Thanks for the comment. Yes this is an important consideration. Lee Memorial isn’t closing until 2027. The new hospital will be open before it closes and yes temporarily Lee County will have fewer beds until the next phases of the new hospital are complete however what you didn’t mention is that HCA Fawcett hospital in Port Charlotte which is only a few minutes further than Lee Memorial from Babcock has just completed a major expansion significantly increasing its capacity and with the significant number of smaller urgent/emergent care facilities that have opened in the past couple years, it is much less necessary to go to the actual hospitals for many treatments and the overall number of beds to treat patients when including those facilities has increased drastically and access to them has gotten much better as they are spread all throughout the area now rather than being only at those few select locations.

I would love to but unfortunately getting into crime statistics is one of those topics that we as Realtors are not supposed to talk about ourselves because it has historically been used as a way to "steer" potential buyers. Which is illegal. So really the best I can do is direct you to official sources such as sheriffleefl.org which is the Lee County sheriffs website. They cover Lehigh. I can also point you to public websites like areavibes.com and Neighborhoodscout.com which both compile info on things like crime stats among other things. Though I do tend to question the way they rate some things based on my own and my client's, friend's, and families' personal experiences, as they sometime contradict what Area Vibes and or Neighborhood Scout shows and sometimes they contradict each other. So my point is, it is best to consult a variety of resources for things like that and we as your Realtors can help suggest where to find that info if we are not allowed to give it to you ourselves.

Yes. It’s pretty much non existent throughout all of SWFL unfortunately.

Thanks for the comment! Glad you enjoyed your time here!! When are you coming back?

@@LivinginSouthwestFlorida_ Not sure, but I really miss the place.

@@pierrelarocque3214 well I hope you are able to make it back soon!

Great question! And a tough one to give a specific answer to because it depends on where the storm is coming from and how big it is expected to be in size and also how string it is expected to be. Going back to the last few that I have been through, Hurricane Irma in 2017 most people in Venice didn’t leave because that storm was #1 expected to hit the east coast of Florida but it kept shifting further west and by the time we knew it was going to for sure hit the west coast it was too late to fly. And #2 it made landfall on mainland Florida in Naples and then went mostly straight north so by the time it had gotten to Venice the wind speed was quite a bit less and there wasn’t much need to evacuate that far north. Those further south that did evacuate, many went to Orlando, Jacksonville, and St Augustine if they were driving. Then as those areas filled up people went further north to the coastal cities in GA, SC, TN. We personally booked flights earlier in the week just in case it shifted like it did and got a place in Atlanta for vacation for a week. The path with Irma was fairly obviously going to be mostly north and going to affect the whole state because of its size so the plan was go north far enough for it to die down. While with hurricane Ian that came in from the gulf and made landfall in Cape Coral/Fort Myers area it was clear that storm was going to cut across the state diagonally so many people on the south side of it (Fort Myers/Cape Coral/Naples areas went to Miami/Ft Lauderdale and people on the north side (Punta Gorda/Port Charlotte/Venice/Sarasota) mostly went north to the panhandle, GA, MS, and TN. We stayed for Ian primarily because my elderly parents living in Cape Coral refused to evacuate and we felt we needed to be there in case they needed it and it’s a good thing we did because they did need help but we will never stay again and neither will they. So my advice, is close up the house and book flights for a day or 2 before it hits because at some point the airport will be closed and flights will be canceled (and then it will likely be too late to drive as well due to traffic and lack of fuel) or drive a couple days before it’s projected to hit and just go take a vacation away from the area and don’t come back until power is restored unless you are working and have a job that requires you to stay. Remember hurricane season is mostly during the summer when it’s hot and even if the storm doesn’t do much damage, if it knocks out your power it is no fun living in 90+ degree heat and that humidity with no AC and typically after a big storm also no wind plus lots of mosquitos.

@@LivinginSouthwestFlorida_ I appreciate all of your great info. Thanks so much!🙂

@@JK-wp4ek you’re welcome!

@@JK-wp4ek you’re welcome!

Thanks for your input! I agree. It’s a great place if you want to be in FL but a little more inland to avoid the worst of the storms. Plus there is lots of development happening and prices are still more affordable than many other parts of SWFL.

Yeah, I’ve heard downtown was rough back then. They rebranded it after the market crash as they were working to revitalize it and it’s really nice now. The population of the area also went down quite a bit during that 2007-2010 timeframe. It’s back up above 2007 now though. The beach is being rebuilt with many similar places but there are still quite a few local spots. It’s not all corporate.

🤣 didn’t want to give away my secret! It’s Mi Pueblo.

That’s not how I would describe it.

real "Hood" - Golden Gate, Naples

That address is not in any of these neighborhoods. But it’s fairly close to the historic downtown river district. Is that an home you are interested in?

Yes it has changed drastically since the 80’s. I’ve heard many that grew up in Southwest Florida referred to it as Cape Coma because it was such a quiet little town back then. It has grown significantly since then with a lot more to do.

There still aren’t many houses on Delores but it is about as far east in Lehigh as you can get. Are you considering the area now?

Most of the things mentioned are popular among single and young people as well. But if looking for night life type activities there aren’t that many places that offer that. There are a few in the SE 47th Ter area but not a ton. However there are other places to go in the Fort Myers River District area to get a bit more variety or if you don’t mind a bit of a longer drive down in Estero near FGCU or in Naples there are additional options. Overall I would say it is an ok place for single and young people but probably not great. It is getting better as more and more young people have moved to the area over the past 20 years or so. It is definitely much better than it was back then.

😂 the pros and cons of freedom to buy your lot and build your home where you want when you want, right? Sounds like you need to be in a neighborhood that is already built out. What don’t you like about the infrastructure in North Port? North Port has better infrastructure than many SWFL cities do in curious where you feel the issues are.

Yes, I’ll take a built up, properly developed community all day. Infrastructure? Flooding is rampant, no water and sewer available in most of the city. Internet options?, good luck. Freedom to build with no development plan? If you want to live in a city where the constant tap tap tap of hammers, heavy equipment noise and dump trucks running up and down residential streets for years and years THEN YES, you are in the right place! It will be happening for generations to come….enjoy!

@@mchell I understand. And that is why there are different options for different people. Some people prefer the freedom to build what they want when they want and others prefer a planned out and timely built neighborhood and yet others want a fully thought out and developed master planned community. In North Port you actually have all 3 available to you. The majority of North Port is option 1 where there are lots everywhere and anyone can buy one and build a home whenever they want with proper permitting of course. And you can’t truly build whatever you want either because there are zoning guidelines and building codes that must be followed otherwise the city won’t issue the permit or will stop work if the project isn’t done properly. But if it’s a residential home on a residential lot and meets code requirements it’s ok. Then you have planned neighborhoods like Heron Creek, Talon Bay, or Cypress Falls that were developed and built in a designed way over a period of a few years. And you also have fully master planned communities like Wellen Park which has a complete town center and dozens of neighborhoods which were all planned together and the whole thing is being built in stages over decades. I haven’t seen what I would consider rampant flooding. Where in North Port is that happening? There was some serious flooding after Ian due to the massive amount of rain further north from the storm coming back down the rivers and canals. This caused the Mayakka River to overflow and one of the canal walls failed and areas near it to flood. The Myakka does have an issue when there are massive storms but this was the first I’ve heard of a canal wall collapsing in North Port. And this was probably the largest and strongest storm this area has ever seen. True, city water and sewer is something that is missing from the majority of the areas where you can build what you want when you want and some people would prefer to have city water and sewer but many people actually prefer well and septic. It means no water or sewer bill each month which can be quite costly and maintaining well and septic equipment is quite simple and inexpensive. Plus with North Port being such a large area of land with more of it vacant than built, it would be a massive expense to put in and who would pay for it? Now, in those developed neighborhoods and master planned communities that is all factored in from the beginning as you referenced so they include central water and sewer systems. As far as internet goes, I haven’t heard many complaints from my clients in the area as there are a number of high speed internet providers there now. Though I do know it was an issue not that long ago.

You might want to drive around today and look around for some flooding….while you’re at it, take a good look at the “free to build what I want homes”. Nothing but garbage, cars , boats and junk crammed on tiny lots everywhere. That helping the value of your home? North port is basically filled with these junk holes.

Oh….a large city entirely made up of small lots with well and septic systems?? That’s good? North port will soon be floating in its own doo doo….sounds great! Everyone, please build in nopo!

Do you find this happening regularly all over or are you referring specifically to just during a massive hurricane that dumped a ton of rain in a short period of time or are you talking about after the storm when the canal wall collapsed after the storm?

😂 sure. Technically by definition any government at all is socialist. If they collect tax money and redistribute in the form of a service to everyone that lives there just because they live there even if they don’t pay in to the tax fund it’s socialist. Police-socialist, fire dept-socialist, public parks-socialist… which socialist program are you unhappy with? And where do you think is better?

@@LivinginSouthwestFlorida_ that's why they are traitors and soon will be in the lake...

Isn’t it amazing how when you live in a place for a long time you begin to take the things for granted that are there and forget how many amazing things you have at your disposal. Unless you are looking for nightlife. There isn’t a ton of that although there are a few places.

@@LivinginSouthwestFlorida_ I would respectfully disagree. We are not looking for nightlife; we are parents of 2 kids. Cape Coral doesn't have a mall, doesn't have any children play centers (there's only so many times you can go to Mike green Wills or that lame excuse for a water park) but if your thing is a clean car then yes this is your place sense there's about. 2 car wash location every other street. I understand, you make a living of real state but you owe people the truth so please don't mis lead them with false expectations. Like I said, we lived here for over 10 years not much you can tells us about this place. It will take a good 10 plus year in the future to see any turn to this City.

⁠​⁠@@YuniethLangbut most malls are going extinct. So is that really something they should be considering building? I agree with the insanity of the proliferation of the car wash, though! 😂😂 No idea why we need so many of those. Just wait 10 mins and it will rain. But Cape just built or is in the process of building a bunch of new parks with sports courts and play spaces. And what about all of the different water activities you have access to? Canoeing, kayaking, paddle boarding, boating, the beach, hiking through the nature preserves… Those are all things that don’t cost much. There are also bowling alleys, golf courses, shooting ranges, movie theaters, live theater, museums, breweries, distilleries, farmers markets…

@@YuniethLang You lost me .. Cape Coral has a Ton of boating options... Additionally... The quick drive surrounding areas (Sanibel, Ft. Myers, Captiva, Port Charlotte... etc etc ) are some of the BEST entertainment areas of Florida... Don't agree at all with you!.

@@colemant6845 Our idea on fun things to do is very different. For those who don't go out on a boat all the time what else is there to do. We have no high end malls, no recreation for kids, horrible restaurants.

Thanks for the addition!

Great questions! Property taxes in Lehigh are some of the lowest in the state! Lee County has a pretty low tax rate in general as well as the fact that Lehigh is unincorporated so there are no extra city taxes like you have if you are in the Fort Myers, Cape Coral, or Punta Gorda city limits which are the other nearby cities that many people compare to Lehigh. Insurance in Lehigh will be lower than many of the other areas in Southwest Florida primarily because there are very few parts of Lehigh that are in high risk flood zones where a mortgage company would require you to have flood insurance if you are financing your home. However homeowners insurance is still going to be higher than many other states because it is Florida and the risk of damage to your home from large storms is higher here than in many other states.

My team and I cover all of Southwest Florida. I do spend quite a bit of time in Babcock Ranch because I have many friends and clients that live there already and that are interested in the community but I do not live there myself but very close. Why do you ask?

Have you been to Lehigh? I ask because typically when I hear this it is from someone who has never been and is only repeating things they have heard from someone else who also usually has not been or spent much time in the area. But the statistics don’t show a drastically higher crime rate than the surrounding areas overall. Yes of course there are some small pockets where there are much higher issues but that is the case with anywhere. I have many friends and clients who live there who say they prefer it and some who have lived their whole lives in Lehigh that say they would never leave and love it. This is why you need someone who really knows the area that can help you find a home in a neighborhood that really fits what you are looking for instead of just writing off an entire city.

@@LivinginSouthwestFlorida_ Unfortunately yes I’ve lived close enough to Lehigh for 20 years. It’s filled with low income housing, Habitat for Humanity homes and crime. Drugs are a huge issue as well. People called it the Walmart of SWFL.

Buch of BS

@@Bailey8025 I can only speak from the statistics as well as my experiences in the area and the experiences of the many families and business owners I have help buy and sell homes and commercial real estate in the area and the data doesn’t back what you are saying and neither do those experiences. But if that if what you have seen in your time there or heard about it then it sounds like we should find you a home further away from there.

Great! Which one would you put Park Shore in place of and what is it about Park Shore that you like better?

It’s Florida. Hurricanes are a thing you have to consider. Though that is pretty much the case all along the gulf coast and up the entire east coast as well. But in Florida at least along the coast, the homes are designed to be able to withstand the wind. The newer homes are designed to withstand higher wind speeds than older homes. So the biggest issues become flooding so you want a home built at a higher elevation above sea level or elevated off the ground and the power outages after the storm has passed. This is where a generator or solar with battery backup becomes helpful. You can of course live without electricity but in the summer when the main part of Hurricane season is, in Florida, it is not comfortable.

I can definitely agree that having the barrier islands is a big help but I don’t think it’s accurate to say the Cape didn’t have major damage at least from Ian. Homes weren’t completely cleared from their lots like some were on the islands but 2-3 feet of water in homes or roofs being completely removed is still major.

Ian gave us a pretty good whack, especially in those areas with quick gulf access in the south. I would not trivialize Ian, at all.

I agree. Ian was a rough storm for the Cape.

As a pro or a con? Serious question. Yes, it’s in Florida so every area has some risk of hurricane but being further inland like Lehigh is, is a significant pro regarding hurricanes because there is virtually no risk of storm surge. Though there is still flood risk if the storm brings significant amounts of rain despite the fact that very few areas in Lehigh are considered high risk flood zones. And wind speeds are significantly reduced by the time the storm makes it to the Lehigh area so wind damage should not be as severe overall.

We love North Fort Myers. That’s why we bought our home there but it’s definitely not for everyone. My wife is a city girl at heart and when we went to look at the home we ended up buying she said it was in the middle of nowhere. My response was no no, it’s on the edge of nowhere. 😂 Our neighbors have horses but the Publix is only 6 minutes away and downtown is only 15 minutes away (now more like 25 because of traffic).

That’s awesome! I’m glad you found a place you are happy! South Fort Myers has a lot going for it!!

No, I wouldn’t consider the Peace River dirty. Though, if I’m being honest, Florida in general does not do a great job of regulating contaminates going into its waters. However the Peace River is in much better shape than many others. Mud and silt being stirred up happens mostly when there has recently been heavy rains and the fresh water is flowing faster than usual and that area is where the river meets the harbor and you can get a mix of the fresh water hitting the incoming tide which may stir up that mud and silt.

@@LivinginSouthwestFlorida_ Thank you, I did not hear you talk about median house price

@@DavidMoriconiM3inspect as of June 2024. Which are the most recent numbers out so far, the median sale price for homes in Charlotte County was $340k which was down a little bit from June 2023.

It really depends on what it is. You said you tried so I assume that means you didn’t end up buying it. Was that the reason you didn’t buy it?

@@LivinginSouthwestFlorida_ Insurance and HOA were too high with no end in sight. We decided to rent for the winters but that is increasing substantially every year.

Yes, rental costs are going up substantially every year as well. It depends on how long you spend down here every year on how much sense it makes to buy but typically if it is 3 months or more it makes sense no matter what you do with it the rest of the time and if you spend less than that but are open to renting it out during the time you aren’t using it it still makes more sense than renting. It typically only makes sense to rent if you are staying less than 3 months and’s not willing to rent it when you aren’t using it.

Thanks for the comment and detailed response to the video. We do cover many of those things you mention in our other videos about the different areas in Southwest Florida. The ones we haven’t covered I can respond to here. Sinkholes aren’t really an issue in the areas we cover. Mold can be an issue inside homes if you leave for long periods of time and turn your AC up too high. If you keep it under 80 it shouldn’t be an issue. What questions do you have about the 2nd amendment? That’s a federal thing. Though of course every state has their own gun laws as well. If you are curious about concealed carry it’s very simple to get a permit and most states are reciprocal.

Are you talking about River Creek? If you leave there and go west that’s left and there are all kinds of things right there. If you go right, that’s east and you are correct. Nothing out there but other neighborhoods right now so unless you are going to the casino there’s really no reason to go that way. Though with all of the new residential development out that way, commercial will be coming in the near future. Why do we need to be on the east coast for the beach? We have tons of beautiful beaches here on the west coast of Florida!

Interesting! That’s the first time I’ve heard that.

I’d be happy to help you figure out to make it happen! Give me a call and let’s talk it through!!

Congrats! Did you buy it to build on or as an investment?

@@LivinginSouthwestFlorida_ my ultimate goal is to develop the land in 5 to 7 years cause it’s seller finance deal

@@LivinginSouthwestFlorida_ I’d say both an investment and development

@@JoeInvest416 awesome! Buying land and building on it can be a great investment as long as you work with the right builder. But the wrong one can put you in a serious hole so let me know when you are ready and I’ll connect you with a few that are good for your project.

Yes it is!

I know! I guess it’s kind of one of those hole in the wall type spots but it’s super cool and an awesome place to hike. We love going through there and wandering the whole park.

Thanks for the feedback! I'll work on some videos that do a deep dive into more of this information.

@@LivinginSouthwestFlorida_ Thanks much

Thank you!

Why do you say that?

It looks like a monstrosity

@@barryfigel9957 it’s big and doesn’t really fit in with what’s around it but that’s because most of what is around it is old and run down. Similar to what was there before they bought it. So while it may stick out like a sore thumb now, and it may not be your style, I think it’s a huge upgrade from what was there before and it has already sparked some other nearby building owners to do upgrades to their buildings as well. So I personally think it was good for the area.

🤣🤣 You don’t want everyone to find out about it?

Everyone has a different opinion of what affordable is but compared to the price of the average home let alone new home in the area right now WestPort is very affordable.

@@LivinginSouthwestFlorida_ that’s why they have so much inventory 🤷‍♂️I’m in that place daily. That’s okay Babcock Ranch is doing great

@@matthewnowack4610 I assume they have inventory because they want to have some inventory. If they wanted to sell it quickly they could. I’ve seen every one of those builders unload inventory in a hurry if they feel they need to. Lennar is just about sold out and DRHorton seems to be selling just fine. And last time I was there the Taylor Morrison, M/I and Christopher Alan weren’t open so they either didn’t have anything to sell or have sold enough that they felt comfortable having their offices closed for the day.

@@LivinginSouthwestFlorida_ they have inventory because nobody’s buying in there Same thing with wellen park They’re overpriced cookie cutter homes couple of our big builders are already building houses because things aren’t selling you believe what you want in real estate. I’m in the construction field.

@@matthewnowack4610 I think you might have misunderstood what I was saying. The builders are keeping very close tabs on who is buying what where and making adjustments as needed so if you are seeing starts slow down it’s because they have seen the buying slow down. And if they feel they have too much inventory they will offer bigger incentives. Every home will sell at the right price. I spoke to 7 different builders yesterday and they are all offering incentives either money or special interest rates or a combination and I was able to negotiate even more on select homes in certain communities based on what is and is not selling.

How come?

Thanks for your insight! FL dept of health has a website that shows the state estimates for homeless population by county but only shows 2023 for most recent. Charlotte was estimated at 427 people. Which is almost 3x what it was in 2022 so that may be why it seems like you see more than before. It is lower than Lee county but slightly higher than Sarasota county and Hendry is listed as only having 4. Sunseeker will likely have a significant positive impact for the surrounding area. Over the next few years you will see commercial buildings make updates and new buildings be built and with those improvements rents will increase and change the types of businesses in those buildings. South Gulf Cove is a great neighborhood! Glad you enjoy living here!!

Fair enough. I prefer water over desert myself but the population growth in both places shows they are both super popular.

😂 punta rassa is the little point at the end of Fort Myers before you go over the Sanibel Causeway.

Well, short answer, no. It’s the $500k price limit and 1/2 acre lot combination that is the problem. Not the safety problem. There are not many 1/2 acre lots within 45 mins of the beach and the ones that are tend to be significantly more than $500k. If you are open to larger than 1/4 but smaller than 1/2 then you have many options. I wouldn’t tell you that any part of Lehigh is within 45 mins to the beach. 😂 Maybe at 2am with no traffic but in regular everyday traffic at typically times people would go to the beach it’s at least an hour. If you are open to that drive time, I don’t personally feel Lehigh is not safe, however that is subjective. I’ve worked with many clients who live and/or work in Lehigh and I’ve never had anyone who spends time there tell me they feel unsafe there. However there are many people who have likely never even driven through Lehigh that will tell you it’s very dangerous. There are parts of Lehigh that do have higher crime rates than Fort Myers but does that make it unsafe? It depends on what you consider unsafe. Give me a call or text at 239-201-9583 so we can discuss more detail on what you are looking for and we will see if we can find you the right place.

I agree, North Captiva is awesome! I will add it to the list of future videos! It will have some very unique pros and cons.