Naples, Cape Coral, Ft Myers, so many choices, I need advice! (Vineyards: gated, budget)

[~peaches~]

My husband and I are wanting to move to Flordia, due to the type of work he does, we need to move in the Southwest region. I know that it can get expensive, but we already live in a very pricey town on Long Island, where taxes alone can run us $15000,00 a year,if we are lucky, not to mention high gas prices, should I go on?

We are planning on renting for the first year, to makes sure that this is really where we want to settle. We are a middle class family on a middle class budget.
I am want to know which schools are better?

Night life/entertainment, I dont want to get stuck an hour away from a good eating establishment.

Should we look into living in a gated community?

Also, I am concerned with the price of utilities. We pay over 300 a month here, just for lights, we have no central heat or air.

[Jannie]

I live in NY also, am getting ready to move next year to Naples. I bought a condo a long time ago in North Naples. Naples is expensive, prices for food,gas and restaurants are very much like NY. If you are used to the strip malls of Long Island,crowds & traffic, Naples or North Naples, you will feel very much at home. BTW Naples has plenty of very good restaurants.

[NYBill]

I also am a transplant from Long Island for 52 years there. Last home was in Centereach for 15 years.

I bought in Cape Coral 4 1/2 years ago, live on a canal that has sailboat( no bridges or lifts) to the Gulf f Mecico. I just moved down full time 7/05/

Things are starting to really grow in this area especially with the brand new airport in Ft Myers.

The only thing I could suggest is to come down and rent a home/condo for a few weeks to a month and look at all the areas. After Easter would be the best time for that type of rental

www.vrbo.com: is a good place to start ( vacation rental by owner)

Are you looking for waterfront property?

Electric rates are a lot cheaper here but water is very expensive, food is about the same so I consider that one a wash.

There is another thread here about Cape Coral further down the page and lots of good info.

[Adream]

Have enjoy visiting several friends who have moved to Naples. Others own second homes there. All love it, and very happy there. Some work, some are retired - all enjoy the active lifestyle they have found there.

We spent time recently in a condo in The Vineyards community. OMG, is it ever gorgeous! We chatted with some neighbors who were from Long Island, as well as NJ, PA, WV, IL, WI, - people have moved there from all over. I can see why people call Naples "paradise."

[nomoresnow]

I'm happy to hear that. We're moving from northern New York to N. Ft. Myers this coming fall. I'd love to hear anybody's comments on the area, particularly if you know of Pine Lakes/Lake Fairways.

[Jannie]

My condo is near the Vineyards. When I open the front door you look straight thru the livingroom and lanai at a 2 mile fresh water lake. You could fish Bass, parasail or go canoeing. I could see the lake from almost every room, and the sunsets are breathtaking. It is one of the largest lakes in the North Naples area. They run from$200K to $400k. It depends on what you want. They have condos and single family homes, some the lake (more expensive), least expensive are not facing the lake.