Sanibel Island (Naples, Anna Maria, Manasota Key: real estate, insurance, vacation)

[wynettam]

Is that Sanibel Island FL that beautiful what is the crime rate there and who lives there and how is it living there

[jhlcomp]

In one word "expensive." We enjoy going there and probably always will. I am not so certain I would want to make it a permanent home. The beaches are wonderful but not the best the west coast has to offer. If you have not been you owe it to yourself to spend a few days there.

[Robbied]

I dont know much about living there on a permanent basis. It would feel that there is not a whole lot to do other than beach and water activities. You could go into Ft. Meyers I suppose if you want to do anything different for a day but although I love to go any chance I get, I would not want to live there.

[thebigr]

They are always closing beaches on Sanibel because of Red Tide. If you have alot of money you could live there.

[2peaches2oranges]

It costs $6.00 per car to go over the bridge (cheaper if you buy a pass I think).

If you are looking for island living for retirement, it is expensive and you will have to leave the island for most things.

Look at Boca Grande, Anna Maria Island or Manasota Key as other island living alternatives.

[Delray Patty]

Love Sanibel and Captiva and yes it is as beautiful as they say...To live there, don't think
so unless my name was Trump..It's pretty expensive, even the restaurants over there are very pricey. Across the crossway from Ft. Myers which has a lot more to do and
restaurants.....Naples is also beautiful but pretty expensive...

[picsesmauve957]

I spent half my childhood in Sanibel. For one thing, you're gonna have be able to afford it, and I mean seriously. The average home price there is 780k I think. Crime is almost non-existent there, so there's not a lot to worry about. Even though there are plenty of unique local spots to hang out, not too many of them offer good pay. Expect a long commute, probably an hour or so counting traffic. When I was in high school, I had to sit through that traffic, it gets pretty bad. Keep this and mind and you'll love it there.

[Silvanabee]

It is expensive to live on Sanibel but worth the money. Think about it..the island offers no crime, a top 10 elementary school, beautiful beaches, island culture, relaxation, an excellent library and a change to live among the rich. I vacationed there since I was 3 and love this place. Living here would always be an everyday vacation. There are rentals under $2,000 a month and that is still cheaper than Manhattan, Los Angeles and other desiserable areas. If you want to live in true paradise you have to pay more than average.

[kinkytoes]

Hi,

I just came back from a trip to Sanibel. It's beautiful! I don't know if I would recommend living there, though. It's pretty far away from everything, so if you drive to work , you may be PO'd every day.

Other than that I would recommend it for vacation. The houses are pretty and the area is clean and probably crime-free. I did not see many children, which for me is a plus ha ha ha.

The other issue is that this is an island and it's more prone to storms than a place on the mainland. My real estate agent said that islanders and not friendly to "outsiders" which I took to mean ahem ethnic people and that you can get a place there for as little as 200 -300K. Based on my insurance research you may pay about 3K per year for insurance.

If you have a good job by N.E. standards, that price may be ok (no spell checking)

[Luvsdabeach]

We arrived home yesterday from Sanibel. I love that place and would move there in a heartbeat if I could. *sigh*