Port Charlotte / North Port freshwater canals (houses, investment, flooding)

[eviltigger26]

I've been looking at houses in Southwest Florida (Port Charlotte / North Port) and some of them are next to a freshwater canal. Can anyone tell me some of the plusses or minuses? I'm just curious about stagnant water, bugs/mosquitos, smells, flooding, fishing, kayaking, etc... Thanks!

[SoFLGal]

You can add alligators to the list as well. Some people like to look at them and think they are pretty. If you have kids or dogs I would not recommend living on a canal. As you listed in your post, the mosquitoes can get worse around the canals. If usually depends on how much circulation the water has. Some of the waterways are better than others, the Coco Plum Waterway is the largest in North Port. Most of the other waterways are not very wide and get pretty low in the wintertime.

Several of the waterways you can take a kayak or small fishing boat down. I'm sure you already know that any of the canals east of US 41 do not go out to the gulf.

[jdber94]

Historically fresh water canal lots have been better investments then standard interior lots within the City of North Port. Personally I like the idea of an additional buffer 50'+ between your property and your neighbors to the rear. I have heard of some people catching a variety of small fish in the canals that hold water throughout the year. Non-motorized boats are allowed. Flooding is NOT an issue on these canals.