Colonial Country Club Condo Available for Vacationers November 11, 2009
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Our Minneapolis area friends are offering their beautiful Colonial Country Club townhome for seasonal rental. The unit has great views, an open floorplan, garage, and is just a short walk to a community pool.
View property details here.
Contact the property owner directly with inquiries by clicking here.
Colonial Country Club is an amenity-rich golf community. Amenities include a wonderful walking path which winds through the beautiful nature preserve. An 18-hole Gordon Lewis championship golf course is available on a pay-as-you-play basis. The 16,000 sq.ft. clubhouse includes a fully equipped fitness center (spa services and fitness classes available), a butterfly-shaped community pool, and both an elegant restaurant as well as a casual grill room/pub. Additionally, our neighborhood offers a pool, hot tub and gas grills which are only a very brief walk away.
Cape Coral Among Forbes’ Newcomers List October 7, 2009
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Forbes magazine studied the percentage of residents, one year or older, who moved into the 100 most populous Metropolitan Statistical Areas in 2008, and four Florida cities made the list – Cape Coral, Lakeland, Palm Bay and Bradenton.
The two least desirable destination cities for relocation are Detroit and New York City. Los Angeles and Chicago also had low levels of newcomers. Cities that attracted the most new residents tended to be college towns. “You have an educated population, and you have a large youthful population,” says Alexander von Hoffman, senior fellow at the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University. “These places retain people after they’ve graduated, and attract like-minded people.”
Cape Coral-Fort Myers is home to several higher education institutions (Florida Gulf Coast University, and Edison College, to name just two).
Cities with the most newcomers are: • Colorado Springs, Colo. • Provo, Utah • Bakersfield, Calif. • Austin, Texas • Raleigh, N.C. • Columbia, S.C. • Cape Coral, Fla. • Lakeland, Fla. • Palm Bay, Fla. • Bradenton, Fla. Source:
Source: Forbes, Francesca Levy (10/01/2009)
American Sandsculpting Championship – Fort Myers Beach September 30, 2009
Posted by Brenda in Factoids, Fun, and FAQs, Florida, SW Florida Lifestyle, Southwest Florida Community Spotlights.Tags: fort myers beach, fort myers events, fort myers sandsculpting festival
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The 2009 American Sandsculpting Championship and Beach Festival continues to be one of the most popular, family-friendly events in Florida — attracting over 100,000 attendees. The annual event, now in its 23rd year, owes much of its success to the area’s natural resources, which are considered the best in the world for sand sculpting events.
The combined lineup of Master Sculptors participating this year, hold an amazing 27 World Sandsculpting Champion Titles and 18 American Sandsculpting Champion Titles.
This year’s event takes place Nov 3-8. Click here to view the festival schedule.
Fort Myers, Sanibel Online Visitor’s Guide September 23, 2009
Posted by Brenda in Factoids, Fun, and FAQs, Florida, Real Estate, SW Florida Lifestyle.Tags: captiva islands, fort myers beach, lee county visitors guide, sanibel beach, travelling to lee county florida
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From arts, to beaches and fishing, to full color photos of southwest Florida wildlife, this searchable online travel guide is brimming with useful and fun information. It’s a robust 150 pages complete with restaurant and accommodation directories, maps, and area history.
Business Week: Run, Don’t Walk: Once-In-A-Lifetime Opportunity To Buy A Home September 22, 2009
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BusinessWeek quoted a number of experts who believe that for many people, the current low interest rates and low housing prices have combined to offer a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to buy a home.
Dennis Torres, executive director of real estate operations at Pepperdine University, says, “People are going to talk about this as ‘I could have, I should have’ for decades,” he said. “If you’re confident that you’ll stay in the location for seven years and you’re confident of your income, don’t walk, run.”
Source: Business Week, Prashant Gopal (09/11/2009)
Is the Market Stabilizing? September 20, 2009
Posted by Brenda in Buying Real Estate, Cape Coral FL Real Estate, Real Estate, Real Estate - International, Real Estate Industry, Selling Real Estate, Southwest Florida Real Estate, cape coral homes.Tags: cape coral homes for sale, cape coral inventory, cape coral news, cape coral real estate, cape coral waterfront
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From the News-Press, September 20 2009
Cape Coral leads nation in housing recovery
With record-breaking home sales every month since March, the word is out that now is the time to buy and Cape Coral is the place to buy.
No where in the world will you find a tropical waterfront paradise like Cape Coral. Our waterfront living hasn’t been this affordable since the late 1990s.
The combination of water, sunshine and value has not gone unnoticed.
Every month since March, Cape Coral has been shattering home sale records. By July of this year, Cape Coral Realtors sold more homes than in all of 2008 – which in itself was a banner home sale year!
This momentum has been fueled by incredible home values (homes priced below replacement cost), record low mortgage interest rates and government incentives for first time home buyers. From July of 2008 to July of 2009, Cape Coral saw an 87 percent increase in single-family home sales.
Strong home sales are exactly what Cape Coral needs. Fortunately, these strong sales are outpacing the amount of new inventory brought on to the market.
With strong sales and decreasing levels of home inventory soon we will enjoy rising property values. In some instances, property values are already increasing due to extremely low levels of inventory in certain price points.
In January 2007 Cape Coral had 6,073 single-family homes on the market. Today, we have roughly 2,000 homes on the market -a drastic reduction in inventory.
For more than 12 months, Cape Coral has led the state of Florida in home sales. Reduced inventory levels plus strong demand are a clear sign that Cape Coral is leading the state and nation in recovery of its housing market. Housing is a critical component of our economy and this is an answered prayer for Cape Coral.
Check out Cape Coral from the water in this virtual Canal Cruise.
Search all Cape Coral MLS listings.
Marina Village On Schedule September 19, 2009
Posted by Brenda in Boating, Florida, Real Estate, Real Estate - International, Real Estate Industry, SW Florida Lifestyle, Southwest Florida Community Spotlights, Southwest Florida Real Estate, cape coral homes.Tags: cape coral resort, cape coral shopping, cape coral waterfront, tarpon point marina
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From the News-Press, September 19, 2009
Cape Coral Resort to Open November 1
Construction is nearing completion at The Resort at MarinaVillage at Tarpon Point Marina.
The $150-million dollar project is Cape Coral’s first waterfront resort. The Shops at MarinaVillage and the adjacent six-story parking garage are also almost complete.
MarinaVillage will be a commercial, residential and retail center within Tarpon Point Marina that will be open to the public. Pavilions situated along a waterfront promenade will offer boutiques and retail outlets, a day spa and fitness center. Restaurant plans include two casual restaurants, Marker 92 and the Nauti Mermaid. Both will feature marina views, a full bar and award-winning cuisine.
The Resort at MarinaVillage will be managed by Fort Myers Beach-based SunStream Hotels & Resorts. About 1,000 people came out to a job fair SunStream held at the resort on Thursday, and another fair was scheduled for Saturday. Sunstream was taking applications for more than 100 management and entry-level positions, ranging from sales and catering and food and beverage to guest services and housekeeping.
The resort at MarinaVillage features fully furnished, two- and three-bedroom residence-style rooms ranging in size from 1,235 to 2,195 square feet.
Resort guests will be able to use all the amenities of Tarpon Point Marina, plus concierge and spa services, room service, housekeeping and access to a resort-style pool, spa and deck.
A Testimonial for Cape Coral September 14, 2009
Posted by Brenda in Cape Coral FL Real Estate, Southwest Florida Real Estate, cape coral homes.add a comment
Recently, I asked one of our clients that purchased a Cape Coral waterfront home what they thought about living in Cape Coral - (prior to coming here to shop for homes, they had never heard of Cape Coral). Here’s there answer!
In Feb of 2008, my wife Deb and I were in West Palm Beach visiting friends. It was about 90° while it was 0° back home in Connecticut, and a severe snowstorm caused the Governor to “close” the entire state. Deb said “In whose mind is this right?” and declared we would be moving to Florida!! Our friends said we should pick the East coast because it is the “happening” side of the state, all the west coast had to offer was white sand beaches, beautiful sunsets and the Red Sox… Deb and I both raised our hands and said “That’s us!!”.
Deb picked Cape Coral because of it’s proximity to the Boston Red Sox’ Spring Training camp. Once she decided that’s where we were focusing, she searched on the internet for local real estate agents and found Brenda (she liked Sage Real Estate’s website the best, as it contained answers to all the questions we wanted to ask). In ONE WEEK, Brenda showed us about 50 waterfront houses and the very last one we looked at was the one we picked (it was the first one Brenda wanted us to look at). Brenda then got our bid and counter-bid in and accepted, got the house appraised and inspected, and got all the paperwork in motion before we left to return to CT. Through all of this hectic activity, the thing we did most was laugh. Brenda is no longer our real estate agent, but one of our dearest friends… oh, and her hubby Dave too!!!
Our neighbors down here are simply THE best….we were welcomed immediately with open arms and much friendship. There was none of that nervous feeling of being new to the neighborhood. We see other houses on the market and say “hmmm…that’s nice”, but then drive through our neighborhood and see our neighbors and we smile that we are living where we are. I would not trade this for any place!! We’re still living in CT, but are in contact with at least three or four of our Cape Coral neighbors daily (including Brenda), and cannot wait for the day when we move to the Cape full time.
As far as shopping, there are plenty of Target, Walgreens, Walmart, Home Depot, Lowe’s and grocery shopping in the area, in addition to tons of brand name outlets.
We’re still investigating places to eat, learning of new places all the time. There are a lot of restaurants in the area.
Cape Coral is close to Fort Myer’s Beach, Sanibel and Captiva Islands, it’s right on the Gulf of Mexico for boating and of course, close to the Minnesota Twins and Boston Red Sox Spring Training camps!!
To sum it up in one word, Cape Coral is “Paradise.”
Regards,
Marcus
P.S. Their beautiful Gulf Access waterfront home is available for vacation rental – click here to view the photos of the home. And click here to view renting details.
Thinking About Renting Your Southwest Florida Home? September 8, 2009
Posted by Brenda in Cape Coral FL Real Estate, Fort Myers FL Real Estate, Real Estate - International, Real Estate Industry, cape coral homes, fort myers homes.Tags: cape coral condos, cape coral homes, cape coral real estate, Cape Harbour, fort myers beach, fort myers homes, fort myers real estate, lee county real estate, southwest florida condos, Southwest Florida Real Estate, UK buyers in florida
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Buying Now While Prices are Low
Many of our clients are buying their second home or retirement home now to take advantage of the low prices. A typical question we get is “We are not planning to retire for some time and will be only able to be in Southwest Florida a few weeks of the year. So what options do we have for leasing out the property while we are not there?”
And so it’s common that many people buy with the intention of leasing the home or condo to cover some of the ownership expenses for a few years or for the duration of their ownership of the property. If you are planning to rent your home or condo for all or part of each year, it’s a good idea to know about leasing options before shopping as a way to determine which areas and property types will fit best within all of your objectives.
There are two ways to rent the property: seasonally to people vacationing in Southwest Florida or annually, to people who are (or will be) permanent residents. As a full-service team, the SageRealtor Group is able to assist you in both types of rental options and we can often get the property rented for you very quickly after your closing.
So let’s take a look at each type of rental option and which one is right for you.
Renting Seasonally
Putting your home or condo on a seasonal rental program is a good idea for those that want the flexibility for you, your family, and your friends or clients to enjoy the home part of the year, while renting the home when you are not able to be there.
Properties that work best for seasonal rental are those that will appeal to people planning a vacation – our area attracts tourists from all over the United States, Canada, and Europe (primarily the United Kingdom and Germany). The most popular vacation properties are waterfront homes and condos, golf course homes and condos, and single family homes with pools.
Amenities are a big draw as well. For example, condos in the Cape Harbour Yachting community are rented frequently to people vacationing in Cape Coral for a week, a month, or for an entire winter. Guests love the wonderful pool area, the on-location dining and shopping (including live outdoor concerts, farmers market, and other events), the marina and boat rental facilities, the on-site fitness center, basketball and tennis courts, walking paths, and the proximity to other area attractions.
Likewise single family pool homes on waterfront canals are a draw to people who want the water views out their backyard, option to rent a boat for fishing or cruising, and who like to BBQ by the pool.
Here are factors to consider when shopping for properties that will rent well seasonally.
Seasonal Rentals Must Be Fully Furnished
A home that will be rented to vacationers must be fully furnished and outfitted with everything a typical home has. This means complete furnishings indoors and out, decorations to make the home comfortable and inviting, all kitchen appliances, utensils, cookware, table service for eight, linens, towels, iron and ironing board, and don’t forget the all-important corkscrew and bottle-opener.
While shopping for property you will find some where the furnishings are included in the sale, most often a bonus in saving time and money. If you purchase an unfurnished property, plan to spend about $15,000 to fully outfit the home (or more depending on your taste and the size of the home).
More Tips
Other tips from our seasonal rental expert Beth Chatland, include:
- Internet Access is very important and broadband is ideal (DSL, cable). Most service providers allow you to turn on/off the service when the home is not occupied.
- A king size bed in the master bedroom is a must have.
- A heated pool is a plus feature.
- Be sure you have TVs in the living area or family room and also at least one additional TV in the master bedroom. A DVD player is also a plus.
Leasing Policy and/or Restrictions
Before buying a property that you intent to rent seasonally, work with your real estate agent to be sure you are looking only at properties that allow frequent rentals. For most single family homes, there will be no restrictions on how often you can rent the unit and you set your own policies. But in condominiums, the association typically has a leasing policy that influences how frequently and how many times per year you can lease the unit. Rental policies have two parts: maximum number of leases per year and minimum days lease.
So for example, a “4-90″ policy means 4 times per year or minimum 3 month lease. The 4-90 or similarly restrictive policies can limit the windows of opportunities for rental, so if revenue potential is important to you, these restrictive policies are ones to avoid.
Perhaps the most common rental policy is 12-30, meaning 12 times per year, minimum of 30 days. It is not difficult to find seasonal renters who stay for a month or more. (Bear in mind if you are looking in 55+ communities that there might be tenant restrictions based on age.)
Also available are condos with weekly or bi-weekly rental periods allowed. And finally, there are “condo-hotels” that allow nightly rentals. Condo-hotels typically have on-site rental management and are operated just like a hotel with respect to check-in/check-out, cleaning schedules, and so on. Most condos on Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel Island are operated as condo-hotels, as well as some condo towers in planned, gated communities such as the Resort at Tarpon Point Marina in Cape Coral (opening November 2009) and the Vista del Sol tower in Burnt Store Marina.
Property Management Services
Additionally, you will want full or partial property management services to help you with renting the property, checking tenants in and out, collecting rent, and similar services. Read more about property management services here.
Rates for Seasonal Rentals
Seasonal rental rates vary greatly by size, location, view, and amenities. As an example, one of our clients rents their Cape harbour Ccondo overlooking the marina for about $950 per week in high season. Another of our clients offers their single-family pool home on a saltwater canal for $1000 per week in high season. In both cases, discounts for longer term bookings (a month or more) are available.
Renting Annually (Long-Term Leasing)
Some of our clients buy property as an investment that they will either keep as an investment property (and sell at some point) or that they will move into in one or more years, but want to lease in the mean time. In this case, renting annually might make sense.
A key difference in annual rentals is that the home or condo does not need to be (in fact should not be) furnished. Most people seeking to rent for 6 months, a year, or longer bring their furnishings from their prior residence. So if you want to buy now and furnish later the annual leasing option is right for you. Another difference is your clientele will be local residents who are either looking for a move or people who are relocating to the area.
With respect to leasing policies, most homeowner and condominium associations will allow annual leases. There may be a requirement for the tenant to be approved by the association.
When leasing to long-term tenants, be sure your property manager conducts thorough background checks, collects a security deposit of at least one month’s rent, and checks in on the property regularly.
Finally, Lee County Looking For UK Direct Flights September 3, 2009
Posted by Brenda in Real Estate Industry.Tags: british buyers in florida, british direct flights to cape coral, UK buyers in cape coral, UK buyers in florida, UK direct flights to florida
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Finally, Lee County Florida is courting UK airlines for direct air service to SouthWest Florida International airport. Our friends and clients will be thrilled if the county and Port Authority are successful in getting UK-Fort Myers direct flights.
To express your support of the direct flights, contact the Lee County Port Authority and Lee County Commissioner, Ray Judah.
From the News Press – Sept 3 2009
BY LAURA RUANE
Local airport leaders are stepping up their courtship of the United Kingdom.
Late Sunday, Lee County Commission Chairman Ray Judah and two airport staffers returned from a trip to Dublin and London, where they paid visits to representatives from three airlines and several tour operators.
Of the estimated 275,000 UK residents who come each year to the Sunshine State, only about 11 percent arrive at Southwest Florida International, according to data from Visit Florida and the U.S. Department of Transportation.
“Obviously, most of these travelers are visiting the mouse first, and then driving over here,” Judah said, alluding to Disney theme parks in Orlando. “We want them to have a direct path to Southwest Florida International.”
The airport has no direct or nonstop flights to the United Kingdom, but has had scheduled service to Germany since 1994.
This has gained the region not only European tourists, but part-time residents who buy homes and support commerce here, Judah said. He thinks the area also is a sure bet for the Irish and the British, because of its affordable homes, “quality of life and ease of travel.”
In June, an estimated 8,270 guests from the United Kingdom stayed in paid lodgings in Lee County, according to research for Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau. That’s up 24.4 percent over June of 2008. UK guests comprised 4 percent of the county’s total lodging users in June, just one percent more than a year ago.
Direct or nonstop flights between the UK and Fort Myers “would be fantastic,” said Glyn Raven, who hails from Manchester, England, but who now lives in the Verandah community east of Fort Myers.
Raven flies to U.S. hub airports in Chicago, New York, Atlanta and Philadelphia for direct flights to his hometown. Unless the new service were to Manchester, he’s not sure he’d use it much.
It might make it easier to get his octogenarian parents here for visits, Raven said, adding airport leaders “are thinking more about getting people here from the UK.”
The three airlines the Lee County delegation visited were Aer Lingus, Ryanair and British Airways, Judah said. His travel companions were Carol Obermeier and Brian Solis of Lee County Port Authority aviation market development. In London, they teamed up with the county visitor bureau’s U.K.-based employee.
Airlines didn’t commit to new service, “but we have determined how we can get creative with airlines that have an open mind,” Judah said.
The Lee County Port Authority is picking up the tab for the nine-day trip. It cost about about $5,000 per person, including airfare, ground transportation, lodging and meals, said Victoria Moreland, airport spokeswoman. The airport authority derives its income from rents and fees charged tenants and a portion of concessionaire sales.
Obermeier and her staff travel frequently in the United States and abroad, working to entice new air service. It’s far less common for Judah, who estimated he’s made fewer than five international business trips during his 21 years as county commissioner.
“When you talk to an airline, it’s nice to have an elected government official along, especially someone with Ray’s experience,” said Obermeier, aviation market development director.
On Sept. 14, Judah and colleagues on the commission will vote on an amended air service incentives package that would broadly expand the potential for temporarily lifting landing fees for carriers offering new nonstop international flights to and from Fort Myers.
Property Buyers – Shopping FAQs July 30, 2009
Posted by Brenda in Buying Real Estate, Cape Coral FL Real Estate, Fort Myers FL Real Estate, Real Estate - International, Southwest Florida Real Estate.Tags: british buying florida real estate, buying cape coral property, buying fort myers property, canadians buying US property, real estate tips
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If you are starting to shop for a home, condo, or investment property, your timing could not be better. Our job is to help you find the ideal property, one that meets your objectives for location, price, features, cost of ownership, and similar requirements that you have. Here are a few FAQs that will help you get to know how we start working with buyers. If we have not answered your questions, please email or call us anytime.
#1 Which Listings Do You Show?
We show you any property on the market that you want to see. It does not matter if the property is offered by a different brokerage firm or a developer. Our responsibility to buyers is to scout out the best properties that match the requirements, period.
#2 When I Search Your Web Site, Which Listings Do I See?
Your search results will show all properties on the market that match your search criteria. Again, it does not matter which brokerage has the property listed. You might get some of our listings, but you’ll also get listings from brokerages all over SouthWest Florida. As in Question #1, we show you any property you want to see. We don’t show you properties you don’t want to see. We’re not going to “push” you towards our listings; we believe that’s an unethical way of working with buyers. If you have not yet, try the property search on our web site: search area listings in Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Punta Gorda, Naples, and surrounding areas. It’s a powerful search tool and you can save favorites, save listings, and more.
#3 So If I Like A House Listed by ACME Realty What Do I Do?
Let us know. We’ll get you more information on the property and schedule a showing appointment at your convenience.
#4 What if I Drive By a House Listed by ACME Realty?
Call us. We’ll get more information and schedule a showing for you. Often, it’s possible to schedule a showing within an hour and sometimes even less.
#5 Who Pays Your Commission?
The seller pays the sales commission. The seller is hiring the services of real estate professionals to find a willing and able buyer for the property.
#6 Why Is it Beneficial if You Search Properties For Me?
If you are not familiar with the neighborhoods, we save you a lot of time and frustration. Our expertise and experience on neighborhoods, pending assessments, construction details, association fees, and location, location, location is what we put to work for you. Instead of searching and searching only to find out that what appears on the surface to be a great house is not…. Let us do the leg work for you.
#7 How Do You Send Me Properties Online?
If you’d like us to scout out properties for you, there are a couple of ways we can get you listing details. We set up search criteria for you and then email links to the listings. And (or) we can also set up a “portal” for you that has great features, such as the ability to save or reject listings and save notes. In all cases, you browse the listings at your leisure. Our job is to point out which are the best of the bunch (price, location, features, etc.).
#8 Have More Questions?
Let us know. We respond quickly and there’s no obligation, really. We love what we do and consider it a pleasure to help buyers move in the right direction, whether now or months or years down the road.
Related Posts: Best Searches Online, UK Buyer Experiences, Buyer Closing Costs, CMA – What to Look For
See Also:
Cape Coral Second Safest City in 2008 July 29, 2009
Posted by Brenda in SW Florida Lifestyle, cape coral homes.Tags: cape coral crime rate, florida crime, fort myers crime rate, safest cities
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From the News-Press, May 6 2009
Cape Coral residents were generally safer in 2008 than in 2007, according to state statistics.
Major crimes – murder, rape, robbery, burglary, larceny and motor vehicle theft – declined by 9 percent in Cape Coral, according to statistics compiled by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Cape was second safest among Florida cities with a population of over 150,000, behind only Port St. Lucie. The city’s population was 164,523 in 2007 and 165,774 in 2008, according to FDLE.
These statistics reflect a similar drop in major crime countywide that has already been reported. Major crime in unincorporated Lee County dropped 7 percent and 3 percent in Fort Myers in 2008, according to FDLE statistics.
Cape Coral Police Chief Robert Petrovich said he was pleased with the statistics released Tuesday by his agency.
“Being able to effect a decrease in overall crime this past year is positive news for our residents and demonstrates our commitment to working together as a community,” Petrovich said.
The chief attributed the decrease to more proactive policing.
“We’ve studied statistics to determine crime trends and where crimes are occurring,” Petrovich said.
Then special patrols are often assigned to those neighborhoods, he said.
Scouting Report – June 23 2009 June 24, 2009
Posted by Brenda in Buying Real Estate, Cape Coral FL Real Estate, Real Estate, Real Estate - International, Real Estate Industry, SW Florida Lifestyle, Southwest Florida Community Spotlights, cape coral homes.1 comment so far
Cape Coral – Fort Myers Homes and Condos
A new feature for our blog will be Scouting Reports - notes and notables on properties that caught our eye while showing, previewing, or researching homes and condos. Click here to view listing details on the properties in this Cape Coral area scouting report. Here is a summary:
1 – Southwest Cape Coral Sailboat Access Waterfront Home – Unit 64 – Priced to Sell
With the recent price decrease on this nicely updated home, it’s now priced to move at the new asking price of $239,900. Move in ready, so there’s no work needed here. At some point, add a pool (25K- 35K) and a dock with lift (10K-20K) and you have a lovely waterfront home in one of the most prized areas of Cape Coral for about $290K.
2 – Southwest Cape Coral Sailboat Access Home
You can’t get much closer to the river than this home at this price of $359,000. Wonderfully updated and clean as a whistle. Dock plans have been drawn up for a 31′ boat. We thought the MLS photos did not do the home justice and we were pleasantly surprised when we walked in the door.
3 – Golf Course Pool Home
This is a well-priced pool home for the gated Cape Royal Country Club community. Golf membership is not required (you can pay as you play) and Homeowner’s Association dues are under $700 per year. (So you are not a fan of pink? We can hook you up with some local painters to take care of that.) UPDATE 6/24: Can we scout em or what? This home went pending shortly after we hit the press with our scouting report.
4 - Sailboat Access – Like New Pool Home
Curb appeal is just one of the things that caught our eye on this waterfront pool home in SW Cape Coral. Great floorplan and wonderful outdoor living space add to the appeal.
5 -Marina View Condo at Cape Harbour – Foreclosed
This new on the market bank owned REO property is a steal at $285,000. All other units in this premier building are far above that price. (Note that the photos in the MLS listing do not show the correct building in the Cape Harbour community – this unit is located on the Marina side.)
6 -Another Great Sailboat Acces Home Opportunity – Cape Coral’s Unit 3, Tarpon Point Neighborhood
If you are looking for a great home in a great location and you are looking for a project, this one fits the bill. The home has great bones and a nice open floorplan, and with a facelift it will be a beauty. We figure interior upgrades and adding a dock with lift will take about 75K.
How Can We Help You?
See something you like here or would you like us to do some scouting for you? Call 800-789-6618 or write anytime and we’ll get to work for you. Or contact your SageRealtor Group agent directly:
Rosa Deliso: email Rosa
Paul Dennis: email Paul
Beth Chatland: email Beth
Dave Sage: email Dave
Greg Roche’: email Greg
Brenda Boss email Brenda
Visit our web site www.SageRealtor.com for detailed area information, quick links to real estate listings in Southwest Florida, and a full-featured search engine for all MLS Listings in Southwest Florida.
Wondering About Chinese Drywall? June 24, 2009
Posted by Brenda in Buying Real Estate, Cape Coral FL Real Estate, Fort Myers FL Real Estate, Real Estate Industry, Southwest Florida Real Estate, cape coral homes, fort myers homes.Tags: chinese drywall
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About Chinese Drywall
Dyrwall imported from China when Florida was having building material shortages (the years 2004 to 2007 for the most part) may be defective and may pose health risks or cause property damage. The defective drywall reportedly emits levels of sulfur, methane, or other organic compounds that cause corrosion of copper wiring, electrical wiring, computer wiring or other household items as well as emit noxious odors.
In the Southwest Florida area (Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Bonita, and surrounding communities), it appears the imported drywall was used primarily in large, planned developments where builders bought the drywall in bulk during the boom building years. And in such developments, not necessarily all of the homes have the defective drywall (and perhaps only a few do), so it’s important to consider the issue on a case-by-case basis. There are some instances of single family homes outside of planned developments that have signs of the defective drywall.
If you suspect Chinese Drywall may be in your home, contact a local inspector to get a professional and safe inspection. For those shopping for a home, the chinese drywall inspection should be part of the professional inspection you hire to review all aspects of the home prior to closing (inspecting for Chinese drywall should not be an added fee but rather just part of the inspection process and report).
For a list of local inspectors that our clients have hired and been happy with, email us and we’ll get you their contact information.
Photos courtesy of Comprehensive Building Consultants.
Southwest Florida Real Estate Market – April 2009 Stats May 16, 2009
Posted by Brenda in Cape Coral FL Real Estate, Fort Myers FL Real Estate, Real Estate, Real Estate Industry, Southwest Florida Real Estate.add a comment
From the Great Fort Myers Area Association or Realtors, May 11, 2009 (Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Lehigh Acres, Sanibel, Fort Myers Beach, Bonita Springs)
Fort Myers, FL – April homes sales were up 105.5% year to year with 1,406 existing single-family homes sold, compared to 684 in April ’08. Pending sales improved 60.2% year to year, with 2,368 single-family homes pending versus 1,478 a year ago.
Of significance is the drop in the number of single family homes listed on the MLS (at the end of April, there were 8,665 active listings of existing single-family residential properties compared to 12,324 a year ago, a decline of 29.7%). The supply of single-family homes shrunk to 3.7 months, which is less than half of what it was a year ago, when the supply was 8.3 months.
REOs represented 65.9% of all single-family homes sold in Lee County. Interesting is that the many of these properties are selling for more than the list price. There appears to be two prevailing reasons for this: one, many of today’s buyers are qualifying for FHA and VA loans, allowing for closing cost assistance; and two, there is more competition for these homes as multiple offers are being submitted on these bank owned properties. As of the end of April, we have already exceeded sales for all of 2007.
“This is causing buyers to make their highest and best offer when they find the home they want” said Suzanne Sherer, Association President. “As listings shrink and sales prices move above the listing price, this indicates that our market is starting its recovery. This should be very welcome news to sellers out there. Priced right homes are selling quickly”.
Waterfront Condo in SW Cape Coral May 4, 2009
Posted by Brenda in Cape Coral FL Real Estate, Real Estate, Real Estate Industry, Southwest Florida Real Estate, cape coral homes.Tags: boating community, cape coral condo, cape coral gulf access, cape coral waterfront, Cape Harbour
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Beatuiful 3 bedroom, 2 bath condo in the heart of cape coral on a saltwater canal with quick access to open water and the Gulf of Mexico.
Plenty of spaces to dock your boat. One of Cape Corals most sought after locations, nestled perfectly between Cape Harbour and Tarpon Point Marina: enjoy all the dining, shopping, entertainment and more but without the heafty dues! Enjoy an evening refreshment on your lanai while watching a beautiful sunset over a magnificent water view. Over-sized master suite with access to the lanai looking over the water. What a splendid way to wake up each day! Enjoy the lovely pool surrounded with lush tropical foliage. You’ll feel you’re on vacation everyday in this tropical paradise.
For details contact Beth Chatland on the SageRealtor team, or View Details for 4634 SW 12th Pl #219 here.
Estero FL, 2878 SQFT – $199,000 May 4, 2009
Posted by Brenda in Buying Real Estate, Fort Myers FL Real Estate, Real Estate - International, Real Estate Industry, Southwest Florida Community Spotlights.Tags: Bonita area homes for sale, estero florida condo, estero florida homes for sale, the meadows of Estero
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Absolutely beautiful condo for just under $70 a square foot in Estero Florida.
Built in 2006, this 3 bedroom, 2 bath, 2 car garage condo is a champagne condo on a beer budget.
This condo is in the wonderful Meadows of Estero, a gated community in the heart of Estero. Better than new condition. Many Luxury Features: (1) Granite Countertops (2) Maple Cabinets (3) 18 Tile (4) New Carpet in LR and BR’s (5) Huge Screened Lanai overlooking nature preserve (6) Streetside Railed Balcony with French Doors (7) Tile Roof (8) Paver Driveway and Walkway (9) 2 Car Garage with storage (10) Separate Laundry Room with cabinets and utility sink (11) Tray Ceilings. Must see incredible Master Suite. Resort Style Pool, Fitness Center, Billiards Room. Perfect Central Location. Bonita Beach, Coconut Point Mall, Gulf Coast Mall, FCGU, and the Airport all just a few miles away.
For details in this listing, contact Paul Dennis on the SageRealtor team. View Details on this listing at 21546 Baccarat Ln #202 here.
Checking Out Cape Coral? May 1, 2009
Posted by Brenda in Boating, Factoids, Fun, and FAQs, Florida, SW Florida Lifestyle, cape coral homes.Tags: cape coral parks, cape coral things to do, Cape Harbour, jaycee park, rotary park, sunsplash park
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For those visiting Cape Coral Florida for the first time, here are a few of our favorite places to check out while you are touring the area.
Cape Harbour – Dining, Shopping, Marina.
View Cape Harbour information and location now.
Rotary Park – Nature Center, Trails, and Dog Park
Get Rotary Park Map Location
Yacht Club – Beach, Pavillion, Marina
Get Yacht Club Map Location
Jaycee Park, along the Caloosahatchee River
Get Jaycee Park map location.
Sunsplash Waterpark - Family Fun
Lee County Florida – A Great Place for Small Business March 31, 2009
Posted by Brenda in Florida, Real Estate, Real Estate - International, SW Florida Lifestyle.Tags: cape coral real estate, cape coral small business, fort myers real estate, fort myers small business, lee county real estate, lee county small business
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Bizjournals.com has ranked the Cape Coral-Fort Myers metropolitan area No. 20 in its list of best places in the United States to launch a small business.
Bizjournals used a six-part formula to analyze the nation’s 100 largest metropolitan areas, noting population growth between 2002 and 2007, employment growth from 2003 to 2008, small-business growth from 2005 to 2006 and small-business population. Bizjournals defines a small business as any private-sector employer with 99 or fewer employees.
Compared to other Florida metropolitan areas Cape Coral-Fort Myers scored behind No. 7 Orlando and No. 12 Miami-Fort Lauderdale, but ahead of No. 25 Jacksonville, No. 43 Palm Bay-Melbourne, No. 44 Bradenton-Sarasota, No. 51 Daytona Beach, No. 53 Tampa-St. Petersburg and No. 81 Lakeland.
The country’s top five rankings went to Raleigh, N.C.; Charlotte, N.C.; Seattle, Wash.; Austin, Texas; and Boise, Idaho.
Cape Coral, the largest city in Southwest Florida, also was ranked No. 1 by INC Magazine in its list of best mid-sized cities for doing business. The Cape Coral Economic Development Office assists existing businesses and recruits new ones, administers incentive programs and conducts global marketing for the city. Visit www.bizcapecoral.com or call 239-574-0444 or toll-free 866-573-3089.
Lee County Homes Prices- February 2009 March 25, 2009
Posted by Brenda in Buying Real Estate, Cape Coral FL Real Estate, Real Estate, Real Estate - International, Real Estate Industry, Southwest Florida Real Estate, cape coral homes, fort myers homes.Tags: cape coral real estate, cape coral real estate market, fort myers real estate, lee county real estate
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Prices for Lee County FL homes in February continued at below what they were a year ago, but the number sold was sharply higher, according to a report issued Monday by the Florida Association of Realtors.
In February there were approximately 97 percent more Lee County homes sold than a year earlier and Lee County sales are up 15 percent from January of 2009.
The median price of a single-family home sold with the assistance of a Realtor in February was $97,500, 54 percent less than the $211,600 it was a year earlier. But February’s price was 3 percent more than January’s $94,900.
While the inventory supply rose slightly to 6.0 months, it is still approximately half of what it was in February ‘08, when the supply of existing single family homes was 11.8 months.
A Word About Median Homes Prices: The Median is a mathematical result that indicates that one half of the group is higher and one half lower. Median price of 101 sold homes would be that price which is lower than 50 of the prices and also higher than 50 of them.
Consider the following example:
70
80
80
90
150
350
650
The median is 90. The average is 210. Additionally, statistics such as median and average do not account for location differences, such as offwater or waterfront, golf course location, beachfront views, or similar.
Cape Coral Canal Cruise February 12, 2009
Posted by Brenda in Boating, Cape Coral FL Real Estate, Real Estate - International, Real Estate Industry, SW Florida Lifestyle, cape coral homes.Tags: cape coral canal, cape coral canal homes, cape coral real estate, cape coral waterfront, Cape Harbour, direct access, gulf access, lee county, sailboat access, Southwest Florida Real Estate
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A few days before Christmas last year, Dave and I took our favorite canal cruise up to Longboards at Cape Harbour – a Cape Coral yachting community that also has restaurants and shops. It was a beautiful day with a temp of about 75 degrees.
Many people ask us what the waterfront living is like here, so on this trip I took photos along the way to create a “virtual tour” of our canal system in Southwest Cape Coral (also known as Unit 64). View this slide show to get a flavor of living the waterfront lifestyle in beautiful Cape Coral Florida.
Impressive Stats – Lee County Real Estate February 11, 2009
Posted by Brenda in Buying Real Estate, Cape Coral FL Real Estate, Fort Myers FL Real Estate, Real Estate, Real Estate - International, Real Estate Industry, Southwest Florida Real Estate, cape coral homes, fort myers homes.Tags: cape coral homes, cape coral market, cape coral real estate, fort myers homes, fort myers market, fort myers real estate, lee county real estate
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Along with record-breaking sales in December (a 146% increase over December of 2007), there are some other statistics on Lee County home sales that are showing that Lee county real estate market (Cape Coral – Fort Myers) is a hot commodity and the pace is picking up dramatically. Three month and year to date home sales charts are below. Inventory, which was a 21 month supply a year ago is now just a 4.2 month supply.
Three Month Activity
The above chart shows that over a six month period (Nov 13 2008 – Feb 12 2009) most propeties are selling in less than 90 days:
- 75% of the homes and condos on the market during this period sold with in 90 days.
- Of those, 44.7% homes and condos sold within 30 days.
Also in the above chart, the final ratio of the selling price to the asking price is narrowing, with properties that are selling within 30 days going just a few percentage points under the asking price.
Year-to-Date Activity
Since January 1 of 2009, total sales volume of homes and condos in Lee County is just under three hundred and fifty million. The exact figure is $342,075,785.00, with $209,000,000 in pending transactions and $133,000,000 sold.
During this period, the average days-on-market is 70. And we see the same pattern of the selling/asking price ratio – homes selling within 30 days are going just a few points under list price. These are impressive figures given that we are only 43 days into the 09 calendar year.
Translation for Buyers?
The most important take away from these figures is that sellers – whether they be foreclosures or individual owners – are pricing to sell. When the price gets to the right amount for that category and location of home, the property sells quickly, and sellers are no longer willing to wait 6 months to get the price into that sweet spot that will get it sold.
This also is clear evidence that the much anticipated buyers coming back to the market after years of pent up demand is now reality.
Source: Greater Fort Myers and the Beach Multiple Listing Service.
Postscript: This message was sent to all Greater Fort Myers and the Beach Realtor Association Members on Feb 13, 2009:
“Yesterday, our January housing stats were released to the media which included the good news that our current inventory levels are 4.2 months, down from 21.5 months a year ago. Unfortunately, this message was lost as the media outlets used a statistic not released by the Association, but attributed to us, focusing on the decline in the median single family home price vs. the height of the market.”
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