5552 Howard Creek Rd. , Sarasota, FL 34241(Sarasota County)

SOLD FOR $340,000 ON 09/15/2014!!! Welcome to the "Loose Reins" ranch, a hidden gem in Myakka Valley Ranches, Sarasota's biggest equestrian community. If you like privacy, and enjoy looking at green pastures framed by beautiful trees, this is your property! This 3-bedroom 2-bath split-plan home has a great open floor plan with a cozy living room with a flagstone fireplace, a formal dining area, and an adorable eat-in kitchen with a breakfast bar. A 28-foot long lanai is accessible through the living room, and is your window to the back of the property. There is an attached 3-car garage. A 36x36 barn features a big workshop and a huge bay to park your machinery. On either side, you will find 3 12x12 lean-to stalls. The property is fenced and cross-fenced (barbed wire), and ready for your horses or cattle. There are animal pens with a concrete floor (great for a 4-H project), and even a big goat pen. A beautiful, big pond in the back of the property diverts excess water off the property. Myakka Valley Ranches is a subdivision of ca. 280 families; it has many miles of beautiful trails, which can be used for horseback riding, jogging, mountain biking, or just plain walking. Myakka River State Park, Florida's biggest state park, borders the subdivision to the east. Excellent schools, dining, and shopping are all within 20 minutes, while in 30 minutes you are on beautiful Siesta Beach, or in Downtown Sarasota with its countless cultural amenities.