We provide real estate services for Charlotte, DeSoto, Manatee and Sarasota Counties, as well as the throughout Southwest Florida and a growing list of communities, attractions, activities to give you the best real estate choices available.
Stretching from Sarasota/Bradenton to the north down Florida's Southwest Coast to the Everglades, this area includes Punta Gorda, Boca Grande, Arcadia, Lakewood Ranch, Babcock Ranch, Barrier Islands. Its home to dozens of delightful tropical Gulf Islands, small historic towns found inland and unique wilderness destinations.
Whether you are looking for the best beaches, eco-tourism, parks & recreation, shopping, fishing or dining and entertainment, you'll find it all here. It's also an ideal place to just kick back and relax.
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Southwest Florida has traditionally been the place where many people come to retire, leaving the East Coast of the Sunshine State to folks from New York, New Jersey, and New England. Southwest Florida was developed later than the east coast; in fact it is still being built up. Both coasts share the same warm weather, and each have a beautiful coastline (the Atlantic Ocean vs. the Gulf of Mexico: do you prefer a view of the sun coming up over the water or going down over the water?) For purposes of this article we are defining southwest Florida as the region on or near the Gulf of Mexico Arcadia, Punta Gorda, Port Charlotte, Venice, North Port, Englewood, Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch, Babcock Ranch. Southwest Florida - Overview Weather: Fort Myers sees an average July high temperature of 92, the average January high is 75. The average Jan. low is 45. Several towns in this part of the state frequently make the various "best places to retire" lists. Warm winters, pretty downtowns, an amazing range of active adult communities to choose from, low costs, an ample coastline, and a never ending array of activities are some of the reasons why these towns make the lists. Thanks to a meltdown in real estate prices from 2007 -2009, homes are extremely affordable in this region in 2010. Real estate prices and the cost of living in this part of the state are considerably less than in the rest of the country. What's Good and Bad about Southwest Florida Pluses: - Housing prices are very inexpensive - Warmest winter weather in continental U.S. - Choose from a wide range of communities - Friendly people - Plenty of water - the Gulf of Mexico, bays, canals The Best Places in Southwest Florida Venice . Starting from the north, one of our favorite southwest Florida towns is Venice. It was originally built by a labor union and laid out along canals (that's the Venice connection). The result is plenty of waterfront living and a low-key lifestyle. The downtown is one of the most charming in this part of the state. There you'll find a great library, interesting shops, and some good restaurants. And all this is just a few blocks from a huge and gorgeous white sand beach. . Cape Coral , Punta Gorda , Port Charlotte These 3 communities north of Fort Myers share many commonalities thanks to their location on near the water. Cape Coral, for example, has over 400 miles of canals (the most of any city on earth), so almost anyone can live on the water. Punta Gorda, located to the north a bit on Charlotte Harbor, tends to be more affluent than the other 2 towns. Port Charlotte is next to Punta Gorda and offers extremely good value for the money. Arcadia Howdy, partner. A secret to most, Florida has a rich history of cattle-raising, which means it also had – and continues to have – a large contingent of cowboys, known locally as Florida Crackers (for the sound made by their whips). Located just one hour east of Sarasota and Bradenton and one hour north of Fort Myers, Arcadia sits in the middle of Florida cowboy country and it is a place where the Old West meets the Old South. Rodeos and other competitions are common, and the town also hosts the De Soto County Fair in January and the Watermelon Festival in May. It's also known for its peaceful orange groves, streams built for canoeing and woods made for camping. |
RECREATION
Variety aptly describes the leisure possibilities in DeSoto County. Arcadia Airport Fly-in, Deep Creek Preserve/Park, Joshua Citrus and William Oswell Ralls House are just a few of the attractions unique to the area.
Peace River Charters offers airboat and private charters through one of Southwest Florida’s wonders. There are also canoeing opportunities in the Peace River and Platt Branch features a 4.7-mile trail surrounded by wildlife. Arcadia Municipal Golf Course is an 18-hole facility open to the public hosting tournaments throughout the year. /p>
Each March, Arcadia hosts the All-Florida Championship Rodeo and in May the city features the Watermelon Festival. These annual celebrations include car shows, parades and special events.