Bonita Springs and Fort Myers FL Area

[rapmarks Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close rapmarks]

then you need to find something off bonita Beach road as there are only two bridges, that and fort myers (a very congested area near that bridge). or go near Vanderbbilt beach, that's a nice area.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

To me, the biggest downside to Country Creek is distance to the beach, because I sure did enjoy those long beach walks every day. But I guess there's a price to pay (price, traffic and maybe other things). Bicycling distance to the beach would be nice.

That echoes what I said this morning, that beachey/touristy/resorty is one thing, and away from the beach is another . . . city-like.

One of the foreclosures I have posted is for a house on the bay side on Hickory Island. It is one we and Rapmarkes have been near by pontoon boat. It was waterfront, with a seawall and dock, and about a block from the beach.

Last sale was $800K and as a foreclosure it was $450,000.

That would be very low for that area.

Here's current foreclosures on FMB:

County, FL - Fannie Mae REO Homes For Sale

7 condos and a house, not all that expensive.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

Here is a very nice location, but $419/month fees:

FORT MYERS BEACH Auction - 18066 SAN CARLOS BLVD #414 FORT MYERS BEACH, FL 33931 - (Event# H-240) - Auction.com

Here's another:

http://www.auction.com/Florida/resid...-FL-34134.html

[pkyorkbeach Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close pkyorkbeach]

Wow
Beautiful homes....

[desertgal Member Find all posts View Profile Close desertgal]

When you weigh rental versus purchase ....

It's easy enough to estimate rental cost--for us, probably about $3500/mo or $10,000 for season. Of course that could/will go up in the future.

Other than purchase price and repairs/maintenance, I guess annual costs of owning consist of HOA fees, taxes, utilities, and insurance -- am I missing anything? So if we buy a $250,000 home (2br/2ba in a community with amenities), you might figure about $5000 for HOA, $2500 for taxes, maybe $2000 for insurance (?) and maybe $1500 for utilities (?), which adds to $11,000.

What else did you consider when buying?

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

Taxes sounds low. Property management/watch? Security system?

Here's an actual Lee County/Estero home:

VALUE after exemptions $94,431.00
Property Taxes: $2,077.41

$250,000 with no exemptions would be around $5520.

Homeowner's Insurance: http://www.shopandcomparerates.com/HOCompareSelect.htm
Lee County
$150,000 Pre 2001 Construction: $1726-$3567
$300,000 2005 Construction: $1632-$3345

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

Here's the type of stuff you can find online, an actual Charlotte County house. You can access and read deeds, plat maps, covenants, etc.

Sales Information Date Book/Page Sales Codes Selling Price
2003 2242/535 IMPROVED $100,000
2004 2506/1259 IMPROVED $173,000
2011 Sale Price, Pending $45000

Assessed Value/Taxes
2000: 36,550 851.65
2001: 33,230 800.59
2002: 43,449 964.75
2003: 65,285 1,367.
2004: 83,847 1,620.75
2005: 145,298 2207.04
2006: 135,472 1810.40
2007: 88,249 1173.49
2008: 61,088 764.71
2009: 49,261 724.81
2010: 46,911 702.76

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

Taxes sounds low. Property management/watch? Security system?

Here's an actual Lee County/Estero home:

VALUE after exemptions $94,431.00
Property Taxes: $2,077.41

$250,000 with no exemptions would be around $5520.

Homeowner's Insurance: Compare Homeowner's Insurance Rates
Lee County
$150,000 Pre 2001 Construction: $1726-$3567
$300,000 2005 Construction: $1632-$3345

My bad . . . . senor moment.

If you are paying a COA fee, your structure insurance is normally included in that fee. If you are paying just a POA fee, it is not. POA's finance common grounds and amenities, but not structures.

There are COAs and there are COAs within POAs (condos inside POA developements). Single-family residences pay just the POA, but have to have their own insurance and pay for all the maintenance on their structure, while condo owners pay two association fees, but don't have to have structure insurance, or pay for outside maintenance.

Condo owners should insure the contents of their condos, but that is not mandatory.

So, for seasonal owners, condos simplify quite a few items: outside maintenance, homeowners insurance, possibly security/property watch . . . albeit at a price monetarily and in freedom of choice.

As an example, here there is a golf community with houses and condos and timeshares. All homeowners pay the POA $110/month. Condos, patio-homes, rental properties, and timeshares also have their own associations and pay an annual fee to them. There are a half-dozen condo projects, each with their own association and fees . . . $100-$300/month, plus the $110/month to the POA. Some timeshare owners pay $100 each in POA fees and some pay $25 or so, and get different privileges.

[rapmarks Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close rapmarks]

when you buy, it would be a good idea to ask if the windstorm mitigation survey has been done. At one point we paid $3000 plus for homeowners, then they passed the law about windstorm mitigation. We had it done and our insurance went down to 700. it is now 1000. the older the house, the less likely to have the wind mitigation features that lower your bill. also I would want a house that has all the hurricane shutters, and the best would be the electric kind that roll down with the touch of a button.

I think you also need to figure in lawn and irrigation costs. You would probably need a service if you bought a home. if you bought a condo, then of course it would be in your fees. I know that those in condos and villas pay higher insurance if you add contents than we do.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

when you buy, it would be a good idea to ask if the windstorm mitigation survey has been done. At one point we paid $3000 plus for homeowners, then they passed the law about windstorm mitigation. We had it done and our insurance went down to 700. it is now 1000. the older the house, the less likely to have the wind mitigation features that lower your bill. also I would want a house that has all the hurricane shutters, and the best would be the electric kind that roll down with the touch of a button.

I think you also need to figure in lawn and irrigation costs. You would probably need a service if you bought a home. if you bought a condo, then of course it would be in your fees. I know that those in condos and villas pay higher insurance if you add contents than we do.

When we were there, I called an agent to get a guesstimate.

She talked about that, without calling it that. She asked questions about the roof and said house would have to be inspected and certified. She emphasised it being within 5 miles of the Gulf.

I have been googling for info and there is lot, none of it very specific or helpful.

What I'm trying to find is a premium figure per $1000 value. The state's site is all over the place, showing all insurors and what they charge for two standard houses in each zip code, but not showing a rate per value.

What I do know is that in our case I have gotten as low as we can get, given what we are looking for, for both taxes and insurance. But, we still don't know what it will be.

[pranas Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close pranas]

Hi All
Right now I am checking places out. Waiting to see where DD will be relocating. My idea is to purchase a retirement home for my future but a place DD can live in. She will pay the mortgage instead of paying rent. If I could purchase in a 55+ community that would be great. Some allow non 55+ to live there as long as owner is 55+-I am. Looking at mobile homes, condo/townhouse. She may work in Fort Myers. Also, looking to buy as inexpensive as possible to keep her cost very low. $75,000 Max, would prefer much lower. Want as low as possible monthly HOA fees too!!! Tight budget...

Thank you for your comments and ideas so far.

I would not recommend a mobile home in this hurricane prone area.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

I would not recommend a mobile home in this hurricane prone area.

I would not recommend anything in a hurricane-prone area, but . . .

It does concern us that the elevation of our lot/house is 8 feet, we are on a waterway connected to the Gulf, and the Gulf is 2.5 miles away.

The good news is that the Gulf is only 2 1/2 miles away; the bad news is that the Gulf is only 2 1/2 miles away.

[rapmarks Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close rapmarks]

some things that the wind mitigation gives you credit for: hip roof, aluminum shutters, type of tie down for the roof, cement block construction, reinforced garage door, hurricane glass for windows.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

When you weigh rental versus purchase ....

It's easy enough to estimate rental cost--for us, probably about $3500/mo or $10,000 for season. Of course that could/will go up in the future.

Other than purchase price and repairs/maintenance, I guess annual costs of owning consist of HOA fees, taxes, utilities, and insurance -- am I missing anything? So if we buy a $250,000 home (2br/2ba in a community with amenities), you might figure about $5000 for HOA, $2500 for taxes, maybe $2000 for insurance (?) and maybe $1500 for utilities (?), which adds to $11,000.

What else did you consider when buying?

Furnishings.

[rapmarks Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close rapmarks]

there is tax on rentals under 6 months.