Why Home Buyers Discover Fort Myers “City of Palms” is a Southwest Florida Gem

Southwest Florida has numerous attractive communities for homebuyers.

However, living in Fort Myers offers homebuyers a relatively more affordable cost of living, a beautiful natural environment and climate, higher education availability, a strong job market, and much more.

The following are some specific reasons why:

Relatively Lower Home Prices

Home prices in Fort Myers generally average close to $300,000, which has increased in recent years with dramatic population growth.

However, homes are relatively more affordable than many other local Southwest Florida communities.

As with many coastal areas, home prices increase closer to the Gulf and for waterfront homes, while eastern inland areas offer lower-cost homes.

Local sales taxes are relatively low, though property taxes are relatively higher than other areas.

Strong Job Market

The Fort Myers/Lee County job market is strong and one of the significant drivers of the area's growth in recent years.

Lee county has unemployment rates lower than the national average and is projected for faster job growth than the country at large as well.?

Some of Fort Myers' largest employers include:

Lee Memorial Health System

Lee County Schools/Lee County Government

Florida Gulf Coast University

Chico’s

Fox Electronics

Arthrex

Hertz

Ritz-Carlton Naples

Tourism and hospitality employers make up a significant piece of Fort Myers' job market.

Tens of thousands of visitors come to the area's beaches and resorts every year, requiring a substantial number of workers to operate and maintain these facilities as well as surrounding restaurants and other attractions.

Local government and public schools employ a great deal of people maintaining services for three-quarters of a million Lee County residents.

Hospitals, doctors, and other medical centers and companies also make up a large part of the Fort Myers economy.

Southwest Florida officials are also making efforts to lure more manufacturing, life sciences, logistics, IT, and financial services companies to the region as part of Fort Myers' key industries, further diversifying the job market.?

This widely varied group of industries provides employment opportunities for all education levels and skills.

Incredible Beaches and Lots of Fun Things To Do

There's lots to experience in and around Fort Myers, from the incredible beaches and other natural environments to the area's exciting food and nightlife scene.

Thomas Edison and Henry Ford thought so. They built and enjoyed their winter estates here.

Outdoor Activities

The Fort Myers area has numerous beaches to enjoy, including the highly popular Fort Myers Beach, the quieter, more secluded beach options on nearby Sanibel or Captiva islands, or the preserve areas of Lover's Key State Park.

There are also plenty of opportunities to get out into the area's incredible natural environment, from the wetlands of Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve to Manatee Park, a local warm-water refuge for manatees during the winter.

Baseball fans can attend major league ballgames during the yearly spring training games held here by the Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins.

Food and Drink

Fort Myers has a vibrant dining and bar scene.?

The nearby Gulf plays a major role, supplying fresh, high-quality seafood for local menus.?

Some of the city's most acclaimed restaurants include The Veranda, Osteria Celli, and Blanc. Those looking for a more casual, enjoy Izzy's or Ford's Garage.

There are a variety of breweries and distilleries in the area, such as the Millennial Brewing Company, or Wicked Dolphin rum distillery.

Nightlife

Downtown Fort Myers is the heart of the city's nightlife.?

Some of the most popular spots include The 86 Room and The Firestone Skybar.

Downtown also hosts the popular monthly?Art Walks and Music Walks, which take place on the first and third Fridays of the month, respectively.

These events showcase local and regional artists in a free, outdoor community setting and are a favorite for people of all ages.

Fort Myers Beach also offers many beachfront spots.

High Quality Education Availability

Public Schools

Public schools in Fort Myers are operated by?Lee County Schools.?

The system educates more than 90,000 students from kindergarten through high school, making it the 32nd largest school district in the nation.

Before and after school programs, nutritious breakfasts and lunches, school bus pickups, and more are provided at more than 100 public school campuses throughout the county.

Private Schools

There are two dozen private schools in the area with more than 5,000 students enrolled.?

The majority of these are religiously affiliated. However, other options, including Montessori schools or other non-traditional education, are also available.

Higher Education

Fort Myers is home to three colleges and universities: Florida Gulf Coast University, Florida Southwestern State University, and Southwest Florida College.?

Southwest Florida College is the smallest, with less than a thousand enrolled students, compared to 15,000–16,000 at the two universities.

To learn more about buying a home and enjoying living in the Fort Myers area, or to arrange a free, no-strings-attached buyer consultation, either in-person, by phone, or virtual:

Call/Text: 239-850-1650

Email: [email protected]

Website: SandyWilderRealtor.com

About Sandy Wilder

As a fiduciary Buyers Agent, I represent full-time, part-time, first-time home buyers and property investors in their search for Southwest Florida properties located in Naples, Bonita Springs, Estero, Miromar Lakes, Fort Myers, and other communities throughout Collier and Lee Counties.?

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