More listings. Fewer offers. Slower decisions. If you’re a homeowner in Lee County, you’ve probably noticed the shift. New construction is actively underway throughout the region, with visible progress on roads, residential projects, and public infrastructure. Job growth, however, is flattening. Most homeowners don’t spend their mornings digging through economic reports, so we did it for you.
We turned to two recent FGCU reports, one tracking real economic data, the other capturing how business leaders feel about what’s next. These include the Regional Economic Indicators, which tracks trends in employment, tourism, housing, and consumer behavior, and the Executive Business Climate Survey, a quarterly pulse-check of local business expectations and confidence. This article draws from FGCU’s May 2025 Regional Economic Indicators and Q2 2025 Executive Business Climate Survey.
For homeowners, these reports offer more than statistics. They help reveal how confident businesses are about the future, whether jobs are growing or shrinking, and how outside forces like trade policy and inflation could affect the value of your home and the economic stability of our region.
FGCU Business Outlook: What Local Leaders Are Saying
Only 20 percent of Lee County executives say the economy is better than a year ago. A growing share, 39 percent, say it is worse. The Executive Business Climate Index dropped to 52.1, down from 54.6 last quarter. Future hiring and investment plans are lower, with many executives choosing to hold steady rather than expand.
The job market reflects that caution. The regional unemployment rate rose to 4.1 percent in March 2025, a 0.3 point increase from December. While 31 percent of business owners expect to hire, most plan to keep staffing levels the same. This suggests general stability, but also a more cautious outlook.
Southwest Florida Real Estate Trends
Residential active listings across Southwest Florida reached 28,040 in March 2025, a 40 percent increase from the previous year. For a deeper dive into Lee County’s latest housing activity, view our May 2025 Lee County Market Report. Single-family home sales dropped by 5 percent. These changes reflect seasonal trends and a return to more normal market conditions following the highs of 2021 and 2022. Local Realtors expect inventory to tighten again through the summer.
These patterns reflect broader Southwest Florida trends, but they remain highly relevant to homeowners in Lee County.
Tourism and Trade Pressures in Southwest Florida
Nearly half of Lee County business leaders surveyed are concerned about how trade policy might affect their business. Tariff issues have strained Florida’s relationship with Canadian buyers, contributing to fewer visits, canceled purchases, and a noticeable decline in travel to the region. At the same time, tourism numbers overall are stable, though beach communities like Sanibel and Fort Myers Beach are still seeing fewer rentals as they recover from past storms. Fort Myers and Lee County tourism officials are continuing efforts to promote the region more broadly. Beyond the numbers, Fort Myers is also experiencing a cultural and demographic shift that’s reshaping its identity. For a deeper dive into this transformation, explore our feature: Fort Myers: The Brooklyn of the Gulf Coast.
Key Housing Market Indicators for Lee County Homeowners
At Worthington Realty, we’ve seen the shift in momentum firsthand. Homes that used to generate multiple offers in the first week are now seeing fewer showings and longer decision times. Buyers are asking more questions, and many are waiting for signs of price movement or clarity around interest rates. This matches what the data is telling us, but it also means sellers need to be more strategic than ever.
We encourage homeowners to approach this period with patience and a realistic understanding of today’s market conditions. That means preparing your home to stand out, understanding the current mindset of buyers, and staying aware of the broader economic forces that could influence your timeline or price point. For tips on staging your home effectively, check out our Home Staging Guide.
Even if you’re not planning to sell, it’s worth understanding what drives the value of your home and how broader economic shifts shape what your property is worth in the long run.
Missing these signs could lead to pricing mistakes or missed timing. But if you stay alert, you’ll know when the right opportunity shows up. Here’s what to watch:
- Inventory and Time on Market: More homes available for longer can apply downward pressure on prices.
- Job Stability: Trends in local employment influence consumer spending and housing demand, especially if job growth slows or unemployment continues to rise.
- Consumer Confidence: The statewide sentiment index has declined, especially among higher earners. This affects home purchases and renovations.
- Policy and Trade: The impact of tariffs on material costs and regional investment continues to evolve.
- New Development: Growth projects such as Lee Health’s expansion and Tampa General’s work in Babcock Ranch may bring fresh energy to the area.
How Lee County Homeowners Can Get Through Market Shifts
The market has taken its foot off the gas. This period calls for thoughtful observation, better questions, and choices grounded in both data and local experience. Often times, it seems the information age has turned into an infodemic, an overwhelming flood of facts, opinions, and noise. Everyone is told to ‘do their own research,’ but few are sure where to begin or who to trust. We believe you deserve more than confusion. You deserve to feel confident again.
At Worthington Realty, we believe clarity leads to confidence. If you are thinking about your next move or want to understand what this economy means for your neighborhood, we are here to talk. Whether you are planning ahead or just watching closely, you do not have to make sense of it all alone.
Your home is more than a financial asset. It is a reflection of where you are, what matters to you, and where you are going next.
Curious what this means for your home? Contact us and let’s walk through it together. Our purpose is to restore trust and respect in real estate by understanding what matters most to you so you feel heard, valued, and confident in every decision you make.
