Relocating to North Port w/ Job (Tampa, Plantation: for sale, real estate, 2010)

[BPurk]

My husband and I are planning a move to the North Port area sometime before the year is out. My husband works as a guard at a state prison here but will be working at the prison in Punta Gorda. We have 3 boys that are 13, 8 and 2. We will be renting a home with intentions of purchasing a home in the near future. I have some questions about the area first...

1. We can afford a home at or under $185000. Can we find a decent 1500 sq foot home or larger in that price range with atleast 3 bedrooms (would prefer 4) and 2 baths with a screened in pool? Coming from California and knowing the housing market it sounds CRAZY to think we could get that much for so little money!

2. What are the utility companies in North Port? Water, electric, gas, etc.

3. How far is Punta Gorda from Nort Port to get an idea of what the commute would be daily for my husband.

4. Does North Port have activities for kids? (Community Center w/ pool, parks, zoos maybe?)

5. Are most of the newer homes in Associations? What are the average fees per month for them?

6. Can I have chickens in the city of North Port? How big are the lots in this area? I need room for a small garden atleast.

I think thats everything for now...its late and Im tired so Im sure I'll be back with more questions. Thanks to anyone who can answer these for me in the meantime though.

[SoFLGal]

Originally Posted by BPurk

My husband and I are planning a move to the North Port area sometime before the year is out. My husband works as a guard at a state prison here but will be working at the prison in Punta Gorda. We have 3 boys that are 13, 8 and 2. We will be renting a home with intentions of purchasing a home in the near future. I have some questions about the area first...

1. We can afford a home at or under $185000. Can we find a decent 1500 sq foot home or larger in that price range with atleast 3 bedrooms (would prefer 4) and 2 baths with a screened in pool? Coming from California and knowing the housing market it sounds CRAZY to think we could get that much for so little money!

2. What are the utility companies in North Port? Water, electric, gas, etc.

3. How far is Punta Gorda from Nort Port to get an idea of what the commute would be daily for my husband.

4. Does North Port have activities for kids? (Community Center w/ pool, parks, zoos maybe?)

5. Are most of the newer homes in Associations? What are the average fees per month for them?

6. Can I have chickens in the city of North Port? How big are the lots in this area? I need room for a small garden atleast.

I think thats everything for now...its late and Im tired so Im sure I'll be back with more questions. Thanks to anyone who can answer these for me in the meantime though.

Hi There!

I live in North Port and have three kids of similar age as yours but mine are all girls. I think I can answer your questions.

1. There are currently 28 homes in North Port that are 1500 sq ft or larger with a pool, 3/2 or bigger and under $185K. If you take off the pool and build one there are 242 homes that meet that criteria. Pools right now are running around $20K or so depending on size and add ons. So, yes, you'd be fine in that price range.

2. Electric company is FPL-Florida Power and Light, no gas unless you are in a gated community and then it's rare. Almost all of North Port is well water. Personally, I prefer well to city water. I have someone come out twice a year and scrub down the tank and change the filters for $100 and then you just make sure the salt tank is filled up. That's all there is to it. If you did have city water it would be through the city of North Port.

3. Punta Gorda is about 30 minutes from North Port max depending on where you live in North Port and where you are going to in Punta Gorda. North Port and Punta Gorda have good access to the interstate so it's an easy drive. You could also get there via US41/Tamiami Tr but it gets kinda congested in the winter with the snowbirds.

4. Activities for kids. Since I get this question A LOT. I decided to write an article about it. Here it is:

North Port, Florida - Plenty For the Kids To Do!


Here's a question I hear a lot: "We've been thinking of moving to Southwest Florida, but it seems like the population is mostly tourists and retirees! What is there for my kids to do?"
If you're stuck thinking that Southwest Florida is just for seniors and vacations, you're in for a surprise!

Cities like North Port, which have a lower median age than all the other cities in Sarasota county is booming with fun activities! The best part is that more activities are coming on board all the time! Here's a rundown of just SOME of the fun activities your children can participate in:
North Port Tae Kwon Do - Located in the Cornerstone Plaza in North Port, Florida, North Port Tae Kwon Do won first place for "Best of North Port" in the North Port Sun's Reader's Choice Awards in 2007. They can be found at 14906 Tamiami Trail, Suite E in North Port Florida, or reached by phone at 941-426-7484. North Port Tae Kwon Do takes people from age 3 to adult, and has a variety of schedules and class times.
Bisque It - Bisque It is a "paint your own pottery" studio, which is open and available for birthday parties, scouts, girls nights out, fundraisers, homeschoolers, church functions, or just an average walk in! At Bisque It, children and adults alike will learn the benefits of patience; once you paint your piece of potter it has to go through a 3-day process so that it can be returned to you in a ready-to-use state. As you can see from the "calendar" section of their website, Bisque It holds plenty of camps, classes and "parent's nights out" to keep your children busy! Bisque It is located in the North Port Commons at 14812 Tamiami Trail in North Port, Florida and can be reached by phone at 941-423-5955.
North Port Music & Arts - At North Port Music & Arts, all ages and skill levels are welcome. North Port Music & Arts is a studio that houses music lessons, art classes, summer camps, drama coaching and Kindermusik. North Port Music & Arts is located in the Springs Plaza at 12763 Tamiami Trail in North Port, Florida. They can be reached by phone at 941-240-8880.
A Better Place Dance & Fitness - A Better Place Dance & Fitness Studio serves the North Port and Charlotte County areas by teaching Jazz, Ballet, Tap, Lyrical, Hip Hop, Break Dancing, Ballroom, Latin and Acrobatics to people ages 3 and up. They have their own competition team and have annual recitals! They also offer summer camp as well as fall classes for children of all ages. A Better Place Dance & Fitness Studio is located at 2530 Bobcat Village Center Road in North Port, Florida. They can be reached by phone at 941-429-6700.
Horseback Riding at TKM Stable - TKM Stable, which is located on Sumter Blvd., North of I-75 in North Port, Florida, doesn't just do horseback riding! They have a full range of fun activities to partake in like horse painting, pony parties, riding lessons and even day camps! TKM Stable is the perfect place to spend some time with nature on one of their trails, short or long! TKM Stable can be reached by phone at 941-626-6787.
Cagetime by Sports Fanatic - A brand new addition to North Port is Cagetime by Sports Fanatic, which is a batting cage that offers training, too! Located in the North Port Commerce Park at 1090 Innovation Avenue, Suite A-110 in North Port, Florida, Cagetime houses three cages, two for baseball and one softball cage. They also have a cage that designed specifically for pitching. Cagetime offers group rates and packages, and focuses on honing the skills of ball players from any league or town!
North Port Skate Park - If 15,000 square feet of concrete and metal sound like a good time to you, then you must be a sk8r! The North Port Skate Park features vert sections, a bowl with some hips and flyouts, a nice-sized street course and even a section for the younger kids. Skaters come from all over - Lakeland, Tampa, Naples - to grind in this park. The North Port Skate Park was designed by Team Pain, a world renowned skate park architect whose structures you can find in some of the greatest parks across the states from So Cal to NYC. You'll find the concrete jungle on North Port Blvd at the end of Greenwood.
Kidz Play Place - Located in the North Port commons at 14880 Tamiami Trail #107 in North Port, Florida, Kidz Play Place is is a great place to play for kids of all ages! Kidz Play Place was designed to fulfill the specific need in North Port for a safe and fun environment for young children and parents to play. The environments used at Kidz Play Place encourages the kids to learn, exercise and socialize! They do birthday parts, hold classes and even a daycare! Kidz Play Place encourages parent participation, so you're always welcome to come in and play with your children instead of just watching them play. Playing with mom & dad helps their social skills and strengthens their bond to you as parents. Kidz Play Place in North Port can be reached via phone at 941-423-7100.
Areas surrounding NorthPort have plenty to do too! Here are some of my personal favorites of activities within a 45 minute driving radius:
Kidstar Amusement Park - Kidstar Park has no lack of things to do! At Kidstar, there are 2 arcades with updated equipment, a go-kart track for racing past your pals, rides such as a HUGE slide and ferris wheel, and even a eatery with delicious gelato for dessert. Kidstar's affordable prices mean that you can come and play for a while without spending a fortune! You can shoot some laser tag with a group of your friends or see a show in on the big screen they have, which is similar to IMAX. Kidstar Amusement Park is located at the northeastern corner of Tamiami Trail and Murdock Circle, at 18505 Paulson Drive in Port Charlotte, Florida and can be reached by phone at 941-235-3131.
Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium - The aquarium at Mote Marine is a peaceful and beautiful place to learn about the world under the water. Housing special events and also available to be booked for group activities, the inside portion of the aquarium houses a variety of fish from the Disney-like clown fish to the rarely seen seahorses. My favorite part of the aquarium's interior is the jellyfish tanks - one which let you see jellyfish with tiny lights going around them like Christmas strobes, and another which looks like hundreds of the creatures in a clear washing machine! The exterior of the aquarium is where you'll find the larger creatures; Florida sea turtles, the laboratory's resident dolphins, manatees, sharks and another favorite of mine - the preserved giant squid! You can find the aquarium at 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway in Sarasota, Florida, just one mile north of St. Armand's Circle. You can reach them via phone at 941-388-4441.
GWiz Hands-on Science Museum - GWiz, the Hands-on Science Museum makes learning fun and entertaining. It's possible that GWiz is one of the only places in the world where you can create a bolt of lightening, build a bridge out of magnets, make a beach ball float in mid-air, build your own robot, and build a paper airplane and actually be able to analyze it's flight pattern. These are just some of the fun and educational things that you can do at GWiz; for a complete list of exhibits, be sure to visit their website. They have something for everyone! GWiz can be found at 1001 Boulevard of the Arts in Sarasota, Florida. They can be reached by phone at 941-309-4949.
At this point, you should be convinced that there's plenty of things to be seen and done in this area. If not, here's a brief list of all the natural things that can occupy your time!

Kayaking & Canoing - Rent one for a low cost at State Parks like Myakka River, Myakkahatchee, or Oscar Scherer.
Fishing - You can always charter a boat, use your own, or just go stand on a bank somewhere!
Shell Collecting - One of the best places to do this is at Stump Pass State Park, where shells and shark teeth are in abundance.
Sand Castle Building - Enjoy this activity wherever sand a little bit of water are found!
Hike Nature Trails - North Port has a few of its own, but they are in abundance at local state parks such as Myakka River and Oscar Scherer.
North Port Youth Soccer, Pop Warner Football, T-Ball, Base ball
The list goes on....

5. No, most newer homes are not in gated communities/deed restricted communities. There was a huge building boom here in 2006 so there are many, many homes that were built by investors, 1st time home buyers, etc. So a good many of the homes in and out of communities were built in that year.

Now for the gated communities you have:
Bobcat Trail-monthly maintenance of $121, annual $1920 HOA, $1622 CDD, which is in with your taxes
Cedar Grove at the Woodlands, HOA $150 quarterly
Charleston Park, $180 quarterly
Cypress Falls at the Woodlands, (55+ only), $350 monthly
Heron Creek Golf and Country Club, $831 quarterly,Purchasers acquiring property after May 1, 2009 must become Social Members in the Country Club. New owners must pay a one time assessment equal to one quarter of the HOA fees to homeowner's capital fund.
Lakeside Plantation, $199 quarterly and $1429 CDD, which is in with your taxes
Sabal , HOA $206 quarterly
Talon Bay, HOA $144 monthly and monthly maintenance is $150

This community is all agricultural, 3-5 acres and you can have chickens, cows, horses, etc. It is not gated.
North Port Estates

These two are more toward Venice so, Probably not a good choice if your hubby is working in Punta Gorda. Too far to drive.
Grand Paradiso
Island Walk

6. The lots in North Port are 80x125 or 10,000 sq ft. Sometimes you'll find one that is larger or a double lot but most are 80x125. No, you wouldn't be able to have chickens in North Port unless you lived out in NP Estates where it is zoned for agricultural.

Well, I think I've answered all your questions. If you have anymore just post 'em here and I'll answer them when I pop in.

[BPurk]

Holy Cow! I wish we could be there now! Thank you so much for all the information about the area. I think after researching so much of Florida, this is going to be the best place for us. We dont want fast and busy living like you'd find in a large city but we dont want to be too far off the beaten path to everything either. Does that make sense?

Im interested in the North Port Estates that you spoke of. How many homes are for sale in that area and what is the price range? Also, do you have (or does anyone have) any photos of that area? Are there HOA fees to live there?

My parents are considering a move here as well and are (most likely) going to try and find a home with a pool so for us to have a pool isnt important but would be nice to have. Are there any 4 bedroom homes in our price range? We do have three boys and they arent getting any smaller! We are currently in a 1500 square foot home with 3 bedrooms and would really appreciate a larger home with one more bedroom.

Are there rentals that will consider a month to month while we search for a home or do most require a 6 month lease or more?

Thank you again for your lengthy post! I love it and have already shared it with the kids and hubby!

[SoFLGal]

Originally Posted by BPurk

Holy Cow! I wish we could be there now! Thank you so much for all the information about the area. I think after researching so much of Florida, this is going to be the best place for us. We dont want fast and busy living like you'd find in a large city but we dont want to be too far off the beaten path to everything either. Does that make sense?

Im interested in the North Port Estates that you spoke of. How many homes are for sale in that area and what is the price range? Also, do you have (or does anyone have) any photos of that area? Are there HOA fees to live there?

My parents are considering a move here as well and are (most likely) going to try and find a home with a pool so for us to have a pool isnt important but would be nice to have. Are there any 4 bedroom homes in our price range? We do have three boys and they arent getting any smaller! We are currently in a 1500 square foot home with 3 bedrooms and would really appreciate a larger home with one more bedroom.

Are there rentals that will consider a month to month while we search for a home or do most require a 6 month lease or more?

Thank you again for your lengthy post! I love it and have already shared it with the kids and hubby!

Here's a little about the Estates area. There were two foreclosed homes recently that were listed for $162K and $185K. I do know that they both are selling for more than that because I had someone offer on both homes and we came in over list and didn't get them. Good deals come up occasionally and you have to be ready to jump on them. There are currently 25 homes for sale in the Estates with the least expensive being a four bedroom for $200K, no pool and 2206 sq ft under air. It is listed as a short sale. The least expensive non-short sale is a 4 bedroom foreclosure, 2356 under air and a pool for $250K.

The average list price in the last six months in the Estates is $226K and the average selling price is $201K.

Seems like North Port Estates would be ideal for you if you could snag a home in your price range.

There are some month to month rentals right now but they are generally more expensive to rent then on an annual basis. You should however be able to find something at a discounted rate since it's summer time and not the height of the season.

North Port Estates
]The vast area straddling the I-75 corridor in North Port is called North Port Estates. Here you will find acreage for horses and other farm animals.
All the lots north of Tropicaire Boulevard, the main road, are three or five acres. Some on the south side are acreage with a mix of small homesites as you get closer to I-75.
North Port is 103 square miles with only 10% of it occupied.Some of that wide open space is in North Port Estates.
In this pastoral setting, you will find sprawling farmhouses and modern estates on the agricultural acreage, usually with large pond on the property. The pond provided the fill necessary to bring the homesite above grade. Gated properties and long driveways give the homeowners the seclusion and privacy they crave.
Outbuildings for equipment or animals are common, and folks often keep horses, goats, emus, dogs or other animals. Bring your RV, your boat, all your cars and have room for all your toys in North Port Estates.

With Myakkahatchee State Park in the midst of North Port Estates, there are miles of riding trails plus an oak canopied picnic area at the headwaters of the creek at the park.
Florida deer, turkey, bobcats and all sorts of wildlife will surprise you.

The dense woods of oak and pine provide shelter for many of Florida’s endangered species. Be prepared to live with nature here.
Still, you are only about 10 minutes from a grocery store or to get on I-75 and head to Sarasota or Fort Myers.
Consider North Port Estates if the country life appeals to you.


These last two pictures are two pics I took of my daughter when I went out to view a home for a client a few weeks ago. There was a friendly horse that came over to us and she got the chance to pet it's wet nose. Anyway, I thought you could kind of see in the distance what I looks like out there.





Here's something else I wrote about the city of NP. I deactivated all the links on here because they would lead back to my website and that would be considered advertising, which is against the CD TOS:

North Port Florida Real Estate
North Port, Florida is located on the west coast of Florida in the southernmost part of Sarasota County midway between Sarasota and Fort Myers. US 41 and I-75 provide easy access to airports in Tampa, Sarasota and Fort Myers. At 103 square miles, North Port is the second largest city in Florida in land size, but it still retains the friendliness and convenience of a small town since it is only 18% developed.

North Port, Florida visitors and residents find the Gulf of Mexico only 20 minutes away on Manasota Key, which has miles of beautiful beaches for boating, shelling, and picnic areas. North Port, Florida is criss-crossed by a network of canals and greenbelts providing breathing room between homes. Water lovers enjoy the canoing the miles of canals and lakes that wind through the city. Streets were laid out with many cul de sacs and U-shaped sections to minimize traffic in residential neighborhoods. Charlotte Harbor is also close by and is a favorite of boaters and sports fisherman alike. Imagine living in a place where the average temperature in January is 63 degrees and a balmy 82.5 degrees during the month of August.
North Port, Florida became a city in 1959, and its population has more than tripled in the last fifteen years. North Port’s population is around 46,000 now but projected to climb to 250,000 in the next 10-25 years. Concerned with urban sprawl, the city of North Port, Florida is extending more sidewalks and encouraging walking by planning smaller neighborhoods within the city. With a vast inventory of new homes, resale homes and land, North Port, Florida is a fast growing area where you will get more bang for your buck.

Among the city’s attractions is the North Port Library, a beautiful new building with over 50,000 books in print and access to over 500,000 through the Sarasota County Library system. A second library is planned in another part of town.

Another draw to North Port, Florida are twelve parks and recreation areas, where you can bike, hike and bird watch to your heart’s content. The newest one is the Garden of the Five Senses. Kids enjoy the North Port Skate Park, and a dog park is planned for the future. Most of Florida’s Myakka State Forest is within the city limits of North Port, Florida and provides 8592 acres of unspoiled land for hiking and primitive camping along the river.

Each year residents enjoy the Freedom Festival which is held July 4th with a parade and fireworks, and the annual Christmas Parade second Saturday in December ending at Dallas White Park with a community block party.

The new North Port High School and Heron Creek Middle School will be joined by another middle school this year and another high school in the near future. Cranberry Elementary, Toledo Blade Elementary, Glenallen Elementary and Lamarque Elementary meet the needs of grade school students. To meet the demand of a younger population, a new elementary school has opened nearly every year for the past few years with a total of four now and another planned. North Port has a new high school, a performance arts center, and is close to Manatee Community College, which plans a North Port campus by 2010. You will also find numerous pre-school and day care facilities.

To accommodate future growth, new commercial complexes are unveiled constantly along US 41 and in the Price Boulevard and Toledo Blade areas, the two access points to I-75. A new shopping center making a third Publix and numerous other retail stores just opened on Toledo Blade, and a theater and medical complex are in the permitting stage of construction. A second YMCA and library will also be in this vicinity. More specialty restaurants and major chains like super Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Perkins, Walgreen’s, ABC Liquor and Lowe’s are opening every few months, and a major mall in Port Charlotte is only 10 minutes away.
Here in North Port, Florida you are surrounded by lush landscape and indigenous foliage, meticulously maintained homes, lawns and gardens and upscale golf communities. There is a lifestyle to suit everyone. Generally, the waterfront homes that stretch north of US 41 are on the canals or lakes and have no Gulf access, whereas the canal homes on the south side of US 41 have Gulf access.

You will love the laid-back, tropical style of North Port, Florida and its surrounding communities. These neighborhoods are home to golf fanatics, boat lovers and nature enthusiasts. Some of the original neighborhoods in North Port, Florida include Country Club Ridge, Highland Ridge, Jockey Club. City water and sewer is available in the original communities and in the newest gated complexes. Everything else has well and septic.

Adjacent to North Port, Florida is the famous Warm Mineral Springs area which was recently annexed to the town. Warm Mineral Springs is an established tourist attraction and home to mineral waters with a year-round temperature of 87 degrees and the third richest density of minerals in any known spring in the world.
Local communities in the North Port, Florida area featuring a golf club environment include Bobcat Trail Golf Course, Sabal Trace Golf Course and Heron Creek Golf and Country Club plus about 30 others within a short drive.

Planned communities include The Woodlands, a Centex development with 2,596 home sites planned in North Port, and the Isles of Athena with 15,000 homes planned on 5,700 acres in northeast North Port.

West Villages, formerly an 11,600 acres cattle ranch on either side of US 41 and River Road, is only in its first buildout phase with Island Walk. This will be a small city itself.
North Port Estates is an equestrian dream. This neighborhood has many recreational areas, horse and hiking trails. Bring your horse and stay awhile! The Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park stretches for nine miles, coursing through North Port Estates. Most homes sites are three to five acres mini-ranches and are zoned agricultural. Throughout North Port, Florida you will also find 2 to 10 acre tracts for a sprawling estate in a residential neighborhood.

Country Club Ridge, Highland Ridge and the Jockey Club have underground utilities, central water and sewer, street lights, sidewalks and deed restrictions and are close to shopping, the community pool and North Port Library. Duck Key is a new upscale community surrounding a small lake. Many homes are on the waterfront with direct access to the Myakka River and on out into the Gulf of Mexico. Talon Bay, Lakeside Plantation, Largo Preserve and Charleston Park all provide activities and amenities for their residents.
You’ll find mobile or manufactured homes limited to a few communities along US 41, some with Gulf access.

North Port, Florida still has thousands of lots available for development, and it is working diligently to preserve the pristine environment and balance growth with conservation. You’ll find upscale golf course homes in Heron Creek, Bobcat Trail and Sabal Trace, a variety of deed restricted communities, waterfront canal homes, mobile homes, acreage for horses and vacations villas and condos. Contact us today to find out more about the communities of beautiful North Port, Florida.



NORTH PORT

• Bobcat Trail -Golf, Gated
• Cedar Grove at the Woodlands
• Charleston Park -Gated
• Cypress Falls at the Woodlands -Gated, +55 Community
• Gran Paradiso -Gated
• Heron Creek Golf & Country Club -Golf, Gated
• Island Walk -Gated
• Lakeside Plantation
• Largo Preserve
• North Port Estates -Equestrian
• Sabal Trace -Golf, Gated
• Talon Bay -Gated
• Warm Mineral Springs

[Big House]

Originally Posted by BPurk

Holy Cow! I wish we could be there now! Thank you so much for all the information about the area. I think after researching so much of Florida, this is going to be the best place for us. We dont want fast and busy living like you'd find in a large city but we dont want to be too far off the beaten path to everything either. Does that make sense?

Im interested in the North Port Estates that you spoke of. How many homes are for sale in that area and what is the price range? Also, do you have (or does anyone have) any photos of that area? Are there HOA fees to live there?

My parents are considering a move here as well and are (most likely) going to try and find a home with a pool so for us to have a pool isnt important but would be nice to have. Are there any 4 bedroom homes in our price range? We do have three boys and they arent getting any smaller! We are currently in a 1500 square foot home with 3 bedrooms and would really appreciate a larger home with one more bedroom.

Are there rentals that will consider a month to month while we search for a home or do most require a 6 month lease or more?

Thank you again for your lengthy post! I love it and have already shared it with the kids and hubby!

PBurk,
You are talking to the best real estate agent in the North Port area. Buying from out of state is really difficult, and you need someone that understands all the needs you have, and can help you out with those things. SoFLGal helped me, and I don't recommend people easily, but she goes above and beyond!

Welcome to the board here by the way. There are a lot of people here that will be happy to help out with suggestions and advice.

Good Luck on your move!

[SoFLGal]

Thanks BH I forgot to answer one of your questions BPurk-no there is no HOA, CDD, etc in North Port Estates.

[movin-on-up!]

PBurk-- It sounds like you and your family might just love it here! and wow! 28 homes that meet your criteria! or take off the pool- and there are over 200 homes!!!! then just build a pool eventually. or join a public pool - do they have one in north port?? or just go to the beach alot! (wonderful beaches here)

good luck!

[BPurk]

Ok so now I know alot about North Port. I did a home search on Realtor.com and noticed that there are affordable homes in Punta Gorda too, which is where the job will be. Is that area a good place to live with three boys? Safe? All of the same questions basically as my original post...lol....

I have a few more questions now....(I had to edit to add these!)

1. What does Deed Restricted mean??
2. Why is it that I can check a house in any given city, we'll say North Port for example, and it'll show the property taxes at $2300 and then I can look at another house in the same city but their property taxes at double that? Do the HOA communities have higher property taxes? Does it go up if you have a pool or are by the water? I saw one by the water and it was less than one that wasnt. Im confused on how they are figuring out what the property values are.

Thats it this time. I promise! Thanks again for the help and for taking the time out of your day to answer these for me.

[SoFLGal]

I'm on my way out the door but I'll try to answer your questions.

1. Deed restricted just means that the community has certain rules. For example, no pick up trucks in the driveway, all homes must be certain colors, no advertising on the size of vehicles, pet can only be a certain size and you can only have two and only certain breeds, no cars parked in the street. These are just examples of common deed restrictions.

2. The millage rate for Sarasota county is 14.8. So that's how you figure out taxes. Sometimes the homes have not been reassessed yet for this year or if you are looking on the listing sheet and the home has been for sale for a while, it's possible that the Realtor has not put the update info. For the most current info look here Sarasota County Tax Collector for Sarasota county and here: http://www.cctaxcol.com/record.htm for Charlotte county. Usually a pool or homes closer to the water are worth more so yes, your taxes would probably be higher. Also Realtor.com is not a very good place for searches. Often times there lag time is so bad the homes that you see are already pending and the new ones take a few days to come on. Here's a better website to search on: http://www.myfloridahomesmls.com/

Yes, often communities have there own CDD fees and this would be in your taxes and make them higher. You will see it listed as a line item when you pull up the tax record on this home.

CDD's possess several powers as a legal entity, such as the right to enter into contracts; the right to own both real and personal property; adopt by-laws, rules and regulations and orders; to sue and be sued; to obtain funds by borrowing; to issue bonds and levy assessments.

CDD's provide a mechanism for the financing and management of new communities, which is consistent with the local governments' development procedures and regulations. They represent a major advancement in Florida's effort to manage its growth effectively and efficiently.

The community development district may impose and levy taxes or assessments, or both taxes and assessments, on the property.

These taxes and assessments pay the construction, operation and maintenance costs of certain public facilities and services of the district and are set annually by the governing board of the district.

These taxes and assessments are in addition to county and other local governmental taxes and assessments and all other taxes and assessment provided for by law.

CDD's pay for The O & M (operating and maintenance) assessment is an annual assessment for maintenance for common improvements within your community that the CDD provides. The services vary depending on which community you live in. For example, it may cover landscaping, street lights, guard facilities, roving patrol, storm water management, etc., or it may only include a few of the services listed above.

[Big House]

Originally Posted by BPurk

Ok so now I know alot about North Port. I did a home search on Realtor.com and noticed that there are affordable homes in Punta Gorda too, which is where the job will be. Is that area a good place to live with three boys? Safe? All of the same questions basically as my original post...lol....

I have a few more questions now....(I had to edit to add these!)

1. What does Deed Restricted mean??
2. Why is it that I can check a house in any given city, we'll say North Port for example, and it'll show the property taxes at $2300 and then I can look at another house in the same city but their property taxes at double that? Do the HOA communities have higher property taxes? Does it go up if you have a pool or are by the water? I saw one by the water and it was less than one that wasnt. Im confused on how they are figuring out what the property values are.

Thats it this time. I promise! Thanks again for the help and for taking the time out of your day to answer these for me.

I just posted this link to help someone else, but since it is still on my clipboaard - Here I go again.

I started a journal of sorts on CD when I first started looking. I asked a thousand questions, and needed a lot of help buying here, but I finally made it and love it. I recommend you read the whole thread, because it will give you a lot of incite into Punta Gorda and Punta Gorda Isles - since you brought it up.

Here is the link, and why I recommended SoFLGal.
http://www.city-data.com/forum/florida/340159-punta-gorda-anyone-post8041106.html