Gulf Harbour
South Fort Myers
Gated golf and yacht club with a 186-slip marina. Slips are sold separately from homes.
Explore Gulf Harbour →Southwest Florida
Fort Myers Waterfront Homes
Deep-water neighborhoods on the Caloosahatchee River, minutes from the river by boat, from Shane's home turf of 30+ years.
About Waterfront Fort Myers
Shane Waterfront Wilson moved to Fort Myers more than 30 years ago and has lived in McGregor Isles for over 20 of them. From his dock, he's on the Caloosahatchee River in about three minutes.
That's the appeal of waterfront Fort Myers. Its best boating neighborhoods sit along McGregor Boulevard and down toward Iona and Punta Rassa, close to the river and the Gulf, so you don't face the long canal runs found in parts of Cape Coral. The tradeoff is supply: there are far fewer waterfront homes on the Fort Myers side, which keeps prices higher.
Depth matters here. Some neighborhoods have water too shallow for a 31- to 42-foot boat, while McGregor Isles, Town and River and Palmetto Point are known for deeper canals. If you want two boats, Shane looks for at least 70 feet of linear water frontage.
And if you don't need the boat behind the house, communities like Gulf Harbour let you buy a marina slip separately from your home.
Neighborhoods
Waterfront Communities in Fort Myers
McGregor Isles
Off McGregor Blvd
Shane's own neighborhood of 20+ years. Deeper canals, about three minutes to the river.
Guide coming soonTown and River
Off McGregor Blvd
Deed-restricted, deep water, with several HOAs. Many 1970s homes have been replaced with large new ones.
Guide coming soonPalmetto Point
Off McGregor Blvd
Marketed as the yachting community, with deep water and a big turning basin for large boats.
Guide coming soonFort Myers or Cape Coral?
How Many Beers to the River?
Shane's favorite question for buyers comparing Fort Myers and Cape Coral: how many beers do you want to drink between your dock and the river?
Cape Coral: more home for the money
There are many more waterfront homes in Cape Coral, and they're more affordable. But some canals mean a 55-minute idle to the river.
Watch the bridges
Shane has seen Cape Coral routes with three bridges at about 9 feet of clearance. Too low for a boat with a second station.
Not every canal connects
Some Cape Coral canals are freshwater and don't connect to the river or the Gulf at all.
Fort Myers: minutes to the river
Neighborhoods along the Fort Myers side are close to the river, but supply is limited and prices are higher.
Free Guides & Checklists
Buying or Selling on the Water?
For Buyers
Florida Waterfront Home Buyer's Guide & Checklist
What to check before you make an offer on a Florida waterfront home.
- Match the home to your boat: length, beam, draft and bridge clearance
- Water depth at the dock, in the canal and at the canal mouth at low tide
- Seawall, dock and lift inspection checklist
- Flood zone, elevation and insurance questions to ask early
For Sellers
Florida Waterfront Home Seller's Guide & Checklist
How to prepare, price and present your waterfront home.
- Pricing for the market you're actually in, not last year's
- Pre-listing checks for seawalls, docks, lifts and termites
- Documents waterfront buyers will ask for
- Showing your home from the water side
Videos, Photos & Podcast
See and Hear Fort Myers
Shane on Fort Myers, from the podcast
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Episode 4 · 32:24
McGregor Isles: three minutes to the river
“When I get in my boat, I'm literally three minutes, I'm in the river.”
▶ Watch this moment on YouTube - Episode 4 · 53:41 Town and River, deed-restricted with deep water ▶ Watch this moment on YouTube
- Episode 4 · 56:53 Palmetto Point, the yachting community ▶ Watch this moment on YouTube
- Episode 1 · 57:16 Matching deep-water neighborhoods to bigger boats ▶ Watch this moment on YouTube
- Episode 1 · 01:01:04 How many beers to the river? The Cape Coral lesson ▶ Watch this moment on YouTube
Fort Myers FAQ
Which Fort Myers neighborhoods have deep water for bigger boats?
Shane Waterfront Wilson points buyers with larger boats to McGregor Isles, Town and River and Palmetto Point, deeper-water neighborhoods off McGregor Boulevard.
Is Fort Myers or Cape Coral better for boaters?
Cape Coral has more waterfront homes at lower prices, but some canals mean a long idle and low bridges before you reach the river. Fort Myers neighborhoods are generally closer to the river, with less supply and higher prices.
Can I keep a boat in Fort Myers without a waterfront home?
Yes. Communities like Gulf Harbour sell marina slips separately from homes, and some neighborhoods have community boat ramps.
Let's Find Your Fort Myers Waterfront Home
“I've lived in Fort Myers for more than 30 years, and I know every canal, sandbar and bridge on this river. Tell me what boat you have and how you want to use it, and I'll narrow it down fast.”
— Shane
(239) 851-3861 (call or text) · shane@shanewaterfrontwilson.com
Southwest Florida Office: 7270 College Pkwy #4, Fort Myers, FL 33907