Opinions on building in Key Marco (Deltona, Marco Island: for sale, real estate, HOA)

[logybogy]

I've looked online at a number of lots in Key Marco and they look beautiful. Secluded. Private. High up on 30 feet elevation so you are not wasting thousands of dollars each year on flood insurance. They also have a marina with a reserved spot for owners.

I'm a little concerned about mosquitos being you are literally in the middle of a nature preserve. Do they spray there?

It also seems very underdeveloped for the seemingly prime time real estate. Are there problems with the association or environmental permit issues?

I get that it is a bit out of the way for people that want to be close to naples or shopping but I don't care about those things. I want to be away from people and traffic!

[JPrzybylski07]

Oh goodie let's build in the middle of a nature preserve since we haven't decimated this region enough!

Imagine if we didn't stop developments originally planned for Picayune Strand State Forest........... Maybe another 40-50k thousand people living in Collier.


Sanibel was ahead of their time and kept development in check.


Looking at Key Marco from Google earth looks like a thousand homes can be squeezed on there in no time

[logybogy]

From what I have researched, the environmentalists already won that battle 40 years ago.

This was the original development plan for Marco Island that the Deltona Corp had from the late 60's/early 70's.

http://www.themacklecompany.com/femj...terplanpg3.jpg

The plan was approved by the state and most of the lots were sold to buyers, but they needed an Army Corp of Engineers permit to "dredge and fill" the outer islands and one section of Marco (Collier Bay) to complete the project. If you look at the map, numerous islands that are now preserve would have been "dredged and filled" with canals for single family homes. The Army Corp of Engineers ending up denying the permits in 1976 after the EPA was created and people started caring about wetlands. This caused a lot of financial problems for Deltona Corp since they pre-sold the lots that they could never build on. Deltona sued the state and federal government and after a few years, they came to a settlement. The development rights for the outer Marco Islands were transferred to non-sensitive areas south of 41 where Hammock Bay and Fiddler's Creek are now and areas of the less sensitive part of Horr's Island where Key Marco is now.

From what I have researched, there are 134 homesites on Key Marco but only 20 or so homes have been built and the project has been active for 20+ years. I'm still curious to know why this project hasn't taken off faster.

If you are curious about the history, this site goes into great detail. It's really fascinating if you are interested in development.

Marco Island

[JPrzybylski07]

Originally Posted by logybogy

From what I have researched, the environmentalists already won that battle 40 years ago.

This was the original development plan for Marco Island that the Deltona Corp had from the late 60's/early 70's.

http://www.themacklecompany.com/femj...terplanpg3.jpg

The plan was approved by the state and most of the lots were sold to buyers, but they needed an Army Corp of Engineers permit to "dredge and fill" the outer islands and one section of Marco (Collier Bay) to complete the project. If you look at the map, numerous islands that are now preserve would have been "dredged and filled" with canals for single family homes. The Army Corp of Engineers ending up denying the permits in 1976 after the EPA was created and people started caring about wetlands. This caused a lot of financial problems for Deltona Corp since they pre-sold the lots that they could never build on. Deltona sued the state and federal government and after a few years, they came to a settlement. The development rights for the outer Marco Islands were transferred to non-sensitive areas south of 41 where Hammock Bay and Fiddler's Creek are now and areas of the less sensitive part of Horr's Island where Key Marco is now.

From what I have researched, there are 134 homesites on Key Marco but only 20 or so homes have been built and the project has been active for 20+ years. I'm still curious to know why this project hasn't taken off faster.

If you are curious about the history, this site goes into great detail. It's really fascinating if you are interested in development.

Marco Island

Started reading the article last night but couldn't finish it all, very interesting read, at work now, will reread the entire thing soon.. Very interesting!

[night0wl]

You are aware of the minimum house size requirements(3000 sq feet under air I think), the bond issue there for road pavement/utilities, and the high hoa costs due to the marina maintenance right? If you are, then this is really a unique place to live especially if you like being at the mouth of the everglades and all the serenity and beauty it offers. Definitely go in eyes wide open though.

[logybogy]

It looks like the fees are $6000 a year (HOA, and road/utilities bond). But then you have to consider not having flood insurance.

There are lots right now in the $150k range. Then it is cost of construction. My max budget would be $800K. Are there builders that would build me a 3000 square foot house there for $650k? And what quality would that be?

[logybogy]

This is an example of the parcel I'm looking at. There are more than a dozen others for sale.

https://www.zillow.com/homes/for_sal...31_rect/15_zm/

[kurtzentmaier]

Interesting in reviving this thread. I have the same basic question. Understand the HOA is $4750 and CCD is $1900 and with taxes at $3000 to $4000 you are looking at $10,000 to $11,000 a year per lot in costs before your house is even built. But with houses staying on the market out 5 min before selling in FLA right now, just wondering if this might be something to consider ?

[night0wl]

Originally Posted by kurtzentmaier

Interesting in reviving this thread. I have the same basic question. Understand the HOA is $4750 and CCD is $1900 and with taxes at $3000 to $4000 you are looking at $10,000 to $11,000 a year per lot in costs before your house is even built. But with houses staying on the market out 5 min before selling in FLA right now, just wondering if this might be something to consider ?

Building brand new isn't going to be a cure-all. Builders are facing hugely increasing prices for materials and to some extent, labor right now. Prices for custom, new construction are going up and very fast. You could try and lock in prices in a contract, but what good will that be if your builder goes belly up 1/2-way through your build?

[Movingrightalong...]

Originally Posted by logybogy

I've looked online at a number of lots in Key Marco and they look beautiful. Secluded. Private. High up on 30 feet elevation so you are not wasting thousands of dollars each year on flood insurance. They also have a marina with a reserved spot for owners.

I'm a little concerned about mosquitos being you are literally in the middle of a nature preserve. Do they spray there?

It also seems very underdeveloped for the seemingly prime time real estate. Are there problems with the association or environmental permit issues?

I get that it is a bit out of the way for people that want to be close to naples or shopping but I don't care about those things. I want to be away from people and traffic!

They spray, but the bigger issue in that area I think would be the occasional fall winter fires in the everglades resulting in smoke and ash. I've never really understood the attraction of Key Marco given its price point. It seems to me that the best options on the island are on the north side along the Marco River west of the Jolly Bridge where larger vessels can get in, west in Hideaway Beach if you want a gated community specifically, or then beachfront from tigertail through residents beach if you want a condo.

As for marinas, I'm not sure what size of boat you are looking at but most every dock in the area that isn't on the Marco River is extremely restricted because of extensive shoaling.