Just the other day, I read a shocking story about a beach resort area in Italy.  Apparently, two young girls had drowned and their bodies were recovered and laid on the beach, awaiting pickup by the morgue.  Vacationers continued to drink, chat and enjoy themselves just a few feet from the dead girls as if they were not there.  I feel sorry for those people, actually.  How awful it must be to to be so uncaring.  Quite another story in Fort Myers today.  A police officer killed in late July on a domestic violence call was laid to rest today.  The streets were lined with people as the funeral procession passed.  Business people gave up their lunch hour to honor the fallen officer.  Mothers, children, students, the people of Fort Myers lined the route of the funeral procession. His name wa... 07/23/2008

I am usually not so enthusiastic about a community. Granted many are great in South West Florida, but something does not click fully in your mind. It could be the price, not enough amenities, to far from the beach, the architecture is good but not great, the interiors are cramped, or the pool is to small. This one stands outs. Located in South Fort Myers, Laguna Lakes is about 6 miles from Fort Myers Beach and has so much to offer.Towhouses start at $160,000 for 1800 square feet with 3 bedrooms or 2 bedrooms and den. For more informations about Laguna Lakes townhouses and other type of properties in this community feel free to contact me. Windows Live Spaces LLoyd Nichols Right Choice Realty LLC 6360 Presidential Court, Suite 4 Fort Myers, FL 33919 cell: 239-810-2980 Fax: 239-463-4826 h... 07/18/2008

CALUSA PALMS  Located in Southwest Fort Myers on A & W Bulb rd, South West of McGrergor Blvd, Calusa Palms is one of my favorite gated community. It is a gated community with 146 single homes and 184 carriages homes. Its is situated only 6 miles to the Fort Myers Beach and also about 15 mn drive to Sanibel Island.    The privacy and calm of the road and area as you drive from Gladiolus is one of the reasons I always enjoy showing homes at Calusa. Amenities include a 2400 sf community center, fitness center, swimming pool, play area, tennis courts, putting green and bocce court.Many of the homes are circling around man made lakes, and enjoy water views.              View Listings                                                                           Townhouses $149k and up            ... 07/17/2008

Got a homeowner in trouble with his lender? Can't do a workout? The answer is a short sale.....This is the answer right?? It is what's best for the client...right? It provides the agent with a great listing at a great price....right? Surely with the reduced price it will be a quick sale, fast closing....right? It helps the market by reducing inventory....right? In theory it all sounds good. But I'm finding that it's not all good. I'm finding homeowners are facing big questions as to the tax implications of a short sale. I'm finding many homeowners are having trouble renting a home due to the destruction of their credit. I'm finding that these "great listings" can take weeks and months to negotiate. I'm finding that there are agents who will post these listings in the MLS at a completely... 07/17/2008

    One of the nice benefits of living close to the cost and waterways of Southwest Florida is that we have numerous restaurants which have outdoor seating with gorgeous views. One of my favorite places to eat is at the Sanibel Harbor Resort. The Sanibel Harbor Resort sits on the backwater with a nice view of Sanibel Island. The resort is right along the main waterway which leads from the Gulf of Mexico into the Caloosahathee River. The Caloosahatchee River is a wide river which actually hooks up to Lake okeechobee and then continued on to the East Coast of Florida. It is a common waterway for boat to save time getting from one coast to the other without having to sail south around the Florida Keys.  The resort has two outdoor eating areas. One is the main dinning room which serves lar... 07/13/2008

It seems in recent months that there are some interesting innovations in marketing coming to our industry. The advancement of the web has put potential homebuyers right on the sofa of their new living room through the use of virtual tours. The use of call capture has homesellers knowing who is interested in their property. Partnering with the travel industry has developers bringing in buyers worldwide. Even the market we are in has brought about a need for adaptation. Now, we have the foreclosure bus! Entrepreneurial agents are contacting investors, rounding them up and putiing them on a chartered luxury bus. They are catering a nice lunch, hyping their resumes and leading them on a get rich guided tour. Sounds smart right? Wind the clock back 2+ years. If the houses that these agents a... 07/10/2008

If you are a Florida Power customer you might be asking that question in the months ahead. The Florida Public Service Commission approved Florida Power & Light Company request to increase their customer's electric costs to offset unanticipated fuel costs. Reports are that the increase will be approximately 8%.The FPL news release does offer the following ways to reduce your electricity usage. Cool your home at 78 degrees or warmer with the thermostat fan switch on "auto." For additional savings, raise your thermostat to 82 degrees or warmer when you're away from home. Install a programmable thermostat to adjust the temperature automatically and maximize your energy savings. Clean or replace your air conditioner's filter monthly to trim your cooling costs. Turn off your ceiling fan when ... 07/09/2008

So it's a beautiful day in sw Florida, birds are out, sun is shining at least part of the time and buyers are out there. I get a call from a buyer who asks me "I have about a million dollars liquid right now, got any good deals?" Well of course I could find some good deals! So I proceed to find him a 1785 sq ft home with a pool, built in '06. The property was bank owned and the LA had it listed for $120,000. My buyer loved the house as an investment property and asked me to prepare the contract with the following terms; $115,000 cash, no contingencies Seller pay title Close as soon as title is done (3 days) Waive any inspections (general contractor, he did his own) I presented the offer on a Monday at 11 am, a pretty clean deal! So I thought as well! The LA decides that she is going to ... 07/09/2008

I recently had a contract accepted on a foreclosure in Fort Myers, in the historic district.  The house, a single family, is old, but very charming and the price even more charming.  An Inspection was, of course, ordered and completed and as may be expected with an old, vacant house, there were termites.  Minor damage from termites was also detected. The Closing is scheduled to take place at the end of this month. My client is purchasing the property as an investment and is very anxious to rid the property of the termites and write me an email recently, asking me when's the soonest she can engage a pest control company to rid the home of termites, as she is afraid that the house will disappear.  I wrote her back immediately, advising her that she can have the pest control people in the ... 07/09/2008

     There are many ways for a non American to get a visa. Getting an E-2 Investor Visa is one of them.You have to follow the proper requirements. Some Countries can process E-2 faster then others. England, France and Germany are quite fast to respond to a E-2 Visa Application and is usually processed at the Embassy of their country of origin. The fastest may take from 5-7 weeks. Others a few months That is pretty good. Some sellers of businesses will not mind having an addendum to the contract with the offer being contingent upon acquiring the E-2.Its a case per case scenario.                 A person or the company has to first be member of a E-2 Treaty Investor VIsa: following are the countries with Treaties for E-2 visas:     Argentina, Austria, Australia, Bangladesh,Belgium, Bosnia... 07/07/2008

Ran across this listing for a Fort Myers Condos For Rent Please take a look at this condo for rent in Ft. Myers and let us know what you think. 07/07/2008

Ok, so now that our 232nd birthday has come and gone. Now that we are seeing mega-discount sales on fireworks and hot dog buns, now that our 3-day weekend is over, I'd love to hear some post Independence Day thoughts. For me, one of the highlights was actually last Wednesday. I was attending our Wednesday evening church service along with my family. This is normally a great service because in it we honor our military heroes past and present, and salute the history of our nation. I was also pretty excited to hear our guest speaker that night, Dr. Ergun Caner president of Liberty University Baptist Seminary. The thing that really got my attention that night was that Dr. Caner opened the message from his past and related it to our present. He talked about Socialist government- You have the... 07/06/2008

   Joe Kendall, Southwest Florida Realtor says you would be amazed at the variety of Pool Homes currently for sale here in southwest Florida specialy in Cape Coral Florida. They come in every shape, color and sizes! What would life be like, if you did not have a pool to enjoy with the southwest Florida sunshine ? Cape Coral Florida offers just about every type of pool home you could dream about and more! The locations, the views and styles are truly endless! You Southwest Florida pool home is a waiting you! Prices start around 100,000 for a home with a pool! Where are you going to be this coming winter? Buy your winter vacation home now while the prices are truly affordable! Pool Homes start around $100,000 Now is the time to own your very own "Piece of Paradise"      Search thousnads o... 06/30/2008

  Joe Kendall, REALTOR with Sandals Realty (Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Lehigh Acres Florida) phone 239-560-0726   offers a Free "Listing Presentation" to home owners thinking about selling their home? Even if you own your home out right, have a small mortgage on your home or if you are in a possible Pre Foreclosure/ short sale situation  ? You should have an experienced Realtor provide you with a "Comparative Market Analysis " on the current value of your home. Knowing the current market insures you get top dollar for your home and help you understand the current inventory of home you will be competing for the all mighty home buyer!  If you are trying to avoid foreclosure's? I will provide you with detailed information on what documents will be required by your lender, and the steps to tak... 06/29/2008

   It was past due time. I have been living in Florida since 1990, have seen countless palms and still can name only a hand full.Well maybe a few more. I should care. After all I live in the "City of Palms" the nickname for Fort Myers. To be fair in the XIX century it was then known as "cow town" before Edison and Ford put it more on the map in the 1880's. Much nicer name.  So I should know a few names of palm trees. I don't know that many and haven't lost any sleep over it, but lately I had an epiphany.                     Coconut Palm - my favorite - Hemingway loved to mix the milk with rum. Many do. I like it straight.  Calling palm trees "coochie coo" and any other palm tree simply..palm... is not very satisfying. I could make up latin words, as the figusclaremia palmus and probably... 06/28/2008

Listing in San Carlos Park is offering a lot for a great price. Located away from US 41, but far enough not to hear US 41 traffic, this home has a lot to offer. Very pleasant architectural design ,vaulted ceiling, large 2 car garage, build in 1995 and a good size enclosed swimming pool makes this one a property to consider very seriously.This home is a short sale.The Lender responds pretty fast. One of the most attractive and lowest priced pool homes in San Carlos. San Carlos Park 3/2 pool home $149,900Location: San Carlos ParkQuality 3/2 mastercraft built screened POOL home.Master bedroom has his and hers closets, crown molding. Swimming pool is screened with lanai/patio under extended overhang area with room for tables and chairs and relaxation.Separate laundry area. 2 car garage, la... 06/25/2008

San Carlos Fort Myers unique home for rentLocation: residential- San CarlosCorner lot single home in desirable Carlos Park for yearly rent!Fire Place.Master flooring craftsmanship. Wall to wall flooring with its 16x 16 groutless state of art tiles. Fire place, large master bedroom.2 full bathrooms.ADT security system.Screened lanai.Granite kitchen bar. Vaulted living room ceiling. Elegant foyer.Two car garage.One year 1/2 old architectural auburn shingles. Bathrooms have also tiled walls with intresic decorative inlayed tiles.Excellent residential street of well kept homes. Close to Shopping,markets,Florida Coast University, Bonita Springs and Fort Myers,Naples,10 mn to I-75. This home is unique and easy to get to from Alico to Three Oaks Parkway. InformationContact Information KarenENi... 06/25/2008

12530 Oak Bend Drive Offered at: $1,099,999 HUGE, HUGE PRICE REDUCTION!!! IT DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER THAN THIS!!! This unbelievably beautiful, turnkey furnished model home was originally priced at $1,549,000. Now it's been reduced to $1,099,999 and comes with top-of-the-line his and her golf clubs. This "Wyntree" model home built by Arthur Rutenberg Homes boasts more upgrades and features than there is space to print. Here's just a sample. Granite counters, hardwood floors, brick fireplace in the living room, stainless steel appliances, crown molding, oversized laundry room with a doggie bath, outdoor kitchen, outdoor fireplace, view of golf course, lake and preserve, the list goes on and on! Words on a page just don't do justice to this outstanding, award-winning home. You must see it f... 06/22/2008

3420 Shady Bend Way Offered at: $649,000 PRICE JUST REDUCED BY $50,000!!! It's rare to find everything on your wish list contained in one home. Look no further, here's that rare home! This beautiful Arthur Rutenberg Florence II model in the Shady Bend neighborhood of Verandah has everything you could ask for. 3 bedrooms plus den, 2 full bathrooms, 2400 sq. ft. of living area, and a pool & spa heated by an electric Heat Pump system are just the beginning. How about this for a list of features, 3 car garage, sinks in the garage and the laundry room, Aqualink system for the pool & spa, jetted tub in the master bath, On Demand tankless water heater, water filter system, built-in wine cooler, stainless steel appliances, quartz and corian counters, complete outdoor kitchen, the list goes on a... 06/22/2008

3210 Shady Bend Way Offered at: $600,000 This wonderful Florence II home built by Lyons Housing/Arthur Rutenberg Homes has 3 bedrooms plus den, 2 baths, 2 car garage, outdoor kitchen as well as a pool and spa. Upgrades galore including granite counters in the kitchen, tile flooring, crown molding and extra large spa and lanai. This beautiful home is in the Shady Bend neighborhood of Verandah, Bonita Bay Group's award-winning development nestled among 100 year old oak trees along the Orange River. Whether you enjoy golf, tennis, swimming, boating, biking, walking or kayaking, Verandah is the perfect neighborhood. Come see for yourself! 06/22/2008