With its grainy white-sand beaches, turquoise waters, and year-round sunlight, Southwest Florida is the quintessential vacation home location. Quickly available from anywhere in the country and with every city- and resort-style facility you can possibly imagine, the location is a top choice for second-home purchasers. A brand-new report by vacation home management business Pacaso, which examined second-home deals from the start of this year, discovered that Lee County ranked third overall. Another Southwest Florida area, Collier County, where Naples is located, ranked fifth. Homes in Lee County come with a much more budget-friendly rate tag.
“I think the rate has actually attracted purchasers to Lee County as the typical price of a 2nd home is $525,000, which is a bit more approachable than the better-known 2nd home neighborhoods such as Naples, only an hour south in surrounding Collier County, where the average second home is nearing $900,000,” Austin Allison, Pacaso’s CEO and co-founder, informed Travel + Leisure.
However Lee County isn’t practically affordability. It is home to over 780,000 homeowners and encompasses Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Sanibel and Captiva islands, Pine Island, Bonita Springs and Estero, Boca Grande, North Fort Myers, and Lehigh Acres, among other cities. And with 590 miles of coastline, including 50 miles of sugary beaches, it’s simple to see what makes Lee County such a getaway location.
With 271 days of sunlight typically, Fort Myers is the sunniest city in Florida, so residents and guests can enjoy its stunning beaches, golf courses, and leisure activities like beachcombing, hiking, sailing, kayaking through mangroves, or sailing. Fort Myers’s long history– the area was first inhabited in 5,000 B.C by Native Americans, and in the 20th century became the go-to getaway for the similarity Thomas Edison and Henry Ford– also makes it the ideal getaway for those who like to check out local museums, historical sites, and historic landmarks.
And the Lee County real estate market is just as attractive.
“Lee County provides an eclectic mix of houses from the historic Edison Home district to modern beachfront oases,” Tiffany Burns of Premier Sotheby’s International Realty told T+L. She described that the most popular homes are those dealing with west located directly on the Gulf of Mexico, treating their owners to magnificent sunset views.
Austin agrees that home searching in Lee County is all about variety.
“Whether you’re seeking a luxurious high-rise condominium with resort-style features or a large single-family home on the golf course, there’s something for everyone here. Waterfront homes are particularly popular, with many purchasers searching for easy access to boating and fishing opportunities,” Austin described, including that according to another Pacaso study, 61 percent of potential second homeowners desire their vacation home to be on or near the water, with 42 percent favoring the beach and 19 percent vying for a lakeside area.
And thanks to its numerous canals and beaches, Lee County is a sanctuary for those seeking idyllic waterfront views and a calm area to berth their boat.
In truth, Cape Coral, the county’s biggest city, has more than 400 miles of canals, more than any other city in Florida (or in Italy, for that matter).
Those looking for high-end hotel– worthy facilities such as unblocked bay views, concierge services, pool cabanas, and bocce courts will find their second home in The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Estero Bay, in Bonita Springs, slated for conclusion in 2025. The two towers are developed by award-winning architecture firm Arquitectonica and will include 224 residences varying from 2,600 square feet to 3,880 square feet, with prices beginning at $3 million.