Who lives near Fort Myers or Tampa Fla?

[Mopar Thunder]

I am investigating transferring to one of these places.  I used to live north of Tampa awhile ago but I am sure it has changed.  Can I get some insight on either of these places?  Schools, car shows, cruises? also pros and cons of both.  Thanks

[Challenger6pak]

It depends on how you like to live.  I can speak about the Fort Myers area. There are areas where you can't change the spark plugs on your car.  You can't have a car on the property that is not running, insured, and licenced.  Then there are other arears where can can do some of these things.  Most "car people" do best in an area that is unicorporated county.  The rules of some of the cities are insane. 

[Mopar Thunder]

It depends on how you like to live.  I can speak about the Fort Myers area. There are areas where you can't change the spark plugs on your car.  You can't have a car on the property that is not running, insured, and licenced.  Then there are other arears where can can do some of these things.  Most "car people" do best in an area that is unicorporated county.  The rules of some of the cities are insane.

Thanks, if the opportunity arises I will hav eto take a close look at where I want to set roots. Any suggestions?  I was thinking north near Punta Gorda or around there might be nice.  My wife would like canal access.

['Cuda Hunter]

Canal access is tough to get as a rental.  Rentals in that area are off the hook.  My agent will put an add in and get well over 100 calls a day.  Act fast if you see one for rent.

OR if your buying and want canal access you will be twice as expensive as the neighbors house with no access.  Canal access is pretty difficult to find to purchase as well.

I was just there last weekend looking through Cape Coral, North Fort Myers, LeHigh acres and yes, fort myers.  Your canal access is going to come specifically to you in the Cape Coral area.  Not much canal access anywhere else.

There were a few canal homes available out on pine island.  Not far from cape coral.  maybe 4 miles. 

What are you transferring for? 

[Mopar Thunder]

Canal access is tough to get as a rental.  Rentals in that area are off the hook.  My agent will put an add in and get well over 100 calls a day.  Act fast if you see one for rent.

OR if your buying and want canal access you will be twice as expensive as the neighbors house with no access.  Canal access is pretty difficult to find to purchase as well.

I was just there last weekend looking through Cape Coral, North Fort Myers, LeHigh acres and yes, fort myers.  Your canal access is going to come specifically to you in the Cape Coral area.  Not much canal access anywhere else.

There were a few canal homes available out on pine island.  Not far from cape coral.  maybe 4 miles. 

What are you transferring for?

Possible promotion opportunity and my wifes health.

[Challenger6pak]

North Ft. Myers still has some properties on canals off of the Caloosahatchee River that can be had reasonably.  They are being bought up and rebuilt.  What was once a place of $200,000 3-2 homes is quickly becoming a place of $500,000 large homes that barely fit on the properties.  It's insane.  They cut all the trees down and put a home in the sun where we have a UV index of 11 or above most of the year.  Then they complain about the $600 electric bill each month.  You have the other coast of Florida also for properties.  Florida is an extremely diversified state.

[Jeff]

We winter in Cape Coral and are on a small canal.  Cape Coral has a significant number of canals in that area and is probably your best bet.  The real estate crashed in Florida about 4-5 years ago, but it has been on the upswing the last couple of years.  A condo on a canal is around $150,000 to $300,000.  The farther away from the river you go, the less money you spend in general.  They have both fresh water and gulf access canals.  The lower price condos only have a carport.   The houses in the area on a canal start around $350,000.  You can go on Zillow and look at the realty.  There is a cruise in every Monday night in Cape Coral  that is pretty good.  Generally about 150 to 200 cars.  There are some smaller weekly cruise ins with about 50 cars on other nights.  There are some other shows once a month that are pretty good.  We also go to the Mecum Auction in January in Kissimmee which has about 2500 cars.  We go to Punta Gorda and also like that area.  There is the Muscle Car Museum with about 150 cars that hosts a monthly show just outside Punta Gorda.  Punta Gorda is about 25 miles from Cape Coral. Easy run up 41.   Any questions just let me know.  Hope this helps.  Jeff

[ToxicWolf]

I agree about Cape Coral.  I really like that place.  We used to have some land on Pine Island, but we sold it when we moved to the orlando area. 

['Cuda Hunter]

Pine island canals are definitely high priced and difficult to find.  There were a few on the south side of pine island.

I was amazed that on Fort Myers river front they have multi million dollar homes but only two blocks away there were homes that my property management team will not service. 

The North Fort Myers was far more "redneck" than any other area there.  Seemed real nice for cheaper properties without as much of the ghetto aspect.

I've got a great property management team if you need to find a rental.  Pm me and I can give you their number.  And if you need a trustworthy Real Estate Agent I actually have one down there.

[tommyg29]

Ive got 20 acres of woodlands just north of cape coral, so I get there often because Im trying to sell it. Very nice area. Anywhere from port Charlotte down to Bonita is my favorite stretch on the gulf coast.
I have lots of family in Tampa. Big city with lots going on.

[BIGSHCLUNK]

I don't live there, but have had investment property there for years. I do like the area outside of Alva along the river.  There are some nice parts to Lehigh that are not mega $$$ same for North Port of Port charlotte. I like Naples and Bonita too, but that can get really pricey.