What I Wish I Knew Before Moving to Southwest Florida
One of the questions I get asked all the time is, “What do you wish you knew before you made the move to Southwest Florida?” When I sit back and think about it, there are definitely a few big things that caught us by surprise. When we decided to move to Florida back in 2012, most of what we “knew” about Florida came from winter and spring visits. We came down to see my parents at Christmas, we visited for spring break, and we fell in love with that perfect winter weather our snowbirds dream about when they’re shoveling snow up north. Then we actually moved here—in June. That first week felt like a whole different world.
Winter Vacations vs Summer Reality
Our very first week as full-time Floridians, it rained every single afternoon. Not just a drizzle, but those intense, tropical downpours that roll in, soak everything, and then leave as quickly as they came. We had heard it rained a lot in the summer, but seeing how hard and how fast it rains was still a shock. What really surprised us, though, wasn’t the rain—it was the lightning. In the summer, we get powerful thunderstorms, and the lightning here is on a different level. You’ll even see lightning counters on the local news showing how many strikes are happening around the region in real time. It’s wild. Even with the storms and the heat, we still love being here in the summer. Yes, it’s hot and humid. Yes, you will sweat the second you walk outside. And yes, you’ll quickly learn that everywhere you go blasts the air conditioning, so ladies, always bring a light jacket or sweatshirt for restaurants and stores. Long term, our dream is to spend part of the summer in the North Carolina mountains and the rest of the year here in Florida—but for now, this is still home.
Hurricanes: How It Really Feels to Live Through Storm Season
We knew about hurricanes before we moved here, but it is completely different watching a storm track from another state versus living here while one is forming and heading your way. The good news is you get a lot of notice. During hurricane season, you’ll hear about waves, disturbances, and potential systems for days or even weeks. Many never develop or they curve away. Some do come through. It’s nothing like tornadoes, which I grew up with in Illinois—you get very little warning and suddenly they’re there. With hurricanes, there is constant conversation, preparation, and tracking. In the 13 years we’ve lived here, we’ve only left once, for Hurricane Irma in 2017. Our home and neighborhood were fine. Hurricane Ian had a huge impact on our area, but we live inland and east, so our personal damage was minimal compared to those on the coast. A couple of smaller storms have passed through, and you learn that hurricanes are simply part of the natural tradeoff of living in paradise. Every region has its “thing”—tornadoes, blizzards, fires, earthquakes. Ours is hurricanes, and we prepare, respect the risk, and keep living the life we love.
Cost of Living in Lee County vs the National Average
Another big surprise for many people is the cost of living. There used to be a perception that Florida was always cheaper than much of the country. That can be true in some parts of the state, but it really depends on where you’re coming from and where you’re looking. When we moved from Illinois, we were thrilled about two things: no state income tax and significantly lower real estate taxes compared to our high-tax state. Those are still huge benefits of becoming a Florida resident. But beyond that, it helps to look at some basic comparisons. Using national averages as a baseline, the median home price in the U.S. is around $274,000. In Lee County, the median home price is roughly $357,500—about 30% higher than the national average. Collier County (Naples) tends to run even higher. Other categories like transportation, healthcare, utilities, and groceries tend to be a bit above national averages but not by an extreme amount. For example, transportation and utilities here in Lee County are only a few percentage points higher. So the biggest difference is housing. If you’re coming from a big coastal city or a high-cost state, you might find Southwest Florida comparable or even favorable. If you’re coming from a very low-cost area, you may be surprised by how much house your budget buys here.
Choosing Where to Live: The Power of Your Wish List
One of the biggest things I wish we had understood better before moving is just how different all of our sub-areas are. When we moved, a lot of our decision was based on where family and friends lived. My parents were already here part-time and lived in Estero. I had friends in Estero. It just seemed like the logical place because that’s what we knew. Now that we’ve lived here for years, I can see how many options there really are, and how important it is to match where you live with how you want to live. Do you want to be close to the beach? Do you need quick access to the airport? Do you want to be near downtown Naples, or do you prefer a quieter, more suburban feel? Do you dream of golf, boating in your backyard, pickleball, or resort-style amenities without golf? When you work with our team, we start with a detailed wish list. We talk about lifestyle first—how you see your Florida life, how often you’ll be here, what matters most day to day—and then we reverse engineer locations and communities from there. Otherwise, the choices can feel overwhelming fast.
Community, Culture, and Lifestyle in Southwest Florida
Our region is smaller than many major metros, but it doesn’t feel like a sleepy town. When you combine Lee and Collier Counties—Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Estero, Bonita Springs, Naples, Lehigh Acres, and surrounding areas—our population is around a million and a half and growing. One of the things I love most is how much culture and entertainment we have access to. In Estero, Hertz Arena hosts Florida Everblades hockey games and brings in big-name concerts and comedy shows. In Fort Myers, Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall brings touring productions, comedians, and off-Broadway shows. Naples has its own vibrant arts and performance scene through venues like Artis—Naples, with concerts, ballet, and more. And then there’s our location. We’re roughly two hours to Tampa, two to Miami, two to Fort Lauderdale, about three to Orlando. We regularly drive to concerts, sporting events, and tennis tournaments in those cities and use those airports when it makes sense. So you get a smaller, livable everyday environment with easy access to big-city amenities when you want them.
Jobs, Growth, Infrastructure, and Traffic
For many years, our dominant industries were hospitality, healthcare, and the school system, along with a significant retired population. That’s still a big part of our local economy, but it’s changing. We’re seeing more families move here earlier in life, often following parents who came as snowbirds. Industry and infrastructure are catching up. The Alico Road corridor between Fort Myers and Estero has seen tremendous growth. Amazon now has multiple facilities here, and companies like Gartner, Hertz, and Chico’s have major operations or headquarters in our area, often near the airport. Road projects are underway or planned, including expansions along major arteries like Corkscrew Road and SR-82, to better support growth. With all that said, traffic in season is real. Our population swells by more than 30% when snowbirds and visitors arrive. Many are unfamiliar with our roads, and yes, we see some “interesting” driving. During season, you plan ahead, leave more time, and make dinner reservations. In summer and shoulder seasons, you enjoy lighter traffic, specials at local restaurants, and a different pace of life.
Real Estate Prices and What Your Budget Really Buys
Real estate is another area where expectations and reality can clash. When we moved here after the 2008 crash, there was a lot of inventory and prices were much lower than they are today. Those days are gone. Now, many buyers are surprised by how much (or how little) home their budget buys, especially in the most desirable areas. Location drives price in a big way. The closer you get to the beach and the Gulf, the more expensive it is. The closer you are to central or Old Naples, the higher the prices. That same three-bedroom, two-bath, 2,000-square-foot home might be one price in northern Fort Myers or Alva, more in central Fort Myers, more again in Estero, a step up in Bonita, and higher still inland Naples. As you move farther east in Naples or into more emerging areas, pricing can become more accessible again. On top of purchase price, you need to be aware of HOA dues, CDD fees in certain communities, and what those fees actually include—landscaping, amenities, maintenance, guards, and gated entries all factor into what makes our communities look so manicured and resort-like. For some people, that added cost is worth every penny. Others prefer a less structured, more “non-HOA” feel. There truly is something for everyone, but it’s important to get clear on your budget and priorities before you start shopping.
Is Moving to Southwest Florida Right for You?
At the end of the day, I don’t regret our move for a second. But I do wish we had understood a few of these things ahead of time—the intensity of summer storms, the reality of hurricanes, the true cost of living, how different each pocket of our area feels, and what our budget would realistically buy us in different locations. My goal is to help you come in with your eyes wide open so you can make the best decision for you. If living in Florida is your dream, I want to help you figure out whether Southwest Florida is the right fit and, if it is, where your ideal lifestyle lives on the map. If you’d like to dig deeper into the numbers, compare our area to where you live now, or build a custom wish list and plan for your move, we’re here to help. You can always contact me directly at 239-776-6872 or schedule a time using my Calendly link. And if you found this helpful, share it with a friend who’s also dreaming about palm trees and sunshine. We’d love to help you not just move to Southwest Florida—but truly Live Joy here.