What Fort Myers is like
Fort Myers began in the 1850s as a U.S. Army outpost on the Caloosahatchee River and grew into a winter retreat for Thomas Edison, who bought riverfront property in 1885, and Henry Ford, who bought the neighboring estate in 1916. Their winter homes are preserved today at the Edison and Ford Winter Estates on McGregor Boulevard. Edison's wife Mina lined the streets with royal palms, giving the city its nickname, the City of Palms.
Lifestyle
The heart of the city is the Historic Downtown Fort Myers River District, a roughly 540-acre waterfront district with brick-paved streets, restaurants, galleries, and live theater, including the Florida Repertory Theatre in a restored 1915 vaudeville house. New riverfront towers and a downtown redevelopment plan are adding thousands of residences, making the district a walkable live-work-play neighborhood. The river itself anchors recreation, from sunset cruises to fishing.
The market right now
Fort Myers has shifted from a hyper-competitive seller's market toward a balanced one, with median sale prices around $348,000 in 2026 and homes typically selling in about 70 to 75 days. In the River District, listings range from condos near $380,000 up to multi-million-dollar riverfront and historic properties. The mix of historic charm, urban amenities, and broad price points makes Fort Myers one of the most approachable markets in Southwest Florida.
Fort Myers