Help!!!! Moving to Cape Coral??? (Fort Myers, Lehigh Acres: foreclosures, rent, crime)

[raftingrn]

If anyone can give me up-to-date information on cape coral it would be most appreciated. I am scheduled to move to the NW section of cape coral in about a week but I am not sure if I am making the right decision. I will be coming from California (the cold part----believe it or not) and then my family will follow. I will be working at one of the hosptials in Lehigh. I am worried about what kind of atmosphere I will be bringing my teenagers into as we live in a small area at present . Would the panhandle be a better area to relocate too rather than the cape area?
Any information would help. Thanks.....

[Edison Winter]

This will cover alot of what you need to know about a potential move to Florida. I dont think the OP covered the severe drug problem or the viloent crime problem though.

http://www.city-data.com/forum/fort-...g-florida.html

[Obxnc7]

I don't know if you have looked into schools...or if you will go public or private, but schools can be a major issue here. They have school choice in Lee County and the selection process has already begun for next year. I'm not sure what the middle/ high schools are like on the cape, but in Fort Myers, I hear there are no good middle schools.

[NYBill]

This might help.

http://http://www.city-data.com/foru...nership-7.html

[nhkev]

imho cape coral will be what you make of it. you already have a job which seems to be the biggest hurdle. housing whether renting or buying is affordable. there will be some negative opinions that will throw a link to an article talking about a particular incident which can be done in every single city in america (prove me wrong) as far as crime goes the national ranking is fairly low. My dad lives in the nw and has never seen any crime or signs of it. the schools rankings on the "Great schools" website has their rankings and parents ratings from what I have seen cape coral ranks anywhere from average to very good. none scored a perfect 10 but there where a couple of 9's and mostly 8's but the school choice thing can stink if you live 1/2 mile from a great school but have to bus 20 mins away for a less desirable school. but it works both ways someone who lives down the street from the less desirable school can still go to a good school. by doing this it should mean that no section of town becomes more desirable than another and teachers won't care which school they teach at.

[nhkev]

i went back to check the latest info I could find on the schools... but again it is ever changing, a lot of the families that were here over the last couple years have moved out.. but here goes .. overall elementary schools scored very well- gulf elementary, trafalgar elementary, and pelican elementary, middle schools were fair except for gulf middle school still scored well, high schools poor, so if your kids are young public schools look good if they are older go private

[bodikool]

(Help!!!! Moving to Cape Coral???
If anyone can give me up-to-date information on cape coral it would be most appreciated. I am scheduled to move to the NW section of cape coral in about a week but I am not sure if I am making the right decision. I will be coming from California (the cold part----believe it or not) and then my family will follow. I will be working at one of the hosptials in Lehigh. I am worried about what kind of atmosphere I will be bringing my teenagers into as we live in a small area at present . Would the panhandle be a better area to relocate too rather than the cape area?
Any information would help. Thanks..... )

I just moved from California myself , San Diego area a month ago. I went from 4 million people to 160, 000 or so. I live in the NW Cape Coral. If U can, do a google maps. Look up where U R moving to and the surrounding area. U will see homes R speadout. Houses with 1/4 or more acres. alot of foreclosures too.Lehigh Acres is a 30-45min drive from NWCC. It has been extremely windy at times, but with sunshine. One storm came thru and blowout the lights for 3hrs on a Sunday but they got them back on just in for NASCAR. So if you R from a slow pace type of place then U'll like Cape Coral. One the biggest thing I would U will need to learn is if are in house. Learn about the septic tank, the water well system, no city water here. Everything runs on electricity. Alot of canals, everything is laid out in grids. O, and make sure to drive the speed limit. Cops here R hungry for $$$ tickets. They'll give a ticket 2 miles over the speed limit. $85
if your kids like to fishing, then this the perfect place to be.

[TigerlillyCA]

I too live in California and am planning on retiring in SW Florida, probably Cape Coral. I went to High School in Fort Myers so I am a little familiar with the weather, etc. I could never buy a house out here in Ventura but with the housing market like it is in Cape Coral I can afford it and I am so happy!!!!! When I get down there as a permanet resident I will work hard for the community that has given me this opportunity.

[tjstrain]

Don't buy in Cape Coral, .........yet! Please go there and rent until you find the right place for you. NW cape coral is pretty desolate in area's. A little more crime in those empty area's. Why not look in Lehigh Acres since you will be working there? Could be an hours drive to and from work in rush hour traffic from Cape Come to lehigh.