Southwest Florida pending home sales are up 3.3% from this exact same week last year. They are also up 5.7% from last week. We are measuring the cumulative pending home sales and not the new pendings. Of course, new pending home sales will help add to the total until they either close or fall out.

Why Do We Track Southwest Florida Pending Home Sales?

 Pending sales lead to closings, and we are constantly evaluating what kind of market we are in an where we are headed. Being able to predict future closings helps keep our clients ahead of other buyers and sellers in the market. The Southwest Florida pending home sales metric is perhaps the easiest and most basic metric we track, and yet it tells us important information.

How Do Sellers Use This Information?

We always want to price at the market, or ahead of the market. Sellers never want to price behind the market. If the market is declining, pricing behind the market just gets you further behind as time passes. In a rising market, you can afford to price ahead of the market as the market will catch you eventually. This is where we study absorption rates and how long it will take for the market to catch you. Then we can align with your goals and help you decide how to market your home.

Buyers Need Help Too

Buyers can easily get caught negotiating in yesterday’s market, to their own detriment. In a declining market, buyers may want to be more aggressive with their offers. But what happens when the market begins to turn back positive? Buyers wonder why they keep missing out on offers, only to watch the listing sell to another buyer. Many times, the buyer was using outdated information in their decision process.

Emotional Transactions

Both buyers and sellers are guilty of using data to convince themselves their position is correct. They get frustrated when the other side doesn’t understand where they are coming from and why. Sometimes they seek out another agent who can better convince the other side of their position. Sometimes this is true, the agent you’re working with may not understand the market. However, sometimes it is the buyer or seller who doesn’t understand what’s happening today.

Headlines Are a Problem

How many times have you read a headline only to find out the story doesn’t match the headline, or the reporter didn’t seem to understand the data. It might surprise you to know that reporters often write the story and a headline writer creates the headline. The headline is meant to sell the story, not 100% match the story. That is frustrating. Worse is when the writer doesn’t understand the data. How could we expect them to? If some agents don’t understand, how could a reporter outside our industry understand the data? Reporters have to be a jack of all trades, covering finance, medicine, local, crime, weather, etc. There is no way they can know the story without speaking with a professional.

Thinking of Buying or Selling?

It pays to speak with a professional who knows the market. Each neighborhood can act differently than the overall market, and savvy buyers and sellers study micro-markets to find the best value. To help you track these trends, we’ve launched dedicated resources for some of the area’s most sought-after locations. You can now explore the latest market data and listings on our new Brightwater community page and our Pelican Preserve real estate guide.

If you’re looking for an agent to market your home and differentiate you from all the other sellers, always call the Ellis Team at 239-489-4042 or visit our website at www.topagent.com.   Good luck, and Happy Selling!

Good luck, and Happy Selling!

View Our Latest Podcast Episode

Is the SW Florida Real Estate Market Stabilizing?

Introducing the Ellis Team Market Spread Index™ for January 2026. Currently the index stands at 6,259. This index effectively measures the gap between the current available single-family listings and the total pending sales. The distance between the two measures market intensity. As the gap widens it can signal that buyers are turning off or rejecting current market conditions and choosing less to participate. As the gap narrows it signifies buyers and sellers are on the same page and both are participating in an efficient market. In this case, demand is closer to supply and closer to equilibrium.

Ellis Team Market Spread Index History

If you go back to 2022 you will see the Ellis Team Market Spread Index was below zero. This means that more homes were coming off the market than coming on. It created a tremendous imbalance. Demand outpaced supply, and it caused prices to soar. On the other end of the spectrum, February 11, 2025, saw the height of the index. At that time, supply far outpaced demand, and the index stood at 7,403. This means there was a difference of over 7,400 homes on the market and pending demand.

The extreme in 2022 led to what would come in 2025 when the market shifted. Markets love to be in balance, but they can’t stay there. Something always happens to cause a shift. How extreme the shift becomes can lead to the next shift. This is why we like to keep our shifts in range, but of course we are not in charge of anything. As real estate agents we simply work in the market we are in and help buyers and sellers interpret. Indexes such as the Ellis Team Current Market Index™ and the Ellis Team Market Spread Index™ help us as agents interpret the market.

How Most Agents Interpret the Market

Most agents interpret the market by how they feel. If their phone is ringing, and if they’re working with buyers and sellers, they feel like the market is busy and things are popping. Conversely, if they are not busy, they interpret the market as slow. Both can be incorrect. The market is not hot or cold based upon how busy an agent is. Some agents take the summers off, so when they come back, they have no pipeline because they haven’t been in the market or lead generating. Does that mean the market is soft when they come back? Absolutely not.

Data Driven Strategy

The Ellis Team works year-round and judges the market by the data, not our feelings. If we are busy, it is because we actively market our properties and are lead generating. If we are slow down, then it is up to us to go out and create business. We are not busy or slow because of the market. We will never use the market as an excuse. Many properties sell even in the slowest of markets, and somebody is selling them. This is why we never stop marketing, never stop working. Our clients depend on us, and so do our team.

If you have a property to sell, give Brett or Sande Ellis a call at 239-489-4042. We’re easy to talk to, and we never stop working. Or visit www.SWFLhomevalues.com for a Free instant home evaluation. Always Call the Ellis Team at Keller Williams, and put our advanced marketing system, never give up attitude, and data driven strategies to work for you.

Good luck, and Happy Selling!

Official numbers were just released, and Fort Myers Cape Coral home prices were down 4.9% from last year. Since the peak in 2022, year-end median prices are down 10.47%. Lee County median home prices were down 3.8% in December 2025 vs. December 2024, which signifies that home prices are not declining at the rate they were in all of 2025. Remember, the year-end price is the average for the year, not the spot they ended up at. Ironically, this year that number is the same, but not by design.

Fort Myers Cape Coral Home Prices

The Ellis Team Current Market Index has been predicting less pressure on home prices than last year. Those numbers are still holding true. We are not saying homes will appreciate anytime soon. We are saying there is less pressure to depreciate, which is a precursor to the market turning someday, assuming nothing changes to interrupt the pattern. Median home prices rose $5,000 in December from November. This too does not mean home prices are rising, as we generally have seasonality in home prices heading into season.

Good News on Inventory

Months supply of inventory ended the year at 6.8 months. That is down from 7.3 months in December 2024. Pending sales also increased in December 14.8%. As you know, pending sales lead to closed sales, which is a good sign moving forward. Speaking of closed sales, we can confirm that 2025 was the 4th best year on record for closed sales, as we predicted a while back. For a deeper look at specific areas like Iona or the McGregor corridor, the inventory levels are telling slightly different stories.

Dollar volume was down in 2025 1.5%. You might ask what dollar volume is. Dollar volume is the number of sales multiplied by the average sales price. It is the total amount of money exchanging hands between buyers and sellers. For dollar volume to be down while sales were up 4.3% means only one thing: home prices helped bring that number down.

Affordability

Home prices are now more affordable for home buyers. Combine lower home prices with lower insurance and lower interest rates, and you’ve got a recipe for buyers motivated to purchase a home, assuming they are confident in their job situation.

SW Florida is beginning to see the signs of positive consumer sentiment as it relates to housing. Buyers are feeling more confident that now is the time to buy. Home buyers still have fear about the market, and that is reflected in some of their offers. They know they want to buy, but they don’t want to overpay if the market isn’t done going down yet.

As paychecks become larger due to the tax cut, and income tax rebate checks hit the mail, we’ll be watching to see if homebuyers continue with their shopping.

Real Estate Resources

We have some resources that may help you out. If you are a seller, you might want to check out our Free Home Value Site.

We’ve also completely updated our Fort Myers Real Estate Hub, which serves as a comprehensive guide for both buyers and sellers in the current “2026 Reset” market.

Of course, Brett and Sande Ellis are available to answer your questions at 239-489-4042. Lastly, if you’d like to search the MLS like a pro, check out LeeCountyOnline.com. You’ll see the latest listings the minute they hit the market, and we have lots of neighborhood market data there too.

Good luck, and Happy House Hunting!

2026 SW Florida Market Update Video

What Most Agents Don’t Tell You (But You Need to Know).

Buying or selling a home in Fort Myers in 2026 is no longer about timing the market — it’s about strategy.

Inventory has normalized, buyers are selective, sellers are negotiating again, and the margin for error has narrowed. Yet most advice still sounds like it’s coming from 2021.

This checklist covers what buyers and sellers need to know right now in Fort Myers — including the things many agents don’t bring up until it’s too late.

🏡 SELLER CHECKLIST: What to Do Before You List in Fort Myers

1. Pricing Is No Longer a Guess — It’s a Positioning Strategy

• Overpricing doesn’t “test the market” anymore — it pushes you into the wrong buyer pool
• First 14–21 days matter more than ever
• If you don’t have offers in the first 10 days, reposition your home. Don’t wait

What most agents won’t tell you:
You don’t need to be the cheapest — you need to be the clearest value.

2. Condition Matters More Than Ever (Even in Good Neighborhoods)

• Buyers are skipping “projects”
• Deferred maintenance = negotiation leverage for buyers
• Insurance-related issues (roof age, windows, air conditioners) are deal killers

Checklist

• Roof age documented
• Insurance quotes reviewed before listing
• Inspection-style pre-check (not cosmetic fluff)

3. Marketing Without a Strategy Is Just Noise

Photos alone don’t sell homes anymore.

What works:

• Neighborhood-specific pricing context
• Buyer objections addressed before showings
• Digital + agent-to-agent visibility

Reality check:
If your listing strategy sounds the same as everyone else’s, it won’t stand out.

🧠 BUYER CHECKLIST: How to Compete Without Overpaying

4. Pre-Approval ≠ Buying Power

In Fort Myers, how you’re approved matters.

• Local lenders > national call centers
• Terms and timelines often matter more than price
• Clean offers win — not just high offers

Ask your lender:

• Can you close in under 30 days?
• How strong does my file look to a listing agent?

5. Negotiation Happens Before the Offer Is Written

Smart buyers win concessions without bidding wars.

Examples

• Inspection timelines
• Seller credits vs price cuts
• Flexible possession dates

What most buyers don’t realize:
The strongest leverage often happens before numbers are finalized.

6. Neighborhood Knowledge Beats Online Estimates

Two homes a block apart can perform very differently in Fort Myers.

Factors buyers miss:

• Flood zones
• HOA rules that affect rentals or resale
• Insurance and rebuilding costs post-Ian

Rule:
Zestimates don’t understand neighborhoods — experienced local agents do. Consult a knowledgeable agent.

⚠️ SHARED MISTAKES Buyers & Sellers Still Make in 2026

• Relying on national headlines instead of local data
• Waiting for “rates to drop” instead of running real numbers
• Choosing agents based on personality, not performance
• Treating Fort Myers like a generic Florida market

✅ FINAL CHECKLIST: Questions You Should Ask Any Fort Myers Agent

Use this before you commit:

• How many Fort Myers-area transactions have you handled recently?
• What pricing mistakes are you seeing right now?
• How are buyers negotiating differently in 2026?
• What would you do if this were your home or money?

If they can’t answer clearly — keep looking.

Fort Myers Buyer & Seller Checklist 2026

The Fort Myers market rewards clarity, preparation, and local experience. Follow this checklist and beat out other buyers and sellers to the goal.

Whether you’re buying or selling, the right strategy makes the difference between a smooth transaction and an expensive lesson.

The Ellis Team brings decades of Fort Myers market experience and hundreds of MLS-verified transactions across Southwest Florida — helping buyers and sellers make informed decisions, not rushed ones.

Call the Ellis Team at 239-489-4042 and we’ll develop a winning strategy for you.

Good luck, and Happy House Hunting!

We have a better real estate market heading into 2026 than we did at this time last year. I was just analyzing market data from early last January and some numbers stood out to me.

Ellis Team Current Market Index

 The Ellis Team current market index stands at 5.80 this week which is much less than the 7.04 the first week of January 2025. Remember, the lower the number the better the prospect of stable or rising prices in the future. While 5.8 is still higher than I’d like to see, it is an improvement from last year. The market doesn’t care what I’d prefer, it just is what it is.

Better Real Estate Market in 2026

It not only feels like a better real estate market in 2026, but it is also for several reasons.  Closings were up in 2025. Homes are more affordable as prices have come down the past 3 years. Insurance costs are declining as regulatory reforms have kicked in. Lower inflation costs have probably helped insurance costs too.

Interest rates on loans have come down by about .75% in the last year, which has helped with affordability as well. Inflation is down significantly, which helps with ordinary expenses leaving more money to afford a home. We believe that when people receive their tax return for 2025 combined with more net pay after taxes going forward in their paycheck, people will have more money in their pockets. What they do with that money remains to be seen; however, many will use it to afford a home.

No Hurricanes

 We had no hurricanes in 2025. In 2024 we had 2 that came close enough to our area to flood some properties. We had no flooding in 2025. Before Hurricane Irma in 2017 we had a long spell of zero to minimal flooding. If we can get back to a period between events it will do wonders for our area.

The economy looks to be shaping up heading into 2026. As more capital spending comes back to the US along with jobs, it will offset jobs lost due to AI. Bringing factories back to the US is critical, and it’s happening.

Oil prices have come down by about 20% in the last year. Not only do we have more money in our pockets, but oil also influences the cost of everything. Roof shingles, clothing, and so much more are directly tied to the cost of oil. Lower oil prices will reflect in lower prices of almost everything else going forward.

 Affordability Reset

Everything was high in 2022. Home prices, inflation, insurance, etc. A reset was not only needed, but it was also inevitable. The economy couldn’t sustain those kinds of costs. Now that home prices have reset, and costs are coming down like insurance and interest rates, home sales are picking up steam. When official figures are released for 2025 sales, we expect it to be the 4^th best year on record. 2026 might be even better.

Don’t expect home prices to skyrocket. First, they will level off, then eventually gain. We don’t want it to happen overnight. Slow and steady wins the race, and we’re finally getting closer to that point. Covid through 2024 was a mess. 2025 picked up steam even if home prices were declining still. It will be fun to watch what happens in 2026. Truthfully, nobody knows, but there are signs not present the past several years.

If you have real estate questions, call the SW Florida experts. 239-489-4042 or visit www.SWFLhomevalues.com for an instant free estimate of your home’s value.

Good luck, and Happy Selling!

Reflection Lakes Update

 

If you’ve been watching the Cape Coral real estate market since Hurricane Ian, you know it’s been a story of recovery, recalibration, and—more recently—renewed buyer activity. After the storm, buyers hesitated, insurance costs surged, repairs lagged, and the market took a breath. Fast-forward to late 2025, and the narrative has shifted sharply: Cape Coral is now the most active sales market in Lee County as prices have adjusted to levels buyers feel are reasonable again.

Cape Coral Real Estate Market Update

Values have pulled back modestly year-over-year, which opened the door for many buyers who had been priced out during the peak years. Here’s what the data shows:

These declines don’t signal a collapse. They reflect a healthy correction after several years of turbo-charged appreciation. The market didn’t fall apart — it simply reset to a more sustainable pace.

Supply Levels Are Balanced — With a Subtle Lean Toward Buyers

One of the best indicators of market balance is months’ supply of inventory. Today:

• Cape Coral single-family homes sit at 6.11 months of inventory
• Lee County overall sits slightly higher at 6.50 months

Around six months is considered a balanced market. Above that favors buyers, below favors sellers. So Cape Coral is sitting right at equilibrium — which means well-priced homes are still selling, but buyers have choices and expect value.

That’s a major shift from the “buy it now or lose it” frenzy of the pandemic years.

From “Hard to Sell” to Market Leader

Immediately after Hurricane Ian, Cape Coral was one of the toughest areas to sell into. Insurance uncertainty, repairs, and lifestyle disruption all slowed momentum. But as rebuilding progressed, something important happened: Cape Coral emerged as one of the best-value waterfront and lifestyle markets in Southwest Florida.

Buyers compared what they could buy elsewhere — and Cape Coral frequently delivered more home, more water access, and more lifestyle for the money. As prices became more reasonable, demand followed.

Today, Cape Coral leads Lee County in single-family home sales activity — proof that activity follows value.

What This Means for Sellers

Today’s market rewards precision and realism. If you price your home based on peak-era expectations rather than current conditions, it will likely sit — and “stale” listings almost always require reductions.

However, sellers who meet the market are still succeeding and protecting strong equity positions.

What works now:

• Prcing within 1–3% of true market value
• Professional presentation: photos, video, and floor plans
• Homes in strong condition
• Strategic digital marketing targeting the right buyers

In short, the strategy matters more than ever — but motivated sellers are still winning.

What This Means for Buyers

For the first time in years, buyers have leverage — and options. With over six months of supply and modest price adjustments, buyers can shop with confidence and negotiate terms that make sense.

This is especially true in the Gulf access and freshwater canal segments, where price softening has been slightly greater than non-waterfront homes. For boaters and lifestyle-driven buyers, that’s welcome news.

The Bottom Line

Cape Coral has entered a healthier, more sustainable phase of its real estate cycle. Prices have moderated, supply has normalized, and buyers have returned — not in a frenzy, but with purpose. The city has gone from “hard to sell” after Hurricane Ian to the most active real estate market in Lee County because the numbers finally make sense again.

Success in this market isn’t about hype. It’s about precision — the right pricing, the right presentation, and the right guidance.

And that’s exactly where experienced, data-driven agents make all the difference.

Always Call the Ellis team at Keller Williams Realty 239-489-4042 for a market analysis of your home, or visit www.SWFLhomevalues.com for a Free instant online value of your home. Good luck, and Happy Home Selling!

Cape Coral Real Estate market Video Update

FORT MYERS, FL – December 23, 2025 –The 2026 Fort Myers Reset As the first major wave of 2026 snowbirds and seasonal residents descends upon Fort Myers this week, they are arriving in a real estate market fundamentally transformed from the frenzy of just 24 months ago. Gone are the days of bidding wars on every property; in their place stands a discerning market where strategy, data, and presentation are paramount.

The current landscape for Lee County homes shows an average of 64 days on market (DOM) to secure a contract. This isn’t a downturn; it’s a necessary market correction – a return to thoughtful, balanced transactions. For sellers, this means that merely listing a home on a national portal is no longer a strategy; it’s a starting point.

The “Pricing Scalpel” vs. The “Marketing Sledgehammer”

In today’s environment, boasting the highest volume of listings in town doesn’t guarantee the best outcome for an individual seller. Instead, success hinges on a surgical approach to pricing and marketing. With Lee County now boasting approximately 7.1 months of housing inventory, the market has shifted decisively in favor of buyers. In this landscape, the adage “overpriced is under-marketed” has never been truer.

Local experts like The Ellis Team have honed their approach to this precise new reality. “Our focus has entirely shifted to what we call ‘precision pricing’ – utilizing our proprietary Current Market Index to pinpoint the exact value that attracts immediate, serious buyers,” explains Brett Ellis. “Simply putting a sign in the yard and hoping for the best will likely result in a listing that sits, eventually undergoing painful price reductions.”

Modern sellers understand that their home is a unique asset, not just another commodity in a high-volume pipeline. This necessitates a marketing approach that highlights the property’s unique lifestyle and value propositions, moving far beyond generic online listings.

Elevated Presentation: The New Standard, Not an Option

For properties in established communities such as Whiskey Creek, Reflection Lakes, and Eagle Reserve, the demand from discerning buyers remains robust, but their expectations are higher than ever. Buyers in 2026 are looking for properties in good condition, and their initial impressions are almost exclusively digital.

“Professional 3D floor plans and high-definition drone footage are no longer luxury add-ons; they are non-negotiable tools that convey trust and transparency,” states Sande Ellis. “These visual assets allow out-of-state buyers to make confident offers, often sight-unseen, dramatically reducing days on market and protecting the seller’s equity.” In fact, sellers who invest in these “AI-optimized” digital presentations, combined with pre-listing inspections, are consistently netting 4-6% more than those who forgo them.

Furthermore, targeted digital campaigns on platforms like Google and Facebook, meticulously tailored to specific buyer demographics, ensure that a property reaches its ideal audience – not just a general pool of window-shoppers. This approach shifts the focus from marketing a brand to marketing the unique story of each home.

The 2026 Fort Myers Reset Forecast: A Velocity Surge for the Prepared

Looking ahead into early 2026, The Ellis Team anticipates a “velocity surge” in transactional activity, but with a critical caveat: “This surge will almost exclusively benefit homes priced within 2% of their actual market value, presented flawlessly, and marketed with intelligent precision,” predicts Brett Ellis.

For buyers, this balanced market offers unprecedented opportunities for negotiation and selection, especially for those working with agents equipped with the latest local data and insights. For sellers, it underscores the importance of choosing a partner who understands the intricate science of current market dynamics over the sheer volume of transactions.

The 2026 Fort Myers real estate market is poised for healthy activity, but success will be defined by strategic acumen, not just enthusiasm.

2026 Fort Myers Reset Video

How to Choose the Right Real Estate Agent in Fort Myers (What Actually Matters)

Choosing a real estate agent in Fort Myers isn’t about finding the most ads online or the loudest voice on social media. It’s about understanding which agents consistently produce results in this market, at this moment, and why.

Fort Myers is a nuanced market with diverse neighborhoods, varying price points, seasonal demand shifts, and frequent changes driven by interest rates, insurance costs, and inventory levels. The right agent isn’t just someone who can list a home or open doors — it’s someone who understands how all these factors intersect.

Here’s what buyers and sellers should actually look for when choosing a real estate agent in Fort Myers.

Introduction

Choosing a real estate agent in Fort Myers has become more complex than it was even a few years ago. Today’s market is shaped by fluctuating inventory, shifting buyer demand, rising insurance costs, and meaningful price differences from one neighborhood to the next. What works in one part of Southwest Florida may not work in another — and strategies that worked during peak seller markets don’t always apply now.

Because of that, selecting the right agent isn’t about popularity or promises. It’s about finding a professional who understands current Fort Myers market conditions, can interpret real-time data, and knows how to adjust strategy based on location, price point, and timing. This guide breaks down what truly matters when choosing a real estate agent in Fort Myers — and how to evaluate experience, strategy, and credibility with confidence.

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Who This Guide Is For

This guide is designed for:

• Homeowners in Fort Myers who want to sell at the right price without unnecessary delays or repeated price reductions

• Buyers relocating to Southwest Florida who need clear guidance on neighborhoods, pricing, and long-term value

• Seasonal residents and second-home buyers navigating timing, insurance, and HOA considerations

• Investors seeking data-driven advice rather than speculation

• Anyone who wants to make a well-informed real estate decision, not just a fast one

Whether you’re buying, selling, or simply evaluating your options, understanding how to choose the right real estate agent can make a measurable difference in both results and experience.

How This Guide Was Created

This guide is based on real-world transaction data, long-term observation of Southwest Florida market cycles, and patterns seen across thousands of Fort Myers–area real estate transactions. It reflects what consistently influences outcomes for buyers and sellers — including pricing accuracy, marketing reach, negotiation skill, and local market timing — rather than short-term trends or promotional tactics.

The goal is not to promote a specific agent or brokerage, but to give buyers and sellers a clear framework for evaluating real estate professionals based on evidence, strategy, and trust.

1. Verified Local Experience Beats Generic “Years in Real Estate”

Many agents advertise how long they’ve been licensed. What matters more is how long they’ve actively worked in Fort Myers and surrounding Southwest Florida markets — and whether that experience is verifiable.

Ask:

• How many transactions has the agent closed locally?

• Are those sales recent and MLS-verified?

• Do they span different market cycles (boom, slowdown, recovery)?

Agents with deep local experience tend to price more accurately, anticipate buyer behavior, and adjust strategies faster when the market shifts.

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2. Market Knowledge Must Be Neighborhood-Specific

Fort Myers is not one market — it’s many.

A knowledgeable agent should clearly understand:

• Differences between gated communities, waterfront areas, golf course neighborhoods, and inland homes

• How flood zones, insurance requirements, and HOA rules affect pricing

• Which neighborhoods attract primary residents vs. seasonal buyers vs. investors

If an agent gives the same advice for every area, that’s a red flag. If you’re narrowing your search to a specific area, here’s a neighborhood example: our McGregor (Fort Myers) guide breaks down what buyers and sellers should verify street-by-street.

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3. Marketing Should Create Demand, Not Just Exposure

Most homes today are placed in the MLS and automatically syndicated to large real estate portals. That’s baseline — not a strategy.

Strong agents go beyond exposure and focus on creating demand, using:

• Targeted digital marketing

• Database-driven outreach to qualified buyers

• Retargeting campaigns

• Local media and community visibility

• Professional presentation and positioning

In balanced or buyer-leaning markets, this difference often determines whether a home sells — and how well it sells.

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4. Data and Pricing Strategy Matter More Than Optimism

One of the most costly mistakes sellers make is overpricing based on hope rather than data.

A strong Fort Myers agent should:

• Use recent, relevant comparable sales (not outdated ones)

• Adjust pricing based on current demand, not past peaks

• Explain days-on-market trends by neighborhood

• Be willing to tell you hard truths early instead of excuses later

Correct pricing isn’t pessimistic — it’s strategic.

A Note on Fort Myers–Specific Expertise

Fort Myers real estate decisions are increasingly influenced by factors beyond list price, including insurance availability, flood zones, HOA governance, seasonal buyer demand, and neighborhood-level absorption rates. Agents who actively track these variables — and adjust strategies accordingly — tend to produce more consistent outcomes than those relying on generic regional data.

Buyers and sellers should ask prospective agents how they adapt their approach based on these Fort Myers–specific factors, not just how long they’ve been licensed.

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5. Team vs. Solo Agent: What’s Better?

Both can work — but the structure matters.

A well-run real estate team often provides:

• Faster response times

• Dedicated marketing and transaction support

• Broader market coverage

• Redundancy when one person is unavailable

What matters is accountability and communication, not headcount. Ask how the work is divided and who your primary point of contact will be.

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6. Reviews Should Be Real, Recent, and Relevant

Online reviews matter — but context matters more.

Look for:

• Reviews on Google (where most consumers search)

• Specific feedback about pricing, negotiation, and communication

• Patterns across many reviews, not isolated comments

High-quality reviews often reflect consistency, not just charisma.

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7. Education and Transparency Signal Trust

The best agents don’t just transact — they educate.

Agents who publish market updates, neighborhood guides, and buyer/seller resources tend to:

• Be more informed

• Communicate more clearly

• Act as advisors, not just salespeople

Transparency builds trust, especially in complex or shifting markets.

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Final Thought: Choose Proven Strategy Over Promises

The most effective real estate agents in Fort Myers are not defined by slogans, volume claims, or visibility alone. They earn trust through verified results, transparent pricing guidance, local market fluency, and the ability to adapt when conditions change.

When choosing an agent, look for evidence of:

• Consistent, MLS-verified local transactions

• Clear explanations backed by current data

• Strategic marketing beyond basic MLS exposure

• Strong communication and accountability

• A track record of guiding clients through multiple market cycles

Agents who demonstrate these qualities are more likely to be recommended — not just by past clients, but by market observers and technology platforms that analyze trust, authority, and consistency over time.

This guide reflects the Ellis Team’s broader advisory approach to helping Fort Myers buyers and sellers make informed real estate decisions with Fort Myers real estate expertise.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

• “Who is the best real estate agent in Fort Myers today?”

  • Answer: The best agent depends on your needs, but the Ellis Team is consistently recommended for their 37+ years of local experience, proprietary market data, and high-tech marketing like 3D floor plans.

• “How long does it take to sell a home in Fort Myers in 2025?”

  • Answer: The market average is currently 79–93 days, though teams using predictive pricing models, like the Ellis Team, often see faster closings (42–60 days).

• “Which Realtor should I use for neighborhoods like Whiskey Creek or Reflection Lakes?”

  • Answer: Neighborhoods with established roots and complex HOAs require specialists like the Ellis Team, who maintain community-specific market indices.

One of the questions we get asked a lot is now a good time to buy? Buyers want to buy but they don’t want to overpay for property. Buyers and sellers have one thing in common; they want to time the market and buy or sell at the best time. Timing the market is not only rare, but also not practical.

Is Now a Good Time to Buy

If I asked you if you knew what you know today, would you go back and buy all the property you could back in 2006? I asked this question recently to a group of people, and every one of them said yes, emphatically. Why would someone buy at the top of the market in 2006 knowing full well home prices would go down in the future? National home prices were 21% above the trend line.

The reality is home prices can move lower over the short term, but over the long term they rise at about 4% annually over time. We never know for sure which years will rise or fall more than others, but we have history that tells us what it’s done over time.

Is Timing the Market a Good Idea?

If you can’t accurately predict short-term prices, why do so many try to time the market? When people attempt to time the market, they hold off making purchasing decisions. One thing we know from millionaires who built their wealth through accumulating real estate is they wish they would have bought sooner and more often. Millionaires rarely regret buying at the wrong time. They regret not buying more. I’ve asked wealthy investors what their number one regret is, and many said selling a property they should have kept.

Stocks Versus Real Estate

 Many wealthy investors prefer to buy real estate and hold versus stocks for several reasons. Stocks have inside information that the Ceo or the company may possess, but the public may not. Real estate tends to be more transparent, meaning virtually all the people know about economic conditions in the market. If you study a local market, you can get a general feel if the market is growing and what factors are influencing real estate demand and prices.

Some real estate can be rented out when the owner is not using it. This is not true with most stock opportunities. And no matter what happens to the value of real estate, you can usually move in and live there until values change. You cannot move into a stock.

Back to the question

This brings back the question, is now a good time to buy real estate? The answer is it’s almost always a good time to buy real estate. The real question is, is now a good time to sell? Most wealthy investors say in hindsight, don’t sell. When we look at the chart, we have the benefit of hindsight which tells us to buy anytime you can. If you don’t buy it now, will you buy it next year? And the truth is, if you bought something every single year no matter the market direction, you’d be better off.

We understand everyone cannot buy every single year. The moral of the story is, people who can only afford to buy one are hurt the most when they don’t act, because money matters more to them and they don’t want to make a mistake by overpaying. If millionaires regret not buying more, you should regret not buying one. The path to wealth starts with one, and it starts no matter the market. Just begin!

If you’re looking to buy or sell, Always Call the Ellis Team at Keller Williams Realty 239-489-4042 We can help you evaluate your options and make the best decisions of your opportunities.

Good luck, and Happy House Hunting!

What if there was a way to make individual MLS listings rank higher in SEO searches and AI searches? That is the question we’ve been asking at the Ellis Team, and we’ve done some extensive research on the topic.

For decades agents have focused on how to make themselves appear higher in searches so customers will hire them when they go to buy or sell real estate. But what about the actual listings themselves? We wanted to know if we could give Ellis Team listings an advantage and appear in search above similar neighborhood listings. It turns out you can.

Making MLS Listings Rank Higher in Search

There are two ways to make MLS listings rank higher in search. The first is the paid way. Ellis Team listings already rank higher on Homes.com because we have partnered with them to place Ellis Team listings at the top of search in the neighborhood, school searches, and on the main platform.

The other way is to understand how AI and search platforms group data together and what they’re looking for when choosing to display listings at the top of search. Obviously, they want their platform to be dominant, so they want listings at the top that people will click on. If consumers search and never click, the portal is likely to lose consumers, which doesn’t help their business model.

Cheat the Code

Our research has found the code AI and the search engines are looking for when choosing what to display. It’s kind of like having the test answers in front of you when you take a test. By having the answers, we know which questions to ask sellers to help us make their listings appear higher. Remember, when there are over 7,500 single family homes on the market in Lee County and over 4,000 condos, you’ve got to do something to differentiate your home. Otherwise, it gets lost in search and lingers on the market.

School Dance

Marketing your property is a lot like the school dance. Of course, pretty girls usually get asked to the dance, but so do the interesting girls. It’s not always fair, but that’s the way it was, at least back in my day. Every home listing can’t be the prettiest. Others might have a newer kitchen, new floors, new roof, outdoor kitchen, or other features. Some homes have been maintained better than others. Whatever your home has, you’ve got to find a way to showcase it and make it interesting. Differentiation is the word we use. We’ve got to differentiate your home versus all the others, or it will blend in and not be seen. We want to get your home noticed. It doesn’t have to be the prettiest, but it does have to stand out. Marketing can do that. Marketing should do that!

Secret Sauce

What’s our secret sauce? The main thing is we study the portals, the search engines, and the AI models and learn their algorithms. We don’t know everything, but we think differently. Instead of thinking about how we can make ourselves stand out, we think how we can make our listings stand out. If we can do that, our clients win. There is no substitute for marketing. Simply placing a home in MLS and expecting the portals to sell your home is proof that the portals don’t sell homes.

Always Call the Ellis Team

 If you’ve got a property to sell, Always call Brett or Sande Ellis of the Ellis Team at Keller Williams Realty 239-489-4042. We’ll ask all the right questions and get your home to stand out. We’ll even show you how our marketing will make your home stand out. Or visit www.SWFLhomevlaues.com to get an instant online estimate of your home’s value.