A Front-Row Seat to Venice Island Living — Waterfront, Walkable, and Under $500,000

Some places don’t ask you to plan a lifestyle — they simply invite you to live it.

At Bella Costa, Venice Island waterfront condo life unfolds at an easy pace. Boats drift quietly through the Intracoastal. Dolphins and manatees linger in the calm waters of the private boat basin. Neighbors wave as they pass. And from inside Unit 226, all of it becomes part of your everyday rhythm.

Unit 226 sits on the second floor of Bella Costa, overlooking the community’s boat basin and the Intracoastal Waterway beyond. This isn’t a fleeting water glimpse or a distant horizon — it’s an active, living view.

From the comfort of your living room or enclosed lanai, you’ll watch:

•Boats meander along the Intracoastal throughout the day

•Dolphins surface unexpectedly, often lingering near the basin

•Manatees gather in calmer months, unbothered by the world around them

•The annual Venice Christmas Boat Parade, passing right by your windows

It’s peaceful, engaging, and never static — the kind of view that quietly reshapes how you experience home.

Turnkey Comfort That Lets You Start Living Immediately

This 2-bedroom, 2-bath condo with a comfortable 1,088 square feet of living space is offered fully furnished and truly turnkey, with like-new furnishings that reflect a relaxed coastal style. There’s no waiting, no coordinating, no “someday we’ll get to that.”

You arrive. You unpack. You exhale.

Inside, thoughtful updates support easy island living:

•Tile flooring throughout for durability and low maintenance

•Stone countertops and a clean, cohesive design

•An enclosed lanai with sliding glass doors that open for that soothing Bay breeze seamlessly integrated into the living space for year-round use

•PGT hurricane-impact windows and sliding glass door, offering storm protection, energy efficiency, and peace of mind

Whether you live here full-time or seasonally, this is a home designed to let you lock the door and leave — or stay put and enjoy the view and island lifestyle.

Bella Costa: A Waterfront Community Built on Stability

Bella Costa isn’t just well-located — it’s well run, which matters more than ever in today’s condo market.

The community has:

•Completed required Milestone and Structural Integrity Inspections

•Fully funded reserves

•Strong financials

•No pending or planned special assessments

•Residents enjoy a heated waterfront pool, fitness room, clubhouse with library and billiards, covered parking, private storage, and an active social calendar — all within a quiet, established setting that feels comfortably removed, yet perfectly connected.

Steps to the Heart of Historic Venice

What truly elevates this condo is what lies just beyond the front door.

Just steps from Bella Costa, a popular Downtown Venice café invites you to linger over lunch before wandering the tree-lined, winding sidewalks of Venice Avenue. As you stroll east, you pass local shops, shaded benches, and Mediterranean Revival architecture that gives Venice its unmistakable character.

Soon, you arrive at Centennial Park, the heart of Historic Downtown Venice. On Friday afternoons, locals and visitors arrive with lawn chairs, settle under the trees, and enjoy live music in a setting that feels less like an event — and more like a shared tradition.

Walk west instead, and Venice Avenue quietly guides you toward the Gulf. The air shifts. The breeze cools. And before you know it, you’re standing on Venice Beach, less than a mile from home, watching another sunset close out the day.

This is Venice Island at its best: walkable, social, outdoors-oriented, and effortlessly charming.

An Outdoor Lifestyle, Without the Premium Price Tag

Waterfront views. Walkability. A financially sound community. Turnkey living.

On Venice Island, those qualities often come with a much higher price tag. Unit 226 at Bella Costa delivers them for under $500,000, making it one of the more compelling lifestyle opportunities currently available on the island.

It’s not about excess.
It’s about access — to the water, the town, the beach, and a way of life that prioritizes ease and enjoyment.

Final Thoughts: More Than a Condo, Part of the Experience

This isn’t just a place to stay near the beach. It’s a place where mornings begin with boats on the Intracoastal, afternoons unfold downtown without a car, and evenings end with Gulf sunsets — all while knowing your home is comfortable, secure, and ready whenever you are.

That’s what Unit 226 contributes to life at Bella Costa.
And that’s what makes this Venice Island lifestyle so hard to leave.

Check out more details about 240 Santa Maria Street, #226, Venice, Florida, (Bella Costa).

For questions about #226, Bella Costa Condo Association, and/or Venice Island, me (listing agent Mike Payne w/ Bright Realty (or your agent). I’m always glad to share local insight and answer questions — no pressure, just straight talk.

•Venice Pier: Dolphins, Drinks & Dining on the Gulf – Venice Pier is one of the Gulf Coast’s last true piers, offering fishing, dolphin watching, and close encounters with coastal birds. Visitors can enjoy casual tiki cocktails at Sharky’s on the Pier or elevated dining at Fins, all just steps from the Gulf. With wildlife, waterfront views, and dining combined, it’s a uniquely Sarasota experience that blends nature and nightlife.

•Caspersen Beach Venice FL: Hidden Gem for Shark Teeth & Quiet Escapes – Caspersen Beach offers a rugged, quiet stretch of coastline that feels unlike other Sarasota-area beaches. Known as the Shark Tooth Capital of the World, it’s a favorite for fossil hunting, wildlife watching, and peaceful escapes. With no retail nearby and only basic amenities, it’s a true off-the-beaten-path Gulf Coast experience.

•Venice Beach Florida: Historic Charm & Shark Tooth Hunting – Venice Beach blends Gulf Coast beauty with the lifestyle of Historic Downtown Venice, one of Florida’s last true small coastal towns. Known for its shark tooth hunting, vintage 1950s beach pavilion, and walkable Venice Avenue leading straight from downtown to the sand, it offers authenticity and community that set it apart from other beaches.

•Venice Jetties: Fishing, Boating & Iconic Gulf Views in Venice FL – The Venice Jetties are a historic landmark and one of the best spots in Sarasota County for fishing, boating, birdwatching, and storm watching. With a history dating back to 1937 and its roots in U.S. military training during World War I, the Jetties remain a favorite for locals and visitors alike—whether for dolphin sightings, drive-up Gulf views, or simply people-watching by the water. 1837

•Nokomis Beach Florida: Old Florida Charm on Casey Key – Nokomis Beach Florida offers a rustic, nostalgic Gulf Coast experience with a dirt parking lot, coarse sand, and a modest pavilion. Known for its drum circles, local crowd, and proximity to the North Jetty and Pop’s Sunset Grill, it provides a glimpse of Old Florida charm that contrasts with the more polished Sarasota-area beaches.