two months of fun - 12/29/2006

Fort Myers is a fun place, but only for a couple of months a year. (November and December) after that the place is so packed with tourists that don't know how to drive that it can be very frustrating. The cost of living is higher than most cities that I've lived in. To get a decent apartment you would need $800 a month and your electric bill will be at least 200 a month (Summer). The summer storms are very beautiful, but you need to work so much that you rarely get time to enjoy the beauty here. No state tax is taken out of your check, but you can rarely find a job that pays $15 an hour. Most jobs are minimum wage or $10/hr., even some construction! If you're retiring you can get some great deals in trailor communities, unless you're rich you really can't enjoy the beautiful area. They have covered the beaches with condo buildings so you can't see the gulf unless you visit the bars! At least in the bigger cities, like Chicago you can walk along the beach without walkin on private property!

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Moving from FL to TX - 12/3/2006

Clima is great, besides of the Hurricanes, traffic is getting worse every year, snowbirds take over from December, not possible to get in any restaurant anymore,highways are blocked, accidents every day; a lot of old rich people, retired and expect you to follow their rules and speed, public schools are all having problems, some good private schools are available, living costs are very high, insurance is high, services like TV, phonea and internet, builders and so on suck, nothing works at the beginning you always have to call 2 or three times, crime rate is high. Native Floridians are OK, I like them. If you are retired, great place to be, if you are young and still working, you can find better places.

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Not a nice town - 10/2/2006

We moved down here for my husbands job just 3 months ago, but as soon as his time is up here we are going to move. The housing is through the roof, along with renting. People are generally rude everywhere you go. It's not just driving that they cut you off, but people will push past you in the grocery store or a restaurant with complete disregard for you. Everyone acts as if they are more important than you. I had the lovely experience of visiting an ER and I have never been treated with such disrespect or disregard and I work in healthcare!!! I have never seen such a display in my life. It is not worth it to live here. We are putting in our time and getting out!!!

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We are leaving ASAP. - 9/13/2006

We moved here 6 years ago. Bought a nice house for $249,900. It was to be our retirement home. We thought we were smart about moving to our retirement area early and settle in before my husband stopped working. Well - in the past 6 years, our homeowner's insurance has gone from $800/yr. to $6750.00/yr. Our Real Estate taxes are $6300/yr. Our Homeowner's Association fee has gone from $50/yr. to $1600+ a year. This was after we were told by the developer upon buying that it would never go up as future buyers would make up any needed increases. So - needless to say, unless you have deep pockets and don't mind spending a small fortune for housing, you better check out this area VERY CAREFULLY before moving here. Middle class people are priced out of this area. Teachers, firefighters, police, etc. cannot afford housing here unless they are willing to live in the undesireable areas. Also, there are far better places in Florida to live than here. It is impossible to get to the beaches here, unlike Clearwater or St. Pete where there are several approaches. So, now our retirement income we planned on is not going to give us the lifestyle we want. We are leaving. I refuse to pay more than $6700/yr for homeowner's insurance just to live in this area. If I want Florida - I'll come here on vacation. Oh, by the way - to prove my point. My $249,900 house is now worth more than $600,000. At least I will get my money back to move elsewhere.

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climate - 9/7/2006

WAY TOO MUCH RAIN!!! THEN DROUGHT!! No escape when Hurricanes are expected.

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Climate - 7/27/2006

The heat just keeps getting hotter and there seem not to be a break from it as in years' past.

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Not what I'd hoped for......... - 6/28/2006

Too many people in a small area, impossible to get to the beach in the winter months. Could've been nice, b.t.(before tourists), but has become overrun with snowbirds. Expensive and so not worth it. Time for a change.

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Retire here! - 6/15/2006

Great place to retire, but not so great if you young and single. Very small town atmosphere.

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citizen - 6/3/2006

great winter....hot summers

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The Demise of Fort Myers - 5/17/2006

Fort Myers has become a very frustrating place to live. Too much crime, traffic and generally rude people. Those who have moved here have succeeded in making this area "just like back home". The lure of sunshine and no state income tax has taken a great place and trashed it.

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A great place to be FROM! - 3/23/2006

Fort Myers, Lee County, used to be a nice place to live. 20 years ago. I watched it change, and not for the better. The population almost tripled, the traffic is awful, the expenses are from Hell. Housing, taxes, anything you need are far more expensive here than you can imagine. Goods and services are available, but very expensive and the quality isn't all you pay for. I miss my friends and family, but I definitely do not miss the Gulf Coast. Glad to be out of Florida. Happily I found Vicksburg, MS and love it.

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You Get What You Pay For - 12/11/2005

Southern time? Fort Myers is far from southern. Since there are mostly transplants from the Midwest, it is a very Yankee town. You won't here a "twang" in the local accent. The lack of job performance is from the lack of pay. Couple that with the high cost of living and you have surly workers.

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Difficult Place to Live - 9/7/2005

Housing costs are through the roof. It is difficult to conduct business in a positive manner here due to the lack of work ethic and the lack of pride in a job well done. The culture is very much "southern", not exactly what one would expect when moving to Florida. Everyone is pretty much on "island time" here, and it is difficult to meet and make friends with quality people.

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Home Values/Prices - 6/13/2005

The average home price in Fort Myers is much higher than listed here, $99,000 (though I did read the note that the prices indicated are from 2000). I live in the City of Fort Myers and purchased my modest 2BR/2BA home in April 2001 for $82,000. Comparable homes in this area are now selling for over $200,000. Within the last six months, one home down the street sold for $221,000 and one around the corner sold for $210,000, both vey similar to my own. Overall in Lee County, the average price is now $275,000 - $300,000 for a standard 3BR/2BA/2GAR home.

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