1. SW Florida Weather.  Summer is not the hot box you imagined. It's often cooler here than in most of the rest of the country. Our summer high temps are in the high 80's to low 90's. We have breezes most every day and thunderstorms most every afternoon to cool things down and keep the air clean. Summer skies are crystal blue with snow-white fluffy clouds that are spectacular. Spring and fall are typically fabulous: enough said. Winters can be chilly but temperatures rarely get to freezing. It normally runs in the 60's and 70's.

2. Waterfront Living - Cape Coral is called Waterfront Paradise.  Cape Coral has an amazing 400 miles of salt water and fresh water canals, located at the mouth of the Caloosahatchee River and Gulf of Mexico. Do you want to fish, cruise to wonderful places in a powerboat or leisurely sail the Gulf Coast? We have direct access waterfront, which means unimpeded access for the sailors or large boats. Other options are Gulf access with bridges to go under or landlocked freshwater canals and lakes. Call me for your free chart and to talk about your boating needs. There is a lot to learn when buying waterfront. When shopping for waterfront properties rely on an expert like me that cares if you make the right choice and can give you information important to you.

3. Cost of Housing in Lee County is a relative thing.  The area is expanding with a variety of housing prices that beat any of the waterfront areas in the North. Lee County has something for everyone: from the modest home away from home to a magnificent home on the water or golf course. We have everything in between. Check out the houses on my web site to give you an idea of what is here.

4. Cost of Living for Other Things.  Lots of folks move here just because there is no state income tax. Food and medical expenses are about the same. Our growing season is when folks up north would give their eyeteeth for a real vine ripe tomato, etc. And oh, the oranges just grow in the yard! So do the grapefruit, papaya, bananas, pineapple, lemons, limes, coconuts, avocado and mangos! Growing season for other plants and trees is 12 months a year.

5. Life Style is what Florida living is all about.  The weather is balmy and perfect for outdoor activities, from walking the beaches and shelling, to golfing at lots of fabulous golf courses, boating the coastal waterways and Gulf, or just hanging out in your backyard pool. Sunsets are to die for. Bird watching takes on a whole new meaning here: bald eagles, burrowing owls, pelicans, great blue herons, osprey and hundreds of other birds are plentiful all year long. There is rarely a trip in the boat that you don't encounter dolphins or manatee.


6. Home Inspections -THE TRUTH.  Every purchase of property should have a home inspection. Generally, for under $200 you can have your new prospective home inspected for defects. The inspection includes everything from the foundation to the roof. It includes plumbing, electrical, appliances, seawalls, pools, air conditioning and heat. It is important to understand that this is a very valuable tool in purchasing a home; however, it is not a guarantee that next week something won't go haywire. It is a snapshot of the home on the day the inspection was done. It can take 2-3 hours to go over a home thoroughly. If you are building a new home and don't live in the area, consider hiring an inspector to keep your interests at heart for your new home in paradise.

7. Closing Costs in our area are very favorable to the buyer.  It is customary for the seller to provide a clean clear title to the buyer. If you are paying cash, besides nominal fees for recording the title or notary fee or overnight delivery, there are no other charges. If you require a mortgage, the state charges a state tax of $.35 per hundred dollars of the mortgage amount and the title company charges another $275 to deal with the mortgage paper and extra title. There is also an intangible tax of $.002 of the mortgage amount. These are all separate fees from whatever your mortgage company will charge. Get these numbers up front. For buyers, if you are a cash buyer, the state of Florida says, come on down!

8. Insurance is Different.  Living in Lee County can involve flood insurance, and if you are buying at or near the beach or river, wind damage insurance is mandatory. Your homeowners insurance does not cover these circumstances. If you are mortgaging the property, insurance is a requirement of the mortgage company to guarantee their protection. Insurance is always changing and if you are near to the closing of your new home during hurricane season, beware of the timing window. If a tropical storm or hurricane is within the window they will not write any policies until the threat is over. You must have your policy written and paid for to be able to close. Auto insurance is also a different matter. You need to check with an insurance company to see what they currently require.

9. Hurricanes.  Even though you watch hurricanes hit what looks like the entire state on the weather channel and evening news, the reality is that when they hit, severe wind damage is in a relatively small area around the eye of the storm. The further from the eye, the lower the winds are. Media coverage can at times blow out of proportion the extent and severity of these storms. On the other hand, the greatest danger from these storms can come from not taking the threat seriously.

10. Social Life.  So much to do, so little time. The new residents club consists of people just like you. They keep a constant membership of over 300 and you are only a member for one year. It is the one best thing you can do for yourself when you move to Cape Coral. There are also many very active churches in the area and lots of activities for singles or families. Lee County's average age is 40 years old. This is quite an eclectic community.