Cape Coral, FL. (Naples, Palm Beach, Lee: attorney, real estate, hoa)

[V20]

Originally Posted by firemed

Old Naples has a large beach on the gulf, Cape Coral has a small man made beach on the brackish Caloosahatchee river. Thats why Naples has appeal to the very wealthy.

I agree with you. Thats why gulf access homes in Olde Naples start at 3 million today in this down market. 6 plus years ago they started at 600-700k. Did the very wealthy not care about the beach six years ago or did the increase in population cause the tremendous increase in value. Like I have said before, saltwater properties in Naples and Olde Naples are built out.

If you gave me a the choice of a saltwater property in Olde Naples or Cape Coral for the same price, of course I would choose Olde Naples. But thats not reality today - there is a major difference in price.

The issue to focus on is; Will the massive wave of people coming to Florida merely throw their hands in the air and say "Oh well, I love boating and want saltwater access, but since I can't afford Olde Naples, I will just give up my dream. Or, on the other hand, will those people look elsewhere for waterfront properties?

Remember, you can't go south of Naples (not counting Marco Island). You can't go west - its the ocean. And you cannot go east for saltwater properties, unless you go all the way to Miami. So only north is left. And there lies Cape Coral - booming with growth, both business and population.

Seems pretty obvious to me what is going to happen.

Also, I said that I believe that the Yacht Club will be the Olde Naples of Cape Coral . I do not believe that the Yacht Club will ever be the equivalent of Olde Naples. But again, only the very wealthy can own waterfront in Olde Naples. That is not the case in Cape Coral.....yet.

[hiknapster]

Originally Posted by NYBill

Me Too

I have been here 5 years so I did Ok with my homeeven with the dropping prices.

If someone was interested why not cut out the realtor??

If you bought your house five years ago, you'll do fine, no matter what. Houses on Cape Coral were going for a song, back then. People didn't want to buy there, it seems. I could never understand that. They would get all riled up about going over the bridge. I never saw that as a big deal.

My husband has an aunt that bought YEARS ago. Another aunt bought in 1998, and an uncle bought in August of 2004, just before Charley hit. They had moved in days before. In fact, their housewarming party was suppose to be on August 14. Obviously, THAT got postponed.

If you sold, where would you go?

[firemed]

Originally Posted by V20

I agree with you. Thats why gulf access homes in Olde Naples start at 3 million today in this down market. 6 plus years ago they started at 600-700k. Did the very wealthy not care about the beach six years ago or did the increase in population cause the tremendous increase in value. Like I have said before, saltwater properties in Naples and Olde Naples are built out.

If you gave me a the choice of a saltwater property in Olde Naples or Cape Coral for the same price, of course I would choose Olde Naples. But thats not reality today - there is a major difference in price.

The issue to focus on is; Will the massive wave of people coming to Florida merely throw their hands in the air and say "Oh well, I love boating and want saltwater access, but since I can't afford Olde Naples, I will just give up my dream. Or, on the other hand, will those people look elsewhere for waterfront properties?

Remember, you can't go south of Naples (not counting Marco Island). You can't go west - its the ocean. And you cannot go east for saltwater properties, unless you go all the way to Miami. So only north is left. And there lies Cape Coral - booming with growth, both business and population.

Seems pretty obvious to me what is going to happen.

Also, I said that I believe that the Yacht Club will be the Olde Naples of Cape Coral . I do not believe that the Yacht Club will ever be the equivalent of Olde Naples. But again, only the very wealthy can own waterfront in Olde Naples. That is not the case in Cape Coral.....yet.

I have been here all my life and have seen the growth. I just don't think it will keep growing that fast. Cape Coral needs jobs that can support the city. Now I don't know where you are from or how long you have been here. But the last few years have not been normal for this area. Cape Coral was setup for the retiree that would only live 10-15 years on a fixed income and then die. Today Cape Coral has changed, But it can't be a bedroom community to nothing. Why do you think oil city is so cheap now ?

[hiknapster]

Originally Posted by firemed

I have been here all my life and have seen the growth. I just don't think it will keep growing that fast. Cape Coral needs jobs that can support the city. Now I don't know where you are from or how long you have been here. But the last few years have not been normal for this area. Cape Coral was setup for the retiree that would only live 10-15 years on a fixed income and then die. Today Cape Coral has changed, But it can't be a bedroom community to nothing. Why do you think oil city is so cheap now ?

That is so true. I think all of Lee County is a bedroom community to nowhere.

Imagine if you were buying in the summer of '05 and you were coming from someplace far away. I don't think those folks realized what they were getting themselves into.

It wasn't that I had some great intelligence. It's just that I realized that when the prices skyrocketed, well, I knew the prices just weren't reflective of the area. The schools were overcrowded, the crime was bad, the arts were practically non-existent, and the jobs would not support that kind of mortgage. It didn't help that the people were not that friendly, in many cases they were down right hostile or arrogant.

Bottom line...

You can still retiree to Cape Coral, but who the heck is going to wait on you at the local Wal-Mart, police the area, put out a fire? And yeah, you may not have kids in the schools, but if the area does not attract the best teachers that will bite you in the butt at some point. Bad education begets higher crime.

The area needs industry that pays workers.

[kar]

Originally Posted by hiknapster

That is so true. I think all of Lee County is a bedroom community to nowhere.

Imagine if you were buying in the summer of '05 and you were coming from someplace far away. I don't think those folks realized what they were getting themselves into.

It wasn't that I had some great intelligence. It's just that I realized that when the prices skyrocketed, well, I knew the prices just weren't reflective of the area. The schools were overcrowded, the crime was bad, the arts were practically non-existent, and the jobs would not support that kind of mortgage. It didn't help that the people were not that friendly, in many cases they were down right hostile or arrogant.

Bottom line...

You can still retiree to Cape Coral, but who the heck is going to wait on you at the local Wal-Mart, police the area, put out a fire? And yeah, you may not have kids in the schools, but if the area does not attract the best teachers that will bite you in the butt at some point. Bad education begets higher crime.

The area needs industry that pays workers.

You are so right! I been saying this about Lee County and other parts of the state for years now. This kind of fantasy land is destine to fail and it will.

[NYBill]

I would look at the area surrounding the airport. If you think that is just going to be support services for the airport you might be in for a rude awakening.

I saw the same thing happen around Long Island's Mc Arthur airport in Islip. There is so many industry's in the local areas that depend on having an airport close to there home base. Hauppage, Islip and surrondings aresa have pleanty of high tech indusrty around besides the support services for the airport.

That will mean people coming and growing which = more growth for the area. They will attract other people with who fit there needs to support there own growth.

The one thing I noticed about Fl is that if your not a FD or PD or Sheriff/Cor Officer everyone thinks there is nowhere else to go. I have also noticed that they lack an entustatic work force. In fact palin LAZY!!!

You create an atmosphere where people can make a decent living, good benifits and promise growth you will attract a better resouce for employment.

Honestly, I have worked since I am 16 and was never afraid of trying to make living and an extra buck. I do not hold a college degree but had a good very trade while living in NY.
I have been here going on 2 years and every time you try and hire someone to do a simple job they come up with more excuses then I have ever heard. In simple words the local worker wants everything for nothing and there trades skills suck
IMHO it seems to me that the worker coming in from out of state is more motivated to work then the locals and used to working a 40 hour week as a mainstay.

The best part is the locals who have been in bussiness for while here talk to like you where born under a rock and will buy anything they try and sell you.

I have heard more success stories of people coming from out of state and actually doing better then where they came from. For the simple reason they worked hard to make it.

My original electrican, who is from Conn originally, came here, worked for a contactor for about 18 months when he first came down, got the lay of the land and familair with building codes. Then ventured out on his own. Started with him and his partner with 2 trucks, which = 2 mechanics and 2 helpers, that was in 2000.

He now has 50 on hands people working for him, 25 mechanics and 25 helpers, few dozen trucks, full time office staff, Then add a few draftsman, and enginners for bidding, then just built 100,000 square foot building off Pine Island Road to put everyhting under one roof.

I could go on about people I know who have made a great living down here but committed themselves to making a living before going fishing or being hungover.

Don't get me wrong there is nothing wrong being a Fireman or Police Officer but there is also places being devoloped fitting there/your needs. You are not going to get rich buy either profession but you will make a decent living, have benifits and a pension plan.

I even heard of one contractor paying a bonus if the worker showed up 5 days in a row.

Bottom line the work ethic is terrible here. Come in here a hustle a bit and you can do very well.

BTW they are screaming for RN's down here, pay not be the same as where you are used to but there is NO STATE TAX out of your paycheck. If coming from good old NY you know what you pay in NYS TAX!!!

[hiknapster]

New York Bill:

You should work for the Cape Coral Chamber of Commerce.

I love New Yorkers. Half of my family is from New York, my dad was born in the Bronx.

So I know a bull_____ when I see a bull_____.

Don't insult the local workers.

My husband and I have worked hard all our lives. I lived in Lee County for seven years, not two, and my husband lived there for 25. He grew up there. He was one of the best auto mechanics in the area.

We left because housing prices far-outstripped wages.

It is what it is.

Look towards the airport? Why? Is some corporate conglomerate coming in?

Resort to another way to sell that house.

[firemed]

Originally Posted by hiknapster

New York Bill:

You should work for the Cape Coral Chamber of Commerce.

I love New Yorkers. Half of my family is from New York, my dad was born in the Bronx.

So I know a bull_____ when I see a bull_____.

Don't insult the local workers.

My husband and I have worked hard all our lives. I lived in Lee County for seven years, not two, and my husband lived there for 25. He grew up there. He was one of the best auto mechanics in the area.

We left because housing prices far-outstripped wages.

It is what it is.

Look towards the airport? Why? Is some corporate conglomerate coming in?

Resort to another way to sell that house.

They don't understand yet ! or denial

[firemed]

Taxes will go up. If you live in a city you will pay higher taxes. City council members decided to have the session after voters rejected a $110 million bond proposal to pay for a new 213,000-square-foot building. Nearly 78 percent of the voters said no to the plan. But will you pay for it ? YES but you don't understand yet, Why did you pay high taxes in New York ? Well it will be the same reason you will pay high taxes here.

[dreamofmonterey]

Originally Posted by hiknapster

That is so true. I think all of Lee County is a bedroom community to nowhere.

Imagine if you were buying in the summer of '05 and you were coming from someplace far away. I don't think those folks realized what they were getting themselves into.

It wasn't that I had some great intelligence. It's just that I realized that when the prices skyrocketed, well, I knew the prices just weren't reflective of the area. The schools were overcrowded, the crime was bad, the arts were practically non-existent, and the jobs would not support that kind of mortgage. It didn't help that the people were not that friendly, in many cases they were down right hostile or arrogant.

Bottom line...

You can still retiree to Cape Coral, but who the heck is going to wait on you at the local Wal-Mart, police the area, put out a fire? And yeah, you may not have kids in the schools, but if the area does not attract the best teachers that will bite you in the butt at some point. Bad education begets higher crime.

The area needs industry that pays workers.

Hiknapster- all that you say is true. But- HOW will this ever change?. There is NO industry in Florida. Legislators care not about what happens- people are quoting unemployment stats (LOL!!!) in Florida- I met people with young children, house rich, no health insurance- How long can THAT last?

The survivors in Florida are in Palm Beach, Naples (Judge Judy) anyone trying to work and raise a family there will have no chance.