Ft Myers area vs. Port Charlotte/Punta Gorda/Cape Coral areas (Charlotte Harbor: fit in, foreclosures)

[melskybell]

I am an older single woman looking to invest in an inexpensive, not too big single family home or townhouse with water access.

I was recently in Ft. Myers and, after talking to several people, was told to head to Port Charlotte/Punta Gorda for more affordable, which I did. I am a sailor and looked at quite a few canal properties, but none were suitable for my fixed keep sailboat, and I was also told the canals and bay "empty out" in winter!

So, while I liked the area and prices, I haven't looked elsewhere yet, and with the high cost of flood insurance, am looking for a good rental investment to move into a few years down the road, and rethinking water access. If there is an affordable "no frills" yacht club or marina in the area, I don't need the water access.

I'm just hearing so many different stories about Punta Gorda being better/safer than Cape Coral, but the winter water situation is a big concern!

I'm looking for around 1100 - 1500 sf around $100,000, structurally sound but cosmetic fixer upper fine. Not really a lake person either.

I heard Ft Myers is better for jobs/younger population - that was the one thing that turned me off about Port Charlotte - nothing but 80 year olds lusting after younger women (I'm not retirement age YET!). Would like a more diverse population and love hanging out with the "kids" especially for sailing and activities.

Ideas where best a woman living alone can find this and be safe?

Thanks!

Annie

[mattdaddy204]

I think that you would be hard pressed to find a home in the Cape with water access for a sailboat for $100K or for that matter anywhre else, except around Port Charlotte. And the crime in the Cape is not as bad as some people have said it is.

[nhkev]

I think ft myers beach on the bay side may have some mobile home parks that have water access

[don1945]

$100K and waterfront don't normally fit into the same sentence these days, regardless of the area. But you will get the most bang for your buck in the Cape or Port Charlotte areas. Deep water and no bridges to go under may be the deal breaker anywhere for that kind of money.

But with the high number of foreclosures, and some patience with cash in hand, you might luck out somewhere. Your analogy of PC is pretty correct, it IS demographically much older than the Cape, and you could keep your boat at one of the marinas so you would have water access to Charlotte Harbor/ The Gulf. I used to work in PC and when you get there things slooooooooooow down a lot, but that isn't all bad either.

Don

[Hoopla98]

I would definitely look in Cape Coral. The housing market is going up and is a great place to buy a home. It has over 400 miles of canals and is labeled the city with the most canals in the world. There are two harbors in south cape (Tarpon Point Marina, and Cape Harbor) both gorgeous and quite big. The city has a pretty low crime rate also!
These next couple of years are a developing age for Cape Coral. They are having many new businesses open up(138 new businesses last month) and many new homes and commercial businesses buying built, such as a Wawa and a SAMs club. It is also very affordable to build or buy a house. Building a 1611 sq ft house with high end features would run you about 150,000, and less to buy a preowned home.
I hope this helps
Anthony

[rikoshaprl]

Originally Posted by Hoopla98

It is also very affordable to build or buy a house. Building a 1611 sq ft house with high end features would run you about 150,000, and less to buy a preowned home.
I hope this helps
Anthony

Interesting post. How did you come up with 1611 sq ft? Does $150,000 include land, impact fees, water/ sewer, pool? I think most homes built today are about 2,000 sq ft.

[Hoopla98]

Originally Posted by rikoshaprl

Interesting post. How did you come up with 1611 sq ft? Does $150,000 include land, impact fees, water/ sewer, pool? I think most homes built today are about 2,000 sq ft.

Actually it does include water and sewer, pool is obviously an add on (28,000 +/- with Jacuzzi)and land now is roughly 3000. Going up to 2000 sq ft brings up the price to about 180,000. But it is all in what part of the city you build and who your contractor is.

[nhkev]

Originally Posted by Hoopla98

Actually it does include water and sewer, pool is obviously an add on (28,000 +/- with Jacuzzi)and land now is roughly 3000. Going up to 2000 sq ft brings up the price to about 180,000. But it is all in what part of the city you build and who your contractor is.

land is no longer $3000 I did a search on Zillow there is one lot on del prado for $2k but I bet there is something wrong with it as it has been on the market for a long time.

[rikoshaprl]

Originally Posted by Hoopla98

Actually it does include water and sewer, pool is obviously an add on (28,000 +/- with Jacuzzi)and land now is roughly 3000. Going up to 2000 sq ft brings up the price to about 180,000. But it is all in what part of the city you build and who your contractor is.

$28,000 for a pool/jacuzzi seems a little light. If you are getting a screened enclosure, pavers, heat pump, a modern lighting system and a control panel to automatically turn the valves from pool to spa, you are looking in the $40,000 + range. Still a new 2000 sq ft home with all the bells and whistles for $177,000 plus land sounds like a good price. Only half the city has water and sewer so the lot would have to be south of Pine Island Rd. Who is the builder?

[dualie]

Have you checked out Pine Island? Great sailboat access, no bridges to speak of. There are still some fairly reasonably prices homes, on the water. If you don't want a huge house.. check out Cherry Estates. It's a community of manufactured homes, on the water, city water and sewer. Low maintenance, and Pine Island sound is minutes away. There are some very large sailboats there!

Just a thought.