Taxes & Insurance - Sarasota/Charlotte ?? (Tampa, Orlando: real estate, homeowners insurance, new home) - Sarasota - Bradenton - Venice area - Florida (FL) -Manatee and Sarasota Counties - City-Data Forum

Meandb12 · 04-18-2006, 09:08 AM

Can someone give me an idea what these costs are - we'd be considering a 3 bedroom, 1700- 2000 sq. feet, newer home. Am I nuts to think we could afford it? Where's it cheaper?

sunshine girl · 04-19-2006, 01:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jennifer Parschauer

Can someone give me an idea what these costs are - we'd be considering a 3 bedroom, 1700- 2000 sq. feet, newer home. Am I nuts to think we could afford it? Where's it cheaper?

Charlotte county is definitely cheaper than Sarasota by about 100K for anything you look at. But....Charlotte county is the dead zone. Nothing to do there. They are still rebuilding/repairing from hurricane. Sarasota is much, much livilier. More costly, tho. What you're looking for in Sarasota will run from 250K to whatever you're willing to pay. But I'm biased here, I live in Sarasota and love it!!! Unemployment low, jobs available. Florida pay, but jobs. Living in Charlotte you have to drive everywhere, to work (meaning at least a 30-45 minute commute), to shop, you get the idea. Schools are better in Sarasota too. Well, good luck. Sarasota doesn't get as much press as Orlando or Tampa, but is prettier and more laid back. Hope this helped.

Meandb12 · 04-19-2006, 04:57 AM

Hmm, good to know. We were considering the North Port area also (price issue), but according to greatschools.net, Port Charlotte looked better than North Port. We have a home office, so no worries about work or a commute, and my parents are in Naples, so I guess it's a toss up with driving to shop etc. Any info. about homeowner's insurance - what am I looking at outside of a flood zone??

thanks!

sunshine girl · 04-19-2006, 08:12 PM

My current bill for homeowners is $1300 for the year. Can't tell you about anyplace but sarasota. flood insurance is separate and required if you live in a flood zone, which isn't necessarily just along the coast itself. Don't know what your school web site compares, but north port schools are overcrowded. Nothing for kids to do after school. No room at parks for ball teams, etc. Port Charlotte is old people and even less for kids.

Another thought, try Venice. Less costly, more for kids, schools ok. that would be my second choice after Sarasota. Have you considered Ft. Myers since your folks are in Naples? But the beaches and water access is definitely better north of Port Charlotte than ft. myers.

fischfam · 09-21-2006, 10:20 AM

My wife and I are also considering moving to FL in the near future as well. We are considering at the southern west coast but not sure of where yet. We are looking to be near a Jewish community since we have kids and we feel that it would be good if they were not the only ones in the area we choose. Not that we are very religous but we still want to keep the faith going and also be able to move to FL. We so far have found North Port to have a decent Jewish population, but now I am hearng that is is crowded. I am not looking to move from NJ to FL to be crowded although I am pretty sure that crowded is not the same as here in NJ. Sorry for being so long winded but my question here is: What areas have a Jewsih population and also what is the average homeowners insurance rate for area like North Port/Ft Myers/Cape Coral?

2fla · 09-21-2006, 10:40 AM

If you're looking at homes via the internet from sites like homes.com you can get the address and the go on the county tax websites. They may give you an idea on the taxes and if the house is in a flood zone or not.

Don't know if links are allowed here or not but...

Lee County http://www.leepa.org/Queries/SearchCriteria.htm
Charlotte County http://www.ccappraiser.com/rp_real_search.asp?

MrTudo · 09-21-2006, 06:40 PM

Northport isn't the deal it seems. I noticed most places have "well" water.

Well water in S Fla? Yeeech. Even blowing 7 or 8 grand on a filtration system that water is pretty bad. Also look at the swales in front of the houses these last couple of days. See all that water sitting there for the mosquitos to breed? Tells you a lot about the drainage and the quality of that well water.

Someone told me they had 3 inch long catfish in their swale.

jdber94 · 11-01-2006, 10:24 AM

Both real estate taxes and insurance rates along have increased significantly throughout the entire region.

The North Port water situation is a non-event. Adequate filtration systems are included in most new home packages.

Drainage and street condition in North Port has been an issue however in 2007you will see significant improvements in both.

The area is growing for a reason.......great new Sarasota County schools, close to Gulf Beaches, close to several Golf Courses, new Shopping Centers and land that is now priced right not over valued as in many areas of Florida.