Building a new home in Fort Myers is a big decision, but it should not feel mysterious. When you understand the steps, the timelines, and the way we guide you through each phase, the process becomes far more manageable and even enjoyable. As a family-owned builder with more than three decades of experience in Southwest Florida, we have refined a clear, practical path from first conversation to move-in that is tailored to Fort Myers, its codes, and its coastal climate.
This guide walks you through that path in detail. You will see how site selection works, how we structure budgets and allowances, what happens during the design and permitting stages, and how construction unfolds under Florida’s strict building codes and local hurricane provisions. By the end, you will have a realistic picture of what it looks like to build a home in Fort Myers with a builder who lives and works in this market every day.
Understanding the Fort Myers Building Environment
Before we dive into the step-by-step process, it helps to understand the environment you are building in. Fort Myers sits in a coastal region shaped by the Caloosahatchee River, nearby barrier islands, and the Gulf of Mexico. It is a place where sunshine, water access, and outdoor living are part of daily life—and where building codes reflect the reality of hurricanes, high winds, and flood zones.
The City of Fort Myers and Lee County enforce the Florida Building Code, which incorporates structural, energy, accessibility, flood, and hurricane provisions. Residential permit reviews and inspections verify that new homes meet requirements for structural integrity, wind resistance, energy efficiency, life safety, and flood protection where applicable.
For you as a future homeowner, this means two things. First, your home will be designed and built to standards created for a coastal, hurricane-affected region. Second, the process involves a formal sequence of permitting and inspections that must be managed carefully. Our job is to navigate that sequence on your behalf so you can focus on design, lifestyle, and budget rather than paperwork and code sections.
Step One: Initial Conversation and Vision
Every successful build starts with a conversation, not a contract. When you reach out to us about building in Fort Myers, we begin by listening. We want to understand why you are drawn to this area, how you expect to use your home, and what your priorities are in terms of size, style, and budget.
If you are relocating, we talk about how you live today and how that might change in Southwest Florida. Families often focus on bedroom count, flexible spaces for work or homework, and outdoor areas for kids. Retirees may prioritize guest suites, low-maintenance finishes, and easy-flow layouts for entertaining. Second-home buyers often want a lock-and-leave feel with strong hurricane readiness and the right mix of indoor and outdoor spaces.
This first step also includes an honest discussion about investment level. We review general price ranges for our homes, the differences between adapting an existing floor plan and going fully custom, and the way lot characteristics can affect cost. Transparency at this stage builds a foundation of trust and helps you make informed decisions right from the start.
Step Two: Site Selection and Land Questions
A common question we hear is whether you need to own land before you talk to us. The answer is no. We build for clients who already own a lot and for clients who are still searching.
If you already own a homesite in Fort Myers, we evaluate it together. We look at its size, orientation, access, any visible grading or drainage issues, and proximity to water, utilities, or other features that may influence design. If the property has an older home that you plan to remove, we discuss teardown and rebuild options, including how demolishing an existing structure can often be coordinated while design work is under way so that it does not add unnecessary time to your overall schedule.
If you do not yet own land, we can talk about what to look for. Canal-front properties, interior lots, and larger parcels each come with different considerations related to setbacks, elevation, and design opportunities. Location within Fort Myers may influence wind load criteria, flood zone requirements, and finished floor elevations, all of which are important to understand before you commit to a purchase. We help you think through those factors so that the lot you choose supports the home you want rather than working against it. Additionally, one of our sales team members who is a licensed realtor would be happy to assist you in locating the perfect lot for your new home.
Site selection is also about lifestyle. You may want quick access to commuter routes, proximity to schools, a quieter neighborhood removed from traffic, or a lot that maximizes water views and boating access. We help you weigh all of those considerations so that your homesite aligns with the way you actually plan to live here.
Step Three: Design and Floor Plans
Here you have two primary paths: selecting and tailoring one of our existing floor plans or pursuing a fully custom design.
Our floor plan collection includes multiple homes that are particularly well suited to Fort Myers, with living areas starting around the mid-2,000-square-foot range and extending into larger estate-style plans. These designs emphasize open great rooms, generous kitchens, split bedrooms, studies or flex spaces, and expansive lanais that connect seamlessly to pools and outdoor living areas. They are created specifically for the way people live in Southwest Florida.
If you choose a plan from our collection, we work with you to refine it for your lot and lifestyle. That might mean reorienting the plan to capture views, adjusting window placements for light and privacy, customizing cabinetry and storage, or tweaking room dimensions. Because these plans have been proven over many builds, they offer efficiency while still allowing substantial personalization.
If you prefer a fully custom home, the process becomes more collaborative. You will meet directly with the designer to begin developing preliminary plans. Once the plans are complete and you choose to move forward with construction, we use the finalized drawings to prepare your budget and construction agreement.
Throughout design, we keep Fort Myers’ climate and codes in view. Window placement considers sunlight and heat gain. Rooflines and exterior details are planned with wind loads and water management in mind. Outdoor living spaces are sized and sheltered so they are genuinely comfortable in Southwest Florida’s sun and humidity rather than simply impressive on paper. Structural details and mechanical systems are considered early, so that the finished home is not only beautiful but durable and efficient.
Step Four: Budgeting and Allowances
Once we have a general understanding of your goals and a likely homesite, we move into a more detailed budgeting phase. This is where many buyers begin to see meaningful differences between builders.
Our approach is to establish an overall project budget early in the process, before detailed design work begins. Rather than working from a series of isolated allowances, we use your anticipated selections to guide how that budget is allocated across the home. Categories such as flooring, cabinetry, countertops, plumbing fixtures, lighting, and, when applicable, site work or landscaping are planned with realistic expectations based on the level of finishes you envision.
By using your selections to shape the budget from the outset, we ensure flexibility where it matters most—allowing you to upgrade or scale back intentionally without disrupting the overall financial framework. This approach helps avoid surprises later in the process, as we are not relying on artificially low placeholder numbers that would inevitably change once real decisions are made. Instead, the budget is built to support the quality and style of home we are designing together.
During this phase, we also discuss how key structural and design decisions affect the overall investment. Elements such as an additional garage bay, an expanded lanai, enhanced window and door packages, or custom ceiling details all carry cost implications. Addressing these considerations early allows us to align the design, selections, and budget in a thoughtful, realistic way—so you can move forward with confidence.
If you will be using construction financing, we coordinate our schedule and contract structure with your lender’s requirements. While we do not provide loans directly, we have experience working with local and national lenders that understand new home construction in Fort Myers, and we help make sure the budget and draw schedule align with the way your loan is set up.
Step Five: Contract and Pre-Construction
After floor plans and key specifications are defined, we prepare a detailed construction agreement. This contract outlines the scope of work, included features, allowance amounts, and pricing. We review it with you carefully so that you understand what is included, where you have flexibility, and how change orders will be handled if you decide to make adjustments during construction.
This is also the stage when we finalize many of the technical aspects of your home. This phase includes completing structural engineering, energy calculations, truss designs, and any site-specific studies that may be required. We coordinate with utility providers and, when applicable, homeowners’ associations to ensure that your project aligns with local guidelines and approvals.
Once the contract is signed, we move fully into pre-construction. Pre-construction is largely behind-the-scenes work, but it is essential for a smooth build. This is where the decisions we made together in design are translated into technical documents that will guide construction and satisfy building officials. Getting this phase right reduces surprises later and helps your build move efficiently from one stage to the next.
Step Six: Permitting and Approvals in Fort Myers
New homes in Fort Myers must obtain permits and pass inspections under the Florida Building Code and local regulations. The City of Fort Myers’ Building, Permitting, and Inspections department oversees these submissions, ensuring compliance with structural, energy, flood, hurricane, accessibility, and life-safety provisions.
We handle permitting for you. Our team assembles the required plans and documents, submits the application, and tracks its progress. If plan reviewers request clarifications or revisions, we respond promptly in coordination with our design and engineering partners. Because we build regularly in this region, we are familiar with local expectations and processes, which helps minimize delays.
Permitting timelines can vary based on jurisdictional workload and complexity of the project. While your plans are in review, we stay in communication so you know where things stand. When permits are issued, we are ready to transition directly into active construction.
Step Seven: Construction – From Slab to Final Walkthrough
Once the building permit is in hand, construction begins on site. The process is structured, sequence-driven, and guided by regular inspections from both our team and local building officials.
Construction typically starts with site preparation and foundation work. We clear the lot if needed, bring in fill to achieve the proper elevation, compact the soil, and form the slab. Concrete work is completed to engineered specifications, providing the structural base for your home. Proper elevation and drainage are critical in a coastal market like Fort Myers, so we pay close attention to grading and water flow from the very beginning.
From there, exterior walls and tie beams are built, roof trusses are installed, and the structure is dried in. Windows and exterior doors are set, roofing is completed, and the home begins to take on its shape. Mechanical systems are roughed in, including plumbing, electrical, and HVAC. Once rough inspections are passed, we insulate, hang drywall, and begin interior finishes such as cabinetry, tile, and trim. Exterior finishes, driveways, walks, and landscaping follow.
Throughout construction, inspections are completed at defined milestones to confirm that work complies with approved plans and the Florida Building Code. At the same time, we maintain our own internal quality checks, walking the job regularly and verifying that the workmanship matches our standards.
We know many of our clients are building from out of state, so we use cloud-based construction management tools to keep you up to date. Schedules, progress photos, documents, and change orders are available online, and we are always a phone call or email away if you have questions. Our goal is to make you feel connected to the process, even if you cannot be on site frequently.
Once the home is substantially complete, we schedule a detailed walkthrough with you. Together, we review interior and exterior finishes, test systems, and note any items that need touchups or adjustments. We address these before closing so that you walk into a home that feels truly finished. Final inspections and a certificate of occupancy pave the way for closing and move-in.
How Long Does New Home Construction Take in Fort Myers?
Timing is a crucial concern for families and relocators, especially when coordinating the sale of an existing home or a move from another state. Construction timelines can vary with market conditions, complexity, and project size, but there are general patterns you can rely on.
From the time a building permit is issued, our homes typically take roughly twelve to sixteen months to construct, depending on the size and uniqueness of the project. The period before permit issuance—when design, budgeting, engineering, and permitting are under way—adds additional time, which can vary based on jurisdictional workloads and how quickly design decisions are made.
We provide realistic timeline expectations up front and update you as conditions change. During the build, our scheduling tools help you see major milestones and understand when key selections must be finalized to keep things on track. The goal is not only to finish your home to a high standard, but to do so within a timeframe that works for your life.
Hurricane Readiness, Codes, and Building for Southwest Florida
In Fort Myers, hurricane readiness is not an optional upgrade; it is a core design principle. The Florida Building Code requires homes to meet strict standards for wind resistance, impact protection, and structural performance, with plans reflecting site-specific wind loads and other criteria.
We specialize in building hurricane-resistant, high-performance homes and treat weather resilience as a standard, not a special feature. This means careful attention to structural connections from foundation to roof, impact-rated windows and doors in appropriate areas, properly engineered roofing systems, and exterior details designed to limit water intrusion and wind damage.
Beyond meeting code minimums, many of our clients choose additional protective features such as whole-house generators, enhanced drainage systems, upgraded roofing materials, or additional storm protection for openings. These options are discussed during budgeting and design so they can be integrated smoothly into the overall plan from day one.
Building in Fort Myers also involves considerations related to flood zones and finished floor elevations. Where applicable, we work to ensure that your home’s elevation and site design align with local requirements and insurance expectations, helping manage both safety and long-term costs. When we talk about hurricane readiness, we are looking at the entire system: structure, site, openings, utilities, and your ability to monitor and maintain the home over time.
Ready to Start Your Fort Myers Homebuilding Journey?
Building a new home in Fort Myers is about more than creating a floor plan and choosing finishes. It is about designing a place that fits the way you want to live in Southwest Florida, and then bringing it to life through a clear, well-managed process that respects your time, budget, and expectations.
We build in Cape Coral, Pine Island, and Fort Myers, helping families, retirees, and relocators design and build homes that feel tailored, enduring, and truly at home in this coastal community. From the first conversation through design, permitting, construction, and move-in, our team stays hands-on and accessible, combining craftsmanship with communication so you always know what is happening and why.
If you are comparing builders in Fort Myers and want a step-by-step process you can trust, we invite you to reach out. Schedule a consultation, visit our model home, or contact us to talk through your ideas, your timeline, and your questions. We love what we do, we take pride in what we build, and we treat every client like family. When you are ready to build your new home in Fort Myers, we are ready to walk each step of the journey with you.
