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Can someone specifically tell me what is so wrong with Naples. And also were is a GOOD place to raise children and why is Naples not. thanks
Naples is designed for wealthy retirees. The housing prices and job market revolve around that fact. There is almost no middle class. If you are middle class then you either moved here before the housing boom or you have a fantastic job (80K+) and can afford to live here.
These same wealthy retirees generally don't care about the schools since their kids are grown. They do however, care a great deal about property taxes which fund schools and the political climate reflects this.
There is also a problem with illegals. It is reality that the Wal Mart employee or the supermarket cashier very likely will not speak English. The one closest to me has all bilingual signs and the PA announcements are in Spanish.
A new Wal Mart just opened and they announced, publicly, that you must speak good English in order to work there. This means you do not need to speak English to work at at the other stores.
This forum is full of stories like the OP of this thread. People read about or visit Naples, They get all starry eyed with the weather and palm trees. They pack up and move. Then reality sets in. Housing is outrageous, the taxes and homeowners insurance are sky high and the salaries are way below what they made up north or in the midwest. Traffic is horrendous, the schools are crappy (some of the high schools were labeled "dropout factories" by some educational organization.)
Naples is not a place to start over in life. Living here is way different than visiting. Don't come here, especially with kids, unless you have housing and a well paying job lined up--or you have a wad of cash.
Naples is designed for wealthy retirees. The housing prices and job market revolve around that fact. There is almost no middle class. If you are middle class then you either moved here before the housing boom or you have a fantastic job (80K+) and can afford to live here.
These same wealthy retirees generally don't care about the schools since their kids are grown. They do however, care a great deal about property taxes which fund schools and the political climate reflects this.
There is also a problem with illegals. It is reality that the Wal Mart employee or the supermarket cashier very likely will not speak English. The one closest to me has all bilingual signs and the PA announcements are in Spanish.
A new Wal Mart just opened and they announced, publicly, that you must speak good English in order to work there. This means you do not need to speak English to work at at the other stores.
This forum is full of stories like the OP of this thread. People read about or visit Naples, They get all starry eyed with the weather and palm trees. They pack up and move. Then reality sets in. Housing is outrageous, the taxes and homeowners insurance are sky high and the salaries are way below what they made up north or in the midwest. Traffic is horrendous, the schools are crappy (some of the high schools were labeled "dropout factories" by some educational organization.)
Naples is not a place to start over in life. Living here is way different than visiting. Don't come here, especially with kids, unless you have housing and a well paying job lined up--or you have a wad of cash.
Well said! You and I are on the same path here, no question! There is no middle class and being middle class myself, it has been hard to find a niche. I work in the schools and am appalled at some things I see, it is sad.
The whole non-English thing, do not even get me started! Sometimes I turn to my husband and say, are we in the United States?
We are prior military & have moved several times in the past years, whether we were ready to or not. This move to SW FL for us had nothing to do with the military, but far has been the hardest adjustment & probably the strangest place I have ever lived [I've lived in 7 states & Korea]. We came here due to circumstances, tried to stay all positive & happy & "oh, we gotta give it time" attitude...forget it, this part of FL is SO not worth the effort.
As someone posted, one just KNOWS when a place is not right for them. SW FL is a strange, strange place [I consider SW FL to be from Port Charlotte to Naples b/c I've never spent much time in Sarasota & cannot judge it]. Vacationing here & picking seashells at Sanibel is a far different reality than enduring this place.
There is no rule on time to adjust to an area.
What may take one person 1 month to do may take another 1 year or even longer. And some, well, they just never feel comfortable in the area & after personal examination decide to make a move to improve their situation.
[If I remember correctly, the OP is from the NE]
Can somebody please tell me what is so strange about Naples? or what is wrong with it
Please "Im considering Naples, what's so bad and/or different?" I'm nervous about our move so please elaborate.
Gina did you move to Naples I also asked politely for someone anyone to please be specfic on what is wrong with Naples. no replies, can you give some insight
I could not have said better my self. What on earth are these other people taking about. I would love to know where in Naples they live because it is beyond me some of there comments.
I could not have said better my self. What on earth are these other people taking about. I would love to know where in Naples they live because it is beyond me some of there comments.
I have lived in Naples for 20 years. I have lived in several different areas, I agree with too manypeople that do not speak English. It is staying hot longer and getting hotter than ever each year. It is a good rich retirement community. There are plenty of middle class here and they live mostly out in the Golden Gate estates area. But, 6 years ago you could purchase land for about $10.000 out there.....NOW, it is in the hundreds of thousands for the same piece of land. Then with impact fees of 30,000 be fore you can even think about building------they are driving the middle class out. As for me and mine, we leave in 6 months for the good state of Maine. "The way life should be" I can't wait to actually see 4 seasons that are something besides Summer, Fire season, rainy season and Christmas
I could not have said better my self. What on earth are these other people taking about. I would love to know where in Naples they live because it is beyond me some of there comments.
Well, I think the numerous amounts of negative comments about Naples say something. You might not agree but, if you look over this board, the negativity about Naples is overwhelming, and for many of us, reassuring that we are not the only one and are not crazy!
People have given several reasons they do not like it from the poor schools, to the heat, to the traffic, the construction, the overwhelming presence of immigrants and old people alike, a low percentage of middle class yet a high percentage of overly wealthy and obnoxious people, hardly any cultural activities of any kind, etc.
Of course, other places have things mentioned above but these things all put together make it unpleasant for some people. Perhaps those of us who are unhappy have lived in places where we see much more opportunity and a better way of life, that is why we think like we do. We know that there is better out there, especially for families. Heck, if I was 70, retired, playing golf and tennis everyday and going north, when the temperature reaches over 90 degrees, I might think this place is great too.
I live in North Naples in one of the best neighborhoods in the area, for families. Again, nothing wrong with the neighborhood, it is fine, but it is the overall Naples lifestyle that is making most of us pull our hair out.
Everyone is entitle to their own opinion. I am happy that you like it.
Naples is designed for wealthy retirees. The housing prices and job market revolve around that fact. There is almost no middle class. If you are middle class then you either moved here before the housing boom or you have a fantastic job (80K+) and can afford to live here.
These same wealthy retirees generally don't care about the schools since their kids are grown. They do however, care a great deal about property taxes which fund schools and the political climate reflects this.
There is also a problem with illegals. It is reality that the Wal Mart employee or the supermarket cashier very likely will not speak English. The one closest to me has all bilingual signs and the PA announcements are in Spanish.
A new Wal Mart just opened and they announced, publicly, that you must speak good English in order to work there. This means you do not need to speak English to work at at the other stores.
This forum is full of stories like the OP of this thread. People read about or visit Naples, They get all starry eyed with the weather and palm trees. They pack up and move. Then reality sets in. Housing is outrageous, the taxes and homeowners insurance are sky high and the salaries are way below what they made up north or in the midwest. Traffic is horrendous, the schools are crappy (some of the high schools were labeled "dropout factories" by some educational organization.)
Naples is not a place to start over in life. Living here is way different than visiting. Don't come here, especially with kids, unless you have housing and a well paying job lined up--or you have a wad of cash.
I do live in Naples and was curious as to what is going on because I have never had the experiences that some of the posters have had and wanted to know if there was something I was not aware of. I am sadly moving from Naples because my family has grown and although my husband earns good money(90k+) we would afford not a bigger home here in Naples unless we got a Large town house. However, after reading the post and visiting PSL. I am not sure what to do anymore. I have even contempleted squeezing my growing family in my exisiting home. Which is why I had asked in different post "where would you move to if you had to leave Näples" I myself have not found a place in my opinion that meets the standards of Naples. Keep in mind I have been here most of life (since childhood) so I feel like I don't know where to go. I am open to any suggestions I know there MUST be nice places else where i just don't know where to begin. Like I mentioned before I went to PSL to take a look and did not like what I saw.( no offense to anyone) Thanks for listening. Hope to hear from you soon.
Are you open to leaving the state, JJJNEY? I am from Virginia and love it there, now I have lived in Northern Virginia, which is kind of crazy and might no be the best place if your family is already grown, you might be looking for something more relaxing. I think the Carolinas are a great place to live as well as some areas in Georgia.
I have friends all over Florida and no one loves it.
I am surprised, with your husband's salary, and the terrible housing market, that you can not find a house here? There are great deals now, I am shocked at what some of the houses in our neighborhood are going for.
Well, I think the numerous amounts of negative comments about Naples say something. You might not agree but, if you look over this board, the negativity about Naples is overwhelming, and for many of us, reassuring that we are not the only one and are not crazy!
People have given several reasons they do not like it from the poor schools, to the heat, to the traffic, the construction, the overwhelming presence of immigrants and old people alike, a low percentage of middle class yet a high percentage of overly wealthy and obnoxious people, hardly any cultural activities of any kind, etc.
Of course, other places have things mentioned above but these things all put together make it unpleasant for some people. Perhaps those of us who are unhappy have lived in places where we see much more opportunity and a better way of life, that is why we think like we do. We know that there is better out there, especially for families. Heck, if I was 70, retired, playing golf and tennis everyday and going north, when the temperature reaches over 90 degrees, I might think this place is great too.
I live in North Naples in one of the best neighborhoods in the area, for families. Again, nothing wrong with the neighborhood, it is fine, but it is the overall Naples lifestyle that is making most of us pull our hair out.
Everyone is entitle to their own opinion. I am happy that you like it.
Novanative you just said something I had really never thought of. Above you mention those of us that are unhappy have lived in where we see much more opportunity the person beforeyou mentioned they are trying to drive the middle class out. I guess I never stopped to think how unfair it is to haveto move from Naples after being here basicly all my life because I have a growing family. And perhaps I really don't know any better. All I know is I have traveled to other cities in Florida and they did not seem as nice and when they did they were as expensive as Naples or more. We have been to many other countries on vacation and when we come home we always feel like WOW we really do take for granted what we have.
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