Relocation Guide

There are over 200 places of worship covering all denominations. They offer many activities and help groups.

The county offers just about every type of fraternal and civic organization. They are far too numerous to mention, but there are over 210, including all of the most well known.

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New residents have 30 days to apply for a Florida Driver's License. First-time cost is $20.00. If you are changing address within the state, you have 10 days to notify the department. Replacement licenses cost $10.00.

Those who are new to Florida must bring their Social Security card and two (2) forms of identification. Photo-copies will not be accepted unless they are certified.

State law requires applicants to take a vision test, even if you already have a valid driver's license from another state. The vision test is a basic eye examination. 20/40 corrected vision is required.

Florida Driver's Licenses are valid for four to six years and expire on your birth date.

In Florida, vehicles must be registered within 10 days of gaining employment or registering children in school, whichever comes first. When registering a vehicle, you need your current driver's license or photo identification card, proof of automobile insurance, prior registration papers and your car title. Since Florida is a title law state, newcomers must also apply for a Florida Title Certificate. If there is a chattel mortgage or any other lien on the vehicle, a title transfer must be obtained.

Registration includes physical verification of the vehicle identification number, plus an application for a Florida license tag. There is also an impact fee. The registration fee is included in this amount. All of this can be done through the County Tax Collector's office, Motor Vehicle Department.

Florida law requires that all children ages 0-5 years must be transported in a crash tested, federally-approved child restraint device. The driver and any other frontseat passenger must wear a seatbelt when the vehicle is in operation. The driver is, also, responsible for all occupants obeying the law.

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Tourism is still the principal business in Lee County. With 50 miles of glistening white sand beaches, numerous golf courses and a wide selection of other attractions to suit every taste, you need only to add the year-round sunshine to understand why Lee County has become one of the nation's most popular tourist areas; and one of the fastest growing population centers of the United States.

Employment opportunities abound, especially during the winter season, usually considered to be November through April. The service industry has grown as a direct result.

Many professionals have made this area their home.

Light manufacturing has been spurred on by a strong Industrial Base.

Real estate and construction are also among the fastest growing and most important industries in the area.

Information contained herein is believed to be correct and accurate; however, it is subject to change and is not warranted.

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For education, there are thirty-six elementary schools, twelve middle schools, eight high schools, four exceptional schools, 10 magnet schools and two vocational schools. Higher education includes Southwest Florida College of Business, Edison Community College, Nova University, and Florida Gulf Coast University.

School children represent 14% of the population with 13% of the total attending private schools.

College students represent 5% of the population with 15% of the total attending private colleges.

College graduates represent 22% of the adult population, with high school graduates representing another 55%.

Lee County spends over $5,000 annually per student. There are over 3,000 teachers and the teacher/student ratio is 27:1.

Lee County's 91% high school graduation rate places it among the nations best.

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Household Structure
41% Families w/o children
19% Families w/children
06% Single Parent
34% Other

Occupation
50% Professional
23% Service
24% Production
03% Agricultural

The labor force grows at a rate of close to 80% every 10 years. Lee County’s ten greatest strengths as a place to do business:

* Growth of Area
* Weather/Climate/Location
* Lifestyle/Quality of Life
* Tourist Base
* Low State Taxes
* Good Labor Supply and Rates
* Its People
* University and Airport
* Expanding Markets
* Average Unemployment: 3 – 5%
* Job Loss Threat: LOW
* Median household Income: $35,000+

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Health care facilities are excellent, with Cape Coral Hospital, Columbia East Pointe Hospital, Columbia Gulf Coast Hospital, Lee Memorial Hospital, Lee Memorial Health Park, and Columbia Regional Medical Center Southwest Florida as the mainstays. The area provides numerous other health care services for the aged, as well as senior citizen programs. Fort Myers also offers a Ronald McDonald House.

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HOME SITES
(non-waterfront)
Low: $20,000-$50,000
Median: $50,000-$80,000
High: $80,000+

HOME SITES
(waterfront)
Low: $100,000-$200,000
Median: $200,000-$400,000
High: $400,000+

HOME SITES
(golf course lots)
Low: $100,000-$200,000
Median: $200,000-$400,000
High: $400,000+

HOME SITES
(estate/acreage, per acre)
Low: $50,000-$75,000
Median: $75,000-$100,000
High: $100,000+

NEW CONSTRUCTION COSTS
Low: $105-$145 psf
Median: $145-$175 psf
High: $175+ psf

RESALE VALUES
Low: $115-$175 psf
Median: $175-$225 psf
High: $225+ psf

A representative home could be described as a single story, CBS (concrete block with stucco construction) 3 bedroom, 2 bath, split floor plan, family room, double garage, pool, with a cost of approximately $200.00 per square foot of living area. A home with a basement or full attic is most unusual.

Most all households have electric central heating and air conditioning.

The topography of Lee County is generally flat with an average elevation of 12’ to 15’ above sea level.

Ad Valorem Taxes (Real Estate) are computed around 1.5% per $1,000.00 of assessed value with a $25,000 Homestead Exemption. Example: $350,000 assessed value less $25,000 exemption equals $325,000 times 1.5% or $4,875.00, approximate taxes.

Median sales price of an off-water home without a pool: Low $225,000's.
Resale Availability: Fair
New construction availability: Good
Development sales availability: Good
Typical lot size: 80' x 120'

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Lee County is one of the nation's most popular resort locales, and it is also one of the top growth areas of the United States. Not only is it a healthy and beautiful place to live, but the growing business climate provides unexpected employment opportunities. Let's look closer at Lee County and a few of its major attractions. The county is named for General Robert E. Lee, the famed Confederate Civil War general, and Fort Myers was the scene of the southernmost engagement of that war. Both sides claimed victory in this skirmish of February 20, 1865.

Lee County is comprised of 811 square miles and has 590 miles of pristine shoreline. With over 100 barrier islands dotting its coast, the state designated Lee as “The Lee Island Coast.” Today about 400,000 people live in the county and, by the turn of the century, it is projected to have a population of approximately 500,000. Approximately 35% of the residents are located in Fort Myers and Cape Coral. Other growing residential areas include: Bonita Springs, Fort Myers Beach, Lehigh Acres, North Fort Myers, Pine Island, Matlacha, and Sanibel/Captiva Islands. Each community offers its own unique lifestyle. Further, you will find a brief overview of these areas.

Lee County is located midway between Tampa and Miami. Interstate I-75 makes automotive travel to and from the area ideal. The Southwest Florida International Airport is served by major airlines with daily flights and scheduled service to Canada and Europe.

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Boating and fishing are found throughout the county. There is water, water everywhere. Lee County has 590 miles of shoreline, and miles of waterways, bays, inlets and canals. In fact, boaters from Lee County can reach the Intracoastal Waterway and follow the freshwater ribbon across the state to the Atlantic. Out-of-state boat registration is recognized for 90 days, and resident registrations may be obtained at the Department of Motor Vehicles. Licenses are required for both freshwater and salt water fishing, and the fishing is great.

Golf and tennis are very popular, and the climate provides year-round enjoyment for these sports. This is a golfer's paradise with many private, semi-private and public golf courses. Quality golf courses attract the pros, and you will find many of them playing tournaments here. Lee County is ranked fifth national in the number of holes per potential golfer. There are five private, three public and many municipal tennis courts.

Spectator sports haven't been left out either. Lee County is the winter home of both the Boston Red Sox and the Minnesota Twins. For racing fans there is the Naples-Fort Myers Dog Track in Bonita Springs for all the excitement offered by greyhound racing, plus simulcast via monitors in the building of thoroughbred horse racing, harness racing and greyhound tracks across the United States. The TECO Arena is the home of the East Coast Hockey Leagues' Florida Everblades. This gives the atmosphere and excitement of real professional hockey. TECO Arena also provides public skating, youth and adult hockey leagues plus big name concerts and entertainment. The Lee Civic Center features various types of entertainment including the Southwest Florida Fair, wrestling, concerts, tractor pulls, boxing and a rodeo. The Skatium offers Fort Myers its own ice skating and in-line center located at City of Palms Park. This facility also features youth hockey leagues and precision skating.

The lee County Parks and recreation Department sponsors league sports and activities for the youth of Lee County, including: football, baseball, soccer and summer camps.

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You will be interested to know that there is NO STATE INCOME OR STATE ESTATE TAX. There is a 6% state sales tax on purchases, except for food, medicines and some professional services. Florida has an intangible tax on securities. If your securities are valued at less than $20,000 (or $40,000 for a couple filing jointly,) you do not have to pay the intangible tax. It is computed at one mill ($1 per $1,000 of valuation) up to $100,000 and an additional 2 mills ($2 per $1,000 of valuation) over $100,000.

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Lee County is a cultural community. The Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Center on the Edison Community college campus is a proscenium theater with seating for almost 1,800 and features infrared sound for the hearing impaired.

The Lee County Arts Center is a ten-acre site in central Fort Myers and is the home of the Lee County Alliance of the Arts. This is a nucleus of year-round cultural activity.

The downtown Fort Myers Exhibition Hall, Tourist Center and the Harborside Convention Hall promote a variety of events. Other professional concerts and performances are presented during the season through the Fort Myers Community Concert Association, Southwest Symphony Orchestra, Temple Beth-El Cultural Series and the Gulf Coast Opera Company. Also, there are a number of theater groups and fine arts galleries in the Fort Myers area.

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The climate is ideal year-round. The average annual temperature is 73.9, with monthly lows ranging from 52.3 in January to 74.1 in August. Highs range from the mid 70s in January to the 90s in June, July and August. The average annual precipitation is 53.36 inches.

Relative humidity: 73%
Wind Speed: 8.2 mph
Freezing Days: 1
90-Degree Days: 106
Snowfall: 0.0 inches
Rainfall: 54 inches
Dry days: 253

See the current weather!

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