Your Lehigh Acres, FL Real Estate Questions Answered

You don’t become one of the fastest-growing communities in America without good reason. Welcome to Lehigh Acres, FL, a unique area near Fort Myers. This sunny, subtropical region of southwest Florida offers plenty of outdoor activities. Lehigh Acres’ location near where the Caloosahatchee River flows into the Gulf of Mexico makes it a favorite for people looking to retire near the Gulf Coast. But it also has one advantage: avoiding the higher costs of coastal living.

Are you considering making this your hometown? Here’s what you’ll need to know about buying Lehigh Acres real estate.

About Lehigh Acres, FL

Lehigh Acres isn’t like other towns. Sure, it’s got the single-family homes and country clubs typical to these southwest Florida communities. But it’s technically an unincorporated area and special services district. There’s been a recent petition to incorporate the community, letting the citizens put tax dollars toward community improvements.

The area served as a cattle ranch in the middle of the 20th century, which helps explain why so much of the sprawling land was mostly untouched by real estate developers. 

Before the housing bubble burst in 2007, Lehigh Acres was a hive of condo and real estate developments. And though that bubble popped in the Great Recession, growth in Lehigh Acres has barely slowed. Its population during the 2010s still experienced 55.9% growth.

What is the cost of living in Lehigh Acres, FL?

Just east of Fort Myers, Lehigh Acres is part of the greater Fort Myers-Cape Coral metropolitan area. According to MIT’s Living Wage Index, a family with three children would need both parents working at $29.48/hour to produce a living wage. One adult with no children would need $17.42. 

 For people who want the Florida experience (like warm winters) but want to save some money, moving more inland from the coast can yield some bargains. Best Places rates this cost of living about 1.3% below the national average. This is a relatively low cost of living for all the golfing and shopping in the region, especially for people considering retirement communities.

What is the average price of a home in Lehigh Acres, FL?

According to the Royal Palm Coast Realtors Association, the median home price in Lehigh Acres was $344,999 in July 2023. That’s significantly lower than nearby Fort Myers, with its median home price of $490,000. 

The market at that time had over 783 existing home listings for a 3.7-month supply of inventory and a 5.1-month supply if you factor in vacant land ripe for your custom home. That could signal Lehigh Acres real estate could be great for home buyers to find a deal.

Given that Lehigh Acres is just down I-82 from Fort Myers, it could be a great place for retirees to consider planting their flag to experience the same exact climate and many of the same amenities. 

Are there any condos or townhomes available in Lehigh Acres, FL? 

Though a quick search will yield far more single-family residences than condos or townhomes in Lehigh Acres, there are still options for people who don’t want to purchase a full house. These range from older, established, side-by-side condos to new constructions and apartment communities.

July 2023 had 38 condos or townhomes listed for a 4.7-month supply of inventory. Notably, this is typically a slower time of year when inventory is lower. The median sales price at that time was $167,500. 

If you search for condos or townhomes exclusively, you’ll tend to find them in the center of Lehigh Acres, near Veterans Park. For instance, Ibis Landing Golf & Country Club is a luxury golf property and planned community that includes new townhomes and condos. 

Are there any waterfront properties found in Lehigh Acres, FL?

Since Lehigh Acres is inland, so coastal and river access is somewhat limited. The Hickey Creek Wildlife and Environmental Area to the north separates the community from the Caloosahatchee River, which runs between Fort Myers and Cape Coral. 

However, that isn’t to say there are no waterfront homes in Lehigh Acres real estate. The area is known for lakes, ponds, and canals. But if you want a waterfront home because you want a place to launch your boat, you’re more likely to find that elsewhere. 

Are there golf course communities in Lehigh Acres, FL? 

Though there aren’t as many golf course communities in Lehigh Acres as nearby Fort Myers, there are still a few golf clubs worth checking out! The Club at Westminster is a semi-private 18-hole course with golf lessons available for those who are casually interested in playing. It’s open to the public year-round. 

Move east, and you’ll find the Majestic Golf Club, which is replete with all sorts of social activities on the club site. Buffet dinners, entertainment, and a scenic golf course add to the recreation available in the Lehigh Acres area. 

If you’re looking exclusively for golf course communities, the Ibis Landing Golf & Country Club has several new construction homes scheduled to become available soon. Its development highlights that Lehigh Acres is still a growing area. This means you’re looking at potential golf course community bargains relative to other golf course communities in the Fort Myers region.

What is the property tax rate for Lehigh Acres, FL?

Since Lehigh Acres, FL, belongs to Lee County, you might expect a property tax rate of approximately 1.03%, according to the Florida Property Tax Calculator. This would create a property tax bill of $5,150 annually on a home assessed at $500,000. 

Specifically, the proposed 2023 millage rate for unincorporated Lee County was 3.7623. That does not include a 5.4 combined school board levy or the special districts for water management, fire, and mosquito control. Those will depend on your address.

Combine that with Florida’s lack of income tax, and you’ll see that it’s one of the more affordable areas to live in, even if you’re not considering it as a retirement home. 

What county is Lehigh Acres, FL, in?

The aforementioned Lee County is one of the more prominent counties in southwest Florida. The county features areas like Cape Coral (the largest-populated city, with nearly 200,000 residents) and Fort Myers (not as highly populated, but the Lee County seat). 

The whole area is known for its fantastic Gulf Coast access, warm weather, and being the spring home of some baseball clubs. For example, the Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins have made the area their spring home when the weather is warm and mild and ideal for returning to the “swing” of things.

Is Lehigh Acres, FL, growing?

Lehigh Acres is growing at an enormous clip, similar to the growth seen at nearby Fort Myers.

US Census data shows the population at 135,272 as of 2020, up over 50% from the 2010 count of nearly 87,000. This has put its population between the large communities of Fort Myers and Cape Coral nearby. 

About a decade ago, WalletHub listed Lehigh Acres as the fastest-growing community among the 516 it compared. Though the growth has cooled from 2014-2023, according to the Census data, those are only in relative terms. Lehigh Acres is still showing stellar growth from 2010-2020. That trend may only be headed up, not down, amid talks to incorporate.

What neighborhoods are in Lehigh Acres, FL?

Since Lehigh Acres isn’t a traditionally incorporated city, you might not expect to see traditionally defined neighborhoods. It’s more of a large living district, with homes spread throughout planned communities. However, some spots are worth pointing out for anyone who wants to better understand what it’s like living in Lehigh Acres, FL.

Take Homestead Road through the Veterans Park area near the center of the community, and you’ll find many of the shops and amenities you might expect. This area is also rife with many of the canals for which Lehigh Acres is famous. Don’t worry, you won’t miss them. There are 311 miles of canals throughout Lehigh Acres.

North of that, you’ll see the sprawl of the Lehigh Acres community: well-organized developments running from the Lehigh Resort Club up to the Frank Mann Preserve.

How is golf in Lehigh Acres, FL?

There are four golf courses inside the borders of Lehigh Acres, FL. That only shows how popular it is in the area because you’ll find even more in nearby communities like Fort Myers. Cross into Fort Myers, and you’ll find dozens of golf courses and clubs. Clubs like the Majestic Golf Club, the Club at Westminster, and the burgeoning new community of Ibis Landing Golf & Country Club make their home in Lehigh Acres.

What areas are near Lehigh Acres, FL?

To Lehigh Acres’ east, plenty of preserved land and wildlife is highlighted in the Okaloacoochee Slough State Forest. To the west is Fort Myers, on the opposite side of the Caloosahatchee River from Cape Coral, the largest city in the county. 

To Lehigh Acres’ southwest, there’s a coastal area with Estero Island, Sanibel Island, and the Estero Bay Aquatic Reserve. Depending on where you’re starting from and where you are going, it’s less than an hour’s drive from Lehigh Acres down to the coast. Sometimes, it may only take you a little over half an hour.

The Harns Marsh, just northwest of the community, is a nature preserve that keeps much of the area’s wildlife. It’s a great gateway from the modern amenities of some of Lehigh Acres’ more recent developments and the nature of Florida. Designed as a storm control center, it attracts a lot of natural wildlife, which is why some residents explore the area for birdwatching.

What to know about living in Lehigh Acres, FL

Living in Lehigh Acres, FL, isn’t quite like living in other communities. You can think of it as a transition community between the bustle of Fort Myers and Cape Coral and the unspoiled preserves of Florida’s interior. With housing prices far below what you can expect in Fort Myers, there’s less coastal access but plenty to love. But there’s also plenty of nature to see, a bevy of canals and wildlife, and the same southwestern Florida climate so many people love.

If you’re looking at Lehigh Acres real estate, contact a local real estate professional to find the right neighborhood for you.