[GatorBite]

Originally Posted by RMD3819

Estates Resident and Gator-two thumbs up for the balanced, accurate posts about life in GGE.

Thanks, just tryin to put the truth out there.

[ghope90]

hello everyone, I have been relocated to Naples and have really fallen for the GGE area. Despite all the concern I have read in these many posts I am very attracted. Does anyone know of any houses for rent for a year or two. I will probably purchase but not right now. It seems as if every street has at least three or four for sale and many appear abandoned with no sign or even a mailbox. I can't seem to get any real estate agents interested but I have to believe someone would prefer getting a monthly rent check as opposed to nothing. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

[RMD3819]

Try here: Golden Gate Estates Rental Real Estate Listings

[bailey1024]

I'd be interested in seeing an update to this thread. I've been watching the listings on realtor.com lately, and the prices in Golden Gate Estates seem relatively LOW compared to other places. What's up with that, does anybody know? Hurricane damage? Overbuilt? Are they still having problems with burglaries and grow houses?

[RMD3819]

It is overbuilt. The Estates received minimal hurricane damage, and that was a few years ago.

Crime-It is still there like anywhere else. Seems to be less since alot of people have moved out. Haven't heard of a growhouse bust in awhile.

Grow House Busts : Naples Daily News

[bailey1024]

Thanks RMD3819- I appreciate your input. We're considering relocating to the Golden Gate Estates area, and I was amazed at the vast amount of homes for sale in that neighborhood, at relatively low prices (compared to elsewhere)

[bailey1024]

Interesting insight into GGE. My husband is a retired Park Ranger and we have always lived in very rural, remote areas. We are not looking to live on a postage stamp size lot where you can practically shake hands through the windows with the next door neighbors from one house to the next. Nor do we want to live in an HOA-obsessive neighborhood. We tried that once, and lasted 2 years there. The neighbor walking up and down the street with her clipboard in hand, taking notes of all the violations... was a bit much. As for violations... they consisted of shrubs being more then 36" high in the front yard ("You know, that constitutes a fence and front yard fences aren't allowed) to someone having a boat parked in their backyard. The lady with the clipboard in hand peered over the fence and saw the boat. She claimed if somebody was in a second story window, they could see it- the owner argued that though that may be true, there are no 2nd story houses in view. He lost and had to pay to put his little boat in storage! I think there are some CC&R's that make sense, but this neighborhood was over the top with their rules and regulations. We were never involved, but we didn't like what was going on. So enough was enough- and we moved to NorthEastern Washington State. We love it here, but we like exploring new areas, and are ready for a change of scenery. Florida beckons!

[MunchiesMom]

I live in Western Washington state myself, in the lovely small city of Woodinville, outside Seattle--it's a lovely place if you can stand what I call "twilight at noon" during many many oppressive winter days. By the way, this is a wonderful thread, everyone seems so honest about the living situation in Golden Gate Estates. We've lived on a three-acre treed farm since 1970 and are original hippies, now we'd be called "retirees". We love land, and planting trees--we tried growing palm trees here but they all died. My dream is to live in a tropical setting and I've hit on GGE as a place I think I'd like, but this discussion about crime has me in a flurry.
Our own area is so crime-free that one gets used to not even having to bother about it. Not that we leave our doors unlocked, but it's just not an issue here. I've lived in NYC and was robbed, was robbed in San Francisco, robbed in Rome, etc. It's disturbing to me that someone could be walking on your property, or smashing in a window. It almost sounds like a place that's on the verge of having to put bars on the windows, as they do in some other areas. My question is: would a burglar alarm attract any attention on these larger properties? Or are they set up with a central command post? That would be rather expensive I should think.
I would hate to step out for an evening and have to be worried about the house. Are their precautions you can take in your home? I would never leave valuables in the car, for example. In our vacation house in Oregon we put dowels in the slider doors which seemed to work out, we were never robbed when not there. Our house and land has been put up for sale, but builders can't afford land just now. I am still researching and dreaming, however.

[RMD3819]

MunchiesMom-

We are nowhere near needing bars on the windows.

Many properties are isolated and can't be seen from the roadway. That can be a plus or minus.

Alarms-It depends if your neighbors are home to hear it and how secluded you are. I don't know what you mean about a command post.

Precautions-same as anywhere else.

[NJSouth]

Just wanted to thank you all for the GREAT information you've posted. I am very seriously looking to move to the GGE area and am applying with the Collier Sheriff's Dept.
I do have a couple of questions, one is about the canal system through the GGE area. One of the properties we are looking at backs up to a canal. What are they for other than drainage? Are their fish, can you boat, and what about gators? Also...trivial, but how bad are the bugs specifically fire ants (can they be defeated??)
Thanks again for the great information as you have helped answer many many of the questions we've had. Keep it coming.