Fort Myers

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Home Sweet Home

The housing market is serviced by five Boards/Associations of Realtors.

According to the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors, Island lovers can select from a wide range of property prices and styles listed with the Sanibel and Captiva Islands Association of Realtors Multiple Listing Service. The offerings start with near-beach condominiums, small homes in tropical settings and a limited selection of home sites. Higher priced properties are available in two of the tree 18-hole golf course communities. Homes in this category are also found in several near-beach single-family subdivisions featuring "Old Florida" architecture. The highest priced homes are generally associated with the Gulf of Mexico, Bayfront or canal property and Sanibel's only private golf course community. Captiva Island offers diverse home styles ranging from beachfront mansions hidden from view to charming old time cottages.

If you would like to be a part of the "Island" lifestyle, you will appreciate knowing that over one-half of Sanibel is designated as conservation land. Sanibel takes pride in the high-quality, low density developments that were carefully constructed on the remaining parts of the island. World-renown shelling beaches, a wide variety of excellent restaurants, and miles of bike paths contribute to the unique environment of Sanibel and Captiva Islands.

Once a fishing and tomato-growing town, quiet, residential Bonita Springs is nestled between Fort Myers and Naples, in the southwestern section of Lee County. "Probably the fastest growing area in Lee County, we have so much growth going on here it's mind-boggling," is how the Bonita Springs Board of Realtors describes the area. Popular with snowbirds, the population jumps 20,000 during the winter months, from 24,000 permanent residents to about 42,000. There's approximately a 50-50 mix of condominiums to single-family homes in the existing housing. Six miles of private beach attracts single-family homes ranging from $500,000 to $2 million and condos from $70,000 to $500,000. In the past three to five years, several major construction firms started building new homes here, so about 50 percent of Bonita Springs' housing sales involve new properties, many on golf courses. Bonita Bay, Pelican Landing, the Worthington County Club area and Highland Woods are all golf-course communities. Homes on the golf course typically run $100,000 for condos, $135,000 for carriage homes, $180,000 for villas and $225,000 for estate homes. Last year the median sales price of existing single-family homes in Bonita Springs was $106,600.

"With more than 400 miles of canals, Cape Coral offers affordable waterfront living for both the freshwater and saltwater enthusiast," says the Cape Coral Association of Realtors. With more canals than Venice and plenty of riverfront and bayfront property as well, this bedroom community near popular resort areas continues to attract new residents. Cape Coral is the second largest city in Florida by land mass, and there's still room to build on individual lots or in planned and/or gated communities. Existing homes are also plentiful--and, by most standards, relatively affordable. In 1999, the median sales price of single-family, existing homes was $106,600 for the entire Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), up 8 percent from 1998. In Cape Coral, the overall price range starts at $60,000 and climbs to $600,000. Eighty percent of Cape Coral's housing inventory is single-family, about 20 percent condominiums. Three new developments are Emerald Cove, a gated community where homes range from $102,000 to $131,000; The Hermitage, offering direct-access to the Caloosahatchee River, with homes priced from $160,000 to $320,000, lots additional; and Cape Harbor, a waterfront community complete with a marina and additional amenities has houses priced from $254,000 to $290,000.

"Fort Myers offers a wonderful variety of homes to suit any budget or lifestyle," says The Realtor Association of Greater Fort Myers and the Beach. Single-family homes account for 80 percent of the brisk Fort Myers real estate market; condominiums account for the other 20 percent. The median sales price for existing, three-bedroom, single-family homes in the area was $106,600 during 1999. Most homes in the beach area range from $85,000 to $750,000 and higher. Gulf-front, bay-front, canal and near-beach properties are available on this family-oriented island, proud of its elementary school, new library and good recreation facilities. During 1999, the median sales price for a single-family existing home was $106,600. Condominiums are popular and account for more than half the area's housing stock. At the south end of the island, three communities have been developed: Waterside ($180,000 to $300,000), Casa Marina ($125,000 to $188,000) and Captain's Bay ($128,000-$175,000).

Vital Stats

Fort Myers/Cape Coral Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) includes all of Lee County.
Unless otherwise specified, numbers are for the MSA.

Population: 392,895
Median age: 44.9
New citizens: 8,700
New job creation: 2.5 percent (1999)
Unemployment rate: 2.6 percent August, 1999
Cost of living: 97.15 percent (U.S. average=100 percent)
Per capita income: $25,144
Median household effective buying income: $31,904

Rain & Shine

Weather cooperates with the many nature lovers who winter here or live year-round in Lee County. It's warm and wonderful. In fact, one professor ranked Fort Myers as the fourth hottest place to live in the 48 contiguous states. Average annual temperature is 73.9 degrees Fahrenheit. The spring/summer average is 84 degrees; the fall/winter average is a very pleasant 71 degrees. It's a rare winter evening when the temperature drops much below 50 degrees. In fact, the average low for December is 54 degrees; for January and February it's 53 degrees.

The average water temperature along Lee County's 50 miles of gulfcoast shoreline and 100 miles of island coasts is 77.5 degrees Fahrenheit. Gentle gulf breezes and an occasional light rain characterize October through May, but from June through September it usually rains more than eight inches monthly. The average annual rainfall is 54 inches, but the rain is welcome. Florida's rainy season arrives simultaneously with summer's heat and helps cool things off with afternoon thunderstorms.

Job Market

Tourism, financial investments from retirees and construction activity combine with agriculture, retail, education and health care to fuel the local economy. The top 10 employers are the Lee County School Board (7,233), Lee Memorial Health System (3,698), Publix Super Markets Inc. (3,037), Columbia/HCA (3,005), The Mariner Group/South Seas Resort (2,000), Lee County Board of Commissioners (1,705), Health & Rehabilitative Services (1,553), the City of Cape Coral (1,291), Wal-Mart Corporation (1,269) and Winn-Dixie Stores Inc. (1,200). Major manufacturing employers include Intertech Resources (384), Harper Brothers (300), Precision Econowind (200), Raymond Building Supplies (196) and Harlequin Nature Graphics (189).

Class Notes

Extensive information about the schools in this area is online at the state's Department of Education (http://www.firn.edu/doe/doehome.htm). There you'll discover everything you'll need to know about Florida schools -- in general and in particular. All you need is the name of your county and the names of the schools students from your neighborhood attend.

Use links from the DOE home page for general information about entrance requirements, immunizations and so forth.

For the nitty-gritty details that really matter, click on the logo for the "Florida School Indicators Report."

Interstate Highway 75 traverses the county in a north/south direction; in Collier County to the south, it turns east and is dubbed the Everglades Parkway, a.k.a. Alligator Alley. U.S. Highway 41 (a.k.a. Tamiami Trail) is the other main north/south road. It runs from Tampa to Miami, roughly paralleling I-75, although it is the older of the two highways and is both farther west--closer to the ocean--and farther south than I-75.

Transportation by water is not unusual; in fact, it's a given in certain circles, although primarily for recreational rather than practical purposes. The yacht basin in Fort Myers is a beautiful sight. Cape Coral boasts far more canals than Venice, and it's said that many residents are "boatniks." And the Okeechobee Waterway cuts coast to coast across Florida via rivers and Lake Okeechobee. The Port of Boca Grande at the northwest segment of the county provides docking facilities, but not warehousing or stevedoring. Eighty-five miles north, commercial shippers prefer the Port of Tampa, which offers full-service docking facilities.

Seminole Gulf Railroad delivers freight to the area. Lee County Transit (LeeTran) buses drive regular routes around the county. Trolley shuttles are popular, too, particularly in beach areas. Page Field serves general aviation; Southwest Florida International Airport offers jet service and connections to areas all over the world from its facility southeast of the city.

Great Outdoors

Fort Myers, the county seat, occupies the central section of Lee County. Although its population is only about half that of Cape Coral, Fort Myers dominates the center and gives its venerable name to the area. Located on the wide and wandering Caloosahatchee River, the city features a sizable downtown marina in an area blessed by rivers, bays, harbors, canals, lakes and beaches. It's truly a water wonderland. The residents know it, love it, use it. After all, that's why most of them--or their ancestors--came here in the first place.

Living close to the massive ecosystem called the Everglades, the River of Grass, with its 600 species of birds and animals and its 1,000 plant varieties, the residents of the Fort Myers region value their natural environment. Bonita Springs is only minutes away from the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary and the northern border of the Big Cypress Swamp. It's also home to Everglades Wonder Gardens, a refuge for exotic birds and animals.

Native flowering plants and trees, red and black mangroves with their distinctive "legs," alligators, even crocodiles, are found here. So are burrowing owls and gentle manatees, a.k.a. sea cows. Almost half of Sanibel Island is preserved as the J.N. "Ding" Darling Nature Preserve, said to protect nearly 300 species of birds as well as numerous amphibians, reptiles and mammals. The county's beaches and bays attract naturalists, especially Sanibel's, which captures shells and other treasures from the sea in such abundance because of its unusual east/west orientation. Speaking of sea treasures, twin island Captiva delivers its share. A Gift From the Sea, Anne Morrow Lindbergh's famous little book, was written here. Their northern neighbor, Pine Island, may be about as close to old Florida as it's possible to get these days.

Children enjoy the out of doors as much as their elders. But for a special treat, area youngsters delight in the Children's Science Center, with its mazes, holographs, optical illusions and other hands-on fun and the huge waterslide and play pools at the Sun Splash Family Waterpark, both in Cape Coral. For all ages, you can't beat the Edison/Ford Winter Estates at 2350 McGregor Boulevard in old Fort Myers. From 1886 until 1931, the prolific inventor Thomas Edison spend his winters here. The home, laboratory, lovely grounds and a museum holding many of the results of his genius are open to the public, as are the adjoining home, grounds and classic cars of his friend and admirer Henry Ford, another American giant.

Good Sports

If your favorite sport is done on or in the water, Lee County will please you, whether you enjoy swimming, boating, fishing, jetskiing, snorkeling, diving, waterskiing or parasailing. Some have called Fort Myers Beach "the world's safest beach" because of its shallow water and absence of undertow. Fishing is big here. A popular fishing pier dominates the north end of Estero Island in Fort Myers Beach. Some consider Boca Grande Pass the Tarpon Fishing Capital of the World. Others prefer fishing the freshwater Caloosahatchee River.

Southwest Floridians love golf. Some even claim it's the world capital of golf. The region is home to 95 golf courses, about a third of which are in Lee County, so golfers of all skill levels have many courses to choose from. For family fun, locals adore Lakes Park, south of Fort Myers, with its canoes and paddle boats and picnic facilities, and downtown's pride and joy, Centennial Park.

For big-league sports, residents travel to Tampa, Orlando and Miami unless the sport is baseball. The Boston Red Sox train in downtown Fort Myers at City of Palms Park and the Minnesota Twins train at Lee County Sports Complex, so Fort Myers is a major stop on the Grapefruit League circuit. A minor league club owned by the Twins, the Fort Myers Miracle, plays at the Sports Complex during the summer season.

Hot Times in the City

If you've ever said, "I just want a little peace and quiet," Lee County's for you. Warm days searching for rare shells like the golden tulip on the world's third-best shelling beach (Nos. 1 and 2 are in the South Pacific and Africa) are more common in Lee County than hot times in crowded nightclubs. Shellers also visit the Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum on Sanibel Island for inspiration. Many locals prefer cultural events and annual festivals. The impressive Edison Festival of Light dominates more than two weeks of February's calendar. North Fort Myers' Cracker Festival re-enacts each February the southernmost Civil War battle, fought Feb. 20, 1865.(It's still not clear who "won.") In March Sanibel hosts its Annual Sanibel Shell Fair and Fort Myers Beach its Shrimp Festival. And in Bonita Springs, the Koreshan State Historic Site memorializes an eccentric sect that considered the earth a hollow globe with people residing inside it. Every April the city hosts the Koreshan Unity Lunar Festival. Cape Coral's German-American Club puts on their popular Oktoberfest each autumn. Another fall highlight is the sandsculpting contest held in Fort Myers Beach.

Downtown Fort Myers shelters the restored and refurbished Arcade Theatre, originally built in 1908. Its offerings include plays, children's theater and movies. Home base for the Southwest Florida Symphony Orchestra & Chorus is the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall, adjacent to the community college campus. Mann Hall hosts concerts, ballet, musical performances, ice shows and touring Broadway productions. And Fort Myers' own Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre specializes in Broadway shows.

Shop 'til You Drop

If you go shopping on the islands, you'll encounter casual attire and nifty gift shops, but no large malls. On Sanibel, however, Periwinkle Plaza and Periwinkle Mall are places to shop. Downtown Fort Myers holds antique shops, art galleries and boutiques. Edison Mall features 155 stores on a parklike site; Bell Tower Mall includes Jacobson's and several specialty shops; Royal Palm Square contains boutiques and restaurants; and Metro Mall houses nearly 50 outlet and specialty stores.

Nightlife

Dining out is popular, but so is casual entertaining on the boat, patio or verandah. When you venture out on Captiva, consider the Old Captiva House at the 'Tween Waters Inn, the Mucky Duck (famous for its sunset vistas and crowded parking lot) or Chadwick's at the South Seas Resort. On Sanibel, try the laid-back Lazy Flamingo, the Thistle Waterfront Restaurant in the Casa Ybel Resort's Thistle Lodge, McT's Shrimp House or the Promenade Cafe at the Sanibel Harbor Resort and Spa. On the mainland, you'll find The Veranda across from City Hall and Peter's La Cuisine near the Harborside Convention Center. If you enjoy live music and nightlife, try the Crow's Nest at Captiva's 'Tween Waters Inn.

College Scene

Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU), the state's 10th major institution of higher learning, opened in the fall of 1997 in southern Lee County. About 2,600 students enrolled. FGCU will serve the entire southwestern section of the state. About 10 miles south of Fort Myers, close to the international airport and I-75, but not far from the Everglades, the multimillion dollar FGCU facility continues to rise from the ground on some of its 760 acres. With 300 faculty working under contract (no tenure will be granted) in 17 undergraduate and nine graduate programs, the new university will stake its early reputation on distance learning and environmental education. By 2003, about 10,000 students should be enrolled, but how many will actually be in residence is still unknown, since some of the school's major learning experiences will occur in cyberspace.

The Fort Myers branch of the Tampa-based University of South Florida will be absorbed into FGCU. Edison Community College enrolls almost 10,000 in its state-supported, two-year, coed program. Also in the southwestern portion of the state, both Nova and Barry universities have branch locations; independent International College in nearby Naples enrolls 540 students; the Southwest Florida College of Business, an independent, two-year school serves 220 students; and Walden University specializes in graduate-level education.

Just for Seniors

Some of Fort Myers' seniors reside in the region for six or fewer months per year. Many others live here year-round. Both groups volunteer and are active in charities and church groups. In March, area businesses present the Seniors Festival--a two-day exposition sparked by competitive games and a concert.

When seniors need assistance, information and referral services are a phone call away. The Senior Helpline, called Age Link, is 941/433-3900. Information specialists will refer citizens over 60 to a broad range of services including personal care, homemaker services, adult day care, respite care, medical transportation and home-delivered meals. Some service providers will charge a fee; other services are free from state or federal sources but are in demand and may require a waiting period; yet other services are free to the needy but fee-based for everyone else.

At least eight senior centers are scattered around the county: Cape Coral (2); Bonita Springs (1); Fort Myers (2), North Fort Myers (1); Lehigh Acres (1); and Sanibel (1). Most offer recreational activities and congregate meals.