Punta Gorda Real Estate

While it’s still months off, the $8,000 first time homebuyer tax credit will expire on December 1, 2009. The tax credit can be put towards almost all costs of purchasing a home, including closing costs, paying down the loan, and renovations. However, when the tax credit disappears, it will be much more costly for first time homebuyers to purchase a home. The federal government has mandated that homebuyers must have the 3.5% down payment to qualify for an FHA home loan, but once that initial down payment is acquired, the $8,000 tax credit can be used for all other costs related to purchasing a home. Now is a great time to buy while interest rates remain low, and home prices are down year over year.

Here in Punta Gorda, even some of the more prestigious lakefront and waterfront properties are now much more affordable. Burnt Store lake property, Deep Creek homes, and Punta Gorda waterfront property is likely more affordable than it ever will be again. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to own a home in scenic Punta Gorda, take advantage of the $8,000 tax credit and speak with a Punta Gorda realtor today!

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While the entire country is suffering from the current recession and a significant downturn in the housing market, some areas have fared better than others.  Florida, for example, is one of the areas hit hardest by the recession.  However, the good news is that most economists believe those areas hit hardest have bottomed out and are now on the path to recovery.  While some areas of the country will continue to decline, it’s believed that the areas most affected by the recession will recover first.  With hundreds of thousands of beautiful properties, Florida is one of the areas poised for an upturn in the housing market. 

Southwest Florida, in areas like Punta Gorda, have already started to see some signs of life despite the dour recession.  While the upturn in the real estate market is good news, even better news is that even the most beautiful Punta Gorda waterfront homes are now available at discount prices.  These homes have some of the most breathtaking views of the ocean in the entire world.  Don’t miss the once in a lifetime chance to own these one of these homes before they’re snatched up! 

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 In these tough economic times, people who are financially secure and looking for potential real estate investments have no shortage of options.  But when the housing market and economy pick back up, some homes will be worth much more than others.  Like in the past, location is paramount to finding the best real estate investments.  For example, Punta Gorda homes, located in Southern Florida, have ever been a hot commodity on the market.  Like all locations, the average sale price on homes in Punta Gorda has dropped over the last year, and now is a great time to invest in a Punta Gorda home. 

With its beautiful beaches, fantastic greenery, and delightful social destinations, Punta Gorda is a premier retirement destination, and also a great vacation spot.  There’s no doubt that the Punta Gorda real estate market will be amongst the first to see significant growth. 

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When I was a younger man, I visited my grandparents in Punta Gorda, Florida and spent a few weeks vacationing at their waterfront home.  Because my grandparents lived across the country (I lived in Los Angeles at the time) I didn’t see them much, but after a couple days in Punta Gorda, I could understand why they lived there.  Punta Gorda is beautiful, you can wake up to the sunset in the morning, take a swim in the crystal blue water, and then head into town for a delicious breakfast.  I loved spending time there, and knew that when I retired, I wanted to live there as well.

Turned out my dream came true faster than I had anticipated; when my grandparents passed, I inherited their Punta Gorda property on the waterfront.  As a freelance writer for several online publications, I could basically live wherever I wanted, so I moved to Punta Gorda and have lived here ever since.  There’s no place in the United States, and perhaps the world, quite like it! 

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With the housing market in a decline, mortgage interest rates have also declined, and now is a great time to refinance or purchase a new home.  However, it’s also important to live within your means, or you run the risk of defaulting on a loan.  When choosing a new home, the general rule of thumb is your monthly payments should be approximately 30% of your collective (if you have a spouse) monthly income.  While you can spend more than this and still pay all your bills, it’s also good to save, because living paycheck to paycheck is a lifestyle nobody wants, and is some of the reason the entire economic crisis started. 

In areas of the country that have experienced a steeper decline in the housing market, states like Florida and Michigan, it’s a great time for qualified homebuyers to test the housing market.  Even in tropical Florida, Punta Gorda real estate is quite affordable and now is an excellent time to buy while you can lock in a low interest rate and receive a great deal on the price of the home as well.

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The news media has been abuzz of late about the $800 billion government stimulus that is passing through the House and Senate.  Specifics about the bill have been released, and tucked among the expenditures is substantial tax credit for first time homebuyers.  The tax credit will come in the sum of $7,500 dollars, and all first time homebuyers are eligible, as well as others who have not owned a home in the last three years.  The tax credit is designed to jump start the housing market, and housing industry specialists seem to think it will do just that.

When we’re talking about Florida, which, let’s face it, has suffered a bit since the economy turned sour, it’s a great time to purchase a new home.  Even in tropical locations like Punta Gorda, often considered one of the most beautiful areas in Florida, real estate is available and you’ll soon be able to get a great deal.  You can’t go wrong when it comes to Punta Gorda realty; even if the home isn’t spectacular, you can’t match the beauty of the environment!

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Over the years I’ve traveled quite a bit, both in the United States and to other countries, and I’ve found some great vacation spots.  I think my most favorite would have to be Hiroshima, Japan.  The city itself is not extraordinary in a structural sense, but rather it is the way in which the city recovered after the atomic bomb disaster.  There is remarkable beauty and hardiness to the city and its people.  In addition, there are several scenic locations which are just as breathtaking as they were before the disaster.

Amongst my other favorites, I enjoyed Salt Lake City, Utah for the salt lake and just the general kindness of people in the town.  Toulouse, France is another favorite for its countryside.  For a tropical climate, Punta Gorda, Florida has golf, boating, and beautiful water, and I also like the structural characteristics of Punta Gorda homes.

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In 2004 the western Florida coast was devastated by hurricane Charley.  I flew in to Florida to visit my mother and father about a day after the hurricane had been through.  My parents lived in Punta Gorda, and it was apparent that the town had been hit hard when I encountered a National Guard roadblock about fifteen minutes outside the town.  Though the damage to things like the gutters, street signs, and select buildings around the town was intense, my parent’s house had avoided all but cosmetic damage. 

Despite the imposing risk of hurricanes, the town as a whole proved quite durable.  One year later I visited my parents again, and the town appeared as if nothing had happened.  Punta Gorda real estate values were normal, all the visible damage had been removed or repaired, and residents I spoke with remembered the storm as just a passing memory.  It’s remarkable to encounter such resilient people.

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A Sept. 18, 2008 article in U.S. News & World Report listed Punta Gorda, Fla. as one of the “best places to retire.” The article depicts the town as a thriving place with a small-town feel. Some of the enticing aspects listed for the retirement-age community were: warm winters, an abundance of golf courses, a cheaper cost of living than northern Florida, and a relatively quiet nightlife. The town has about 17,000 residents, and has been rebuilding itself (for the better, according to the article) since it was nearly destroyed in 2004 when Hurricane Charley, a Category 4 storm, swept through.Rebuilding has introduced new and eclectic businesses to the small town, and has allowed the residents to build everything in the traditional Florida style, to enhance the atmosphere of the community.

So it you’re looking for a quiet, thriving and warm place to spend your golden years, look into Punta Gorda, Florida homes.

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“MLS” is a real estate term that stands for “multiple listing service”.  The MLS is an inventory of available real estate, including residential and commercial properties, income and rental properties, and vacant land. 

Hubert Ihle is a professional realtor that represents Re/Max Harbor Realty in Punta Gorda, Florida, overseeing a great deal of the South Florida MLS. 

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