Working in Naples and live elsewhere? (Bonita Springs, Immokalee: renters, HOA fees, condos)

[NewYork33323]

I have an offer to transfer to Naples from NYC. I will be working in the area near the Naples Airport. Never been to the area and will need to make a decision soon. How reasonable would it be to work in this are and travel to Bonita Springs? I have heard some stories that traffic in Naples can get ridiculous. I will be renting my first year and plan to buy a condo soon after. My budget is 150k max for a 2bedroom.

One thing that is very concerning to me is the ridiculously high HOA fees. Some reasonably priced condos have HOA fees as high as $700-800. I have noticed that many of these condos are attached to Golf Courses. I am not interesting in Golf, will never play it. What I want is a good condo with low HOA fees (around 300-350). Will this be a problem in Naples and Bonita Springs.

[markjames68]

Look into Estero as an option as well. You should be able to commute from Bonita or Estero no problem.

[jghorton]

Ironically, the condos with higher HOA fees are generally those with a greater number of non-full-time-resident owners. These are most often located on the beach, water or golf courses. Owners quickly find renting-out their units highly profitable. However, their short-term renters have no 'ownership skin-in-the-game' and often treat condos like 'hotels.'

These higher maintenance costs directly increase HOA fees. In our area (Destin), the HOA fees average 25-percent higher in "short-term, condo-hotels."

[Marc Middleton]

Yes you can work in naples and live in Bonita, its not that bad. And the worst of the traffic is Jan - March. In the summer, its a ghost town except when school starts and you learn to avoid those streets in the mornings.

Plenty of non-golf communities where HOAs are not bad. We have a 3/3 townhome in a gated neighborhood just off i-75 in Bonita with a 2 car garage and community pool/tennis/pickelball - HOAs are under $300 month and include cable/internet/lawn. You can get these for $1800-$1900/mo and the villas are probably $1950-$2000/mo.

that's just one example of Many. You can also find similar deals in North Naples for around $1950-$2000/mo. Might be just a 1car garage but still, collier county schools are the best!

[ron e wheels]

I wouldn't dream of it. You'll be in traffic flow commuting back and forth. I can not talk to your NYC traffic experience, but you'll also be caught up in at least one accident delay weekly. I just traveled from Naples to Estero and it took me over 20 minutes to go from the light on Valewood to get on the expressway. Needless to say, my entire trip took an hour and 10 minutes to get to Tidewater off Corkscrew Rd.

I do not know what is available as far as condo's are concerned in your price range. Good Luck. It would be a smart moe if you can swing it. The savings in taxes alone could be worth it.

[markjames68]

Originally Posted by ron e wheels

I wouldn't dream of it. You'll be in traffic flow commuting back and forth. I can not talk to your NYC traffic experience, but you'll also be caught up in at least one accident delay weekly. I just traveled from Naples to Estero and it took me over 20 minutes to go from the light on Valewood to get on the expressway. Needless to say, my entire trip took an hour and 10 minutes to get to Tidewater off Corkscrew Rd.

I do not know what is available as far as condo's are concerned in your price range. Good Luck. It would be a smart moe if you can swing it. The savings in taxes alone could be worth it.

Naples traffic is nothing like NYC commuter traffic. Not even close.

The one challenge which you point out is an accident on 75. Waze or Google Maps will get you around that, which would mean taking one of the few N/S parallel roads. The Logan extension will probably help a bit.

[Tripower455]

Originally Posted by markjames68

Naples traffic is nothing like NYC commuter traffic. Not even close.

The one challenge which you point out is an accident on 75. Waze or Google Maps will get you around that, which would mean taking one of the few N/S parallel roads. The Logan extension will probably help a bit.

The problem is that nowadays, when 75 backs up, so does Livingston and 41, the only other alternate routes unless you drive all the way out to Immokalee. The lights on those roads kill you on a good day. Logan is too little, too late, IMHO.

I am so glad to be done with that nonsense.

[markjames68]

Originally Posted by Tripower455

The problem is that nowadays, when 75 backs up, so does Livingston and 41, the only other alternate routes unless you drive all the way out to Immokalee. The lights on those roads kill you on a good day. Logan is too little, too late, IMHO.

I am so glad to be done with that nonsense.

It is annoying but it’s not an all day every day thing. On Long Island I used to take 2-3 hours to drive 50 miles, and up to 4 hours in inclement weather. That’s pain.

[motordavid]

The OP's budget of ~ $150Gs max for 2 Bedroom condo post rental period will be a problem, in most 'Naples' zip codes.

Haven't lived in Naples for a few winter seasons, but did 8 winters there and still visit friends there often during season, and I would not want to be commuting regularly from 'Naples' to BS.

Lived/worked 3+ decades in Gotham and metro NYC and yes SW FL is not like traffic there, but it is 'different'/slower and many are less focused on where they are going or destination.

And, that condo budget is slim, imo.
GL, mD

[Tripower455]

Originally Posted by markjames68

It is annoying but it’s not an all day every day thing. On Long Island I used to take 2-3 hours to drive 50 miles, and up to 4 hours in inclement weather. That’s pain.

BTDT...... One of the reasons I punched out of LI 32 years ago. Once I started working, I never even considered staying there for a variety of reasons. While it is truly getting there, Naples is still nowhere near as bad as LI on a good day.

I was addressing the practicality of using the 2 parallel roads when I75 backs up, which it does with increasing regularity.