Anyone from Grand Rapids, MI who has moved to Fort Myers FL?

Question

Im thinking of moving down there, how does it compare to GR? Worth the move? Anything I should know?

Answer 1

Well, Matt, we used to live in St. Joseph, MI, and now we live in North Fort Myers.

Property values are all askew down here, while they remain relatively stable in MI. It's more crowded down here. The winters are beautiful here, but summer is almost unbearable. There are two seasons here: Summer (T-storm almost every afternoon, unbearably hot/humid) and "Season" (Great weather, population doubles.) I miss the seasonal changes in Michigan.

Politics here are very conservative.

I just purchased a 3/2 in a gated community for $350K, +$4K per year in association fees and almost $5K per year in prop. taxes. I'm not even going to tell you how much my homeowner's insurance costs.

My wife and I started exploring real estate in Michigan a couple months ago. For $350K, I can get twice as much house in MI on 5+ acres.

We will probably be moving back to Michigan in a few years to finish raising the kids. I was excited to move down here in 1999, and I'm excited at the thought of moving back.

My opinion may be the minority opinion, but I thought I'd offer my perspective. Godspeed!

Answer 2

Florida is a great place to move, especially Lee County. There are several legitimate concerns Joe brought up, however, this is a safe area in Florida with low crime rate. This part of the state is also home to some of the most beautiful beaches in the world.

I'm a real estate agent in the area, so I know quite a bit about the area. If you do decide to move to the area, don't be afraid to get a hold of me.

Thanks, Rolf