Rotonda west (Tampa, Sarasota, Port Charlotte: for sale, homeowners association, new home)

[beachbum wannabe]

Hi, my wife and I are looking at some existing homes for sale in the Rotonda west area. Does anyone have some useful insight,and ideas on Rotonda,that could help us make some informed decisions as we are looking around. anything could be helpful. Thanks!

[SoFLGal]

Are you familiar with the different sections in Rotonda?

Here's something I wrote about Rotonda that you might find interesting.

With its canals and roads perfectly laid out in a big circle, Rotonda looks like a giant pizza with each piece being a different neighborhood. It is actually a desirable group of communities on the Cape Haze Peninsula, in Charlotte County on the south coast of Florida. Only 100 miles south of Tampa between Sarasota and Punta Gorda, the quiet Rotonda communities are off the beaten path, yet close to shopping, medical facilities, schools, and entertainment.

If you love the water, Rotonda is the place for you with over 30 miles of landlocked canals. There is ample boating, fishing, swimming and other water sports. The nearby beaches are uncrowded with miles of sparkling, white sands. Situated close to the center of the Cape Haze Peninsula, the Rotonda communities are well protected from the most severe hurricane winds. Rotonda is an upscale, deed restricted community with freshwater canals and numerous separate communities. The inner circle of Rotonda includes 1,600 square foot homes and larger, while the outer circle has homes that are more modest and smaller, ranging from 1,200 square feet and up. Rotonda Golf and Country Club features many courses scattered throughout the community. It offers complete practice facilities, a full length driving ranges, putting and chipping greens, and bunkers. The Country Club was awarded a ‘Beginner Friendly Certification’ from the National Golf Course Owners Association and the Charlotte Sun Herald Reader’s choice award as the best course in Charlotte County. The three Rotonda Golf and Country Club courses - The Hills, The Palms and The Links – stretch like a necklace of sparkling gems through the Rotonda communities, cooled by the gentle gulf breezes.

Rotonda West is a master-planned community with over 20,000 acres of lakes, ponds, greenbelts, and fairways and 23 miles of waterways. Rotonda West is comprised of several neighborhoods including Long Meadow, White Marsh, Broadmoor and Pine Valley. These outer communities are linked to land by three bridges that cross the canal system to the mainland. Home sites are as large as one-third acre. Homeowners pay a modest association for canal and lot maintenance, and other expenses. The Rotonda West communities are comprised of 8,000 home sites with about 5,000 currently completed. Most residents are full-time, and a few seasonal residents live here. There are six golf courses here, four of them operated by the Rotonda Golf and Country Club and two run by Pinemoor Golf Club. These communities are well-known for their natural surroundings, and include a bird sanctuary and plenty of canals for boating enthusiasts. The older communities like Oakland Hills and Pebble Beach are more fully developed, while the newer areas are still evolving. These include Pinehurst, Broadmoor, Long Meadow, and Long Marsh and the more recent development, Pine Valley. All communities are deed restricted with homeowners associations, underground utilities and public water and sewer.

Rotonda Broadmoor is a private golf course community, close to Boca Grande beaches, shopping and dining.

Rotonda Oakland Hills features golf courses, a clubhouse, and street lights.

Rotonda Pine Valley is a popular, neighborly community, within ten minutes of shopping, dining and other services. This golf course community also has tennis courts.

Rotonda Pinehurst is a golf course community with a clubhouse.

Rotonda Pebble Beach is a golf course community in a great location, only seven miles from Englewood Beach.

Rotonda White Marsh is a golf course community with a clubhouse and tennis courts.

The inner circle communities offer intimacy and a neighborly environment, with plenty of great amenities, and lush landscaping.

Rotonda Heights is a lovely little community with great access to local beaches and golf courses.

Rotonda Lakes is a golf course community located just minutes from Boca Grande with its world-class fishing, beaches and a marina.

Rotonda Sands is a picturesque community that is just across from South Gulf Cove, with beautiful lakes and quiet, private streets. It is only two miles from Gasparilla Island.

Rotonda Meadows is a golf course community with tennis courts, and close proximity to beaches, shopping, fishing and boating.

No matter which Rotonda community you choose, you will find a variety of home styles, including carriage houses, single-family homes and villas.

[d4g4m]

If you go to city-data.com which is the home page, type rotonda florida in the city search. There is a full profile of Rotonda.
Rotonda was another one of the General Development projects from 40 years ago along with Port Charlotte and North Port Charlotte [now known as Northport] that didn't meet expectations as planned.

[beachbum wannabe]

Dear SoFLGal, Thank You VERY MUCH! This is huge info,and just what we were hoping for and more! VERY,VERY, helpful!

[Janet2007]

Hi Beachbum Wannabe, We decided now would be a good time to look at buying a property in Florida's Gulf Coast. So we did quite a bit of research on the internet at various towns and areas. We found Rotonda and thought it sounded really nice. The way it was set out in the circle, with the canals and gold courses etc. When we spoke to people living in Florida we got mixed replies. People you have property in Rotonda say how great it is. People you live further north - Sarasota, Venice etc, say it is a bit far out. But we had made our mind up that it was where we would like to be. We visited in June, stayed and looked at property in Rotonda. Then visited areas upto Sarasota. We realised that although you can get some very nice houses at reasonable prices, it was not for us. Apart from the houses. there is nothing there. A lot of the plots have not yet been developed so nothing seems finished off. If they do build on every plot it will be an enormous housing estate without any recreation (apart from some hidden gold courses)
Take a good look around the various area before making any decisions. You will then know which area is for you. We did and knew immediately when we found the right place for us. Good luck with your search. Hopefully we will be completing on our new home in October/November.

[SoFLGal]

I have been out of town and just logged in the read your post. I'm glad it was helpful to you. Good luck with your home search

[mr&mrssunshine]

we love Rotonda, have a lot in the Heights area which we hope to build out next year. Although it is a little out of the way everything is a short drive. Port Charlotte for malls and restaurants -15 mins, beach 15 mins. The area is queit and has lots of open spaces and a small park. great for walking the dog. In short it is quiet and peaceful but near to everything we need. As Janet says it MAY one day be a huge housing estate but the way things are I doubt we would ever see that. There iare a huge number of unbuilt lots.
Of course if you dont like a bit of greenery and no neighbours then further north may be the answer.

[Eric Wischman]

We aquired alot in Rotunda Hts, Fl. Don't know what to do with it. Not really interested in the area. We are wondering what lots are worth, in the subdivsion. Address 104 April Rd. Thanks for any input. The Wischman (jaes_48453@yahoo.com)

[SoFLGal]

Originally Posted by Eric Wischman

We aquired alot in Rotunda Hts, Fl. Don't know what to do with it. Not really interested in the area. We are wondering what lots are worth, in the subdivsion. Address 104 April Rd. Thanks for any input. The Wischman (jaes_48453@yahoo.com)

Most of the lots are listing for $8k-$9k. There are two lots pending right now one for $6800 that's nearly a double lot and one that's a lot and a half pending for $6500.

There are two lots that sold in the last six months. One slightly undersized lot that sold for $2k and one that's about a lot in a half that sold for $9,600.

If you listed it for around $7k you might expect to get $4k-5k, depending on location or size. If you don't have to sell now, I wouldn't.

[mr&mrssunshine]

charlotte county appraiser shows the value at around $7k at present so SFG seems to give pretty good advice.

as taxes are only 250 bucks a year you might be best sitting it out