Looking for a luxury island lifestyle that blends harmoniously with nature, while still providing an abundance of rich amenities? Palm Island and Manasota Key in Florida's Gulf of Mexico offer exceptional opportunities for the discerning buyer right now. "We have a wonderful inventory of many lifestyle choices for buyers," says Tom Wagner, broker at RE/MAX Alliance Group in Sarasota. "We have very good values. You can buy a lot on Palm Island for $200,000 on up or an established luxury estate in excess of $5 million -- the point is, right now there is a rare opportunity to choose exactly the right fit on an island that many have yet to discover."

Palm Island is located just south of Sarasota in southwest Florida between Sarasota and Fort Myers. Nearby is Manasota Key. Both islands offer the ultimate in luxury lifestyles, but each with their own flavor. Palm Island is naturally gated by 300 feet of Intracoastal Waterways and a ferry fee that deters curious sightseers. Its beachers are some of the most pristine with prehistoric seashells and wide open expanses of seclusion. Here properties range from building lots to gorgeous manors, accompanied with private deep water dockage.

Manasota Key features lush, tropical foliage, larger estate parcels and easy road access to the mainland. Established years ago, it offers a wider variety of restaurants and shopping. "It's a lifestyle choice," says Wagner. "Each island has unique opportunities to accommodate your preferences for ideal Florida living."

Wagner reports that he's seen an upsurge in activity this year on both islands. "Manasota Key's inventory now offers newer luxury homes that were impossible to find when the market was booming. The key words now are value and choice. Some of the most affluent buyers in the country have recently discovered Palm Island and have jumped at the chance to secure a location with so much guaranteed privacy," Wagner says. "We simply don't know how long this opportunity to find property here will last."

Just south of Sarasota, off the coast of Englewood, this beguiling barrier island is in perfect harmony with its surroundings. No traffic lights, no high rises, no deed restrictions, just a two lan protected canopy road leading you to swaying palms, an endless white sand beach, and the warm, turquoise waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Century-old Banyan trees alive with tropical birds, frolicking dolphins, loggerhead turtles, balmy sea breezes, the kiss of the sun, and the magic of the sunsets endow Manasota Key with a dramatic, sensual and serene ambiance.

For more information about Manasota Key, click here for listings on the duPont REGISTRY.

For more information on Tom Wagner, broker of RE/MAX Alliance Group in Sarasota, and his Manasota Key listings, click here.