Fort Myers sits on the Caloosahatchee River, with a historic downtown on the water, the Gulf of Mexico within reach and a warm climate: January highs average about 75°F, and summers are hot and humid. It is a city where an ordinary weekday can include a stroll through Thomas Edison’s gardens and dinner by the river. For many home buyers, that mix of history, outdoor life and everyday convenience is the starting point when they consider living in Fort Myers.
I have had a home in Fort Myers since 2019, so this guide comes from daily life here as a local as much as from my work with buyers. I will also be upfront about what to weigh before you move, because a good decision is an informed one.
Fort Myers Real Estate: Golf, Waterfront and New Construction
Fort Myers is not one market but several, and the right neighborhood depends on how you want to live. Buyers can choose golf communities, boating communities on the Caloosahatchee River, new-construction neighborhoods with resort-style amenities, and homes closer to downtown and McGregor Boulevard, with easy access to restaurants and entertainment.
For golf enthusiasts, Fiddlesticks Country Club is a great option, a gated community with two 18-hole courses and roughly 585 residences, about ten minutes from Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW). Another amazing luxury golf course community is The Club at Renaissance, also conveniently and centrally located. On the water, Gulf Harbour Yacht & Country Club lies along the Caloosahatchee River on McGregor Boulevard, with a deep-water marina, an 18-hole golf course and boating access to the Gulf of Mexico. Tennis players find great buying opportunities at The Landings Yacht, Golf and Tennis Club, where the Director of Racquet Sports is actually a friend of mine.
New construction adds another option. Portico and Valencia Harbor in the rural Buckingham area of Fort Myers are two gated neighborhoods with great amenities like a clubhouse, pool, fitness center, tennis + pickleball courts, and a resident calendar that includes food truck nights, golf cart parades and other fun social vents. Downtown is about twenty minutes away from these communities, and RSW airport is within thirty.
Prices vary widely by neighborhood and type of home, from condominiums to multimillion-dollar estates, so your home search should start with how you want to live: What type of home could you see yourself in? How often would you like golf or play tennis? Are you into boating and would appreciate a marina? Do you prefer a gated community? How close do you want to be to downtown or the airport? From there, I can narrow the search to the neighborhoods and communities that fit, show you current listings and market data, and walk you through flood zones, insurance and HOA costs early on so there are no surprises.
Things to Do in Fort Myers
Start with history. The Edison & Ford Winter Estates on McGregor Boulevard preserve the winter homes of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford, along with a museum, a restored botanical laboratory and about twenty acres of gardens. They are open daily.
Downtown’s River District is where evenings happen. Art Walk fills the streets on the first Friday of every month, and Music Walk follows on the third Friday, both from 6 to 10 p.m. (schedule). For dinner, Fancy’s Southern Cafe, OISE and Bruno’s of Brooklyn are good places to begin, Swamp Cat Brewing is the stop for craft beer, and the rooftop bar at the Luminary Hotel is a fine spot for a view of downtown. For those who enjoy theater visits, Broadway Palms Dinner Theatre is a top choice.
When you want to be outside, the Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve has a 1.2-mile boardwalk through more than 3,500 acres of wetland, with free admission and a small parking fee. Baseball fans get spring training every year: the Boston Red Sox play at jetBlue Park, with its 37-foot Green Monster, and the Minnesota Twins at Hammond Stadium. Schedules are released in mid-November, and tickets go on sale from late December.
Golfers can play the Fort Myers Country Club, a Donald Ross design from 1917 that the city has owned since 1927. Pickleball courts are free to use at Brooks Park.
Boating is a big part of life here. The Caloosahatchee River runs from downtown to the Gulf of Mexico, about ten miles southwest of the city, and on to Sanibel, Captiva and Pine Island Sound. The City of Fort Myers Yacht Basin sits in the historic downtown, and marina communities such as Gulf Harbour put a deep-water slip close to home. If you do not own a boat, Visit Fort Myers lists charters for fishing, dolphin watching and sunset cruises.
The beaches of Fort Myers Beach are still rebuilding four years after Hurricane Ian, and the town recently finished a $1.3 million upgrade of Crescent Beach Family Park. It is worth checking what is open before you plan a beach day. Sanibel and Captiva Island offer great nature experiences, tropical vegetation and seemingly endless white sand beaches that are world-famous for seashell collecting.
Getting Around and Flying In
Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) is about ten miles southeast of the city and served more than 11.1 million passengers in 2025, with nonstop flights to more than 75 destinations. For European buyers, Discover Airlines flies nonstop to Frankfurt as of September 2026.
Within Fort Myers, plan on having a car. LeeTran runs public bus service, but most daily errands are easier by car. Traffic also picks up in the winter season, when Lee County reports roughly 10 to 15 percent more drivers on the road, so build extra time into trips on busy roads such as Colonial Boulevard.
Schools in Fort Myers
The School District of Lee County earned a B in the state’s 2025–26 school grades, with 24 schools rated A and 29 rated B. In Fort Myers, Fort Myers High School and Cypress Lake High School each moved up from a B to an A, and Gateway High School earned an A in just its sixth year of operation. School assignments depend on the address, so I recommend checking the school zone for any home you are considering, especially if you are buying with a family in mind.
Healthcare in Fort Myers
Lee Health operates several hospitals in the Fort Myers area, including Lee Memorial Hospital, HealthPark Medical Center, Gulf Coast Medical Center and Golisano Children’s Hospital. A new Lee Health Fort Myers campus is planned, with an anticipated opening in 2028.
Is Fort Myers right for you?
Fort Myers suits buyers who want an active Southwest Florida life with history, golf, tennis, entertainment and the Gulf coast nearby. If you are thinking about buying a home in Fort Myers, whether as a full-time move or a second home, I would be glad to help you find the area and community that fits the way you want to live. Reach out and let’s talk about what you’re looking for.
