Ft Myers...anyone like it? (Fort Myers: budget, job, house)

[HowardH2]

what kind of "bad things" did you hear about Ft Meyers? Considering a move there soon and have a 9yr and 13 yr old.

[Roadrunner69]

Howard, things are pretty quiet here right now as far as jobs go. North Ft. Myers never appelled to me unless it's east of I-75 I'm not saying its bad but not what I was looking for. Crime sure we have it and sometimes its not to pretty and I think it will get a little worse before it will get better as long as people are still losing jobs. Check the Fort Myers Newspress website and TV-20 website just Google and it might give you a better idea. Good Luck

[whippersnapper]

It depends on your field, but the in general, the job market isn't doing too well right now. It seems like health care and sales are still hiring but most other fields are on a freeze or have just cut back. I'd find a job first before moving down here.

[HowardH2]

Thanks for the feedback

[whippersnapper]

I like North Fort Myers. I don't know too much about the Palmona Park area though. I think it might be a little too close to Suncoast for your liking. I'd suggest looking east of I-75 like a previous poster suggested (if you don't mind being a bit out of the way) or i like the Waterway Estates area. I'm a little biased though, 'cuz I grew up over there. I was just checking some home prices in that neighborhood and they are pretty affordable PLUS there's a good neighborhood elementary school (Hancock Creek) and it's close to Fort Myers if you need to commute.

[southgeorgian]

Originally Posted by HowardH2

We are also considering a move to N. Ft Myers near the Palmona Park area I think. Whats the job market like down there and is it a good place for young children?
Thanks for any feedback you can offer,

in some of the areas that you mentioned you might want to sleep with one eye open. i lived in fort myers all my life and know the entire area.

[Starion]

Comments on here all seem right. North of Page Field in FM is rougher. Whiskey Creek is nice so long as it's the West part, not the East. IMO CC isn't nearly as nice and has tons of traffic, a more stagnant scene than Central FM which has palm trees and nice greenery all around. Cape & Lehigh are sorta known for being lower socioeconomic status and generally have more crime & traffic accidents. I'm avoiding those areas. Plus I don't want to have to deal with bottlenect traffic of crossing one of the 2/3 bridges to get in/out of CC every day.

It really depends on what you are looking for. Keep in mind that while I75 flows fairly well, there are often accidents there too each morning. I always check the news before leaving for work.

If you're willing to pay $5k for a pet deposit, I'm sure somebody would sell out and rent to you. =) Heck, I might. If I find a great place and am not ready to move in yet, I'll be looking to rent it out. Central, SW FM is my target area currently.

Best of luck.

[Obxnc7]

We are moving to the Fort Myers area very soon. My husband's job is the reason we are moving. I would love some information on neighborhoods that are children friendly. We have two young girls. (8 & 4) We would love to be close to the beach. Have heard that Pine Island is nice, and Bonita Springs. Also, could anyone point out some good schools. I have found a few public schools that looked good, but have found out that by the time I am able to register my child, most of the good schools will be full. Have looked into Catholic schools....St. Francis Xavier and St. Andrew Catholic....are either OK? My daughters currently attend Catholic school. Thanks in advance.
Anna

[dcabrer1]

Originally Posted by Roadrunner69

I am so tired of people bad mouthing Fort Myers. It's just like any other city, yes there is crime but no worse then any other place. I have lived here over 30 years and yes it has gone up (crime) but we have also doubled in size in a short amount of time and with that comes all the bad. As other posters have stated it is a different kind of town and you just have to find out where you fit in. The area you are speaking of (Whiskey Creek, Tanglewood) used to be the nicest areas in Ft. Myers then came develoment. They are still very quiet neighborhoods with nice homes but as others have said you may want to rent because I don't think the prices have bottomed out yet either. I personally don't care for NP, just nothing there and I would never want to commute that far, traffic can be a bear and the cost of gas I don't think so. At least your husband has a job before coming down here that is a real plus. As long as you stay south of Page Field you will find a nice place to live and plenty of places to go out to eat on the money you'll save on gas.

Thank you for the advice. I've been trying to find out the real facts about Fort Myers but all i've heard was negativity.

[ChrisA70]

Cape coral having more crime than Fort Myers?????? What?!?!?! Where are you pulling that out of? I believe Lehigh is bad, but not here in Cape Coral, come on... I would take driving over these bridges any day over living in Fort Myers. There are a very few areas of FM that are decent, but you pay for it. North of Paige field is "rougher", understatement of the year. MLK, Dunbar.... Ya, there are some nice areas.

Originally Posted by Starion

Comments on here all seem right. North of Page Field in FM is rougher. Whiskey Creek is nice so long as it's the West part, not the East. IMO CC isn't nearly as nice and has tons of traffic, a more stagnant scene than Central FM which has palm trees and nice greenery all around. Cape & Lehigh are sorta known for being lower socioeconomic status and generally have more crime & traffic accidents. I'm avoiding those areas. Plus I don't want to have to deal with bottlenect traffic of crossing one of the 2/3 bridges to get in/out of CC every day.

It really depends on what you are looking for. Keep in mind that while I75 flows fairly well, there are often accidents there too each morning. I always check the news before leaving for work.

If you're willing to pay $5k for a pet deposit, I'm sure somebody would sell out and rent to you. =) Heck, I might. If I find a great place and am not ready to move in yet, I'll be looking to rent it out. Central, SW FM is my target area currently.

Best of luck.