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.

The Waterway Estates neighborhood offers canal views and lakeside living across the river from downtown Fort Myers. Though located near a major city, life here moves at a slower pace. The area especially appeals to those “looking for that type of boating, relaxed atmosphere,” explains Kayla Boyd-Jones of RE/MAX Trend, a Realtor living in Fort Myers and selling properties in Waterway Estates. The neighborhood has two main subdivisions, both offering waterfront single-family homes and amenity-rich condos. In the homeowners association of Moody River Estates, homes feature stucco finishes and tile roofs, and each property is steps from a picturesque lake. Palm trees act as a barrier between houses, and a wide sidewalk connects to community amenities. In the namesake subdivision of Waterway Estates, ranch-style homes with uniform property sizes line a narrow canal. “There are a lot of vacation homes, but there are usually lease restrictions,” Boyd-Jones says. While two-bedroom condo units in Moody River Estates start around $325,000, waterfront homes in the community over 2,500 square feet reach nearly $700,000. Three-bedroom houses in the Waterway Estates subdivision begin around $360,000 and reach up to $1 million for homes over 4,000 square feet. Part of Lee County Public Schools, the neighborhood gains access to a walkable elementary school and a top-rated high school. Students start their education at Hancock Creek Elementary, a B-graded school, according to Niche. From here, students transition to Caloosa Middle, a B-minus-graded school, before attending North Fort Myers High, an A-graded school ranked as the third-best public high school in the county. At North Fort Myers High, students can participate in the Center for the Arts and Media to pursue a specialized education in subjects like dance, visual arts and orchestra. How residents of the Waterway Estates neighborhood spend their free time depends on the subdivision in which they live. For those living in Moody River Estates, outdoor options like tennis, water aerobics and pickleball are steps away from home. Regardless of subdivision, locals can practice their swing at El Rio Golf Club, a course centered between Moody River Estates and Waterway Estates, or stop by one of the many parks located within a two-mile radius of the neighborhood, including Judd Community Park and Kurt Donaldson Community Park. When choosing a green space, there’s no need to worry about quality. “All of our county parks that you see on the map are kept up with and utilized,” Boyd-Jones says. Whether grabbing ingredients for dinner or looking for a spot to dine for lunch, residents benefit from the neighborhood’s convenient proximity to retailers on both sides of the river. Publix Super Market at Orange Grove Center sits across the Hancock Bridge Parkway, near El Rio Golf Club, and national retailers like Target, Five Below and Lowe’s Home Improvement are less than 5 miles away at Del Prado Crossing. For restaurants, spots like Brooke’s Restaurant & Lounge and Ristorante Fabio can be reached in about a mile, and downtown Fort Myers includes top-rated dining options less than 5 miles away, including Ford’s Garage Fort Myers and Izzy’s Fish & Oyster. Homeowners in Moody River Estates benefit from private events and parties, but all residents in the Waterway Estates neighborhood gain access to the countless events happening in Fort Myers. Whether looking for orchestra performances, live theater events or farmers markets, downtown Fort Myers features a full calendar of events to attend throughout the year. Some of the most popular annual activities include the boat parade, concert series and international film festival. With the Hancock Bridge Parkway flanking the neighborhood, residents can easily reach Cleveland Avenue—a highway connecting right to downtown Fort Myers by car and bus. Ramps to Interstate 75 are less than 10 miles away for long-distance travel, and the Southwest Florida International Airport is less than 20 miles southeast. The neighborhood has multiple medical facilities in three directions. Cape Coral Hospital is less than 3 miles east, and Lee Memorial Hospital is less than 10 miles west. Additionally, the Veterans Affairs Clinic at Cape Coral is less than 5 miles north.