Jan 16
FlipKey™, the leading vacation rental website, has revealed the top 13 vacation rental destinations for 2013 based on FlipKey traveler demand to-date, and Florida tops the list. Cape Coral FL is seventh, with nearby Naples, Marco Island, and Siesta Key also on the list.
Here’s the entire list: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2013/1/prweb10285935.htm
“Sales of all homes in Southwest Florida priced $1 million to $2 million rose 13% for the 12 months ended in April, says the Naples Area Board of Realtors. Luxury homes and condos on or near the beach are the hot sellers in Naples, which at the high end is a second-home market.”
Read the full IBD Article here: Investors Business Daily, Luxury Home Buyers .
As Cape Coral – Fort Myers goes, so goes the real estate market? Southwest Florida, in particular the twin cities of Cape Coral and Fort Myers home markets, was the first to boom in the early 2000’s, the first to bust in the mid 2000’s and now in the twenty-teens the first to climb back into a recovering, healthy market. We’ve said it a thousand times and will say it again: all real estate is local. What is happening in Las Vegas, Seattle, or Destin is far different from the price points, inventory, and selling trends here in Southwest Florida.
Prices are still ridiculously cheap compared to the boom times the first part of this century, but there are no more declines and there are far fewer distressed properties on the market. Inventory is dramatically reduced, home builders are buying up land and building again, and the commercial market in Cape Coral is seeing gains as well. All of this is leading to incremental price increases indicative of a healthy, growing market (but not booming, thankfully) that is win-win for both buyer and seller.
This graph that we posted in 2006 has born true: at the time, we could not predict when the rational growth would emerge, but now it’s crystal clear that we are in that rational growth phase.
Here are the best, and worst, performing cities as reported by the AP and Trulia. Six out of the top ten are in Florida and none of the bottom ten are in Florida:
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Nationally syndicated writer Scott Burns writes in the Austin Statesman about his newly found love – Cape Coral Florida’s real estate opportunity in his article “Cape Coral and the Recovery of Dreams.”
Today, after an improbable development, Cape Coral is every person’s dream of Florida, retirement and the good life — sunshine, water, fishing, 400 miles of canals and more sunshine. Not to mention golf.
And much of it is at a price people who actually work for a living can afford. …with the notable exception of cities like Detroit, you could sell your home almost anywhere in the country, move to Cape Coral and pocket some money.
His article also highlights the popularity of Cape Coral for international real estate buyers:
According to the Lee County Visitors Bureau, nearly half a million international visitors came to the area in 2010, with more expected when the count is done for 2011. Many come from such places as Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
They come to vacation — and they come to buy with ready cash.
… more than 80 percent of foreign investors paid cash for their Cape Coral property. It isn’t difficult to understand. If you’ve ever been to Hamburg or Berlin during the winter, you know why the grass is so much greener in Florida that they will come here and pay cash.
We agree with just about everything in Mr. Burns’ article but we take a bit of an exception to the “sacrifices” he notes. We respond:
This is just one of many articles recent extolling the recovery of Cape Coral’s real estate market and the Southwest Florida market and lifestyle. See related news: TripAdvisor, Frommers, Yahoo Real Estate, Bankrate, and CNN Money (to name just a few).
Want to learn more about Cape Coral real estate? Visit these links for in-depth information:
And check out these waterfront resort communities with condos and single family homes for sale in the Southwest Cape Coral area.
Yahoo Real Estate posted the top five cities with rising prices today. “Sales in this appealing area, with its 400 miles of waterways and access to the Gulf of Mexico beaches, islands and fishing grounds, are steady (and traditionally rise with the arrival of winter snowbirds).”
Learn about Cape Coral and view Cape Coral Real Estate Listings here.
View the entire Yahoo / Kiplinger article here.
Sandoval was the first master-planned, gated community in Cape Coral and has remained one of the top-selling communities in Southwest Florida since its introduction, with 120 new home sales in 2011 alone. There are 577 homesites remaining, or about a third of the overall total for the 524-acre community.
Resales of Sandoval existing homes and townhomes are also brisk. View MLS details on current Sandoval Listings here.
Steve Kempton, president of Taylor Morrison West Florida, said the homebuilder expects the brisk sales pace at Sandoval to continue. “Sandoval consistently accounts for about 50 percent of all building permits in the city of Cape Coral,” Kempton said. “Even as other areas slowed, Sandoval continued offering a price point and value that are enhanced by the amenities in the community. Families can’t find this package anywhere else.”
Cape Coral and Fort Myers were highlighted in two national studies – one from Realtor.com and one from Trulia – both suggest that our marked is in rebound if not already past that point.
Realtor.com’s placed Cape Coral and Fort Myers third in their list, citing:.
Fort Myers – Cape Coral: Median prices in Fort Myers-Cape Coral have increased year-over-year, foreclosures are down, inventory is lower and foreign buyers are attracted to the area’s real estate prices.
Trulia placed Cape Coral real estate and Fort Myers real estate as fifth in its list of the most searched listings.
From Florida Association of Realtors, Realtor.com, and Trulia.com.
10 Cities Where List Prices Are Rising the Most
Daily Real Estate News |
Which cities are seeing median list prices increase the most? Nationally, median list prices have risen 1.60 percent to $190,000, according to year-over-year listing data from September 2011 by Realtor.com, based on 146 markets.
Yet, in some cities, median list prices in that time frame have risen more than 20 percent. Florida cities, in particular, are continuing to see some of the largest rebounds in list prices.
Here are the 10 cities that have seen the largest percentage increases in median list prices based on year-over-year data from September:
1. Fort Myers-Cape Coral, Fla.
Year-over-year median list price increase: 34.46%
Median list price: $215,000
2. Miami, Fla.
Year-over-year median list price increase: 25.63%
Median list price: $250,000 Read more
From the News-Press, October 22 2011
Home prices spiked up 17 percent in Lee County in September compared to a year earlier, even as the flood of distressed sales ebbed.
The median price of an existing single-family home sold in Lee County in September jumped to $110,600, according to statistics released Thursday by Florida Realtors.
There were 1,127 single-family homes sold in September, up 2 percent from 1,102 a year earlier, said the group’s report, which counts sales completed with the assistance of a Realtor.
The Naples Area Board of Realtors provides its data to the Florida Realtors, but doesn’t allow them to be publicly available. A separate release issued by the board said the median price in September was $169,000, up from $161,000 a year earlier. There were 491 sales in September, compared to 513 in September 2010.
In another report also released Thursday by the National Association of Realtors, the number of Americans who bought previously occupied homes fell in September. Home sales are on pace to match last year’s dismal figures — the worst in 13 years.
Traditional sales “are picking up the slack,” he said. “Our market has almost flip-flopped” since 2008 when 70 percent of sales were distressed. Now only 20 percent are — 13 percent short sales and 7 percent sales by banks that took a property back in foreclosure.
The inventory of unsold homes has also contributed to a stronger market, Grimes said: only 800 houses are available for sale now, down from 4,200 three years ago.
Real estate agent Cheryl Turner of John R. Wood Realtors in Naples said the stronger prices there are due to an increased confidence by would-be retirees that the worst is over for the national economy and the local real estate market.
“What I’m seeing is people in their 50s, but thinking when they’re ready to retire the markets going to have recovered,” she said. “They’re still in a position to pay for it while the market is down. They can get a foot in the door before the market recovers.”
The national association said that home sales fell 3 percent last month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.91 million homes. That’s below the 6 million that economists say is consistent with a healthy housing market.
— The Associated Press contributed to this report.
In the News-Press Thursday June 29. 2011.
Bob and his family from Toronto are now the proud owners of this waterfront condo in Southwest Cape Coral FL. Closing on their vacation condo was a couple of days ago and they are here enjoying dips in the pool, the views and sunsets.
Apr 1
As we have experienced first hand, Cape Coral Homes are Selling. This is especially true of high-demand properties, most particularly waterfront homes and condos. Where inventory is low and where there is high-demand (such as Cape Harbour and Southwest Cape Coral Gulf Access homes), the tides are turning. Sellers that have priced to the market can get their asking price.
Jim and Julie of Michigan will someday retire to Cape Coral FL in this beautiful Gulf Access Pool Home. And, we welcome them as our new neighbors! We Congratule the sellers, Bob and Pat, and the buyers on this win-win for all. We will terribly miss Bob and Pat as our neighbors, but they will still be “in the hood” in a marina community nearby, so we will survive.
Coming soon, Jim and Julie will be offering this vacation home for seasonal rental. More details on that later!
Congratulations to Tim and Chris of Ohio in their purchase of this vacatioon home! Beautiful lake view home in the gated community of Sandoval in Cape Coral.
Jan 21
Bucking national trends, Lee County Florida homes are selling and prices are holding steady and in some cases, increasing in high-demand neighborhoods.
Search Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Bonita, Fort Myers Beach, and Sanibel homes and condos here.
Royal Palms grace this wonderful pool home on a freshwater canal in Southeast Cape Coral in a lovely, quiet neighborhood of contemporary well-kept homes.
You will appreciate the canal views, wildlife, and serenity here with 120′ of water frontage (the home is on an oversized hammerhead lot at the end of a cul-de-sac).
Gorgeous kitchen with solid surface counters, wood cabinets, and breakfast bar. Split bedroom floor plan with eat-in kitchen and formal dining, living and great room, cathedral ceilings, recessed lighting, and 18” tile in wet areas.
Master bath has dual sinks, vanity, separate shower and lush soaking tub – neutral contemporary tile in both the master and guest bath.
Large pool and enclosed under-truss lanai.
Three bed, two bath, two car attached garage. Concrete block construction with stucco siding. Concrete below ground pool with screen enclosure.
Built in 2003, this home has hurricane shutters, alarm system, is move-in ready, and assessments are paid too!
Not a short sale or foreclosure – lovingly maintained.
For more information email Brenda or Dave or call 800-789-6618.
Spectacular Views on this Direct Access (no bridges) residential waterfront building site in Cape Coral FL.
Build your Dream Home here! Orchid Blvd is a beautiful palm-lined street in Southeast Cape Coral.
Seawall, concrete dock… city utilities and on bike path too! Just minutes to the river. Extra wide canal makes this home site ideal for your yacht.
Contact Brenda or Dave for details. View listing data here.
Hearty contragulations to Jim and Barb on the closing of their Waterfront Estate home in Cape Coral FL. Stunning! They will have it available for seasonal rental soon and we’ll post an update.
This is no surprise to us! In this July 2010 study by US News and World Report, Fort Myers – Cape Coral ranked 3rd and Punta Gorda (just north of Cape Coral) ranked 7th.
1. Bend, Ore.
2. Napa, Calif.
3. Fort Myers, Fla.
4. Fayetteville, Ark.
5. Las Vegas
6. Sante Fe, N.M.
7. Punta Gorda, Fla.
To determine where the prices are most attractive, U.S. News & World Report examined price-to-income data for 384 metropolitan statistical areas. This expresses the relationship between owner income and home values.
U.S. News & World Report, Luke Mullins (07/08/2010)
Southwest Florida News from SageRealtor Group 
