Lee, Collier housing markets stay strong

"Southwest Florida is a home seller’s market these days, especially at the top of the market.

That’s the bottom line for two recent real estate board reports and a report by consumer financial company Smartasset, which reported Wednesday that Fort Myers is the 10th easiest place in Florida to sell a home (Belle Glade was No. 1).

Prices for existing single-family homes posted solid increases in Lee and Collier counties in June as inventory contracted sharply, according to statistics released by local real estate boards.

But the high end in both counties outpaced more modestly priced houses in both counties as sales and prices rose most strongly at the top."