When Chicagoans start to dream about moving, more often than not, they start looking at a city in the Sunshine State known as the “Waterfront Wonderland.” With a population of just over 200,000, the coastal city in southwest Florida boasts an intricate network of canals that stretches 400 miles, lush golf courses and the chance to encounter manatees year-round. Chicago residents are primarily setting their sights on Cape Coral when they consider relocating, according to a study from real estate company Redfin.
Cape Coral is ranked as one of the top metros U.S. homebuyers are looking to move into, with most of the city’s prospects hailing from Chicago, according to Redfin data. Florida has always been a hotspot for “snowbirds” in Chicago, said Mike Opyd, president and owner of Chicago real estate company RE/MAX NEXT. Opyd said Florida’s reputation as a place where older people and retirees flock to to spend their winters and final days is shifting. “There’s a younger crowd, probably hearing about [Florida] from the parents,” Opyd said. “They’ve been going to Florida forever, and going, ‘Where would be cool to live in Florida?’ and it seems like Cape Coral might just be one of those areas.”
