Update....finally (Tamiami, Sarasota, Port Charlotte: appointed, houses, neighborhoods)

[jetdoc3037]

Ok, been a while since I've posted. We are under contract on our home now, its a pretty solid contract the agent said. So we are flying down again to check out additional houses, next wed.

We are still concentrating on the PG, PC and NP areas.....300k and down price range. Jobs not important, (retired)...but do have school age kiddies, (2).

Our agent in Fla, who is NP based and lives, has been feeding us houses for months, and I've been searching on our own. She kinda promotes NP over PG and PC. We like PG better, it seems, from our perspective, however we've only visited, not lived there of course.

She has said that much of PG and PC are in flood zones and said it will be more expensive of course and the other worries. I do believe her but is that an accurate viewpoint of those two areas?

Is there that much of a difference between those three cities?

Can't believe it but we are actually getting close to getting a move date.

[mr&mrssunshine]

IMO it depends on your budget and expectations.


NP is a younger city, lots of growth, shops etc some good and some not so good areas.


PG, more expensive, older, nicer...you have to have a reasonable spend to get something nice


PC, never appeals, its a big -old town. they don't seem to want to improve it, not that many nice bits v more bad bits


again my 2c


regards schools , cant comment, depends what age they are.

[jetdoc3037]

Thanks, I have read from others about PC....

[Messing About]

I live in PC but would have loved PG more. But not that much $ more. My opinion is the
PC waterfront homes give you much more for your money. When we bought in '08, we paid 100k less for similar features, house wise. Sq footage, dock, lift, gulf access canal, NOT in a flood zone. After investing $75k into a pool & cage, hurricane Windows, hurricane garage and house doors, repipe water supply, new septic tank, and a remodel of the rear walls to have 12' of pocket sliders to "bring the pool into the home", I'm guessing we're worth $300k now. In PG, this would like cost 450-500k now. I'll use that extra $200k to help live on in retirement.

North Port to me is like, eh...ok. Nice shops in the new areas on 41. I can get there in ten minutes. I don't have to live there. Direct harbor and gulf access was more important to this boater/angler.

If money is no object...I recommend PGI or Islmorada in the middle Keys.

[MikMal]

Are you looking for water front or quick water access for a boat? If so, I would consider PC or PG. As mentioned above, PG is definitely on the more expensive side. I think you'd be hard pressed to find something water front there for under $300K.

Nearly, if not all, all the neighborhoods along the salt water canals in PC are decent, well taken care of neighborhoods. While the main drag through town, Rt. 41 (a.k.a. Tamiami Trail) is not very attractive, there are efforts underway to improve it. They are also nearing completion of a new park at the base of the 41 brides leading over the Peace River to PG and have future plans to connect that park with the recently improved Bayshore Live Oak Park along the shore of said Peace River. If waterfront is not your thing, you can always buy non-waterfront on one of the side streets off of the "Circles" of the canals and still have quick access to one of the many boat launches, such as Spring Lake, Harbor Park, and the soon to be completed park at the 41 bride (for "small" boats...I guess like kayaks??).

[vacoder]

If school systems matter to you then North Port is in Sarasota county which has a better school system. If you want to be near the beach there is Venice and Englewood (for the latter part is Sarasota and part is Charlotte). Both towns you can find housing under 300k and not in a flood zone.

[MartyGras]

If you look hard there are still great deals to be had in Punta Gorda....The two things that PG has that North Port can never replicate charm and Charlotte Harbor with its waterfront properties.

I sent you a DM

Gary

[Messing About]

Originally Posted by MartyGras

If you look hard there are still great deals to be had in Punta Gorda....The two things that PG has that North Port can never replicate charm and Charlotte Harbor with its waterfront properties.

I sent you a DM

Gary

Well said, Gary

[fgator22]

My family moved to Port Charlotte roughly 3 years ago due to job opportunities for both of us. We purchased a home in Section 15 which is very nice but we have been disappointed with the lack of improvements and maintenance throughout the County. If we had to do it all over again we would lean towards the PG side as the area is night/day as it relates to Port Charlotte. I would say as one poster mentioned above that Port Charlotte has many more poor neighborhoods vs nice neighborhoods. I have not looked into the statistics but I would have the say the education levels of permanent residences in Port Charlotte is high school at best, from what you see around town(not including seasonals). The best thing that could happen to Port Charlotte is incorporating it as a City like NP & PG.

Just my 2 cents.

[jetdoc3037]

Great read everyone...thanks for the tips and advise. We are kinda a weird fam maybe...I am retired, wife may work but not important, but 2 kiddies, one in elementary and one is 2 1/2.

Waterfront not important but it would be cool. Seems I can't find anything near waterfront for 300k or under. I did see some on Deep creek, which from google maps looks like a mud creek, not sure if its a accurate pic.

We've stayed in Venice before on vaca, actually Casey Key, and have driven through the towns involved in this thread, but this will be the first time actually viewing homes.