Plz help: am approved for mortgage- torn between San Carlos Park and Golden Gate Estates? (Three Oaks: rental)

[Mrs.Bewitched]

There are so many pros and cons, and now that i have the mortgage, I need to pick the place. I am so torn.

The Estates I will probably get a newer house, definitely more land, and be in Collier County- where I live now. However, I would prefer not to have well water (anything that happens comes out of my pocket), it's not as accessible to get in and out and everyone is trying to drive on the same road, it is more rural so then I worry about my chidlren having friends, I have noticed tons of huge MAC trucks.....and I worry that the home taxes, once the housing slump turns around, will break me.

San Carlos...homes not as new or nice, much more shadier areas (drove through both spots), more sex offenders listed....but it has more of a neighborhood feel so my kids can make friends, city water, lower taxes, more accessible.

I worry about the offenders, but then in the Estates, whose to say in the near future, when it's built up, they won't have tons of offenders too, and the it would ...

are there any more positives or cons I should know about either area?

[Roadrunner69]

Hi, I think I would have to go with San Carlos. Sure there are bad parts but thats usually around the rental area just stay away from the areas that make you uncomfortable. Golden Gate if you will remember in the not to distant past is like the front runner in grow houses and thats the danger you can't see and what that element brings to a neighboehood. As you said San Carlos has more of a community fell to it and I think thats what is important for kids now a days to get out and play and make friends not just sit inside and play video games. I don't think it's a very hard decision but Good Luck with which ever you choice.

[whippersnapper]

Is there an option 3?

[hiknapster]

How about Three Oaks in San Carlos?

I lived in San Carlos for years, my husband grew up there, and I still have lots of family in the area. I'm not a big fan, but love Three Oaks!

[RMD3819]

I live in the Estates and before that I lived in GG city--both on well water.

Pros of the well:
-No water bill.
-If you have a generator you can get water in a power outage.
-The water is fine if you put a decent system in (and have a good well). Don't be cheap here.

Cons:
-Purchase and add salt. There are people you can hire for this.
-Clean tank once a month-very easy. Again, you can hire someone. At one point I did and it was worth it.
-One repair bill to the system could easily equal several months bills of city water.


Taxes-I don't know about this one. I would imagine this would be an issue in SCP also.

Kids-there are tons in the Estates. You are right--it is spread out.

Access-depends on how far east and your work location.
To me it is worth the drive to be in the isolated nature of the Estates.