Cape Coral 55+ communities compared
These are the buildings local listings identify as 55+ communities in Cape Coral. All five are condo buildings in southeast Cape Coral, between Cape Coral Parkway, Beach Parkway and the Caloosahatchee River.
| Building | Location | Type and size | Built | Water and amenities |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| River Towers | 4260 and 4280 SE 20th Place, end of Beach Parkway | Mid-rise: 108 units in two eight-story buildings | Ask the association | Riverfront pool, dock space, fishing pier |
| Sunset Towers | Sunset Court off Cape Coral Parkway, on Bimini Basin | Mid-rise: 56 units in twin seven-story buildings | 1968 | Pool, fitness equipment, community room; sailboat-access dock space for lease |
| The Anchorage | SE 19th Avenue, north of Beach Parkway | Low-rise, two stories | 1974 | Gulf-access canals, heated pool, clubhouse, docks for boats up to 30 ft |
| Commodore Condos | SE 19th Place, north of Beach Parkway | Low-rise, two stories | 1977 | 150-foot-wide sailboat-access canal, pool, dock space |
| Anna Maria | SE 19th Place on the Phoenix Canal | Low-rise, 32 units | 1977 | Assigned boat slips and storage |
Descriptions come from local brokerage listings. Fees are not published consistently, so ask each association for its current budget. A community can change its 55+ status by following its governing documents, so confirm the status before you rely on it.
Each Cape Coral 55+ community in detail
River Towers
River Towers is the largest 55+ building in the city, with 108 units in two eight-story buildings on the Caloosahatchee River at the end of Beach Parkway, just south of Jaycee Park. Floor plans are two bedrooms and two baths with about 1,065 square feet. Amenities include an Olympic-size pool on the river, shuffleboard, billiards, community rooms, a library, dock space and a fishing pier.
The rules are stricter than in most buildings. Local listings say pets are not allowed, and owners cannot rent a unit for the first 36 months; after that, one lease a year of at least 90 days is permitted. 55places.com reported an average asking price of about $286,000 in September 2026.
Sunset Towers
Sunset Towers has 56 units in twin seven-story buildings built in 1968, overlooking Bimini Basin on Sunset Court off Cape Coral Parkway. The basin is the setting for the city's annual Christmas boat parade. Amenities include a pool, fitness equipment, a barbecue area, a community room and covered parking, and sailboat-access dock space is available for lease.
At more than 55 years old and seven stories, this is the kind of building where the state's milestone inspection and reserve study rules matter most. Ask for both reports before you make an offer.
The Anchorage
The Anchorage is a two-story building from 1974 on SE 19th Avenue, north of Beach Parkway. It sits where the 150-foot-wide Partridge and Pentagon Canals meet, both with access to the Gulf. Amenities include a heated pool, a clubhouse, covered parking and dock space for boats up to 30 feet. Jaycee Park is within walking distance.
Commodore Condos
The Commodore is a two-story building from 1977 on SE 19th Place, also north of Beach Parkway. It faces a 150-foot-wide sailboat-access canal, meaning no bridges on the route to open water, and has a pool, dock space and covered parking. A brokerage search on 25 September 2026 also showed a unit in the nearby Coral Reef building on SE 19th Place listed at $400,000; local listings describe both Coral Reef and the Commodore as 55+ options with Gulf access and boat lifts.
Anna Maria
Anna Maria is a 32-unit low-rise building from 1977 on SE 19th Place, beside the wide Phoenix Canal. Its appeal is boating: units have come with assigned boat slips close to the door, plus storage. Recent listings described two-bedroom, two-bath units of close to 1,300 square feet.
The legal rules for 55+ communities in Florida
A 55+ community is a legal designation, not a marketing label. Under Florida's Fair Housing Act, housing for older persons is exempt from the familial status rules only if it is intended and operated for people 55 or older.
The 80% occupancy test
At least 80% of occupied units must have at least one resident aged 55 or older. The other 20% gives associations some flexibility, but each association sets its own rules for how it uses it, so read the declaration rather than assuming a younger buyer can move in.
Published policies and age verification
The community must publish and follow policies and procedures that show its intent to house older persons. Associations may ask for proof of age, and many require approval of buyers, so ask what the application involves.
Guests, renters and ownership
Check the rules on how long guests may stay, whether and when units can be rented, and whether someone under 55 can own but not live in a unit. As River Towers shows, rental waiting periods and pet bans can be as important to your plans as the age rule itself.
What 55+ condos cost in Cape Coral
Prices depend on the building, the floor, the view and dock rights more than on the age restriction. 55places.com reported an average asking price of about $286,000 at River Towers in September 2026, and a unit in the Coral Reef building was listed at $400,000 on a 25 September 2026 brokerage search.
For comparison, Zillow's typical home value for Cape Coral overall was $335,825 in August 2026, down 3.9% in a year. Few 55+ units are for sale at any one time, so compare closed sales in the same building and allow for a longer search. The Cape Coral housing market page covers the wider trend.
Condo fees, reserves and building checks
Monthly condo fees cover the association's insurance, reserves and shared costs, and they may have risen as associations fund reserves under Florida's newer condo rules. Ask for the budget and the exact fee for the unit, then check the following.
Taller buildings: SIRS and milestone inspections
River Towers and Sunset Towers are three or more stories and old enough that Florida's milestone inspection and structural integrity reserve study (SIRS) rules apply. Ask for both reports and any special assessments that followed. The Cape Coral condo guide explains both in detail.
Two-story buildings
The Anchorage, the Commodore and Anna Maria are low-rise buildings, so the statutory SIRS and milestone rules may not apply. That can mean lower dues but less mandated information. Ask for any voluntary reserve study, the roof age and the seawall condition.
Insurance and flood
Ask for the master policy's windstorm and flood deductibles, because a large deductible can turn into a special assessment after a storm. All five buildings are on the water, so check the flood zone in the Cape Coral flood zone guide.
City assessments
Condo owners also pay the city's non-ad valorem charges, such as fire service and solid waste, through the property tax bill. A homestead exemption does not reduce them.
Boat slips and docks in 55+ buildings
Four of the five buildings sit on canals with Gulf access, and River Towers is on the river itself. Dock rights vary, though. Before you buy, ask whether a slip is deeded, assigned to the unit or leased from the association, whether there is a waiting list, and what size of boat it takes. Ask too about the condition of the seawall and docks, since repairs are usually a shared cost. The waterfront homes guide explains sailboat access and bridge clearances.
How to choose, and options beyond these buildings
Start with how you want to live, then match the building:
- Boating first: Anna Maria, the Commodore and the Anchorage put a slip or dock close to your door.
- Views and a pool on the river: River Towers, if its pet and rental rules suit you.
- Walkable to downtown: Sunset Towers, off Cape Coral Parkway on Bimini Basin.
If you want an age-restricted community with a clubhouse, golf or organized activities, Cape Coral has few choices inside city limits, and 55places.com listed no gated 55+ communities in the city in September 2026. A non-age-restricted gated community with amenities is the main alternative; the Cape Coral gated communities guide compares them.
If you are open to other parts of Florida, compare the 55+ guides for Sarasota, Tampa and Orlando. The guide to downsizing in Florida covers selling a larger home and moving.
Common questions
Are there 55+ communities in Cape Coral?+
Yes, but most are condo buildings rather than large developments. Local listings identify River Towers, Sunset Towers, the Anchorage, the Commodore and Anna Maria in southeast Cape Coral as 55+ communities. They are mainly waterfront buildings from the late 1960s and 1970s, some with dock space or sailboat access to the Gulf.
What are the rules for a 55+ community in Florida?+
Under Florida's Fair Housing Act, housing for older persons must have at least 80% of its occupied units occupied by at least one person aged 55 or older, and it must publish and follow policies showing it is intended for older residents. Check the association's documents for its own rules on guests, rentals and ownership.
Are there gated 55+ communities in Cape Coral?+
Not according to 55places.com, which listed no gated 55+ communities in Cape Coral in September 2026. The city's 55+ options are mainly condo buildings in the southeast. If you want a gate, compare Cape Coral's gated communities, which are open to all ages, or look at 55+ communities in other parts of Southwest Florida.
How much does a 55+ condo cost in Cape Coral?+
It depends on the building and the unit. 55places.com reported an average asking price of about $286,000 at River Towers in September 2026. Waterfront low-rise units with boat slips can cost more. Add monthly condo fees, insurance and city assessments, and ask about any special assessments tied to inspections or reserves.
Can I rent out a 55+ condo in Cape Coral?+
It depends on the building. Associations set their own leasing rules. At River Towers, for example, local listings say owners cannot rent for the first 36 months and may then lease once a year for at least 90 days. Read the declaration and rules before you buy if rental income matters to your plans.
Do Cape Coral 55+ condos have boat docks?+
Several do. The Anchorage has dock space for boats up to 30 feet, the Commodore sits on a 150-foot-wide sailboat-access canal, Anna Maria units have come with assigned slips, and Sunset Towers leases sailboat-access dock space. Ask whether a slip is deeded, assigned or leased, and whether there is a waiting list.
Sources
- Florida Statutes: s. 760.29, exemptions (housing for older persons)
- GreaterFtMyers.com: Cape Coral 55+ communities
- GreaterFtMyers.com: River Towers
- GreaterFtMyers.com: Sunset Towers
- GreaterFtMyers.com: The Anchorage
- GreaterFtMyers.com: Commodore Condos
- GreaterFtMyers.com: Anna Maria Condos
- 55places.com: Cape Coral 55+ communities
- Florida House of Representatives: Final bill analysis, CS/CS/HB 913 (2025)
- Zillow Research: Home value, rent and market data (August 2026)
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Antonio Roberts
Antonio Roberts has spent five years helping more than 500 Florida buyers and sellers choose the right real estate agent. He is not a real estate agent himself: he researches what matters in a Florida move and connects people with licensed local agents, free of charge.
Reviewed by a licensed Florida real estate agent. Before publication, this guide was checked for accuracy by a licensed Florida real estate agent on our team. It is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice.
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