Is cape coral a flood area? Theres so many canals and it looks like the elevation is really low. Im only up about 20ft here in mastic beach but its enough when hurricanes come.

Cape coral area does look like a big high performance boating area! The layout looks awesome. How calm does the gulf get?.. I know any area can become rough

The norm for the GOM is 2-3, which is nothing, it's actually calmer than LOTO on a Summer Saturday, that being said, it's like any ocean it can get rough out occasionally, we watch the news to get the weather report the day before we go out, they give a boating report every night with the wind and seas.
As far as the flood plain, the houses are like any other next to a ocean, there's some of them in the low areas that you should be concerned about and some that are OK, you've just have to know what and where to look for and a good relator should be able to help you with that, it's the best decision we've ever made buying and moving down here, good luck with your search.

Thanks for all the info!!

I'm on a canal in the cape and have enough elevation that flood insurance was not required for my mortgage. Neighbor across the canal has been there 25 yrs and even I'm Charlie he said he didn't flood.

Good point Mike, a few of my neighbors have been here for over years too and none have seen the water from the canals in their pools or houses, the only damage around us from Charley (it was a cat 4 with 150mph winds in 2005) was the one neighbor across the canal lost his cage, I heard a few roofs were lost, but nothing major.

Clearwater &Tampa are nice have been looking myself and the Gulf does not get as rough as the Atlantic?Have not checked out Cape Coral I will now

I have a home in the lower yacht club area of the cape. The area is great and plenty of destinations and things to do. In the lower cape the elevations are about 5 to 6 ft ASL. the further north you go in the cape the higher the elevation of the properties. I did require flood insurance, but I think most areas here do. It's a wonderful place, simple, friendly, and a great boating area. As for hurricanes !!! There is talk around the area from the locals that it is pretty protected. Word has it that one hurricane actually drew all the water out of the canals and actually emptied the river. Apparently you could walk across the Caloosahatchee river. Sounds crazy but heard from more then one. I'll take that any day.

I lived on Lake Murray in SC for 28 years and loved it! I moved to Brickell Key (Miami) and truly love this place. Sitting on my balcony tonight I watched a big cat running across the bay at high speed and a 50 foot Cig idling bye. As far as hot SC is much hotter than Miami in the summer.
Good Luck!

How about the Charleston sc area??? My biggest issue is the Mrs. With her Multiple Sclerosis sometimes the heat can't make her goofy and the cold makes her feel like she has althritis? Can't win for loosing. But she prefers warmer weather the most. So we were thinking SC and I can boat. Few more months longer then in MD.

I just yelled to the wife about this post!^^^^^^ and she said well see we need to go there! Plus the orioles train there and we can still see them! It's a win win! Yes yes I know the O's stink sometimes or well all the time but it's our home team!

Yeah, but it gets cold there. It is still cold 3-4 months of the year. Go furthur south.