Looking to move to Naples area this year (Golf: closing, living)

[Tripower455]

Originally Posted by markjames68

The Port Royal story is pretty amazing. In 1955 you could have bought a spec home there for $22,000. Just imagine....that's around $200K today. Can't even get a decent condo for that price in Naples anymore much less waterfront anything.

When I moved here in '87, PR was going through a transformation.

There were a few mega mansions in there, but the vast majority of the homes were 60's and '70's, 2000-3000 sq ft FL style ranch homes. The going rate for vacant lots at the time was $1M. The going rate for existing homes on the lots next door was $1M, because the teardown craze had started.

If the teardown craze had waited 15 years, I could've actually bought a house in Port Royal!


Waterfront in Marco was very reasonable until the last boom, but it was still Marco......


Like most waterfront that isn't on the beach in FL, PR, Aqualane Shores, Royal Harbor etc. were all "dredge and fill" communities. From an ecological perspective, Cape Coral was one of the worst, as is Marco Is.

[logybogy]

If all you care about is beach access and boating, the values in Marco Island are quite good for the Naples area all things considered.

It's somewhat remote and you are far removed from the shopping/restaurants in Naples but not any worse than living in GGE plus instead of living in the everglades you are living on an island with gulf access. There are water lots available to build on under $400k. Even assuming $200 sq ft construction costs, you are under $1M all in for a brand new home If you don't go too crazy with upgrades/size.

[Taksan]

Originally Posted by Naplesfan

Maybe this will change your mind.



Rip rap seawalls have many advantages. First they attract sea life and allow more natural water permeation. Better fishing and crabbing. They require far less maintenance and the costs involved in concrete repair are high.



I'm currently looking at a rental property with seawall problems. The repair costs are around $450 a linear foot. They can run as high as $1200 to $1500 a linear foot Hurricanes are hard on concrete seawalls and as they age they have a tendency to undercut. Rip rap doesn't have those problems.


If you have kids or dogs concrete seawalls represent a hazard.



Naplesfan

They have one disadvantage....
They are hideously ugly and make the neighbourhood hideously ugly.

I don’t care about crabs or concrete or paying for maintenance if it avoids ugly.

If we had have bought the house in Spyglass lane we really liked ... it was lovely but every day I would have looked out to see UGLY.

[markjames68]

Originally Posted by Taksan

They have one disadvantage....
They are hideously ugly and make the neighbourhood hideously ugly.

I don’t care about crabs or concrete or paying for maintenance if it avoids ugly.

If we had have bought the house in Spyglass lane we really liked ... it was lovely but every day I would have looked out to see UGLY.

Then your only option really is Gulf Shore Blvd south of The Moorings I imagine.

[Taksan]

Originally Posted by markjames68

Then your only option really is Gulf Shore Blvd south of The Moorings I imagine.

We actually bought a lakefront property in Pine Ridge... very happy with it. I love the area so convenient to everything.

[RMD3819]

Originally Posted by markjames68

It bears watching this.


https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ad5paR...e_continue=121

Thanks for posting my video!

Hard to believe that was done 9 years ago.

[markjames68]

Originally Posted by RMD3819

Thanks for posting my video!

Hard to believe that was done 9 years ago.

I wish that software was still available.

[tothehilt]

Originally Posted by moopy70

Thanks, I appreciate the advice. I realize Naples isn't the best area, but wanted to get an idea. I probably don't need to make as much as I do in CA, so that's a positive.

It's my opinion that if you NET at least $55K/yr you'll have no problem affording a good comfortable life with little to no financial stress. It can be done on less, but quality of life will be affected. As for quality jobs in SWFL, they do exist. Just depends on the industry your in. Tourism and retail are obviously the largest job sectors especially for coastal Florida towns. But other sectors that have a sizable job demand are medical, legal, insurance, financial and even tech. The tech jobs are almost exclusively IT department style jobs. If your profession is a trade (plumbing, electrical, construction, etc) you'll do very well so long as you're a hustler. There's a TON of competition in trade work down here. Not sure if you mentioned if you were going to rent or own your home, but if you rent I strongly recommend you don't go cheap. It's was my experience when I first moved here and had to rent that you absolutely get what you pay for. A high quality 2 bedroom apartment will go for between $1,700-$1,900 and a quality rental home will go for $2,500+. There are cheaper places, but in my opinion they're more hassle then they're saving you. My last tip is to remember to calm down and breathe during season (Sept-June). You'll understand once you get here and experience it.

[JPrzybylski07]

Originally Posted by tothehilt

It's my opinion that if you NET at least $55K/yr you'll have no problem affording a good comfortable life with little to no financial stress. It can be done on less, but quality of life will be affected. As for quality jobs in SWFL, they do exist. Just depends on the industry your in. Tourism and retail are obviously the largest job sectors especially for coastal Florida towns. But other sectors that have a sizable job demand are medical, legal, insurance, financial and even tech. The tech jobs are almost exclusively IT department style jobs. If your profession is a trade (plumbing, electrical, construction, etc) you'll do very well so long as you're a hustler. There's a TON of competition in trade work down here. Not sure if you mentioned if you were going to rent or own your home, but if you rent I strongly recommend you don't go cheap. It's was my experience when I first moved here and had to rent that you absolutely get what you pay for. A high quality 2 bedroom apartment will go for between $1,700-$1,900 and a quality rental home will go for $2,500+. There are cheaper places, but in my opinion they're more hassle then they're saving you. My last tip is to remember to calm down and breathe during season (Sept-June). You'll understand once you get here and experience it.

So basically the entire year is now season?

[Tripower455]

Originally Posted by JPrzybylski07

So basically the entire year is now season?

Pretty much........