scores are computed. Market metrics describe homes for sale and recent sales, not residents.
Own a home here?
You just read the data. Now see what your home is worth.
The numbers on this page move markets in the aggregate. The number that matters to you is what a buyer pays for your address. Momentum sells for 1.25% above the Stellar MLS member average and 8 days faster, and we’ll price yours against live your area comps.
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More Sarasota & Sarasota County guides
Compare before you commit - every guide covers pricing, HOA/CDD, insurance posture, and fit. Browse all of Sarasota County or the full Neighborhood Finder.
See how Forest Lakes fits the bigger picture — live prices, inventory, and Momentum Scores: