Summer construction heats up in Lee County

FORT MYERS — Construction firms pulled more commercial and residential permits in Lee County in July than in the same month in 2012, indicating the real estate recovery continues through the typically slower summer season.

Builders pulled commercial permits worth $4.9 million in July, a 32% increase from the $3.7 million worth they pulled in the same month one year ago, according to the Lee County Department of Community Development. Homebuilders pulled 85 permits to build single-family homes in Lee County in July, a 37% increase over the 62 they pulled in July 2012. The total value of the 85 permits they pulled in July was $20.8 million.

Residential builders have cited the decline in inventories and rising prices of existing single-family homes as reasons for the increase in new construction.

In June, for example, the median price of an existing single-family home in the Fort Myers area jumped 32% to $185,000 and the number of listings fell 14% to 4,956 homes, according to the Realtor Association of Greater Fort Myers and the Beach.