Michael Holderness

Bio:

ABOUT MICHAEL HOLDERNESS, JR.

Michael Holderness, Jr. has been licensed as a Realtor for nearly 20 years working in the family brokerage, SaraBay Real Estate. However, his career really began much earlier. “I remember going to open houses as a kid and I started showing properties in high school,” he explains. “As a third generation Realtor, I guess you could say it’s in my blood.”

This early experience has given Michael a solid foundation in providing families with the best possible service. He is consistently in the top one percent of agents in sales and he believes that his success is due to his desire to help all of his clients achieve their goals. He receives lots of referrals and repeat business from customers, which he considers the ultimate compliment. Michael devotes full attention to each transaction, whether he is representing the buyer in the recent purchase of a $5.67 million home or helping a newly-widowed customer sell her modest home.

A native of Sarasota, Michael has a first-hand appreciation of all the area has to offer. “I love the diversity of our region. Of course, everyone wants to see the beaches, but we have something for every interest. Since I grew up here, I know that it is a great place to raise a family but it is also perfect for retirees and seasonal residents.” He also studies the Sarasota/Manatee market, particularly as the economic recovery continues and expects real estate transactions to soar within the next 12 months. “This past year’s hard winter convinced many people that the Florida sunshine is much better than shoveling snow, but the harsh weather prevented them from preparing their homes for the spring real estate market. They are taking advantage of the summer months to get ready and I predict that sales will skyrocket in 2015,” he says.

He is such a strong believer in the future of Sarasota County that he has ventured into commercial development. Michael recently acquired several bungalows on Siesta Key and is in the process of transforming them into a boutique resort. He is enthusiastic about this new project since the location is in the heart of Siesta Village and he recognizes that the area has a shortage of vacation rentals with a personal, yet upscale feel. He says, “I want to give vacationers a beautiful place to stay while they are here. They will have memories that last a lifetime.” However, he has additional motivation for the purchase. “When I show Sarasota to out-of-state clients, I want to show them how strongly I believe that this area is a good investment. This is a great way to demonstrate my own commitment to Sarasota’s future.”

Besides his work in the business community, Michael devotes time to the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides walk. He has a very personal interest in this cause since his mother, Judy, was diagnosed with cancer in 2010. He says, “My mother is a fighter. Not only is she the strongest woman I have ever met but she is simply inspiring, doing great and recently received some phenomenal news!” In his free time, he can be found cross fit training, scuba diving and boating on Sarasota Bay with his beautiful German Shepherds, Queena and Karma.