Moving to Cape Coral - maybe . . . (Miami, Tampa: real estate, gated, condo)

[JSGOOFN]

Good evening to all! I am now in Upstate NY the the temp is a balmy 4 with a windchill around -10 - I do have warm clothes and hot chocolate, though Anyway, I may be moving down there in late Feb-early Mar for a new job and would like to know what areas to steer clear of as a single female. I had heard that N. Ft Myers was rough but I realize that almost all cities have "rough" areas. I know this is really general question, but any assistance would be GREATLY appreciated. I had lived in Ft Lauderdale (in a beachfront condo) and that was nice, but way, way too many people and nowhere to go to get away from them. Is the Cape Coral - Ft Myers area more "small-townish" feeling? Lots of tourist and snowbirds? That is not a problem for me but it is good to know who the locals are. Thanks!!!!

[FedUpInFtMyers]

I'm from up north (outside of Chicago, in fact), and I have regrettably resided in Fort Myers for three years now - - the worst place that I have ever lived in my entire life, by the way. I'd be curious to know what job it is here that you would move down for since the job market is so very poor here (once you leave a job or happen to find yourself without employment due to a layoff, it is difficult, if not impossible, to find employment). Additionally, I have to warn that while N. Ft. Myers doesn't look as nice as Ft. Myers, Ft. Myers is no better. Cape Coral's crime rate is on the rise. Read the crime rates listed on City Data. Compare them to the city you live in. Do not let the warm weather and palm trees deceive you. There is no small town feeling here. It is so transient. Lots of tourists, lots of real estate investors/speculators (and lots of vacant properties due to those kinds of buyers), and there is no way to know who the locals are. The tourist season really crowds things and slows down your commute to work, the store, etc. Everything changes here for several months each year during that time. The locals do not want to be friendly, the tourists are on vacation and distrustful (who can blame them!), and the people living in the neighborhood have been here long enough to be fearful of newcomers. Then there are the illegal immigrants - so many of them. Do you speak Spanish? A lot of employers will either require it or eventually insist you learn it so that you can communicate with the illegals whose business they would rather have rather than keep an American citizen employed. There is the crime element that comes with them across the border as well. You do not want these people for neighbors, but you have no control over who moves in next door or across the street. I have lived in another Florida city and did not experience any of this; therefore, I'd have to strongly recommend that you reconsider your plans to move down to Lee County if at all possible. And before you ask me why I'm still here after three years if it is so bad, I will tell you that I own here, and the real estate market has slowed down so much that it is difficult to sell a property right now. If you are still insistent on coming down, or if you make that move and somehow end up loving it, and wish to make a purchase or find yourself in need of a place to stay, PM me, and we can work something out. You can rent or buy my condo so that I can get the heck out of here.

[SouthFloridaNative]

Fort Myers and Cape Coral are in no way "small towns". Most people are rude, selfish and $$ hungry. They are both overcrowded. All the original locals have moved away... Maybe check into LaBelle In Hendry County..just east of Lee County. It's still kinda small town oriented and Bonita Bay Group is at least making an effort to keep it that way. Port LaBelle is very beautiful. Very true about the job situation..if you don't speak Spanish you are at a very big disadvantage. Very hard to find a job that does not REQUIRE you to know Spanish.

[bdemay]

Lee County is like most places in Florida. Despite what some posts may say crime is quite low especially Cape Coral ( you can check on lline) N Ft Myers depends on where you live. Ft Myers depends on where you live also. there are some economically challenged areas there. This area offers a huge variety of living choices from gated communities featuring golf or boating to mature neighhoods. There is a huge number of condo developments or single family choices avail. This is not a small town area, so you will find no shortage of shopping, restaurents etc. The area is a bit shy of cultural attractions though but definitely doesn't feel big city like Miami/Tampa etc.
Don't take anyones word, you need to visit - no one but you knows your likes and dislikes. Unemployment is very low, but like anywhere it depends on your skill and particular vocation as to what you will earn. Housing prices have dropped damatically in th past 12 months. We ourselves are approaching 10 years here.

[firemed]

Originally Posted by bdemay

Lee County is like most places in Florida. Despite what some posts may say crime is quite low especially Cape Coral ( you can check on lline) N Ft Myers depends on where you live. Ft Myers depends on where you live also. there are some economically challenged areas there. This area offers a huge variety of living choices from gated communities featuring golf or boating to mature neighhoods. There is a huge number of condo developments or single family choices avail. This is not a small town area, so you will find no shortage of shopping, restaurents etc. The area is a bit shy of cultural attractions though but definitely doesn't feel big city like Miami/Tampa etc.
Don't take anyones word, you need to visit - no one but you knows your likes and dislikes. Unemployment is very low, but like anywhere it depends on your skill and particular vocation as to what you will earn. Housing prices have dropped damatically in th past 12 months. We ourselves are approaching 10 years here.

What do people do in Lee County for Jobs ? If 72% of lee county works in the construction industry or related fields. I would think now that construction has come to a crawl unemployment would be high. What do you do for work in Cape Coral bdemay?

[Donna-50]

Cape Coral is not a small town, but it is a very nice place to live. I have lived here for 14 years and love it. Crime is lower than the US Avg. It has gone up some in the last few years but that is because we have a lot of new people moving in all the time.

[firemed]

How would you know if the crime is up in Cape Coral ? City Data has listed 2002 as the last year for Crime rates. But all other areas are 2005. Is this something to hide?

[V20]

Originally Posted by firemed

How would you know if the crime is up in Cape Coral ? City Data has listed 2002 as the last year for Crime rates. But all other areas are 2005. Is this something to hide?

Actually, I have the crime statistics for Cape Coral 2005 -its puts Cape Coral 3rd lowest crime rate in Florida for cities over 100,000.

http://www.capecoral.net/citydept/po...ol_crindex.cfm

Also, I found a site which shows that in 2005 there were 5 murders in Cape Coral. This clearly indicates that the murder rate in Cape Coral is way, way, way below that of which one would call a "high crime area".

http://www.disastercenter.com/MSA/Ca...yersFLMSA.html

[floridamove2]

I live in Cape Coral and would like to know the 2006 numbers.

[dawni1972]

i lived in cape coral for a year because my husbands family lives there and personally i hated it. There are alot of rude people there and if you like trees and nature cape coral is the wrong place to live since it looks like there was a nucleur meltdown that took away all the trees. I had to get out of there and move to northern florida where the beauty of trees reside.