I've been hearing a lot lately that after retirement, managing the yard and mowing the lawn has become the biggest challenge. One client who has lived in a single-family home in Fort Myers for over 20 years said the same. In the summer, weeds can grow knee-high in just a week, and hiring a maintenance company can be quite expensive.

19.6 percent. This is the proportion of maintenance costs compared to the monthly mortgage for homes with HOA fees in the Cape Coral-Fort Myers area. What this number means is that moving to a condo or townhome doesn't eliminate the burden of yard maintenance; instead, those costs are transferred in another form. The median HOA fee in this area is around $475 per month, while condos range from $400 to $800 per month, and condos near the beach have seen their fees rise to between $600 and over $2,500 due to increased insurance costs following Hurricane Ian.

If the term is unfamiliar, think of it this way: HOA stands for homeowners association fees. In a single-family home, you have to manage the yard and roof yourself or hire a company, but in a condo or townhome, landscaping, exterior maintenance, and common area management are included in the fees. However, single-family home communities generally have the lowest maintenance fees.

Cooling costs should also be considered. The average electric bill in the Fort Myers area is about $165 per month, and for FPL, using 1,000 kilowatt-hours costs around $145. FPL has relatively low rates in Florida, but during the summer, demand for cooling can increase usage, leading to significantly higher bills than usual.

• Single-family homes - Lower HOA fees but direct responsibility for yard maintenance and cooling costs
• Condos - Higher maintenance fees but freedom from external maintenance
• Townhomes - A middle ground in terms of maintenance fee structure between single-family homes and condos

Property taxes are also an important topic. The median effective tax rate in Lee County is reported to be 1.10 percent. Florida has a Homestead Exemption program that allows homeowners to deduct a certain amount from their taxable value if registered as their primary residence, with a maximum of $50,722 as of 2025. Additionally, seniors who have lived in the same home for over 25 years while maintaining their homestead status can apply for a senior exemption for additional reductions within a taxable value limit of $250,000.

In areas like Fort Myers that are frequently in the path of hurricanes, homeowners insurance cannot be overlooked. For single-family homes, insurance premiums can vary significantly based on the roof's condition and the year of construction, while for condos, the master insurance covering the entire building is included in the HOA fees, but any increases in that cost directly affect maintenance fees. Many active senior communities handle insurance management at the community level, reducing the burden of finding individual insurance providers.

The key point is that even if you move to a condo to avoid the burden of yard maintenance, the HOA fees effectively replace that burden. In fact, when calculated, there are often cases where the monthly maintenance fees exceed the costs of hiring a yard maintenance company. It's important to consider whether you can handle the effort of managing it yourself or if you prefer to pay a fixed monthly fee for peace of mind. Especially if you consider the possibility of becoming less mobile within a few years after retirement, the question of who will handle future maintenance burdens may become a more important criterion than the current cost difference. If you are moving to Fort Myers from another state, it may also be helpful to budget for both cooling and dehumidifying in line with the humid and hot climate.

The fee and tax information in this article is based on the time of publication and may vary by county or community. It is advisable to consult real estate and tax professionals before any actual transactions or exemption applications. This is not investment or legal advice.