Voted “One of the ten best places in the nation to retire due to its affordability and proximity to the water,” this is just the latest affirmation of Port Charlottes continued attractiveness for those looking to retire. Noted in the article was Port Charlotte’s previous mention as the “Top retirement town” in the March 2010 edition of “Where to Retire,” magazine and “One of the most popular retirement destinations,” by Portfolio.com.

While Port Charlotte’s recent notoriety began in 2009 when CNN Money voted Port Charlotte as “The best place to retire,” future development plans for Port Charlotte and Punta Gorda go well beyond serving the retired. Waterparks similar to those found in Orlando, music venues modeled after Branson Missouri with their theaters, shops and restaurants, and “Ripkin Baseball” featuring multiple baseball fields, attracting little league players from across the country,will spur tourism and job growth as the Port Charlotte and Punta Gorda area will become one of Southwest Florida’s premier tourist and travel destinations. Coupled with the waterfont location of Punta Gorda and its quaint historic downtown and state of the art marinas, this area is in position to become one of the best places in the country to live, work and play!

In a recent semiannual joint meeting between Charlotte Commission and Punta Gorda City Council, newly appointed Director of Economic Development for Charlotte County, Tom Patton, outlined the exciting new developments for the 870 acre parcel known as Murdock Village.

Purchased by the county in 2003 for $118 million, and sitting vacant since then, much to the citizens of Charlotte County’s dismay, Murdock Village is on the verge of becoming one of the greatest entertainment and tourism destinations in all of Southwest Florida.

Currently three separate venues are under consideration that would coexist making this the “prized jewel” of Charlotte County. First on the list is a 300 room indoor-outdoor water park resort featuring miniature golf, go carts, zip lining and “acres of water-based thrill slides”. But this $68 million project, projected to create more than 500 jobs, is just one piece of this elaborate puzzle.

A 110 acre live theater music district featuring up to eight theaters surrounded by an array of shops, night clubs and restaurants, similar to the parks found in Branson, MO and Universal Orlando’s “CityWalk,” is also in the planning stages. However, the key component is the Ripkin Baseball Youth Tournament Facility which would be modeled after the Ripkin Experience in Myrtle Beach, S.C. where approximately 1,200 youth baseball teams play tournaments each year. Combined, these three venues would make Murdock Village one of Southwest Florida’s premier tourist destinations.

With a corridor set aside to attract research and technology companies from all over the world, the possibilities for Murdock Village are endless, and the economic benefits for Charlotte County have never been better.

Until Hurricane Charley hit the City of Punta Gorda head on five years ago this year, most people in the United States never heard of this unique Florida City with a Spanish name. Even those within the state didn’t recognize this town which in English means “Fat Point.” However, what makes this Southwest Florida’s city a “must buy,” is its affordability as a pristine waterfront community. Situated on Charlotte Harbor within close proximity to the Gulf of Mexico and world class Tarpon fishing, Punta Gorda has rebounded in the last five years as an even more popular tourist destination and diversified residential community.

When compared to Sarasota and Naples, Punta Gorda’s boating communities of Punta Gorda Isles and Burnt Store Isles offer a waterfront lifestyle second to non and at a price that can’t be beat. In the last six months, 108 homes have sold and another 40 are under contract, a statistic that speaks volumes in a real estate market that has not seen very positive news in the past few years.

While not known for its beaches, the protective Charlotte Harbor has been voted as one of the top ten harbors for sailing, and ESPN has covered the O’ Boy Oberto Annual Redfish Tournament over the past few years attracting anglers from all over the country.. When it comes to gulf access canal front homes, the sister communities of Punta Gorda Isles and Burnt Store Isles, also known as PGI and BSI, offer a unique blend of pristine waterfront living with close proximity to the historic charm of downtown Punta Gorda.

Waterfront homes in these boating communities range from the mid $200,000’s to over $3,000,000 for powerboat and sailboat access to the harbor and the gulf islands beyond. Comparable properties in Sarasota and Naples (Sarasota and Collier counties) can cost one third to one half more, without many of the amenities.
So if a pristine boating community with a charming nightlife, nestled within close proximity to a historic downtown is what you are looking for at an affordable price, you may want to consider the waterfront developments of Punta Gorda Isles and Burnt Store Isles for your next investment or place to call home.