cape coral-ft myers advice, please? (Fort Myers: real estate, gated, apartment)

[dalma]

i'm looking to move to cape coral-ft myers area. i'm in the middle of negotiating a salary for a graphic design/writer/pr position.i asked 45-55k, which is lowballing it here in baltimore-dc metro area. does anyone think they'll bite in forida? also, i want to rent for a while if i do get the job, which is in ft myers. what's a good place for a 20something, single, who wants to make friends with people who aren't geezers? i'm trying to stay below 1,000 dollars a month.

[hiknapster]

Lots of geezers! Most of them angry.

Here's how it works...Most of them are snowbirds. Usually couples. The husband drags the wife down there. She's mad. She has to set up house in two places. Misses the grandkids. Walks around scowling. The husband, well, he's not giving in. They are going to remain snowbirds, come what may. But the wife is getting on his nerves. He walks around scowling.

They go out to dinner. By golly, all of the other snowbirds are trying to get in on the early-bird specials! The drive up and down Route 41, but every restaurant has a line going out the door. By golly, they want in on that early-bird special. The finally settle on one of the hundreds of cookie-cutter chain restaurants. An hour later they get their food that the surly waitress has practically thrown at them; she knows they are going to leave a quarter tip!

All the geezers drive home mad. Many get into accidents because they can't see and their reaction time ain't what it use to be. But at least they didn't get mugged by a crackhead in the parking lot. This time!

I wouldn't do it.

All the 20-somethings I knew there still lived at home with their parents and were counting the days until they could move out of Florida.

[dalma]

seriously? no one under 70 in that area? at least no one professional who CHOSE to be there?

[hiknapster]

There are people that live there that moved in a long time ago. So, no, not everyone is over 70. My husband has lots of family there. But new people moving in? Most are retirees. And the 20-somethings that don't own a house are going to have to move if they want to buy.

Also, be warned, there is a lot of crime.

I just wouldn't do it.

I suggest you go down and take a look. Don't talk to a real estate agent. Talk to people your own age and see what they have to say.

[dalma]

thanks, i'll take this into consideration. but what about the salary i suggested? unrealistic?

[hiknapster]

Hard to say. Pay in Fort Myers is TERRIBLE. But it depends on the company. Some national companies pay a little more because they haven't caught on to the fact that they can pay a lot less. Those are rare cases.

How much experience do you have? And what was there reaction when you told them your expectations?

[Littlewoman]

Well,all I have to say is,come here and stay for a while,see for yourself.There are young people living here but all the once I know want to move.Crime is very high and it's not that cheap anymore either to live here.Rent under a 1000 a month? Good luck,unless you want to live in a bad neighbourhood,I don't see it happening.Wages? Good luck on that too.I agree with Hiknap.
Don't move untill you are sure that's where you want to be.

[dalma]

i have extensive experience, over 5 yrs. i told them via email yesterday, and i haven't heard back yet. they're a local architecture firm.

[hiknapster]

Fort Myers companies don't want to pay. Something has got to give there. Eventually, they won't be able to get away with it.

[lisanyfl12]

I live in south fort myers in a safer area of ft myers. Yes some areas more north are sorta mixed/ghetto. But, what area is perfect. I pay 860 a month for a nice apartment in a gated community in a nice area by shops and places to eat including a nice upscale shopping center bell tower shops. I am 23 years old. There does not seem to be that many young people but, i would love to meet new people. It is ok place to live but very different from up north like new york.