I was litteraly just there this past week. Spend a week in SWFL as they call it. Spent some time in Naples, a day in siesta key, and alot of time in Fort Meyers.
First, everything is for sale. I litterally mean everything. Just ask, and if you will offer 2007 pricing, down from 2005, you can buy it. Now that isnt to say you wouldnt take a bath, cause you would. But the only reason a house isnt on the market is because they cant cover the morgage on it. I was just shocked at how many houses were for sale. I mean you could drive a block of 15 houses, and 7 were for sale, 3 were obviously vacant, and 4 were for rent. I just had to guess the last house was either Bank owned, or the only person still holding on.
Second, it is so much cheaper than here. Sure a coop on Naples coast was 500k, but you could get a 3/2 with water access for 125k. (meaning a canal leads your boat to the Carb.) This is in Fort Meyers area, not BFE.
Third, they have no industry cept real estate. If you think SD if screwed up cause all we do is sell each other stuff, go to FL. They have nothing else. I mean nothing. I spent a week looking for anything that wasnt RE or tourism related and found fishing. A WEEK, LOOKING. NOTHING.
I noticed developers signs. “SFR, from the 150k’s”. If you looked deeper into the woods, or behind the sign or where they could try to hide it, you could see the old signs, 300k,,,, 250k,,,,,,,200k,,,,,,…… It was kidna sad really. I am sure most of them have some poor dumbass from the midwest who paid full price.
Also, just on a tourism note, if any of you go to SWFL, stay in the cities along the coast. Sieta key in Saresota, Fort Meyers, Naples. F the rest. It isnt worth it. DO NOT GO ANYWHWERE ELSE, EVER!!!!!
Oh, and everyone there, wants out. The first guy I met was a parking lot attendednt, told him I was from Santa Barbara, now living in SD, and visiting for the week. First words out of his mouth were “WHy the hell are you here?” I never heard anything elese differnt than that.
