long island to cape coral (Sarasota, Port Charlotte: condo, crime, credit)

[spanky123]

Im thinking of moving to the southwest part of cape coral. I would like to be in a good area on the water. Im used to the high taxes and traffic. I have looked on this site and found many of you don't think cape coral is a good investment. I want to raise my kids (only 1 for now- 9months) in nice weather on the water. It is very affordable for waterfront property. Can I get some feedback from those who live there?

[2peaches2oranges]

Hope you are used to $20K sewer assessments and $6K tax bills as well as new neighbors like africanized bees, monitor lizards and pot grow houses. Since you are from NY, you should be used to crime including home invasions and murders.

For the sake of your child, I would think twice.

[spanky123]

Wow!! Is that really true? What the heck are africanized bees? I know about the mosquito problem but bees.
and yes, since I am from New York Im used to all that crime.....Im used to $13,000 a year in taxes but what is the 20k sewer assessments? Is that a one time fee? Isn't that work going on now so by the time I come I hope it will be completed or they add those costs to the purchase price of the house. Do you live there? Is this how you know about Cape Coral?

[Pcorrell]

They are called "african bees". You can look them up on line.

The sewer assessment is being charged by the city as the city water gets put in. If the property is already improved, the assessment is being billed outright. If the property is a vacant lot, the assessment comes once the property is improved. I doubt the assessment hits the same property more than once. Perhaps you could find out more at leepa.org.

I live on the east coast of Florida, but own property on the cape. It's not the prettiest area in Florida, but it does have a lot to offer, and it's very close to some gorgeous areas. We may or may not retire over there.

You say you want to raise your kids on the water. If that is fresh water, I would not recommend your kids playing in the water. Especially when they are little. Dogs - not a good idea. No, alligators are not going to come creepy crawling up to your house every day, but there is the odd occasion when a big gator and a little mammal (like kids and dogs) meet up. I would be watchful of my dog playing on the bank of a canal. On the other hand, you could go your entire life and never see one!

If it's salt water you want to live on, you are going to pay BIG for that!

[2peaches2oranges]

I owned a gulf-access condo in SE Cape Coral and searched for a year in Cape Coral for the perfect house in the SW Cape. This was back in 2002. There was a lot to pick from but I liked newer construction which faced the assessment. You can pay it off in installments, but it will not go away! They need the sewers out there as many wells were running dry.

The school choice issue is the main reason I decided to stay away from Lee County. I am in favor of neighborhood schools, not competing to get my child in the schools in my neighborhood. The tolls were another reason. I would be using the Cape Coral bridge from the SW cape and did not like having to pay $1.00 each way to get to Ft. Myers.

I decided in 2003 to move a little bit north to the Charlotte/Sarasota area. We watch the same news as Cape Coral and my best friend lives there, so I go often.

Africanized bees hit the Cape in January, do a Google search. If you are looking for Waterfront, try Punta Gorda Isles or NW Port Charlotte along the Myakka River in Charlotte County and further North.

I have 4 kids from 4-18, and for me their safety is number one!

[bmurphy]

Originally Posted by 2peaches2oranges

Hope you are used to $20K sewer assessments and $6K tax bills as well as new neighbors like africanized bees, monitor lizards and pot grow houses. Since you are from NY, you should be used to crime including home invasions and murders.

For the sake of your child, I would think twice.

What a lovely, helpful post. I doubt you're "telling it like it is". You're exaggerating because you're miserable.

If one wants to avoid africanized bees, which are not even fatal, you better avoid a growing chunk of the US. They're bees for crying out loud. Should bees determine your move to an area? No.

[2peaches2oranges]

Excuse me, I am not miserable, I am stating FACTS. Look it up! Should I lie and make up stuff that you WANT to hear? I seriously looked at Cape Coral, I owned a vacation residence and bought land to build on. I decided that Cape Coral was not for me 3 years ago and from the looks of what I find when i am visiting monthly, I thank goodness that I made that decision.

My post at least gave facts, yours said NOTHING relevant. Why would I lie? Moving a family is no easy thing, you have to do ALL your homework even face reality which you evidently have a hard time dealing with.

[spanky123]

What do you mean when you "compete" for the neighborhood schools?
















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[2peaches2oranges]

What do you mean when you "compete" for the neighborhood schools?

Lee County is a "school choice" county. They now have zones, but from what I remember, you pick your top three choices and hopefully, fingers crossed, your child gets into the school of your choosing. More info here:
http://www.lee.k12.fl.us/dept/plan/Choice/choexpl.htm

[hiknapster]

Bmurphy does not live in Cape Coral, nor has he ever. I'm not sure if he's ever been there.

I think your a nice guy, but be careful when discrediting people that are talking about an area that they know about.

Speaking of school choice, I would love to know how they go about this. I tried to get my Kindergartener into a school. I showed up at the first hour that school choice began. I was told that it was full. How could that be?