[m&k]

Help us decide which, Naples or Sarasota...We are young retirees 47 & 50. We will work part time, we love the beach,golf, walking, running, biking any thing outside. We would like a golf community or a community with a fitness center. Please direct us away from the bad areas....Thanks!

[Robbied]

I personally prefer Naples to Sarasota but there might be more to do in Sarasota. If you go to areas like Siesta Key or Longboat Key you will be right on the water . There are some pretty golf communities when coming off I 75 but I can not remember the names right now.

Lely Flamingo has nice areas in there and the courses are good to play on the last time we played them. It is large and I am sure would have a fitness center.

Not sure what type of work you are talking about for part-time but that could have an effect on the area you choose.

[sahm3]

I think it depends on what your income will be?
Naples is extremely wealthy!
It is also beauiful and tons of golf courses, although I am not sure how many are public or private I am sure there is alot of both.
I can't speak so much of Sarasota, but I am sure it is bad too. However Naples traffic is horrible especially in season! We go to Naples every year (I used to live there and my mom still does) Have you been to visit yet? You will definitly want to check it out.
Good luck!

[HockeyMom72]

I guess if you want to be in Florida, are young well to do retirees, without children, Naples is probably as good a place in Florida as any.

[RMD3819]

Originally Posted by m&k

Help us decide which, Naples or Sarasota...We are young retirees 47 & 50. We will work part time, we love the beach,golf, walking, running, biking any thing outside. We would like a golf community or a community with a fitness center. Please direct us away from the bad areas....Thanks!

We need more details. What is your price range for housing?

Any kids with you?

I live in Naples and would be happy to help but we need more information.

[m&k]

Our kids are grown, but they will be visiting...we are going to rent the first year..we are coming down next week and the realtor is taking us to Vineyards and Verona Walk. We will be renting in the $2000/mo range. What do you think of a Couch Home?? We don't have anything like that up here in Ohio, so I am not sure what to compare it to. We want to be close to shopping, restarants, and the beach can even be 30 minutes away would be fine. We like to walk, ride bikes, swim, hike, my husband is a runner, we golf, just about anything outside. That's one reason we want to move....summer is short here .

[RMD3819]

Originally Posted by m&k

Our kids are grown, but they will be visiting...we are going to rent the first year..we are coming down next week and the realtor is taking us to Vineyards and Verona Walk. We will be renting in the $2000/mo range. What do you think of a Couch Home?? We don't have anything like that up here in Ohio, so I am not sure what to compare it to. We want to be close to shopping, restarants, and the beach can even be 30 minutes away would be fine. We like to walk, ride bikes, swim, hike, my husband is a runner, we golf, just about anything outside. That's one reason we want to move....summer is short here .

The Vineyards is near my home and is an excellent development. There are no bad areas. There are basically two sides. The east side on Arbor Blvd has a manned gate that gives you access to the eastern portion. There are a bunch of smaller subdivisions on that side, most of which are not gated.

The west side on Vineyards Blvd. consists of many smaller subdivisons and each of these is individually gated. I don't think there are any single family homes on that side. The west side also has a county park and elementary school. I used to run at the park. In fact, many, many people run, jog, bike, push strollers along Vineyards Blvd because it is beautiful and safe.

There is a shopping center at the south end which has a grocery store, gas station, pharmacy etc. and is directly across from a hospital. You are only a few miles from Airport and Pine Ridge which is a major intersection that has everything.

I have no idea what rents go for but a few years ago I met a realtor who told me the average sale price was 900K. That was at the peak of the real estate boom a few years back so I'm sure it is lower now.

I'm not sure what a coach home is. There are many housing choices in the Vineyards.

I know a little about Verona Walk. It is only a few years old. There are no bad areas in there. It is a gated community not far from the intersection of Collier Blvd and US 41. There are several shopping centers at that intersection. You are not far from the new hospital. Overall it is a good location, just in a slightly more rural area.

[MrTudo]

Naples..........

[121804]

Originally Posted by m&k

What do you think of a Couch Home?? .

it's another name for a townhome. It's a one floor townhome.

[FIU2000]

M&K, I worked very close to the Vineyards and I know all about Veronawalk. Both are good spots. Vineyards is more north (Pine Ridge) and Veronawalk is near Collier Blvd/951 which takes you out to Marco Island. Veronawalk just opened up it's town center where they have a fitness center, pools, rec area, car wash, bank, beauty salon, etc. They also have an activities director. There's a big sale going on there this weekend, prices couldn't get any better right now. They have 4 models to pick from: 3 are single family and one is an attached townhome (attached on one side only as they are pairs). A coach home is typically 2 levels with unit above and one below. Entrances to each are on opposite sides. The person living above usually goes straight up a flight of stairs and the other side is ground level. Typically they will have a 1 or 2 car garage attached. Very common in SW Florida. I like Sarasota for the beaches but Marco Island has a really nice beach. You can't go wrong with either.