Cape Harbour Waterfront Home in Cape Coral FL

Your Quick Southwest FL Real Estate Overview

First, Where Exactly is “Southwest Florida”?

Southwest Florida at the most northern end is Cape Coral. Going south along the coastline, primary cities are: Cape Coral,  Fort Myers, Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel,  Bonita Springs, and Naples. View a larger map of Southwest FL here.

Southwest Florida with unspoiled beaches, exotic wildlife and lush subtropical foliage is a combination of the sophistication of a pampered island resort with the relaxed style of Old Florida.

Southwest Florida Real Estate Map

Getting to Southwest FL

Our area is served by the Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers (Lee County), with direct flights from Toronto, Munich, Minneapolis, Milwaukee, New York City, Memphis, Dusseldorf, Indianapolis, Washington DC, St. Louis, Cinncinati, Boston, Chicago, and many more major cities in North America and Europe.  Alternatively, the international airports in Miami and Tampa are just a two hour drive.

Watch: Beautiful and Educational Video of Cape Coral and Fort Myers

Water, Water, Everywhere

It’s well known that the closer a property is to water, the more valuable the property becomes. This is especially true if the weather, the shopping, and the related community services are superior as well. In consideration of all factors including amenities, affordability, Gulf of Mexico access, and opportunity for growth and ppreciation, Southwest Florida real estate offers a solid opportunity for investment.

While all of Southwest Florida has many water options (beaches, rivers, lakes), Cape Coral is known for its miles of canals weaving through the residential communities. Most of those canals are routes to the Gulf of Mexico and the Caloosahatchee River. (Cape Coral has over 400 miles of canals, consisting of more inland waterways than Venice, Italy.)

Find out what the canals look like from the water by viewing our virtual Cape Coral canal cruise.

Perhaps the best tarpon fishing in all the world lies just north of Bokeelia (Pine Island), in Boca Grande Pass at Charlotte Harbor. Other popular game fish are snook, redfish, trout, grouper, snapper, cobia, sheepshead and many others. A fisherman’s paradise!

Boating Destinations in Southwest Florida

We have compiled here a list of over 20 of our favorite boating destinations. By no means is this list exhaustive – there are many, many more boating destinations just a short cruise away. Oh, and all of these marinas, beaches, and restaurants, bars are most certainly just as fun to visit by car. The only location below that cannot be accessed by car is Cayo Costa State Park (there are ferry services to get you there).

View our article on Boating in Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel and the Gulf of Mexico.

Golf Every Day

According to the National Golf Foundation, Fort Myers ranks fifth in the nation for golfer-to-holes ratios. More than 975 holes perforate more than 60 golf courses throughout the county, 27 of which are open to the public. Get detailed information on Southwest FL Golf courses here. And read about Golf Course Community Types in Naples, Bonita Springs, Fort Myers, and Cape Coral.

Healthy Market

Those in Southwest FL real estate are in a perfect position when it comes to cash in on the second-home market surge, when compared to other Florida areas. As value-conscious baby boomers join the bandwagon and look to purchase second-homes/vacation-homes, they will look to purchase in communities where they can enjoy affordable resort style living and get the most for their money.

For example, according to the US Census an average of 20,700 people move to Southwest Florida –  Lee County (Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Sanibel/Captiva) – annually. U.S. Housing Markets has ranked Fort Myers-Cape Coral as the number one housing market in a metropolitan area for two years running. The Fort Myers-Cape Coral MSA consistently ranks as one of the top 10 metro areas in this index.

Affordable Living

People buying Southwest Florida real estate find the composite cost of living is consistently at or below the U.S. average. (ACCRA Cost of Living Index, which measures relative price levels for consumer goods and services in participating areas). For example, New York’s composite score is 215.0, while Southwest Florida is 101.7. Chicago’s composite score is 131.1.

Quality of Life

While exploring Southwest Florid real estate, you’ll discover recreation and entertainment includes Gulf and freshwater fishing, boating, golf, tennis, parks, Twins and Boston Red Sox spring training, and more! The Barbara Mann theater has broadway caliber plays and productions and many other cultural arts abound. That the water and golf courses here are some of the best in the world is obvious. Read about Things to Do in Southwest Florida…

But other factors such as great health care systems, local shopping, government services, no state income tax… add up to a lifestyle choice that is hard to beat.

    Southwest Florida Luxury Home Showcase

    It is not well known that Southwest Florida is home to many estate and executive luxury homes and communities.

    Southwest Florida doesn’t advertise or boast about the entertainment or sports celebrities, radio hosts, philanthropists, authors, or CEOs that have second or permanent homes here. And that is one reason luxury living is different here – no paparazzi, tabloids, or bus tours. Just peaceful, private enjoyment of exquisite homes, grounds, and views. And consequently, it’s a fairly guarded secret just what kind of luxury awaits.

    On Gulf of Mexico beaches, in golf course communities, along the Caloosahatchee river, on saltwater canals, in yachting communities… it’s no surprise there are luxury properties throughout Southwest FL. Pictured here is the pool area of a home in Cape Harbour, a premier Cape Coral real estate boating community.

    From Our Blog

    Local Knowledge and Safety on the Waters

    Local Knowledge! Many newbie boaters here have experience on lakes and rivers – that’s great. The ICW, Caloosahatchee River and Gulf of Mexico pose a different kind of boating experience. There are many way to learn about SWFL boating. Local captains will provide private tours on your boat of theirs. There are tour boats of course. And there are many power squadron options. For anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 1988, who will be operating a boat...

    Gulf Access Cape Coral Market Update

    Here's a look at the current Gulf Access and Sailboat Access market in Cape Coral, FL. We view the SWFL market moving in a positive direction. Inventory has been ticking up and prices leveling out, providing more options for buyers. While prices are leveling out, sellers are still seeing quick sales, cash offers, and 95% to 100% contract price. [optima_express_toppicks id="243167" sortBy="ds" displayType="grid" resultsPerPage="22" header="true"...

    Edison Awards in Fort Myers spotlight world’s top inventions and innovators

    From Fort Myers Florida Weekly."For three days this month, the planet’s most illustrious minds — innovators, inventors and down-right geniuses — converge on Fort Myers Florida. The international Edison Awards annually honors those, who like its namesake Thomas Edison, are paving the way for meaningful life-changing impact.After stints in large metro areas, the Edison Awards relocated to the City of Palms for a three-year trial run in 2021 and...

    Sunseeker Resort to Open October 2023

    Sunseeker Resort is Taking Reservations for October 2023 Sunseeker is an Allegiant Airlines resort located on Charlotte Harbour in Punta Gorda, FL and is centrally located to Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Sarasota, beaches and barrier islands. All experiences offered at the resort will be open to the public, except for golf and the pools. One of the pools is a rooftop pool and is adults only. The ground level pool is open to all guests. To keep up...

    Scavenger Hunt!

    Scavenger Hunt! "Whether you live in Cape Coral or are just visiting, the Cape Coral Quest scavenger hunt is a great way to explore the city and win awesome prizes. Enjoy exploring and learning as you visit local businesses, parks, and fun landmarks.Earn points as you go and trade them in for some local swag. Participants have until November 30,2023 to complete the scavenger hunt." "Start exploring with the latest pass to earn discounts and...

    Gulf Access Market Listings

    Here is an update of Gulf Access Homes on the market today. There are many options! For those looking for a project house, there are certainly options. Some have no storm damage, some have damage and are remediated (ready for rehab), and some are most likely tear downs. New Cape Coral Waterfront Listings – Cape Coral Real Estate MLS Updated DailyBe mindful of the FEMA 50/50 rule which states that, Pursuant to 44 C.F.R. § 59.1, a structure is...

    What Are Canal Speed Limits?

    What’s the Speed Limit in Canals? Put simply, most people describe it as the slowest speed possible while maintaining control of the vessel. There is no universal figure that applies, for good reason. Here’s the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission definition: “Slow speed requires that a vessel be fully off plane and completely settled into the water. The vessel must then proceed at a speed which is reasonable and prudent under the prevailing...

    We have purchased, sold and purchased again from Dave and Brenda. Always treated us with care and respect. Worked hard to achieve pricing we were offering or asking. Great communication skills. Helped to keep us focused and on track to achieve the goal we had set. Have recommended to several friends who share the same experiences as we have. Highly recommend both Dave and Brenda to purchase or sell.

    Ray

    More Information

    You will find a great deal of more information about us, about the Southwest FL real estate market, and buying and selling, and about the Southwest Florida lifestyle on our blog: Southwest Florida Real Estate – The Market, The Lifestyle. The blog is updated frequently with news you can use, from foreign buyer experiences, to closing process and costs, to current price trends, and more.

    Shortcuts: Southwest Florida Real Estate, by City

    To learn more about the area, have some fun and browse some of the current listings in the saved search Quick Links below. Or, use our Southwest Florida  Real Estate Property Search to get more refined search results based on your criteria (Gulf Access, for example).

    Featured New Listings in Southwest Florida

    4
    Beds
    4 | 2
    Baths
    3,945
    SqFt
     
     
    #224021055 | House
    Listing Courtesy of: C G Claussen Realty
    4
    Beds
    4 | 2
    Baths
    5,685
    SqFt
     
     
    #224023495 | House
    Listing Courtesy of: SWFL Property Group, LLC
    3
    Beds
    3
    Baths
    3,571
    SqFt
     
     
    #224022883 | House
    Listing Courtesy of: Coldwell Banker Realty
    4
    Beds
    3
    Baths
    2,738
    SqFt
     
     
    #224020307 | House
    Listing Courtesy of: Premier Sotheby's Int'l Realty
    5
    Beds
    4 | 1
    Baths
    4,638
    SqFt
     
     
    #224023893 | House
    Listing Courtesy of: Realty World J. PAVICH R.E.
    3
    Beds
    3 | 1
    Baths
    2,268
    SqFt
     
     
    #224024620 | House
    Listing Courtesy of: Kevin Shelly Realty Inc.