Local opinion of Cape Coral/Ft. Myers (Fort Myers, Punta Gorda: rental, crime)

[Getawaylady]

We are planning to go to Cape Coral in December and found your assesment interesting. What is the name of the other city that you prefer to Cape Coral?

Originally Posted by 121804

My husband's job is relocating him to the FT Myers branch. When I went to realty website & tried to search a home for $200/$225, I almost starting crying. Then, I called a realtor to find out about Cape Coral. After about 30 listings @ $200k were sent to me, I decided to thoroughly research the area to figure out why.

I HIGHLY suggest to do all your homework on Cape Coral. The thing that really turned us off was the tax assessments being placed on the residents for city water/sewer. $18,000. The realtor told me I could talk someone in a 225-230K home down to 200 b/c so many are wanting off due to "reasons".
That, backed up with the recent spike in crime & having to travel over a bridge 2 times a day were just not worth it for us. We were also concerned about the way you get placed in a school.

After about a month of heavy research, we decided to look more north & are SOOO happy we did. While the commute is a little long, we found a great city and a trustworthy realtor. We are initally renting while we look & get a better feel for the area.

[Capevaca]

Wow!!!! Does ANYONE here like cape coral anymore or is it just a lost city with absolutely NOOO future? just curious on opinions

[firemed]

Originally Posted by Capevaca

Wow!!!! Does ANYONE here like cape coral anymore or is it just a lost city with absolutely NOOO future? just curious on opinions

It looks like it has a future but not what people would want.
NBC2 News Online - Potent drug "buddy-buddy" found on SWFL streets (http://www.nbc-2.com/articles/readarticle.asp?articleid=14501&z=3&p= - broken link)
NBC2 Online - Cape Coral News (http://www.nbc-2.com/News/CapeCoral/ - broken link)

[Chromedome]

seems like the capecoral 'honeymoon' period wore off on everybody around the same time huh....

[Caa]

Originally Posted by Chromedome

i agree with this for the most part. cape coral anyway is relatively safe, ive never felt threatened here.

the crime itself has definitely risen tho, you cant deny that.

and fort myers can be pretty dangerous.

check the crime rate index, numbers dont lie...

as far as the trees in cape, we definitely need SOMETHING here. this is like a nuclear wasteland or a desert with a bunch of cookie cutter houses built over brownish dried grass

theres no tall buildings to shade you if you DARE try and walk anywhere, so trees would help that issue.








and those scruffy looking things in the medians arent very pleasing to the eye. so itd help beautify the city if nothing else. god knows del prado and santa barbara could use a facelift

I totally agree with everything that is said on this post reagrding Cape as a bad place to live and raise a family. WE moved out from Cape Coral 3 years ago and have not regretted it at all. I have a daughter and she would have hated it there when she was older. First of all, you cannot go into a store and speak to anyone becasue all the cashiers etc are Hispanic and do not understand a word you say. Also, the people have gotten so rude there, I have no idea what happened to the kindness people used to have toward each other-too many people perhaps! Also, there is about one fun thing for children to do there and that is Gymboree. I live in Baton Rouge now and there must be 50 kid party places nad parks and sooo many children's activities, I have no idea what I would do if we were still there. I just think that the Cape used to be great, but now, sad to say, it has changed too mucha nd we are glad we are out of there!
but those of us who live here already know the idea of "walking around" anywhere in cape is comical at best so scratch that one. theyd have to develop an area where this is possible first.

[FSU_Alum]

Crime is on the rise in the Cape. I remember seeing on the news how they just arrested some drug kingpin, and it seems like the Cape is catching up with Lehigh in the "Grow House" (houses that are filled with marijuana plants) count.

Cape High has a terrible reputation for violence. (Gulf Middle and Diplomat are good; I have heard good things about Ida Baker High.)

And, let's not forget the Cash Feenz (Feendz) Gang double homicide last year where these gang kids brutally murdered two young people. They were beaten, had words/symbols carved into their backs, had bleach poured on them and were shot (I believe) and then were put in a car and set afire.

Nice, eh?

Lee County has "real" gangs, too. Latin Kings, Bloods, Sur XIII or MS 13 (or maybe both) and tons of smaller ones. Lately, it seems that the Latin Kings are the biggest.

re: enrollment

It's going down every day. I have heard that enrollment in the Cape is down even at the most desirable schools. Teachers are getting worried about their jobs. The number might have been up from last year, but they're on a downswing now. In the last two weeks, two of my students have moved, and I know of at least one more who is moving in a few weeks.

The Cape is turning into a ghost town. Driven through there lately? It seems like every other house is up for sale. Overgrown grass, green pools, mosquitos, hardly any trees, etc.


Unemployment here is above the national average and rising. The housing market here has been described as the worst in the state, as well as one of the worst in the country.

[firemed]

Originally Posted by FSU_Alum

Crime is on the rise in the Cape. I remember seeing on the news how they just arrested some drug kingpin, and it seems like the Cape is catching up with Lehigh in the "Grow House" (houses that are filled with marijuana plants) count.

Cape High has a terrible reputation for violence. (Gulf Middle and Diplomat are good; I have heard good things about Ida Baker High.)

And, let's not forget the Cash Feenz (Feendz) Gang double homicide last year where these gang kids brutally murdered two young people. They were beaten, had words/symbols carved into their backs, had bleach poured on them and were shot (I believe) and then were put in a car and set afire.

Nice, eh?

Lee County has "real" gangs, too. Latin Kings, Bloods, Sur XIII or MS 13 (or maybe both) and tons of smaller ones. Lately, it seems that the Latin Kings are the biggest.

re: enrollment

It's going down every day. I have heard that enrollment in the Cape is down even at the most desirable schools. Teachers are getting worried about their jobs. The number might have been up from last year, but they're on a downswing now. In the last two weeks, two of my students have moved, and I know of at least one more who is moving in a few weeks.

The Cape is turning into a ghost town. Driven through there lately? It seems like every other house is up for sale. Overgrown grass, green pools, mosquitos, hardly any trees, etc.


Unemployment here is above the national average and rising. The housing market here has been described as the worst in the state, as well as one of the worst in the country.

With half built homes and a lack of jobs I don't think its looking good.
The News-Press, news-press.com, Cape Coral, Golf course near Cape closes (http://www.news-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070908/NEWS0101/70907094/1075 - broken link)

[Capevaca]

I'm glad everyone is posting the truth here. Unfortunately I'm probably stuck holding on to my house for another two years until I can sell. Anyone else stuck in this predicament? With fingers crossed hopefully this town can somewhat turn around and become a decent place to reside at best.

[katbryce]

I am an Real Estate Appraiser currently working in the South-West Florida Marketplace, this includes Cape Coral. I think Chromedome had some very relevant and adult observations.

First, under no circumstances should anyone make a purchase decision at this time for the area. Although prices have dropped, they are continuing to do so. It appears that any 'bargain' you get today is just going to be an overpriced monkey on your back in the near future.

Do not move here thinking you will get a good job. There are none to be had. Once the economy begins to recover the best jobs are still very low paying.

Follow these statistics:
Estimated median household income in 2005: $46,933 (it was $43,410 in 2000)

[LEFT]Cape Coral $46,933Florida: $42,433[/LEFT]

Estimated median house/condo value in 2005: $250,800 (it was $110,800 in 2000)
[LEFT]Cape Coral $250,800Florida: $189,500[/LEFT]

This was 2005 and the median home value is more like $200,000 today. That is a 26% decline in value. It is predicted that the overall decline will be 30% before this crazy market levels out.

Now look at the median income level. I propose that for this statistic that household income would have to include two workers as typically wages are in the $30,000 range.

Even so a wage of $46,933 indicates the top price for an affordable house is $189,000, not $200,000.

There is very little services that are supported by the community in Cape Coral. Yes there is SunSplash Water Park, but that costs a lot of money to go to. There are few parks and even fewer playgrounds. All are centered near the downtown area. The NE and NW areas have nothing at all, just now have a couple of grocery stores opening up.

Cape Coral is a bedroom community for the Greater Fort Myers Area. The statistics for Fort Myers is kinda skewed as they are only for the City Proper, which is just a small part of the metropolitan area. But Fort Myers isn't that much better. There are a few community parks but they too are quite scattered.

If you still want to try living in this area, there is a lot to be offered, so come... but rent first. Rents are bargain due to so many brand new unsold homes. Get a feel for the area. A year from now will be a better time to start thinking about Real Estate Investments.

I think the follow photos tell a bettry story regarding the trees.

<a href="<A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/miatakat/20070806/photo#5110005169061789298"><img">http://picasaweb.google.com/miatakat/20070806/photo#5110005169061789298"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/miatakat/Rupio...4/100_8816.JPG" /></a>

<a href="<A href="http://picasaweb.google.com/miatakat/20070806/photo#5110005839076687490"><img">http://picasaweb.google.com/miatakat/20070806/photo#5110005839076687490"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/miatakat/RupjP...4/100_8819.JPG" /></a>

[SIZE=2]Please don't buy into the Realtors Propaganda just yet. There will soon be buying opportunities, its just not today 9/2007.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=2]Kathleen "Kat" Bryce
State Certified Real Estate Appraiser RD-4424[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]leecountyappraisals.com
Email: appraiserkat@earthlink.net
[/SIZE]

[Floridanative2]

It is a buyers market now, there are people that are desperate to sell. I would not do it in the Cape though. I really like where I am, a bit isolated, not in the thick of it all. Check out Alva.
The area (both Fort Myers, and Cape Coral) is getting bad. We have had a lot of robberies,- of stores, banks, people- you name it. Also, more murders. I get tired of turning on the news, that is all we hear about. Do not know if it is gang related or just isolated incidents. Check out newspress.com
I think I would wait to see if our leaders are going to pass this Amnesty bill or not, if they do, forget Florida! For that matter, forget the US. Time to move to Central or S. America? They come here, we go there?