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For many families, retirees, and soon-to-be Floridians, the dream of a life under endless sunshine leads them straight to Southwest Florida. It’s easy to understand why. This region, stretching from Cape Coral’s vibrant waterways to Pine Island’s laid-back charm and Fort Myers’ family-friendly neighborhoods, has become one of the most desirable places in the country to build a new home.
But choosing to build a home here isn’t just about finding a place to live—it’s about crafting a lifestyle. It’s about mornings on your lanai with a warm Gulf breeze, afternoons on the water, evenings entertaining friends in a kitchen designed just the way you imagined, and the comfort of knowing that every detail was built to reflect your vision.
At Tundra Homes, we’ve spent over three decades helping people like you bring that vision to life. Along the way, we’ve learned not only what makes Southwest Florida special, but also what it takes to guide clients through the home building journey with confidence, clarity, and care.
This guide is designed to be your starting point: an introduction to Southwest Florida as a premier destination for new homes, a look at the communities that make it unique, and answers to the questions most people ask when they begin this journey.
When people first imagine Florida living, they often picture crowded beaches or bustling tourist towns. But Southwest Florida offers something different—something more balanced. This region provides the natural beauty Florida is known for, while still offering everyday livability, community connection, and long-term value.
The climate alone is a major draw. With warm, sunny days nearly year-round and mild winters, the outdoors becomes an extension of your home. Instead of planning around seasons, you plan around experiences: a day of boating on the Caloosahatchee River, an afternoon golf game in January, or dinner under the stars in March. Outdoor living isn’t an add-on here; it’s the way of life.
Water is another defining feature. Cape Coral is world-famous for its canal system, with more navigable waterways than Venice. Pine Island and Matlacha provide an entirely different atmosphere, where fishing villages and artist enclaves bring out the old-Florida character that’s harder to find elsewhere. And Fort Myers, with its historic charm and modern growth, offers the energy of a small city balanced with easy access to the coast.
Beyond lifestyle, Southwest Florida makes sense from an investment perspective. As more people relocate from high-cost states, demand for homes in this region continues to grow. Building new allows you to enter this market with a home designed for today’s standards of comfort, efficiency, and resilience. It’s not just a place to live—it’s a wise investment in your future.
No conversation about Southwest Florida would be complete without highlighting Cape Coral. It’s one of the fastest-growing cities in the country, and for good reason. With more than 400 miles of navigable canals, Cape Coral is a dream destination for boaters and water enthusiasts.
Imagine walking out your back door, stepping onto your private dock, and being on open water within minutes. For many of our clients, this is the defining reason they chose Cape Coral. But the city is more than canals. Families are drawn here for its parks, schools, and safe neighborhoods. Retirees appreciate the accessibility of healthcare, recreation, and community events. And investors see strong potential in a city that continues to expand without losing its character.
At Tundra Homes, we’ve built dozens of homes in Cape Coral that maximize the waterfront lifestyle. From oversized lanais with summer kitchens to designs that connect indoor and outdoor living seamlessly, we know how to create homes that truly belong here. For us, Cape Coral is not just a city where we build—it’s where we live, work, and play, and it’s where we’ve seen generations of families create lasting memories.
Just west of Cape Coral, Pine Island feels like another world entirely. Larger than Sanibel and Captiva combined but without their resort crowds, Pine Island has a charm that’s hard to describe until you experience it. Life here moves a little slower. Fishing boats glide across calm waters. Colorful cottages line the streets of Matlacha. And Bokeelia and St. James City offer some of the best access to Pine Island Sound for anglers and boaters alike.
Building a home here is about embracing that rhythm. Many of our Pine Island clients want designs that blend seamlessly with the environment—open floor plans that catch breezes off the water, screened lanais where you can watch the sunset without mosquitoes intruding, and features that highlight the quiet beauty of the natural surroundings.
If you’ve been searching for a hidden gem in Florida, Pine Island is it. And with Tundra Homes, you’ll have a builder who understands not just the mechanics of construction here but the soul of what makes this island community so appealing.
Then there’s Fort Myers, known as the “City of Palms” for the royal palms that line its streets. Fort Myers has long been a cultural and economic center for Southwest Florida, and it continues to grow as more families and professionals discover what it has to offer.
Downtown Fort Myers has undergone a renaissance, with restaurants, shops, and cultural attractions that give it a lively atmosphere. Families are drawn to the area for its strong schools, parks, and recreational opportunities. Retirees enjoy being close to both healthcare and the arts, while younger professionals appreciate its accessibility to the broader Southwest Florida job market.
When we build in Fort Myers, we design homes that reflect the balance this city offers: comfortable living spaces for families, outdoor areas that make the most of Florida’s climate, and flexible floor plans that work for every stage of life. For many, Fort Myers is the perfect middle ground between the canal lifestyle of Cape Coral and the slower pace of Pine Island.
For most people, building a home is the largest project they’ll ever undertake, and it’s natural to have questions about how the process works in Southwest Florida. Here are some of the most common things clients want to know—answered in the context of our 30+ years of experience.
While every project is unique, most new homes take between 10 and 16 months from start to finish, plus a 3-month design phase. The exact timeline depends on factors like permitting, design complexity, and material availability. At Tundra Homes, our reputation for organization and communication often allows us to deliver ahead of schedule, without sacrificing quality.
Yes—and this is where local experience matters most. Navigating Southwest Florida’s permitting and zoning requirements can be complex, but it’s part of what we do every day. Our team handles the details so you don’t have to worry about missing paperwork or unexpected delays.
One of the biggest advantages of working with a custom builder is that you’re not limited to a handful of pre-set designs. From floor plans to finishes, you have a say in every detail. We’ll guide you through the process to ensure your home reflects your style while remaining practical for Florida living.
This is one of the most important questions we hear, and the answer is yes. Modern construction in Southwest Florida follows some of the strictest building codes in the country. That means impact-rated windows and doors, reinforced roofing, and structural practices designed to provide resilience. While no home is completely storm-proof, today’s standards are designed to give you confidence and peace of mind.
At Tundra Homes, we believe choosing the right builder should feel less like a transaction and more like the beginning of a relationship built on trust. For more than 30 years, we’ve been raising the standard of homebuilding in Southwest Florida—delivering value, craftsmanship, and personal service that our clients tell us is hard to find elsewhere. Every member of our team is committed to guiding you through the process, from selecting the right neighborhood and property to fine-tuning finishes that reflect your family’s lifestyle. The result isn’t just a beautiful home—it’s a place designed around the way you truly want to live.
What sets us apart is more than just experience—it’s the energy we bring to every project. This is where we live, work, and play, and that passion shows in the way we build. From your first meeting with us through completion and warranty, we go the extra mile to make the journey enjoyable and stress-free. Clients often tell us they can feel the pride we take in our work, and that enthusiasm translates into homes that aren’t only well-built but filled with care in every detail.
While enthusiasm matters, stability matters just as much. Tundra Homes has weathered market booms and busts over the decades, and we’re still going strong. We stand behind our work, our team, and our reputation. That’s why we welcome you to check us out—review our history, speak with our trade partners, and connect with past clients. You’ll discover a company known for transparency, honesty, and integrity, with a long list of happy homeowners who will tell you they’d choose Tundra again in a heartbeat.
Building a home in Southwest Florida is about more than bricks and mortar. It’s about finding your place in a community, designing spaces that reflect who you are, and investing in a future that’s as bright as the Florida sun.
Cape Coral offers the energy and waterways of a city on the rise. Pine Island gives you peace, charm, and authenticity. Fort Myers balances history with growth, making it a hub for families and professionals. And throughout, you’ll find builders—but only a few who truly listen, guide, and deliver with the care you deserve.
At Tundra Homes, we love what we do, we take pride in what we build, and we treat every client like family. If you’ve been dreaming of your Florida home, now is the time to start. We’d be honored to help you take the first step.
Whether you’re just exploring the idea of moving to Florida or you’re ready to break ground, we invite you to connect with us. Tour one of our model homes, schedule a consultation, or simply ask us your questions. Together, we’ll design and build a home that feels like it was meant for you—because it was.
