Naples, The Good, Bad and Ugly?

[welder]

The "GOOD", I'd say would be that it's a beautiful area with great winter weather. The homes along the beaches are gorgeous too. The "BAD", naples is just a litte upscale town, that exploded population wise. Most the jobs are going to be low paying service industry type jobs. The infrastructure wasn't meant to accomodate the population that is there and the surrounding areas. The summers are brutal. It's a stuffy place (snobby people). Not really a place for a 'working stiff' to live. Unless you like catering to the rich. One last thing, it's BORING! They like to roll their sidewalks up EARLY there. If your old, with alot of money, I'm sure Naples is great. Otherwise, it's not!

[SoFLGal]

Originally Posted by Alphaman

Ok, that was funny I will rep you for that.

That was pretty funny!

[RMD3819]

Yes, you can live in a decent area on a middle class income, especially with the current home prices. Only a few of the gated communities are wealthy (of course that depends on your definition of wealth). A year ago all of them were unaffordable if you were just moving to Naples on a middle class income. If you are single with no kids that is even better.

Rent first. Stay away from apartment complexes and duplexes. All of the gated communities are OK, as is much of everywhere else. There are areas to avoid so if you post specific neighborhoods we can give you more detail.

That said, Naples has ALWAYS had higher home prices than the surrounding area. That is probably still true to some extent. Gas is more expensive in Naples because they charge the maximum local option tax. Some people complain that the cost of living is higher in Naples. That may or may not be true. I can't compare because I have lived here for so long.

There is not much nightlife, but this depends on individual tastes.

I agree with most of welder's post. I don't encounter that many snobby people. The infrastructure is playing catch-up and the town does cater to the wealthy.

Do not move here without a job, a place to live, or a wad of cash.

[JMadison]

Originally Posted by RMD3819

Yes, you can live in a decent area on a middle class income, especially with the current home prices. Only a few of the gated communities are wealthy (of course that depends on your definition of wealth). A year ago all of them were unaffordable if you were just moving to Naples on a middle class income. If you are single with no kids that is even better.

Rent first. Stay away from apartment complexes and duplexes. All of the gated communities are OK, as is much of everywhere else. There are areas to avoid so if you post specific neighborhoods we can give you more detail.

That said, Naples has ALWAYS had higher home prices than the surrounding area. That is probably still true to some extent. Gas is more expensive in Naples because they charge the maximum local option tax. Some people complain that the cost of living is higher in Naples. That may or may not be true. I can't compare because I have lived here for so long.

There is not much nightlife, but this depends on individual tastes.

I agree with most of welder's post. I don't encounter that many snobby people. The infrastructure is playing catch-up and the town does cater to the wealthy.

Do not move here without a job, a place to live, or a wad of cash.

Oh, no doubt, won't be making the move without the job. The possibility is what had me checking. When I have to make the move, will need to do it in a reasonable time period. Unlike when I came to OC and had 3 months of company paid for housing.

So was just getting opinions, as despite being a Florida native, haven't been back in 10 years.

[nowannamove]

The good bad and ugly depend upon perspective. Tells us about you and I can answer better. Your age? Single? Married? Kids? Socioconomic status? Political leanings? What you like to do? Where you are from?

[JMadison]

Originally Posted by nowannamove

The good bad and ugly depend upon perspective. Tells us about you and I can answer better. Your age? Single? Married? Kids? Socioconomic status? Political leanings? What you like to do? Where you are from?

Well... bottom line is that I'm looking to avoid crime, drugs, etc. Actually having been born in Florida and spent more than half my life there (but over on the east coast) I know for a fact some areas are really, really bad. And the "bad guys" don't stay in their own "territory".

For example, I lived in a gated appartment complex in Summerlin, a suburb of Vegas. Right next to a gated community with mansions in it. Had a car broken into, and a motorcycle stolen out of there 2 days after I brought it home, LOL!

Since Vegas is so dense, doesn't matter where you live, the bad element is there too.

So the real issue is, "How far off is the bad element, and is growing or arriving soon?"

To make a Florida comparison, at one time "The Line" over in the Northern Palm Beaches was Silver Beach Road. By the mid to late 90's when I left the area, the line had moved up to Northlake Blvd. So Palm Beach Gardens went from being "very removed from the bad guys" to "adjacent to".

And like everywhere else in Florida, there's always that thin little region near the ocean where the truly rich hole up, but that's not my socieconomic bracket. And even it it was, I'd much rather be on Jupiter Island than Palm Beach Island, because of what is directly inland from you.

So it comes down to, "Can you afford a nice place to live?" and "What is it surrounded by?"

No doubt that boils down to "location, location, location", LOL!

But my experience with the majority of Florida is that there are few enclaves where a nice home is both affordable and away from bad areas.

[nowannamove]

Naples is the safest city I have every lived in. If you are looking for safe, low crime and quiet, Naples is a paradise. Even the low income neighborhoods are safe compared to many cities.