Maybe moving to North Port (Orlando, Cape Coral: for sale, 2009, foreclosures)

[AmyLiz]

We love Florida, and are thinking about moving to North Port. I am wondering several things. Do you all have high speed internet especially in the 34288 zip code? Do you all have bellsouth for landline phone service-if not then do you have landline service? Is all of North Port on well water?

Also can you tell me what were the requirements that were put into place for homebuilding that builders had to do after the hurricane in 2004?

Any other information you could give me on North Port would be appreciated.

[Big House]

Originally Posted by AmyLiz

We love Florida, and are thinking about moving to North Port. I am wondering several things. Do you all have high speed internet especially in the 34288 zip code? Do you all have bellsouth for landline phone service-if not then do you have landline service? Is all of North Port on well water?

Also can you tell me what were the requirements that were put into place for homebuilding that builders had to do after the hurricane in 2004?

Any other information you could give me on North Port would be appreciated.

You should DM SoFLGaL she knows everything about NP!

[SoFLGal]

I live in North Port and can probably answer most of your questions. I have Comcast and it is available in most areas of NP. Some of 34288 and on the other side of the interstate doesn't get it though. There may be few other areas here and there as well that don't get Comcast. The other option would be Verizon Internet service. Not sure about Bellsouth but most of NP has Embarq, Comcast or Verizon.

95% of NP is on well water with the exception of some streets in the Salford area-34287 and a few streets in the 34288 area-Atwater, Junction, and a few others. Then the older section of town and the gated communities have city water. Most areas in NP can't just be blanked saying it has or doesn't have well or city water, Comcast or not, etc. You need to look at each home and make the determination.

I don't know the exact codes but I do know that the roofs have to be tied differently, the homes now include hurricane shutters or impact resistant glass and the garage doors are now reinforced on the inside with steel bars going horizontally and vertically inside instead of just horizontally. Here's a link that talks a little about it: UF_ Florida Building Code Revisions Improve Hurricane Protection

A few other things that you need to know are that the state of Florida has a program that will certify your home for wind resistance: My Safe Florida Home I just spoke with one of their inspectors last night and he told me that they now are offering grants again for a short time to have the inspection done for free.

Some things that insurance companies look for when evaluating your home are the age of the home, style of roof (usually a hip roof is best), how close it is to a fire hydrant or body of water, if it's in a flood zone (95% of NP is not in a flood zone).

Hope this helps! I'd be glad to answer anymore questions

[debvic]

Originally Posted by AmyLiz

We love Florida, and are thinking about moving to North Port. I am wondering several things. Do you all have high speed internet especially in the 34288 zip code? Do you all have bellsouth for landline phone service-if not then do you have landline service? Is all of North Port on well water?

Also can you tell me what were the requirements that were put into place for homebuilding that builders had to do after the hurricane in 2004?

Any other information you could give me on North Port would be appreciated.

We moved to NP a few months ago and really like the area. We live in the 34288 zip off of San Mateo half way between Price and Hillsborough. We have comcast internet and cable tv and only use our cells-great reception. We are on well and septic and the water quality is good with a water softner. This area is very convenient to shopping on 41 but not on top of the congestion.Many homes for sale in the area and good deals on foreclosures. Many home available were built after 2005 so it's good for insurance rates and they should hold up better if a storm hits(God forbid).

[mr&mrssunshine]

Originally Posted by SoFLGal

A few other things that you need to know are that the state of Florida has a program that will certify your home for wind resistance: My Safe Florida Home I just spoke with one of their inspectors last night and he told me that they now are offering grants again for a short time to have the inspection done for free.

tell me more - an inspection will reduce my high HOA - would like to get it done

[SoFLGal]

Originally Posted by mr&mrssunshine

tell me more - an inspection will reduce my high HOA - would like to get it done

Don't think it will do anything for your HOA but it will reduce your home owner's insurance. Check out the website and if you're still dealing with Satin, give her a ring. She'll know all about it

It's a pretty easy process. You just call the number on the website then they schedule someone to call you back and set up an appointment to come out. The inspector comes out and inspects the home and hands you a form that you turn into the insurance company and then your rates go down. If my memory serves me right, I think BigHouse had one done on his house.

[AmyLiz]

Thank you everyone for all the responses. I have found a few properties that I like already. I do have to have high speed internet, either cable or dsl, for my job, and a landline phone. We love Florida, and have been about 25 times over the years. We usually go to Sanibel Island. We have been to Disney a number of times too. We thought about moving to Orlando or Oviedo, but the crime and congestion are so bad there it just doesn't suit my taste. I found several homes for sale that I really like in North Port, and the area is similar to what we like and satisfies me better.

[Northporter]

My wife and I moved from Maine to North Port three years ago and we love it here. We have Verizon for our landline phone and high speed internet and we use satellite TV, with Sprint mobile phone with excellent connections. You can get an outstanding deal on homes right now, so take your time. There are large numbers of foreclosures because of the home bubble speculators. City officials are excellent and very honest. My home is near I-75 so I have quick access to Sarasota and Ft. Myers. We are on a well and septic system, as we had in Maine. But city water has been expanded by developers. Cindi Mick runs the utilities department and her people will be helpful if you really want city water.

[Big House]

Originally Posted by Northporter

My wife and I moved from Maine to North Port three years ago and we love it here. We have Verizon for our landline phone and high speed internet and we use satellite TV, with Sprint mobile phone with excellent connections. You can get an outstanding deal on homes right now, so take your time. There are large numbers of foreclosures because of the home bubble speculators. City officials are excellent and very honest. My home is near I-75 so I have quick access to Sarasota and Ft. Myers. We are on a well and septic system, as we had in Maine. But city water has been expanded by developers. Cindi Mick runs the utilities department and her people will be helpful if you really want city water.

I like that you gave a good recommendation to the city officials. They often time get bashed, because everyone is angry with all the taxes they pay out continually. But they are people too, and are hard workers and trying to help their citizenry. I think it is great that they occasionally get recognized for that. I've had a lot of great experiences dealing with the officials in both NP and PGI! And, I'm not a city official, and often get frustrated when trying to accomplish what ever task I working on, but do reflect on their help, and thank them for it.

[Kaybee49]

Hi, Just read your post and we live in Maine and are 80% sure we are moving to North Port in the fall of 2009. We really can't take the winters here any longer.

Do you have any recommendation of specific areas in NP that we should look at homes? Also, any opinion on the job market there? We are in our mid 50's so need to continue working for awhile. (IT Manager and a Health Insurance Agent.)

Our daughter lives in Cape Coral and we need to be closer.
Thanks for any correspondence.