Lakes of Estero

Updated September 2026 · Jesse McGreevy and Marc Comisar, Domain Realty

By Jesse McGreevy and Marc Comisar. McGreevy and Comisar are the top-reviewed real estate team selling and buying homes in Lakes of Estero, Estero. Top 1% Real Estate Agents Nationally Since 2008, with over $900 million in personal sales between Jesse McGreevy and Marc Comisar. If you own one of the 94 homes in Lakes of Estero and you are thinking about selling, or you are deciding whether this small lake community in Estero, across from Estero High School, is the right place to buy, this page answers the questions that actually decide it, from the public record. Sellers, call Jesse direct at (239) 898-6072. Buyers, call Marc at (239) 287-5873.

Lakes of Estero is a non-gated neighborhood of single-family homes around a branching freshwater lake in Estero, Florida, inside the Village of Estero in Lee County. It sits in the northeast corner of Williams Road and River Ranch Road, with its only road entrance on River Ranch Road. Nearby communities we cover in depth include Estero Place, Cascades at Estero and Rookery Pointe. If you are choosing who to hire here, our comparison of the best real estate agents in Estero shows how local agents stack up on the public record.

Everything below comes from primary records pulled in September 2026: the Lee County Property Appraiser parcel roll and field cards, Lee County building permits, the Florida Division of Corporations, the Florida Department of Revenue tax roll and sale files, FEMA flood mapping, USGS elevation and aerial imagery, the School District of Lee County, Village of Estero council records, and the Southwest Florida MLS. Where a fact is not published anywhere, we say so and name the document that would hold it.

Why McGreevy and Comisar Are the Best Realtor for Lakes of Estero

If you’re searching for the best realtor for Lakes of Estero, whether you’re ready to sell your Lakes of Estero home or buy your next one, McGreevy and Comisar is the team that delivers. We lead Domain Realty Group, the #1 real estate team in Southwest Florida since 2012, Top 1% Nationally since 2008, with over $2.5 billion sold as a team and $900 million in personal sales between Jesse and Marc. As the leaders of Domain Realty Group our team has closed over $2.5 billion in real estate across Lee and Collier counties.

Recent Lakes of Estero track record (last 12 months): In the last 12 months we tracked 7 Lakes of Estero closings on the Southwest Florida MLS, from $414,000 to $658,600, totaling $3,667,600 in dollar volume. The median time from listing to contract was 74 days, the average sale-to-list ratio was 97.4%, the highest-priced sale was $658,600 for a 3,119 square foot five-bedroom home on Silvercreek Court, and the fastest went under contract in 11 days. (Southwest Florida MLS closed sales for the Lakes of Estero development, September 2025 to September 5, 2026. Seven sales is a thin sample, so the individual sales are listed in the market section below rather than reduced to a single median.)

For Lakes of Estero sellers: premium marketing, cinematic video, drone and aerial imagery, professional photography, our qualified-buyer database, and discretion or off-market capability when you need it. In a 102-lot community where a builder is selling brand-new homes a few doors away, the listing strategy matters more than usual, and we explain exactly how we handle that below.

Honors and recognition:

• Top 1% Real Estate Agents Nationally Since 2008

• 5 Star Award for Customer Satisfaction for 21 Straight Years. Only 5 out of 21k+ Licensees (Gulfshore Life Magazine)

• #1 Team in Southwest Florida since 2012

• McGreevy and Comisar and their Domain Realty Group team have sold over $2.5 Billion in Real Estate

• McGreevy and Comisar alone have over $900 million in Sales

• Nationally Recognized Top Producing Realtors

• Platinum Sales Production Award Winners

Selling your Lakes of Estero home? Get a free home valuation at https://mcgreevyandcomisar.com/home-valuation, read how we sell a home in Lakes of Estero, see what a Lakes of Estero home is worth, see what homes across the Village are worth on our Estero home valuation page, or call Jesse direct at (239) 898-6072 (confidential conversations welcome).

Buying a home in Lakes of Estero? Call Marc at (239) 287-5873 for a personalized buyer consultation, and read our guide to buying a home in Lakes of Estero, how we represent buyers in Estero, or our guide to buying a home in Estero.

★★★★★ “We had been on the market for several months with no offers. When we signed with Marc our house was sold in 2 weeks. He has a unique system for selling homes.” Verified Google review

Key Takeaways: What Should You Know About Lakes of Estero First?

Lakes of Estero is a 102-lot, non-gated, single-family community built mostly in 2005 on 50.14 acres inside the Village of Estero, with one homeowners association, no CDD, a clubhouse and pool, and a single branching lake. These eight points are the ones buyers and sellers ask us about most.

• Size and age: 102 platted lots on Lee County Plat Book 72, Pages 78 to 83. Today there are 94 homes, 5 vacant lots owned by D.R. Horton and 1 privately owned vacant lot. 76 of the 93 homes with roll data were built in 2005.

• Builder: Lee County permit records name Continental Homes of Florida, a D.R. Horton subsidiary, or D.R. Horton itself on 81 of the 92 original homes we traced. The Conidaris family developed the land and built 11 homes. D.R. Horton bought the last five open lots in January 2026 and is selling new homes on them now.

• Prices: 7 MLS closings in the 12 months to September 5, 2026, from $414,000 to $658,600. The county records 11 qualified home sales in the 36 months to July 2026 at a median of $526,000.

• Fees: one association, The Lakes of Estero Homeowners Association, Inc., managed by FirstService Residential. The dues amount is not published in any public record we could reach. No CDD line appears on the tax bill.

• Taxes: Lakes of Estero sits in Lee County taxing district 316, at 13.0214 mills for 2025. The Village of Estero’s own share is 0.7300 mills.

• Flood: FEMA panel 12071C0591H, effective November 17, 2022. At the center point of 97 of 101 residential parcels the zone is X; the lake banks, streets and some rear yards are mapped AH or AE, with base flood elevations of 15.0 to 15.5 feet.

• Schools: Estero High School is directly across River Ranch Road. Lee County assigns by zone and lottery, not by address, and this community is in South Zone 3.

• Not the same as Fountain Lakes: searchers mix the two up constantly. Fountain Lakes is a separate gated community west of US 41.

Table of Contents: How Is This Lakes of Estero Guide Organized?

This Lakes of Estero guide runs in the order a buyer or seller usually needs it: what and where the community is, what homes sell for, who built it and why a builder is back, the association and the costs, flood and insurance, schools and daily life, what is being built nearby, and then the selling plan and every question we have been asked.

What is Lakes of Estero and where is it · Is it the same as Fountain Lakes · Living there · What homes sell for

History and builders · D.R. Horton in 2026 · The layout · The homes

Governance · The fee stack · Property taxes · Amenities · What it does not have

Flood zone · Storm history · Evacuation zone · Insurance

Schools · Healthcare · Drive times · What is being built nearby · Daily logistics · Things to do

Lakes of Estero vs Estero Place and Colonial Oaks · Comparable communities · Pros and cons · What our record review found

Selling your home · Your local experts · Buyer FAQ · Seller FAQ · Documents · Sources

What Is Lakes of Estero, and Where Exactly Is It?

Lakes of Estero is a 102-lot single-family subdivision of about 50 acres in the Village of Estero, Lee County, Florida 33928, recorded in Plat Book 72, Pages 78 to 83. It fills the northeast corner of Williams Road and River Ranch Road, east of US 41 and west of Three Oaks Parkway, directly across River Ranch Road from Estero High School.

The exact location and the one way in

The Lee County Property Appraiser’s subdivision layer places Lakes of Estero in Section 34, Township 46 South, Range 25 East, with a stated area of 50.14 acres. River Ranch Road forms the west edge and Williams Road the south edge. To the north, past a narrow conservation buffer, is Colonial Oaks. To the east is Milan Villas, a 44-home D.R. Horton villa neighborhood the Village approved in 2022, and beyond it Three Oaks Parkway.

There is one road entrance. Springlake Court leaves River Ranch Road about 0.2 miles north of the Williams Road intersection and runs east to Springlake Circle, the loop that serves every home. Three cul-de-sacs branch off it: Silvercreek Court, Sunset Lake Court and Rainbow Lake Court. The original 2002 building permits gave directions to the site the same way we would today: south on I-75, west on Corkscrew Road, left on River Ranch Road, “across from Estero High School.”

Which city is it really in?

Lakes of Estero is inside the incorporated Village of Estero. Every one of its 107 parcels carries the Village municipal code and Lee County taxing district 316, which the county labels “Village of Estero / Estero Fire.” The mailing city and ZIP are Estero, 33928. D.R. Horton files its sales page under a “Fort Myers” web address, but that is the builder’s regional sales label; its own address text says Estero, and the county records are unambiguous.

What county is Lakes of Estero in?

Lee County. The Village of Estero is one of Lee County’s six municipalities, incorporated on December 31, 2014 after 86 percent of voters approved it. Bonita Springs and Collier County lie to the south; Fort Myers lies to the north.

How big is it compared with the rest of Estero?

It is small. The Village counts about 69 communities; Lakes of Estero’s 102 lots compare with 446 residential parcels at Belle Lago, 281 at Cascades at Estero and 242 at Fountain Lakes, by our count of the county parcel roll. Small size cuts both ways: fewer sales to price against, and a quieter street pattern with almost no through traffic.

Is Lakes of Estero the Same as Fountain Lakes, Miromar Lakes or Estero Place?

No. Lakes of Estero is its own 102-lot plat with its own homeowners association, and it is regularly confused with three other places. Google’s own autocomplete for “lakes of estero hoa” suggests Fountain Lakes fees, and several pages ranking for “Lakes of Estero amenities” actually describe Fountain Lakes. Here is how to tell them apart.

Lakes of Estero vs Fountain Lakes

Fountain Lakes is a separate, gated community west of US 41, recorded decades earlier in Plat Book 44 and about 1.7 miles southwest of Lakes of Estero by straight line. It has 242 residential parcels by our count of the county roll, its own association and its own amenity program. Lakes of Estero is east of US 41, is not gated and has 102 lots. If a listing, a fee figure or an amenity list mentions a guard gate, it is almost certainly describing Fountain Lakes.

Lakes of Estero vs Miromar Lakes

Miromar Lakes Beach and Golf Club is a large resort-style club community on the east side of I-75, built around a private lake with a beach club and golf. It shares a word in its name and nothing else with Lakes of Estero.

Lakes of Estero vs Estero Place and Colonial Oaks

Estero Place is a 102-home Neal Communities neighborhood about half a mile north, recorded in 2014. Colonial Oaks is Lakes of Estero’s immediate neighbor to the north. Both are separate plats with separate associations. We compare the three directly in the decision table further down this page, because they are the realistic alternatives for a buyer who likes this location.

Lakes of Estero vs “Lakes at Estero” and Lakes Park

“Lakes at Estero” appears in search suggestions but is not a recorded subdivision name in the Lee County parcel roll; the full-roll search for “LAKES OF ESTERO” returns only this plat. Lakes Park is a Lee County regional park in Fort Myers, not a residential community.

What Is It Like to Live in Lakes of Estero as a Homebuyer?

Lakes of Estero is a quiet, one-entrance loop of mostly two-story, concrete-block homes from 2003 to 2005, 70 of them on lake lots, with a clubhouse and pool near the entrance and the Village’s civic center within a mile. It suits buyers who want Estero’s location and taxes at a price well below the newer gated communities nearby.

The shape of daily life

The neighborhood is built around water. The HOA owns a lake tract of about 11.4 acres, of which the Property Appraiser values 8.17 acres as open water, and the lake branches through the middle of the site so that most homes back onto it. The county codes 70 of the 102 lots as “single family residential, lake.” There is no through street, so the only cars on Springlake Circle are residents, guests and service vehicles.

Across River Ranch Road are Estero High School, the Estero Community Park and Recreation Center, and the Village Hall campus. The Village has branded that whole area its Village Center, and it is filling in with the Estero SportsPark and an entertainment campus on Williams Road, described in the civic pipeline section below. Publix, Walgreens, the South County Regional Library and a post office are all within about a mile and a half by road.

Who the homes suit

The housing stock is detached single-family, 66 two-story and 27 one-story homes by the county’s improvement codes, with three to five bedrooms in all but one. That mix reads well for households that need four or five bedrooms without a club membership, for buyers who want a lake view at a resale price, and for anyone who wants a high school within walking distance. We do not characterize who lives here, because that is not a fact we can verify or a lawful basis for a recommendation. What the roll does show is that 67 of the 93 homes with complete roll data, 72 percent, carry a homestead exemption, so most owners live here full time.

What a buyer gives up

No gate, no golf, no on-site dining or fitness staff, and a 20-year-old housing stock with original roofs on many homes. River Ranch Road also carries school traffic at drop-off and pick-up, which the Village is addressing with a raised crosswalk at the Lakes of Estero entrance. We cover each of these honestly in the pros and cons section.

Selling or Buying in Lakes of Estero? Talk to Jesse and Marc Directly

Lakes of Estero turns over slowly, with 22 qualified home sales in the five years to September 2026, so pricing a home here means knowing each of those sales and every D.R. Horton new-build price a few doors away. Sellers, get a free Lakes of Estero home valuation or call Jesse direct at (239) 898-6072. Buyers, call Marc at (239) 287-5873 and read how we represent Estero buyers.

What Have Lakes of Estero Homes Actually Sold For?

Data updated: September 2026. Lakes of Estero homes sold for $414,000 to $658,600 on the Southwest Florida MLS in the 12 months to September 5, 2026, across 7 closings. Because 7 is too thin for a reliable median, we list every sale, then widen to the county’s 36-month recorded-sales window, where 11 qualified home sales produce a median of $526,000.

Every MLS closing in the last 12 months

Data updated: September 2026. Source: Southwest Florida MLS closed sales, development Lakes of Estero, September 2025 through September 5, 2026. Square footage is MLS approximate living area.

Two of the seven sold above asking, both with pools according to the Property Appraiser’s comparable-sales layer. The two lowest sales, in February and March, took the deepest discounts from list. Total dollar volume was $3,667,600. The median living-area price per square foot across the seven is $211.16; the aggregate, total dollars divided by total square feet, is $208.16. We publish both because a portal that shows only one number, unlabeled, can mislead by several dollars a foot even on a sample this small.

What the county recorded, year by year

Data updated: September 2026. Source: Lee County Property Appraiser sale data files 2021 to 2025, Florida Department of Revenue 2026 preliminary sale file, and the Property Appraiser’s comparable-sales layer for sales after May 2026. “Qualified” means Florida DOR qualification codes 01 to 06.

The single sales in 2023 and 2025 are too thin to read as a market rate, which is why we mark them as individual sales rather than medians. Across September 2021 to September 2026 the county shows 22 qualified home sales at a median of $511,225.

The widened window: 36 months, 11 sales, a $526,000 median

The seller rule we follow is simple: widen the window until it holds at least 10 closings, and name the window beside the number. For Lakes of Estero the 12-month MLS window holds 7 and the 24-month county window holds 8, so the first window that qualifies is 36 months. From September 2023 to July 2026 the county recorded 11 qualified home sales: $414,000, $470,000, $510,000, $512,450, $525,000, $526,000, $530,000, $600,000, $658,600, $679,000 and $725,000. With 11 sales, an odd number, the median is the sixth, $526,000.

Why the county and MLS counts differ by one

The MLS shows 7 closings since September 2025 and the county shows 6. The February 20, 2026 sale at $430,000 on Springlake Circle appears on the MLS but not among the county’s qualified sales in the files we pulled, which run through July 2026. It may carry a qualification code that excludes it, or it may not yet be coded. The county also records a March 2025 sale at $470,000 that falls just outside the MLS window. We report both counts rather than blending them.

Price per square foot: two different measuring sticks

A county “square foot” and an MLS “square foot” are not the same thing, and mixing them is the most common pricing mistake we see. The county’s area figure for these homes is total area under roof, including the garage and lanai; its median across 93 homes is 3,331 square feet. The MLS figure is approximate living area; on the six sales that appear in both, MLS living area ran from 49 to 85 percent of the county figure, with a median of about 64 percent, because the garage and lanai share of the county number changes from plan to plan. So the county-area price per foot on 2026 sales, about $139, and the MLS living-area price per foot, about $211, describe the same houses with different denominators. Never compare one to the other.

How Lakes of Estero compares with ZIP 33928 as a whole

Data updated: September 2026. Source: Southwest Florida MLS closed sales, ZIP 33928, the 365 days to September 5, 2026. The 12-month median closed price across all property types in Estero ZIP 33928 was $517,500 over 1,257 closings, a pool that includes condominiums and golf-club homes. Lakes of Estero’s seven sales ran from $414,000 to $658,600, so the community trades close to the ZIP-wide middle while offering detached homes on lake lots, which is exactly the position that makes it attractive to buyers priced out of the newer gated communities nearby.

What sits on the roll: assessed values

The 2026 preliminary tax roll puts the median just value of the 93 homes with complete data at $383,075, with a range of $277,616 to $586,345. Just value runs well below sale prices here, as it does across Florida, because it reflects a January 1 valuation date and an allowance for the cost of sale. It is not a pricing tool; recent sales are.

Thinking of selling? Get a free Lakes of Estero valuation built on these exact sales, or call Jesse at (239) 898-6072. Buying? Call Marc at (239) 287-5873 and see how we represent Estero buyers.

Who Built Lakes of Estero, and How Did It Come to Be?

Lakes of Estero was developed by the Conidaris family of Fort Myers, who bought the 50-acre tract in September 2001 for $1,493,800 and formed the homeowners association in February 2002. Lee County permit records show the family’s own company built 11 homes, and D.R. Horton, directly and through its Continental Homes subsidiary, built 81 of the 92 original homes we traced, mostly in 2005.

The land before the houses

The county field cards carry the tract’s chain of title back to conveyances in 1988 and 1989. The land sits inside a much older zoning approval: the Lee County planned-development layer places the 50.14 acres inside the Corkscrew Hammocks planned unit development, first approved in 1982 under Resolution Z-82-111. Every one of the 107 Lakes of Estero parcels is still zoned PUD. We found no later Village of Estero rezoning of the site.

The developer: Conidaris Development Company

Conidaris Development Company was incorporated in Florida on August 20, 2001 (Division of Corporations document P01000082841). On September 13, 2001 it took title to the whole tract, every future lot and tract, in a single deed for $1,493,800, recorded at Official Records Book 3487, Page 3401. That instrument appears at the top of the title history on every Lakes of Estero parcel card.

On December 14, 2001, Robert Conidaris signed the Articles of Incorporation for The Lakes of Estero Homeowner’s Association, Inc. The Articles were filed on February 13, 2002, after a first submission was bounced because the name had been misspelled “Estro.” The first three officers and directors were members of the Conidaris family, and the Articles state plainly what the developer intended: “Declarant presently intends that The Lakes of Estero, when ultimately developed, will contain approximately one hundred-two (102) Lots with a Home constructed in each Lot.”

The first homes, 2002 to 2003

The first single-family permits in the community were pulled in 2002 by Conidaris Builders and General Contractors, the family’s Fort Myers building company, including a permit on Lot 51, Sunset Lake Court, labelled “Lakes of Estero SFR ‘MODEL’.” Conidaris Builders built 11 homes in all, mostly one-story ranches, between 2002 and 2003.

The production phase, 2003 to 2005

From December 2003 to February 2005 the developer sold lots in bulk takedowns of 12 to 25 lots at a time, each at $70,000 per lot: 25 lots for $1,750,000 in December 2003, then 15, 15, 3, 12 and 12 lots through February 1, 2005. The building permits on those lots name the builder. Continental Homes of Florida pulled 25 permits in 2004, and D.R. Horton pulled 56 in late 2004 and 2005, both under the same qualifying contractor. D.R. Horton’s own 1998 annual report to the SEC records that it acquired Continental Homes Holding Corp. on April 20, 1998, so both names describe one building operation.

The result is that 76 of the 93 homes with county roll data carry a 2005 year built, 12 carry 2004 and 5 carry 2003. The first sales to homebuyers, recorded from 2003 to 2006, ran from about $292,000 to $455,000 on the county field cards.

What happened to the last lots

Not every lot was built on. Lots 83 to 87 on Springlake Circle and Lot 91 sat vacant through the 2008 downturn and the recovery that followed. Lot 91 sold as a vacant lot in October 2025 for $175,000. Lots 83 to 87 are the subject of the next section. A roughly 10-acre parcel described as Tract E and part of Tract D, carried on the roll under the site address Williams Road and valued at $615,049, is still owned by Conidaris Development Company. We found no development application for it.

A timeline of Lakes of Estero

Why Is D.R. Horton Building New Homes in Lakes of Estero in 2026?

D.R. Horton is building on the last five open lots of the original plat, not on a new community. It bought Lots 83 to 87 on Springlake Circle on January 15, 2026 in one deed for $1,000,000, and in September 2026 its website listed new homes on those lots from $609,855 to $669,855, with one lot under contract. The homes join the same association as every other owner.

What D.R. Horton is selling

D.R. Horton’s Lakes of Estero page, checked on September 24, 2026, showed “Now Selling,” “from $574,990,” and two plans in its Tradition Series: the Ellenton, a two-story plan of 2,306 square feet with four bedrooms and two and a half baths, starting in the $575s, and the Coral, a two-story plan of 2,596 square feet with five bedrooms and four baths, starting in the $625s. The specific homes listed that day were 9928 Springlake Circle (Lot 83, Ellenton, $609,855), 9936 Springlake Circle (Lot 84, Coral, $659,855), 9952 Springlake Circle (Lot 86, Ellenton, $609,855) and 9958 Springlake Circle (Lot 87, Coral, $669,855). Lot 85, 9944 Springlake Circle, was shown as under contract.

Is it the same community as the 2005 homes?

Yes. The Property Appraiser’s parcel records identify all five lots as “Lakes of Estero, Plat Book 72, Pages 78 to 83, Lots 83 to 87,” the same plat and legal description as every other home in the community. D.R. Horton’s page describes the same place: “a highly desirable non-gated community in Estero, Florida … at the intersection of River Ranch Road and Williams Road … 102 beautifully designed single-family homes.” The new homes will be assessed by the same Lakes of Estero Homeowners Association.

Two numbers on the builder page that do not match the record

The builder describes the community as “approximately 25 acres.” The Property Appraiser’s subdivision record says 50.14 acres, and the sum of the 107 parcels is about 47 acres, including the lake and the undeveloped tract. The builder’s online map pin also lands about half a mile north of the plat, on a parcel the county labels Estero Place. Neither affects what a buyer gets, but a buyer relying on the builder’s map to drive over would end up in the wrong neighborhood.

What the new homes mean for resale owners

For the first time in two decades, a resale seller in Lakes of Estero is competing with brand-new product inside the same loop road. New construction brings a builder warranty, current energy code, new roofs and impact openings, and builder incentives; a 2005 resale brings a mature lot, an established lake view, often a pool, and a lower price per foot. The last 12 months of resales, $414,000 to $658,600, sit mostly below the builder’s $609,855 to $669,855 asking prices, and the five new homes also set a fresh, visible ceiling for comparable square footage. How we price and position a resale against that is covered in the seller section below. Owners can request a valuation that accounts for the new homes or call Jesse at (239) 898-6072; buyers weighing new against resale can call Marc at (239) 287-5873 or read how we represent buyers on new construction and resales.

Should you buy new from D.R. Horton or a resale here?

It depends on what you value. If you want a warranty and a new roof and impact windows from day one, the new homes deliver that at a premium. If you want a pool, a lake lot that has been landscaped for 20 years, and more square footage for the money, the resale stock usually wins. Builders set their own rules for registering a buyer’s agent, so ask before your first visit to the sales office. One of our buyers put the value of representation this way:

★★★★★ “Marc has been a great help in securing a great price for our home during its build phase. Negotiated a much better deal from the builder.” Verified Google review

How Is Lakes of Estero Laid Out?

Lakes of Estero is one recorded plat of 102 numbered lots and seven lettered tracts on 50.14 acres, arranged as a single loop road around one branching lake, with the clubhouse and pool beside the entrance on River Ranch Road and a conservation buffer along the north edge. Our reading of the February 2023 federal aerial image shows one continuous lake with three arms.

The lots

The plat numbers its lots 1 to 102. Lots 88, 89 and 90 were combined into one homesite with a 2003 two-story home, which is why the association’s portal counts 101 units while the plat and the Articles say 102. The county codes 70 lots as lake lots, 27 as standard single-family lots and 2 as lots beside a drainage ditch. The median homesite is 7,680 square feet, about 0.18 acres, and the range runs from 5,850 square feet to the 39,457 square feet of the combined Lots 88 to 90.

The tracts

The streets

Springlake Court is the entrance. Springlake Circle is the loop and carries 56 of the addresses. Silvercreek Court carries 18, Rainbow Lake Court 16 and Sunset Lake Court 10. Older permits spell two of them “Spring Lake Circle” and “Silver Creek Court,” which is worth knowing if you are searching old records.

What the aerial shows

We pulled the U.S. Geological Survey’s National Agriculture Imagery Program frame for this site, flown February 14, 2023, and it is the image at the top of this page. It shows a single lake with three long arms reaching toward the loop road, so that most homes on the inner side of Springlake Circle and on the cul-de-sacs back onto water; a clubhouse with a pool beside the entrance; paved courts on the recreation tract in the northwest corner; and the wooded, undeveloped Conidaris tract filling the southeast corner between the lake and Williams Road. The open lots near the Rainbow Lake Court cul-de-sac in that image are the ones D.R. Horton is now building on.

What Kinds of Homes Are in Lakes of Estero?

Lakes of Estero homes are concrete-block, stucco-finished single-family houses with concrete tile roofs, built from 2003 to 2005, with about 2,500 square feet of living area in the typical two-story plan. The county records 66 two-story and 27 one-story homes, from 1,348 to 3,238 square feet of original living area, with a median of 2,481.

The most common plans

The Lee County field cards group the homes into a small number of repeated plans. The most common is a two-story, four-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath house of 2,481 square feet of living area, which appears 30 times. A two-story five-bedroom plan of 3,119 square feet appears 10 times, and a two-story three-bedroom, three-bath plan of 2,670 square feet another 10. The one-story homes cluster around 1,820 to 1,920 square feet. The original builder model names are not in any record we could reach; they would be in the 2004 to 2005 sales brochures.

Bedrooms and baths

By the county’s counts: one two-bedroom home, 39 three-bedroom, 42 four-bedroom and 11 five-bedroom. Baths run from two to four and a half, with two and a half the most common.

Construction and roofs

Every home is recorded as concrete block with stucco and a concrete tile roof. All were permitted after March 1, 2002, when the first Florida Building Code took effect, which matters for insurance discounts, as we explain below. The flip side is age: a 2005 roof is now about 21 years old, and roof age is the single biggest insurance and inspection question for a Lakes of Estero sale in 2026.

Pools and additions

The county records a residential pool on 15 of the 93 carded homes. One owner added space in 2011, taking that home to about 4,139 square feet. Otherwise the homes are close to their original footprints.

Home sizes at a glance

How Is Lakes of Estero Governed?

Lakes of Estero has one governing body, The Lakes of Estero Homeowners Association, Inc., a Florida not-for-profit corporation formed on February 13, 2002, active and current on its 2026 annual report, and managed by FirstService Residential in Estero. There is no master association above it and no sub-association or condominium inside it, so every owner answers to one board.

The association on the record

A search of the Division of Corporations for every name starting “Lakes of Estero” returns only this entity.

How the board works

The Articles provide for a board of three to seven directors once the developer turned control over to the owners, with staggered two-year terms, and one vote per lot. Two provisions are worth knowing. First, the association needs approval from three-quarters of all members before hiring a lawyer to sue anyone, with exceptions for collecting assessments, enforcing the use restrictions, emergencies and counterclaims. Second, the association’s rules must include a copy of the surface water management permit, and if the association ever dissolved, the drainage system would pass to local government. Both are the kind of detail that matters when an association faces a large repair decision.

The recorded covenants

The Articles name the governing declaration as “The Lakes of Estero Declarations of Covenants, Restrictions and Easements.” The Lee County Clerk’s Official Records index shows it recorded on April 26, 2002 at Official Records Book 3632, Page 4366, with Conidaris Development Company as declarant. It was amended on October 1, 2003 at Book 4078, Page 2797, and a second amendment was recorded on March 19, 2004 at Book 4232, Page 1633 by D.R. Horton, Inc. as Declarant. That amendment recites that Conidaris Development Company had assigned the Declarant’s rights to D.R. Horton, which fits the permit record showing D.R. Horton built most of the original homes. The plat itself was recorded on November 26, 2002 in Plat Book 72, Page 78.

The house rules on record

The association’s Administrative Rules and Regulations were adopted by the board on June 15, 2020 and recorded on July 23, 2020 as instrument 2020000167694, so anyone can read them. The rules that most often decide whether a home fits a buyer:

Rules can change by board vote, so a buyer should still ask FirstService Residential for the current set and any amendment adopted since 2020.

What Does It Cost to Own in Lakes of Estero? The Fee Stack

Owning in Lakes of Estero carries two layers of recurring cost: the Lakes of Estero HOA assessment and the ordinary Lee County property tax bill, which includes a solid waste assessment. There is no CDD, no master association and no club dues. The HOA dues amount is not published in any public record we could reach.

Layer by layer

Why we do not print a dues figure

One listing website quotes a monthly figure for Lakes of Estero dues, and a vendor directory quotes another for Lee County in general. Neither is tied to this association’s adopted budget, so neither is a number we will put in front of a buyer. Under Florida’s homeowners association statute, the association must prepare an annual budget, a seller or buyer can order an estoppel certificate that states exactly what is owed on a specific home, and a seller must give a buyer the association’s disclosure summary. Those three documents hold the real number. Ask for all three before you sign. Sellers, we order the estoppel early so the number is known before the first offer; start with a free valuation or call Jesse at (239) 898-6072. Buyers, Marc at (239) 287-5873 will request the budget and disclosure summary for you, as described in how we represent buyers.

What a buyer should ask the association for

The current budget and any reserve schedule; the amount and frequency of regular assessments; any special assessment levied or under discussion; any capital contribution or transfer fee charged at closing; and whether the assessment includes any bundled service, such as internet or lawn care. None of these is published publicly, so the estoppel and the disclosure package are the only reliable route.

What Are Property Taxes in Lakes of Estero?

Lakes of Estero homes are taxed in Lee County district 316, “Village of Estero / Estero Fire,” at a combined 13.0214 mills for 2025 and a proposed 12.9827 mills for 2026, plus a $366.39 solid waste assessment. On the 2025 bill for one homesteaded Lakes of Estero home, the total came to $3,374.05.

The 2025 millage, line by line

Data updated: September 2026. Source: Lee County Property Appraiser 2025 Taxing District Millage Book.

2026 and the Village’s rate

The Property Appraiser’s preliminary 2026 book shows a proposed total of 12.9827 mills for district 316. On September 23, 2026 the Village of Estero adopted 0.7300 mills for fiscal year 2026 to 2027, the same as the year before, which the Village describes as the lowest municipal tax rate in Florida. The other authorities’ final 2026 rates were set at their own September hearings.

A real bill, and what a buyer will pay

The 2025 bill for one homesteaded Lakes of Estero home shows an assessed value of $271,194 against a just value of $382,351, a Save Our Homes difference of $111,157, and ad valorem tax of $3,007.66 plus the $366.39 solid waste line, $3,374.05 in all. A buyer does not inherit that capped assessment. After a sale the assessed value resets toward market value, so a buyer paying $525,000 should budget from the purchase price, not the seller’s bill. As a rough illustration only, 13 mills on a $500,000 taxable value, before a homestead exemption, is about $6,500 a year.

Homestead and portability

A buyer who makes the home a primary residence can file for the Florida homestead exemption with the Lee County Property Appraiser, and a buyer coming from another Florida homestead may be able to port part of their Save Our Homes benefit. Both are filed with the Property Appraiser, not with us, and the deadline is March 1 of the year after purchase.

What Amenities Does Lakes of Estero Have?

Lakes of Estero’s amenities sit on two association tracts beside the entrance: a 2,240 square foot clubhouse built in 2003 and a 988 square foot heated community pool built in 2004, both recorded on the Property Appraiser’s field card, plus paved courts on the second recreation tract and the lake itself. The builder also lists tennis, pickleball, basketball, a playground and walking trails.

What the county record confirms

The Property Appraiser’s card for Tract C, 9750 Springlake Circle, describes a health and clubhouse building of 2,240 square feet built in 2003, with a 635 square foot open porch and a 195 square foot carport, a 988 square foot commercial pool added in 2004 with a heater, a 2,600 square foot pool patio, a fence and about 15,566 square feet of paving. The county values the tract at $400,163.

What the builder lists

D.R. Horton’s community page lists a basketball court, clubhouse, lake, pickleball, playground, pool, tennis, and walking and nature trails, and its description mentions a fitness center. The county’s extra-feature lines do not itemize courts, but the 2023 federal aerial image shows paved courts on the recreation tract in the northwest corner of the community. We report the courts as visible and builder-listed, and the fitness room as a builder claim, because that is what the record supports.

Nearby public amenities that residents use

The Lee County-run Estero Community Park and Recreation Center is about 1.2 miles by road, with basketball, pickleball and sand volleyball courts, a workout room, an 18-hole disc golf course, dog parks, a playground, walking paths and pavilions; a lifetime membership costs $10 for an individual or $25 for a family. The renovated hard courts at the Village’s SportsPark are across Williams Road.

Does Lakes of Estero Have a Gate, Golf or a Club?

No. Lakes of Estero has no gate, no golf course, no equity or social club, no marina or boat access, no beach club, no on-site dining and no sub-villages. That is not a criticism; it is the reason the community prices well below the gated golf communities around it. Here is each absence and what nearby replaces it.

No gate

D.R. Horton describes it as a non-gated community, and the Property Appraiser shows no gatehouse on any common tract. The one-entrance loop design keeps through traffic out without a gate.

No golf and no club membership

There is no course and no club, so there is no initiation fee, no equity membership and no food and beverage minimum. The nearest courses are in the gated clubs around Estero, and public tee times are a short drive away.

No boating or beach access

The lake is a stormwater and amenity lake, not navigable to the Gulf. The Estero River runs about a fifth of a mile north of the community’s northern edge, and the nearest public paddling launch is at Koreshan State Park, about 2.2 miles by road. Bonita Beach Park is about 10 miles by road.

No sub-villages

Lakes of Estero is one plat with one association, so there are no separately governed neighborhoods inside it and no separate sub-pages to come. Every home shares the same covenants, the same assessment structure and the same amenities.

What Flood Zone Is Lakes of Estero In?

Lakes of Estero sits on FEMA flood map panel 12071C0591H, effective November 17, 2022. At the center point of 97 of its 101 residential parcels the zone is X, meaning minimal flood hazard, while the lake banks, the streets and parts of many rear yards are mapped AH or AE, with base flood elevations of 15.0 to 15.5 feet. Each home needs its own determination.

The map, measured

We queried FEMA’s National Flood Hazard Layer across the whole subdivision. By area, the platted 50 acres are about 38 percent Zone X of minimal hazard, about 1 percent Zone X shaded (0.2 percent annual chance), 38 percent Zone AH and 23 percent Zone AE. That sounds alarming until you look at where the high-risk area falls: on the lake, the streets and the lot edges. At the center point of each residential parcel, 97 of 101 are Zone X. The four parcels whose center point falls in AH are Lots 85, 86 and 91 and the undeveloped Conidaris tract; two of those are D.R. Horton’s new lots.

Why “mostly Zone X” is not the end of the question

Flood insurance requirements follow the structure, not the lot. Every residential lot in Lakes of Estero has some mapped high-risk area inside its lines, and for 26 lots it covers a quarter or more of the lot. If any part of the house footprint touches the AH or AE area, a federally backed lender will treat the home as in the special flood hazard area. The answer for any specific home is the lender’s flood determination, backed by an elevation certificate. Ask for both before you commit. Sellers who have an elevation certificate or map letter should include it in the listing file; get a valuation that reflects your lot or call Jesse at (239) 898-6072. Buyers can call Marc at (239) 287-5873 to have the flood determination ordered early, part of how we represent Estero buyers.

Elevation: what the lidar shows

USGS 3D Elevation Program lidar, flown in 2018 at one-meter resolution, reads 15.8 to 16.3 feet above sea level (NAVD 88) at the centers of the home sites we sampled, 14.6 to 15.0 feet on the streets, and 14.6 to 14.8 feet on the two new-construction lots mapped AH. The base flood elevation is 15.0 to 15.5 feet. In plain terms, the home pads sit roughly a foot above the base flood elevation and the streets sit at or just below it. These are ground elevations, not finished-floor elevations; only an elevation certificate states the floor height.

The old map, and why some owners have letters from FEMA

Under the 2008-era flood maps, much of Lakes of Estero was mapped in the special flood hazard area. FEMA’s records show eight Letter of Map Amendment cases here between 2009 and 2019, some of which removed a home from the flood zone and some of which were denied, including one on Springlake Circle where FEMA found the structure in the floodway under the old map. The November 2022 remap moved most home sites into Zone X. If you are buying a home that has a map amendment letter, get a copy; if you are selling one, include it in your disclosure file.

Flood insurance discount in the Village of Estero

The Village of Estero is a National Flood Insurance Program community, number 120260, and participates in FEMA’s Community Rating System at Class 6, which gives a 20 percent discount on most flood policies in the special flood hazard area. That is the rating on FEMA’s Community Status Book, on FEMA’s list of eligible communities effective April 1, 2026, which shows Class 6 in effect since October 1, 2017, and on the Village’s own page. Unincorporated Lee County holds a different class, so a quote run under the county’s number is wrong for this address. Confirm the current class with your insurer at renewal.

What happens if a home is substantially damaged

For a structure in the special flood hazard area, repairs or improvements costing 50 percent or more of the structure’s value trigger full compliance with current flood rules, and the current Florida Building Code requires the finished floor to be at least one foot above the base flood elevation. That rule, administered by the Village, is why a home’s mapped zone matters beyond the insurance premium.

What Happened at Lakes of Estero in Hurricanes Irma, Ian, Helene and Milton?

We found no government report, news account or FEMA record that names Lakes of Estero as flooded in Hurricane Irma in 2017, Ian in 2022, or Helene and Milton in 2024. The Village reported Ian’s worst damage west of US 41; Lakes of Estero is about a mile east of US 41, farther inland than the neighborhoods the Village named.

Hurricane Ian, September 2022

The National Hurricane Center’s report on Ian records maximum storm-surge inundation of 8 to 12 feet above ground in Estero, Bonita Beach, Bonita Springs and North Naples. The Village of Estero’s own account, published after the storm, said that “most of the damage has occurred in communities on the west side of US 41,” naming neighborhoods along West Broadway, Williams Road and Coconut Road. The Williams Road neighborhoods it refers to are west of US 41. Lakes of Estero is east of it.

Helene and Milton, 2024

The Village told its council in February 2025 that the Estero River was flooded by storm surge from Hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024. The river’s upper reach runs about a fifth of a mile north of the community. We found no report of flooding inside Lakes of Estero from either storm.

What the federal claims data can and cannot tell you

FEMA’s public flood-claims data for the census tract that includes Lakes of Estero shows 11 paid claims from Hurricane Irma in 2017 and 3 from Ian in 2022. The tract is far larger than this community, so those claims cannot be assigned to it. We report them as context, not as a Lakes of Estero figure.

What a buyer should ask

Ask the seller directly about any water intrusion, insurance claim or roof repair after each storm, and ask the association whether any common-area repairs or special assessments followed. Florida sellers must disclose known facts that materially affect value, and flood history is one of them.

What Hurricane Evacuation Zone Is Lakes of Estero In?

Lakes of Estero is in Lee County hurricane evacuation Zone C, surge zone 3, at every point we tested on the county’s live evacuation map. Zone C is evacuated after Zones A and B, and only for larger storms. For Milton in 2024 Lee County ordered only Zones A and B out; for Ian in 2022 the order reached parts of Zone C.

What Zone C means

Lee County’s own description is that Zone C is vulnerable to hurricane impacts and that a large or powerful Gulf hurricane may require evacuation for surge or wind, later than Zones A and B. The Village of Estero notes that zones run A to E in order of increasing elevation.

Wind design

The Property Appraiser’s hazard layer puts the whole community in the wind-borne debris region, with an ultimate design wind speed of 160 miles per hour for ordinary residential buildings. New work, including the D.R. Horton homes and any window or door replacement on an existing home, must include opening protection.

What Does Homeowners Insurance Look Like for a Lakes of Estero Home?

Lakes of Estero homes were all permitted after the 2001 Florida Building Code took effect on March 1, 2002, so under the Florida Department of Financial Services’ July 2026 guide they are automatically eligible for at least a 68 percent discount on the windstorm portion of the premium. The pressure point in 2026 is roof age: most original tile roofs are about 21 years old.

Why the build year helps

The state guide says homes built to the 2001 code or later are eligible for a minimum 68 percent windstorm discount because of the code’s requirements for roof covering, roof attachment and roof-to-wall connection, and that more discount may be available for features such as a hip roof, secondary water resistance and approved shutters. A current wind mitigation inspection, on the state’s uniform form, is how an owner proves those features to an insurer.

The roof question

Florida law bars an insurer from refusing to write or renew a homeowner’s policy solely because of roof age when the roof is less than 15 years old. For a roof 15 years or older, the insurer must allow an inspection, and the Department of Financial Services says a policy cannot be refused solely for age if the inspection shows at least five years of useful life. A 2026 bill to widen that protection died in committee in March. For a Lakes of Estero seller, a recent roof inspection, or a replaced roof, removes the single most common reason a buyer’s insurance quote comes back high or late.

The 2026 market

Citizens Property Insurance, the state’s insurer of last resort, cut its average homeowners multiperil rates by 8.8 percent for 2026, effective July 1, and its policy count had fallen to 266,231 by August 2026 from about 1.4 million at the 2023 peak, according to Insurance Journal. State regulators have approved rate decreases for several private carriers as well. Citizens policyholders must also carry flood insurance on a schedule by dwelling value, with every remaining dwelling covered by January 1, 2027.

What to gather before you list or buy

A four-point inspection, a wind mitigation inspection, the roof permit history from the Village, any elevation certificate or FEMA map amendment letter, and the flood zone determination. With those five documents an insurer can quote a Lakes of Estero home quickly, and that speed matters when a buyer has a financing deadline.

What Schools Serve Lakes of Estero?

Lakes of Estero students are zoned by Lee County’s school-choice system, not to a single school. For 2026 to 2027 the district’s own locator places every address we tested in South Zone 3: elementary Zone Q, middle Zone GG and high school sub-zone 3, which includes Estero High School, directly across River Ranch Road.

How assignment actually works in Lee County

Families rank the schools in their proximity zone, and a lottery places students when a school is oversubscribed. The preferences, in order, include students with specific programs, siblings, and then “Proximity 1,” a residence within two miles of the school. Students who live within two miles of their school are not given district bus service. Families who need a bus are guaranteed a seat at a school with capacity in their zone. Estero High School is well within two miles of every Lakes of Estero home. Families selling here often time a move to the school calendar; plan your sale with a free valuation or call Jesse at (239) 898-6072. Families buying can call Marc at (239) 287-5873 and read how we help buyers relocating to Estero.

The schools in this community’s zones, with 2026 grades

Data updated: September 2026. Sources: School District of Lee County 2026-27 Student Enrollment Plan and school locator; Florida Department of Education 2025-26 school grades. Drive figures are off-peak model estimates from the community entrance.

Estero High School, across the street

Estero High School, 21900 River Ranch Road, earned a B for 2025-26, and the state file records a graduation rate of 96 percent. Its campus fills the land directly west of Lakes of Estero across River Ranch Road, and its new turf stadium opened in 2024 as part of the Village’s SportsPark.

Private, charter and college options

Bonita Springs Charter School earned an A for 2025-26. 3 Oaks Academy, a small private school, is about 0.9 miles by road, and the federal private school survey lists several more within ten miles of ZIP 33928. Florida Gulf Coast University, which the Village describes as sitting on its northeast border, is about 5 miles and 12 minutes by road.

What Healthcare Is Near Lakes of Estero?

The nearest 24-hour emergency room to Lakes of Estero is Lee Health’s Coconut Point emergency department, about 2.7 miles and 7 minutes by road. The nearest full hospital and trauma center is Gulf Coast Medical Center in Fort Myers, about 10 miles and 18 minutes, and NCH North Naples Hospital is about 12 miles south.

The facilities, measured from the entrance

An insurance note for 2027

Lee Health’s website states that beginning January 1, 2027, its hospitals and physicians will be out of network with UnitedHealthcare. Buyers relocating with that coverage should check how it affects their nearest options.

How Long Does It Take to Get Anywhere From Lakes of Estero?

From the Lakes of Estero entrance on River Ranch Road, I-75 at Corkscrew Road is about 3 minutes, Coconut Point about 6 minutes, Southwest Florida International Airport about 20 minutes and Bonita Beach about 18 minutes, by off-peak routing. Season and school traffic add time, especially on US 41, Corkscrew Road and River Ranch Road at drop-off.

Drive times from the entrance

Method: public OSRM router over OpenStreetMap roads, measured from the Springlake Court entrance at River Ranch Road. These are free-flow model estimates, not traffic-adjusted.

Which I-75 exit to use

The nearest interchange is Exit 123 at Corkscrew Road. OpenStreetMap shows no interchange at Estero Parkway; the next exits are 116 at Bonita Beach Road to the south and 128 at Alico Road to the north.

River Ranch Road at school time

The Village describes River Ranch Road as a three-quarter-mile collector between Corkscrew and Williams roads and the main pick-up and drop-off route for Estero High School, and it reported in May 2026 that a significant number of drivers exceed the 30 mile per hour limit. That is the one traffic pattern Lakes of Estero residents live with, and it is the reason for the crosswalk work described below.

What Is Being Built Near Lakes of Estero?

The projects closest to Lakes of Estero are Village improvements, not large private developments: a raised crosswalk at the community’s own entrance and a new turn lane at River Ranch and Williams roads, an entertainment and sports campus across Williams Road, and planned widening and street lights on Williams Road. The largest regional project is the I-75 widening, about a mile east.

River Ranch Road: a crosswalk at the Lakes of Estero entrance

On May 6, 2026 the Village Council approved a change order, not to exceed $34,600 plus a $3,400 contingency, for traffic calming on River Ranch Road. The Village’s memo says pedestrians cross “north of Spring Ridge Circle and at the Lakes of Estero entrance,” and the plan raises both mid-block crosswalks and adds a turn lane at River Ranch and Williams to separate right and left turns. The planned schedule runs design 60 days, permitting 90, bidding 90 and construction 150. A roundabout at Williams and River Ranch had been recommended in a 2021 study.

The Village Center Hub, across Williams Road

The Village’s Village Center Hub sits on the north side of Williams Road east of Via Coconut Point and already holds the Village’s civic buildings, Estero High School and the Estero Community Park. High 5 Entertainment, with 26 bowling lanes, 18 holes of mini golf and 21 indoor and outdoor pickleball courts, broke ground in November 2025 and was listed by the Village as opening in 2026; we found no confirmed opening date. On September 23, 2026 the council authorized up to $65 million in bonds that include SportsPark Phase 2, with two full-size synthetic fields, an event lawn, walking paths, a pavilion and parking.

9000 Williams Road

In June 2023 the Village rezoned 21 acres it owns at 9000 Williams Road to allow up to 190,000 square feet of recreation, retail, restaurants and office, with a 45-foot height limit, native-vegetation buffers, and a public hearing required for outdoor consumption or live music within 500 feet of homes.

Williams Road widening and street lights

The Village’s capital plan widens Williams Road from two to four lanes between US 41 and Via Coconut Point, west of the community, with design under way since 2023; we found no construction date. A separate capital project adds street lights on Williams Road from Via Coconut Point to Three Oaks Parkway, the stretch that runs along Lakes of Estero’s southern edge, budgeted at $657,000.

I-75 widening

The Florida Department of Transportation’s project from north of Golden Gate Parkway to south of Alico Road adds auxiliary lanes and new noise walls in qualifying locations, with construction listed as starting in mid 2026. On September 9, 2026 the Village adopted a resolution urging FDOT to build noise walls and landscaping, saying the latest design would leave most of the Village’s communities without a wall. I-75 is roughly a mile east of Lakes of Estero.

What is not coming

We found no application to develop the 10-acre Conidaris tract inside the plat, and no septic-to-sewer project affecting this community, which is already on Lee County Utilities water and sewer. The Village’s septic conversion work is focused on older neighborhoods along Broadway Avenue West.

What Are the Day-to-Day Logistics of Living in Lakes of Estero?

Lakes of Estero is served by Lee County Utilities for water and sewer, Florida Power and Light for electricity, Estero Fire Rescue for fire and emergency medical service, and Lee County’s solid waste program for trash, with Publix, a pharmacy, the library and a post office within about a mile and a half by road.

Utilities and services

Errands

The nearest Publix is at 21301 South Tamiami Trail, about 1.5 miles. The South County Regional Library is at 21100 Three Oaks Parkway, about 1.6 miles. A United States Post Office on Three Oaks Parkway is about 1.5 miles by our routing. Target and Coconut Point are about 2 miles.

Leasing, pets, vehicles and architectural changes

The association’s recorded rules allow leases of six months or longer with board approval, up to three pets per home, and no parking on the street or lawns; RVs, trailers and boats in the driveway are not allowed. The full list is in the governance section above. Before you install a pool, fence, hurricane shutters or a new roof, check the association’s architectural approval process and the Village permit requirement.

What Is There to Do Near Lakes of Estero?

Lakes of Estero sits in the middle of Estero’s recreation and shopping: the Estero Community Park about a mile away, Koreshan State Park and the Estero River about two miles, Coconut Point and Miromar Outlets about two miles, Hertz Arena about three, and the Gulf beaches at Lovers Key and Bonita Beach about 20 minutes.

Parks and the river

Koreshan State Park, the site of the historic Koreshan Unity settlement, charges $5 per vehicle, is open from 8 a.m. to sundown, and is the easiest place to launch a kayak on the Estero River. The Village’s Estero RiverPark, 62.5 acres bought in 2019, finished its first phase in 2026. Estero Bay Preserve State Park protects 11,381 acres with about 12 miles of trails, and Lovers Key State Park, about 5.4 miles away in a straight line, has more than two miles of beach.

Shopping and dining

Coconut Point is Simon’s open-air center with more than 110 stores around a lake and boardwalk. Miromar Outlets has more than 120 outlet stores. Gulf Coast Town Center in Fort Myers adds more shopping, dining and movies.

Events and sports

Hertz Arena is home to the Florida Everblades hockey team and hosts concerts and touring shows. The Village’s events calendar runs through the season, Koreshan State Park hosts concerts and a farmers’ market, and the new entertainment campus across Williams Road is designed, in the Village’s words, so families can “park once and stay the day.”

The wider Estero picture

For how Lakes of Estero fits into the rest of the Village, its four zones and its 40-plus communities, see our Estero guide and our overview of the best neighborhoods in Estero. If you are weighing Estero against its neighbor to the south, our Estero vs Bonita Springs comparison covers taxes, schools and prices side by side.

Lakes of Estero vs Estero Place and Colonial Oaks: Which Should You Choose?

Lakes of Estero, Estero Place and Colonial Oaks are the three realistic choices for a buyer who wants this corner of Estero near Estero High School and the Village Center. Lakes of Estero is the lake-lot value choice, Estero Place is the newer, higher-priced choice, and Colonial Oaks, its immediate neighbor, prices a little above Lakes of Estero on a similar-era plat.

The decision table

Data updated: September 2026. Source: Lee County Property Appraiser parcel roll and last-qualified-sale layer. Recent sales are parcels whose most recent qualified sale was October 2025 or later; because the layer keeps only each home’s latest sale, these counts are floors, not totals.

Who should choose which

Choose Lakes of Estero if you want a detached four- or five-bedroom home on a lake lot, a short walk from Estero High School, at the lowest price per home of the three, and you are comfortable with a 2005 home or a D.R. Horton new build. Choose Colonial Oaks if you like this exact location but want a different street pattern and are willing to pay slightly more on a similar-era home. Choose Estero Place if newer construction matters more to you than price, and your budget runs into the high $600,000s and above.

How we would decide in your position

We would start with the lot. In Lakes of Estero the lake lots and the cul-de-sac lots are the scarce product, and a buyer who wants water can get it here for less than in most of Estero. If the house age is the worry rather than the lot, the D.R. Horton homes on Springlake Circle are the bridge: new construction inside an established lake community.

How Does Lakes of Estero Compare With Other Estero Communities?

Lakes of Estero is one of the smaller and more affordable single-family communities in the Estero corridor between US 41 and I-75. It has fewer homes than Cascades at Estero, Rookery Pointe or Belle Lago, prices close to Cascades and Villa Palmeras on the county roll, and sits well below Belle Lago and Estero Place.

The benchmark table

Data updated: September 2026. Source: Lee County Property Appraiser parcel roll, residential parcels, and last-qualified-sale layer, sales October 2025 or later. Counts of recent sales are floors. Distances are approximate straight-line from Lakes of Estero.

What the table says

Two things stand out. First, Lakes of Estero’s recent resales, a median of $527,500 on the county roll, run well above its median assessed value of $382,636, which is normal in Florida and tells you nothing about the house; the recent sales are the pricing tool. Second, among the single-family communities within two miles, only Estero Place and Belle Lago trade materially higher, and both are newer. The shadow of that gap is the opportunity: a Lakes of Estero buyer gets a detached lake-lot home at a Cascades-and-Villa-Palmeras price point, and a Lakes of Estero seller competes on lot quality rather than age. To see where your home sits in this table, get a free valuation or call Jesse at (239) 898-6072; to tour the alternatives, call Marc at (239) 287-5873 or read how we represent buyers across Estero.

Across Williams Road

Directly south across Williams Road are Shadow Wood’s units inside The Brooks, a gated golf community with its own club economics. It is a different product, but buyers touring Lakes of Estero often drive through it, so it is worth knowing the difference: The Brooks brings a gate and golf and the costs that come with them; Lakes of Estero brings neither.

What Are the Honest Pros and Cons of Lakes of Estero?

The honest case for Lakes of Estero is location, lake lots and price: a detached home in the Village of Estero, across from the high school, near everything, for well under the newer gated communities. The honest case against is age, a 20-year-old housing stock with original roofs, no gate or club, school-time traffic on River Ranch Road, and a small sales sample.

The pros, with the record behind each

• Lake lots at a resale price. 70 of 102 lots are coded as lake lots by the county, and 2026 resales ran from $414,000 to $658,600.

• Location. About 3 minutes to I-75, 6 to Coconut Point, 20 to the airport, and a high school across the street.

• One association, no CDD. The only non-ad valorem line on a 2025 tax bill here was solid waste.

• Village of Estero taxes. The Village’s own millage is 0.7300, which it describes as the lowest municipal rate in Florida.

• Post-2002 construction. Concrete block, tile roofs, and eligibility for the minimum 68 percent wind mitigation discount.

• Mostly Zone X home sites on the 2022 flood map, with pads about a foot above the base flood elevation by 2018 lidar.

• Owner-occupied. 72 percent of homes with complete roll data carry a homestead exemption.

• Low traffic inside. One entrance, a loop road and cul-de-sacs, no through traffic.

The cons, stated plainly

• Roof and system age. Most homes are from 2005, so roofs, air conditioners and water heaters are at or past typical replacement age unless already done.

• No gate, golf, fitness staff or dining. If you want a club lifestyle, this is not it.

• River Ranch Road at school time. The Village has documented speeding on River Ranch Road, and the fix, a raised crosswalk at the entrance and a new turn lane, is still in design.

• Thin sales data. 22 qualified home sales in five years means every sale moves the market, and pricing takes local knowledge.

• New-construction competition. D.R. Horton’s five new homes set a visible comparison for every resale in 2026.

• Mapped flood area on every lot. Most home sites are Zone X, but the lake banks and streets are AH and AE, so each home needs its own determination.

• Undecided neighbor land. The 10-acre Conidaris tract inside the plat has no public plan.

• HOA dues not public. You will not know the exact assessment until you see the estoppel or budget.

Sellers who want these pros made visible and these cons answered before a buyer asks can request a free valuation and listing plan or call Jesse at (239) 898-6072. Buyers who want a candid read on a specific home can call Marc at (239) 287-5873 and see how we represent buyers.

What Did Our Own Review of the Lakes of Estero Records Find?

Our own review of the Lakes of Estero records turned up three things that no listing, portal or builder page we found says plainly: D.R. Horton built this community the first time as well as now; the “approximately 25 acres” in circulation is half the recorded size; and the lake is one branching body of water, not the several lakes the name suggests.

How we built this page

For this guide we pulled all 107 Lakes of Estero parcels from the Lee County Property Appraiser’s map service, read the county field card for every lot, traced the original building permit on 92 of them in Lee County’s permit system, matched five years of recorded sales from the county and state sale files against the Southwest Florida MLS, queried FEMA’s flood layer and the USGS elevation service lot by lot, ran three addresses through the school district’s own locator, and read the association’s original Articles of Incorporation from the Division of Corporations. That is the work a seller should expect from a listing agent before a price is ever discussed.

Three findings a seller can use

1. Builder pedigree. A buyer comparing a 2005 resale with a 2026 D.R. Horton home is, in 81 of the 92 cases we traced, comparing two homes from the same builder twenty years apart. That is a useful fact in a listing description.

2. The flood story improved in 2022. Under the old maps, FEMA handled eight map-amendment cases here and denied several. Under the 2022 map, 97 of 101 residential parcels have a Zone X center point. A seller who can show a buyer the current zone and, where one exists, an elevation certificate removes a common objection.

3. The county’s square footage is not the living area. The Property Appraiser’s area figure includes garages and lanais. We have seen buyers and appraisers compare prices per foot across the two measures; the correct comparison, which we make for every Lakes of Estero listing, uses one measure at a time.

What we could not find, and where it lives

The association’s dues amount and any plan for the Conidaris tract. The dues are stated only in the association’s budget and estoppel certificate, which are not public. The declaration, its amendments, the plat and the house rules are all on the public record, and we link each of them in the governance section. We would rather tell you what is missing than print a number from a website that cannot stand behind it.

Thinking of Selling Your Lakes of Estero Home? List With the #1 Team in Southwest Florida Since 2012

If you’re searching for the best Lakes of Estero listing agent, or thinking, ‘I need to sell my house in Lakes of Estero…’, you are selling into a small market with a builder a few doors away, and that takes a specific plan. McGreevy and Comisar lead Domain Realty Group, and our team prices, markets and negotiates Estero homes every week.

Why our team for a Lakes of Estero sale

• Top 1% Real Estate Agents Nationally Since 2008

• 5 Star Award for Customer Satisfaction for 21 Straight Years. Only 5 out of 21k+ Licensees (Gulfshore Life Magazine)

• #1 Team in Southwest Florida since 2012

• McGreevy and Comisar and their Domain Realty Group team have sold over $2.5 Billion in Real Estate

• McGreevy and Comisar alone have over $900 million in Sales

• Nationally Recognized Top Producing Realtors

• Platinum Sales Production Award Winners

The last 12 months of Lakes of Estero sales

Data updated: September 2026. 7 closings on the Southwest Florida MLS from September 2025 to September 5, 2026, from $414,000 to $658,600, $3,667,600 in total volume, an average sale-to-list ratio of 97.4 percent and a median of 74 days on market. Two of the seven sold above list price. The county’s 36-month window holds 11 qualified home sales at a median of $526,000.

How we sell a resale against new construction

We price against the resale record first, not the builder’s list prices, because appraisers will. Then we use the new homes: every buyer touring D.R. Horton’s models on Springlake Circle is a buyer already sold on the community, and a well-presented resale with a pool, a mature lake view and a lower price per foot is exactly what many of them go home thinking about. We market to that buyer directly, with the roof, wind mitigation and flood documents ready on day one so insurance never slows the contract.

What Is Your Lakes of Estero Home Worth? Get a Free Valuation in 60 Seconds.

Get your free Lakes of Estero home valuation, or see how values run across the Village on our Estero home valuation page. Talk to Jesse direct: (239) 898-6072, text or call. Confidential conversations welcome. A dedicated Lakes of Estero seller page is coming; until then, Jesse will walk you through every sale above in person.

★★★★★ “Their recommendation on pricing my unit was sound and proved prescient. I never questioned their integrity and found it easy to rely on their recommendations. I would work with them again in a heartbeat.” Verified Google review

How long does it take to sell a home in Lakes of Estero?

The median time on market for the seven MLS closings in the last 12 months was 74 days, with a range of 11 to 138 days. The fastest sale went under contract in 11 days at 96.6 percent of list; the slowest took 138 days and sold 7.9 percent below list. Pricing correctly at launch is what separated them.

Should I sell as-is or fix up my Lakes of Estero home first?

In Lakes of Estero the repairs that pay are the ones that remove an insurance objection: a roof at or near the end of its life, an old water heater or air conditioner, and missing wind mitigation features. Cosmetic updates rarely return their cost against a builder offering a brand-new kitchen a few doors away. We walk every home before advising.

Will D.R. Horton’s new homes lower my home’s value?

Not by themselves. The new homes list at $609,855 to $669,855, above most recent resales, so they tend to set a ceiling rather than a floor. What they change is the buyer’s comparison: a resale has to explain its age with its lot, its pool and its price per foot. Priced and presented well, that comparison favors the resale.

What does it cost to sell a home in Lakes of Estero?

Florida sellers typically pay documentary stamp tax on the deed at 70 cents per $100 of price, the owner’s title insurance policy in Lee County by custom, their share of prorated taxes and association dues, the association’s estoppel certificate fee, and the brokerage fee they negotiate. Our Florida seller closing costs guide walks through each line.

Can I sell my Lakes of Estero home privately or off-market?

Yes. For owners who want discretion, we can market a home privately to our buyer database and agent network before, or instead of, a public MLS launch. In a 102-lot community, a quiet sale to a buyer already looking here can make sense.

What do buyers ask about most in Lakes of Estero?

Roof age, flood zone, HOA dues and what they cover, whether the home backs onto the lake, which schools the address can choose, and how the price compares with D.R. Horton’s new homes. We prepare the answer to each before the first showing.

When is the best time to list in Estero?

Southwest Florida’s buyer traffic peaks in the winter season, roughly January to April, when seasonal residents are here. Lakes of Estero’s family-sized homes also draw school-calendar buyers who want to close in early summer. Of the seven MLS sales in the last 12 months, all closed between February and July.

Your Local Real Estate Experts

McGreevy and Comisar are a top-reviewed Lakes of Estero realtor team and a top-reviewed Southwest Florida real estate team, and Lakes of Estero sits inside the Estero market we have worked for more than twenty years. Jesse McGreevy has lived in Estero for more than twenty years. Read more about McGreevy and Comisar and our track record.

• Top 1% Real Estate Agents Nationally Since 2008

• 5 Star Award for Customer Satisfaction for 21 Straight Years. Only 5 out of 21k+ Licensees (Gulfshore Life Magazine)

• #1 Team in Southwest Florida since 2012

• McGreevy and Comisar and their Domain Realty Group team have sold over $2.5 Billion in Real Estate

• McGreevy and Comisar alone have over $900 million in Sales

• Nationally Recognized Top Producing Realtors

• Platinum Sales Production Award Winners

McGreevy and Comisar lead Domain Realty Group, a full-service Southwest Florida real estate team. Learn more about our team at DomainRealtyGroup.com. If you are searching for Lakes of Estero homes for sale, our team’s listings site keeps a Lakes of Estero homes for sale page.

Contact

• Jesse McGreevy: (239) 898-6072 · [email protected]

• Marc Comisar: (239) 287-5873

• Office: 24031 S Tamiami Trl #101, Bonita Springs, FL 34134

Jesse McGreevy (Sales Associate) and Marc Comisar (Broker Associate) are licensed Florida REALTORS® with Domain Realty; Florida real estate licensure is regulated by the Florida Real Estate Commission (FREC).

Florida license numbers: Jesse McGreevy, SL3101296. Marc Comisar, BK3060671.

★★★★★ “I had a great experience working with Marc Comisar and Jesse McGreevy. They were professional, knowledgeable, and made the entire process feel smooth from beginning to end.” Verified Google review

★★★★★ “Jesse was very professional, helpful and kept in touch with ideas and suggestions which developed into a sale. Highly recommend his company for their excellent follow through.” Verified Google review

McGreevy and Comisar are top-reviewed on Google.

Frequently Asked Questions, Buyer Edition

These are the questions buyers ask about Lakes of Estero, drawn from search suggestions, the gaps in what other sites publish, and our own conversations. Each answer is consistent with the records cited above; where a fact is not public, the answer says so and names the document that holds it.

Where is Lakes of Estero located?

Lakes of Estero is in the northeast corner of Williams Road and River Ranch Road in the Village of Estero, Florida 33928, east of US 41 and west of Three Oaks Parkway. Its only road entrance, Springlake Court, is on River Ranch Road about 0.2 miles north of Williams Road, directly across from Estero High School.

Is Lakes of Estero in Estero or Fort Myers?

Estero. Every parcel is inside the incorporated Village of Estero and in the county’s Village of Estero taxing district, with an Estero 33928 mailing address. D.R. Horton’s web address says “Fort Myers” because that is the builder’s regional sales label.

What county is Lakes of Estero in?

Lee County, Florida. The Village of Estero is one of Lee County’s municipalities.

Is Lakes of Estero a gated community?

No. D.R. Horton describes it as non-gated, and the county records no gatehouse. The single entrance and loop road keep through traffic out.

How many homes are in Lakes of Estero?

The plat has 102 lots. Today the county roll shows 94 homes, 5 vacant lots owned by D.R. Horton that it is building on, and 1 privately owned vacant lot. Three lots were combined into one homesite, which is why the association’s portal counts 101 units.

Who built Lakes of Estero?

The Conidaris family developed the land and built 11 homes in 2002 and 2003. Lee County permit records name Continental Homes of Florida, a D.R. Horton subsidiary, on 25 homes and D.R. Horton on 56, so D.R. Horton’s operation built 81 of the 92 original homes we traced.

Is D.R. Horton still building in Lakes of Estero?

Yes, on the last five open lots. D.R. Horton bought Lots 83 to 87 on Springlake Circle in January 2026 and in September 2026 listed new homes there from $609,855 to $669,855, with one under contract.

Are the new D.R. Horton homes part of the original Lakes of Estero?

Yes. The five lots are on the original 2000s plat, Plat Book 72, Pages 78 to 83, and the new homes join the same homeowners association.

What year were homes in Lakes of Estero built?

From 2003 to 2005. Of the 93 homes with county roll data, 5 were built in 2003, 12 in 2004 and 76 in 2005. The D.R. Horton homes on Lots 83 to 87 are new in 2026.

What are the HOA fees in Lakes of Estero?

The assessment amount is not published in any public record we could reach. The association’s annual budget and an estoppel certificate from FirstService Residential state it exactly for any home, and a seller must give a buyer the association’s disclosure summary. We do not print figures from listing sites that cannot cite the budget.

What do the Lakes of Estero HOA fees include?

The association owns and maintains the lake, the clubhouse and pool, the recreation tracts, the conservation buffers and the streets. Whether the assessment bundles any service such as internet or lawn care is not in the public record; the budget and estoppel will show it.

Who manages the Lakes of Estero HOA?

FirstService Residential, 10600 Chevrolet Way, Suite 202, Estero, which is also the association’s registered agent. The association runs a resident portal through FirstService.

Is there a CDD in Lakes of Estero?

No. The 2025 Lee County tax bill for a Lakes of Estero home shows no CDD line; the only non-ad valorem charge was the $366.39 solid waste assessment.

What amenities does Lakes of Estero have?

The county records a 2,240 square foot clubhouse from 2003 and a heated 988 square foot community pool from 2004. Paved courts are visible on the recreation tract, and D.R. Horton lists tennis, pickleball, basketball, a playground and walking trails. The lake is the centerpiece.

Does Lakes of Estero have a pool and clubhouse?

Yes. Both sit on the recreation tract at 9750 Springlake Circle beside the entrance, owned by the association.

Is Lakes of Estero the same as Fountain Lakes?

No. Fountain Lakes is a separate, gated community west of US 41, about 1.7 miles away, with its own association and 242 residential parcels. Lakes of Estero is east of US 41, is not gated and has 102 lots.

What is the difference between Lakes of Estero and Miromar Lakes?

Miromar Lakes Beach and Golf Club is a large resort-style club community east of I-75 with a beach club and golf. Lakes of Estero is a small, non-gated neighborhood with no club.

How much do homes cost in Lakes of Estero?

The seven MLS closings in the 12 months to September 5, 2026 ran from $414,000 to $658,600. The county’s 36-month window holds 11 qualified home sales at a median of $526,000. D.R. Horton’s new homes were listed from $609,855 to $669,855.

What sizes are the homes in Lakes of Estero?

Original living area runs from 1,348 to 3,238 square feet, with a median of 2,481, according to the county field cards. The county’s larger “total area” figure includes garages and lanais and has a median of 3,331 square feet.

Do homes in Lakes of Estero have lake views?

Many do. The county codes 70 of the 102 lots as lake lots, and the lake branches through the middle of the community so that most inner-loop and cul-de-sac homes back onto water.

How many lakes are in Lakes of Estero?

One, with three long arms. The association owns a lake tract of about 11.4 acres, of which the Property Appraiser values 8.17 acres as water, and the February 2023 federal aerial image shows a single connected lake.

Is Lakes of Estero in a flood zone?

Mostly not at the home sites. On FEMA panel 12071C0591H, effective November 17, 2022, the center point of 97 of 101 residential parcels is Zone X. The lake banks, streets and parts of many rear yards are mapped AH or AE, so each home needs a lender determination and, ideally, an elevation certificate.

Did Lakes of Estero flood during Hurricane Ian?

We found no report naming Lakes of Estero as flooded in Ian or in Helene and Milton. The Village reported Ian’s worst damage west of US 41; Lakes of Estero is east of it. Ask any seller directly about storm history and claims.

What evacuation zone is Lakes of Estero in?

Lee County Zone C, surge zone 3. Zone C is evacuated after Zones A and B, and only in larger storms.

What schools serve Lakes of Estero?

For 2026 to 2027 the district places Lakes of Estero in South Zone 3: elementary Zone Q, middle Zone GG and high school sub-zone 3, which includes Estero High, Bonita Springs High and South Fort Myers High. Families rank schools and a lottery places students.

How far is Lakes of Estero from Estero High School?

Directly across River Ranch Road, about half a mile and two minutes by road from the entrance. Students living within two miles of their school do not get district bus service.

What are property taxes in Lakes of Estero?

The combined 2025 millage in district 316 was 13.0214 mills, plus a $366.39 solid waste assessment. The proposed 2026 total is 12.9827 mills. A buyer’s taxable value resets after purchase, so budget from the price you pay.

How far is Lakes of Estero from the beach?

Bonita Beach Park is about 10 miles and 18 minutes by road off-peak. Lovers Key State Park is about 5.4 miles away in a straight line. Fort Myers Beach is about 32 minutes.

How far is Lakes of Estero from RSW airport?

About 13 miles and 20 minutes by road, off-peak, via I-75.

How far is Lakes of Estero from Coconut Point?

About 2.3 miles and 6 minutes by road. Miromar Outlets is about the same, and Hertz Arena about 9 minutes.

Are there rental restrictions in Lakes of Estero?

Yes. The association’s recorded rules bar rentals of less than six months and require a board-approved lease application for any longer lease. Renting out a room or part of a home is not allowed. Ask FirstService Residential for any amendment adopted since the rules were recorded in 2020.

Can I park a pickup truck or boat in Lakes of Estero?

A pickup that fits in the garage or driveway is fine, but commercial vehicles must be kept in the garage. RVs, trailers and mobile homes are not allowed, and boats, canoes and kayaks must be stored in the garage. Parking on the street, a lawn or a common area is not permitted.

Are pets allowed in Lakes of Estero?

Yes, up to three pets per home under the association’s recorded rules. Pets must be leashed unless inside a fully enclosed patio or yard, and owners must pick up after them. The recorded Declaration also bars pit bulls and any other dog deemed vicious.

Is Lakes of Estero a 55-plus community?

No. There is no age restriction in the association’s Articles, and the housing stock is family-sized, with three to five bedrooms in all but one home.

Is Lakes of Estero good for families?

The facts that matter to many families are the four- and five-bedroom plans, the high school across the street, A-rated elementary and middle schools in the zone, a park about a mile away and no through traffic. Whether it suits your family is your call; we do not characterize who lives anywhere.

Is Estero FL a good place to live?

The Village of Estero has about 38,365 residents by the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate, a median household income of $104,102, an owner-occupancy rate of 86 percent, and what it describes as the lowest municipal tax rate in Florida. Our Estero guide covers the whole Village.

Is Estero expensive to live in?

The Census Bureau puts the median owner-occupied home value in the Village at $461,900. Lakes of Estero’s recent sales ran from $414,000 to $658,600, close to the middle of the Estero market.

Should I buy new from D.R. Horton or a resale in Lakes of Estero?

New construction brings a warranty, a new roof and current code; a resale usually brings a pool, an established lake view and more space for the money. Recent resales ran mostly below D.R. Horton’s list prices. Marc can walk you through both at (239) 287-5873.

How much is homeowners insurance for a Lakes of Estero home?

It depends on the home, the roof age and the carrier. Every home here was permitted after the 2001 Florida Building Code, which qualifies for at least a 68 percent windstorm discount under the state’s guide. A current wind mitigation inspection and a four-point inspection are what an insurer will ask for.

Does Lakes of Estero have fiber internet?

We could not confirm internet service from a public record. A listing website claims the dues include internet; the association’s budget would show whether any bulk service contract exists.

What utilities serve Lakes of Estero?

Lee County Utilities for water and sewer, Florida Power and Light for electricity, and Estero Fire Rescue for fire and emergency medical service.

What is being built near Lakes of Estero?

A raised crosswalk at the Lakes of Estero entrance and a turn lane at River Ranch and Williams roads, the Village’s entertainment and SportsPark campus across Williams Road, planned Williams Road street lights and widening, and the I-75 widening about a mile east.

What is the vacant land inside Lakes of Estero?

A roughly 10-acre parcel described as Tract E and part of Tract D, still owned by the original developer, Conidaris Development Company. We found no development application for it.

How do I buy a home in Lakes of Estero with McGreevy and Comisar?

McGreevy and Comisar are Top 1% Real Estate Agents Nationally Since 2008. Call Marc at (239) 287-5873, read how we represent buyers in Estero, and see our guide to buying a home in Estero.

Frequently Asked Questions, Seller Edition

These are the questions Lakes of Estero owners ask before they sell. Call Jesse direct at (239) 898-6072 for a confidential conversation about your specific home.

Who is the best listing agent for Lakes of Estero?

We believe it is the team that knows every sale here and has a plan for the new-construction competition. McGreevy and Comisar are Top 1% Real Estate Agents Nationally Since 2008, and our comparison of the best real estate agents in Estero shows how local agents compare on the public record.

What is my Lakes of Estero home worth?

It depends on the plan, the lot, the pool, the roof and the condition. The seven MLS sales in the last 12 months ran from $414,000 to $658,600, and the county’s 36-month median is $526,000. Get a free valuation or call Jesse at (239) 898-6072.

What have homes sold for in Lakes of Estero in the last 12 months?

Seven MLS closings from February to July 2026: $430,000, $414,000, $530,000, $525,000, $510,000, $658,600 and $600,000, in date order.

What is the price per square foot in Lakes of Estero?

On MLS living area, the median across the last 12 months was $211.16 and the aggregate was $208.16. On the county’s total-area figure, which includes garages and lanais, 2026 sales ran about $139. Never compare the two measures to each other.

How long does it take to sell a home in Lakes of Estero?

The median was 74 days on market over the last 12 months, with a range of 11 to 138 days.

How do I compete with D.R. Horton’s new homes when I sell?

Price against the resale record, not the builder’s list, and sell what the new homes cannot offer: a mature lake lot, often a pool, and a lower price per foot. Have your roof, wind mitigation and flood documents ready so insurance never slows the contract.

Do D.R. Horton’s incentives lower resale values in Lakes of Estero?

Not directly. Builder incentives change the effective price of a new home, which a buyer will compare with your price, but appraisers value a resale against recorded resales. The new homes’ list prices, $609,855 to $669,855, sit above most recent resales.

Should I wait for D.R. Horton to finish before I list?

Not necessarily. While the builder is selling, its advertising brings buyers to the community who may prefer a resale. Once its five homes are sold, those closings become part of the comparable record. We can model both timings for your home.

What does it cost to sell a house in Lakes of Estero?

Typical seller costs in Florida include documentary stamp tax on the deed at 70 cents per $100 of price, the owner’s title policy by Lee County custom, prorated taxes and dues, the association’s estoppel fee, and the brokerage fee. Our seller closing costs guide lists each line.

Who pays documentary stamp tax when selling in Florida?

By custom the seller pays the documentary stamp tax on the deed, at 70 cents per $100 of the sale price.

Who pays for title insurance when selling in Lee County?

By custom in Lee County the seller pays for the owner’s title insurance policy, though it is negotiable in the contract.

What is an HOA estoppel certificate and who orders it?

It is the association’s written statement of what is owed on a specific home, required under Florida’s homeowners association statute. It is ordered through FirstService Residential, the manager, and its fee is typically paid at closing.

Does the Lakes of Estero HOA have to approve my buyer?

The recorded rules require board approval of a lease application for any rental, but they contain no buyer-approval step for a sale. We confirm the current requirement with the association before listing so there are no surprises.

Do I have to disclose flood history when selling in Florida?

Florida sellers must disclose known facts that materially affect a home’s value and are not readily observable, and flood history is one of them. Keep any FEMA map amendment letter and elevation certificate with your disclosure file.

How does the flood zone affect my sale?

Most Lakes of Estero home sites are Zone X on the 2022 map, which helps. If any part of your house footprint touches the AH or AE area, your buyer’s lender may require flood insurance. An elevation certificate answers the question quickly.

Will my buyer need a four-point or wind mitigation inspection?

Very likely, for insurance. Having both done before you list lets buyers get quotes immediately and removes a common reason for delay.

How does roof age affect selling a home in Lakes of Estero?

It is the biggest single factor in 2026. Most original tile roofs are about 21 years old, and insurers may require an inspection showing at least five years of life on a roof 15 years or older. A recent roof inspection, or a replaced roof, is worth having in hand.

Should I make repairs before selling or sell as-is?

Fix what blocks insurance or financing: roof, water heater, air conditioning, and wind mitigation gaps. Most cosmetic upgrades do not pay back against new construction next door. We advise house by house.

Can I sell my Estero house by owner?

You can, but in a small market with builder competition, pricing and marketing decide the result. Most owners who try it end up needing the same documents and exposure a listing provides.

Should I take a cash offer or list with an agent?

Compare the cash offer with what the recorded sales say your home would bring on the market, less costs and time. We will show you both numbers side by side.

How do I choose a listing agent in Estero?

Ask each agent to name the last five Lakes of Estero sales and explain the difference in price between them, to explain the county versus MLS square footage, and to describe their plan against D.R. Horton’s homes. Our Estero agent comparison shows the public record for each.

How much commission do realtors charge in Estero?

Commissions are negotiable and are not set by law or by any association. We explain our fee and exactly what it covers before you sign anything.

Does a lake lot sell for more in Lakes of Estero?

In our experience the lake lots and cul-de-sac lots are the scarce product here, and they are what buyers ask about first. The county codes 70 of 102 lots as lake lots. We price each home against the most similar recent sales, lot type included.

What upgrades add the most value in Lakes of Estero?

A newer roof, impact windows or approved shutters, a pool and an updated kitchen are what buyers compare most directly with the new homes. The roof and openings also lower insurance, which buyers now price in.

How will my property tax bill affect my buyer?

Your capped Save Our Homes assessment does not transfer. Your buyer’s assessed value resets toward the purchase price, so their tax bill will be higher than yours. We show buyers the likely bill up front so it does not surprise them late.

Is the Estero housing market going up or down?

In Lakes of Estero the county’s yearly medians moved from $357,000 in 2021 to $501,750 in 2022 and $602,500 on four sales in 2024, with 2026 sales so far at a $527,500 median. Thin years move the median a lot, so we price on the individual sales.

How many homes are for sale in Lakes of Estero right now?

D.R. Horton listed four new homes in September 2026. For the current resale count, call Jesse at (239) 898-6072; we pull it live from the MLS for every valuation.

Can I rent my Lakes of Estero home instead of selling?

Yes, with limits. The association’s recorded rules require a lease of at least six months and board approval of the lease application, and they bar renting out rooms. Check for any amendment since 2020 before deciding.

What happens to capital gains when I sell my Florida primary residence?

Federal law may exclude part of the gain on a primary residence if you meet the ownership and use tests, and Florida has no state income tax. We are not tax advisors; confirm your situation with your CPA.

Should I sell before or after hurricane season?

Most buyer demand arrives from January to April. Listing so that you are on the market for that window usually matters more than hurricane season itself, as long as your insurance documents are ready.

Can I sell my Lakes of Estero home if I have already moved away?

Yes. We handle showings, inspections, repairs and closing documents for owners who live elsewhere, and Florida closings can be completed remotely.

Can we list off-market in Lakes of Estero?

Yes. We can offer your home privately to our buyer database and agent network first, and go to the public market only if you choose.

★★★★★ “Working with Jesse was easy, I was kept up to date on all feedback from showings and the many open houses. Highly recommend!” Verified Google review

Downloadable Documents and Authority Records

These are the primary documents behind this Lakes of Estero page, each linked to the official source that publishes it. Member-only association documents are not listed; ask for them in the disclosure package.

Not publicly available, and where it lives: the association’s budget, dues amount and estoppel certificate, through FirstService Residential.

Sources and Authoritative References

Every fact on this Lakes of Estero page comes from a primary public record, a government agency, the builder’s own published pages, or the Southwest Florida MLS. No competing brokerage or listing portal is cited. All sources were retrieved in September 2026.

Lee County Property Appraiser

1. Parcel fabric layer, Lakes of Estero parcels, Lee County Property Appraiser. https://gissvr.leepa.org/gissvr/rest/services/ParcelsWFS/MapServer/0

2. Subdivision layer, Lakes of Estero, 50.14 acres, Lee County Property Appraiser. https://gissvr.leepa.org/gissvr/rest/services/ParcelDetails/MapServer/33

3. Just value layer, Lee County Property Appraiser. https://gissvr.leepa.org/gissvr/rest/services/ParcelInfo/MapServer/12

4. Last qualified sale layer, Lee County Property Appraiser. https://gissvr.leepa.org/gissvr/rest/services/ParcelInfo/MapServer/10

5. Comparable sales layer, Lee County Property Appraiser. https://gissvr.leepa.org/gissvr/rest/services/ParcelInfo/MapServer/23

6. Street centerlines, Lee County Property Appraiser. https://gissvr.leepa.org/gissvr/rest/services/ParcelRoads2/MapServer

7. Districts layer: fire, water, wastewater, school board district, Lee County Property Appraiser. https://gissvr.leepa.org/gissvr/rest/services/Districts/MapServer

8. Hazards layer: wind design speed, debris region, evacuation zone, Lee County Property Appraiser. https://gissvr.leepa.org/gissvr/rest/services/HazardsFloodZones/MapServer

9. Field card, Lot 1, 9701 Springlake Circle, Lee County Property Appraiser. http://fieldcards.leepa.org/CurrentCostCard/Folio/10474622

10. Field card, Lot 33, 9779 Silvercreek Court, Lee County Property Appraiser. http://fieldcards.leepa.org/CurrentCostCard/Folio/10474654

11. Field card, Tract E, Conidaris Development Company, Lee County Property Appraiser. http://fieldcards.leepa.org/CurrentCostCard/Folio/10474728

12. Field card, Lots 83 to 87, D.R. Horton 2026 purchase, Lee County Property Appraiser. http://fieldcards.leepa.org/CurrentCostCard/Folio/10474704

13. Parcel display with permits and sales, Lot 20, Lee County Property Appraiser. https://www.leepa.org/Display/DisplayParcel.aspx?FolioID=10474641&PermitDetails=True&SalesDetails=True

14. 2025 TRIM notice, Lot 33, Lee County Property Appraiser. https://www.leepa.org/Display/DisplayTrim.aspx?FolioID=10474654&TaxYear=2025

15. Tax estimator, Lee County Property Appraiser. https://www.leepa.org/taxestimator/default.aspx?folioId=10474654

16. Sale data files index, Lee County Property Appraiser. https://www.leepa.org/Roll/SDFTxt.aspx

17. 2025 sale data file, Lee County Property Appraiser. https://www.leepa.org/TaxRoll/sdftxt/SDF2025Final.TXT

18. 2024 sale data file, Lee County Property Appraiser. https://www.leepa.org/TaxRoll/sdftxt/SDF2024Final.TXT

19. Sale data file field layout (PDF), Lee County Property Appraiser. https://www.leepa.org/TaxRoll/sdftxt/Sale%20Data%20File%20Fields%20Layout.PDF

20. 2025 Taxing District Millage Book (PDF), Lee County Property Appraiser. https://www.leepa.org/TaxRoll/Millage%20Books/2025%20Taxing%20District%20Millage%20Book.pdf

21. 2026 Preliminary Millage Book (PDF), Lee County Property Appraiser. https://www.leepa.org/TaxRoll/Millage%20Books/2026%20Taxing%20District%20Millage%20Book%20Prelim.pdf

Florida Department of Revenue

22. 2026 preliminary NAL tax roll, Lee County, Florida Department of Revenue. https://floridarevenue.com/property/dataportal/Documents/PTO%20Data%20Portal/Tax%20Roll%20Data%20Files/NAL/2026P/Lee%2046%20Preliminary%20NAL%202026.zip

23. 2026 preliminary sale data file, Lee County, Florida Department of Revenue. https://floridarevenue.com/property/dataportal/Documents/PTO%20Data%20Portal/Tax%20Roll%20Data%20Files/SDF/2026P/Lee%2046%20Preliminary%20SDF%202026.zip

24. 2026 NAL, SDF and NAP users guide: field definitions and sale qualification codes (PDF), Florida Department of Revenue. https://floridarevenue.com/property/dataportal/Documents/PTO%20Data%20Portal/User%20Guides/2026%20Users%20guide%20and%20quick%20reference/2026_NAL_SDF_NAP_Users_Guide.pdf

Lee County Government, Tax Collector and Clerk

25. Lee County building permit RES2002-03982, Lot 20, Accela Citizen Access. https://aca-prod.accela.com/LEECO/Cap/GlobalSearchResults.aspx?QueryText=RES2002-03982

26. Lee County building permit RES2002-02741, the model on Lot 51. https://aca-prod.accela.com/LEECO/Cap/GlobalSearchResults.aspx?QueryText=RES2002-02741

27. Lee County building permit RES2004-07725, Continental Homes of Florida. https://aca-prod.accela.com/LEECO/Cap/GlobalSearchResults.aspx?QueryText=RES2004-07725

28. Lee County building permit RES2005-05413, D.R. Horton. https://aca-prod.accela.com/LEECO/Cap/GlobalSearchResults.aspx?QueryText=RES2005-05413

29. Lee County building permit RES2005-06021, D.R. Horton. https://aca-prod.accela.com/LEECO/Cap/GlobalSearchResults.aspx?QueryText=RES2005-06021

30. 2025 property tax bill, Lot 33, Lee County Tax Collector. https://lee.county-taxes.com/public/real_estate/parcels/34-46-25-E3-10000.0330

31. D.R. Horton purchase of Lots 83 to 87, instrument 2026000012644, Lee County Clerk of Court. https://or.leeclerk.org/LandMarkWeb/Document/GetDocumentByCFN/?cfn=2026000012644&direct=1

32. Official Records search, Lee County Clerk of Court. https://or.leeclerk.org/LandMarkWeb/

33. Planned developments layer, Corkscrew Hammocks PUD, Lee County GIS. https://services2.arcgis.com/LvWGAAhHwbCJ2GMP/arcgis/rest/services/PlannedDevelopments/FeatureServer/0

34. Electric territories layer, Lee County GIS. https://services2.arcgis.com/LvWGAAhHwbCJ2GMP/arcgis/rest/services/Electric_Territories/FeatureServer/0

35. Evacuation zones layer, Lee County GIS. https://services2.arcgis.com/LvWGAAhHwbCJ2GMP/arcgis/rest/services/EvacuationZones/FeatureServer

36. Hurricane Milton evacuation orders, Lee County. https://www.leegov.com/hurricane/milton

37. Estero Community Park and Recreation Center, Lee County Parks and Recreation. https://www.leegov.com/parks/centers/estero

38. South County Regional Library, Lee County Library System. https://www.leegov.com/library/branches/sc

Florida Division of Corporations and the builder

39. The Lakes of Estero Homeowners Association, Inc., N02000001197, Florida Division of Corporations. https://search.sunbiz.org/Inquiry/CorporationSearch/SearchResultDetail?inquirytype=EntityName&directionType=Initial&searchNameOrder=LAKESESTEROHOMEOWNERSASSOCIATI%20N020000011970&aggregateId=domnp-n02000001197-0f69fccd-c056-47f9-b847-e7a876bdcaa0&searchTerm=LAKES%20OF%20ESTERO&listNameOrder=LAKESESTEROHOMEOWNERSASSOCIATI%20N020000011970

40. Entity-name search, “Lakes of Estero,” Florida Division of Corporations. https://search.sunbiz.org/Inquiry/CorporationSearch/SearchResults?inquiryType=EntityName&searchTerm=LAKES%20OF%20ESTERO

41. Conidaris Development Company, P01000082841, Florida Division of Corporations. https://search.sunbiz.org/Inquiry/CorporationSearch/SearchResultDetail?inquirytype=EntityName&directionType=Initial&searchNameOrder=CONIDARISDEVELOPMENT%20P010000828410&aggregateId=domp-p01000082841-c2769916-753b-4540-b136-361b60383172

42. Lakes of Estero community page, D.R. Horton. https://www.drhorton.com/florida/southwest-florida/fort-myers/lakes-of-estero

43. 9936 Springlake Circle listing, D.R. Horton. https://www.drhorton.com/florida/southwest-florida/fort-myers/lakes-of-estero/qmis/9936-springlake-cir

44. Coral floor plan, D.R. Horton. https://www.drhorton.com/florida/southwest-florida/fort-myers/lakes-of-estero/floor-plans/2596

45. D.R. Horton fiscal 1998 annual report on Form 10-K, acquisition of Continental Homes, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/882184/000088218498000063/0000882184-98-000063.txt

46. Lakes of Estero HOA resident portal, FirstService Residential. https://lakesofestero.connectresident.com/

47. Resale and lender documents, FirstService Residential. http://www.fsresidential.com/florida/resale-and-lender-documents

FEMA, NOAA and USGS

48. National Flood Hazard Layer, FEMA. https://hazards.fema.gov/arcgis/rest/services/public/NFHL/MapServer

49. FEMA Map Service Center. https://msc.fema.gov/portal/advanceSearch

50. Community Rating System eligible communities, April 2025 (PDF), FEMA. https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_crs_eligible-communities_apr-2025.pdf

51. OpenFEMA flood insurance claims data, FEMA. https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v2/FimaNfipClaims

52. Elevation point query service, 3D Elevation Program, USGS. https://epqs.nationalmap.gov/v1/json

53. NAIP imagery service, The National Map, USGS. https://imagery.nationalmap.gov/arcgis/rest/services/USGSNAIPImagery/ImageServer

54. Geocoder, U.S. Census Bureau. https://geocoding.geo.census.gov/geocoder/

55. QuickFacts, Estero village, Florida, U.S. Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/esterovillageflorida

Village of Estero

56. Community Rating System, Village of Estero. https://estero-fl.gov/community-rating-system/

57. Know your evacuation zone, Village of Estero. https://estero-fl.gov/know-your-evacuation-zone/

58. Hurricane Ian update, Village of Estero. https://estero-fl.gov/hurricane-ian-has-left-many-suffering-in-southwest-florida-including-some-of-our-estero-neighbors/

59. Council summary, February 19, 2025: Estero River flooding in Helene and Milton, Village of Estero. https://estero-fl.gov/flood-awareness-week-finance-certificate-of-achievement-and-eminent-domain-among-topics-addressed-by-council-on-february-19-2025/

60. Council summary, May 6, 2026: River Ranch Road and SportsPark, Village of Estero. https://estero-fl.gov/river-ranch-road-and-estero-sportspark-among-topics-addressed-by-council-on-may-6-2026/

61. Adopted FY 2026-27 budget and millage, September 23, 2026, Village of Estero. https://estero-fl.gov/council-adopted-fy-26-27-budget-and-lowest-tax-rate-in-the-state-on-september-23/

62. Council summary, September 9, 2026: Williams Road and I-75 noise wall, Village of Estero. https://estero-fl.gov/tentative-budget-williams-road-roundabout-and-riverpark-among-topics-addressed-by-council-on-september-9-2026/

63. Village Center Hub, Village of Estero. https://estero-fl.gov/villagecenterhub/

64. Entertainment campus and High 5, Village of Estero. https://estero-fl.gov/entertainment-campus/

65. SportsPark, Village of Estero. https://estero-fl.gov/sportspark/

66. Capital improvement projects, Village of Estero. https://estero-fl.gov/cip/

67. Williams Road widening capital sheet (PDF), Village of Estero. https://estero-fl.gov/wp-content/uploads/library-ada/CIP/Williams%20Road%20Widening.pdf

68. Williams Road street lights capital sheet (PDF), Village of Estero. https://estero-fl.gov/wp-content/uploads/library-ada/CIP/Williams%20Road%20Street%20Lights.pdf

69. Milan Villas, planning board summary, December 13, 2022, Village of Estero. https://estero-fl.gov/milan-villas-miromar-design-center-and-copperleaf-presented-to-the-planning-zoning-design-board-on-december-13-2022/

70. Estero history and incorporation, Village of Estero. https://estero-fl.gov/estero-history/

71. Demographics, Village of Estero. https://estero-fl.gov/demographics/

72. Schools, Village of Estero. https://estero-fl.gov/for-residents/schools/

73. Medical facilities, Village of Estero. https://estero-fl.gov/for-residents/medical-facilities/

74. Koreshan State Park, Village of Estero. https://estero-fl.gov/esteros-unique-historic-park/

Schools, health and insurance

75. School zones, School District of Lee County. https://www.leeschools.net/student_enrollment/school_zones

76. High schools directory, School District of Lee County. https://www.leeschools.net/our_schools/schools/high_schools

77. School grades, Florida Department of Education. https://www.fldoe.org/accountability/accountability-reporting/school-grades/

78. Private school search, ZIP 33928, National Center for Education Statistics. https://nces.ed.gov/surveys/pss/privateschoolsearch/school_list.asp?Miles=10&Search=1&Zip=33928

79. Coconut Point Emergency Department, Lee Health. https://www.leehealth.org/locations/find-a-location/coconut-point-emergency-department

80. Gulf Coast Medical Center, Lee Health. https://www.leehealth.org/locations/find-a-location/gulf-coast-medical-center

81. NCH North Naples Hospital, NCH. https://locations.nchmd.org/fl/naples/nch-north-hospital

82. 2026 homeowners rates, Citizens Property Insurance Corporation. https://www.citizensfla.com/-/20260304-citizens-2026-multiperil-rates-to-drop-statewide

83. Citizens policy count, August 2026, Insurance Journal. https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/southeast/2026/09/23/886558.htm

84. Property insurance changes, Florida Department of Financial Services. https://myfloridacfo.com/division/ica/propertyinsurancechanges

85. Section 627.7011, Florida Statutes, roof age, Florida Senate. https://www.flsenate.gov/laws/statutes/2022/627.7011

86. SB 808 (2026), Florida Senate. https://flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/808

87. Florida Building Code effective dates (PDF), Florida Building Commission. https://www.floridabuilding.org/fbc/Publications/2023_Effective_Dates.pdf

88. Chapter 720, homeowners’ associations, Florida Statutes, Florida Senate. https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2025/Chapter720/All

Roads, parks and places

89. I-75 from Golden Gate Parkway to Alico Road, FDOT District One. https://www.swflroads.com/project/452544-1

90. Koreshan State Park, Florida State Parks. https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/koreshan-state-park

91. Estero Bay Preserve State Park, Florida State Parks. https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/estero-bay-preserve-state-park

92. Lovers Key State Park, Florida State Parks. https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/lovers-key-state-park

93. Coconut Point, Simon. https://www.simon.com/mall/coconut-point

94. Miromar Outlets. https://www.miromaroutlets.com/

95. Hertz Arena. https://www.hertzarena.com/

96. Driving routes, Project OSRM over OpenStreetMap data. https://router.project-osrm.org

Market data

Closed sales, list prices, days on market and living areas: Southwest Florida MLS, development “Lakes of Estero” and ZIP 33928, closed sales for the 365 days to September 5, 2026. The MLS is a members-only system and is not linked.

Market data from Southwest Florida MLS, pulled September 5, 2026, and Lee County Property Appraiser and Florida Department of Revenue recorded sales through July 2026. Aerial image: USGS National Agriculture Imagery Program, flown February 14, 2023, public domain. McGreevy and Comisar, 24031 S Tamiami Trl #101, Bonita Springs, FL 34134, (239) 898-6072. Brokered by Domain Realty.