Welcome to Rotonda West, Florida, a beautiful and peaceful deed-restricted community unlike any other. Spanning twelve square miles and divided into seven distinct sub-neighborhoods, what truly sets Rotonda West apart is its remarkable wagon wheel shape – a one-of-a-kind design in Florida.
Rotonda West consists of Seven Neighborhoods.
There are seven sub-communities, golf courses, lakes, and canals between those spokes. The southwest area of the “wheel “is a big nature preserve inhabited by alligators, bald eagles, and a wide variety of other “Florida Natives” like mosquitoes, beetles, and crawling creatures. Simply “Floridians.”
The homes are nestled between the spokes (the streets) and face golf courses, canals, and beautiful lakes or preserves. Some look into nature preserves, and only a few back up to the neighbor’s yard.
Neighborhoods in Rotonda West, Located within the Wheel:
- Oakland Hills
- Pebble Beach
- Pinehurst
- Broadmoor
- Long Meadow
- White Marsh
- Pine Valley
Rotonda West Neighborhoods Outside the Wheel:
- Rotonda Lakes
- Rotonda Sands
- Rotonda Heights
- Rotonda Meadows and Villas.
The growth in Rotonda West took decades, and the new buildings were initially scattered throughout the area. The space between houses was often more than 200 – 300 yards; however, that changed relatively quickly in the late 2000s. Later, more homes filled the gaps in between. During that process, the first homes were already showing signs of aging. Today, a mixture of homes ranging from 10 to 30 years old is found next to brand-new ones, and many vacant lots remain.
Rotonda West, FL Real Estate and Homes for Sale
Do you consider buying a home in Rotonda West? Location, location, location – the old real estate rule still applies. Just south of Englewood and only minutes away from the pristine beaches of Englewood and Boca Grande, golfing, and shopping, the home buyer has many choices in Rotonda West. Single-family homes and Pool Homes dominate the market; however, condos and townhouses are also available.
Each Rotonda West Neighborhood has its distinct character. Some communities feature smaller, older homes, while others have newer estate homes on double or triple lots. Single-family homes are usually smaller and older in Oakland Hills; however, expect larger, newer Estate Homes on double or triple lots in Rotonda Pine Valley, Long Meadow, and White Marsh. Homesites are up to 1/3 acre in the Meadows and Long Marsh.
Rotonda West, Florida, New Construction
Numerous vacant lots remain available in Rotonda West. Some reputable home builders will build your home according to your specifications, Offering views of Greenbelt, golf courses, ponds/lakes, or canals and waterways – the choice is yours. You can buy the lot and have the builder do the rest, or you can buy the whole package, known as a spec or inventory home. Ask us about local and reputable builders who have been in the area for some time.
All that Glitters is not Gold.
In January 1970, a surveyor staked a claim on the ground of the center wheel-shaped Rotonda West Community. A new and unique community was born. The builder finished the first seven model homes one year later. The fully furnished pool homes were priced from $22,000 to $36,000, excluding the lot.
The standard lot size is approximately 80×120 feet, spanning 9,600 square feet, and overlooking canals, lakes, golf courses, landscaped greenbelts, and nature preserves. There are many properties on the main arteries of Rotonda Blvd, East, West, and North, which are deeper and have 16,000 sq. ft.
The canals, quite a few of which can be used by small boats, were never designed to hook up to the Intracoastal waterway or Charlotte Harbor. However, residents didn’t mind because it was not intended to be a boater community. Therefore, if you are looking for a saltwater canal home, Rotonda West is not the right place.
Although the first resident moved to Rotonda in 1971, sales were sluggish. It took quite a while for the sales momentum to accelerate. Due to questionable sales practices at the outset and other issues beyond the community’s control, Rotonda experienced several boom-and-bust cycles. Property owners from those crazy times still desperately try to sell their lots without a loss. Sometimes it works out; sometimes it does not.
Rotonda History: Boom and Bust
During those boom and bust times, everybody was under the impression that he was sitting on a gold mine when he owned lots in Rotonda, not realizing that the sheer number of lots was depressing the real estate market. The same happened in areas like Cape Coral as well. The rule is as simple as it gets: when there are many more properties than buyers, prices drop until you reach equilibrium. That is the point when the prices start rising. Everybody thought Rotonda would be sold out in a few years, but fifty years later, there are still lots for sale in the circular city. In 2020 and on, lot sales have been brisk, with prices rising. However, there are still a few remaining pieces of land for sale.
Fortunately, the calm after the storm has straightened everything out, and the real estate market in Rotonda is now as good or bad as it is everywhere else in Florida. However, remember that this is the only circular city in Florida.
Rotonda River
The outer ring is enormous; this round city is about 4 miles in diameter, and when driving on that street, you barely notice that you are in a circle. That pure size makes the structure visible from the sky and instantly noticeable on maps. Therefore, you cannot miss that distinct circular shape because no other round city like Rotonda West exists in Florida.
The most prominent ring consists of a canal called the Rotonda River framed by two streets. The outer circle is called Boundary Blvd, and the inner circle is Rotonda Cir. The wheel’s spokes lead to the smallest circle in the center. Even that ring in the center is still one mile wide. In the middle of that circular street is a park where the residents can enjoy the outdoors. Restrooms, pavilions, grills, and other amenities make the stay comfortable and worthwhile.
The border between Englewood East and Rotonda West is a mile south of Englewood. Although it is not a border, it is like a transition into another architectural world. You will only notice that everything is square or rectangular again.
How many residents live in Rotonda West?
The Rotonda West community comprises approximately 9,000 homesites, with over 8,000 completed homes and 17,000 residents. The circular city is experiencing tremendous growth; beautiful new homes are being built everywhere. Residents come from all 50 US states and 33 countries around the world. Most are predominantly full-time residents, but snowbirds own a good number of homes and also enjoy the mild winter months in Rotonda West.
Unique Features of Rotonda West
We should point out one unique feature of Rotonda West. First of all, the circular city is a deed-restricted community. No resident can keep his boat, RV, or trailer on his property. Of course, he can load, unload, or keep it overnight on the property. But that is pretty much it. What are his choices? He can store the boat in a marina and his RV in a storage facility. However, in the center of the wheel is an oversized lot that belongs to the homeowner association. Each Rotonda resident can store his toy on that lot. Space is limited, though, but it is always worth a try.
In the center of the wheel is also a Community Park where residents can spend time outside. BBQ grills, picnic tables, picnic shelters, gazebos, tennis courts, pickleball courts, bike trails, nature trails, and restrooms are provided. You can rent the pavilion for a few $$ and stay out of the hot Florida sun.
Golf Courses around Rotonda West
If you’re a golf enthusiast, Rotonda West is the perfect destination for you. With a total of five golf courses offering a combined 99 holes, you’ll definitely get your money’s worth. What’s more, there are 44 other golf courses within a 20-mile radius of Rotonda West, ranging from public to municipal and private courses. The oldest Golf Course is the Lake Venice Golf Club, which opened in 1957. The longest golf course is the Sarasota National Golf Club, measuring 7,344 yards in length. Coral Creek Club is rated the best course near Rotonda West.
Rotonda West and Boating
You can use a small boat on many canals in Rotonda West, but you won’t be able to take your boat out to the Gulf of Mexico, as there is no direct connection to the Gulf.
However, you can keep your boat in many full-service marinas nearby. They have access to Charlotte Harbor or the Gulf of Mexico, and those marinas make boating very convenient. They keep your toy high and dry, put it in the water whenever you wish, clean it and store it again, and do necessary repairs. It can’t get any better.
Rotonda West Boat and RV Storage
Here comes a bonus. If you want to save money, you can keep the boat on a trailer and store it in Rotonda’s storage lot. The Homeowner’s Association owns a huge lot right in the center of the wheel. Since Rotonda West is a Deed Restricted Community, boats and RVs are not permitted on your property (only a few days to pack and unpack). However, the community offers a solution to those who want to keep their babies nearby. For a few bucks per month, residents of Rotonda West can keep their extra vehicles in a fenced-in parking lot. Full-service community! What else do you want?
We at Bay Breeze Intl. Reality specializes in real estate in Rotonda West. We live and work here. Contact us if you are considering buying or selling a home in Rotonda West.
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