[chaxey]

Hi Everyone,

I'm in search of a decent web tool and general advice to find a vacation home for my wife and I. The problem is the budget, and the fact that the home must serve a few purposes.

About us, we're a young family (low 30's with 2 small kids (an infant and a toddler). We are city dwellers in Boston and want a non-city retreat in the sun down in South West Florida so that we can visit Disney fairly easily, but not exclusively (think day trip or overnight, not 2-week long Disney overload). We also want to be close enough to the Red Sox spring training facility and beaches.

1. We're hoping to find something that has 3 bedrooms, or 2 bedrooms with a Den. I am assuming this will be tough for under 100k.

2. We want something on the first floor, or at least has a bathroom and bedroom on the 1rst floor as my mother-in-law can't handle steps.

3. Community Pool - this is a must, we don't want a private pool, but want a pool for the kids and our parents to use.

4. Tennis and golf leagues/community - My Father in law spends time playing tennis, my and mom plays golf. We do NOT want a golf course on property though due to the costs, just convenient golf close by.

5. Gated.. Since we won't be around much of the year, we'd like a secure location. I know that a gate doesn't mean much, but it will appease my wife.

6. Wil serve my wife and I's retirement in 30 years. This is tough to gauge, but ultimately, we'll probably end up being snow birds when the time comes.

My inlaws rent at CopperLeaf in Bonita, my parents have rented in Spring Run. We want something similar but that does not have any golf membership req's or age limitations so that both us (in our 30's) and our parents (in their 60's) can mutually, independently, and affordably enjoy the property.

Any ideas?

[HarryWho?]

Venice to Naples? Wow. Good luck with that. It's not impossible,but you'd have to spend considerable time chasing down a foreclosure or short sale. Even then it probably wouldn't be a great location.

[sware2cod]

You want gated AND under $100k and community pool

Are condos or townhomes OK?

Not sure if a single family home is possible in this price range for your requirements, especially if 55+ communities are excluded.

There are some nice 55+ mobile home communities that fit your criteria.

[chaxey]

Yes, condo/TH is what we want, sorry def. do not want Single family or stand alone.

[HarryWho?]

When I was looking, I saw a condo that would fit your description. It was at The Tides at Pelican landing in Bonita springs. This was last Summer. I believe it was 99,900 Three bedrooms, 2 baths. I don't know if you'd like it though. It's close to 41 and they were converted to condos, originally apartments. No golf, but do have a pool and tennis court.

[chaxey]

Based on Trulia, there are hundreds of 2-bed listings on paper that loosely meet what I would want/need but I know nothing about the immediate areas they are in, the specific complex/development, or the details on the unit/apartment as to where it is situated (first floor, second floor?, etc?). Plus amenities aren't searchable (pool, tennis, etc). If you add the den or 3rd bedroom, the selection drops precipitously, so I may need to settle for a 2 bed.

I felt like at either of the 2 communities I spent time at (copperleaf or spring run) it didnt' really matter what the surrounding area was because the complex/campus was nice enough that you wouldn't really have to worry about the outside community as much. A grocery store is a grocery store, and to me, driving 20-30 mins isn't a big deal if I need to go to a nice mall or or visit a nice downtown area something for an evening out.

[allenk893]

I went to the website "Realtor", and put in your criteria. There are MANY condos available under 100K. There were 34 pages worth of listings actually. Their pretty nice in my opinion.

[HarryWho?]

Those listings mean little. When I was looking, all the attractive ones were either gone, had a deposit on them, or had bids over the asking price. Some looked good until you got there and started seeing obvious problems. Some had chinese drywall. You really have to take a few weeks and shop. And leave any impulsiveness at home.