Currently there is a Sarasota Memorial Hospital ER and healthcare center. They offer 24/7 emergency care, outpatient, and primary care services. Not a full blown hospital though. The county just approved plans last week to build a full hospital on the same site as the ER. They plan to break ground this year and it is expected to take 3 years to complete.

What makes you say that?

Glad it was helpful! Give us a call at 239-688-4423 if you want to discuss how we can help with your move!

Yes. The big community developments with HOAs all have public utilities. If you don't want to be in a community with an HOA there are a few scattered lots that do have new homes built or being built on them with public utilities but they are very few currently. Give us a call to discuss. 239-688-4423

@@LivinginSouthwestFlorida_ Thank you

You’re welcome!

I haven’t found any stats but I have personally never seen any homeless in Venice.

Thanks for the feedback.

Actually it’s not. Or at least the vast majority of it is not. Here is the link to the map of the city boundaries for the city of North Port. If you want to fact check me. npgis.northportfl.gov/cnpportal/apps/mapviewer/index.html?layers=4a2f3522a2bb40fa8722b2fe5ee22627&layerId=0 This has been a fun argument for many years. When the West Villages (what Wellen Park was originally called) was first planned the developers needed to get a commitment from one municipality or another to bring water and sewer in to the area. From what I was told Venice said no and North Port said yes. I don’t know the exact details on that but at the end of the day North Port annexed the land in order to add it to the tax base to make it make sense to cover whatever part of the cost of bringing water and sewer that they covered. So if you live there you pay taxes to and get water and sewer service from North Port BUT the addresses are Venice because the US Postal Service could care less who you pay city taxes to. All they care about is which post office you are closest to and they determine the city attached to your address. And the closest post office is in Venice so you have a Venice address but actually live in North Port.

@@LivinginSouthwestFlorida_ Thank you for the information!!!!

You’re welcome!

You’re welcome. OK that’s allot. Let’s see if I can cover it all. Home insurance costs are going up all across the US not just in FL but they are going up more in FL and a few other states than others. But if you stick to newer homes outside of high risk flood zones it actually hasn’t gone up much. Most of my clients buying these types of homes in these areas are having no trouble getting insurance for $1000-1500/year. Which is not drastically more than it was 10 years ago. It’s the older homes that are seeing significant increases. Hurricane evacuations are not that big of a deal if you leave early. The problem is many people wait to see where it’s really going to go or plan to stay and then when it looks bad they leave last minute. The reality is these storms are big. Most of them impact the majority of the state at some point so I suggest when there’s a storm coming, take a vacation. Go visit friends or family up north where it’s cool for a week (since hurricanes come mostly during the summer). If you have a newer home outside of a high risk flood zone the damage is likely to be minimal. If you have an older roof or big trees near your home you could have more serious damage and if you are in a high risk flood zone I’m advising all of my clients to buffet the extra expense and protection of flood barriers. I have a gulf access home in a high risk flood zone and I wish I had them after the last storms. High humidity is something you will find in virtually every state in the summer. Even in AZ during the monsoon season. But it is a more tropical climate in FL so yes the humidity is higher here. Can’t really do much about that. Some people like it some hate it. It’s really personal preference. I now can’t go back to AZ without getting nose bleeds because it’s so dry and I have to take a bath in a lotion tub after every shower when I’m there. I don’t have that issue in FL. For your FL PROS, I’m not sure what you want me to say. Yes we are closer to all of those cities and states. Yes, we have no state income tax and AZ does. Yes, we have greenery because we have rain and the humidity. And yes, we have water and the beaches. For the AZ CONS don’t forget no real water supply. Yes the heat is much higher than FL. And yes it kills things faster. Even people. Rarely does someone die of heat exhaustion in FL but it happens regularly in AZ. The brown on brown in brown is something I can’t stand in AZ. They need some color. 😂 If you and your family and friends are all on the East coast it is a long flight. And yes if talking Phx area specifically the air quality tends to not be great due to it being surrounded by mountains and the pollution not being able to blow away. For the AZ PROS Both states are heavily suited for outdoor activity as long as you prepare for the heat in AZ. You may get some tax relief from the north east but you still have a state income tax so it won’t be as much. I don’t know about a slight edge in golf. I’d call it a tie though very different courses. The rough in AZ is dirt and rocks (that’s bad for clubs). In FL it’s just tall grass. Plus in AZ you have lots of rattlesnakes and scorpions so don’t go looking for your ball ob. In FL if you go ob, you are usually ok to go find it unless it goes in the water. You might find a gator keeping it company there. Florida is literally nicknamed the Sunshine State. How much more sunshine do you need? 😂 Did I get it all?

@@LivinginSouthwestFlorida_ yes sir. Ty . A lot to think about for sure. 5 years away from moving....

Much can change in that amount of time. Feel free to call text or email any questions you might have along the way.

Because whoever controls that flag decided to leave it at half staff. Flags are supposed to be at half staff for 30 days after President Carter’s death. That means until 1/29. Some people have chosen to raise them back to full for Inauguration Day and they will go back to half on the 21st but not everyone did. It is not mandatory to do so.

As populations grow it is pretty normal for crime to go up a bit. It’s not bad but a little higher than some other areas nearby. What about Harms Marsh should I have mentioned?

Wow! I don’t know what you are basing this comment on but it is far from accurate. Immokalee is part of Collier county and the county as a whole has a crime rate 37% below the national average. There are no specific websites that provide crime stats for Ave specifically but there are for Immokalee and it is actually quite low and so is Naples. Which makes sense because those 2 cities make up the majority of the population. I did find crime statistics for the university itself and according the Naples daily news there were exactly 6 crimes committed on campus in 2022 which is the most recent year they have reported.

@@LivinginSouthwestFlorida_ Well two fold: I literally just walked around near Ave Maria in December and took a ten min drive into Immokalee and it looked incredibly run down/poor. There's a reason so many of the prices in Ave Maria are so cheap. And two, I was just told by a real estate agent in Naples that it is a low income neighborhood that is in proximity to Ave Maria, hence the lower prices in compared to other communities like SkySail or Terreno.

Well, I just gave you the most recent stats and they don’t back up your drive through assumptions. Ave is less expensive than the communities closer to Naples because it is further from Naples. It is an extremely safe community according to the actual statistics and people who live there.

Which neighborhood? There are 3 of them. And they all have different HOA fees based on the amenities provided.

Yeah, Pine Island is really nice if you want to avoid the crowds as long as you don’t need to leave the island often.

These neighborhoods have not flooded. The newer neighborhoods typically don’t as they are built up higher than they used to be. Hurricane enhancements are not allowed, they are required! All new homes in the area are built with hurricane straps and clips in the roof and are required to have hurricane shutters or impact resistant windows. Solar panels are allowed. State law requires HOAs to allow them.

Thanks

If you buy a condo you take over any remaining condo assessments unless we negotiate something different. If you buy a single family home those are separate from the condos so you would not be responsible for any condo assessments.

Thanks for the reply

It is suggested that you assume there are alligators in any big body of fresh water anywhere in Southwest Florida especially away from people. I can’t say there are more in the Ave area than any other area in Southwest Florida. It is quite common to see them in any communities with lots of lakes. If you leave them alone they will leave you alone. The only time they get aggressive is if people start feeding them. Because they don’t know you from whoever it is doing that. They just learn people = food so they start coming towards people thinking they will get food.

@ this is very helpful thank you!

You’re welcome!

Thanks. Yes Wellen is for sure the best for beach access. And yes Lakewood beach drives times do vary significantly based on where you are because it’s so big. Plus the closest beach will vary depending on where you are as well. The north end is closer to Bradenton/Ana Maria beaches while the south end is closer to Lido/Siesta Keys.

It sounds like you are over being in Florida. What needs to happen for you to be able to go somewhere that you will enjoy more?

I breathe better with a bit of moisture in the air vs having bloody noises every day because it’s so dry. But not everyone gets that. I grew up in AZ and never used to but I go back once or twice a year and get them every time now.

I’m sorry you aren’t happy here anymore.

What needs to happen for you to be able to make your move?

I’m not sure what this means.

In general Fort Myers is one of the best areas in Southwest Florida for employment opportunities. The other good option is Sarasota but it is significantly more expensive to live or going up to the Tampa area to have real big city options. All of this is of course dependent on what you’re off jobs they are looking for. Give me a call if you want to discuss more specifics 239-688-4423

Yes they use chemicals to treat for mosquitoes. That is something that is pretty much a necessity. However, Those water tests are from 2007 & 2008 that’s nearly 20 years ago. They are using multiple chemicals now instead of strictly Naled based chemicals and since there does not seem to be any recent high levels in the water is not really an issue anymore.

I’ve got a new one coming soon that compares all 4 Lakewood Ranch, Wellen Park, Babcock Ranch, and Ave Maria. Do you have specific questions that we didn’t cover that might be best to discuss on a call? You can always hit me up at 239-688-4423

@@LivinginSouthwestFlorida_did this video launch yet

@@DZ-ib1gzyes. Lakewood Ranch vs. Wellen Park vs. Babcock Ranch vs. Ave Maria - Which Community is Right For You? kzbin.info/www/bejne/nKfJlpKCds2cb68

You’re welcome! I can’t say much about the governments because how well things are run are too subjective and political. But as far as schools, they both have great school options. Which option is best for you and your situation will depend. Let’s set up a time to discuss what I’d important to you so we can figure that out. You can call or text me at 239-688-4423

Yes insurance is high which makes sense. The $ amount of damages is highest in the nation as well. Most people relocating to the area are doing so at least in part because they like the political leanings of the state. And many people leaving are leaving at least in part due to the political leanings of the state. If you aren’t a fan I can help you make the move out to somewhere that is a better fit for you.

Traffic has definitely gotten worse everywhere but I don’t feel like it’s bad in Venice, especially compared to other nearby areas.

Do you have anything good to say about it? And why traffic twice? Especially when traffic in Venice isn’t even bad unless you are comparing it to a farming community in Iowa.

In Florida your dogs could swim in your pool but yes, I’d keep them out of the rivers. There are actually a ton of hiking trails in Florida too. Actually a ton more than most people think. Definitely no mountains though. It is a tough choice. After growing up in AZ, I wouldn’t move back though. I love being by the water! I always loved California but I definitely agree with you that it’s too expensive, and having been there recently, it’s dirty and makes me feel sad every time I go out for all of the homeless people. I guess if you are going to be homeless anywhere, then southern CA is probably the best place to do it, but damn is it sad seeing that many humans stuck living like that and not being able to do anything to help them.

Yes they are probably too expensive for the average individual if you are taking the US average. But not for the average individual who is looking to relocate to this area. And that is there target audience for these builders. I’m not sure where you are getting your information about them being segregated based on income though. It wasn’t from my video. These communities have different neighborhoods that are geared toward different budgets because most neighborhoods are being built by individual builders and those builders build different types of homes. Then within the neighborhood they might offer different kinds of homes which are typically delineated by the lot size they fit on. This is how they make efficient use of the space and their employees and contractors. They typically have a construction superintendent and subcontractors that only do condos, and another superintendent and subcontractors that only do the narrower single family homes, and so on and so forth. This allows them to build in an almost assembly line fashion which allows them to build faster and keep costs lower. Price points are different, yes, but that has nothing to do with a buyer’s income. Price is based on the cost to build plus whatever profit margin the builder wants to make as well as what the local market will bear.

There are poor people of all races.

Cool. I’ll check it out.

It’s Florida so yes it’s hot in the summer. But the reality is it’s hot in most of the US during the summer. The difference is it is hot every day while in most northern states you will get some very hot days in the 90s and some nice mild days in the high 70s to mid 80s. But the trade off is no snow or freezing temps in the winter. As far as the hospital goes, there has to be enough population to support the cost. After all the US heather system is a for profit system. If the hospital won’t make enough money to make the investment to build it worth it they aren’t going to build it. It won’t hurt NCH bottom line because they will likely be the one to build it so if there is enough population to support the hospital it will make them more money because they will have more beds generating more income. If the population isn’t there yet, they just won’t build it. There is definitely wild life! That’s part of the fun of living there. Thanks for all of your comments!!

Thank you. Super helpful to know of the summer heat. Really appreciated. Best wishes!

2020 was 24 years ago? What year do you think we are in now?? 😂 Foot the record it is 2024 so 2020 would have been 4 years ago. I was using census data. And the last time that was done was 2020. Latest population estimate is about 225k.

Were you born in Florida?

@LivinginSouthwestFlorida_ 5th generation yes sir, actually my girls are the 5th And the Spanish before me and the Seminole before the miccosukee and them before the okaloosa and so on...etc We are all transplants at some point but the last 50 yrs plus is willing and blissful ignorance....I wish no harm on anyone but these neighborhoods flooding, well?

Is that a pro or a con for you?

Glad you love it so much!!

I understand. Everyone loves a place the way it was when they moved there because that’s how it was when they fell in love with it. But nothing stays the same for ever. Just like any other living thing, the city is either growing or it’s dying and Venice grew. It’s still very quiet compared to many of its neighbors but just with more things to do and places to go so that more people can get the same enjoyment. And now you get to decide if you want to embrace it or move on. I hope you decide to embrace it but if you want help finding a quieter place instead, let us know.

Yes it has gotten expensive compared to what it was when very few people knew about it. Congrats on being close to being ready to snow bird!

Thanks for your feedback. Do you live in Wellen Park?

Didn’t Wellen experience flooding during the last storms?

Actually it is. The solar field there produces more power than the town currently needs and the 2nd phase will produce enough solar power to power at least the entire town once it’s finished. That doesn’t mean that the electricity isn’t transported through the power grid just like any other home and that you don’t pay FPL for your electricity. It means that the solar field in Babcock produces enough electricity to power every home and building in Babcock.

😂😂 that’s what everyone says once they get here! Just remember you were that person making it too crowd for your neighbors who were already here when you came and they were for their neighbors before them. Almost everyone came from somewhere else down here.

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed. Feel free to reach out any time of you have questions and let me know when you are ready to make your move. Would love to help!

😂 well thanks for your take on the state! Since you obviously aren’t a fan of Florida what’s got you watching our videos about moving here?

Absolutely! There are sports bars all over Venice. You’ve got Oak & Stone in Downtown Wellen and the Taphouse in the Publix shopping center in Wellen Park if you are in that area. The Sand Trap, Linksters, and Wally’s on 41 if you are in central Venice and don’t want to go onto the island. And If you are on the island you have the Old Venice Pub, TJ Carneys, and Daiquiri Deck. There are a ton more options as well but these are a few of my favorites.

@@LivinginSouthwestFlorida_ Can you do a video on these places / sports bars and maybe places too workout/Gym's

@@MultiTroy63 I'll see what I can do.