I am retiring to FL - want +55 Community FT Myers OK for that? (Delray Beach: foreclosure, HOA fees)

[tndiehard]

I am retiring to Fl - I am goi Social environmentng to buy a Condo. like the idea of a +55 social environment.

Is FT Myers a good place for that.

If not where is the best??

I am very new at this social networking stuff , How am I doing so far.

Gerry

[NetworkMD]

I think this is a nice area, many things to do within easy drive never boring for me. My uncle/aunt just purchased a very nice condo in a gated area at Buckenham in Estero at what I thought was a great price.

[pinda]

55+ Communities,
I been looking in The Cascades in Estero (non-golf) and Pelicans Preserve in Fort Myers. I love the Estero/Bonita Springs area best but Pelicans Preserve is a beautiful golf community. Pelican Preserves has condos starting around $100,000 and up (depending if you find a foreclosure or not).

There are many other really nice communities that we are considering that are not 55+. I love Pelican Landing (many condos there too). They have a boat ride to an island out to the gulf, trails, tennis, canooing etc... Today we looked at Hunters Ridge. Lots to see.

[justNancy]

The above suggestions are good, but it all depends on your budget. I'm not just talking about the price of the home, but the HOA fee. When you look at condos in SWFL, make sure you check out the monthly/quarterly fees and if there is also a master HOA fee.

Pelican Landing, Bonita Bay, Hunter's Ridge, Worthington..and so many more aren't age restricted, but they're all very nice communities with a lot of retirees and snowbirds.

If you want to be closer to Fort Myers, an over 55 community that has a lot of amenities, including a golf course, is Seven Lakes. It's a well established HOA, so I doubt if there are any problems with reserves. You can buy a 2/2 condo for around $75,000. It's probably one of the most convenient locations in Fort Myers if you want to be close to shopping and restaurants, but still be in a community with security.

Edit: I also want to mention a CDD. It's an extra charge for amenities, roads, sidewalks and other community infrastructure that is added to your taxes. It stands for Community Development District and is an extra cost in some developments, not all.

[justNancy]

Originally Posted by tndiehard

If not where is the best??

Hard to say. Again, it depends on your budget and the type of environment you desire. Checkout the Port St Lucie and Palm Beach forums. Vero Beach is a nice place to retire too, but since this is a Fort Myers board, I can't elaborate too much. Delray Beach is also another area that caters to seniors. There are a lot more services on the east coast for people over 65. Just my observation.

Venice, which is in Sarasota County, also has some nice communities. Venice as a whole caters to an older crowd since the average age is about 67. There's also a very nice over 55 development in North Port I saw (but it was a couple of years ago) So you might want to post your question on the Sarasota forum and ask about Cypress Falls at The Woodlands. I'm in Port Charlotte and there are some over 55 communities here as well. SoFLGal can probably furnish you with a list in both Charlotte & Sarasota counties.

The Villages in Florida is not just one community, but an entire area of Florida dedicated to people over 55. Some people love it there. Come to think of it, posting on the general Florida forum might get you lots of information about different areas. As I said before, there are many to choose from with nice amenities all over the state. The nicest one I've found is called The Cascades in St Lucie West which is on the East Coast. I've never seen a clubhouse or pool that nice. However, I'm sure there are plenty of communities here that will suit your needs.

I know many people will frown upon this, but if you like living in a quiet community where there are daily activities and friendly people, you might consider buying a manufactured home. There are some very lovely mobile home parks in Florida. Some offer shares where you own your land. Again, it depends on your budget, but don't be fooled by the term "manufactured home community." It's very different from the trailer park atmosphere that is often a stereotype.

[hiknapster]

Originally Posted by justNancy

If you want to be closer to Fort Myers, an over 55 community that has a lot of amenities, including a golf course, is Seven Lakes. It's a well established HOA, so I doubt if there are any problems with reserves. You can buy a 2/2 condo for around $75,000. It's probably one of the most convenient locations in Fort Myers if you want to be close to shopping and restaurants, but still be in a community with security.

If you are not a golfer, Seven Lakes is probably not a good buy. The condo fee is about $600 a month but it includes golf.

[hiknapster]

I really think this is very good advice.

Originally Posted by justNancy

Hard to say. Again, it depends on your budget and the type of environment you desire. Checkout the Port St Lucie and Palm Beach forums. Vero Beach is a nice place to retire too, but since this is a Fort Myers board, I can't elaborate too much. Delray Beach is also another area that caters to seniors. There are a lot more services on the east coast for people over 65. Just my observation.

Venice, which is in Sarasota County, also has some nice communities. Venice as a whole caters to an older crowd since the average age is about 67. There's also a very nice over 55 development in North Port I saw (but it was a couple of years ago) So you might want to post your question on the Sarasota forum and ask about Cypress Falls at The Woodlands. I'm in Port Charlotte and there are some over 55 communities here as well. SoFLGal can probably furnish you with a list in both Charlotte & Sarasota counties.

The Villages in Florida is not just one community, but an entire area of Florida dedicated to people over 55. Some people love it there. Come to think of it, posting on the general Florida forum might get you lots of information about different areas. As I said before, there are many to choose from with nice amenities all over the state. The nicest one I've found is called The Cascades in St Lucie West which is on the East Coast. I've never seen a clubhouse or pool that nice. However, I'm sure there are plenty of communities here that will suit your needs.

I know many people will frown upon this, but if you like living in a quiet community where there are daily activities and friendly people, you might consider buying a manufactured home. There are some very lovely mobile home parks in Florida. Some offer shares where you own your land. Again, it depends on your budget, but don't be fooled by the term "manufactured home community." It's very different from the trailer park atmosphere that is often a stereotype.

[Samiamnh]

We find most senior communities a little quiet for us......and we are both in our 60's.Many are very nice,but we love the "neighborhood" feel here on the cape.People going to work,kids playing outside as well as retiree's walking their dogs.A nice mix of people who all get along.....everyone is busy with their own life but friendly and helpful.

[justNancy]

Originally Posted by hiknapster

If you are not a golfer, Seven Lakes is probably not a good buy. The condo fee is about $600 a month but it includes golf.

Yikes! When I sold furniture in Fort Myers, I had several clients from that development, but they never mentioned the HOA fee.

Originally Posted by Samiamnh

We find most senior communities a little quiet for us......and we are both in our 60's.

Yes, I agree. In 2009 I rented a condo for 6 months in an over 55 community in Vero Beach. There were 4 clubhouses, pools, tennis, golf and daily activities. The nice thing was it was very safe and well maintained. However, I felt really out of place, and I was 58. I like the quiet part, however.

In general I don't like condos because noise bothers me, but many people I know are very happy in them.

[raymondmaine]

I am interested in purchasing in Ft. Myers, FL and all the listings I see do not include HOA fees. I can afford a house but it's the monthly fees that worry me.