Is it the right time to buy in Florida???? (Fort Myers: big house, neighborhood)

[Big House]

Originally Posted by twobums

Hey Big House ~ where are you in Maryland? Spouse & I grew up in AA County then lived on the Shore for 15 years, Queen Anne County. We both miss the steamed crabs!!

I live in Baltimore County, in Timonium.
I had steamed crabs the other day! They're the largest in the fall!
I bought a really awesome place in PGI. I'll be there again in a couple weeks.

[hiknapster]

Hearty "thank yous" to everyone.

I'm still in class and will take the state exam next week.

I'm up in Knoxville, Big House.

SoFlGal: You and I need to work out reciprocity! : You're a fabulous agent and I would feel very comfortable sending clients to you.

[Joy12345]

Chicken Wing~ What is San Carlos Park all about? I see some great deals there. I'll be down in October & am trying to compile a list of where I'd like to look at homes. So far I've got Estero & I want to check out Golden Gate Estates too. Congrats on the new home BTW.

[hiknapster]

Originally Posted by Joy12345

Chicken Wing~ What is San Carlos Park all about? I see some great deals there. I'll be down in October & am trying to compile a list of where I'd like to look at homes. So far I've got Estero & I want to check out Golden Gate Estates too. Congrats on the new home BTW.

I have lots of family in San Carlos. I used to live there.

There are pretty decent neighborhoods and some that have almost always been iffy. Three Oaks is in there and I really like that subdivision.

So San Carlos is a place where you really need to go look at the house and definitely evaluate the neighbors. A house may look fine but it could be a crackhouse. Please don't think that is the norm but it is not uncommon.

Also, property values dropped like a rock not that long ago. They've been steadily going down, but they really dropped this year. It's hard to evaluate how things will play out because of that.

You get a bunch of decent retirees and it will be the best thing that could happen to the place.

One thing that San Carlos has going for it is the location. It's right between 41 and I-75, south of Fort Myers but just north of Estero. Not much going on in San Carlos. It has a couple of redneck bars. That's about it. But you can choose to go to the beach or down into Bonita or Naples for entertainment.

The place has possibilities but only time is going to tell.

[SoFLGal]

Originally Posted by hiknapster

Hearty "thank yous" to everyone.

I'm still in class and will take the state exam next week.

I'm up in Knoxville, Big House.

SoFlGal: You and I need to work out reciprocity! : You're a fabulous agent and I would feel very comfortable sending clients to you.

Right on! Contact me when you get it. I would glady send back and forth. You're not moving to the area are you?

[Chicken Wing]

Yeah, what hiknapster said. You have to check out the different streets in San Carlos Park. Some are better than others.

[hiknapster]

Originally Posted by SoFLGal

Right on! Contact me when you get it. I would glady send back and forth. You're not moving to the area are you?

Nope! It's all yours, sweet pea!

I love the idea of referring people back and forth.

[SoFLGal]

Originally Posted by hiknapster

Nope! It's all yours, sweet pea!

I love the idea of referring people back and forth.

Haha! You're funny! OK, we'll just refer back and forth. Go get 'um..DM me and let me know when you get it!

[tjstrain]

hiknapster hit the nail on the head about "the park". I own 2 houses there in a nice section. I would not buy anything near a dump or slum house 'cause they never get better, just worse. Ya gotta be particular what street you buy on. I also have a house in Three oaks. That is a BIG step up from "the park" and prices reflect it. You can pick up a decent house in the park for under $100,000. A slum for about $40,000. Foreclosure house was going for about $150,000 in Three oaks, Pine Chase neighborhood, back in 2005 it would have brought about $250,000 +.
If you find a house or a couple of houses that your interested in, in the park, I'd be glad to check them out and give you my opinion, when I get back down there. Including photo's of the surrounding homes. There are no HOA fee's there which is a big plus. If you need a local realtor in the area I can recommend the one I'm using, if needed.

[hiknapster]

I just can't say enough good things about Three Oaks, TJ.

My MIL lives right down the street from Three Oaks. And at one point we lived there, too.

The whole family would meet up at Halloween and trick or treat in Three Oaks. It was like a huge block party! The houses are beautifull decorated and the whole neighborhood gets into the act. The people and neighborhood have such a wonderful vibe! It is the only subdivision that I have ever liked.

Yes, you definitely get what you pay for in Three Oaks!

Originally Posted by tjstrain

hiknapster hit the nail on the head about "the park". I own 2 houses there in a nice section. I would not buy anything near a dump or slum house 'cause they never get better, just worse. Ya gotta be particular what street you buy on. I also have a house in Three oaks. That is a BIG step up from "the park" and prices reflect it. You can pick up a decent house in the park for under $100,000. A slum for about $40,000. Foreclosure house was going for about $150,000 in Three oaks, Pine Chase neighborhood, back in 2005 it would have brought about $250,000 +.
If you find a house or a couple of houses that your interested in, in the park, I'd be glad to check them out and give you my opinion, when I get back down there. Including photo's of the surrounding homes. There are no HOA fee's there which is a big plus. If you need a local realtor in the area I can recommend the one I'm using, if needed.