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Old 05-01-2010, 07:05 PM
 
3 posts, read 6,907 times
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I am looking at a move to southwest Florida. My new territory would basically be all of Florida south of Tampa to Melbourne all the way to Miami and the Keys. I am from a more rural part of the world and would prefer to stay out of metropolitan areas but be as centrally located as possible. I will be on the road 2-3 nites a week and will be leaving wife & kids at home. I have kids in middle and high school.I do not want to be on the east coast. Places of interest to me are from Sarasota to Naples with more interest in the Venice & Rotonda areas. What thoughts would anyone care to share with me about the best place for this move?
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Old 05-02-2010, 04:21 AM
 
639 posts, read 3,527,184 times
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Check out Punta Gorda & Port Charlotte. I just got back from there a few weeks ago. I'd live there in a heartbeat! I have some good friends of mine that moved year round to Punta Gorda's "Deep Creek" community a few years ago and they still absolutely love it there, everything about it. So check that out to see what you think.
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Old 05-02-2010, 07:58 AM
 
Location: Palm Island and North Port
7,511 posts, read 22,914,037 times
Reputation: 2878
It depends on exactly what type of lifestyle you're looking for. I lived in Charlotte county-Port Charlotte/Punta Gorda and moved to Sarasota county because I prefer the school system. Not that Charlotte is bad, I just had specific plans for my kids in Sarasota county.

If you want to be in Sarasota county and still purchase/rent at a reasonable price then check out North Port. It's about 30 minutes from the beach, the average age is 38 and you can pick up a pretty nice home in the low 100's.

Venice is also a very nice community but the average age there is 68. Depending on where you live it's very close to Venice Beach.

And Sarasota has a lot more to do-restaurants, lots of shopping, Siesta Key Beach, etc. The prices overall would be much more than North Port for the same house though.

I think you should visit the area and figure out which area is for you
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Old 05-02-2010, 08:15 AM
 
3 posts, read 6,907 times
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Thank you for the replies. I will be checking out the areas -I have the luxury of time in making this decision. I was just looking for a direction to begin. SoFlGal - what are your thoughts on Naples to Ft Myers areas? Bonito - Estero areas? Not that I will base my decision on my readings only but from what I have read I like Sarasota county better - I feel like I can get more of a rural feel there but I would also like to be as centrally located as being further south would allow me. Trying to have my cake & eat it too I guess.

Order of importance
1) Schools & safety of my kids - family
2) Family - small town atmosphere
3) West coast - beach/island area
4) Water access
5) Centrally located

Price range $200-$300k
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Old 05-02-2010, 08:19 AM
 
Location: Punta Gorda and Maryland
6,103 posts, read 15,082,980 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NEFLSEGA View Post
Thank you for the replies. I will be checking out the areas -I have the luxury of time in making this decision. I was just looking for a direction to begin. SoFlGal - what are your thoughts on Naples to Ft Myers areas? Bonito - Estero areas? Not that I will base my decision on my readings only but from what I have read I like Sarasota county better - I feel like I can get more of a rural feel there but I would also like to be as centrally located as being further south would allow me. Trying to have my cake & eat it too I guess.

Order of importance
1) Schools & safety of my kids - family
2) Family - small town atmosphere
3) West coast - beach/island area
4) Water access
5) Centrally located

Price range $200-$300k
I would pick Sarasota County, mainly because it is best for the kids. I think the Schools system is better too, and it is just as centrally located, maybe a little north, but closer to larger population centers. Everything else, can be found in either location. Good Luck!
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Old 05-02-2010, 08:54 AM
 
Location: Palm Island and North Port
7,511 posts, read 22,914,037 times
Reputation: 2878
Quote:
Originally Posted by NEFLSEGA View Post
Thank you for the replies. I will be checking out the areas -I have the luxury of time in making this decision. I was just looking for a direction to begin. SoFlGal - what are your thoughts on Naples to Ft Myers areas? Bonito - Estero areas? Not that I will base my decision on my readings only but from what I have read I like Sarasota county better - I feel like I can get more of a rural feel there but I would also like to be as centrally located as being further south would allow me. Trying to have my cake & eat it too I guess.

Order of importance
1) Schools & safety of my kids - family
2) Family - small town atmosphere
3) West coast - beach/island area
4) Water access
5) Centrally located

Price range $200-$300k
Well, I'd have to agree with BH. I don't have first hand experience with the areas below Punta Gorda. Naples is too hmmm...how shall I put this, upper class for me. Not sure if that's the right word or not. And the population as a whole is very elderly.

If schools are number one than Sarasota county would be your best bet, in my opinion. Small town atmosphere sounds like North Port for the most part. Beachy would be more Sarasota than the other areas. Water access would be Englewood, Venice, Sarasota. Centrally located would probably be Sarasota.

You could pick up something in your price range in North Port, Venice, Sarasota, really every area. Like I mentioned before the location, age and size would differ from area to area. North Port is the most affordable in Sarasota county and as you move north in Sarasota county it generally gets more expensive.
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Old 05-02-2010, 10:04 AM
 
Location: Ohio/Sarasota
913 posts, read 2,361,418 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SoFLGal View Post
Naples is too hmmm...how shall I put this, upper class for me.

I remember when I started thinking about moving to FL, about 20-25 years ago. At that time Collier County (Naples) had the highest percentage millionaires in the country.
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Old 05-02-2010, 10:56 AM
 
639 posts, read 3,527,184 times
Reputation: 539
NEFLSEGA,

I forgot to add that my friends that moved to Punta Gorda don't have kids to worry about as they're grown up. So when we were having a get together around the pool one night, there was this couple there telling us they ended up sending their two kids up to Sarasota to school. If they didn't drive them up, they car pooled a lot of times. So the school system they said IS MUCH better in Sarasota as the previous posters suggested to you here. They also said it paid off in the end, both their kids have done very well as a result of those schools up thru Sarasota, so something must be right!

We also took a quick cruise one afternoon, while I was there visiting, thru Northport as these friends wanted me to see that particular area, they were telling me how up and coming it is. I'll tell you, I was impressed with it quite a bit. So NEFLSEGA, put that Northport on your agenda for checking it out when you visit, it's really pretty nice!

You'll get it narrowed down, this CD site definitely helps immensely with researching the towns, NO doubt about it, good luck!

Also, YES to the comment about Naples! Evidently it has this reputation of being quite snooty, WHY I have no idea, ya think it's the million dollar babies strutting their stuff around or what! I actually just drove thru Naples really quick one time several years ago, so I can't vouch for it, I certainly didn't see any one that struck me as snooty, although may be I wasn't looking, at the time I just wanted to see Naples really quick, lol!

Last edited by CityGirl52; 05-02-2010 at 11:09 AM..
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Old 05-02-2010, 11:09 AM
 
3 posts, read 6,907 times
Reputation: 10
Thanks everyone! You have all made good points and started me in a direction. I may post back my findings and thoughts as things progress. I'd still be interested in any other opinions or tips that anyone would like to share.

I seem to be dialing in on that Nokomis to Englewood to North Point triangle right now.
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Old 05-02-2010, 02:15 PM
 
Location: englewood
1,580 posts, read 3,141,329 times
Reputation: 772
we settled into north englewood neat manasota beach. this area is amazing. it feels like we are a hundred miles from anything but at walmart, publix or home depot in 10 minutes. there is no keeping up with the joneses. people are friendly and down to earth. it is odd when walking that someone does not say hello. i guess maybe the occasional vacationer from up north. we are close enough to the beach that we walk over the bridge every night.
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