Realtor Jorge Barrera from Premiere Plus Realty has shared new data he compiled that shows the real estate activity on Fort Myers Beach has been relatively quiet as of late.
Starting with single family homes there were 201 homes on the market in the month of May this year. In March and April there were 213 Fort Myers Beach single-family homes for sale, more than any other month in the last 5 years. From January through May of this year, 38 homes have been sold. In 2023, during those same 5 months, 119 homes were sold. For the year, in 2023, 179 homes were sold. In 2024, 70 were sold. 2021 was the best year for sales, over the last 5 years, with 192 homes sold.
Barrera says buyers indecisiveness is due in part because of hurricane’s Helene and Milton. “It was the last straw for many residents and the number of listings went way up, while buyer confidence went down for the same reason.”
Jorge also analyzed vacant lots on Fort Myers Beach. He found there are 132 vacant lots on the market as of June, 2025 with only 8 lots being sold so far this year. Back in 2023, 66 vacant lots were sold. Last year 32 were sold.
And through the month of May there are about 316 condos/villas/townhouses on the market on Fort Myers Beach. A total of 58 have been sold so far this year. In 2020, 320 were sold. In 2021, 401 were sold. In 2022, 232 were sold, In 2023, 197 were sold. Last year 166 were sold.
The one thing really missing focus in most analysis is price. With the extreme bubble created from 2020 to 2023, prices on the island were are up over 50% in quite a few cases. This has caused demand destruction. Pulse with the most recent reminders we are vulnerable to hurricanes you get this kind of market. Price needs to further correct to align with a more historic appreciation trends. Until this happens, market movement will not improve. People who have had successful sales recently should count themselves fortunate.
2021 was my best year as well; The Big Beautiful Tax Bill( which will be next) includes each child in America under 12 to receive $1000.00 to invest in the stock market; see Trump looking out for your portfolio
It would be interesting to know the average price based on square footage or lots and how they compare over the last 4 years
Jorge’s numbers look correct to me for Estero Island (FMB island) he is pulling his numbers directly from MLS. Every RE market has its up and downs, it is simply a Buyers market right now, a Great time for buyers to purchase/invest, for sellers who have owned for more than 5 years or more can still sell and make a profit they just can not expect pre-Ian prices and should expect to be on the market for a while, unless the price it right.
Since you are a realtor you should know that those numbers are including homes all the way down to Walmart. If the numbers are isolated to just the actual FMB (Estero Island), over the bridge, then the numbers are off. The numbers need to just be FMB to give accurate stats. If someone wants a house on FMB, they would not be happy if you start to show them houses in The Isles Of Palm or Siesta Isles by they pottery place.
He has to be including San Carlos island with these numbers. These numbers are higher than what is on the actual island. Keep in mind homes all the way down to Walmart is considered Fort Myers Beach.
Hi Carol, these numbers were pulled directly from the Southwest Florida MLS. They are specific to “Estero Island” only.
Great job, Jorge! Couldn’t agree more with your market assessment of the island.
Thanks Tiffany, I am sure you also get asked all the time, how the market is doing? there is no better way to explain it than with actual data straight from the MLS.
Jorge, I can see you are quoting data from months ago (mar and april) and I am referring to current data on the mls as of this time in June and it is 177 active single family homes on Estero Island. Sorry I didn’t realize that Ed had posted an article from you that was a few months old. You and your friend Tiffany clearly are agreeing on the old data and I am quoting current data. Sorry for this confusion.