Jim,
Yes this is an issue that concerns many potential home buyers in our area. The city is working on reducing the assessment fees for future areas. Moreover, their is more to the assessment than just paying the city to run the water lines and installing the gravity sewer system. which is currently in the sw5 area. This is roughly $14,500.00. In addition to this you must pay for abandoning your septic system, impact fees, and hooking up to the water and sewer lines. There was an article in the NEWS PRESS recently that basically said they may have gotten the assessment down to around $10,000.00. Fortunately for buyers there are many foreclosed homes that already have the city water and sewer in place, which means this burden was paid for by the previous owner. Your agent should however, do due diligance and verify with the city that it has been paid in full. I would advise you to buy something that already has the water, sewer, and irrigation assessment in and paid. The city of Cape Coral is planning to complete the utility expansion plan around 2019 to every area in the city. I CAN HELP YOU FIND YOUR DREAM HOME!!!

Go BUCKEYES!!!
Josh Painter

Mon May 12 2008, 08:16

Hi Jim,
Bill is correct in saying contact the city of Cape Coral for a more accurate idea of assessments. You can also get a map that will show you when different areas are expected to get city water and sewer. Right now the fees are around 17k for the area they are working on now. You can always make payments on it over time with your tax bill, but they do charge intrest. All areas of the Cape will be getting city water and sewer, the question is when. One way of avoiding them is buying something that already has it in. and paid for, the SE, and most of the SW.
Good Luck,
Nancy
www.nancydrealtor.net

Mon May 12 2008, 06:36

Hi Jim,
The process of converting from well/septic is a common one. Our Venice locaction has gone through several in the last 10 years, most recently in Nokomis. There are always different circumstances but the assessments were no where near $25,000 and in nearly all cases under $10,000.
We recommend that you contact the city/town/county in which your interests lie and request accurate information directly. They will be happy to provide you with the correct details.
Good luck,
The "Eckler Team"
Century 21 Almar and Associates
Venice, Fl 34285
ecklerteam@comcast.net

Mon May 12 2008, 04:50