Hi everyone, it’s Chelsea here, bringing you another segment of Living in Southwest Florida. Cape Coral Florida is one of the fastest growing places to live in the United States. But if you’re thinking of moving to Cape Coral, Fort Myers, or really anywhere in Southwest Florida - you may be wondering… why? So today we’re going to take a few minutes and explore reasons why people choose to live here.
But before we jump in, really quick it would mean a lot to me if you could hit that like button so the YouTube algorithms share this info with others and let me know what you’d like more of. As a thank you, here is some footage of Nick the bartender at JungleBird Tiki in Cape Coral making some of their fabulous cocktails. And real quick, I wouldn’t be good at my job if I didn’t remind you how much we love helping people from all over the country buy and sell their homes here in Southwest Florida so if you or anyone you know are thinking about moving then feel free to use the contact info below.
Alright let’s jump right in.
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There are several reasons why Cape Coral, Florida is a great place to live. Here are the top reasons:
Reason 1: Probably the top reason why I heard people say they are looking for Cape Coral is the WATERFRONT LIVING. Cape Coral is known as the “Waterfront Wonderland” because it has over 400 miles of canals, more than even Venice Italy. This means that if you are a boater, fisherman, or really any water sports enthusiast, it can be paradise with all of its waterfront home options. Many homes in Cape Coral have their own private docks and boat lifts, providing direct access to the Gulf of Mexico and other beautiful waterways. If you are considering a move here for the water, note that there are different levels of lot accessibility. Our easiest accessible, obviously, will be homes directly on the river. Then comes ‘sailboat access’ which means there are no bridges to go under in order to get out to open water. Next would be gulf access with bridges - and those values will vary based off distance to troll until you get to open water and the bridge heights you have to pass. Next would be freshwater canals that do not connect to the Gulf of Mexico. And finally dry lots not on the water. And believe it or not - not everyone wants to be on a canal - but - even those on dry lots might still want to be here for the water access. There are still have plenty of opportunities to get to boat ramps or find a space to drop a fishing pole, even for those who choose the dry lot option.
Reason 2: Affordable Housing. I know that it seems like it’s an oxymore right now to say that anywhere in SWFL is considered affordable but statistically Cape Coral IS considered affordable compared to other cities in Florida, making it an attractive choice for families, retirees, and first-time homebuyers. According to the Federal Reserve, at their last published count, which is the last Quarter of 2022, the median home price nationwide was $467,700. In Cape Coral, the median home price is $397.000. That would make it roughly $70,000 less than the national median rates. It also offers more bang for it’s buck than other areas, like, our sister city Fort Myers, whose median home price is $380,000. Now I know this number sounds negligible, but it’s only this close because I’ve lumped in condos and single family homes together to get it. If I split it out and compare single family homes only - which is the most prevalent option in Cape Coral, we will see that the median single family home price jumps up 100,000. The median in Fort Myers is $470,000 while in Cape Coral its $410,000 - again making Cape Coral the more affordable option.
Reason 3: The types of homes that are available. As I’ve already established, Cape Coral is particularly enticing for those looking to live on the water. With all those canals, waterfront living is plentiful. And with so much availability, waterfront living is going to be more affordable to people who may not have been able to consider the option in other cities.
Even if waterfront isn’t your thing, many people like the way that the homes are set up. Majority of Cape Coral is not set with planned neighborhoods that come with a HOA governing over it. Yes - there are a few available, but most of the city is laid out lot by lot by lot, giving homeowners more autonomy over their land. I’m going to caveat this by saying there are still city codes that have to be met, and the City of Cape Coral has been known to enforce them. So don’t expect to go hog wild. But since HOAs are less common, most homeowners can expect there not to be HOA fees or an extra charge that often comes with new communities called a CDD taxes, or Community Development District fees.
I also want to take a minute and say that if you are also particularly wanting a new home, Cape Coral has more new homes put up than any other area here in SWFL. The city of Cape Coral is a developing city. And as such, it means they offer many opportunities to buy new construction homes versus existing resale. If you are looking for a new home, check out the video here that I did on new construction in SWFL.
Reason 4: Outdoor Recreation. We’ve talked a lot about the boating and the fishing but Cape Coral is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts of all kinds. In addition to the extensive water activities, the city boasts numerous parks, nature preserves, and golf courses, providing plenty of opportunities for hiking, biking, bird-watching, and golfing. The warm climate also allows for year-round outdoor recreation, making it ideal for those who enjoy an active lifestyle. We have a parks GO bond currently which is helping to extensively add playgrounds and pickleball courts and other amenities to our plethora of parks.
Reason 5: Our Community: Cape Coral is known for its community atmosphere. With respectable schools, community events, and recreational facilities that cater to our population. Popular events are often the city’s Fourth of July Party called Red, White, and Boom and the community parade for Veteran’s Day which is always fun. The city of Cape Coral has really prioritized quality of life and they often offer things like Movies in the Park, Halloween trunk or treats, a Festival of Lights during the holidays, and other fun things. There are also an extensive offerings by Parks and Rec with activities for all ages. From Mommy and Me classes to field trips for the 55+ crowd.This past weekend, the city hosted it’s first Earth Day event with a community wide cleanup. It’s become a good way, in my opinion, to meet others in the city.
Reason 6: The city has a low crime rate. According to City-Data.com, the City of Cape Coral’s 2020 crime rate is 83, which is 3.1 times less than the national average According to Sperling’s Best Places list, the FBI Uniform Crime Reports says that Cape Coral experienced significant reductions in crime between 2016-2018, falling by over 20%. On a scale from 1-100, with 100 being high crime, Cape Coral was half the US average for violent crime, and 7% less than the US average for property crime. No place is perfect and bad things can happen anywhere, but statistically, Cape Coral is a pretty solid choice.
Reason 7: Booming Economy: Cape Coral’s economy is thriving, with a growing job market and business opportunities. The city has a diverse economy that includes healthcare, education, hospitality, and construction sectors, among others. In the past, many of the services and facilities have been located in Fort Myers, but there have been big pushes by the city to increase job opportunity, here within Cape Coral. At the Catch the Vision conference they had earlier in the year, they reported on multiple projects that will be coming to the Cape Coral. Companies like NorTech, a boat builder, is creating a larger facility, as well as assisted living, work/play communities like the Cove at 47th, and a hotel and conference facility at the Seven Islands. Also something to consider, Cape Coral also offers a favorable tax climate, making it appealing for businesses and entrepreneurs. AND no state income tax for employees.
Reason 8: Close Proximity to Other Attractions: Cape Coral is located near many popular attractions in Southwest Florida, such as Sanibel Island, Captiva Island, and Fort Myers Beach, which are just a short drive away. But it’s also within driving distance to other major cities as well. Naples is only 45 minutes to an hour away, Sarasota is right around an hour or so, both Tampa and Miami are about 2-2.5 hours away, and Orlando is about 3 hours. This is great for additional museums, theme parks, travel from even larger airports or ports for cruising, concerts, sporting events… all sort of amenities and and entertainment.
Alright, if you have questions about the data or if you’d like to drill down and compare specific neighborhoods - like say Cape Coral versus Fort Myers - or waterfront homes or pool homes or whatever your specific circumstances call for - then feel free to reach out with the contact info below in the description below. Myself and the network of agents I have throughout the United States are here and ready to help you with your move.
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If you are ready to get the ball rolling on your move to Southwest Florida, then there is a link in the description below to set up a personalized home search that will be tailored to you. Oftentimes when you search on web aggregates it limits your capabilities - but when I build this search, you will have many more options available and we can begin a conversation about what your home in FL will look like.
Or feel free to use CapeCoralFortMyersRealEstate.com for all the latest listings to hit the market and begin getting comfortable with our marketplace. No obligations.
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Thanks so much for watching and until next time I wish you much health and happiness.
https://www.city-data.com/crime/crime-Cape-Coral-Florida.html