Lot Selection Tips in Cape Coral, FL

[Trevor Fleck]

Based on my investment experience in Cape Coral with Rent to Retirement, I often have potential investors ask about how to select an appropriate lot when they all more or less look the same. Below is my list of things I've learned to consider. What other tips/rules of thumb do you have? 

Freshwater Canal Lot Considerations:

• At least one block away from a major highway to reduce road noise
• A West, South, or East facing lot all things being equal (i.e., the direction the back of the lot where your tenant would relax faces)
• The wider the canal, the better
• Look for houses in the surrounding areas with pools - this is a good indication of a higher value home
• East of El Dorado (west of El Dorado is mainly designated as FEMA flood zone areas)
• Make sure no protected species on your lot or the adjacent lot (burrowing owls and gopher tortoises in specific)
• Consult the Cape Coral Utility Expansion Map. You want to be in one of the later expansion phases to avoid $15-$20k in tax assessments paid over 20 years when the City connects the lot to City water/sewer
• Flat lots without a lot of trees (moving earth or removing trees can be quite costly)

[Rodney Menendez]

I received this info from the City of Cape Coral employee

Cape Coral Helpful Links:

1. For Cape Coral’s Interactive Mapping System (Cape IMS) click here. *Useful for looking up information on a property such as Zoning, Future Land Use, flood zone, restrictions, ownership information, etc.

2. For a table of allowed uses by zoning district: click here

3.For Planning Division applications, documents, and information click here

4. For a searchable version of Cape Corals Land Development Code click here

5. For burrowing owl, gopher tortoise, bald eagle, or mangrove information click here

6. For City protection requirements for burrowing owls, gopher tortoises, or bald eagles click here

7. For wildlife GIS data and an interactive map showing locations of listed species in the City click here