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THE NUMBERS BEHIND THE PRETTY

Same price.
Different monthly life.

Compare the cost of owning a home in Southwest Florida—not just the number on the listing. Start with Estero, Bonita Springs or South Fort Myers and the details of the actual property.

A fabulous pool is a feature. Knowing what the whole home costs is a plan.

Make the monthly picture clearer.

Enter monthly principal and interest only—not a mortgage payment that already includes taxes or insurance. For a cash purchase, enter 0. Enter annual taxes and insurance; the tool divides them by 12. Mortgage insurance is separate from homeowners insurance; enter 0 if it does not apply.

Include a CDD or other assessment in the separate assessments field only if it is not already in your tax estimate or another entered cost. Convert quarterly HOA fees to a monthly amount first.

Home A
Add estimates

Enter each estimate; use 0 where it does not apply.

Home B
Add estimates

Enter each estimate; use 0 where it does not apply.

Fill all nine cost estimates for each home to compare totals.

Review My Numbers with Jaime

This is arithmetic using your estimates, not a lender quote or a complete forecast. It does not include every potential expense, one-time closing costs or future increases. Entries are not saved or sent by this tool. The email button prepares a draft; you choose whether to send it.

A Florida Honestly buyer resource · Jaime Musselman

What goes into your Southwest Florida home budget?

Start with the mortgage principal and interest, then add property taxes, homeowners insurance, any mortgage insurance, flood coverage, HOA or condo fees, separate assessments, maintenance and utilities. Two homes with the same asking price can have different ownership costs.

Use written quotes and current community documents where you can. If you are still researching, leave unknowns blank. The comparison below labels incomplete figures as a subtotal so missing costs do not quietly become zero.

Compare Two Homes

Property taxes: check the property, then the estimate

The current owner's bill may include exemptions or assessment limits that do not match your situation. Start with the Lee County Property Appraiser for property records and its tax-estimator tools, and the Lee County Tax Collector for tax bills. An estimate is a planning figure; confirm the details for your purchase.

Insurance and flood: use the exact address

Request property-specific coverage quotes rather than assuming a single insurance number applies across the area. The FEMA Flood Map Service Center lets you research flood mapping by address. A map is a starting point for questions, not an insurance quote.

HOA, condo and CDD: read what is included

Ask for current fees, payment frequency, included services, restrictions and known assessments. An amenity you love may be worth paying for; the point is to understand the obligation before you choose. Check whether any assessment is already included in the property-tax total before adding it again.

New construction or resale?

Compare included features, completion timing, community obligations and the likely near-term maintenance for each actual home. A builder promotion and a resale asking price need context before they become a useful comparison.

Explore the $500,000–$750,000 Estero buyer guide, working with a buyer's agent and area comparison.

Before you decide, collect these five things

  1. A current loan estimate or financing plan.
  2. Property-specific insurance quotes.
  3. A purchase-appropriate tax estimate.
  4. Current community fees and assessment information.
  5. Inspection findings and a realistic maintenance plan.

Send Jaime the homes you are comparing and the questions you still need answered. Email Jaime or call 239-898-6261.