Frequently our northern visitors considering buying a waterfront home make a decision to spend time in many different towns in southwest Florida. Quite a logical approach to figuring out where you want to live. Many people start at Venice (or Sarasota) then visit Port Charlotte, then Punta Gorda to Cape Coral and south to other cities like Naples and Bonita.
When it comes to waterfront living and the cost of waterfront, Port Charlotte and Punta Gorda are generally much less expensive than the other towns. Each town has its own feel and its appeal. Towns that are closest or located on the beach are the most expensive. The blue water Gulf has a price that goes with it! One of the things that beach towns do not have is a protected harbor. For a boater or those dreaming of being a boater, the Gulf of Mexico is often rough and you have to really watch your weather when you go out and on many days your boat will stay at your dock. In contrast to that Port Charlotte and Punta Gorda have the beautiful Charlotte Harbor which feeds into the gulf. On most days you can safely navigate the harbor. For the sailor it is a top destination and the town of Punta Gorda shows itself to be a sailing town which is easy to see with the masts standing tall in the background of the houses. For the boater and fisherman, the waters are clean and fishing is world class.
Cape Coral is a popular town that mainly feeds into the Caloosahatchee River. Most canal homes access the river which is a very busy waterway to reach the gulf and intercoastal waterway. For the boater, (in addition to canal boat ride times) you should consider the long slow speed zones, manatee areas and congested boating situation because this is part of life in Cape Coral for the boater. Add to that the Caloosahatchee River has had major water quality issues for many years as a result of contaminated water releases from Lake Okeechobee. In contrast to this, Charlotte Harbor is beautiful, clean and uncongested.
When comparing the town of Punta Gorda to Cape Coral they are quite the opposite. Punta Gorda is a small town with more of a service industry for business’s when compared to Cape Coral which is a satellite town of the big city of Ft. Myers. Traffic congestion and hustle & bustle are a normal way of life in the Cape. Punta Gorda rarely has traffic jams and appears to have a larger retired population.
There are advantages to both towns when it comes to land based activities and lifestyles. Cape Coral is the largest city in Florida by land mass. With that come’s lots of amenities, stores and eateries.
For someone choosing a home for their sailboat or powerboat choosing the right town on the surface appears a challenging task. With the journey, you can spend days in each town checking things out. An alternative would be to give me a call. I know a good bit about all of the towns and am licensed to sell anywhere in the state of Florida. I can tell you what to expect prior to starting your adventure or save you a lot of time. Either way I am here to help.
