Estero, Bonita Springs, Naples .... Which location is better? (Orlando, Clearwater: rent, HOA fees)

[purpleash22]

I am English planning to retire in a few years and Snowbird half the year in Naples area. I have Realtors send me example properties via e-mail to my home in England for villas/condos in Gated Communities in Naples, which show some nice properties to buy. Now stretching the boundaries a few are very nice properties In Immokalee but I can see this location has a long drive to the beach and shops. More recently villas come up in Bonita Springs. Nearer the beach and Naples. Another Realtor located in Fort Myres sends me example properties in Estero. Not wanting to be isolated away from Grocery Malls, eating establishments/restaurants and general shops, can anyone advise what Estero is like to live in, Bonita Springs if Naples might be thought of as more expensive, busier? I would also consider throwing in Venice as one backup option.

I have been to Clearwater and Orlando for holiday but never the Naples area. Obviously, nearer the time we will check out the locations but I would be most grateful for anyone familiar with these locations mentioned. I have read on City Data that Fort Myres is less friendly with not much to do there seeing as unemployment has made people there less friendly and reduced shops and things to do so best to be avoided. Being a foreigner I would be more apprehensive and prefer a friendlier, safer location.

My wife and I would not require schools nor employment, just property: villa or linked villa or at a push a small block of condos 3 bed or 2 + Den with 2 bathrooms priced around $160k to $185k. Although aged 55 and 60 we prefer a general all age Community rather than a 55+ only one. Any advice grately appreciated.

[RMD3819]

You might get a better response in the Fort Myers forum for Bonita and Estero. Those are in Lee County which is where Fort Myers is.

The areas sort of blend together both in the forum and real life but those folks may not read the Naples forum.

//www.city-data.com/forum/fort-...pe-coral-area/

[motordavid]

Having responded to the OP in other threads, my advice is to bite the bullet, get on a plane, and spend a few weeks in the SW FL area. It will then become evident what the different 'areas' have/offer, the logistics of 'getting to the beach' and some of your other requirements.

Any of us even slightly familiar with SW FL, Naples, et al, can toss up some anecdotal specifics or our opins on 'places', but I and many other posters are not in the RE biz or RE mavens. There are some here: RMD3819 is one, but for us to suggest this place or that is really disingenuous at worst, and broad brush anecdotal at best. I've been to England dozens of times, but really never lived there. It would be like asking 'what part of greater London should I look at'...

Naples, great Naples, Bonita, et al, all offer condos/duplexes etc in the upper reach of your posted price range. Come on over and spend a few weeks and look around. Buying from a RE website, an ocean away, is a huge leap of faith, imo.
My 50Cts...
GL, mD

[purpleash22]

RMD3819 & motordavid: Both thank you. I will certainly bit the bullet and come over for a feel for the area as you suggest. I do see your sense in this and I have also put questions in the location Forums that will best suit as RMD3819 has suggested. My wife and I will probably rent for a month or two first and I was just gaining research knowledge ahead of time. It is so easy to eat into ones budget put aside for the cash purchase of a property so I was getting a feel first.

If many say that Fort Myres for example has still not progressed into turning itself round from a less friendly location with many out of work still, resulting in higher crime and places of interest still not developed having closed down. Or maybe many would back up the fact that it has turned around with new developments and shops are turning the place around to be considered, which is bringing in new employments and business and hence a place now worth considering. If many follow this positive encouragement, then it could be added to my list of places worth visiting first and giving it worthy consideration. Until now, I was not giving it a thought having read the less positive attributes Fort Myres had developed into since the recession. Florida is a large state so I could only cover it in parts, so that was why I was seeking advice from people closer to the location and picking up on their experiences having maybe already spent time there recently. I do take on board your valid advice though. THANK YOU

[wrig8701]

Naples is very obviously a low-crime city. If safety is your concern, Naples will meet your needs more than any other locale in SW Florida. You have a TON of options in the 200,000 to 350,000 price range. You will need to tell your realtor how far from the beach you want to be. Obviously everyone loves to be near the ocean, but the closer you are, the more likley it is you'll have to pay flood insurance.

If you are seeking a social atmosphere, you should look at a condo association that offers bundled golf. If the beach is your priority, then you want something very close to shore, but that may not be available at your price.

I agree with a previous poster who recommended you look at the associations along Davis Blvd. Some have golf courses, some do not. They are all convenient to shopping and groceries.

I lilke the Warren Buffett viewpoint of living in the most modest house you can tolerate for your lifestyle, and focus your investments elsewhere.

I forgot that you said you have a boat. Many of the houses in Cape Coral have canal/ocean access. But I still think the Naples area is the prime choice for living. I think you should ask a realtor to find a residence in NAPLES with canal-to-ocean access. $300,000 will buy MUCH more in 2012 than it did in 2006!

[purpleash22]

wrig8701 .... Another tick in the box for Naples. My Realtor is steering us away from the few less tasteful areas and showing sample properties close to or just east of i75 far enough east where prices are lower than beach prices and flood area zones reduce. Our requirement is a Gated Community for maintenance cover especially whilst back in England half the year in summer. We can further bring cost down if the Community is NOT a Golfing one as these tend to be more costly plus we do not like Golf. I was also surprised to read that there is some 8 degree warmer further south in Naples compared to Sarasota in winter which is also a plus sign for us. Our budget is $180,000 to be mortgage free and looking ideally for a 2-bed with Den + 2-bathrooms. Not a Coach-House property but ideally a villa, single family home or a townhouse. Your property prices are reasonable compared to prices in England but wading through your HOA Fees with Taxes can mount to having a second monthly mortgage. It is no wonder many poor Americans are Foreclosing with so much layout. All this information towards gathering vital information research is most gratefully receive hearing it from the point of people living, visiting, working or once lived in SW Florida gathered from this brilliant helpful and information friendly Forum. Thanks all. Hopefully a future Snowbirder once I retire.

[blueherons]

Originally Posted by purpleash22

wrig8701 .... .I was also surprised to read that there is some 8 degree warmer further south in Naples compared to Sarasota in winter which is also a plus sign for us.. future Snowbirder once I retire.

.

I find it hard to believe that Naples is that much warmer in the winter considering the ocean temps are what drive the air temps in the winter. I've never seen a forcast that was more than a couple of degrees different. Also it will not be in C but F.

The ocean temps are the same.

[RMD3819]

Thanks for the update. Keep us posted.

[purpleash22]

Originally Posted by blueherons

.

I find it hard to believe that Naples is that much warmer in the winter considering the ocean temps are what drive the air temps in the winter. I've never seen a forcast that was more than a couple of degrees different. Also it will not be in C but F.

The ocean temps are the same.

Yes, thanks F degrees not C. We have been using Centigrade for many years here in England but seem to still relate how it feels in Fahrenheit. (Not like inches adding together 5/8th of an inch with 6/8th of an inch etc with feet and inches. We again changed to the European measure but I do find working in round 10s, 100s and 1000s with centimetres and metres a lot easier than old feet and inches you still use). Getting back on track ....I cannot remember to be honest where I read the temperature difference but the Fahrenheit would have been used because it was from an American Tourist Information Site and the figure stuck in my head. As I cannot back up my information, I will just accept that Naples is a little warmer than Sarasota in winter being further south.

[agstacker]

I would highly recommend Estero/Bonita Springs.You are 15 minutes away from the beach. Restaurants,shopping and grocery stores are all close by. Sanibel Island and Naples (two favorite places to visit)are also just short drives away. Estero is also much more age diversified than Naples. You are close to the airport and you get alot for your money in Estero. For what its worth, we rented in Naples for two years, during the winter months before we decided on Estero.