Venice Florida Real Estate Blog

E. Scott Kuffer, Sarasota Realtor

Venice florida downtown Venice Island FL

Venice Island History

Venice Island was created in the 1960's when the Army Corp. of Engineers dredged a channel from Hatchett Creek at the north to Lemon Bay to the south. The purpose was to create a safe protected passage for navigation. Venice Theatre, established in 1950 as “Venice Little Theatre” is the most highly awarded community theatre in Florida and the entire Southeast.

The original Venice downtown area and surroundings is on Venice Island. It was designed by John Nolen in 1926 for the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and is honored by being listed on the National Historic Register. Downtown Venice is a real “downtown” featuring a myriad of shops, professional offices, restaurants, bars and is a great place to spend an afternoon or evening.

There are many festivals held in Venice each year, including an annual Holiday Parade, art shows, car shows, and a weekly farmers market. Venice Municipal Airport holds annual events including the Warbirds Wings of Freedom event featuring a restored B-24 Liberator and a P-51 Mustang

Venice Island also is home to Venice High School with it's successful sports programs and the new Performing Arts Hall, and most of the city government offices are on Venice Island.

Venice Real Estate

Venice is a great place to call home, with a variety of different communities and property styles to choose from. Many of the homes on Venice Island date back 100 years and have been restored to their original character, while many waterfront homes have been replaced by large elegant estate style homes.

Venice Island, FL

Housing options on the Island range from Condos starting at about $100K all the way up to exquisite waterfront properties priced in the millions. People living on "The Island" enjoy being able to walk or bike to the beach, shop downtown or go to the grocery store.

Venice Gardens, FL

One of the original "planned communities" Venice Gardens is home to approximately 8,100 residents. Homes were built mainly in the 1960's and 1970's and are selling from the low to mid $200K range. Venice Gardens has it's own utility system providing public water and sewer connections to the homes. There is also a community center and a community pool.

South Venice, FL

One of the most affordable housing locations in the area, South Venice homes are mostly on well water and septic systems, although Englewood Water District is expanding it's services northward into South Venice. There are also still some vacant lots available for those wishing to build their own custom homes. While not "on the beach" there is a community boat launch on the Intracoastal Waterway and also a private Ferry service for residents that makes a very short trip across the waterway to a private beach on the Gulf.

North Venice, FL

Mostly annexed from Nokomis, there are a number of new home communities in North Venice, including Bellacina, Toscana Isles, Venetian Golf and River Club, Milano, Cielo, Vicenza, Aria, and Venice Woodlands, all with easy access to I-75, but still only 10 to 15 minutes to the beaches.

East Venice, FL

With large lots measuring in the acres, East Venice is the place where horse lovers can enjoy their passions. The nearby Carlton Reserve is a 24,565-acre preserve at the end of Border Rd that has 80 miles of hiking, equestrian, and biking trails. The park's Myakka Wilderness Trail connects the Carlton Reserve with Myakka River State Park.

Venice Sand and Beaches

Venice is known as "The Shark Tooth Capital" and there are several beaches on Venice Island where beachgoers look for these fossilized Megalodon shark's teeth in the sand and surf. Island beaches include Venice City Beach, which stretches from Venice Inlet to the Municipal Pier at Sharky's Restaurant, Casperson Beach (great place to find shark's teeth) and even a beach where you can take your dogs for a swim in the surf!

Venice Restaurants and Fishing

There is no shortage of dining options in Venice. In keeping with it's Northern Italian influences, there are over 80 Italian restaurants to choose from as well as a great variety of places offering varied cuisines. Waterfront dining options are also popular including the "must visit" Sharky's On the Pier Restaurant, a well known spot for catching the sunsets. It's right on the beach at the base of the Venice Municipal Pier, a 700 foot long fishing pier where anglers try their skills at catching "the big one". Another popular waterfront option is the Dockside Waterfront Grill located at Fisherman's Wharf Marina near the KMI (North) Bridge.

If you would like more information regarding any properties in Venice I am always available to answer any questions you may have so don't hesitate to reach out! contact me today.

E. Scott Kuffer

Realtor®

(941) 544-6829

sunsandhomes.com

Tips for Purchasing a Venice Foreclosure

2/24/2021

Purchasing a foreclosure property is a great opportunity to own a home at an extremely affordable price. While many people successfully buy foreclosed homes and are happy with their decision, before making this large financial commitment, it's a good idea to understand what you might be walking into—before you buy.

Homeowner Left Venice Home in Disrepair

In many foreclosure situations, a home is left in poor condition. If the homeowner couldn't keep up on their mortgage payments, there is a high probability they've neglected general upkeep and maintenance too. Common problems associated with foreclosed properties include:

Improvements made on the cheap and not up to code.
Garbage or other forms of waste strewn about the home.
Odors from rotting food left in an unplugged refrigerator.
Termites, rodents or other pests scurrying about.
Mold conditions due to leaky roofs, burst pipes or drippy plumbing.
Appliances or fixtures intentionally damaged.
If a home needs significant repairs, even if they're well-priced, it still might be a poor investment.

Vandalism has Occurred

When a Venice home is left empty for a prolonged period of time, unfortunately, vandals or squatters sometimes identify these homes and enter them illegally. Problems to consider include:

Broken windows, doors and other areas of the home.
Graffiti on the interior and exterior of the house.
Evidence of drug activity or unsanitary waste left behind.
Stolen items including fixtures, appliances, copper piping or other items deemed to be of value.
Added up, these types of events might negate any savings you'd get on a foreclosed price.

Expensive to Make the Venice Home Habitable

Even if no disrepair or vandalism is present and the home looks to be a good investment, it's a smart financial strategy to tally up the general costs of any repairs and cleaning needed to see if these expenses outweigh any savings.

For instance, if a prolonged leaky roof created a serious mold situation or structural problems, you could be talking about thousands of dollars for the cleanup and repair alone. Any major repairs necessary to get the home up to living conditions may not be worth the investment, especially when you add in other minor repairs or desired cosmetic work.

Difficulties with Venice Lenders

In foreclosed homes, lenders sometimes won't want to give a mortgage to borrowers looking to purchase what they deem as a risky property. They'll look at appraisals and, if it falls below the purchase price, they may deny you a mortgage. You also might encounter problems with the bank (or lender) currently in possession of the house.

Always do your homework. Understanding the pitfalls associated with buying a foreclosed home will help you to make an educated decision. Hire a qualified inspector to carefully comb through the home and talk to neighbors about the house's history. Once you gather solid information, you can better determine if purchasing a foreclosure is a smart investment.