Everyone has a different idea of what a waterfront home really is. Consumers come from all over the United States and all over the world to buy Bonita Springs real estate. Since Florida has so many waterfront homes buyers often start searching for waterfront homes for sale. Our local multiple listing service or MLS offers the following criteria as waterfront in the search filters: basin, bay, creek, fresh water, gulf frontage, intersecting canal, lagoon, lake, mangrove, on the gulf beach, rip rap, river frontage, seawall.

“Waterfront homes” can mean many things in Florida. Waterfront can be a home on a canal. Very often in the mind of a buyer a canal means gulf access but Southwest Florida also has fresh water drainage canals without gulf access or boating access. That is where the confusion begins. A canal home can have no gulf access.

Southwest Florida is also home to many lakes. What many people consider a lake here is often more of a pond or retention area. Most of the lakes are man made in Southwest Florida. Homes and condominiums are built on raised fill pads for drainage purposes. The dirt is claimed by digging lakes which creates instant waterfront homes and additional waterfront real estate.

One of the largest man made lakes in the area is in the community of Miromar Lakes in South Fort Myers. The lake is approximately seven hundred acres and is surrounded by luxury real estate and some of the most desirable waterfront homes available within a gated community.

The prime waterfront real estate is gulf front on Bonita Beach. Bonita Springs is known as “The Gateway to The Gulf”. Homes on Hickory Boulevard and Barefoot Beach Boulevard enjoy spectacular sunsets over the Gulf of Mexico throughout the year. This is the highest tier of waterfront real estate.

Living on the Gulf of Mexico allows a home owner to walk directly from their residence onto the sand. In addition to single family homes there are also gulf front condominiums on Bonita Beach. Beachfront condominium living is considered luxury real estate due to limited supply which makes it the most expensive form of waterfront ownership.

In the pricing hierarchy of waterfront real estate bay front property follows gulf front and riverfront real estate follows bay front.

Southwest Florida buyers also have alternatives to direct beachfront ownership. Several gated communities offer private beach clubs where residents enjoy access to gulf front property owned and maintained by the community. This allows home owners to live on lakes or preserve views while still enjoying a private beach experience.

In Bonita Springs Estero and North Naples the following communities offer beach access or beach club amenities: Mediterra, Bonita Bay, Pelican Landing, West Bay Club, Pelican Sound, Quail West and The Brooks communities including Shadow Wood, Spring Run, Copperleaf and Lighthouse Bay. Rapallo offers a beach shuttle service. Residents of The Colony enjoy private access through the Bay Club.

There is waterfront real estate available for a wide range of budgets. The key is understanding the differences and knowing where to look. If you are ready to begin your search for waterfront homes in Bonita Springs schedule a strategy session today or call 239-273-7430.