GL: Florida West Coast

[Bob Kunath]

Ralph Yost asked:"FLA residency is in our plan. Wil retire Jan 2012. We are
now looking to
increase our knowledge of the west coast of FLA to get a better
understanding of the real estate markets there. Would like to be Punta
Gorda or more south than that, or Ft Myers area or more south than that.
Need to find a place with a good school district. If anyone has any
personal knowledge of these factors, please contact me.
Thanks
R."

If you are interested in the West Coast of Florida, be sure to check out
Venice,
We did so 3 years ago when we were looking at Cape Coral, but decided in
only 20 minutes driving through Venice that it was the right place:
1.  We bought a house on the ICW.. No dock but plenty of bot traffic for
viewing.  Housing not expensive, and very cheap now.
2. One mile to the best free beaches in Florida,
3. 15 mile bike path behind the house.  12 miles north to Sarasota or 3
miles south along the canal to free Casperson Beach.
4. Small town feel, 25,000 permanent residents.
5. Rte 41 Bypass takes traffic around, not through Venice Island.
6. Some great restaurants in town, most not expensive.
7 Plenty of art shows, farmers market, parades, activities.
8. No recorded direct hit hurricanes in history. Temps similar to Naples.
 Frost rare.
9. Good school district (Sarasota).  Venice HS has a history of state champ
finalist teams in baseball (2007 state champ) football and basketball.

If I sound like a real estate promoter, I'm not.  We just love our new home.
-- 
Bob Kunath
Sans Souci, Pacific Seacraft 38T (still in Wisconsin)
bobkunath at gmail.com
cell:  (847) 921-8175