Lehigh Acres-Investor Trap? (Ocala, Clermont: lender, real estate, condos)

[abogs]

Does anyone know anything about Lehigh Acres (near Ft Meyers)? I have a realtor talking to me about investing in "affordable" housing there. He said I can get a new 2/2/2 (1000 sf@) duplex for under $300k and split them up and resell for $175K-$200K. I've heard of investor traps in FL and right now many are stuck w/ overpriced condos, etc., where the only ones making $$ are builders, realtors & lenders. I have a gut feel Lehigh Acres may be one of these traps.

[Racelady88]

I just did a quick search in the MLS and looked at one Realtor's listings. She currently has 32 condos in the $175-250k price range in Lehigh Acres. They are all 2/2 and are all bigger as far as square footage. 32 listings/1 Realtor.

[MrTudo]

Soon as a real estate salesperson starts talking about "investing" all I can advise is RUN FOREST RUN!

[LongIslander]

I would think so... They advertised the area on an infomercial here in NY a few years ago. It hyped as a up and coming growing market. So, in one of my trips to Florida I had just happened to be in the area, so we took a drive to see what the hype was all about.

Short and sweet... not a bad area, but certainly not an up and coming area. Most were either retired, or new married. Some nice homes, but many in need of a great deal of TLC.

Buyer beware.

P.S. DO your own research, and NEVER listen to a sales person.

[lulu]

Hmmm....I've been wondering about this, too. We've had a bit of infomercials, on weekends, selling land in Lehigh.

[bamboosmom]

I wouldn't move there. Lately there has been alot of crime there..

[Jhubtin]

I would not live there if you paid me. However I did have some investment property. Duplex lot. Made a ton of money in about six months. But things have slowed way down. There are hundreds and hundreds of new duplexes in the area. I personally don't see where all these tenants are going to come from. I'm seeing seeing new homes advertised in the low 200's. I would not buy a duplex in Lehigh Acres.

[maureen1]

Lehigh acres is an investor trap. If you read the News-Press which is the area free newspaper, bodies are being dumped in the wooded areas , lots of drug related deaths. It used to be a nice quiet place to live

[Southside Shrek]

Look out for Lehigh!

[lulu]

Crimes, drugs there?? hmmm...and a name like Lehigh something popped in brain...Le-high (the high)??? Could it be that ...?
ok, ok.. just kidding guys (& gals...).
Yeah, yeah...a real jokester, sheesh...sigh...

But seriously now...the footage on weekend t.v. looks super nice... all green, with lots of open space, horses...though, not hilly like Clermont or Ocala but still looks nice. Anyhow, I guess one has to live there to really know what's up...