The important things to consider about HOA fees is that they usually include some utilities: Water/Sewer, Trash, sometimes shared amenities like gym, clubhouse, pool, and they are saving you the time and headache for property maintenance: lawn care, tree timing, roof, siding, etc.

Pretty,  as others have stated here, the permitting process through the City of Cape Coral has been hindered by their ability to scale up their staff to handle the massive demands for all permitting including new construction but also anything else that requires a permit, home improvements, sea walls, alternative sea walls, pools and more.From your post, I can see that you are frustrated, and I believe some of that is due to not understanding the steps and processes of new construction, including what must be done prior to submitting permits.

Many investors have had to get creative by emphasizing other property perks, like pools, proximity to local attractions, or unique experiences, to offset any beach access challenges. 

My wife and I are also moving overseas when we retire and will add our home to the rental pool. 

Since you're so close to Loyola and not too far from Northwestern, I imagine you might have a pool of people who need temporary furnished housing while they study, do a medical rotation, or travel in the medical industry.

Your deal analysis/price, your marketing, or your buyer pool are likely culprits. 

Water is now leaking through the ceiling into my tenant's unit, and it's worsening with every rain also the neighboring unit has sever water damage (like a pool inside and it is owned by the HoA) and water from it leaking very dirty water from the shared wall to mine.

. ==== Projected Income ====**Off Season**-$4,000/Month Rent Period: September - May (7 Months) Projected Income: $28,000**Summer 1**-$8,000/Week Rent Period: June (4 Weeks)Projected Income: $32,000**Summer 2**-$8,500/WeekRent Period: July-September (12 Weeks) Projected Income: $102,000**Optional** (Basement Apartment)-$2,000/Month -Rent Period: Year Round Projected Income: $24,000TOTAL PROJECTED INCOME: $186,000 ==== Operating Cost ====-Mortgage: $84,000 ($7,000/Month) -Utilities: $36,200Gas $6,000 ($500/Month) Electricity $6,000 ($500/Month) Internet $2,400 ($200/Month) Garbage $5,000 (Estimate) Pool $4,000 ($250/Week)Landscaping: $4,000 -Mowing: $2,400 ($150/Week)  -Clean Ups: $1,600 (Spring & Fall)-Weekly Turnovers: $8,800 ($550/Week)==== Legal Cost ====Summer Rental Fee: $20,100 (15% of $134K)Sandwich Rental Tax: $6,855 (15% of $45,700) NET PROFFIT: $38,845.00

Land leases often complicate financing, limiting your buyer pool, especially if lease terms are unfavorable or the remaining lease duration is short.

Those effected go well beyond the property owners, the economic contribution of RE and subsequent economic loss in the form of: management, maintenance, landscaping, caretaking, hospitality, tourism, contracting, designing, pools and gardening is economically catastrophic and will reverberate well beyond specific zip codes.