The Clewiston Housing Market Is On Fire

Overall, home values in Florida have gone up significantly in the past few years, but have been cooling slightly of late. That is, except for some areas of Florida around the Miami area and here in Southwest Florida - Clewiston. In a year over year comparison, the Clewiston housing market is on fire.

Clewiston is a city in Hendry County on the south bank of Lake Okeechobee. The 2022 population was listed as 7,198. It's about 80 miles northwest of Fort Lauderdale and about 60 miles from Fort Myers. Clewiston's largest industry is sugar and has been named "America's Sweetest Town." But what's going on with Clewiston, Florida's housing market?

News4Jax dissected information from the latest Zillow housing report to see which Florida markets had the biggest year over year gain in home values. In first place, with a home value year over year gain of 14.1% is Clewiston. The typical home value in Clewiston for February 2024 is up to $240,966. Sure, that value is still quite a bit lower than other parts of Southwest Florida, but here's why that's significant.

Zillow posts monthly data which shows which percentage of listings have cut their price. In Naples, 291.% percent of the listings are reduced. In Cape Coral, it's 26.9%. In North Port, 35.5% of listings have reduced their price since the original listing. So while coastal Southwest Florida is discounting, Clewiston home values year over year are still growing.

There's some decent bass fishing, and the people at the Tiki Bar are friendly, but more importantly - as cost of living skyrockets, Clewiston is still affordable. For now. People on fixed income who want to stay in Florida are leaving the coastal areas and moving inland. Insurance and HOA increases have priced them out of the area. In this case, they're trading the Gulf Coast for Lake O.

There are people that think this is just the beginning of a market correction in Florida. But it's quite possible thing will go the other way.

The Federal Government has stated repeatedly that they plan to cut interest rates three times in 2024. In anticipation, mortgage rates are already beginning to decline. Bankrate shows the current rate on a 30 year fixed mortgage is at 6.88%. A month ago it was at 7.11%.

So, as a perspective home buyer if you see rates falling and are likely to continue coming down - you're going to wait. I think at some point we're going to see more buyers coming in, which will push home values up even more. Further effecting the Clewiston housing market, and all of Southwest Florida.

Elsewhere in Hendry county is Labelle. There's a lot of new construction in Labelle. Have you ever been? I kinda like it there.

Local Cuisine refers to the cooking and serving of dishes typical of the culture of the area. Many of the dishes contain food that has been produced within that area. So for Southwest Florida that of course means seafood. But that's not all. There's a lot of other fresh foods produced right here in the Sunshine State. Like oranges, tomatoes, watermelon, grapefruit, strawberries and more. Those locally grown crops are found on the plates in Florida restaurants that want the freshest foods possible. There's also cattle ranches. Places like Beach Bistro on Anna Maria Island serve steaks from a ranch just north of North Port. Local. Southwest Florida restaurants that serve food from Florida. That's what we mean by 'local cuisine' restaurants.

As a local, I know about these places. I can personally vouch for several of the rankings on the list. But rather than talk about my favorites, we'll defer to the reviews on Tripadvisor. By using keywords and the site's algorithms, I was able to pinpoint what they would consider the top 10 local cuisine restaurants in Southwest Florida. As a way to show my work, here's a direct link to what I've done. Sure, there may be some places that you think should be on the list, but I don't think you could say any of these places shouldn't be mentioned.

It's actually embarrassing how many people go to the chain restaurants when they come to Southwest Florida to visit. You can go to those places anytime. Also, this list stretches from Sarasota to the south end of Naples. So, some of these places won't be very close, depending on where you are. Now let's take a look at the best local cuisine restaurants in Southwest Florida. I'll drop a couple a couple of links at the end for even more options.

I can't believe we almost lost this place. The Dixie Fish Company on Fort Myers Beach was almost wrecked by Hurricane Ian. There was a boat on their front steps. Seriously.

Thankfully, they were able to put everything back together, and according to Tripadvisor it's the number one spot for fresh local seafood in Southwest Florida. It's an open air bar/restaurant and has everything you could possibly want from a waterfront restaurant on an island. It's an absolute must for anyone visiting the Fort Myers area. Us locals love it, too. This is true original Southwest Florida.

It should come as no surprise that number 2 on the list is owned by the same people that own the Dixie Fish Company. Doc Ford's on Fort Myers Beach is right next to the Dixie Fish Company. Doc Ford's also has a Sanibel location. You cannot fail ordering a grouper taco with beans and rice. That's my go-to. The shrimp and grits are pretty amazing, too. You're also gonna love the decor. And the view.

At number 3 on the list is an entry from Englewood. Englewood is full of Snowbirds this time of year, and this is one of their favorites. A reviewer stated "Had the mango pecan wahoo on Jamaican rice and it was as good as it sounds." Oh my.

Baleen is just incredible. But keep in mind it's location in Naples does make it a little pricier than some of the others. But you will not find a better view of the Gulf while you dine. Get some mango bread pudding, trust. People come here to propose, it's just beautiful. One note, go when the weather is good for the full experience. Maybe one day these clouds will clear out...

This one's in Sarasota, and elegant European indoor and outdoor garden setting. Their specialty is events. I don't know much about this place, but I wanted to stay true to the list. It's been referred to a a 'hidden treasure' in Sarasota. It's also very Instagrammable. 

Harold's in Fort Myers comes in at number 6 and is the first on the list that doesn't benefit from a waterfront location. It's on 41 near 6 Mile Cypress. So it must be the food. Some reviewers mention Harold's as the best restaurant in Fort Myers. Getting to watch the chefs cook your food through the big window is a treat. Not sure what to get? Do the scallops. Or this:

Back to Sarasota for this one, it's a local favorite on Siesta Key. Lots of fresh seafood on the menu, or they'll cook up what you catch. If you have someone with you who's not a seafood lover, they also have a few pizza options. 

And to Fort Myers Beach for Fresh Catch Bistro. Upscale dining with a fabulous Estero Bay view. The mahi is a favorite. Really, you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. I still remember before the hurricane bringing my parents there. The first time I ever saw Soapy Tuna was at Junkanoo. This place has history. This video really tells the story.

Fresh fish and paired wine at this place in Sarasota. The name really says who they are, and that's what they do.

Next up is Shore by Lido Key in Sarasota. Not just a seafood restaurant, Shore is a mix of on shore and off-shore menu items. Incredibly touristy area, but they manage to stand out with a local feel.

For as much damage as we took from that last hurricane, Fort Myers Beach restaurants have really managed to rebuild and maintain a local feel. Next up is Flippers On The Bay. Their view of the bay is absolutely amazing. Seafood is on the menu.

Related: The Best Tacos In Southwest Florida Are At A Gas Station In Estero

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