FORT MYERS BEACH, Fla. – Before Hurricane Ian, the Southwest Florida housing market was hot. Now, a Fort Myers Beach realtor says it’s getting even busier as people decide whether to rebuild or sell their homes.
This begs the question: could we see more skyscrapers, investors, or will Fort Myers Beach retain its quintessential atmosphere?
“It was overwhelming to do that,” said Kelly Ross, who has her home on the market. “It will be interesting to see what everyone does.”
Ross has lived in his Fort Myers Beach home since 1998, raising his children there and even caring for his father. The two houses next to her are also on the market.
“People will never forget it, but people can see the future – what Fort Myers Beach will be like,” said Jorge Barrera, real estate agent for Premiere Plus. “Of course it’s going to look different, ok, but it’s going to be beautiful.”
Different in more ways than one, believes Barrera.
“With the new building codes, we’re not going to see as many little cabins,” he explained. “I could see a few fancy hotels, probably.”
Barrera says we’ll see a bit of everything. It’s a sight you may not yet see physically, but we are already feeling the effects of it in a different way.
The realtor says the prices on Fort Myers Beach are all over the place. Some homes and lots cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. Others are on the market for over a million dollars.
“That’s what I see from $800 a square foot to $300 a square foot,” Barrera said.
These numbers relate to a three-bedroom, two-bathroom home that is not on a canal.
“We’re seeing enough activity on condo sales, some beachfront sales, canals, bays that now people would be like, okay, that’s okay to pay this amount for this property,” Barrera explained. .
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People like Ross, who has lived on Estero Island for a long time, say she thinks more investors will head to the area.
“I think it’s going to be very commercialized,” she said. “It’s going to be different.”
Nothing can tell us exactly what Fort Myers Beach will look like. Barrera says it’s not all about looks, however.
“The vibe comes from the people who live here,” he said.
An atmosphere that Ross does not want to lose. She plans to rebuild, if her house does not sell.
In the meantime, she’s going to do what she knows best.
“Island life, just ebb and flow,” Ross said.
Barrera says if you’re looking to sell your home, do your due diligence. He says it’s normal to talk to several different agents before choosing one.
“Just make sure whoever you hire will have your best interests at heart,” he said.