A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE IF YOU HAVE A STABLE JOB - 3/20/2011

Fort Myers has a lot going for it: beautiful scenery and constant sunshine; a warm, year-round climate, and fairly low utility costs. It also has very nice people and wonderful restaurants. If you love all the above (along with outdoor activities), then this is the place for you. Please note though that this area, along with much of Florida, relies primarily on tourism. As a result, jobs are mainly service-related, and not always very easy to get. When the tourist season ends, companies cut back on hours, and steady work is a challenge to get during the off-season unless you are lucky. My advice to any person of working age considering a move to Fort Myers is simple: make sure that you have a stable, full-time, year-round job with a financially sound company before you move here. Otherwise, don't even think of living here as a permanent resident. In addition, when considering the area of Fort Myers in which you plan to live, you should certainly do research to determine which parts are nice, and which ones aren't. Failure to do such research can cause serious problems for you. If you consider everything I have stated, and still want to move to Fort Myers, then my response is: GO FOR IT!

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Fort Myers is a ghetto - 2/14/2011

I've been here over 5 years. I'm leaving. So I bought a condo for $250,000, I am about to short sell it for $75,000. In season, 80% of the people you see are over 70. Otherwise, people are rude, lower class and unfriendly. Unemployment is very high. When construction died so did the economy. There's nothing else to sustain the local economy. Living off snowbirds is it. 70% of children in the county qualify for free or reduced cost school lunch. Crime is all you hear about on the news.The beaches are among the worst in Florida. Summer are brutal, over 92 for 5 months straight with rain and lightening almost every day. If you don't golf or have a boat there's little to do.

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Is it a nice place? - 1/21/2011

Me and my family are looking to move soon and we are researching some places to find the best one. We currently live in Southern Ohio and are interested in the South Western Florida area. Is Fort Myers a nice place to raise children (I have a 10 year old and one on the way)? How about the cost of living? I am currently in college studying Health Care Administration and my husband has a culinary degree so I was also wondering about employment options. Is it hard to find a job? Would I be able to transfer schools to finish my degree or should I stay here until I finish? If anyone can give me some honest insight it would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance!!

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Is it a nice place? - 1/21/2011

Me and my family are looking to move soon and we are researching some places to find the best one. We currently live in Southern Ohio and are interested in the South Western Florida area. Is Fort Myers a nice place to raise children (I have a 10 year old and one on the way)? How about the cost of living? I am currently in college studying Health Care Administration and my husband has a culinary degree so I was also wondering about employment options. Is it hard to find a job? Would I be able to transfer schools to finish my degree or should I stay here until I finish? If anyone can give me some honest insight it would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance!!

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Communities are the way to go - 12/17/2010

In an area like Fort Myers, the best way to meet new people and live the lifestyle you deserve is in a developed community. With major areas so far apart, communities offer a great way to meet new people and maintain an active social life. We moved from NY over 3 years and have found it to be the best way to go...and they're beautiful. Visit paseo-ftmyers.com if you're interested, that's where we live!

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Culture and Recreation - 12/6/2009

If you don't fish, boat, golf or lay on the beach there's not much to do in Fort Myers. No culture. Small town government where a few decide for many and high crime. True nickname is Fort Misery.

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Good City - 11/9/2009

Low crime rates and great schools make a good city.

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Not the best - 7/20/2009

There is not much here. There are a few clubs, but they stink. There isn't really anything to do. There is a mall, but thats about it. There is a "cultural" theater, but its with the college down here. That is about it for all the culture and that costs real money. So to find something to do that doesn't cost alot is rare, There are antique shops and things like that, but they are pretty small. They are making an effort to revap the downtown area and it is a lot better, but there still isn't anything there just a few shops and restaurants. Since there aren't any jobs here its hard to have a night on the town because nobody has any money. I haven't seen an add in the paper advertising a real job in months. I wouldn't move here unless you already got something lined up.

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Cost of Living - 6/10/2009

Expensive. Taxes are high, insurance is high. The current growth management practices of the city and Lee County will only exacerbate the problem. Urban sprawl is being caused by development driven by road expansion rather than urban planning. This spreads the need for infrastructure, causing increased costs for services.

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Good area for retirees. - 6/3/2009

Crowded in the winter, less crowded in the summer.

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Climate - 11/16/2008

It's hot.

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Climate - 8/23/2008

Fort Myers has a good climate from November-May. The humidity is present almost year round, but it is almost unbearable between July and September. There are frequent rainstorms during the late summer months during the late aftn and evening. It is sunny during the early part of the day and the humidty builds causing the storms.

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Fort Myers is getting a face lift... - 7/29/2008

In the last several years the Lee County Government and the city of Fort Myers have invested many millions of dollars in remodeling the Fort Myers Downtown area and areas within a 3 mile radius. The result is that not only is Fort Myers looking really good but, in addition, there are several very upscale highrises going up just east of downtown and Fort myers city is now attracting new storefront businesses to downtown Fort Myers. Almost all of the buildings in the downtown area have been restored too. Fort Myers has always been a thriving city but now our out of state visitors have a brand new city to enjoy.

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Dunbar to Downtown-Fort Myers, FL - 3/25/2008

Fort Myers has its decent looking areas and moderate to rundown areas. Dunbar is a moderate to rundown area (about a 1-2 miles from downtown near the FleaMaster Flea Market. Not recommended as a place to live, although it is fairly quiet at night. However, the job market doesn't seem too good. Most of the contractors say their business is slow. If someone with nothing more than a High School Diploma does find a job, the pay is not as decent as say the state of Virginia, for example. However Captiva Island is another story accoring to my research. That area seems to pay well. Also, I would not recommend Fort Myers Beach. Too much seaweed and the water looks like any other beach. It's not aqua by any means.

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Give it time.... - 12/13/2007

I am a native New Yorker. Our family moved to Florida when my husband retired. We were young retirees, in our 40's. The cost of living has increased quite a bit in the last few yrs, but it is still cheaper than where we came from. The weather is great from Nov-April, then its hot and humid from May-Oct, and you always live with the threat of a hurricane. If you enjoy shopping there is plenty.We have 5 large shopping areas within 20 miles of each other, and numerous other strip malls. If you enjoy dining out theres plenty of that too! The beaches are nice, sometimes very crowded. You can basically live outdoors year round. In other words, you can always find something to do! Getting around isnt easy if you do not drive, and the roads are busy. Crime seems to occur in certain areas but I wouldn't say it is something I worry about. Overall, its certainly not a bad place to live. Ive actually grown to like it very much, however I think the idea of being a snow-bird , as they call our part-time residents, is what we might eventually like to do.

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Difficult to meet new friends - 11/3/2007

have been living here 1.5 yr and have very open personality but have difficulty making new aquaintances. Everyone seems more interested in fishing than anything else. No clubs/museums etc. we are thinking of relocating, also expensive housing.

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jobs - 10/21/2007

IM a new MBA finishing my program at Florida Gulf Coast University. I have had a very difficult time finding a job to go to after my program is over. Furthermore, The economy here is predominantly service related (hospitality, tourism , and senior related). So I may have to move and am looking.

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plenty of outdoor activity - 10/21/2007

rain or shine....always something to do. walks along beaches, walks in swamp and mangrove preserves..fish off or on shore...golf almost everyday of the year. summertime can be a little wet and humid, this is when you can use your pool.

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Since Hurricane Charley - 9/14/2007

Homes have almost tripled in price.

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Great place to live - 5/2/2007

Moved here two years ago and found home. Weather is great, beaches terrific. Area is growing--many new restaurants and more upscale and other shopping neighborhoods. USed to be geared just to rich retirees but it is attracting more profesional and technology companies and bringing in younger people. Some very good schools and more choices in everything. Housing is a bargain compared to other metro areas, and everything brand new. This place is a best kept secret...

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