Joe Kendall, Realtor with Sandals Realty writes: Now that summer is almost over, I have been so busy the last few weeks I have just returned from Michigan where I helped my Daughter get moved into her dorm room at CMU  (Central Michigan University ) after doing this, you sure do not feel any younger ! I really got the feeling that summer is over and we soon will be into "Season" in Southwest Florida.  I am excited to launch my new real estate web site focusing in the southwest Florida area's of Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Bonita Springs, Fort Myers Beach, Estero, Pine Island and Sanibel Island.                                                                                                                    Joe Kendall, Realtor Listed below are a few pictures and an example of one of over... 08/30/2008

    Real Estate briefs: Jack Parker Costa Rica development welcomes shops The Jack Parker Corp., a real estate development company with Florida headquarters in Fort Myers, has added an Auto Mercado Center at Pacifico, the developer's 175-acre, mixed-use residential property in Playas del Coco, Guancaste, Costa Rica.Pacifico residents now have access to the country's premier grocer and other retailers and service providers. Commercial Real Estate Listings Show: All For Sale For Lease      Stephen A. Cunningham; MAI, CCIM   Principal Managing Director   Email: scunningham@landqwestcommercial.com Office Phone: 239-275-4922 ext. 225 Fax: 239-275-4699 Mobile Phone: 239-910-4085   Professional Affiliations/Community Activities: MAI Member of The Appraisal Institute, CCIM Designee of the CCIM ... 08/29/2008

  Joe Kendall, Realtor with Sandals Realty a Waterfront and Foreclosure Specialist  Phone 239-560-0726 email Joek4realestate@aol.com writes, I just wanted to share with my readers a great development in South Fort Myers I showed property the other day, I just happen to have my camera in the truck and shot a couple pictures to share with my readers. This Fort Myers Florida development is called Timber Lakes at Three Oaks. I was surprised how many homes there where located in this development and several with a lake View. There was a very nice community pool with a area with play ground equipment. There are 11 homes currently listed for sale with many under the Bank Short Sale, Pre-Foreclosure Process.  Example is 3 bed 2 bath 16611 sq. ft. home for asking $180,000 up to a 2 story 4 Bedro... 08/27/2008

If you are buying a home or refinancing, please read this before choosing a loan officer/mortgage lender.    FHA loans and FHA mortgages - Well, it's the same thing when it comes to any type of mortgage, may it be FHA loans, conventional loans, VA loans, etc etc. You just can't push a button, thinking that even if the outcome says yes, approved/eligible, that it's a done deal. As many of you know, I write a lot of blogs on FHA loans. I am not here to pass judgment on which loan is the best. But I do want to give you my opinion on what you should be aware of when shopping for a mortgage, a loan officer, or that lending partner that will help your clients when it comes to buying a new home.       In the last several years, I have had several loan officers argue with me, that overall, con... 08/23/2008

On August 19th 2008 The New Metropolitan Restaurant in Fort Myersis opening under new ownership and this one will be interesting to take a look at.This Opening is dear to me as the new owners: Chris and Ray have been my clients and friends for some time now and will take possession of the restaurant on Monday the 18th. They are from Belgium and in order to get a E-2 Visa they had to purchase a business. We looked at quite a few potential restaurants before coming across on this beauty. Chris immediately wanted to buy it. The restaurant has been in business for quite a few years but it will have a brand new flavor. Come and take a look if only to get a cold one or try some of their great food.Running a restaurant is not a walk in the park and we need all the help we can get! Hopefully Fa... 08/16/2008

Last week I ordered a full inspection on a property in Fort Myers. Most often then not and specially on a financed home, the lender will require an inspection. Whilecalling a reputable company who can do a general inspection, termite, radon and mold all in one stop, I was told by that company that because the home is only 2 years old it will "probably" not need a mold inspection and advised me that my clients are better off just if the inspectors just do a visual mold inspection and only take a few samples only if its "warranted"!                                      They will save $300.I was told. "We have certain levels of mold any way, anywhere in Florida". Well I don't understand why they are so reticent to do a full mold inspection and send the samples to the lab? My job is to pro... 08/14/2008

I was driving around town recently noticing what a nice place Southwest Florida has become post real estate boom.   When I was a kid, I was lucky to have my parents bring my family to Sanibel for 2 weeks every Christmas.  I have been a full time resident for over 15 years.   I know I am not a Cracker, but I have seen this area go up and down.   I travel frequently with my job, so I see different parts of the country.   As I look around, I think SWFL has never been better and it is a hidden jewel.  I believe bad press and the lack of constraint by local government have caused a current inventory surplus.  I like reading the newspaper here, but the News-Press has to help our economy.  As I see other parts of the country, no one can match some of the benefits we have.  The benefits include... 08/08/2008

I recently rented a house that is on the market as a "short sale."  I was amazed at the responses I received.  The house could be sold at any time; yet, there were many people who wished to rent it.  The houyse is a 3/2 with a pool in the San Carlos area of Fort Myers.  I guess that the thinking of some people was that they would have a pretty pool home through the summer months at a good price ($900.00 per month).  This is certainly the case, but the thought of moving twice within a relatively short period would certainly not be on my wish list. 08/07/2008

Volume 6 Number 10                                           April 14, 2008   I Just Got Here...What Happened?    I think my father was a Henny Youngman understudy. By the time Dad was in his nineties, we weren't laughing at the jokes he was telling as much as we were laughing at how funny the jokes were when he first told them twenty years ago, and the fact that he was still telling them.   "A guy fell off the roof of a building and lands on the sidewalk after falling through an awning and hitting a fruit stand display and spewing apples and oranges all over the sidewalk.. A cop walks up to him and asks, "What happened?"    "I don't know," came the reply, "I just got here myself."   I remembered this story Dad told when I was touring some properties with one of our buyers from New Yor... 08/06/2008

                                                  The real estate market is always changing as we know it today, The same can be said for the Mortgage Industry as well as the Banks and Mortgage Companies thoughts on Banks Short Sales. I remember the middle of last year it was a challange to get the banks attention on a short sale, yet alone get an answer on a contract. You would make several calls to there lost mitigation department, send contracts more then twice over the fax machine before the bank would say knowledge they had all the information. Then you played phone tag for days before you could talk to the right person regarding the file on the property. Yesterday,I recieved a call from a Mortgage Company Loss mitigation Department, they asked?  Do you have a contract on named pro... 08/06/2008

These are the numbers for Fort Myers  and the beach from our MLS Fort Myers   Single family homes 112 sold in June 107 in July 171 pending 79 active contingent short sale 1900 still on the market  Condo's 92 sold in June 78 sold in July 85 pending 43 active contingent short sale 2233 still on the market (ouch)  Ft Myers Beach  Single family homes 12 sold in June 6 sold in July 7 pending Active contingent short sale 5 168 still on the market  Condo's 9 pending 12 sold in June 6 sold in July 431 still on the market 08/05/2008

Streetscaping Continues in Downtown Fort Myers More than 60,000 old bricks were cleaned and reused to pave this portion of First and Hendry streets. New royal palms, brick accented sidewalks and street lighting reminiscent of early Fort Myers complete the “new” look for two roads. During the Fort Myers’ downtown utility and streetscape improvements project, roads are opening and closing frequently because of utility replacement work. During this construction project, existing water, sewer and storm drain systems are being replaced throughout downtown while the streets are getting their own makeover.   Commercial Real Estate Listings Show: All For Sale For Lease Stephen A. Cunningham; MAI, CCIM Managing Director Email: scunningham@landqwestcommercial.com Office Phone: 239-275-4922 ext. ... 08/02/2008

This is a nice home, 3 bedrooms/2 baths.  2 Car Garage. Patio and Screened Pool.  Large Master Bedroom.    It's located on Narcissus Road, in the San Carlos Park area of Fort Myers.  This is a short sale, but there is good communication with the Lender.  The Listing Price is $144,900.  Built in 1995.  The San Carlos area is convenient to both Fort Myers and Bonita Springs, 75, Gulfcoast University.  For more information please contact me. Lloyd Nichols Realtorlloydn@aol.com 239-810-2980 07/31/2008

I have written about this before, but felt led to talk about it again. How are you dealing with the current conditions? Did you know that the industry with the highest mortality rate in our country since January 2007 was real estate related? Did you know that the second highest divorce rate also belongs to our industry? Did you know that chemical addictions, spousal abuse are all growing at an alarming rate? I learned about these statistics and began to enquire further. I began to wonder about the toll this must be taking on homeowners in distress, suddenly unemployed construction crews, home inspectors, pool contractors, decorators. How were these good people coping? The more I focused on this issue, the more convicted I became that I could do something to help. Such arrogance on my pa... 07/30/2008

The buyer has just closed on their new home.  They can't wait to rip the floors out paint the walls, have all their furniture old & new be delivered, by time they get to the part where they have to decorate the walls with artwork and accessories they may have lost their creative flow.  Hanging artwork confuses many home owners. How high should a picture be hung on the wall, what color should the matting be, and how can they decide what goes where?Here are some tips to pass on to your existing owners once everything else is in place. The best way to start hanging is to locate the center focal point of each wall and place it at about eye level, for the average person. Is the room vibrant, pastel, or neutral? Is your furniture casual, formal, modern, or traditional? These are clues that wi... 07/29/2008

Paseo is another Stock development community in Fort Myers just off Daniels Parkway. This location is a short drive to the airport, beaches, shopping, shopping (did I mention shopping), boating, and golf!             While this photo is of Ole in Lely in Naples, the product, environment, and amenities are just the same in Paseo. From this link you can read more and view the resales available in Paseo. In addition to the resale condomium properties picture above, Paseo offers tradition single-family residences from about 1,600 square feet to more than 3,000 square in several different signature level homes. As a relatively new community Paseo New Construcion (single-family home and The Villages condominiums) may be just what you are looking for. www.BobPisa.com www.RobertPisa.com   07/29/2008

    Joe Kendall Realtor a Waterfront and Foreclosure Specialist with Sandals Realty writes, Location, Location Location is so important in buying a home in southwest Florida. It could be a home in a Gated Community, Waterfront Property, Condo or Single Family Home on a Golf Course in Fort Myers, New Construction Home or even a Brand New Home under Foreclosure in Cape Coral? It's all about providing detailed information with personal touch in helping buyers and sellers make informative decessions on real estate here in southwest Florida. I truly believe if you empower people with all the tools they need and give them advice and help them along the way, you then provide a huge valued added service to your Clients, allowing them to make sound choices in buying or selling in southwest Flori... 07/28/2008

This weekend I took a drive through a very nice community in Southwest Florida known as San Carlos Park. I've been in the area since 1977 and have seen many communities grow and become more popular, such as Cape Coral, Estero, and Bonita Springs. With the advantage of it's location and road access, this community has a number of things in it's favor that will make San Carlos Park one of the more desirable neighborhoods to live in the future.Within a 10 mile radius is some of the best shopping that Southwest Florida has to offer, including Coconut Point Mall and a Bass Pro Outlet store (my personal favorite because I love to fish). Fine dining or a casual night out, there are plenty of choices as for restaurants. Fort Myers Beach is a 30 minute drive (depending on the traffic) if you wan... 07/28/2008

For these of you who are looking for a "green market" in Lee County you are in luck. For 14 years the Downtown Fort Myers Farmers market provides all sorts of products which can be purchased on the spot. You may find typical Florida fruits or exotic ones, palms, flowers, seafood or vegetables.                                         It is located along the Fort Myers River District or Downtown Fort Myers along the Calasahootchee River on Edwards Drive. Its open every Thursday from 7:00 a.m to 1p.m. For these who want more information or who have something special to sell contact the following: marketmanager@cityftmyers.com or call 239-461-2623. I have been a few times to the colorful Fort Myers Farmer's market, specially when I have this urge to get nice and fresh local shrimp or cannot... 07/26/2008

So home sales are up and prices are down. What does this mean for us in the Fort Myers-Cape Coral-Bonita Springs area? Actually it means a lot when you consider all that has taken place over the past 3 years. Our area underwent one of the most torrid times in real estate history. Demand was absurd, prices were appreciating at a ridiculous rate, speculation was rampant and things quite frankly were out of control. Now we see a sign of things returning to normal. The number of sales are on the increase as more and more people are coming in to an area that has much to offer. When the boom began, many wondered whether the infrastructure could sustain such growth. First of all was the public services factor. The county and cities reacted swiftly, new fire stations and police stations were co... 07/25/2008