How is Lehigh Acres, FL

Question

Hey! For rental properties primarily, I was wondering how the market is for Lehigh Acres, FL?

Here’s a small list of what I was wondering anyone had personal touch to add...

How are the local school?

Is it walkable?

How is public transportation?

What is the typical person like; what do they desire in a housing market?

What is the typical vacancy?

How long on average does a tenant remain in a rental?

How heavily taxed is the area?

What insurance costs are prevalent to the area?

Are the tenants responsible?

What drives the market?

What is the flow of jobs in the areas economy?

Do you have a top realtor you recommend for this area?

Do you have a top property manager you recommend for this area?

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Let me know ! Thanks!

Stetson Miller · Answer

Hi @Owen Thornton,

Lehigh Acres is a great investment market. The general area goes from B to C, and some gated A neighborhoods, but the best investments are going to be the C properties in the B areas.

The local schools are fairly consistent with what is available in surrounding cities such as Fort Myers and Cape Coral. The only places that I would invest are walkable, but there are certainly areas to avoid, like most cities. Public transportation is fairly poor in most of Florida as it has never been a big consideration for the state. Because of this, it's generally expected, and not a shock for anyone who has previously lived here.

Within the housing market, the typical tenant is a middle-class blue collar family looking for a 3/2 in the $1100-$1400 rental range. All the rest of your questions regarding tenants can really only be dealt with on a case by case basis, as there's no typical tenant that reflects the actions of an entire city. However, utilizing effective property management, it's very easy to avoid any serious issues regarding the questions you've brought up.

The current property tax millage rate is 14.6339, so on a $180,000 purchase, the average purchase price of clean properties in great condition matching the previous description, that would come out to $2370 in property taxes annually. A very large majority of Lehigh is not in a flood zone, so that's an expense that you will rarely have to be on the lookout for, and very different than most of the other surrounding cities.

There is a great flow of jobs in the area as most people who live in Lehigh commute to work in any of the other surrounding areas. There is a hospital in Lehigh, but as stated earlier, most people are blue collar workers that likely have their own small business, or work for another. The area is heavily residential, which leads to the higher commuting rates for the area.

Send me a message if you have any more questions and I would be happy to help!

Owen Thornton · Answer

@Stetson Miller

Thank you so much for the detailed response! I will keep in touch as I am looking for opportunities in our of state investments!

Your words are greatly appreciated!