Ok, Season is officially over here in sunny southwest florida, the buyers for resort property are not in town anymore. I have found the secret to enjoying the beach on a shoestring and my clients enjoy my expertise.  I have been here a long time and started my 1st SW florida job working on Ft. Myers Beach. I came down for Christmas to visit family in 1977,  I was boating out in the Gulf of Mexico on Christmas Eve and swimming in a pool Christmas day.  I fell in love with southwest florida. I am happy to reveal that shoveling driveways and long cold winter days held little interest for me. While I was on vacation that Christmas, a Blizzard had hit Long Island and snow bound the greater New England area.  I never went back! After years of living here and enjoying the beautiful resort life... 07/04/2008

It's an old custom, naming one's home, not often practiced these days. Of course, these homes were most often grand houses with sprawling grounds, such as "Tara" from Gone with the Wind. Here on Fort Myers Beach, the practice continues.  From "Bobby's Place," a funky cottage on the Beach to "Island Refuge," a small green stucco home tucked away on a side street, you will find homes that have names.  Not mansions, for the most part, just your everyday island cottages. My husband and I had talked about naming our beach cottage for years, but we just couldn't come up with quite the right name.  Then, cruel fate stepped in.  We lost our beloved pooch of over eight years to cancer.  A few weeks after our Red left us, I realized that that only would her spirt be with me forever, but her spiri... 07/03/2008

Each one has a story. From the depth of the Gulf Of Mexico                           to its shore line to where I found them some 500 feet from it, they have come a long way. There are over 400 spices of shells along the Gulf Of Mexico and its is a treasure one has to respect. Live shelling is banned so make sure no animals or mullusks has just purchased a shell from one of his or her Real estate buddies. It is their home! They may be the more common scallop clams, or the more sophisticated tulips, Olive. Neptune is generous.       Otherwise Fort Myers Beach shelling is highly encouraged along with Naples beaches. Bonita Springs and Sanibel Island. Happy Treasure Hunting!     LLoyd NicholsRight Choice Realty LLC6360 Presidential Court, Suite 4Fort Myers, FL 33919cell: 239-810-2980Fax: 2... 07/01/2008

    For over a decade, Fort Myers Beach Laguna Shores property owners have been trying to fix a major problem, a sand bar. It has been more and more of a struggle for boaters to navigate from Bucanneer  along  the South of Estero Bayto San Carlos Pass. Only small boats could reach the Back Bay or Estero Bay and the larger boats could only navigate around that bar during high tide and at high rick of being stranded.                              One of the major reasons people purchased these highly coveted properties was their access to the Gulf of Mexico.  The city and the Laguna Shores owners have been butting heads all these years with no solution in sight as to who would pay for the dredging.                           I am glad to say that with a "remodeled" Fort Myers Beach Town Cou... 07/01/2008

Many people would like to invest in real estate, but can't take on two separate mortgages.  Many people who don't have a retirement fund would like to own a rental and have that rental income, but can't take on another mortgage.  For these folks, buying a duplex or a home with a separate apartment may be the best possibility.  It's the best of two worlds, one mortgage and rental income, also.  Below is a home located on the north end of Fort Myers Beach.  There is a separate 1/1 apartment in the home with patio that may be rented out, either seasonally or annually, depending upon the needs of the owner.  The main home is a 3/2.  The total square fortage is 1590. The Listing Price is $329,000. LLoyd Nichols Realtorlloydn@aol.comRight Choice Realty LLCcell: 239-810-2980Fax: 239-463-4826ho... 06/29/2008

Mostly, Frasier.  The television show from the 90's.  Here on Fort Myers Beach, the show is on Channel 41 from 12:00 midnight to 1:00 AM.  Two Episodes.  Both my wife and I find the show hysterical.  It's great to relax with after a busy day.  Sometimes, thoughts of a rough, fragile world also keep me up at night, but then, the world has always been rough and fragile.  In any event, midnight is the not the time to think of these thoughts.  Rather, it is the time for sleep, or if not sleep, then Frasier.   LLoyd NicholsRight Choice Realty LLCRealtorlloydn@aol.comcell: 239-810-2980Fax: 239-463-4826home office: 239-463-5217Active Rain Blog: http://activerain.com/lloydn Website: http://www.mlsouthwestfloridahomes.comWebsite Blog: http://ftmyershomesandgardens.blogspot.com/ 06/24/2008

Looking for a great experience for the young ones in the family ?   Grab your fishing pole and join in on the fun on Saturday June 28, 2008 for the annual " Kids Fishing Tournament " .  The annual event is held at Bonita Bill's Waterfront Cafe located at 702 Fishermans Wharf on San Carlos Island.  Registration starts at 8:30 AM and the angling runs from 9 AM  -  until NOON.  Prizes are awarded for biggest fish, smallest fish, ugliest fias, etc.  No pole ?  Not a problem, everything you need is provided including hot dogs and refreshments.  C'mon, lets go fishin ! 06/24/2008

No question, we are living the good life in in Southwest Florida.  I can't even imagine going back up north and living most the year indoors because of cold weather.    Below is the best deal for a single family home with gulf frontage on Fort Myers Beach. Third house from the Gulf with view of Gulf.  A beach cottage. It's just been reduced by $50,000.00.  The asking price is $599,000.  The home is located on the desirable North End of Fort Myers Beach.  832 square foot/2 bedrooms and 2 baths.   06/22/2008

You never know who you will see walking down the streets of Fort Myers Beach these days.  A movie star, the news team from Wink News taking their lunch break on the Island or a one of mother Nature's finest creatures. For a couple desiring to walk along the street of Fort Myers Beach and are thinking of visiting later on this year or in 2009, I have a romantic rental available, a very private studio cottage.  Full kitchen, glimpes of the Back Bay from the Deck, gorgeous tropical garden and located in a quiet neighborhood, but within walking distance to the not so quiet Times Square area and the Beach. View from the Cottage   So, who is walking aroudn Fort Myers Beach these days, anyway?   Karen Nichols/One Stop Rental Management KarenENichols@aol.com   06/19/2008

Welcome to Fort Myers Beach! This island located along the Gulf Of Mexico some 26 miles north of Naples,  6 miles to the city limits of Fort Myers Beach also borders Bonita Springs in the South, is a special tropical island. You may want to frolic along its 7 miles of white sand beach, party along its numerous restaurants downtown or along Estero Blvd, play Golf or tennis, do some major boating or wander about along its Back Bay towards Sanibel or cape Coral, Fort Myers Beach has a lot to offer.                                                 Its just a fun place to be at. For investors or these buyers who are looking for that deal along the Golf Of Mexico, Fort Myers Beach is certainly the choice of many. below I put together a list of properties under $350,000. Each one of them has th... 06/18/2008

Now is a good time to purchase a home or invest in a property on Fort Myers Beach, but it is the best now?  No. The best time would have been way back when, in the 1970's or even the 1990's.  I have clients calling me inquiring into short sales on the Island.  Are there any short sales on Fort Myers Beach.  There are, not a significant amount percentage wise, but a few.  19, to be exact.  The lowest is listed at $229,00.  In fact, there are two condos listed at $229,000, both short sales.  On of these has almost 1000 square feet, located at the Marina Towers & Yacht Club, but it is a 1/1.  The other contains only a little above 600 square feet.   There is an interesting condo listed for $459,000, short sale, with Gulf of Mexico frontage and a wrap around balcony to enjoy.  The Condo is ... 06/11/2008

The gas prices need not matter greatly on Fort Myers Beach . . . . as long as you don't need to leave the Island, that is.  Living on a seven mile island, a bike will do or just the legs, to get around.  Then, there's always the trolley that travels thorugh the entire island all day long into the evening hours.  You can rise in the morning and take that bike or walk or trolley to the Hevenly Biscuit for breakfast, to enjoy one of Heather's famous biscuit sandwiches on the patio, read the Island Sand Paper or talk with the locals that often gather at that establishment to hear the latest goings on  .. . on this small Island.  Don't leave without tasting one of the the homemade cinnamon buns.  The icing is sensational and you can ask for extra icing. You can lose the calories contained in... 06/11/2008

. . . . . a garden in all seasons, trees full with leaves and blooms all year round.  My wife is into gardening.  I take care of the landscaping, which is no easy task, especially in summer.  If the lawn is not mowed at least once a week and the bushes trimmed regularly, we will soon be living in a jungle. For those relocating to the area or to those just taking up gardening, I would strongly suggest that you stick to indiginous plants.  Northern flowers for the most part won't make it here.  And, roses are extremely difficult to maintain in this climate.  I watched a neighbor tend to her roses like slave.  In the end, she gave up.  Many Indiginous plants or species native to tropical climates will also bloom most of the year.  We reside on Fort Myers Beach and our soil tends to be salt... 06/09/2008

Foodies and beach goers  this is for you !  The Fort Myers Beach Town Council and the Chamber of Commerce will present the annual celebration of great eating to benefit the Fourth of July fireworks fund, Bay Oakes Recreation Center and the Fort Myers Beach chapter of the American Business Women's Association. Local eateries will compete for your votes with amazing dishes while local wait -staffs also compete in a series of fun challenges designed to test their athletic skills.  The fun starts Sunday, June 8, 2008 from 11 a.m.  until 5 p.m. just past the Times Square area.  Good eats, terrific music and fun for all.   06/05/2008

Bowditch Point Regional Park beach sits at the northern end of Estero Island just above Ft Myers Beach in Ft Myers, Florida. Just keep driving and you can't miss it!                 It is a peaceful 17 acres of beach park and preserve that sits with the bay on one side and the wide sugar white beach on the other. This offers a wide variety of sights to explore. Fishing and swimming and boating ....lots of wading birds and native vegetation in a natural state.  This is a great place to come for the sunset, even on a "slightly cloudy" day. It's always beautiful in Southwest Florida. There are:picnic tables, grills, big clean restrooms and changing rooms. Outside showers to rinse off. A boardwalk to the beach with handicap access. There is even an adorable privately owned grill called "Fli... 05/18/2008

This weekend was the annual charity golf tournament for Fort Myers Beach Elementary. It was great fun and we keep getting a better turnout every year! There was even a special appearance from "The Village People" (not the real village people of course). We all sat down at Loggerheads for lunch, awards, and raffle afterward. The weather was perfect and I'm sure everyone is looking forward to next year's tournament. Kudos to the organizers for what is sure to be headlining event year after year getting local businesses to pull together for the greater good of our close knit community. www.paulsakornsin.com  05/05/2008

 This chart shows the actual statistics for home/condo sales on Fort Myers Beach, Florida for the years 1999 thru the first quarter of 2008. All sales figures are taken from the Greater Fort Myers and the Beach Multiple Listing Serivce.  This is the official data collec tion and reporting service for Southwest Florida. For most readers the critical data are contained in the 2007 & YTD 2008.  Those datasets show the dramatic turnaround  in the local market !   Look at the " Selling Volume of Properties Sold " and " Number of Sales " for the year ended 2007 and compare those numbers to the first quarter of 2008 !   Clearly, the pricing corrections which dominated the market for 20 months created a vacuum in the market and finally that vacuum is starting to be filled by savvy buyers coming... 04/25/2008

Fort Myers Beach " Shrimp Boil ", Sat  April 19  , 2008  Fort Myers Beach Saturday  April  19, 2008 St. Raphael's Episcopal Church, located on 5601 Williams Dr on Fort Myers Beach is having their delicious Shrimp Boil Saturday March 29, 2008 from 5-7 PM.  The dinners feature wild caught Gulf shrimp. cole slaw, corn bread, baked beans, coffee, beer, wine and ice cream for desert.  If you like shrimp, the real kind direct from the Gulf of Mexico, you owe it to yourself, family and friends to try this eating experience.  Cost is $15.00 and payable at the door.  Dress is casual.  Just bring your appetite and a smile !       04/19/2008

        Florida Home Buyers, Sellers, lenders and Real Estate Professionals are curious to know: who is the best on line web site "appraiser".How accurate are they? How friendly is the site? If buyers wantto purchase a home in Lee County, can they rely on Zillow?      First http://zillow.com/ which comparable comes in Hybrid, Aerial and Street maps style has come a long way. Well, they had a long way to go.They used to stink.Provided by  http://globexplorer.com/ and a list of interesting search buttons the format is pleasant. The plus : for professionals or sellers you may adjust the price for upgrades and the likes. 219 Fairweather Ln Fort Myers Beach FL 33931 3 beds, 2.0 baths, 1,568 sq ft                                                                                                 ... 04/02/2008

      Sometimes we have to stop and smell the roses or in this case: take a look at thee majestic birds flying over the Gulf Of Mexico. It easy to take it for granted. We moved from MA to Key West In 1990 and all I have to do is smile and look towards the sky. I do know why so many want to visit or relocate. You may just take a stroll or power walk, swim or even harder jog Fort Myers Beach and all over sudden it hits you.This place is glorious. No words are needed.    The flight is perfect as the wings widen and effortlessly glides along the shore line. He is fishing. That is his job. He is feeding himself and his family.Or maybe its the mother.The law of nature is brutal and mesmerizing.It is the cycle of life.                                          Seagulls, brown pelicans, egrets, ... 03/31/2008