Relocating to Florida - help, please! (Cape Coral, Fort Myers: estate, insurance, vacation)

[WendiG]

Help!
I have read all these postings, and would like more input from everyone. We are relocating to Florida in April. My husband will be working in the Fort Myers area. Realtors b/s about certain areas because they want to sell a house in their own areas (i get that) so the more input i get from all of you the better. One realtor told me the Ft. Myers was busy, crowed, high crime, not very safe area. He swore the Cape was the safest, quietest and best place to be.

Where would i find info on homeowners ins. & hurricane ins.? Is flood ins. a seperate ins.? And the schools, my daughter will be in 11th grade next year, and would love any info anyone has about the schools.
One last thing - which side of the state is better to live in as far as crime rate, weather & hurricanes go??

Thank you everyone ~
Wendi

[sunrico90]

Can someone from Fort Myers area provide advise?

Thank you.

[HolidayFL]

Wendi, I live in Pasco County, but I have been to Ft Myers ONE time. Based on my one visit, I found it to be very crowded and I didn't enjoy it much. I hope someone who lives there can give you more insight.

[firemed]

Go to nbc-2.com and read the news. I dont know what your looking for but the Cape Coral area is not very good anymore.

[V20]

Originally Posted by WendiG

Help!
I have read all these postings, and would like more input from everyone. We are relocating to Florida in April. My husband will be working in the Fort Myers area. Realtors b/s about certain areas because they want to sell a house in their own areas (i get that) so the more input i get from all of you the better. One realtor told me the Ft. Myers was busy, crowed, high crime, not very safe area. He swore the Cape was the safest, quietest and best place to be.

Where would i find info on homeowners ins. & hurricane ins.? Is flood ins. a seperate ins.? And the schools, my daughter will be in 11th grade next year, and would love any info anyone has about the schools.
One last thing - which side of the state is better to live in as far as crime rate, weather & hurricanes go??

Thank you everyone ~
Wendi

I don't live in Cape Coral, but I vacation there - alot. It seems great to me. Beautiful weather, inexpensive waterfront property (currently - sure to jump up in value in the not too distant future) and friendly people. I have boated around the area as well and that is paradise. There are also many wonderful developments and changes in store for Cape Coral. I would gladly move there if my career would allow me to.

[firemed]

Originally Posted by V20

I don't live in Cape Coral, but I vacation there - alot. It seems great to me. Beautiful weather, inexpensive waterfront property (currently - sure to jump up in value in the not too distant future) and friendly people. I have boated around the area as well and that is paradise. There are also many wonderful developments and changes in store for Cape Coral. I would gladly move there if my career would allow me to.

Cape Coral has changed alot in the last 2 years. It was a very nice area but now the tide has changed. I have seen the area start to fall due to the const. industry slowdown. Most of the jobs where built around construction and development. Florida has been able to weather local booms and busts through tourism and the snowbird factor. But not now. Many of the mom and pop stores have been driven out of business by development/taxes/insurance. Beaches in the area have become crowded and nasty. Red tide has soured a certain segment of the tourism industry. After all, who wants to lose a lung just for a little sunshine. Not to mention the oil drilling soon to take place 200 miles offshore. Violent crime is up to a all time high and people know it. And of course, we have nothing to replace it, no real industries to speak of, except maybe for a little agri-business. Oh, yeah, and phosphate mining. Mercantile has to have people with a pay check to stay in business. You cant keep selling realestate to each other. I know it sounds doom and gloom but I have been here and seen the ups and downs of Lee County. This time it will be tough.