Punta Gorda (Sarasota, Port Charlotte, North Port: insurance, big house, neighborhood)

[pool_ready]

DH has taken a job in Ft Myers. We are so overwhelmed with all of the information we've read about the area and schools.

I would love to live in North Port to be in Sarasota County for the schools. However, it would be a 50-55 minute (at least) commute for DH. I think anything in the Port Charlotte area would be too far also.

What does everyone think of Punta Gorda? I don't see much mentioned about it. We are a family of 4. We have 2 children, ages 5 and 8. Are the schools any better in PG? Are there places to avoid?

DH wants to keep his commute under 40 minutes....he has had a 45 minute commute in the past, and that is his breaking point.

Thanks for the help!

[mr&mrssunshine]

i am sure Big House will be able to help you as will Soflgal.

BH has a home in PGI and I belive is this very minute driving down from baltimore and should arrive later today.

Not sure about SFG sure she will be aorund soon

[SoFLGal]

Originally Posted by pool_ready

DH has taken a job in Ft Myers. We are so overwhelmed with all of the information we've read about the area and schools.

I would love to live in North Port to be in Sarasota County for the schools. However, it would be a 50-55 minute (at least) commute for DH. I think anything in the Port Charlotte area would be too far also.

What does everyone think of Punta Gorda? I don't see much mentioned about it. We are a family of 4. We have 2 children, ages 5 and 8. Are the schools any better in PG? Are there places to avoid?

DH wants to keep his commute under 40 minutes....he has had a 45 minute commute in the past, and that is his breaking point.

Thanks for the help!

I've heard pretty positive things about Sallie Jones Elementary. I also heard that they are a "year round school". You can look here: School Accountability Report... or here: www.greatschools.com for more opinions on the local schools. Just search under Charlotte county. If you wanted to go the private school route you could check out Charlotte Academy. I have several friends that have kids that go there and they like it quite a bit.

I know of several young families that live in the downtown area (the historical section). What kind of neighborhood are you looking for? Size home, age of home, on water or not, etc.

[121804]

Originally Posted by pool_ready

DH has taken a job in Ft Myers. We are so overwhelmed with all of the information we've read about the area and schools.

I would love to live in North Port to be in Sarasota County for the schools. However, it would be a 50-55 minute (at least) commute for DH. I think anything in the Port Charlotte area would be too far also.

What does everyone think of Punta Gorda? I don't see much mentioned about it. We are a family of 4. We have 2 children, ages 5 and 8. Are the schools any better in PG? Are there places to avoid?

DH wants to keep his commute under 40 minutes....he has had a 45 minute commute in the past, and that is his breaking point.

Thanks for the help!

We lived in PGI (Punta Gorda Isles) w/ a young child. Personally, I don't recommed that area of PG for young families seeing the median age & most of the area is designed for retirees and snowbirds but your children are a bit older and thus that does change things. The historical streets are nice & you are in walking distance of the harbor area; though a mixed bag & what I wanted was well beyond our price point & what we could afford I didn't want to even walk into. I also liked certain areas of Aqui Esta in PG.

My dh worked in FM (the airport exit) & the commute was 45 mins.

He had an associate who lived in North Port & his commute was about 1 1/2hrs.

While Deep Creek in Punta Gorda (more Port Charlotte than PG but it has a PG zip code) was not for us, it is an area that has a higher concentration of younger families and Deep Creek Elementary.

Port Charlotte would not be all that bad; maybe an extra 20 mins, but that is beyond a mix bag with the schools...very hit & miss. I was planning on returning to teaching & did a lot of in school research while there. Was anything but impressed w/ PC schools & that is why we decided against the area among some other concerns. I did some things w/ the PC MOMS group & they were a very helpful group of ladies. That may be an EXCELLENT source of "real time" info!!!

I would highly consider things. Our realtor also recommended Sallie Jones along w/ Good Shepherd (a private Episcopal school).

Find a realtor who will be very honest and upfront. It would help you tremendously if the realtor has or had children in one of the systems....thus, you hear it directly from the source.

Good luck & just keep asking questions. You have lots to think about!!

I'm a little leary of Great Schools website for it is a profit website & the comments are made by parents...and we all know the validity of a "parent" comment seeing an 8yr old could come on & state they are the "parent"

[SoFLGal]

City-Data pegs the average age in Punta Gorda as 63. Probably older in some areas and younger in others but 63 sounds about right to me.

[121804]

Originally Posted by SoFLGal

City-Data pegs the average age in Punta Gorda as 63. Probably older in some areas and younger in others but 63 sounds about right to me.

I remember the areas in Port Charlotte go by numbers (not sure if they still do) & if I am correct, it was area 15 or something that was one of the better one for families in PC & just one of the better ones in general. Not sure if you know, SoFL Gal.

I came back on b/c it was nagging me (I forgot the name of an area)...Burnt Store Meadows (Burnt Store Meadows - Deed Restrcited Community, Punta Gorda, Florida ) That is a nice area in PG that was demographically varied. one of the things I liked about it is that kids could ride their bikes around there even though there were no sidewalks (no sidewalks in most of SWFL). Wasn't as confusing and large as Deep Creek and seemed a little more "steady". A lot of the foliage was lost in that area due to Charley, but the homes were nice. I know in '06/'07, prices were still pretty high but not sure if they have come down in that area. The school would be Sallie Jones. These were the sort of homes we were interested in though this is the main street in BSM and a little busy Moderator cut: realtor link Seems as if prices have come down a little b/c I remember what we liked in BSM being around $300 a few years ago & definitely not $110/sq ft in BSM. Deep Creek, maybe, but not BSM and BSM is just nicer overall. It's a nice area & definitely had the most "family" vibe. Hard to find in an area where so many leave in the summer.

To the OP, I would focus on Burnt Store Meadows and Deep Creek, both which are in Punta Gorda. IMO, the rest of the area is retiree/snowbird based & this would be something you would have to consider with young children.

[mr&mrssunshine]

Originally Posted by SoFLGal

City-Data pegs the average age in Punta Gorda as 63. Probably older in some areas and younger in others but 63 sounds about right to me.

I wonder what the beer consumption average is now BH spends more time there

[pool_ready]

Thanks for the info. It looks like BSM would be the closest commute time. If that is a nice friendly area, I will look into that community. I am glad to hear some good things about Sallie Jones. I don't think we can afford the private schools in the area, though I have looked into them.

Also, what would flood insurance run in the BSM area? Are property taxes lower in Charlotte county than Lee

THANKS!!!! And keep the info coming if you think of anything else. =)