Civil war breaks out in stunning coastal enclave amid invasion of superrich: ‘They found us’

A stunning tropical paradise has descended into civil war as superrich out of towners launch a mass invasion that is dramatically changing the area.

Towns along Florida’s western shores – known as the ‘Forgotten Coast’ – have seen buyers flocking in droves as the east sees a spiraling condo collapse.

Buyers from Miami and Palm Beach are moving en masse to cities such as St Pete and Naples to invest their millions in properties more suited to the current market.

The Sunshine State’s hidden gem is drawing in the wealthy for its peaceful vibes, pristine shores and lack of crowds.

The Gulf tends to also have less expensive HOA and insurance fees as they are less hard hit by natural disasters.

It comes at a time when the property climate in places such as Miami and Palm Beach look set to implode amid a flood of condos for sale – with some as cheap as $10,000.

But it has forced a huge change for those who already live there, with dozens of new developments, restaurants and art scenes springing up – leaving them furious.

The entire Gulf Coast, which includes the Forgotten Coast along with Naples, is seeing an influx of new residents

Local realtor Kara Landiss, who sells along the forgotten coast, told the Daily Mail the people moving there are looking to escape the ‘hustle and bustle’ of the bigger cities.

She continued: ‘You make your own fun here, you can go to the beach and just chill. The area has definitely been discovered – they found us.

‘It’s called the forgotten coast because we’re in a very rural area. Our biggest grocery store in the area is the Piggly Wiggly.’

Landiss said there are no high buildings and that zoning laws are so strict there is a 42ft height restriction from the ground to the roof on all buildings.

‘We don’t have any high rises and we’re trying to keep it that way,’ she said. Keeping things small also keeps the area in its natural state, she added. ‘Our ecosystem is very important to us here.’

Gulf Coast resident Mikayla Bentolila, who works with developers in the area, told the Daily Mail: ‘It’s a shift we’re seeing more frequently, especially among high-net worth individuals who want the same luxury waterfront lifestyle, minus the congestion, along with more space, privacy and a refined, walkable cultural scene.

‘Downtown St Pete and Naples’ 5th Avenue are increasingly more and more walkable, cultural and design-forward with new restaurants, art scenes and boutique retail catering to a more refined pace.

‘Buyers are leaving the East Coast, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach, for the Gulf Coast, particularly Naples, Tampa and St Petersburg.’

Bentolila added that developers are taking note, with Naples now home to one of the biggest real estate booms in the state. Tampa is also undergoing a residential influx.

The area is very laid back and there are no high rises to be found

The state’s hidden gem is drawing people for its peaceful vibes and pristine shores

Gulf County ranked second in the US for vacation home hotspots in 2024

Much of the Forgotten Coast is nestled along the Gulf of Mexico in Florida’s Panhandle and encompasses Gulf and Franklin counties. The area is lined with unspoiled beaches and devoid of strip malls.

Local realtor Kara Landiss, pictured

According to real estate firm Pacaso, Gulf County ranked second in the US for vacation home hotspots in 2024.

It also spans parts of Wakulla counties, including St George Island, Apalachicola, Carrabelle, Alligator Point and Eastpoint.

The area is also a refuge from the increasingly severe storms and hurricanes, rising insurance costs and the business of the East Coast.

It tends to have lower insurance premiums, lower HOA fees and less congested towns. 

Life also revolves around the water in a more affordable way than along the East Coast.

Residents and visitors spend their days fishing, scalloping, kayaking or taking scenic tours to spot dolphins, sea turtles and bald eagles. 

The area is lined with unspoiled beaches and is devoid of high rises and strip malls

Locally owned shops lack high-end boutiques and are made instead for lazy strolls and beachside lunches

At night, the stars are unspoiled by light pollution that typically comes from high-rise buildings.

The Gulf also has a deep history, from Native American settlements and Spanish colonization to the rise of the seafood industry. It’s a seafood lover’s paradise in this western part of Florida, and the area is known for the local Apalachicola oysters cultivated in the nutrient-rich waters of Apalachee Bay. 

The Gulf also specializes in grouper and red snapper, and the region’s raw bars and dockside seafood joints are legendary. Half Shell Dockside, Up the Creek Raw Bar and Indian Pass Raw Bar serve fresh seafood pulled straight from local waters, often by the person who will be cooking or eating it. 

The Forgotten Coast doesn’t flaunt wealth. Its historic town centers lack high-end boutiques and are made up instead of locally owned shops and trails for lazy strolls and beachside lunches.

The region is the last remaining stretch of pristine beaches – untouched by the buildings that have overrun other areas such as Miami. 

Further down the coast, Naples, once known as a sleepy fishing town for snowbird retirees, has also become one of the nation’s most sought after enclaves.

People even refer to it as the new Palm Beach. There are white sand beaches with waters filled with manatees and dolphins.

There are plenty of elegant boutiques to spend money in lining downtown’s Fifth Avenue

Naples luxury estate realtor Angela Lutzi Dellatorè (pictured) explains why the city draws the rich

With no state income tax and an old-world charm to its downtown streets, Naples realtor Angela Lutzi Dellatorè says it’s desirable but ‘also very under the radar.’  

Naples offers everything from affordable condos to grand estate homes with expansive outdoor living spaces.

Most communities are gated and offer exclusive access to pools and gyms, and offer residents privacy and security.

Meanwhile, on the Atlantic side of Florida, homeowners are trying to sell amid the condo crisis and fears of a housing collapse. 

Miami-Dade’s market in particular is faltering, according to a report by the county property appraiser’s office, with values of older condos dropping from the start of 2024.

Miami Shores saw condo values plunge 6.6 percent and in Coral Gables, condo values dropped five percent.

Condo values in North Miami, meanwhile fell 3.4 percent, and South Miami saw a 1.9 percent dip.

Still, sellers have flooded the market with home listings as they desperately try to escape, and many will be forced to sell at a loss.