Reviews & Comments
Naples, FL
Very pretty place to live -
9/9/2009Naples gets a lot of negative reviews by people who live in Southwest FL or have visited the area. In my opinion, sometimes it's because they can't afford to live there or find a job. I'm not being snobby, because I can't afford to live here either! lol However, I worked in Naples and rented a home on the Naples/Bonita line for many years, and it's very safe & clean. I would not recommend moving to Naples unless you already have a secure job and enough money to support yourself, since the opportunities are very limited. However, no matter what people write about the uppity & arrogant residents (which is completely true) you can always find bad & nice people wherever you go and Naples is no exception. There are plenty of hard-working middle class people living in Naples, especially in Golden Gate Estates & Golden Gate City. Just because you don't see them dining at the overpriced restaurants and designer shops or driving around in new luxury vehicles, this well-deserved stereotype doesn't represent the entire community.
Bonita Springs, FL
Wages low compared to housing -
9/1/2006When I first moved to this area 10 years ago, it was a cozy beach town. After living in New England most of my life, I considered the average $450 a month rent for a small 2 bedroom to be very reasonable. However, in the past few years, the housing market has doubled, the insurance rates have increased dramatically and, therefore, the landlords have raised rents considerably. Now $1,000 a month will get you very little. Also, most apartments have converted to condos, so if you're not in the market to buy, you'll have a difficult time finding a nice place. Keep in mind that, if a person has a profession in which he/she can earn a good wage, the outlook might be brighter, but $8 or $9 is pretty average pay. Also, many companies require that applicants speak Spanish, which will limit your choices if you are not bilingual. Otherwise the weather is great, the beaches are clean and the crime rate is low, although it's on the increase. Culturally, there is little to do unless you like to fish on the weekends, go out to eat at mediocre restaurants or go to a movie. Traffic is a nightmare, especially in the winter. Still, it's very pretty & sunny most of the year if that's what you like.