For so many active adults on the cusp of retiring, there’s simply no alternative to packing up and moving to Florida. The Sunshine State’s warm weather and retirement-friendly taxes are two of the biggest draws, but there’s also a myriad of housing opportunities that cater to retirees as well as endless opportunities to enjoy social activities with like-minded friends and neighbors.
If you’re considering the Southwest Florida region, there are new construction homes in Fort Myers that are worth looking at. The city is perfectly poised on the coast of the Caloosahatchee River, and U.S. News Real Estate ranks Fort Myers as the 7th best place to retire in the country. The city has pristine white sand beaches and waterways where you can relax or go boating. There are also top-notch restaurants, local theater troupes, biking, fishing, museums, and of course, golf and pickleball.
The cost of living in Fort Myers is slightly lower than the national average. And since the median cost of a home here is $269,700, housing costs are also below the national average. Factor in the retirement-friendly taxes (no income or Social Security taxes), and you could be well within your means to consider new homes for sale in Fort Myers, FL.
Here are six standout communities to get you started. Keep in mind that they’re not age-restricted, but this is not uncommon for Florida communities. Each one is designed for active adult living, with onsite, resort-style amenities to keep you as busy or as relaxed as you care to be.
Mid $200s - Mid $1Ms
Here’s a master-planned community with something for everyone—1,700 attached and single-family homes, two golf courses, a riverfront location, and a stellar clubhouse. Members of its Verandah Golf Club play on the Old Orange and Whispering Oak courses and have access to the fitness center, swimming pool, and River House Restaurant.
Verandah’s other amenities include a clubhouse with a fitness center, an outdoor pool, tennis courts, and a day spa. Homeowners also take advantage of the fishing lakes on the property and spend quality time kayaking and attending group activities like fitness classes, poker club, and the Verandah Guitar Club. There’s even a full-time activities director.
Verandah is about 20 minutes east of Downtown Fort Myers, and it’s split into 22 neighborhoods with single-family, villa, and coach homes. There are 64 home models with two to five bedrooms and two to four baths. They range from 1,488 to well over 5,000 square feet. You can expect to find lake views, plantation shutters, bay windows, Roman tubs, crown molding, and vaulted ceilings in some of these desirable homes. Verandah’s Community Association and neighborhood’s fees provide for cable, internet, lawn care and landscaping, exterior home maintenance, and boathouse access.
Low $300s - High $2Ms
This neighborhood is 20 minutes southeast of Fort Myers, and its private golf facility is one of its main draws. It features an Arthur Hills-designed course, and members also enjoy its state-of-the-art fitness center, clay tennis courts, spa, and upscale dining options. The building also hosts holiday parties, Pilates classes, happy hours, and other group activities.
Renaissance is a medium-sized property with 390 attached and single-family homes ranging from 1,940 to more than 4,000 square feet. It’s a master-planned community, with six subdivisions that each have their own homeowners’ associations (HOA). The monthly fees include basic cable and lawn care—an annual HOA fee covers the clubhouse upkeep and community landscaping.
The attached coach homes have two to three bedrooms, dens, two to three bathrooms, and two-car garages. The villas have three bedrooms, two or two-and-a-half bathrooms, and two-car garages. Renaissance’s single-family floor plans have three to four bedrooms, two to four-and-a-half bathrooms, and attached two-car garages. The upgrades in many of these gracious homes include bonus rooms, built-in outdoor kitchens, private swimming pools and spas, wine cellars, custom countertops, oversized master suites, and luxury appliances.
Mid $300s - Mid $600s
Lennar Homes broke ground on Arborwood Preserve in 2016, and plans call for a total of 827 attached and single-family homes. It’s a 15-minute drive from Fort Myers, and buyers looking for new homes for sale in Fort Myers FL will have some nice options to choose from.
Arborwood doesn’t have its own golf course, and this is a nice feature for those who don’t play. For everyone else, there are several good links nearby like Plantation Golf Club (five minutes away) and the Gateway Club (eight minutes away). The onsite clubhouse offers a resort-style swimming pool, a fitness studio, Har-Tru tennis courts, bocce ball, pickleball, an outdoor restaurant, and a movie theater. Homeowners also spend quality time in the coffee lounge and arts & craft studio. Take a drive through the 73-acre property, and you will be treated to views of nature preserves and lovely lakes.
The attached homes are arranged in 4-plex and 6-plex setups, and the former range from 1,741 to 2,110 square feet with three bedrooms, two baths, and two-car garages. Slightly smaller, the 6-plex models range from 1,375 to 1,831 square feet with two or three bedrooms, two baths, and one-car garages. All of these floor plans have master bedrooms with dual-walk in closets plus en-suite bathrooms. Options include covered patios and dens.
The single-family, two-story Executive Homes range from 1,677 to 3,231 square feet, with three to five bedrooms, two to three baths, and two- or three-car garages. Look for features like gourmet kitchens and covered lanais in these sophisticated homes.
Arborwood Preserve’s Manor Homes are sized from 2,267 to 3,282 square feet and have three to five bedrooms, two to four-and-a-half baths, and two- or three-car garages. Features include gourmet kitchens, dens, formal dining rooms, bonus rooms, and first-floor master suites. The HOA fees here provide for common area maintenance, landscaping, and community amenities.
High $200s - Mid $2Ms
Located about 12 miles south of Fort Myers, Waters Edge is on the smaller side. It’s a gated community of 249 condo, attached, and single-family homes. Homeowners love the private marina, lease wet slips and dry storage from the community, and use the boat ramp and trailer storage. You can also stretch out on the private river-side beach, fish from a 600-foot pier, and join friends at the outdoor pools and tennis courts.
Waters Edge does not have its own clubhouse, so those kinds of fees will not be included in the HOA payments. Those cover gate operation, sewer and drainage systems, and road repairs.
Pulte Homes is building 32 new single-family homes here, with four models sized from 1,659 to 3,078 square feet. These have two to four bedrooms, two to three baths, and attached two- to three-car garages. Options include waterfront locations and second floors. There are resale custom estate homes on the property too, and these grand homes range from about 3,000 to 4,500 square feet, with at least three bedrooms, two to four baths, luxury upgrades, and attached two-car garages.
You’ll find seven named neighborhoods at Waters Edge. The condo units are housed in mid-rise buildings within Seabreeze Lofts, Harbor Place, and Harbor Place Vistas. These condos are resale-only and range from 1,600 to 1,800 square feet, with two to three bedrooms, two- to two-and-a-half baths, and underground parking. The attached villas are in all of the subdivisions and are also resale-only. These range from 1,100 to 2,500 square feet and offer two to three bedrooms and bathrooms, and attached two-car garages. Waters Edge’s resale homes range from about 1,300 to 2,800 square feet, with two to four bedrooms, two to three baths, and two-car garages.
Mid $300s - High $300s
Geared for downsizing, Bonavie Cove will have 238 attached homes when all is said and done, along with some appealing amenities that can check all the boxes in your retirement living to-do list. The community clubhouse will have a sunny pool and patio area, plus a fitness center, a multipurpose room, and a fire pit. There’s also a nice dog park where you can take your best friend(s).
The first model at Bonavie Cove is 1,431 square feet, with two bedrooms, two baths, and a den. The second is 1,507 square feet, also with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a den. Both have attached two-car garages, master suites with walk-in closets, flex space, large great rooms, and lanais. These homes are being finished by Mattamy Homes, and the HOA fees provide for lawn care and common area maintenance.
Low $400s - High $2Ms
Esplanade Lake Club is less than a half hour’s drive southwest of the city, and as the name says, it boasts a waterfront location. The amenities here include a boat dock and boat and kayak launches. And when you’re not out on the water, you can play pickleball, bocce ball, or tennis at the clubhouse and then have a meal at its Bahama Bar & Grille. Or perhaps you’d like to swim a few laps at the resort-style pool—the choice is up to you.
This gated community will have a total of 650 attached and single-family homes. The Villas by Pulte Homes models are 1,543 and 1,579 square feet with two bedrooms, dens, two baths, and two-car garages. The homes built by Taylor Morrison come in nine floor plans ranging from 1,856 to 3,502 square feet with two to four bedrooms, two to five baths, dens, and attached two-car garages. The third builder, Seagate Development, has six additional models worth considering. These range from 3,150 to 4,123 square feet, with three to four bedrooms, four-and-a-half to five bathrooms, dens, and attached three-car garages.
These beautifully crafted homes offer gourmet kitchens, bay windows in the owners’ suites, private swimming pools, oversized lanais, tray ceilings, and outdoor fireplaces. Your HOA fees will provide for community services, including the full-time Lifestyle Manager.
Important Things to Know About Fort Myers
The Fort Myers area is also called the Fort Myers-Cape Coral Area since the two cities are less than 10 miles apart. The closest international airport also has two names: It’s technically Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW), but it’s also referred to as Fort Myers Airport. There are some domestic airports in the area too, like Charlotte County Airport and Naples Municipal. Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport is 81 miles away. Top hospitals in the Fort Myers-Cape Coral area include Lee Memorial, Cape Coral Hospital, and Gulf Coast Medical Center.
Fort Myers is known for its beaches, like Lynn Hall Memorial Park Beach and Crescent Beach. Some are along the Caloosahatchee River, but Fort Myers Beach is out by Cape Coral on the Gulf of Mexico. This part of Florida is also home to Sanibel Island, Captiva Island, and Pine Island. Fort Myers also has a historic downtown area, world-class restaurants, shops, parks, and the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels local baseball team. There are two public golf courses too: Eastwood Golf Course and Fort Myers Country Club.
Contact 55places.com to find your perfect community in the Fort Myers area.
