Punta Gorda Homes for Sale and other Punta Gorda Information!

Provided By: the City of Punta Gorda
http://www.ci.punta-gorda.fl.us/fest/festival.html

January

****Please note - The Free Movies in the Park Events have been CANCELLED**** Festa! Italia - Italian Food & Music festival January 28-29, 2012 Laishley Park Contact: Michael Della Camera (941)769-2221 www.festaitalianapg.com Hands Across the Harbor 8K Run/5K Walk & 10-20 Mile Bike Rides January 28, 2012 Bayshore Live Oak Park & Gilchrist Park More information, registration and sponsorship forms, click one of the links below: Sponsorship Form Registration Form   St. Vincent de Paul 'Walk for the Poor' January 28, 2012 211 W Charlotte Avenue (Sacred Heart Church) Contact: Joe Sabatino (941)286-8045 www.svdpcharlottefldc.org

February

Charlotte Harbor Chili Challenge & Beer Festival February 11, 2012 Laishley Park Contact: Smuggler's Event Management, LLC (941)637-5953 www.smugglersevents.com   PG Chamber Wine & Jazz Festival February 18-19, 2012 Laishley Park Contact: John Wright (941)639-3720 www.puntagordachamber.com Rotary Club Taste of Punta Gorda February 25, 2012 Laishley Park Contact: Tom Beck (941)575-2388 or mailto:tombeck2127@yahoo.com   3rd Annual Warbird Weekend February 25, 2012 Punta Gorda Airport Contact: (941)639-6188 www.floridawarbirds.org

March

Punta Gorda's BBQ & Music Festival March 2-4, 2012 Laishley Park Contact: Smuggler's Event Management, LLC (941)637-5953 www.smugglersevents.com www.puntagordabbqfestival.com   Punta Gorda Chamber of Commerce City Wide Garage Sale March 3, 2012 401 Taylor Street Contact: John Wright (941)639-3720 www.puntagordachamber.com   MY Promotions Spring Festival Arts Show March 3-4, 2012 Gilchrist Park Contact: Sally Mere (239)995-9549 www.mypromotions.com Peace River Seafood Festival March 10-11, 2012 Laishley Park Contact: Teresa Evan (941)206-1188, ext. 120 Peace River National Art Festival March 17-18, 2012 Laishley Park Contact: Michele Valencourt (941)639-8810 www.visualartcenter.org TEAM Punta Gorda Pedal & Play in Paradise Event March 31, 2012 Laishley Park Contact: TEAM Punta Gorda (941)637-8326 www.teampuntagorda.org www.pedalandplayinparadise.com

Punta Gorda's Real Estate Market is changing! With the market turning around, is it time to list your home or to buy a home? Call me, email me or read more on my website: waterfronthomebuyer.com. Articles from bankrate.com updated daily on the right hand column of my home page!

941-764-7585
LillyM@comcast.net

Charlotte County Florida, 
       Best Place to Retire 2012        

Real Estate in Punta Gorda, Charlotte County Florida. Voted the Best Place to Retire by US News.  Charlotte County home prices were battered by the housing bust, which could mean bargins for retirees new to the area. The median home sale price was shockingly low at $59,950 in 2010. And many of these homes are located along canals and waterways. "There are a tremendous number of houses on the water, and everybody's got their boats in their backyard," says retiree Chris Zwirner, 78. "All the people who live on the water essentially have access to the Gulf of Mexico, and from there you can go around the world." The Charlotte Harbor Preserve State Park spans 42,000 acres, including 70 miles of shoreline along the Charlotte Harbor.  An added bonus: Florida has no state income tax.

Charlotte County Place to Buy a Retirement Home for Under $100,000

http://www.usnews.com/

It seems that everything goes in cycles.   Sometimes foreclosures, sometimes normal transactions, but this time it is short sales. 

Although Short Sales are not the majority of the market, they have been an important part of my business lately.  Thursday we closed on a short sale, and was pleased that I helped the sellers move on without a foreclosure.  The buyers are excited to make the house their own and have enough room for their family.  I handled both sides of this transaction. 

The same day, I got word from another agent that a short sale that another of my buyers had made an offer on was approved.  This in record time as their offer was approved in just three weeks.  Of course the experience of the Realtor and assistance from a local attorney's office makes a difference!  Good news - we can close a month earlier than planned!

Same day - I wrote a contract for another buyer on a property listed as a short sale.  This is a tricky situation, as I viewed all the recent sales in the area, and even though the property is in good shape and with excellent features, the market shows us what the house would likely appraise for and it is far lower than the list price. I must keep the offer within range that the property is likely to appraise at.  It is contingent on financing, and the appraisal for the buyer's lender could caulse the deal to cancel if it doesn't appraise for at least the contract price. 

Not every day is a "short sale" day.  I'm glad to have the training and experience to handle this segment of the market as it is challenging!  I'm glad when the cycle changes and my business includes transactions that are not all short or distressed!