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My husband and I are moving down as soon as our house sells. I would love to move to the Sarasota area but my husband is in talks with a company in Ft Myers for employment. It seems that I find better job listings in Sarasota for myself. We are trying to find a location in between. I have heard a lot about North Port on this site but would like to be closer to I-75.
What are the differences between North Port and Port Charlotte? We would love to be close to the beach (like in Sarasota) but think a newer house will save us in the insurance department. It seems that there aren't many new homes in Sarasota and I have seen articles that older homes are very hard to insure. I was thinking older was 1950s but someone said they had trouble insuring a home built in the early 80s!! We could give up being that close to the beach if it saves us in the long run.
I loved the review that someone gave about North Port that detailed everything. Could someone help me out with a Port Charlotte version? We are looking for a 3/2/2 priced around 180,000.00 Not sure if there are certain neighborhood sections, a downtown area, any places to avoid, etc... We also have looked in Punta Gorda at a house in Burnt Store Lakes. When we were there, it just seemed so isolated. Not to mention that it's all in a flood zone. I loved the downtown area but the flood zone thing makes me a little nervous. No matter where we buy, we will get flood insurance, but would like to maybe have the chances that it will happen lowered.
That is my rambling for now and I totally appreciate any input. I don't know how people moved from a different state before the internet and this forum. Thank You!!!
IMHO forget PC, its a big town with little 'soul'. I personally wouldnt live there.
North Port was our second choice if we didnt buy in Rotonda. It still has nice areas, is quite close to I 75, and has access to shops,malls,retaurants in minutes.
Nearest beach is approx 20-25 mins.
you will find a very nice home there well within you budget, which is a perfect cue for Miss North Port info ---- calling SoFlGal (PS ask here for a garidge rather than a ga radge)
My husband and I are moving down as soon as our house sells. I would love to move to the Sarasota area but my husband is in talks with a company in Ft Myers for employment. It seems that I find better job listings in Sarasota for myself. We are trying to find a location in between. I have heard a lot about North Port on this site but would like to be closer to I-75.
What are the differences between North Port and Port Charlotte? We would love to be close to the beach (like in Sarasota) but think a newer house will save us in the insurance department. It seems that there aren't many new homes in Sarasota and I have seen articles that older homes are very hard to insure. I was thinking older was 1950s but someone said they had trouble insuring a home built in the early 80s!! We could give up being that close to the beach if it saves us in the long run.
I loved the review that someone gave about North Port that detailed everything. Could someone help me out with a Port Charlotte version? We are looking for a 3/2/2 priced around 180,000.00 Not sure if there are certain neighborhood sections, a downtown area, any places to avoid, etc... We also have looked in Punta Gorda at a house in Burnt Store Lakes. When we were there, it just seemed so isolated. Not to mention that it's all in a flood zone. I loved the downtown area but the flood zone thing makes me a little nervous. No matter where we buy, we will get flood insurance, but would like to maybe have the chances that it will happen lowered.
That is my rambling for now and I totally appreciate any input. I don't know how people moved from a different state before the internet and this forum. Thank You!!!
Hi LaVidaEsCorta and welcome to the board! If you are looking to be closer to I-75 North Port would actually be your best bet. There are two exits that run off I-75 into North Port-Sumter Blvd and Toledo Blade Blvd. It has very easy access on and off the interstate. North Port has mostly newer homes built in 2000 or newer. It's also more of a central location to Ft Myers and Sarasota. Port Charlotte has many homes that were built in the 1980's and 1990's.There are newer homes in PC but not nearly as many as in North Port. Port Charlotte is closer to Ft. Myers than Sarasota. One of the main differences between PC and NP is the commercial construction in NP is much newer than in PC. Also, 95% of North Port is NOT in a flood zone and in PC just about everything west of US41 requires mandatory flood insurance. You are smart to purchase flood insurance even though it is not required but if it's not required and you purchase it it is a lot less money. North Port is also closer to the beach than PC-it's about 25 minutes to the beach from NP and a good 35 minutes from PC.
A few things that insurance companies look at when evaluating your home are: age of the home, style of the roof (hip roof is best), how close it is to a fire hydrant or natural body of water, what type of hurricane protection you have, and how the roof is secured. There are a few more but those are some of the big ones. When you purchase your home you would want to go to www.MySafeFLoridaHome.com and have the state come out and do a wind inspection to rate your home for insurance purposes. I believe they are still doing this for free. If not, it's a few hundred bucks and well worth the expense. It cut my insurance premium in half. I was paying $1987 per year and after the inspection it went down to $737 per year. This website is also a good reference when looking at insurance: Compare Homeowner's Insurance Rates
In both Port Charlotte and North Port $180K would buy a pretty nice home and you could even get a pool as well.
Updating my post-I took a little longer to write my post than you did MrSunshine AKA MrGAAArage
You guys are so incredibly helpful. Does North Port have a downtown area? I don't want to lose the "Florida Feel" as that is one of the biggest reasons coming to the area. That is why I fell in love with Sarasota, but in this day and age, you go where the jobs are.
SoFlGal, it is reassuring to hear that there is insurance that is resonable out there, as long as you perform your due dilligence. I have printed out so many articles on what to look for in a house to help with low insurance, it's mind boggling!! When you shop around for insurance, does it do anything to your credit score to have all these companies requesting your score? I know that plays into your premium, too.
Just know that after all of my posts, there is a huge thank you!!
You guys are so incredibly helpful. Does North Port have a downtown area? I don't want to lose the "Florida Feel" as that is one of the biggest reasons coming to the area. That is why I fell in love with Sarasota, but in this day and age, you go where the jobs are.
SoFlGal, it is reassuring to hear that there is insurance that is reasonable out there, as long as you perform your due dilligence. I have printed out so many articles on what to look for in a house to help with low insurance, it's mind boggling!! When you shop around for insurance, does it do anything to your credit score to have all these companies requesting your score? I know that plays into your premium, too.
Just know that after all of my posts, there is a huge thank you!!
No, North Port does not have a real "downtown" area. That's one thing I'm not fond of. They are trying to make the area around Sumter Blvd and Price Blvd a downtown area but I'm not sure how successful that will be. I'm with you, I really like the feel of Sarasota's downtown area. I live in North Port for the piece and quiet, etc but when I want good restaurants, cool stores and that downtown vibe, I travel up to Sarasota.
So, to answer your question-Neither North Port or Port Charlotte have a real downtown area.
I've heard before that your credit score is factored into insurance premiums but I have never confirmed it. I'll have to call my insurance gal on Monday and see what she says about it. I'm with Olympus Insurance and they seem to be throwing out pretty good rates right now.
For a location near to I75 North Port is a good bet. You would be nearer to Sarasota than Ft. Myers.
The closest beach from North Port would be Venice about 25 minutes or less depending where in North Port.
Deep Creek would be another area to check into, again very convenient to I75 but a bit nearer to FT Myers. In the same vicinity would be homes in Lake Suzy. You'd add 5-10 minutes to a Sarasota commute and well as beach access.
When looking at old vs new housing and insurance be aware that as a result of citizens insurance, the state insurance company, you will be able to obtain insurance. The issue is at what rate.
In any locale insurance for an older home will be more costly, older wiring, dryer lumber etc. In Florida you have the added issue of wind mitigating construction techniques. In some cases older homes were built with these construction techniques, but they were not code at the time the home was built so you would need an inspection by a licensed contractor to verify the existence of these construction techniques.
For example I had my 1952 built home inspected, as a result of having a hip roof, with metal strapping holding my roof trusses in place, having shutters on all openings, having copper wiring with ground, and other damage mitigating features my insurance was reduced.
If you look for a home outside of the FEMA flood plain you can avoid having to pay for flood insurance. That will of course eliminate most waterfront property.
As you near the coast older homes prevail since the "best" location were built on first. Newer homes near the coast tend to be pricey just because you have desirable location and a modern home.
The features that attract most people to the area, like an active downtown mature tropical landscape, typically will not be found unless you are near the coast.
i live in north port, i guess it is on the quiet side of town which is east of toledo blade. quiet side of town, to me, means that the area is not that developed. a house built here, a house there....i'm alittle more east of SoFlGal and i like my area. it is surely quiet at night, you can hear a pin drop... and the stars at night are just unreal...you can see millions of them! i've been here going on three years and love it! i'm also close to the north port (sarasota), port charlotte (charlotte) county line. the mall in port charlotte is 5 to 6 minutes from my house, also with I-75. my biggest decision about moving to north port vs port charlotte was the schools. at the time i was doing my research, the schools in north port area was rated better then port charlotte, plus with the schools being newer. i'm happy with my choice of moving here. i guess my only beef would be some of the side streets in my area needs repaved. my area was scheduled to have all the roads repaved, then the down-turn in the economy put a halt to that, but north port is building up, with toledo blade widening project, shopping centers being build on toledo blade. this is all in a short three years i've been here. just amazing! i think the city would not being spending money if it was a dead town! i came here from ohio and started a lawn and landscape business and its been good. that was my business up in ohio for 17 years and made the move and never looked back! talk to the people on this forum if you have any other questions and i'm sure we can help you!
i live in north port, i guess it is on the quiet side of town which is east of toledo blade. quiet side of town, to me, means that the area is not that developed. a house built here, a house there....i'm alittle more east of SoFlGal and i like my area. it is surely quiet at night, you can hear a pin drop... and the stars at night are just unreal...
Interesting. I drove to North Port a couple of weeks ago and spent a very unproductive day with a real estate agent. He kept telling me that an isolated house will be ransacked, and I'll wake up to find my air conditioner stolen. I always say I have 3 major concerns when house hunting - very quiet, mostly quiet, and really quiet. It's usually quiet where I live, except for my neighbor's barking dog that is driving me crazy. I've already complained to the owners, so now I need to take legal action. Even if the dog was quiet, I wish chaining an animal to a tree and leaving it 24/7 was illegal in this state. Why even get a pet?
Just want to ask this: there was a rotten egg smell outside of one house. Does the water in North Port always have that odor? He said the previous owners just didn't maintain the equipment properly. I have no experience with well water.
Just want to ask this: there was a rotten egg smell outside of one house. Does the water in North Port always have that odor? He said the previous owners just didn't maintain the equipment properly. I have no experience with well water.
the rotten egg smell is sulfer in the well water..that is common, but once you run the water for awhile the smell isn't that bad, plus i think you get used to it! LOL i'm on a well also and its o.k.... i've talked to some people on city water and they say its not that good, as in water pressure. i have a whole house filter on my system as well as r.o. system inside the house.
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