Cape Coral, FL. (Miami, Fort Myers, North Fort Myers: houses, rent, travel)

[NYBill]

Originally Posted by spanky123

Is that a good thing? What does that mean to you?

It shows that the city does keep up with services for the people also.
They had 3 different plans to voice your opinion on and I think they will have the exact plan around the 25th of April. Just have to keep your eye on the paper for what will be going on there.

Crab traps are always out of the channels, they have to be it's the law and those traps that a re in the channel can be picked up and confiscated. So if your hitting crab pots and running a larger vessel I would check out where you are otherwise you could run up on a sand bar.

The taxes through out Florida are screwed up as of now. That Homestead Law was good for a while but it has outdated itself, basicly what it does is put a 3% cap on your property tax. THats was great when all the homes where 70-100K.
Now when you buy a home the tax rate is 1.75% of the purchace price, the you have to be a citizen of that county for 6 months so that you can file for the homestead act.

For me it hit me hard becuase I owned the home for 3 years before filing being an out of state owner. So what Lee County Tax did was base your value of your home on what the previous years avergae market sale was for your home. So that year my home was valued at 600k and my taxes went up to 7300 a year and with the Homestead law ONLY giving a 25K write off when filed I will pay on 575. With the drop of home prices you would think your taxes would go down but not so.

A few months ago 2 families filed suit against the state of Florida saying that the homestead act is biased and desciminatory and guess what they are gonna win. It happened in Rhode Island, the judge found merit in the law suit asnd filed summary judgement in favor of the plantiffs and the whole state had to be reaccessed so everyone paid there fair share

Simply put, I know a person who has the same home and larger property then me but has been here 20 years, he pays 1000 a year in taxes becuase he has been here so long and homesteaded. We both get the same services, police, FD, road work etc., etc., etc. IS THAT RIGHT??? I would call that biased and descriminatory also.

This is where that law suit will come into play, why do think our new Governor is working hard to change the tax laws, he doesn't want this one to hit the courts, then the papers. it would just be another knock against Florida and show that the old way of doing things is over.

Bear in mind 20-25 years ago Florido as whole was basiclly a retirement state. People could sell there homes come here buy a house cash, live on there pensions and have money in the bank and stay warm in there older years.
Over the last 5 years more people who are younger and have families made this move also to escape the high taxes, cost of living and horrid winters.

But with this the local politcians where always use to getting there way without any challenges from the voters, STATUS QUO if you care to call it that. But now with the average age of 39 in Cape Coral with a few kids younger people are getting more active and challanging the local city council.

Perefect example was the new public saftey building at 110 million, it was shot down by 78% of the vote.

[V20]

Originally Posted by NYBill

It shows that the city does keep up with services for the people also.
They had 3 different plans to voice your opinion on and I think they will have the exact plan around the 25th of April. Just have to keep your eye on the paper for what will be going on there.

Crab traps are always out of the channels, they have to be it's the law and those traps that a re in the channel can be picked up and confiscated. So if your hitting crab pots and running a larger vessel I would check out where you are otherwise you could run up on a sand bar.

The taxes through out Florida are screwed up as of now. That Homestead Law was good for a while but it has outdated itself, basicly what it does is put a 3% cap on your property tax. THats was great when all the homes where 70-100K.
Now when you buy a home the tax rate is 1.75% of the purchace price, the you have to be a citizen of that county for 6 months so that you can file for the homestead act.

For me it hit me hard becuase I owned the home for 3 years before filing being an out of state owner. So what Lee County Tax did was base your value of your home on what the previous years avergae market sale was for your home. So that year my home was valued at 600k and my taxes went up to 7300 a year and with the Homestead law ONLY giving a 25K write off when filed I will pay on 575. With the drop of home prices you would think your taxes would go down but not so.

A few months ago 2 families filed suit against the state of Florida saying that the homestead act is biased and desciminatory and guess what they are gonna win. It happened in Rhode Island, the judge found merit in the law suit asnd filed summary judgement in favor of the plantiffs and the whole state had to be reaccessed so everyone paid there fair share

Simply put, I know a person who has the same home and larger property then me but has been here 20 years, he pays 1000 a year in taxes becuase he has been here so long and homesteaded. We both get the same services, police, FD, road work etc., etc., etc. IS THAT RIGHT??? I would call that biased and descriminatory also.

This is where that law suit will come into play, why do think our new Governor is working hard to change the tax laws, he doesn't want this one to hit the courts, then the papers. it would just be another knock against Florida and show that the old way of doing things is over.

Bear in mind 20-25 years ago Florido as whole was basiclly a retirement state. People could sell there homes come here buy a house cash, live on there pensions and have money in the bank and stay warm in there older years.
Over the last 5 years more people who are younger and have families made this move also to escape the high taxes, cost of living and horrid winters.

But with this the local politcians where always use to getting there way without any challenges from the voters, STATUS QUO if you care to call it that. But now with the average age of 39 in Cape Coral with a few kids younger people are getting more active and challanging the local city council.

Perefect example was the new public saftey building at 110 million, it was shot down by 78% of the vote.

NYBill,

As you know from my previous posts, I own a home in the Cape Coral Yacht Club. It is the third waterfront home that I have owned in the Yacht Club. I think it is a magical place. It has beauty, character and opportunity.

In this forum full of depressive people with negative views of Florida (and most everything else) it is good to hear someone speak positively (and accurately, in my opinion) about such a unique and wonderful area.

[spanky123]

Originally Posted by NYBill

It shows that the city does keep up with services for the people also.
They had 3 different plans to voice your opinion on and I think they will have the exact plan around the 25th of April. Just have to keep your eye on the paper for what will be going on there.

Crab traps are always out of the channels, they have to be it's the law and those traps that a re in the channel can be picked up and confiscated. So if your hitting crab pots and running a larger vessel I would check out where you are otherwise you could run up on a sand bar.

The taxes through out Florida are screwed up as of now. That Homestead Law was good for a while but it has outdated itself, basicly what it does is put a 3% cap on your property tax. THats was great when all the homes where 70-100K.
Now when you buy a home the tax rate is 1.75% of the purchace price, the you have to be a citizen of that county for 6 months so that you can file for the homestead act.

For me it hit me hard becuase I owned the home for 3 years before filing being an out of state owner. So what Lee County Tax did was base your value of your home on what the previous years avergae market sale was for your home. So that year my home was valued at 600k and my taxes went up to 7300 a year and with the Homestead law ONLY giving a 25K write off when filed I will pay on 575. With the drop of home prices you would think your taxes would go down but not so.

A few months ago 2 families filed suit against the state of Florida saying that the homestead act is biased and desciminatory and guess what they are gonna win. It happened in Rhode Island, the judge found merit in the law suit asnd filed summary judgement in favor of the plantiffs and the whole state had to be reaccessed so everyone paid there fair share

Simply put, I know a person who has the same home and larger property then me but has been here 20 years, he pays 1000 a year in taxes becuase he has been here so long and homesteaded. We both get the same services, police, FD, road work etc., etc., etc. IS THAT RIGHT??? I would call that biased and descriminatory also.

This is where that law suit will come into play, why do think our new Governor is working hard to change the tax laws, he doesn't want this one to hit the courts, then the papers. it would just be another knock against Florida and show that the old way of doing things is over.

Bear in mind 20-25 years ago Florido as whole was basiclly a retirement state. People could sell there homes come here buy a house cash, live on there pensions and have money in the bank and stay warm in there older years.
Over the last 5 years more people who are younger and have families made this move also to escape the high taxes, cost of living and horrid winters.

But with this the local politcians where always use to getting there way without any challenges from the voters, STATUS QUO if you care to call it that. But now with the average age of 39 in Cape Coral with a few kids younger people are getting more active and challanging the local city council.

Perefect example was the new public saftey building at 110 million, it was shot down by 78% of the vote.

NYBILL
Thank you so much for all the info. You have been a great help and it's nice to hear such great things about Cape Coral. I could do without such high taxes-but like you said it has to change. It's also good to hear that people are voting and getting involved. Like I said before- we want to live on the water get a small boat and enjoy the weather. We are in the middle of a Noreaster right now....waiting for the flood!

[NYBill]

Originally Posted by spanky123

NYBILL
Thank you so much for all the info. You have been a great help and it's nice to hear such great things about Cape Coral. I could do without such high taxes-but like you said it has to change. It's also good to hear that people are voting and getting involved. Like I said before- we want to live on the water get a small boat and enjoy the weather. We are in the middle of a Noreaster right now....waiting for the flood!

Yes I heard from a bunch of friends who are moaning about that storm who had to postbone putting there boats in the water, the lousy spring you/they have had and LOL but we have out times here also. DEAL WITH IT!!!

First off if you own waterfront properrty there is no such thing as DOCK FEES and STORAGE FEES for the winter. So if you do that it's just a plain old bill. If you pay a few more dollars in taxes for having that privilage you get a write off instead of a bill.. get my drift

For what I have here I would be paying over 17-20K in taxes on Long Island, on the water with 2 boats on lifts, 725 square feet of dock space.

I think some people who have common sence call that a NO BRAINER!!

Best of luck and let me know when you come down for a visit.

[hiknapster]

A nor'easter? I've been through those for 34 years. Here's Hurricane Charley:

Not too pretty. I've been through that, too. I'll take the nor'easter.

We'll see you in a few months:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=FXk_WYVL5sk

[dreamofmonterey]

Originally Posted by hiknapster

A nor'easter? I've been through those for 34 years. Here's Hurricane Charley:

Not too pretty. I've been through that, too. I'll take the nor'easter.

We'll see you in a few months:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=FXk_WYVL5sk

A CBS building with the roof blown off

We had a 2500 s.f. home on Broken sound 1999(that first hurricane I laughed and said-big deal) - 2004- I actually blanked out on that storm hiknapster- the actual house was shaking- thank you for the footage. We were lucky, but I would never have the hubris to degrade people who lost their houses or lives.

sunny

[hiknapster]

Yes. But it makes me sick to downgrade what that really was.
I'm so sorry, sunny, to scare you. But that was the most horrible thing I have ever gone through.

I have seen many people trying to sell their homes say that it was not that bad.

Fine.

Look at the video.

I know that lots of people across the country did not get the footage or did not understand. So there it is.

And to the rest of you...I hope you don't move where I am. REALLY. I don't want you near me, either. But don't look to these two goofballs trying to sell their homes. But I could never lie.

Don't ever say a snow storm is worse. It makes me sick.




You started making fun of snowstorms, well, I am sorry. I know that NYBill and V20 say that they have been through Charley. Really? Well this was Charley: http://youtube.com/watch?v=FXk_WYVL5sk

Try selling it now.

How could you lie?

To the rest of you....take heed!

[dreamofmonterey]

Originally Posted by hiknapster

Yes. But it makes me sick to downgrade what that really was.
I'm so sorry, sunny, to scare you. But that was the most horrible thing I have ever gone through.

I have seen many people trying to sell their homes say that it was not that bad.

Fine.

Look at the video.

I know that lots of people across the country did not get the footage or did not understand. So there it is.

And to the rest of you...I hope you don't move where I am. REALLY. I don't want you near me, either. But don't look to these two goofballs trying to sell their homes. But I could never lie.

Don't ever say a snow storm is worse. It makes me sick.




You started making fun of snowstorms, well, I am sorry. I know that NYBill and V20 say that they have been through Charley. Really? Well this was Charley: http://youtube.com/watch?v=FXk_WYVL5sk

Try selling it now.

How could you lie?

To the rest of you....take heed!

The funny thing is in NY (and many NE areas) hurricanes are nothing more than rain- maybe an hour w/o power-lolol!!!! a day off from work.

In Florida your house roof will be demolished, tress stripped bare, boats blown across the road-onto cars etc. We were in a beautiful area, and couldnt get water for 3 days. candles, no food, no electric for 2 weeks. FPL used to go out alot, even w/o hurricanes.

It became too much. I pooh-pooed it too- the first year in 1999, until a board ripped through my neighbors glass wall (he only had 5 hours warning--not enough to board the atrium) Money is not a protection in Florida. People with excellent insurance were dropped and had to sell their house in Broken Sound.

[NYBill]

When I was a young boy I remember Hurricane Donna in the early 60's. We lived on the water then also and I had lash down the wooden picnic table to a tree. Then there was another one Called Gloria during the mid 80's that devestated Eastern Long Island.

Then that no named storm that the movie called The Perfect Storm whick sunk a fishing vesel killing all the crew.

N/Eastser's are fairly common on the upper eastern seaboard but not usually this time of year. I know a few places on a Barrier Beach called Fire Island that may have a breach with this one just going through now.

I wasn't here for Charley but did own my home at that time. I had lump in my throat watching it on TV. Especially when they reported Cape Coral would take the biggest hit.

Mother Nature

[spanky123]

[i][i]We live in the sw and love it. We lived on Pelican south of cape coral parkway with sailboat access. The canal was only 80 ft wide.
In the sw, south of cpe coral pky is key! We moved to a larger home on the citrus canal that feeds some of the eight lakes. We see all types of boats go by daily. The houses on the drive out to the river get nicer the closer you get to the river...really pretty boat ride. We have one bridge.....but who cares unless you have a sail boat. If you have ever had a sailboat next door to you and watched it during a hurricaine it would make you nervous!
I like the wider canal215ft we arn't looking in the side of a boat or in the back of a house so close. Our drive out is not looking at a bunch of tear downs that will be replaced in the next 20 years. I like it to look nice now!
Our kids can canoe back in the lakes and we feel safe with them there.
There are some pretty large boats that go by that fit under the bridge, some 30-40 footers.
On our 80 ft canal wehardly ever saw anything.
We now see dolphins, manatee, rays, sheephead, jack, coconuts floating by,
boats, kayaks, canoes, zodiaks. It is a moving picture. Ducks and blue heron also.designer1

Reply to designer1

That's what I want as my backyard. I want to see the dolphins and manatee swimming around. So, I should look for a "wide" canal. Do they have any in the SW section or is that only in the Yacht Club area? I heard that the SW has newer homes and more families with children. I could be wrong and change my mind-I really need to come for another visit and see for myself. I really want good neighbors too! I am leaving my friends and family behind so I will need some nice neighbors!
Thanks for your reply! I love this forum![/color]