Estero : Florida

Estero, Florida is a new and very small town that has just emerged on Route 41 between Ft. Myers to the north and Naples to the South. It is destined to be a popular retirement community for active adults 55+. There is very little infrastructure and no downtown area, although a massive building campaign is underway to support the many upscale developments that are being built in this area. Coconut Point is a massive upscale shopping area that attracts shoppers from afar.  Koreshan, a lost utopian community, was built here early in the 1900’s. Located in the southern part of Florida’s Gulf Coast, there is easy access to the extensive bays and waterways so it is also a boater’s or fishermen’s paradise.  Estero was hit by hurricanes in 2004, although the aftermath has been repaired by now.

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The community is mostly for retirees and over 55s (average age is one of the highest in the country - 62). Most developments boast championship golf courses, tennis courts, swimming pools and outsized clubhouses inside their gated walls.  There are many developments to choose from with a wide range of costs and types of facilities, including 55+ and active adult communities. One of the nicest is Pelican Sound, which has several golf courses and access to the Gulf from its own launching ramp. It is right across the street from Coconut Point.
Like most of south Florida, real estate has taken a hit in Estero. Some communities have seen extensive foreclosures and/or closure of facilities, while prices in others have been relatively stable. The median sales price of a home in Estero according to City-Data was about $230,000 in the last quarter of 2012. 

There is lot traffic in the summer. Over development is looming. There are also frequent hurricanes and no public transportation.