Fort Myers: Home to the Ultimate Cinderella

OK America. It’s officially time to focus on Florida Gulf Coast University and their amazing, incredible and fun-filled rise in the NCAA Tournament. They have so many storylines. A former Wall Street hotshot turned coach who married a supermodel. Players no one wanted or knew about. A 22-year-old school with dorm rooms overlooking a beach. And, let’s face it, until this weekend the school had about as much public awareness as the migration patterns of pelicans.

OK America.  It’s officially time to focus on Florida Gulf Coast University and their amazing, incredible and fun-filled rise in the NCAA Tournament.  They have so many storylines.  A former Wall Street hotshot turned coach who married a supermodel.  Players no one wanted or knew about.  A 22-year-old school with dorm rooms overlooking a beach.  And, let’s face it, until this weekend the school had about as much public awareness as the migration patterns of pelicans.

And included in the story is the school’s home in Fort Meyers, FL.  It’s a city of about 65,000 that is home to the  Minnesota Twins and Boston Red Sox spring training.  Michael Madden, who heads the Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate office at Fort Myers Beach believes the city is a bit of an undiscovered gem.

The school itself is located about 20 minutes from downtown or the beach and is situated right near two major shopping destinations – Miromar Outlets and Gulf Coast Town Center that continues to grow with new restaurants and hotels continuously being added.

“We have so much to do here with great fishing, boating and other outdoor activities with great weather,” he said.  “While Naples is likely more well known as a luxury destination, Fort Myers has a nice mix between our tourism base and residents.  Our downtown has been developed and Florida Gulf Coast University has also brought renewed vibrancy to the area with its student population. Along with Chicos headquarters here, the school has also created a lot of jobs.”

It’s also a very affordable place to live.  According the Coldwell Banker Home Listing Report, a 4 bedroom/2 bath home in Fort Myers would average $201,803 compared to the same type of home in Naples costing about $300,000.

The affordability has allowed many FGCU students to forego dorm living according to Sue Wolverton, who manages the Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate office in the downtown Fort Myers area.   “Condos in the immediate area around the school can start at around $100,000, so it makes economic sense.  Often the parents discover the area through their kids and eventually buy a second-home here because it is so affordable and amazing.”

And there is no doubt FGCU is doing its job in raising greater awareness for the region.

“We are going crazy about the FGCU basketball team,” Madden said.  “It was a  great weekend and the entire city is EXCITED.  And that is in all capital letters!”

Athena Snow
Athena Snow

Senior Manager, Public Relations & Giving for Coldwell Banker. Grew up in Sarasota and attended college at Western Carolina University. Athena wanted to wake up in that city that doesn’t sleep so headed to Madison Avenue to start her marketing career. She has been with this awesome brand for more than 15 years and can be found generating buzz about CB in every way possible. Athena helps to grow the brand’s position as the most storied real estate company within the industry and has led many high-profile endeavors; she was at the forefront of the brand’s pioneering smart home campaign, raised $6 million in two years to build 130 Habitat for Humanity homes, and led the Homes for Dogs program in partnership with Adopt-a-Pet.com that resulted in tens-of-thousands of dogs finding their furever home. She currently leads the CB Supports St. Jude program, which encourages the Coldwell Banker network’s 96,000+ real estate agents to make donations to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital for every real estate transaction they represent. In her spare time, you can find her either digging up a new area in her yard for another flower bed or planning her next travel adventure. She's the proud mom of three cats Jolene, Ziggy and Lucy.

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