Anybody Living Near Tampa or Fort Myers, FL?

[Craig T]

Anybody live in the area between Tampa and Naples? My wife and I will be going in late spring to look at real estate. We'd like to see some homes with docks on gulf access waterways and good inshore fishing.

I hear there are good safe areas and some areas to avoid.

Does Cape Coral have a decent downtown with restaurants and nightlife, or is it more suburban sprawl? Using Zillow, there are some nice newer canal front homes in CC at cheap prices, as compared to the Tampa or Naples area. I was wondering why?

...I am aware of hurricanes, so let's not fill the thread with warnings. FL has been having hurricanes since the dawn of time and people still live there.

[Baz]

[Craig T]

Don't worry Baz. I would be on the other side and won't snake your waves, or hunt any of your pet rats, squirrels, birds, cats, millipedes, etc.

[Jims5543]

I live opposite of Ft. Meyers on the east coast.

Do some research on the water algae problem there and decide if you are OK with dealing with it every summer.

That alone would push me more up the coast to Tampa area.

It has been getting worse every year. US Army Corps dumps water out of Lake O into the canals heading West to Ft. Myers and East to Stuart (Me) every rainy season.

Right now? the water is super clear smells nice and has no issues.

Middle of July? You cannot go near it or touch it.

Algae outbreak forces North Fort Myers family out of their home

https://www.nbc-2.com/story/32347943/lee-county-added-to-state-of-emergency-for-algae-in-water

[id10t]

Red tide is hitting down at Sarasota, etc.

I'd look around the Crystal River area myself...

[Baz]

Originally Posted by Craig T

Don't worry Baz. I would be on the other side and won't snake your waves, or hunt any of your pet rats, squirrels, birds, cats, millipedes, etc.

Thanks, Craig! Good to hear....I was getting a little worried, ya know...

What happened to Hilton Head? Thought it was a done deal....

[Jims5543]

Originally Posted by id10t

Red tide is hitting down at Sarasota, etc.

I'd look around the Crystal River area myself...

This is not red tide, that floats around the gulf and Atlantic. This blue green alge is a direct result of Lake O discharges.

Sugar cane farmers have been pumping their polluted runoff water into Lake O for decades, the algae us a result of that.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

[Craig T]

Originally Posted by Baz

Thanks, Craig! Good to hear....I was getting a little worried, ya know...

What happened to Hilton Head? Thought it was a done deal....

Baz, I'm in an acute state of retirement change anxiety and indecision. All I know is we're out of here in November, before Gavin Newsom can do his full damage. Or house goes up for sale in May.

Hilton Head is still very much in play, but it may be a little too close to my wife's family in Charleston. There is a risk of unwanted guests. Also, I've gotten close to my 3 year-old grandson here in Ventura and my daughter is now pregnant with twins. Hilton Head is quite a ways from an airport and no direct or cheap flights to LAX from Charleston or Savannah. Easier/cheaper to see the grandkids from Tampa, and a house with a dock and boat is more likely to bring them to me for vacations.

My retirement hobbies are golf and fishing. Hilton Head is great for golf, but one injury can end that. The fishing is WAY better on the golf coast of Fl, and I can get a house with a dock there in my price range. Hilton Head dock homes are getting pricey.

I know...First world problems.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by Craig T

Baz, I'm in an acute state of retirement change anxiety and indecision. All I know is we're out of here in November, before Gavin Newsom can do his full damage. Or house goes up for sale in May.

Hilton Head is still very much in play, but it may be a little too close to my wife's family in Charleston. There is a risk of unwanted guests. Also, I've gotten close to my 3 year-old grandson here in Ventura and my daughter is now pregnant with twins. Hilton Head is quite a ways from an airport and no direct or cheap flights to LAX from Charleston or Savannah. Easier/cheaper to see the grandkids from Tampa, and a house with a dock and boat is more likely to bring them to me for vacations.

My retirement hobbies are golf and fishing. Hilton Head is great for golf, but one injury can end that. The fishing is WAY better on the golf coast of Fl, and I can get a house with a dock there in my price range. Hilton Head dock homes are getting pricey.

I know...First world problems.

You might really enjoy it down there if you can hack the climate. I went to Clearwater/St.Pete in HS in the late '70s for a couple weeks, the gulf was very warm and clean and I remember the intense sunshine in May. You have the right hobbies for the area, though.

[Baz]

Originally Posted by Craig T

Baz, I'm in an acute state of retirement change anxiety and indecision. All I know is we're out of here in November, before Gavin Newsom can do his full damage. Or house goes up for sale in May.

Hilton Head is still very much in play, but it may be a little too close to my wife's family in Charleston. There is a risk of unwanted guests. Also, I've gotten close to my 3 year-old grandson here in Ventura and my daughter is now pregnant with twins. Hilton Head is quite a ways from an airport and no direct or cheap flights to LAX from Charleston or Savannah. Easier/cheaper to see the grandkids from Tampa, and a house with a dock and boat is more likely to bring them to me for vacations.

My retirement hobbies are golf and fishing. Hilton Head is great for golf, but one injury can end that. The fishing is WAY better on the golf coast of Fl, and I can get a house with a dock there in my price range. Hilton Head dock homes are getting pricey.

I know...First world problems.

Sure enough Craig....First World problems.....but still very important to you and a decision that shouldn't be made without due consideration. I get it.

It's been a while since I lived in SW Florida (Naples/Ft.Myers/Lehigh Acres) but aside from the lack of surf...I loved it there! The fishing certainly is fantastic and there are golf course galore!

I wouldn't worry about hurricanes. You always have plenty of time to evacuate if desired, although I've always hunkered down myself - a lot more fun that way. Being single with only 4 legged children I get to make all the decisions around here.

There are plenty of people who high tail it out of here during the hot and muggy summer months. They have second homes up north or in the mountains. I don't really mind the heat and humidity as long as my AC works and I'm no longer "forced" to work in those conditions - as I was prior to reducing my hamster wheel.

Seems like you need to beat the bushes a little bit in the real estate market and see what's available. You're going to pay more for a dockside property not only to purchase but also in taxes. I live about 2 miles from a boat launch myself which is good enough for me. You know there's also no shortage of lunatics who cruise up and down our waterways with stereos basting and lots of loud voices which are amplified when you live on the water. Something to consider.

I don't plan on going anywhere myself. I'm dug in. Perhaps when my fur children are gone I will rent out my home and take an extended vaca in Oz.

Please keep us posted and best of luck, buddy!

[Craig T]

Baz, thank you for taking the time to post such a thoughtful reply. I just shared it with my wife and she said..."Wow, what a great resource that forum is".

This move would be a lot easier without a daughter and grandkids in CA. Baz, your're life is easier with Winkie and the four legged trio. Good planning.

[porsche4life]

No algae, hurricanes, or gators in AZ.

[Craig T]

Originally Posted by porsche4life

No algae, hurricanes, or gators in AZ.

But no fishin and 120 degree summers. Oh wait, ita a dry heat

[KFC911]

Have y'all ever lived in the south? Some can tolerate the heat/humidity (I thrive, but not like I used too), others are stuck indoors with the a/c blasting. Visit the gulf states in Jul-Sep before ya commit....you have been warned

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by porsche4life

No algae, hurricanes, or gators in AZ.

Must be the people

[tdw28210]

It is flat.

[Mericet]

Originally Posted by Craig T

Baz, I'm in an acute state of retirement change anxiety and indecision. All I know is we're out of here in November, before Gavin Newsom can do his full damage. Or house goes up for sale in May.

Hilton Head is still very much in play, but it may be a little too close to my wife's family in Charleston. There is a risk of unwanted guests. Also, I've gotten close to my 3 year-old grandson here in Ventura and my daughter is now pregnant with twins. Hilton Head is quite a ways from an airport and no direct or cheap flights to LAX from Charleston or Savannah. Easier/cheaper to see the grandkids from Tampa, and a house with a dock and boat is more likely to bring them to me for vacations.

My retirement hobbies are golf and fishing. Hilton Head is great for golf, but one injury can end that. The fishing is WAY better on the golf coast of Fl, and I can get a house with a dock there in my price range. Hilton Head dock homes are getting pricey.

I know...First world problems.

Have you considered Amelia Island? A little further from Charleston (4 hours). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvmcjULVjRo

[JeremyD]

I've lived all over - including the midwest - Texas and California - Live in St. Pete now - it's pretty awesome.

[nota]

Originally Posted by Craig T

Anybody live in the area between Tampa and Naples? My wife and I will be going in late spring to look at real estate. We'd like to see some homes with docks on gulf access waterways and good inshore fishing.

I hear there are good safe areas and some areas to avoid.

Does Cape Coral have a decent downtown with restaurants and nightlife, or is it more suburban sprawl? Using Zillow, there are some nice newer canal front homes in CC at cheap prices, as compared to the Tampa or Naples area. I was wondering why?

...I am aware of hurricanes, so let's not fill the thread with warnings. FL has been having hurricanes since the dawn of time and people still live there.

cape coral is a DEVELOPMENT and mostly SPRAWL
the night life is over the bridges at fort myers beach a drive away
property values crashed in 08 and never really came back like other areas did
little work at low pay is the SW FLA standard so retired people only move there
and the harbor is the main drain for the lake and red tides are BAD and frequent

[Craig T]

Originally Posted by nota

cape coral is a DEVELOPMENT and mostly SPRAWL
the night life is over the bridges at fort myers beach a drive away
property values crashed in 08 and never really came back like other areas did
little work at low pay is the SW FLA standard so retired people only move there
and the harbor is the main drain for the lake and red tides are BAD and frequent

Thanks Nota. Realism is good, and confirmed some suspicions. When housing prices seem too cheap for what you're getting, there's aways a reason.