North Fort Myers

With lakes weaved throughout its streets and nature preserves offering a buffer of greenery around its edges, Jacaranda maintains a balance between natural beauty and amenity-rich living. Made up of multiple golf course communities and resort-style homeowners associations, the neighborhood invites residents to stay entertained close to home while keeping downtown Fort Myers less than 10 miles away. Subdivisions with private amenities comprise Jacaranda, most of which aim for self-sufficiency. “It’s a very convenient location with a lot of shopping. There are a lot of golfing communities like Herons Glen, which has homes, condos and villas,” explains Lori Caldwell of Hamilton-Franklin Realty, a Realtor living and working in Lee County. In Herons Glen, residents gain access to recreational spaces like a golf course, tennis court, fitness center, card room and lakeside pool, with two-bedroom villas costing around $350,000 and single-family homes extending as far as $500,000. Magnolia Landing offers the same amenities for a lower price point, with two-bedroom villas ranging from $300,000 to $370,000. Bella Vida includes comparable amenities, but the gated subdivision also consists of a basketball court, volleyball court and playground, appealing to buyers of all ages and costing between $325,000 and $550,000, depending on the home’s square footage. For those 55 and older, Pine Lake Country Club is a pet-friendly mobile home park with resort-style amenities and one-bedroom mobile homes starting at just over $100,000. Zoned for Lee County Public Schools, the neighborhood gains access to a B-plus-graded district, according to Niche. Kids begin at Littleton Elementary and transition to Diplomat Middle, both of which earn a B grade. For high school, students attend Island Coast, a C-plus-graded school within walking distance. At Island Coast, students can participate in aerospace, broadcast communications and digital design academies. For those seeking private educational options, schools like Living Word Christian School, Classical Christian Academy and New Life Academy are all located within a 10-mile radius of Jacaranda. Flanked by three nature preserves, the neighborhood gains access to several trails and observation areas. When locals take a break from hitting the greens, spots like Gator Trails Park, Yellow Fever Creek Preserve and Yucca Pens Preserve offer a space to embrace native plant and wildlife species, all within a 5-mile radius of home. Judd Community Park is also nearby, about 6 miles south, and includes a dog park, sports courts and a playground. Though homeowners associations like Magnolia Landing and Herons Glen include their own restaurants, residents need to venture out of the community for groceries and essentials. Situated at the corner of North Tamiami Trail and Del Prado Boulevard, Publix Super Market keeps fresh produce and household essentials less than a mile from Bella Vida and 5 miles from Herons Glen. For clothing shopping or gift buying, Edison Mall sits 10 miles south and includes stores like Dillard’s and JCPenney. The mall also includes several restaurants like Monarcas Authentic Mexican Cuisine Bar and Grill. Each community offers private events and activities, from craft shows to card games. Herons Glen features weekly live music at the Eagle’s Nest and hosts a summer entertainment series with local musicians and comedy acts. Similarly, Pine Lakes holds social events like weekly pool parties and monthly pancake breakfasts. If looking to branch out and head to downtown Fort Myers, residents can drive less than 10 miles away down Route 41. Whether seeking more excitement or looking to vacation out of town, travel proves simple from Jacaranda. “There’s easy access to downtown Fort Myers from 41 if you like the nightlife down there,” Caldwell says. When headed about 25 miles to the Southwest Florida International Airport, ramps to Interstate 75 are about 10 miles away and offer a direct connection to Terminal Access Road. Medical care is easily reached from Jacaranda, with ShortPoint Health Emergency and Urgent Care 8 miles away and Cape Coral Hospital 12 miles away. For veterans, the Veterans Affairs Clinic in Cape Coral is about 5 miles away as well.