Sarasota
River Forest in Sarasota
Established in 1955 along Phillippi Creek in south Sarasota, just upstream from Phillippi Estate Park, this neighborhood offers single-family homes built from the 1950s to the early 1970s.
At a glance
River Forest at a glance
Established in 1955 along Phillippi Creek in south Sarasota, just upstream from Phillippi Estate Park, this neighborhood offers single-family homes built from the 1950s to the early 1970s.
- Median asking price
- $1.19M
The area
Living in River Forest
Overview of River Forest
About River Forest
River Forest is a neighborhood established in 1955 along Phillippi Creek in south Sarasota. It sits just upstream from Phillippi Estate Park, where the creek bends north past wooded shorelines and two small coves that look much as they did on the 1883 coastal chart.
The homes are single-family houses built from the 1950s into the early 1970s, and recent sales have been about 1,950 to 2,200 square feet. Creekside lots have frontage on Phillippi Creek, which runs out to Roberts Bay. Homes have sold for about $759,000 to $1.2 million in the last two years.
Phillippi Estate Park, home to the 1916 Edson Keith mansion, lies just downstream from River Forest.
What to know before you buy in River Forest
- I will confirm the HOA and any CDD fees, what they cover, and whether a transfer fee applies at closing.
- If you may want to rent the home out, I will review the rental and lease rules with you.
- We will look at drive times to work, to SRQ, and to the beaches at the hours you would actually travel.
Buying in River Forest? I would be happy to walk you through everything before you make an offer. Email me or call me at (813) 394-3313.
River Forest FAQ
Where is River Forest?
River Forest lies along Phillippi Creek in south Sarasota, a short way upstream from Phillippi Estate Park.
What are the homes like?
River Forest was established in 1955, and its homes are single-family houses built from the 1950s into the early 1970s. Homes sold in the last two years were about 1,950 to 2,200 square feet and sold for about $759,000 to $1.2 million.
Can I keep a boat in River Forest?
Homes on the creek side back up to Phillippi Creek, a tidal creek that flows out to Roberts Bay and Little Sarasota Bay. Water depth and dock condition vary, so I will check both with you at any creekfront home you are considering.
Do you have a question about River Forest that is not answered here? I would be glad to help. Email me or call me at (813) 394-3313.
Climate
Weather, month by month
Average high and low in °F, and rain in inches, for each month.
Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ)
- Janhigh 72.5°low 52.3°2.8 in
- Febhigh 74.9°low 54.6°1.9 in
- Marhigh 78.2°low 58.1°2.9 in
- Aprhigh 82.5°low 62.7°2.5 in
- Mayhigh 87.5°low 68.2°2.6 in
- Junhigh 90.0°low 73.6°7.1 in
- Julhigh 91.1°low 75.2°7.4 in
- Aughigh 91.5°low 75.3°9.1 in
- Sephigh 90.2°low 74.1°6.0 in
- Octhigh 86.3°low 68.3°2.8 in
- Novhigh 80.0°low 60.1°1.8 in
- Dechigh 75.2°low 55.2°2.3 in
Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30 (NOAA National Hurricane Center, https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/climo/); June through September is the rainy season, with most afternoons bringing a short thunderstorm.
NOAA climate normals, 1991 to 2020, Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ). Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020, station Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/products/land-based-station/us-climate-normals), as reproduced in the Sarasota, Florida climate table (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarasota,_Florida); read 2026-10-04.
Nearby
More communities in Sarasota
For sale now
River Forest homes for sale
I would be glad to send you new River Forest listings as soon as they come on the market, often before they reach the major portals. Ask Janelle
Updated October 13, 2026
Market now, as of October 13, 2026
- Homes for sale
- 4
- Median asking price
- $1.19M
Every quarter
Prices in River Forest
These are the homes sold in River Forest from July to September 2026, by closing date.
- Homes sold
- 1
With fewer than 3 sales in the quarter, I do not show a median.
| Sales | July to September 2026 | July to September 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Homes sold | 1 | 2 |
| Median sale price | Fewer than 3 sales | Fewer than 3 sales |
| Median price per sq ft | Fewer than 3 sales | Fewer than 3 sales |
On October 13, 2026, 4 homes were for sale in River Forest, at a median list price of $1.19M and a median $432 a square foot.
These figures are closed sales of homes (no land) in Stellar MLS, in the places this page's home search covers. Medians and the lowest and highest sales require at least 3 homes.
I update these figures every quarter from MLS sales. This is the July to September 2026 quarter, and the next update is in January 2027.
Keep reading
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New listings
Get new River Forest listings first
New River Forest listings often sell within days. Tell me what you are looking for, and I will send you new and coming-soon homes as soon as they come on the market, often before they reach the major portals. If you would rather talk, call or text me at (813) 394-3313.
Reviews
What clients say
-
Janelle is fantastic. We recently were able to sell our home in one week at 1% over asking price. I believe that the professional photos and staging coupled with Janelle helping us price competitively led to this success. We closed in one month and are so very grateful for Janelle and her help with the sale of our property.
Google, October 7, 2026Sold a home
-
I highly recommend Janelle Mertins She is extremely knowledgeable, honest, and incredibly helpful throughout the entire process. She is also very responsive and even made herself available after hours when needed. After working with several agents in the Sarasota area, Janelle truly stood out. Her professionalism and dedication made all the difference.
Google, April 7, 2026 -
Janelle did a great job selling our house. We have worked with 4 realtors over the past 19 years in FL, and she was by far the best. She is very knowledgeable about the real estate market, and was great at communicating with us throughout the sales process. Her responses to our emails and texts were very detailed and timely. She was also very proactive with recommendations on how to get our house ready for sale, and she went above and beyond to make sure our house was sparkling clean and staged appropriately to make sure our house stood out compared to others. The video she created for our...
RateMyAgent, July 20, 2025Sold a home in Bradenton
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Janelle Mertins · Compass
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