Welcome. I am Chris Elizabeth Griffith, a Bonita Springs resident since 1985 and a full-time REALTOR® with The Griffith Group at Downing Frye Realty. I am also the founder of LifeInBonitaSprings.com.
As a REALTOR® since 1998 I have helped people buy and sell homes in Bonita Springs and nearby Southwest Florida communities. From gated golf course properties to beachside condos, I have walked hundreds of buyers and sellers through every phase of the real estate journey with straight talk, local insight and a deep love for this unique part of Florida.
I created this site to be more than a home search tool. It is custom, hyper-local content written for this area, a living guide to our community. You will find real estate tips, local lifestyle stories, neighborhood breakdowns, dining reviews, event coverage and practical advice, all written by me from experience.
The best agent for you is the one whose record and method fit your home. Here is mine. Most agents leave the business within a few years. I have been a REALTOR® here since 1998 and I am consistently in the Platinum category at my office. I regularly close 40+ homes a year and my listings average 37 days on market. Most of my business comes from referrals and past clients who send their friends and family. That trust is the result I care about most.
When I first moved to Bonita Springs in 1985, it was a small and quiet town with only a couple thousand people. Life moved a little slower and the roads were quieter. The vibrant city we know today was still finding its shape.
I have watched this town grow through every phase of development and expansion. I remember the early 2000s, when our city council and mayor made a conscious choice to invest in downtown infrastructure. They turned a quiet corridor into the walkable, thriving entertainment darling of Southwest Florida. Since 1998 I have done my part to shape, sell and preserve the town I love.
My commitment to this community is deeply personal. My twins were born and raised right here in Bonita Springs. After growing up, pursuing higher education and starting careers, they chose to stay and raise their own families here. The entire Griffith family believes in Southwest Florida so much that we made it our forever home.
I do not just sell in this part of Southwest Florida. I have lived in it. I started from humble beginnings in Rosemary Park and built my first home in San Carlos Estates. From there I moved to Boca Palms in Naples and then to Little Hickory Shores on the bay, where I still miss the sunset boat runs through Wiggins Pass.
I spent a year at Captain's Bay on Fort Myers Beach while I built another home in Brendan Cove. We stayed in Brendan Cove for about 15 years while my twins attended school and graduated from Estero High School.
Later I moved to Bonita Farms on Homewood Drive. It is not farms anymore but waterfront property. It is where my grandson caught his first fish, a snook. He had no idea he had won the fishing lottery. After that came Nuttinglikit Grove and then Rio Vista Estates, within walking distance of downtown Bonita Springs and all its events and concerts. I have also owned property and homes in Port Charlotte.
I have lived in both gated and non-gated communities, so I can speak to both. Living in so many different parts of Southwest Florida taught me what each one offers a homeowner.
Being a top listing agent is not about sticking a sign in the yard. It is about understanding value at a foundational level. Having built several homes myself, I look at real estate from the ground up.
My process starts with facts. I strategically analyze every property using figures, absorption rates and a physical inspection. I value homes at a superb level and I predict time on market so my sellers can make informed and stress-free decisions.
Then I get the home ready. I like to say my listings are certified pre-owned. That is what I call it, not a formal certification. The home is inspected and readied for sale, then staged and styled before the photos. Professional photography is always part of the plan.
Finally I market with purpose. I collaborate with a national board of real estate thought leaders to bring AI and modern technology into real estate marketing. I use AI to match each home to the buyers most likely to want it based on their search activity and interests. That means your home is put in front of interested buyers instead of broadcast everywhere. It is local instinct built as a REALTOR® since 1998, paired with hyper-modern technology.
Selling? See how I prepare and market a home on my Bonita Springs listing specialist page.
Credentials only matter if they deliver results for my clients.
Chris Griffith has guided buyers and sellers in Bonita Springs and Estero as a REALTOR® since 1998. Clients use words like steady, professional and kind. One wrote, "You can't go wrong with her." Another called her "the Gold Standard in a real estate agent." These are not slogans. They are lived experiences pulled from Google, Yelp and Zillow.
"Listed and sold very quickly. Was helpful and professional. Anyone looking to sell or buy in the Bonita/Estero area I would highly recommend."
Carol, five-star review, sold in a bundled golf community
"Chris has been working with us to sell our mom's house and she has made the process easier for the family. She is understanding and kind. She explains everything in detail to us so that we understand it. She is patient and caring and has a good heart. I would recommend her to anyone."
Cindy, five-star review
"Chris Griffith is a superb Realtor! Her professionalism and years of experience assisted us in selling our property. Her level of communication, efficiency and help exceeded expectations. It was not an easy transaction due to all three owners being out of state. Yet, Chris knocked it out of the park with her expertise. She handled our transaction with skills and business sense that we greatly appreciated. Chris truly deserves a TEN STAR review."
Elizabeth, five-star review
Sellers describe clear plans and calm follow-through. "Her suggestions were clear and always had good results." "She managed everything for us and staged our condo to sell." A seller reported full asking price in under a week. Others praised quick updates and clean execution from list to close.
Buyers point to local insight and straight answers. "She knows her market." "Extremely knowledgeable about the area and what best fits your needs." "She helped find the perfect condo for us and was there every step of the way." One client said she was treated as if she were the only client.
Reviews highlight patience and availability. "She is calm and reassuring and efficient." "She made the whole process so easy." "Always timely in her responses and honest and had our best interest in mind." That tone matters in estate sales, out of state moves and complex timelines.
Longevity builds trust. Many clients return for second and third transactions, some spanning decades. They talk about integrity and consistent results. They also point to vendor coordination that protects time and equity. The team lines up repairs, staging and the small details that keep momentum strong.
I have been a thought leader in this industry since 1998. I have spoken at the state and national level, including for the National Association of REALTORS® and Florida Realtors. I have also spoken at smaller conferences such as CyberPros and Real Estate Growth Systems and at the real estate BarCamps that were wildly popular from 2008 on. I helped Florida Realtors create the first Florida BarCamp with the help of other leading real estate agents in the state. Florida Realtor magazine has written about me and my business independently, including my online marketing and content creation. It also covered the mastermind groups we created, where Florida-based Realtors regularly got together and collaborated to understand market conditions before they came to us. We essentially had agents on every coast and in every corner of the state and formed an advisory committee amongst ourselves.
I also lead a group of agents who work and train with me. I enjoy helping new agents get up to speed quickly and learn from the best. If you are that kind of agent, give me a call or reach out.
For me, real estate and community work are woven together. I have served on Board of Realtors committees. I volunteer with food pantries and support local heroes through Honor Flight and Gulf Coast Veterans and Friends. I am a board member of the Freedom Memorial Foundation of Naples, which Jerry and I helped build. I help coordinate events tied to the September 11th attacks, Wreaths Across America and veteran events at Freedom Park. I also volunteer on the board of the Bonita Springs Historical Society, where I help host a speaker series on local culture, history and nature.
I am the author of the Amazon bestseller It Started With a Helmet, written with Jerry as co-author. It tells the riveting story of his life as an FDNY firefighter and his service related to 9/11. It is a story of love, resilience and the lasting impact of that day. As an act of public service, the book is offered free to fire schools and to schools from middle school up.
One of my most cherished roles has been Vice President of the McSwain Home, Museum and Garden. During a pivotal moment I served as spokesperson to help arrange relocating this historic gem from between two music venues to the corner of West Terry Street and Pine Avenue. The move will revitalize the north side of town and bring history to life for a whole new audience. I also spearheaded the campaign with the Florida DEP for Bonita Springs to be designated a Trail Town. The plan is for the McSwain Home to serve as a welcome center for trail visitors.
The McSwain Home and its gardens hold a deeply personal place in my heart. A living donor stepped forward and gave me a kidney and saved my life. I spent the months that followed in those gardens with my hands in the dirt, growing plants from seeds and hosting light gardening and birding classes. As I helped cultivate that soil, I grew my health back. It reminds me every day why preserving our city's heritage matters.
Navigating the high-end market takes precision, absolute professionalism and discretion. I also believe the process should be enjoyable. Life is too short not to share a good laugh along the way.
My goal for every seller is simple: maximize your return, secure the best possible terms and eliminate the stress so you can comfortably move on to your next adventure. I work primarily with sellers and I also represent buyers. Whether you are selling a luxury waterfront estate, a gated golf community home or a historic cottage, you deserve an agent who knows every street, every market cycle and every nuance of this town. I have been here since Bonita Springs was a best-kept secret. I would be honored to help you with your next move.
Explore the communities I know best in our gated communities guide, golf membership communities guide, waterfront homes guide and Bonita Beach homes. Ready to look? Start your home search or join our Bonita Estero Forum on Facebook.
The best agent is the one whose record and method fit your home. Chris Elizabeth Griffith of The Griffith Group at Downing Frye Realty has been a REALTOR® in Bonita Springs since 1998. She regularly closes 40+ homes a year, averages 37 days on market and is consistently in the Platinum category at her office. Most of her business comes from referrals and past clients.
Chris averages 37 days on market. She calculates each home's value and predicts its time on market before listing so sellers can plan with confidence.
She analyzes each property with facts, figures and absorption rates. She also inspects the home in person and has it readied for sale. Having built several homes herself, she evaluates a property from the ground up.
Yes. Her typical range is $700,000 and up in the city of Bonita Springs. Many of her listings are in gated golf and country club communities.
Chris holds the Accredited Buyer's Representative (ABR), Certified Residential Specialist (CRS), Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES), Certified New Home Specialist (CNHS) and Graduate, REALTOR Institute (GRI) designations. Her Florida real estate license number is SL676419.
Yes. You get clear checklists, quick updates and a smooth path from contract to close.
Yes. You get calm guidance, trusted vendors and steady communication with all decision makers.
We serve Bonita Springs and Estero, with a focus on gated golf and country club communities, waterfront neighborhoods, Bonita Beach and homes near downtown Bonita Springs.
You get straight talk, smart preparation and local context that lifts results. The team answers fast and solves problems early.
Start with the online home valuator or book a one-on-one listing strategy session. You can also call or text Chris at 239-273-7430.
Whether you are curious about your current home value, planning your next move or just want to chat about the Southwest Florida market, I would love to connect. You can find me on my social channels or come say hello in person. You can often find me on Sunday mornings at the outdoor church services at Riverside Park while our permanent church is being built off East Terry Street.
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