Port Charlotte Florida and Port Charlotte Florida Real Estate

It’s for retirees. It’s for young professionals. It’s for families. It’s for boaters, artists and history buffs. It’s Port Charlotte, Florida, where the Gulf of Mexico feeds ample, beautiful waterways that help ensure comfortable temperatures all year long.

The modern community of Port Charlotte came into existence in the mid-20th century, with developments popping up along the shores of the Charlotte Harbor, Peace River, Lemon Bay and Gulf of Mexico. In Port Charlotte, Florida, real estate has taken the form of low-rise condominiums, townhouses and villas that have been added to the single family neighborhoods that made Port Charlotte such a laid back, comfortable and safe place since its inception.

Port Charlotte, Florida is the #1 Best Place to Retire

Money Magazine rated Port Charlotte the #1 Best Place to Retire in 2009. A combination of economic conditions, community amenities, state tax incentives, and plain ol’ beautiful scenery led to this prestigious designation. According to Money Magazine, some of the town’s special features include highly ranked medical facilities as well as a cultural center that “houses a 500-seat theater and offers year-round classes in everything from Japanese embroidery to belly dancing.” The magazine also cites the 42,000-acre Charlotte Harbor Preserve State Park as a haven for avian species and a big draw for snowbirds.

The fact that Florida has no state income tax (interest and dividend income included) is just one of many incentives when it comes to buying property in Port Charlotte. The cost of living is lower than the national average--by anywhere from 5% to 15%, depending on the source—and houses haven’t been cheaper or more available in years.

In addition to the Best Place to Retire citation, Port Charlotte has been listed among the top ten greatest places to sail, according to SAIL Magazine, and has been lauded by Golf Digest for being the third best place in the United States to live and play golf.

Young Professionals Soak Up the Sun in Port Charlotte, Florida

There are more opportunities than ever for young professionals who choose to make their home here. The Murdock section of Port Charlotte boasts stores, office complexes, financial institutions, and restaurants that offer plentiful job opportunities in addition to the already sizeable base created by two local hospitals.

The Charlotte County Young Professionals (CCYP) organization, which was established in 2005, provides its 200+ members with various fun and enriching ways to partake in its mission of building relationships, developing professionally, promoting philanthropic involvement, creating awareness of relevant issues, and shaping the quality of life and growth in Charlotte County. Professionals between the ages of 21 and 40 who are active in the community have found the CCYP to be one of many important resources that make Port Charlotte such a great place to live and work.

With the extension of the first time homebuyer tax credit through mid-2010—offering up to $8,000 in incentives to the first time buyers of homes that go under contract by April 30—this is the ideal time for young, investment-minded buyers to make the leap to home ownership.

Port Charlotte, Florida is the Place for Raising a Family

Living in Port Charlotte is fun for the whole family. It’s safe and enriching, too. A mix of public and private schools educate the children via six elementary schools, two middle schools, a high school and technical center, and several religious institutions. With two out of three Charlotte County hospitals located right in Port Charlotte, prompt and reliable care is always available.

There is a wide array of activities available for the children of Port Charlotte. These groups and services include a YMCA, a busy calendar of Parks & Recreation offerings, Pop Warner football, Little League baseball, many troops of Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, the Charlotte County Youth Council, the 4-H Club, and a skate park. And there is always the option of taking a trip to one of many local beaches—something the whole family can agree on!

Bringing Back Professional Baseball to Port Charlotte, Florida

A huge boon for any sports fan in Port Charlotte is its recently upgraded baseball facility, the Charlotte Sports Park. As the spring training home to the Tampa Bay Rays, the park can accommodate almost 8,000 fans and features a 19,000 square foot boardwalk capped by a tiki hut in center field that functions as a full-service bar. For the younger set, there is a Kids Clubhouse with a small playground down the right field line. For one month every spring, fans can make memories or relive them as America’s favorite pastime comes to Port Charlotte.

Find Port Charlotte, Florida…and Find Your New Home!

Port Charlotte can be easily reached from U.S. Highway 41 or Interstate 75. It is 50 miles south of Sarasota and 24 miles north of Ft. Myers. The city of Orlando, where opportunities for fun seem almost limitless, is only 125 miles away, while the excitement of Miami can be reached in just over 150 miles.

Upon arrival in Port Charlotte, Florida real estate agents are available to match each prospective homebuyer with his or her perfect property. From homes on the golf course or waterfront, to vacant lots and new construction, there are ample prospects to suit many tastes. Unifying it all is the appreciation shared by everyone fortunate enough to spend time in Port Charlotte—residents and visitors alike—for the leisurely aspects of life that are enhanced by predominant sunshine and an abundance of amenities.

Homes in Port Charlotte, according to Money Magazine, “cost less than half what they did in late 2005, and about 40% of them sit on canals and waterways leading to the harbor - which has 270 square miles of cruising waters and 219 miles of protected shoreline.” Whether you are a first time homebuyer or a retiree planning to spend your golden years in this tropical paradise—or anyone in between—there is so much that Port Charlotte, Florida real estate can offer you.