One of the most popular and sought after housing styles in Southwest Florida is a home with a separate cabana or guest suite for hosting the steady stream of cold weather winter visitors.  Most people associate a home featuring a separate guest suite with very expensive luxury real estate……but this is not the case at Bell Tower Park in Fort Myers.

Bell Tower Park courtyard homes offer a separate detached guest cabana featuring a bedroom, bath and breakfast kitchen.  The cabanas/guest quarters/mother-in-law suites are located in the courtyard on the opposite side of the pool from the main house and offer 286 sq. ft. of living space.  A visitor retreat detached from the main house softens the challenge of hosting even the most difficult out of town guests!

Bell Tower Park Courtyard homes are available in the following two floor plans:

Model	Main House	BR	BA	Den	Cabana
Ashford	1,746 SF	2	2	Y	286 SF
Berkshire	2,429 SF	3	3.5	N	286 SF

Bell Tower Park courtyard homes are in high demand and sell quickly when they come on the market.  Here is a resource to view active listings in the Bell Tower Park community.  Our team has sold several of these Bell Tower park homes and is here to assist with your search.

Ken Wilkinson, Lee County Florida Property Appraiser

The Godfather of Lee County real estate values, Property Appraiser Ken Wilkinson,  plays the straight man in this NBC-2 video about rising home prices in Lee County.  I am highly confident that Ken knows exactly how much prices have gone up…..but doesn’t want to preempt his annual day in the spotlight when he releases this years valuations.

Yes, real estate prices are on the rise in Southwest Florida…….although not by as much as the 2% – 3% per month that was cited in this video.  Last year home prices in Lee County rose by 13%, or just over 1% per month.  Here is a resource to find your new home in Lee County, Florida.

Fort Myers River District High-rise condos  continue to be one of the most active segments of our real estate market.  In 2011, 117 units sold in the six riverfront high-rise developments per data compiled from the Greater Fort Myers and the Beach MLS.

The highest priced unit sold was a 2,230 SF unit located on the 32nd floor of High Point Place which sold for $476,120 / $214 SF.  High Point Place is our pick for the top Fort Myers high-rise as it continues to lead the River District market in both quantity of transactions and selling price per square foot.  Buyers are attracted to the high-end finishes in High Point Place units and also welcome the urban amenities including a Publix that are available right outside the front door.

Here is a summary of Fort Myers River District condos sales activity for 2011:

At an average selling price of $120/SF, Fort Myers riverfront high-rise condos are still a great deal vs. similar condos that are available in other Florida markets.  Here is a resource to view Fort Myers River District real estate listings.  If you are interested in a Fort Myers riverfront high-rise condo, our team is available to provide low-pressure, information-rich assistance.

On average it cost just over $21,000 more to purchase a home in the Fort Myers area in 2011 than it did in 2009 with average selling prices increasing from $132,068 to $153,021.  This increase of 15.87% in the average selling price is among the highest in the nation for the 2009 – 2011 time period.

A key factor driving these home price increases was a significant drop-off in 2011 in the number of foreclosed homes hitting the market.  We are also seeing an increase in the percentage of end-user buyers vs. investors participating in the market as investors are finding it challenging to borrow to purchase real estate.

The increase in days on market can be most likely be attributed to the increased scrutiny buyers are experiencing in obtaining financing for their real estate purchases.  It is interesting to note that the average selling price to listing price ratio of 94% has remained virtually unchanged for three consecutive years.

In 2011, 18,634 residential properties sold in Lee County for a total of $2.8B in sales.  The average listing price was $163,541 and the average selling price was $153,021.  This represents an average selling price to listing price ratio of 94%.  This average selling to listing ratio of 94% remains unchanged from 2010 and 2009 in Lee County and is an excellent barometer for buyers to keep in mind when making an offer.

Anyone who tells you that banks are accepting offers at 50% of asking price is just not dealing in reality.  If you are interested in finding a discounted home in Southwest Florida, here is a resource to search for Southwest Florida Foreclosures.

TripAdvisor has named Fort Myers as the #3 Destination on the Rise in its most recent survey of travel destinations.  Fort Myers garnered the top ranking in Florida and only trailed Nashville and Austin on the national scale.

The TripAdvisor report cited deep-sea fishing, golf, beaches and the revitalized downtown River District as top draws.  Other attractions mentioned include the Edison and Ford Estates, Naples, Sanibel and Captiva.

Its great to see Fort Myers get national acclaim as a tourist destination.  I would add our weather, Red Sox and Twins spring training and a world-class airport as other tourist draws for the Fort Myers area.  If you are visiting and decide that you want to make make this your seasonal or permanent home, here is a resource to assist in purchasing Fort Myers real estate.

The Fort Myers-Cape Coral market was ranked 6th nationally for the increases in the median list price of homes in the October to November 2011 time period.  Median list prices increased 2.69 percent for the month and have increased a whopping 21.63 percent over the last 12 months.  The median list price for a home in our market is now $224,900.

If you are interested in exploring real estate options in the Fort Myers area market, here is a resource to search for Fort Myers real estate.

The most expensive home to sell in Lee County, Florida during November 2011 was a Fort Myers single-family home located in the prestigious Miromar Lakes community.  This 8,388 SF home is located at 10421 Via Lombardia Ct, Fort Myers, FL and features 5 BR / 8 BA.  The selling price was $3.7M / $464 SF, which was 74% of the asking price.

Congratulations to selling Anthony Turco of Prudential Florida Realty for closing this transaction.

Honorable mention for 2nd most expensive Lee County residential property sold in November 2011 was a single-family riverfront equestrian estate located in East Fort Myers.  This 4,273 SF home located at 14310 Bigelow Road, Fort Myers, FL features 3 BR / 5 BA and is sited on 9 acres.  The selling price was $2.1M/ $492 SF, which was 117% of the asking price.

Congratulations to selling Michael McMurray of VIP Realty Group for closing this transaction.

In November 2011 there were 10 residential transactions in Lee County with a selling price of $1M or greater, up from seven in October on par with 10 in September up from six in August.

Here is a resource if you are interested in learning more about Fort Myers luxury homes that are currently listed for sale.

Gulf Harbour is a master-planned, gated community located on historic McGregor Boulevard in Fort Myers, Florida.  Comprised of 18 distinct neighborhoods in a 547-acre waterfront setting, Gulf Harbour offers upscale living in a convenient location close to the beaches and Downtown Fort Myers.

Boaters, golfers and tennis enthusiasts can enjoy the world-class facilitates of this much-beloved community.  Gulf Harbour offers a wide range of housing options from the exclusive riverfront Edgewater neighborhood of single-family homes to luxury high rise condos at Palmas Del Sol and The Paramount to coach home enclaves…..there is an option for every lifestyle choice.

2011 has been a busy year for real estate within the gates of the Gulf Harbour community.  So far this year, 95 properties have changed hands at Gulf Harbour.  Prices range from a low of $77,500 for a 2 BR / 2 BA / 1,172 foreclosed condo in Rivers Edge to a high of $3.25M for a 5 BR / 6 BA / 7,256 SF riverfront home in Edgewater Estates.

Here is a resource to view active Gulf Harbour real estate listings.  Our team is very active in this community and can be helpful in narrowing and expediting your search for a new Gulf Harbour home.

One of the more popular purchase options this year for buyers in the Fort Myers area has been homes in newer golf communities.  Buyers are attracted to the pristine and up-to date courses, modern clubhouses and new construction or slightly used housing options.  These communities offer the opportunity to move right in and quickly get acclimated into a social structure that hasn’t stratified over many years.

Two local communities with significant activity this year are The Plantation and Verandah.  Both offer championship-caliber golf, upscale amenities and both new and re-sale housing options.

The Plantation

The Plantation is a newer upscale community which will have 1,100 homes at full build-out .  The community has two discreet neighborhoods: the golfing community of Somerset and the non-golfing enclave of Bridgetown.  Housing options at the Plantation include estate homes, single-family homes, carriage homes and villa homes.

An 18-hole Hurdzan-Fry championship course anchors the Somerset golfing community.  The course is complimented by a 38,000 sq. ft. clubhouse finished to resemble a British colonial manor house.  Within the clubhouse, Dartington’s offers a restaurant and bar for dining, socializing and relaxing.

The Plantation is located on Treeline Avenue off Daniels Parkway in Fort Myers.  This location is convenient to RSW Airport, shopping, dining and entertainment in Estero and  Downtown Fort Myers.

Year-to-date, 16 homes have sold in the Plantation community.  Selling prices have ranged from $132,000 for a 2 BR / 2 BA / 1,654 SF foreclosed villa  to $470,000 for a 4 BR / 4 BA / 3,193 SF home with a pool and water views.  Here is a resource to learn more about The Plantation and view active listings in this community.

Verandah

Verandah is an upscale master-planned country club community offering 36-holes of championship golf.  The community encompasses 1,456 acres along the Orange River in East Fort Myers and will feature approximately 1,700 homes at full build-out.  Verandah housing options include custom estate homes, single-family homes, detached villas and coach homes in 18 unique neighborhoods.

Verandah is a golfers paradise with a course designed by Bob Cupp and Jack Nicklaus and Jack Nicklaus II.  The Nicklaus designed course  was recently named one of the top five private course in the country by Golf Inc. Magazine.  Amenities at Verandah include a club house, waterfront restaurant, fitness center, tennis and riverfront boat house.

Verandah is located in East Fort Myers, two miles east of Interstate I-75 on State Route 80.

Year-to-date, 74 homes have sold in the Verandah community.  Selling prices have ranged from $74,900 for a 3 BR / 2.5 BA / 1,704 SF foreclosed coach home to $834,867 for a 4 BR / 3.5 BA / 3,654 SF riverfront estate home.  Here is a resource to learn more about Verandah and view active listings in this community.

Our region scored a 2.09 on the Trulia Index for a 5th place ranking nationally.  The Trulia data supports user trending on our popular Greater Fort Myers website which has had heavy traffic throughout 2011 including the typically slower summer months.  Visitors to our site are heavily dominated by the Midwest and Northeast regions.  After Florida, the top five states whose residents are visiting our website are: New York; Ohio; Illinois, Massachusetts and MIchigan.  No surprise that these are all cold weather states with blistery, snowy winters.

With several million baby-boomer generation Americans retiring each year, the ongoing interest in Southwest Florida is both predictable and understandable.  The strong draw to the Fort Myers region is driven by a number of factors including tropical weather, rock-bottom prices, Gulf beaches, year-round golfing and boating, spring training baseball and a modern international airport.

Wow, it sure feels good to type “Fort Myers” and “turn-around market” in the same sentence.  We are no longer the ugly-duckling, poster child for the housing bust……but rather one of the markets leading the nation’s real estate recovery.

Realtor.com ranked the Fort Myers-Cape Coral market third nationally in its October 2011 Turnaround Report.  A key driver in this ranking was that over the last year, median prices in the Fort Myers market have increase by nearly 33%.  A major factor contributing to the price increases is the significant slowdown in the number of foreclosed homes hitting the market.  Over the past couple of years, distressed listings have dominated the Fort Myers MLS.  This is no longer the case as regular listings are currently propelling the market.

The surge in market activity is being driven by baby-boomer and pre-retirement second homeowners.  Many are paying cash and looking towards Florida real estate as a means  to diversify their portfolio of assets.  International buyers are also a key driver with many Canadians and Europeans currently active in the market.

The most expensive home to sell in Lee County, Florida during October 2011 was a Fort Myers single-family home located on the prestigious waterfront community of Palmetto Point.  This 6,683 SF home is located at 4841 Conover Ct, Fort Myers, FL and features 5 BR / 5.5 BA.  The selling price was $3.1M / $464 SF, which was 78% of the asking price.

Congratulations to selling Realtor Melissa D. Farmer  of Christiano Realty for closing this transaction.

Honorable mention for 2nd most expensive Lee County residential property sold in October 2011 was a single-family gulf-front home located on Bonita Beach.  This 4,384 SF home located at 26444 Hickory Boulevard, Bonita Springs, FL features 5 BR / 5.5 BA.  The selling price was $2.55M/ $582 SF, which was 91% of the asking price.

Congratulations to selling Realtor Renee L. Moore of Keller Williams Elite Realty for closing this transaction.

In October 2011 there were seven residential transactions in Lee County with a selling price over $1M, down from 10 in September up from six in August and down from 13 in July.

Here is a resource if you are interested in learning more about Fort Myers luxury homes that are currently listed for sale.

Interested in a great buy on a place to call home in Fort Myers, but don’t want to deal with the trials and tribulations of purchasing a foreclosure or short sale?   The gated community of Bella Casa may be an option for you with brand new condos currently available for $79,999.

Bella Casa is a controlled-access, gated community of 200 condos in ten Mediterranean-style, mid-rise buildings.  Bella Casa is located off Plantation Road in the highly desirable Daniels Corridor area of Fort Myers.  Bella Casa amenities include a pool, clubhouse, fitness center, butterfly garden and tennis courts.

Currently, there are six Bella Casa units listed for sale including both new construction and resale options.  Here is a resource to view active Bella Casa real estate listings.  Our team is ready to assist if you would like additional information about Bella Casa or would like to tour the community.

With median list price increases of 34.56%, Realtor Magazine has named the Fort Myers-Cape Coral market as the top market nationally for real estate price increases for 12-month period ending September 2011.  Southwest Florida dominated the price increase list with Naples and Punta Gorda also in the top five.

Price increases have been driven by a number of factors including the rapid decline in the quantity of new foreclosure listings hitting the market. In the field we are seeing a significant number of clients who put off buying in the previous couple of years but are now jumping into the market with both feet.  The overwhelming majority of these buyers are purchasing a second home and a large percentage are cash buyers.

Clients are buying across all sectors with new construction being the most popular.  Many new communities are now building out the remaining homesites and it is currently possible to get a brand new home or condo at a price point competitive with a five or more year-old resale.

The News-Press reports that a developer is targeting a 57-acre parcel at the Forum in Fort Myers for a $1B gaming resort.  The project would include 1,500 hotel rooms, 300,000 SF of convention space and 400,000 SF of retail stores and restaurants.

A casino in Lee County would require a both the approval of the general public via a ballot question as well as from the state legislature.  An Atlanta-based consultant is in the process of collecting the approximately 24,000 signatures required to put this project on the November ballot.  It is estimated that 10,000 – 15,000 construction jobs would be created for the project.  The developer is proposing that a one percent tax be assessed on gaming revenue that would go to the general revenue fund of Lee County.

The Forum is a mixed-use development with retail office space and residential housing located at the intersection of I-75 and Colonial Boulevard in Fort Myers.  The project draws its name from the Los Angeles Lakers basketball stadium as then head coach Pat Riley was involved as an investor in the project.

While the issue of a gambling facility in Lee County is controversial, there is no doubt that this development wold be major game changer for the region.  Tabled infrastructure like the Colonial Boulevard elevated highway would probably get fast-tracked to provide access to the Forum for Cape Coral’s 150,000 residents.  The western end of Lehigh Acres would likely prove attractive for the gaming resort’s workforce.  Developments in close proximity to the Forum area like Colonial Country Club, Pelican Preserve and the entire Treeline Corridor would become a must-have location.

Today, the residential component of the Forum development includes the gated townhouse community of the Colonnade at the Forum and the single-family community of the Promenade at the Forum.

The cosmopolitan design and finishes of the Oasis are truly attracting global buyer interest.   In 2011, Oasis buyers have come from six international countries including Austria, Bolivia, Canada, China, Singapore and Switzerland.

The Oasis development has a total of 440 units which range in size from 779 Sq. Ft. to 1,674 Sq. Ft.  Finishes are high-end and include Italian cabinetry, stainless appliances, granite, glass railing balconies and floor-ceiling windows.  Development amenities include riverfront swimming pools, fitness center, long, billiards room and sauna.

Year-to-date in 2011, 35 units at Oasis have been sold per the Lee County Property Appraiser records.  The prices ranges from $145,000 – $285,000 with an average selling price of $165 Sq. Ft.  Here is a chart detailing 35 sales during 2011 YTD at the Oasis:

Oasis YTD 2011 Sales

Here is a resource to view active Oasis real estate listings.  Our team has sold several condos at the Oasis and is available to assist if you are interested in making an investment in this or other Fort Myers high-rise developments.

This has been a busy year for High Point Place with 25 high-rise units selling in 2011.  With a total of 255 tower condos, just under 10% of High Points 255 tower units have changed owners.  The low sale of $252,000 was for a bank-owned unit on the 18th floor and the high sale of $476,120 was for a new developer-owned unit on the 32nd floor.

The average selling price per Sq. Ft. at High Point Place in 2011 in $156.  Here is a chart which details the 25 tower transactions at High Point Place:

2011 ytd High Point Place tower sales

Here is a resource to view active High Point Place real estate listings.  Our team has sold many condos at High Point Place and is available to assist if you are interested in looking at options in this development.

There are many homes and condos on the market in the Fort Myers area that were originally constructed with Chinese drywall, but are now being marketed as “fully remediated.”  Many buyers are intrigued, but struggling to move forward with these properties.  Buyers looking at these homes are asking:

What should I be concerned about in buying a home that was originally constructed with Chinese drywall?

There are two main factors to evaluate when considering the purchase of a home that was originally constructed with Chinese drywall, but has been repaired:

1. Is it safe?
2. Will future value be impacted?

With proper testing, the safety of the home can be validated, so data is available to get comfortable with this issue.

It is harder to understand what the future economic impact will be on a home that previously had Chinese drywall. In 10 years, will buyers look for a discount on these homes the way they do for a home on a busy street or next to a business? Most experts believe that you make your money in real estate at the time of purchase, so the discount due to previously having Chinese drywall would need to be enough to outweigh any future discounts that would need to be given when it comes time to sell the home.

UPI reports that seven of the top ten markets with real estate price increases this year are in Florida.  Median prices in the Fort Myers market for August where up a whopping 33% over August 2010.

A key driver leading to median price increases is the dramatic reduction in the inventory of homes listed for sale in the Fort Myers market.  Inventory levels are down 41% over the past year, mainly attributed to the decrease in bank-owned foreclosures coming on the market.

If you are considering a second home in the Fort Myers area, there still are opportunities to participate while prices are near the bottom.  Here is a resource which offers all the inventory of active Southwest Florida foreclosures categorized by both geography as well as lifestyle options.

The most expensive home to sell in Lee County, Florida during August 2011 was a Fort Myers riverfront estate home located within Gulf Harbour.  This 7,256 SF home is located at 11350 Longwater Chase Court, Fort Myers, FL and features 5 BR / 6 BA.  The selling price was $3.25M / $448 SF, which was 81% of the asking price.

Congratulations to selling Realtor Gary F McNear of McNear Real Estate for closing this transaction.

Honorable mention for 2nd most expensive Lee County residential property sold in August 2011 was a single-family waterfront home located within Captiva’s Tween Waters neighborhood.  This 3,500 SF home located at 15557 Captiva Drive, Captiva, FL features 4 BR / 4.5 BA.  The selling price was $2.1M/ $600 SF, which was 70% of the asking price.

Congratulations to selling Realtor Phaidra A. McDermott of John R. Wood Island Real Estate for closing this transaction.

In August 2011 there were six residential transactions in Lee County with a selling price over $1M, down from 13 in July, 22 in June and 16 in May.

Here is a resource if you are interested in learning more about Fort Myers luxury homes that are currently listed for sale.

Inman News reports that the Fort Myers market was ranked 9th nationally for the largest drop in housing values over the last 5 years.  Our market experienced a 56% loss in value from $289,671 in 2006 to $125,575 in 2001.

This significant valuation drop has opened the door for many new buyers to enter the Fort Myers market.  The activity levels this summer have been higher than any other summer in recent memory.  Buyers who have watched the Fort Myers market for the past couple of years are feeling that this may be the last chance to get a really well-priced home or condo down here before pricing increases.

The market in Fort Myers has been heavily influenced by distressed sales including short sales and foreclosures.  These distressed transactions are the ballast that continues to drag values across the entire market downward.  We are starting to see inventory shortages particularly at the lower end of the market which is causing prices to creep upward.

If you have thought about a second home in Southwest Florida, this fall is an outstanding time to take another look.

Its fascinating to imagine the Fort Myers that Thomas Edison, Henry Ford and Harvey Firestone experienced back in the early 1900s.  No RSW, I-75 or air conditioning.  There was no Daniels Boulevard, Gulf Harbour, Sanibel Bridge or Estero.  Cape Coral was known as Redfish Point, uninhabited and dominated by stands of mangroves.  What did exist 100 years ago was iconic Mcgregor Boulevard, where both Edison and Ford elected to build their Fort Myers getaways.

With the wide Caloosahatchee River as a backdrop, McGregor Boulevard runs from Cleveland Avenue in the north to the Sanibel Causeway in the South.  Passing through historic Old Fort Myers, McGregor Boulevard is lined with majestic royal palms and stately riverfront homes.  McGregor traverses several of Fort Myers’ early neighborhoods including Allen Park; Burtwood; Edison Park; Riverside Park; Seminole Park and Valencia Terrace.   Many of the Mediterranean revival homes in these venerable neighborhoods have been meticulously restored to their early 20th-century grandeur by their owners.

With many Americans now favoring urban walkable neighborhoods over distant exurbs, the McGregor Boulevard corridor is an area in Fort Myers that supports this lifestyle.  Restaurants, parks, museums and Downtown entertainment venues and office buildings are walkable from McGregor Boulevard.

Housing options along McGregor Boulevard are available in a wide range of architectural styles and price ranges.  Several riverfront estates are currently available including 2474 McGregor Boulevard, which is located four houses away from the Edison Estate and features 4 BR / 5.5 BA and 5,572 SF of living space.  The negative edge pool and waterfall at this home was constructed by the contractor who built the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction at Disneyworld.

Here is a resource to view available McGregor Boulevard real estate listings.

The unfinished South Fort Myers gated community of Banyan Bay is being completed by national Builder D R Horton.  About 25 homes were built at Banyan Bay by Ryland Homes before they exited the Fort Myers market.  The communities infrastructure including utilities, pool and gate are in place.

Banyan Bay features three lakes and new construction lakeside homesites are currently available.  New construction prices start in the low $200,000s for homes that are about 1,800 SF.

Banyan Bay is located in South Fort Myers off Winkler Road.  Here is a resource to view active Banyan Bay real estate listings

While foreclosures and short sales still dominate the Southwest Florida real estate headlines, new construction in exciting subdivisions continue to gain momentum in the market.  Many buyers, particularly remotely located second home owners, want a new turnkey move-in-ready solution.

While builders are finding it challenging to borrow to fund new subdivisions, they are seeing significant success building new homes on vacant lots in existing subdivisions.  Buyers with short windows to find a home during a visit to Southwest Florida are usually wowed with the new home offerings vs. what is available in the distressed listings.

Last week’s Lee Building Industry Association Market Trends 2011 Symposium provided an opportunity to review and rejoice in the rebirth of our residential construction market. There is a significant amount of activity across many communities, here are the top five subdivisions in Lee County measured by single-family permits in the year ending June 30, 2011:

• The Plantation 114
• Sandoval 104
• Village Walk 97
• Bella Terra 86
• Botanica Lakes 85

Source: Land Solutions

Our team is available to work with buyers at all the communities with new construction in Lee County.  We have previewed all the available options and can expedite your search by aligning your housing needs with the most appropriate available offerings.

Estero Preserve is Taylor Morrison’s newest Southwest Florida community.  This South Fort Myers development features thirty single-family homes off Pine Road just south of Shadow Wood Preserve.  The location allows convenient access south to Estero and Naples as well as north to Fort Myers.

Estero Preserve homes are single-story and range in size from 1,473 SF to  2,030 SF.  There are two and three bedroom options, all with two baths and a two car garage.  Finishes include tile roofs, stainless GE appliances, granite counters, maple cabinetry and over-sized ceramic tile flooring.

Currently, three homes at Estero Preserve are listed for sale with prices starting in the $160,000s.  Here is a resource to view active Estero Preserve real estate listings.  Our team is available to provide guidance on purchasing a new construction home at Estero Preserve and other communities in the Fort Myers area.

14551 Dolce Vista Road - lake views - listed for $164,900

Lucaya offers the ambiance and atmosphere of a Caribbean resort in the heart of Fort Myers along McGregor Boulevard.  Escape to your tropical vacation home every time you pass through the gates of this unique community.  A pastel palette of colors, vibrant tropical landscaping and over 50-acres of protected terrain enhance the resort vibe at Lucaya.

Lucaya’s beach club with its resort-style pool and sandy beach is the perfect spot to soak up some rays and enjoy a pina colada or your favorite tropical drink. Other community amenities include a fitness center, clubhouse with gathering rooms and peaceful walking paths.  Just outside the community gates, the magical and historic Mcgregor Boulevard is waiting to be explored by Lucaya residents and their visitors.

Lucaya has three distinct neighborhoods offering garden condos and carriage home configurations.  Homes are available with views of the lake or protected natural preserves.  Currently, there are 11 homes available for sale at Lucaya with prices starting in the $120,000s.  Here is a resource to view the active Lucaya real estate listings.  Our team has worked extensively in the Lucaya community and is available to help serve as your guide in evaluating a purchase at Lucaya.

The team here at Greater Fort Myers Real Estate is quite fond of the Gateway Community and we always enjoy sharing our enthusiasm with new clients.  Here are a few of the reasons why we like Gateway:

1. Bike or jog on the 15 miles of Gateway recreation trails
2. Work for world-class companies including Gartner Group, Sony Electronics, Comcast and VR Laboratories
3. Send the kids to the Gateway Charter School for a quality education
4. Drive to RSW International Airport in five minutes
5. Golf on the Tom Fazio designed championship course
6. Walk to a Red Sox spring training game at the adjacent JetBlue Park
7. Enjoy desert from Norman Love Confections or Oly’s Ice Cream
8. Take Fido to the Gateway Dog Park
9. Cool off at the Gateway Commons Pool
10. Have a picnic or celebrate a birthday at the Gateway Fun Park

Real estate options at Gateway are robust and the community has a home or condo for just about any lifestyle or family.  Here is a resource to learn more about Gateway’s communities and view Gateway real estate listings.  Our team is available to provide a low-pressure, information-rich tour of available real estate in this dynamic community.

Completely updated two bedroom condo in a very active Fort Myers 55+ community.  Updated kitchen, baths and fresh paint are waiting for the new owner of this sparkling condo.  Enjoy relaxing views of the lake and fountain from your enclosed upper-level lanai in this corner unit condo.  This unit located at 6818 Sandtrap Drive in Fort Myers is listed for $77,500.

The Myerlee Gardens Condominium community offers a robust roster of amenities and plenty of activities to keep you as busy as you want to be.  Swim in the community pool….workout in the exercise room…..relax in the spa…….play tennis or even shuffleboard.  Residents of Myerlee Gardens enjoy low monthly condo fees of just $200.  Myerlee’s Arthur Hills designed executive golf course offers residents an affordable membership option to hit the links.

The Myerlee Gardens location is close to RSW airport, grocery shopping, restaurants, theatre and several wonderful beaches including Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel and Captiva.  Here is a resource to view active listings at Myerlee Gardens.  Call Debbie Courte with Sandals Realty at 239-940-7180 to learn more about this friendly and inviting community.

Capital improvements including a new entryway, course upgrade and clubhouse remodel are in the works or completed at the Forest Country Club in Fort Myers.  Originally developed in 1979, The Forest is one of the oldest clubs in the Fort Myers area.  It features ten distinct neighborhoods with mature landscaping not found at newer clubs.

This gated community offers 36-holes of championship golf and an extensive roster of other amenities.   Second homeowners, which make up approximately 70% of the community, appreciate the fact that optional memberships are available for golf, tennis, fitness and social.  This membership flexibility make the club very popular with snowbirds.

Located in South Fort Myers of US-41 between Gladiolus Drive and Alico Road, the Forest features single-family homes, villas  and condos in a spacious 650-acre setting.  Owners enjoy the scenic landscaping, mature fauna and 24-hour manned gatehouse.

If you are interested in exploring ownership options at this community, here is a resource for viewing active Forest Country Club real estate listings.