Moving to Cape Coral?? (Lee: short sale, rentals, insurance)

[bren514]

Believe, me, I'm not naive enough to think that it is going to be a walk in the park if we move to Cape Coral. But, the fact is the foreclosures in Cape Coral are very enticing and would allow us to own a home free and clear which will not and can not happen in Boone County, Indiana. Just like down there, there are no jobs here either and the ones that are available are paying $6- $7 an hour so I wouldn't say it is WAY lower in Lee County, if you have been told otherwise, then you have been misinformed.

You tell me which is better, freezing your butt off in the winter and not being able to pay the mortgage or the utility bill, or owning a house free and clear and only having to come up with the basics for a change while living in a tropical climate? In Indiana, if you don't have heat, you can literally freeze to death.

Just as I'm not there, you aren't in Indiana either. Do you really think it is a lot different up here with the landscaping business? We've been in the business for more than 30 years, so please don't preach to someone who has lived it and knows the score. Unless you have a snow plow and a guarantee that it will snow several feet every year to pay for that snow plow, landscapers may only work 9 to 10 months out of any given year and the competition is just as stiff in Indiana.

What I don't understand is why posters try to discourage people from coming to Cape Coral. If we would rather endure our pain in a sunny, tropical environment, just help to steer us in the right direction with schools and the best areas.

We know the economy sucks down there too. And, by the way, according to the media, our unemployment rate is over 10% now so we aren't that far behind Lee County. It's not April any longer - it's almost July and things are getting worse by the day. Indiana is, or should I say was, a leader in RV and car manufacturing. Unless you've been under a rock somewhere you should be aware of what's going on with those industries and they will probably never recover. Tourism will.

I don't need to volunteer in a soup kitchen in Lee County - we have plenty of hungry and homeless families in Boone County, Indiana, but guess what, we don't have any soup kitchens or adequate housing for the homeless. Our county is not equipped for those issues. When the snow starts falling, those people, including kids will be on the street. That is simply a fact of life.

What you fail to understand is that dreaming about the beach has nothing to do with it, it has to do with survival. For many people a move South could be what keeps them from becoming hungry and homeless in the snow.

[hiknapster]

A couple of quick things, because it is really rather pointless posting. You've made up your mind and you are ignoring certain facts. Like you said in your earlier post: So lighten up and try to give us some positive feedback. You want positive reinforcement from someone. I'm not going to give it to you because I don't want to see you end up in a bad situation.

First of all, I compared APRIL's unemployment statistics, because it was the most recent I could get for your area. Indiana's STATE unemployment rate is 10.6 for May. Florida's is 10.2.

However, you also have to compare regions; where you are going to live. I understand we are in June, but the Bureau of Labor Statistics has only reported for May, and won't come out with the full list of AREAS until the end of THIS month for LAST month. That's how it works.

So, comparing April, Lee County was 12 percent and your area was 7.5 percent unemployment. That should scream volumes to you but it does not. Instead you tell me it's almost July. Do you think that people magically got jobs this month? If you are working 9 to 10 months a year, consider yourself lucky.

I know all about snow. I lived in New England for 34 years, Florida for 10 and Tennessee for almost four. And yes, I do understand all about survival. That's why we're in Tennessee.

You asked: What I don't understand is why posters try to discourage people from coming to Cape Coral.

I guess it doesn't make any sense to you, but I am just worried about you and your family.

Best of luck to you. May you achieve all your dreams.

[yachtcare]

Bren, I know it looks better in SW FL based upon the things you mentioned. And perhaps it appears to you that hands down this is the place to be......Just beware, that you WILL experience a culture shock that you likely are not prepared for, and it will take some time before you understand how things get done here. Your 30 years experience in any given occupation cannot prepare you for what is in store for you. When I first arrived here, I used to see bumper stickers that gave fair warning to the newcomers. I dont see them much anymore, so I'll give you the warning that still applies today........

"We dont care how you did it up north"

[aidaolympia]

We blast Chinese for bad products and blame minorities for our security but it has been American "fake rich" who has drawn world into a recession.

Understanding whatever shines is not gold, we are changing..at least I hope we are.
Why should we have big houses whose "guest" rooms are never used?
What matters is not the model of the car, but where we are going to.

Being in a gloomy mixture of high unemployment, declining productivity, and plunging home values, we have no choice but to admit that we "screwed it up!" and by "it" , I think, it is meant having comfortable life for millions, not only in the States but around the world who are hit by recession.

By the way, welcome to Cape Coral!

[bren514]

It truly isn't that we have made up our minds on moving to Cape Coral or anywhere in Florida for that matter, but we are trying to consider our options and Cape Coral is one of them because of the foreclosures and so we can be closer to our daughter and grandkids who are moving to Miami soon. But, I also love the sun and sea, so shoot me.

We certainly aren't idiots and will not buy a home in CC without first flying down and staying for an extended period of time to check everything out first. We've also considered Nashville, Savannah and other areas of the country. We've also considered staying in Indiana, but now that our daughter is moving to Miami (her husband got trasnferred - he had a choice of losing his job or relocating to Miami) we've been focusing on CC because of the foreclosure market.

After being in Indiana all my life, I'm sure any place else would be a culture shock. My daughter lived in Florida for a few years and it did take her a while to get used to it. We are not monetary people. All we want is to have a comfortable home, enjoy life and be close to our grandkids. It also has to do with the thought of going through another winter of snow and ice with the added burden of this recession that is truly the driving force. We simply want to move to a more moderate climate and what better time than now since that is where are grandkids will be? However, we will not just move down there.

[samjune2009]

This letter was published by Cape Coral Daily Breeze on June 27, 2009

To the editor:

It's been a long hard road to this point -but we're outta here.

After nearly 30 years in Southwest Florida we moved to northwest Cape Coral in the hope of a new beginning, wanting to be part of the exciting growth and development. So it all crashed. I've stopped kicking myself for moving my family out here, apparently nobody saw this coming.

But I've had it with the City of Cape Coral kicking me and everybody else when we're down.

Like everybody living up here, I just received the notice of assessment for the future potable water system. Unlike most, I own the lot behind our home so my kids and dogs would have more room to play. So on top of the $3,000 a year we pay in taxes, we now have an assessment for $12,000. Unlike most, I was a small builder who carried mortgages on several lots as building sites... yeah, I had hopes of building something in the Cape, and they're assessed at $8.000 combined (we're not counting the lake lot in SW4 with a $19,000 assessment, we're in the process of giving that away and losing $20,000).

We're upside down on our home and lots - like almost everyone up here - and, well, the addition of over $20,000 of debt for something that officially won't be needed for a decade is pretty much the proverbial straw. So, goodbye Cape Coral and thanks for taking what little equity we had. The bank can have our house, the taxes, and the $12,000 assessment. They can have our lots that no-one wants because of the assessments, hook-up fees, and taxes.

The Cape can have it all, except of course the taxes we pay, their stupid mowing fees, money we spend, and the support we gave our schools and businesses - we'll take those with us - because we're getting the H out while we still have the shirts on our backs.

Roland Barron

Northwest Cape Coral


Cape Coral Daily Breeze

[aidaolympia]

Originally Posted by samjune2009

This letter was published by Cape Coral Daily Breeze on June 27, 2009

To the editor:

It's been a long hard road to this point -but we're outta here.

After nearly 30 years in Southwest Florida we moved to northwest Cape Coral in the hope of a new beginning, wanting to be part of the exciting growth and development. So it all crashed. I've stopped kicking myself for moving my family out here, apparently nobody saw this coming.

But I've had it with the City of Cape Coral kicking me and everybody else when we're down.

Like everybody living up here, I just received the notice of assessment for the future potable water system. Unlike most, I own the lot behind our home so my kids and dogs would have more room to play. So on top of the $3,000 a year we pay in taxes, we now have an assessment for $12,000. Unlike most, I was a small builder who carried mortgages on several lots as building sites... yeah, I had hopes of building something in the Cape, and they're assessed at $8.000 combined (we're not counting the lake lot in SW4 with a $19,000 assessment, we're in the process of giving that away and losing $20,000).

We're upside down on our home and lots - like almost everyone up here - and, well, the addition of over $20,000 of debt for something that officially won't be needed for a decade is pretty much the proverbial straw. So, goodbye Cape Coral and thanks for taking what little equity we had. The bank can have our house, the taxes, and the $12,000 assessment. They can have our lots that no-one wants because of the assessments, hook-up fees, and taxes.

The Cape can have it all, except of course the taxes we pay, their stupid mowing fees, money we spend, and the support we gave our schools and businesses - we'll take those with us - because we're getting the H out while we still have the shirts on our backs.

Roland Barron

Northwest Cape Coral


Cape Coral Daily Breeze

honest and informative. Thank you Mr. Barron.

[yachtcare]

Excellent letter from Mr Barron. His sentiments are repeated many times over within the city of Cape Coral, and to a lesser extent, even Lee county on the whole...

My theory is the powers that be, had become so drunk on the massive influx of $$$ during the boom, that the sudden withdrawl symptoms of the new depression has them acting like leeches, addicted to the flow of $$$$. They dont know the meaning of a cutback, or how to moderate their spendy ways. Sadly, the only thing the leeches have to attach themselves too, are the residents, and business owners of the city.

I believe they have adopted a policy of culling those without the $$$ to continue feeding their pockets, out of "their" city. They now have a city brimming with vacant houses, at market prices unseen in almost twenty years, to lure in a new group of suckers, whose pockets they can set about picking.

They built this city on a scam, right from the beginning, when the Rosen's started digging. And they've been digging ever since. They've finally arrived at the point where the only thing left to dig, is deeper, and deeper into it's citizens's pockets.

Until this city's government starts to act in the best interest of it's citizen's, I feel it is my duty, to warn anyone thinking of coming to this hell hole to start a life, to look elsewhere.

"Cape Coral, it's just parasites"

[hiknapster]

Originally Posted by yachtcare

They built this city on a scam, right from the beginning, when the Rosen's started digging. And they've been digging ever since. They've finally arrived at the point where the only thing left to dig, is deeper, and deeper into it's citizens's pockets.



"Cape Coral, it's just parasites"

We need to put this at the Cape Coral City limits!

I can see it now.

__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ _____
CAPE CORAL - IT'S JUST PARASITES

We built this city on a scam, right from the beginning, when the Rosen's started digging, and we've been digging ever since.
__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ _____

[aidaolympia]

Originally Posted by yachtcare

Excellent letter from Mr Barron. His sentiments are repeated many times over within the city of Cape Coral, and to a lesser extent, even Lee county on the whole...

My theory is the powers that be, had become so drunk on the massive influx of $$$ during the boom, that the sudden withdrawl symptoms of the new depression has them acting like leeches, addicted to the flow of $$$$. They dont know the meaning of a cutback, or how to moderate their spendy ways. Sadly, the only thing the leeches have to attach themselves too, are the residents, and business owners of the city.

I believe they have adopted a policy of culling those without the $$$ to continue feeding their pockets, out of "their" city. They now have a city brimming with vacant houses, at market prices unseen in almost twenty years, to lure in a new group of suckers, whose pockets they can set about picking.

They built this city on a scam, right from the beginning, when the Rosen's started digging. And they've been digging ever since. They've finally arrived at the point where the only thing left to dig, is deeper, and deeper into it's citizens's pockets.

Until this city's government starts to act in the best interest of it's citizen's, I feel it is my duty, to warn anyone thinking of coming to this hell hole to start a life, to look elsewhere.

"Cape Coral, it's just parasites"

How the pain of being betrayed by city officials is formed into passionate writing demanding truth and justice in a city where moral has no meaning and money is the king!

Thank you that you care for the elderly and innocent new comers who might fall into trap of lies even in this forum.