Punta Gorda v Port Charlotte (Miami, Fort Lauderdale: waterpark, home, neighborhoods)

[121804]

We are relocating due to a job in FT Myers. We have no desire to live in FT Myers area.

We understand the "age" thing w/ SW FL & the snowbirders, etc etc etc.

Just wondering pros & cons OTHER than traffic, age, & snowbirders.

[kar]

Originally Posted by 121804

We are relocating due to a job in FT Myers. We have no desire to live in FT Myers area.

We understand the "age" thing w/ SW FL & the snowbirders, etc etc etc.

Just wondering pros & cons OTHER than traffic, age, & snowbirders.

You have to remember that this is mostly a tourist area with out a diverse economy. If your job revolves around tourism or the medical field you might be alright. If not , it is tough to make a good living in SW Florida. We lived in Fort Myers for 12 years but relocated to the Nashville,TN area.

[121804]

We have some pluses on our side right now in that this job is with a national company that has is well established in Florida. It is also decent income.

We are not moving to FL w/ bare minumum wages or with hopes of a lot of sunshine. My husband has the job in Fort Myers.

We like Punta Gorda & what we have seen so far. It's just that Port Charlotte is a little more economical in the housing sense.

BUT, we are refusing to get stuck in a Lehigh Acres/Cape Coral type of situation & will wait to buy until we know it is right, not b/c it is a 200k home.

[Racelady88]

Port Charlotte is kind of in "no man's land" as far as being near a city. There is not really much there aside from the businesses along US 41. That is why housing is more affordable.

Punta Gorda has more to offer, and has a closer proximity to Ft. Myers.

[charliekatz]

It depends on what you like, but you can always get in your car and find it within an hour.
People living in Port Charlotte are a little bit closer to sandy beaches and the Murdock Circle restaurant choices (Red Lobster, Carrabbas, Outback, Olive Garden). They are closer to Baseball (The Charlotte Stone Crabs). And there's a new waterpark opening in a year. There seems to be more golf in Rotunda than anywhere else. And a top-flite course in Riverwood.

PGI has the ambiance of canals with a clean look from the street-side. The neighborhoods are consistent and well maintained. The restaurants are non-franchise and have street music. There is a downtown with art galleries and little curiousity shops. It is easier to consider riding a bike or walking somewhere.

If you plan to keep a trailer or some boats in your yard, then Port Charlotte is for you (most neighborhoods would allow that).

[Friendly Native Lady]

Punta Gorda Isles is one of the Deed Restricted sub-divisions in Punta Gords, yet there has always been and still are several areas of Punta Gorda that are not part of a sub-division....where boats, trailers, RV's and company vehicles are not allowed.
While growing up between Miami and Fort Lauderdale my folks called the area we lived in a "Bedroom Community"-their name for the moderately priced communities people lived in and raised their families, (where they put their heads down at night), only to get up again in the morning to head off to work in the cities.
The atmosphere of Port Charlotte reminds me of those areas in my past.
Now in my late 50's I'm pleased to be on the outskirts of Punta Gorda, Not PGI or deed restricted. Whe have a canal behind home with a small dock, a 14ft RV-I use as my art studio, and no complaints when Adult Kids and grandchildren come to visit, cookout and fish.
Life good in Punta Gorda-for us anyways! we all find our own niche when the time is right to make a chioce!
Kimmie

[mrcoolmrcool28]

Agreed, we chose PC because we are on a canal and want to not only leave our boat on a lift in the backyard, but we will want to trailer it to other areas as well. So I would like to keep the trailer on our lot to avoid having to drive somewhere to pick up the trailer. It is just handier. Plus we might have an RV or camper someday to use to see the world and I would want that on my property as well.

[Big House]

Originally Posted by mrcoolmrcool28

Agreed, we chose PC because we are on a canal and want to not only leave our boat on a lift in the backyard, but we will want to trailer it to other areas as well. So I would like to keep the trailer on our lot to avoid having to drive somewhere to pick up the trailer. It is just handier. Plus we might have an RV or camper someday to use to see the world and I would want that on my property as well.

It's great there are places here that are able to accommodate all wants and desires! There is something for everyone here, you have the best of all worlds!! There is plenty of room here to accommodate all interests, and taste in beer! 😄