Avocado Drive. Tropicana Park. Ft. Myers. Two homes just cleared. Paul Goldfinger photo. Feb 24, 2022. ©
By Paul Goldfinger, Editor. Reporting from Ft. Myers, Fla.
These two lots are now clear and ready for the next steps. Much of the removed metal will be trucked to metal recyclers. Further down the block on Avocado, a third property is being cleared, and another to the right, facing this photo, is already on the way.
The “dreary factor” of all the wrecked homes is reduced today after 4 piles of rubble, formerly homes, were removed by huge trucks. Since all the land is owned by a large investment corporation from New York, they are anxious to get the process moving, but that process is influenced by insurance companies, Lee County agencies, and the decisions of homeowners.
If someone’s home was wrecked, they can work out a deal with the park owners to purchase a new, state-of-the-art, trailer (Around here they are called “manufactured homes.”) It starts with clearing the wreckage, and that can cost over $5,000.
A new “trailer” then can cost $125,000 to $200,000 or more. A buyer would be better off, in my opinion, looking for a home where the land is included. The same advice for OG shoppers.
The Florida real estate market is desperate for homes that are economical to rent or buy, and mobile home parks are being snapped up in their entirety or homes within are going for high prices if available properties can be found.
These Tropicana lots will be attractive for buyers once the new homes are installed. Many buyers/renters in Florida are said to be from New Jersey/New York.
Unlike the CMA in OG, these land owners take every opportunity to put up new units and make money from sales. Or they will put up new units and rent them out at high rents—monthly rental cost for such homes are unknown now, but I predict that they will rent for $2,000 per month year round, not including the house rental, but that still sounds cheap compared to Ocean Grove rental prices, especially in season.
We know a family who rented a tiny cottage in the Grove, last October, for $2,500.00 for 10 days. (AirB&B)
But…..our day will come.
AMY WINEHOUSE: