Prospective real estate buyers have varying priorities when it comes to choosing a location. Not every location will meet the needs of every interested buyer.
This decision is largely influenced by personal preferences such as the environment, available activities, and the intended capital investment. The following information may help inform this decision:
| Beach access | The southern parts of Naples, Marco Island and Bonita Springs offer the best beach access in Southwest Florida. Of course, the offshore islands such as Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel Island or Captiva Island are also beautiful. Fort Myers does not have its own beach; Cape Coral has only a very small beach area at the marina. |
| Shopping and restaurants | By far the most extensive offer can be found in Naples. There are numerous exclusive shopping centers, a city center that invites you to stroll and an infinite number of restaurants for every taste. |
| Culture | Naples offers a wide range of cultural events in the Philharmonic and other theaters. There are also several well-known museums. In Fort Myers, the Barbara B Mann Performing Hall offers an extensive cultural program. |
| Boat dock | Cape Coral is a boater’s paradise, with many homes located on canals that lead to the Gulf. However, the journey to the Gulf from some of these homes can be lengthy. Marco Island also has a number of canals, and from most boat docks, the Gulf can be reached quickly. Naples also offers waterfront properties, which are mostly located in the most exclusive residential areas and come with correspondingly higher prices. Bonita Springs and Estero offer waterfront locations in very different price ranges. Fort Myers offers beautiful houses with boat docks, especially along the river. |
| Golf courses | Naples is considered the golf capital of the world, with the most golf holes per resident, boasting over 80 golf courses. During high season (November to April), around 15 courses are open to the public, while during off-season, more than 45 courses are open with a required golf pass that costs around $55 per person per year. Bonita Springs, Estero, Fort Myers and Cape Coral also have numerous golf courses, but the selection is not as wide as in Naples. |
| Crime | Collier County, which encompasses Naples, Marco Island, Everglades City and immokalee, is one of the safest counties in Florida, ranking 15th out of 67 counties in terms of violent crimes in 2020. Lee County ranked 25th. The rate in both counties came in far below the average in Florida. The information is from the website of the Florida Department of Health. |
