Your Fort Myers, FL Real Estate Questions Answered

Fun, relaxation, and sun. Those three words might come to mind if you’re thinking about living in Fort Myers, FL. But before moving to Fort Myers, you’ll want an overview of what it’s like on the banks of the Caloosahatchee River. The neighborhoods, the golfing, the areas near Fort Myers all add up to a unique Gulf Coast community worth exploring for retirement or at any age. 

Ready to buy a South Florida home? Here’s what you need to know about Fort Myers real estate.

About Fort Myers, FL

Fort Myers is the county seat of Lee County in southwestern Florida, featuring a bustling population of over 86,000. And though it’s in one of the oldest settled areas of the United States, the city of Fort Myers dates to the post-Civil War era, when Captain Manuel A. Gonzalez sailed from the Florida Keys to found the community on the site of an old fort used in the Seminole and Civil Wars. It was incorporated in 1885, when it was the second-largest town on Florida’s Gulf Coast, behind Cedar Key. That same year, inventor Thomas Edison bought 13 acres for his winter retreat, which visitors can tour today.

These days, Fort Myers is the infrastructural hub of southwestern Florida, with many tourists visiting the area coming through the Southwest Florida International Airport on their way to the area’s golfing resorts and famous island beaches. Fort Myers is the community choice for people who love the chill coastal lifestyle and tropical climate of southwestern Florida but want a quick connection to almost anywhere in the world.

As a reminder, Hurricane Ian swept through the Gulf Coast in 2022, hitting the Fort Myers area head-on. A Category 4 at landfall, the devastating storm led to 161 fatalities and $113 billion in damage, with its near 14-foot storm surge and high winds. But the resilient community of Fort Myers is committed to rebuilding, a process that takes time. This matters as construction is ongoing in 2023, and you may see its impact in real estate either through many recently renovated homes, vacant lots, or waterfront new construction.

The good news is Fort Myers continues to show growth, and its hospitality industry is bouncing back.

What is the cost of living in Fort Myers, FL?

According to Sperling’s Best Places Index, the cost of living in Fort Myers is 3.1% lower than the national average, rated at 96.9 out of 100. The median income rates are $33,508 per capita as of 2021. 

Why is there a relatively low median income in such a comfortable community? It may be due to the large number of retirees who live in Fort Myers. About one out of every five residents is 65 or older. It’s an especially popular place for second homes thanks to a wide disparity in its comfort rating between sweltering summer (1.8) and breezy winter (9.3). 

Buying Fort Myers real estate

In August 2023, the median home price in Fort Myers was about $419,000, with over 3,500 listings. There’s currently a strong balance in selling prices, which means it’s not a particularly strong seller’s or buyer’s market. It’s in the just-right “Goldilocks zone,” as it currently stands in the summer of 2023.

Are there any condos or townhomes available in Fort Myers, FL?

As of August 2023, just over 1,000 condos were available in the Fort Myers real estate market. That’s a surprisingly high number given the city’s population (just over 80,000). You’ll notice new construction for condo and townhome properties, which signals builders recognize demand for these low-maintenance properties. Retirees, second homeowners, real estate investors, and young families new to the Fort Myers area are helping to drive that demand.

Condo and townhome prices ranged from $90,950 for a two-bedroom, two-bathroom foreclosure to $4.5 million for a luxury penthouse condo on Royal Harbor.

A few areas of town where you can find condos and townhomes are:

• Waterfront on the Caloosahatchee River along First Street 
• Colonial Oaks
• Serena Park
• Heritage Park
• Colonial Country Club
• Paseo

Are there any waterfront properties found in Fort Myers, FL?

Fort Myers developed on the Caloosahatchee River as it empties into the Gulf of Mexico, making a wide spread of waterfront property available. Riverfront communities like Edgewood and Rainbow Groves are popular, as plenty of homes are given direct access to the waterfront. 

But you don’t just have the highly developed waterfront. The region on both sides of I-75 is dotted with inland lakes, which adds to your waterfront real estate options and enhances the chances of catching bluegill.

Are there golf course communities in Fort Myers, FL? 

Oh, yes. Dozens of golf courses and country clubs dot the map around Fort Myers, FL, granting a wide range of access and golf course views across the community. 

Fort Myers Country Club and Whiskey Creek are near the riverfront, which doubles down on why they are popular neighborhoods. But you can travel inland and still find plenty of golfing communlable, including the Golfview Go, Racketballtball, Club and The Forest Country Club.

Crown Colony is a country club and 403-acre living community with beach access, condominiums, and carriage homes. Thanks to the well-maintained lakes and nature preserve, it has the feel of the original Fort Myers wilderness…except not so wild with today’s amenities nearby.

What is the property tax rate for Fort Myers, FL?

Fort Myers falls in Lee County, where the property taxes average about 1.04% of home value every year. That’s a little bit higher than the state average, given its status as one of the state’s highest median property tax rates. According to Tax-Rates.org, it’s ranked 364th of the 3,143 counties when looking at the median property taxes across the country.

Specifically, Fort Myers had a proposed tax rate of 6.799 and Lee County 3.7623 in 2023. Depending on your address, you may also have special taxing districts for water management, fire, or mosquito control.

But one thing to remember about Florida is that it doesn’t have a statewide income tax. This helps offset the higher property taxes, which is one reason so many retirees find it a favorable place to live.

What county is Fort Myers, FL, in?

Lee County is one of the key counties in southwest Florida thanks to its relatively high population, especially relative to the rest of the region. It boasted 760,822 residents in the 2020 census, and though the county seat is Fort Myers, the more heavily-populated Cape Coral is its largest city. 

Nearby Sanibel and Captiva are big-time vacation destinations that have been hurt by Hurricane Ian. But they’re being rapidly rebuilt and will likely have strong growth as people re-discover these jewels.

Because Lee County is home to the spring training locations of Major League Baseball teams (recently the Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins), it’s also a popular tourist destination for baseball enthusiasts.

Is Fort Myers, FL growing?

Yes, and at a reasonably high rate. Census data put Fort Myers’ population at 86,395 in 2020. That follows a growth trend dating back to Fort Myers’ founding. Census estimates show that Fort Myers’ population may have already gone up another 10,000 since that Census was taken in 2020. It’s a period of explosive growth for the southwest Florida town, which means that your best opportunity to move there might be right now.

What neighborhoods are in Fort Myers, FL?

Fort Myers is a smaller community as far as cities with airports go, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find all sorts of distinctive spots in the region. The Fort Myers real estate market has old Florida communities and lavish master-planned developments.

Award-winning Paseo, for example, is located in south Fort Myers and has quick access to Cape Coral. The meticulously master-planned neighborhood features a fishing pier, a village center with a movie theater and full-service Member Services, and dozens of social and fitness activities.

For the upscale home buyer, the gated Casa Del Lago features about 200 community homes. Besides being across from Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve, it has a clubhouse with a heated outdoor pool.

Cypress Lake is an unincorporated area near Fort Myers, with a private, member-owned golf club as a perk. In-community schools are convenient for families. 

Reflection Lakes is a large gated community of 800 homes, with recreation facilities for tennis and basketball plus a children’s playground, making it ideal for families and residents of all ages.

How is golf in Fort Myers, FL?

Golf around Fort Myers is extremely popular, with 43 golf courses in the area. You can throw a stone around Fort Myers and have a reasonably good chance of it landing on a golf course. Whether you get a hole-in-one is anyone’s guess.

Many of these country clubs are also tied to retirement communities, meaning if you expect to retire to Fort Myers and enjoy the golf, you’ll link up with other people with the same idea. For example, the Legends Golf and Country Club is a gated retirement community featuring exclusive golf access for over 1,000 residences alone. But you shouldn’t expect that these are the only types of golf courses in the area, either—you don’t have to drive far before you find the next golf course virtually “down the road.”

What areas are near Fort Myers, FL?

Fort Myers is across the river from Cape Coral, the most heavily populated area in Lee County. It’s not far from Fort Myers Beach on Estero Island, which is locals’ best access to the Gulf of Mexico. And you only have to travel down Highway 41 or I-75 to find another popular retirement spot in Naples, FL. 

For many of these communities, the airport at Fort Myers is the connecting hub, which means that if you move to Fort Myers, you have a convenient location if you have the travel bug for places like Sanibel and Captiva Islands on the Gulf Coast.

Nearby Estero Bay Aquatic Reserve promotes a healthy array of wildlife in the region, which isn’t far from Florida’s Everglades. Boat access isn’t hard to find in Fort Myers, with multiple marinas and public boat launches for motorized and paddle craft. 

What to know about living in Fort Myers, FL

Fort Myers has a convenient airport for people who want access to southwest Florida, but it’s much more than that too. This beautiful coastal community has great activities, like fishing and golf. Its wildlife and Gulffront scenery are typical to Florida’s southern climate. And while it can be a roaster in the summer, it’s one of the most comfortable places to be in the winter with zero need for a snow shovel.

And given how fast Fort Myers is growing, it’s possible home values may only go up. If you’re looking to live in Fort Myers, FL, contact a Fort Myers real estate agent to find the right neighborhood. 

Cape Coral, Naples, and other areas of Florida’s southern Gulf Coast are also worth checking out.