Boating, fishing, and beaches are abundant in the Fort Myers and Cape Coral area on the southwest coast of Florida. The Gulf of Mexico draws active adults from all over the country looking for a Florida retirement that includes recreation on the water, fresh seafood, and plenty of opportunities for socializing and staying active.
The good news is that Fort Myers real estate can be pretty affordable, even if you want to live close to the water and even if you want to live on a golf course. These communities in the area provide some of the best options for buyers looking for budget-friendly housing with year-round sunshine.
Pine Ridge at Fort Myers
Below $100k – Mid $100s
Enjoy views of a 20-acre lake at Pine Ridge at Fort Myers, a 55+ community that features a lakeside dock, parks, and a lot of natural walking and biking trails for active adults who enjoy being outside as much as possible. The clubhouse includes a club room and a catering kitchen as well as two multipurpose rooms for social activities and club events. There’s also an outdoor pool with a spa and patio, shuffleboard courts, bocce ball courts, and a tennis court.
Buyers can choose a single-family home with around 1,200 square feet, an attached villa, or even a condo depending on lifestyle and budget. Most floor plans are between 960 and 1,400 square feet, offering low-maintenance living and additional features such as covered lanais, garages, and large master suites.
There’s a homeowners’ association (HOA) fee that’s charged every month and includes water, sewer, and cable costs. The HOA also takes care of lawn care, street lights, and exterior maintenance.
Request more information about Pine Ridge at Fort Myers.
Seven Lakes
Below $100k – Low $200s
Free golf is only one of the benefits in the 55+ community of Seven Lakes. If you’re looking for affordable homes for sale in Fort Myers and you also want to relax into a country club lifestyle, this could be the place for you.
The 18-hole executive golf course is free for residents, and there’s also a putting green, six heated outdoor pools, nine shuffleboard courts, and six tennis courts. Residents may enjoy a game of bocce and then relax at the Tiki bar. The clubhouse includes a woodworking shop, a ceramics studio, an auditorium, a library, an exercise room, and a travel agency.
Mid-rise condos in this community are between three and five floors, and they all have elevators. Most units are one- or two-bedroom homes and have between 700 and 1,600 square feet. The villas offer between 1,175 and 1,600 square feet. They have two or three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and an attached garage.
Residents will have their HOA fees prorated by the size of their unit. Those fees include the usual services such as water, sewer, cable, and trash bills as well as lawn and building maintenance. At Seven Lakes, the HOA also offers residents a private bus service.
Request more information about Seven Lakes.
Brandywine
Low $100s – Mid $200s
Active adults looking for a real sense of togetherness in Fort Myers have everything they need at Brandywine, a 55+ community that’s closely knit. The Remembrance Garden was planted in 1998 as a community project, and it’s maintained with the help of the garden club and resident volunteers. Native plants attract butterflies, and the setting is serene. Pools, pickleball, shuffleboard, and tennis are all available at Brandywine, and there are a lot of clubs and activities for active adults who love to mix and mingle with like-minded friends.
Condominiums in Brandywine come in four units per building and on two floors. These properties have two bedrooms and two bathrooms with about 1,464 square feet and assigned parking with garage space. The attached villas are available in five models with either two or three bedrooms and two bathrooms. Some homes have dens and all of them have a two-car garage. They are between 1,700 and 2,500 square feet.
Also, Brandywine is close to Lakes Park, a popular place to rent bikes and visit the Railroad Museum of Southwest Florida.
Request more information about Brandywine.
Cross Creek Country Club
Low $100s – Mid $400s
Country club living on a budget is possible at Cross Creek Country Club, an active adult community without age restrictions. This community has a semi-private golf course that was designed by Arthur Hills, and there’s also a putting green, a pro shop, and locker rooms. The clubhouse includes a ballroom, a multipurpose room, and a library. Restaurants, bars, 10 pools, and three tennis courts round out the available amenities. Lawn bowling is also available and extremely popular with residents.
With 905 single-family homes, attached villas, and condos on the property, buyers can choose a size and model that fits their budgets and their needs. Condos within this community are in two- or three-story buildings that house units with between 910 and 1,307 square feet. Villas offer two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and attached one-car garages with 1,142 to 1,232 square feet. Single-family homes are on one level and have two to three bedrooms.
Happy hours, karaoke, themed dinners, and holiday parties are just some of the events that keep residents busy and social.
Request more information about Cross Creek Country Club.
Cinnamon Cove
Low $100s – Mid $300s
A clubhouse director keeps a busy activity schedule for residents at Cinnamon Cove. This is a gated 55+ community with affordably priced single-family homes, attached villas, and condos available throughout more than 10 separate neighborhoods.
There’s a fitness center, a pool, a whirlpool spa, and plenty of tennis, shuffleboard, pickleball, and bocce courts for competitive and friendly play. Residents enjoy poolside bingo games, conversation clubs, and water aerobics classes.
Condos in this community offer between 931 and 1,057 square feet with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and covered parking. The villas are a little larger, with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and outdoor space for storage and entertaining. The single-family homes have either two or three bedrooms, and many of them also have dens.
Nature lovers will enjoy Cinnamon Cove for its proximity to Estero Bay Preserve State Park, where there’s hiking, biking, kayaking, canoeing, and birding to be enjoyed.
