I walk daily, usually in Burnt store Isles, the subdivision of Punta Gorda where I live.  It is great exercise and a great way to keep an eye on what is happening in the “hood”.  Normally I enjoy this, but days like today it is an unpleasant task.  It is 38 degrees this morning and windy so it feels much colder.  On days like this the “locals” break out the winter attire if they bother to face the elements at all. 

Not long into my journey I noticed a couple walking towards me dressed in t-shits, shorts, and sandals and carrying beach towels.  Tourists, popped into my head.  I chatted long enough to learn they were indeed from the north and they were headed to the pool.  Ok, 38 and windy is a heat wave if you are use to snow and ice and the pool is heated but you have to get out at some point.  My teeth began to chatter.  I tightened the drawstring on my hoodie,  zipped my coat and walked faster in an effort to regain sensation in my feet.  I seriously could not imagine swimming on a day like this.  I get nervous when the temperture dips below 75 degrees and I don’t go any farther north than the mall.

The cold truth is, this type of weather is the exception not the rule and we take comfort in knowing that that it will be short lived.  It is a gentle reminder of why we live here.  The weather fuels my business and most others here, as the snowbirds head south for the winter.  The cold truth is I depend on the cold.

Just a reminder that you should Suport your local Punta Gorda Merchants and check out Think Thursdays for fun to do stuff!

If you live in Punta Gorda or have visited for any length of time you may have heard the expression “over the bridge”.  The bridge is the span over Charlotte Harbor that connects the city of Punta Gorda with Port Charlotte.  To the locals “over the bridge” is that arduous and seemingly endless journey to the great beyond.   It’s that chore that you just don’t want to do.  

Many residents it seems have an issue with going over the bridge.  Punta Gorda is a small city and we try to shop locally and support our merchants but now and again you want or need something and you can’t find it here and that is when you hear, “Aw geez I have to go over the bridge”.   The bridge is only about a two mile span and Port Charlotte while larger than Punta Gorda, is no booming metropolis, so what is the big deal? 

A long bridge to be sure, but the view is always great!

I am not sure what causes this phenomenon because it seems to manifest itself over a period of time.  It sneaks up on you gradually and you don’t realize it is happening.  Here is my theory.  When in Punta Gorda you are never more than ten minutes from any other destination here.  The traffic is minimal and so it easy to move around.  Port Charlotte is larger and the main road, US41 is more congested and filled with those pesky traffic lights that surely add minutes to the trip.  Basically we are spoiled by our little piece of paradise and we don’t want to venture away from it.  Interestingly enough the folks coming over from Port Charlotte don’t seem to suffer from this syndrome. 

Personally I don’t mind going over the bridge.  The view of the harbor is magnificent and it is a constant reminder of why we love living here.  I’ll go “over the bridge” but I won’t go any further north than the Mall.

Gilcrest Park is just an example of the soothing scenery that this waterfront paradise has to offer.

I was enjoying a relaxing walk along the harbor in Gilchrist Park recently with a friend of mine.  Gilchrist Park is a great escape in Punta Gorda.  It has it all: harbor view, tennis, walking path, picnic areas, just alike a mini vacation from the daily routine.

Work was the farthest thing from my mind when my friend asked me if this was the worst real estate market I had ever experienced.  Without hesitation I answered with an emphatic no.  My worst experience in the real estate market occurred when I tried to purchase my first home.  It was at the end of the Carter Administration and interest rates were at 18%.  I was a teacher at that time and I had a fifty percent down payment when I applied for my loan.  I was denied the mortgage because they said as a teacher I did not make enough money.  This one of the reasons I am now in real estate.  At that moment I was convinced that I would never own a home and I was also certain that interest rates would never get out of double digits.  I was wrong on both counts.

When markets are up we tend to believe that they will never come down and when they are down we think they will never go up.  This is exactly what markets do.  The media would like you believe that it is all doom and gloom but there are plenty of opportunities in our real estate market.  Home prices are lower than they have been in several years and there is a large inventory from which to choose.  Interest rates are attractive and there are affordable packages for first time buyers.  Ok, that is great for buyers but what about those poor sellers?  It is true that the seller will not make the big profits they enjoyed when the market was up but then again anything they purchase will cost less as well.

Moving to Punta Gorda should be your New Year's Resolution!

The point is you can choose to be negative or you can look for opportunities.   I am looking forward to a positive and prosperous market in 2009.  How about you?  Happy New Year.

Even in the heat, Punta Gorda has Christmas Spirit.

At this time of the year in Punta Gorda the term “season” has two meanings.  It is the Holiday season and tourist season.  Our city literally comes to life with the influx of snowbirds and tourists.  The quiet, hot days of summer have given way to Holiday Cheer. 

The residents and merchants of Punta Gorda go all out for all of the Holidays but Christmas is especially festive.  It seems as though everything is decorated from store fronts to seawalls to palm trees.  Just take a walk downtown or a boat ride through Punta Gorda Isles and you can’t help but get in the spirit. 

There is plenty of Christmas Cheer in the Punta Gorda Marketplace!

 

One of the unique traditions of Punta Gorda is the annual boat parade.  The skippers spend countless hours adorning their vessels with lights in every Christmas theme you can imagine and it doesn’t stop there.  All of the people on the boats are dressed in costumes.  The parade route winds through the canals of Punta Gorda Isles at night complete with police escort boats.  Folks lucky enough to live on the water invite friends in to enjoy the spectacle and others gather on the seawalls to share the experience. 

Truely a wonderful site to see, Christmas lights reflecting off the boats and off the water!

Out of the darkness come boats in all shapes and sizes with lights flashing, music blaring and everyone yelling Merry Christmas.  It is quite a sight and something you don’t want to miss if you have the chance to be here during season.   It is another one of the things that makes Punta Gorda living so special.  Happy Holidays!

Welcome to Punta Gorda Florida

I am a REALTOR® by trade and living here makes that job a whole lot easier. Let’s face it, it is easy to sell something you believe in and I really do love living here. I have lived in Florida since I was seven and in I have made my home in Punta Gorda since 1985.

So what is so special? Punta Gorda has all the usual characteristics that come to mind when you think of Florida; fabulous weather, gulf beaches, boating, fishing, golf, great restaurants etc. What makes Punta Gorda unique and is what I perceive as its most precious resource is the people here.

This is a small town situated on Charlotte Harbor and maybe because of its size, the residents here have a true sense of community. They are warm, friendly, and always willing to help their neighbors or the tourist in need. Punta Gorda is quaint and possesses a charm that draws you in and won’t let go. The people here are the heart and soul of that charm.

This is a community made up of “locals”, “transplants”, and “snowbirds” with diverse backgrounds from all corners of the world and yet we can all seem to agree that nothing beats Punta Gorda living. I am convinced there is no finer place to live and just maybe through the information in this blog I will convince you too.