Cape Coral Real Estate » Buyers

Cape Coral Second Homes

Susan Milner — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 17:21:49 +0000

Cape Coral Gulf Access

Cape Coral Gulf Access homes make great second homes.

What will a second home in SW Florida cost?

As the prices of homes in SW Florida are, can we say, more than affordable, many people across the U.S. and abroad (especially Europe and Canada) are entertaining the possibility of a second home. The biggest question on everyone’s mind is “What will it cost me?” Obviously it is pretty easy to find the listing prices of Cape Coral homes online but to truly understand what the ‘cost’ will be can take doing some research. In this article I will go over the basic costs you can expect to pay when investing in a second home here in beautiful Cape Coral or Ft. Myers, Florida.

First to consider: Cost of Money

Are you planning to pay cash or do you plan to get a mortgage for some of the purchase price? If you plan to pay cash make sure that you are comfortable with the rate of return on your investment. You may wish to consider getting a loan for some of the purchase to keep more capital for other investments (more houses, or?).

If you are going to obtain financing make sure you determine which loan is best for you and your needs. Most investment properties will require 20-25% down. If you are Foreign National you must be prepared to put down at least 30% in most cases. You can also attempt to receive a loan from your country as well. The rates will be lower but you may have to put up your current home as collateral (borrow against your equity). Some second homes may be purchased with less money down. But your payments will be much lower with the more money you put down on your purchase.

For comparison purposes here let’s look at a sample waterfront listing. The current asking price is $375,000. Let’s assume that you plan to put down 25%. This means that you will be putting a down payment of $93,750. Here is an estimate of closing costs:

Taxes: $ 6,422.24*

Loan fees: $3,846
Prepaid taxes & insurance: $5,778

Total costs to close: $103,374.

from current 2009 tax bill – properties are reassessed every year here so this could change. Currently this home is assessed at $374,230. Please also note that taxes are NOT higher for non-residents. But full time residents are eligible for exemptions.

To find insurance companies who are still readily writing homeowners insurance in the state of Florida visit www.ShopandCompareRates.com

You can verify tax information online at www.LeePA.org

Next we need to figure maintenance. You will have an electric charge and probably a water bill as well. Let’s assume that you are not here full time and so we’ll estimate these charges on the ‘low’ side.

Monthly Bills
Electricity $200-400
Water $ 50-150
Lawn $ 75-100
Pool $ 75-100
Alarm $ 20-50

You may also wish to hire a maintenance company to handle all of this. They will have their own crews to handle lawn, pool, cleaning, repairs, etc. They charge anywhere from $50-500 per month above the charges listed above.

You can also have the property rented out during the months you will not be visiting if you’d like to offset the costs. Rental rates very depending upon location and whether we are talking about in or out of ‘season’. You can pay anywhere from 5-15% for property management assistance. This fee is generally deducted directly from your monthly rental income.

Keep in mind that these are estimates and that the real charges could be higher or lower.

Our professional real estate agents can walk you through this process and assist you in determining what makes sense for your needs and wants.

Ready to search for available homes now? Visit our Cape Coral real estate source!

We look forward to hearing from you! If you have any questions at all give us a call!

(239) 542-8521

Susan@SusanMilner.com

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 22:21:58 +0000

Cape Coral residents could possibly get another property tax
decrease this year, if the proposed budget is adopted. The city
council has promised along with the decrease in taxes no services will
be eliminated, or no layoffs expected. Cape Coral experienced a
15% decrease last year because of falling home prices. The home
values have continued to drop this year so we are expecting once again,
another decrease in taxes. The millage rate could be changed accordingly
though.

The Cape Coral city council will set a maximum tax rate on July 26^th
2010 further tax cuts may be adopted before the final budget decision
in September 2010, and become effective October 1, 2010. We are
hopeful that this new budget will help our Cape Coral residents in an
unstable economy.

This new budget comes as relief to home owners who can not afford
higher monthly payouts, or prospective home buyers needing to stay
within a specific budget.

Cape Coral is a wonderful and affordable place to live and work, we
hope that the low taxes and beautiful surroundings will continue to
attract people to our area.

Yours in Success,

The Florida Future Realty Team

Florida Future Realty, Inc

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Susan Milner — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 18:57:18 +0000

Here in Cape Coral FL, we have many homes for sale, whether it is a
traditional sale due to relocation, upgrading, or downsizing, or the
many being sold due to foreclosure, or short sale. Has the
economy influenced the rate at which homes are selling, as portrayed by
the media? Or, are more people buying because home prices continue to be
discounted, and offered much more economically than in past
years? Here are the statists below:

Homes priced from
$0 to $150,000

1^st and 2^nd quarter of 09′ combined, the number
of sold properties were 3,159.

1^st and 2^nd quarter of 10′ combined, the number
of sold properties were 2,778.

Homes priced from
$150,000 and above

1^st and 2^nd quarter of 09′ combined, the number
of sold properties were 868.

1^st and 2^nd quarter of 10′ combined, the number
of sold properties were 806.

What we can gather from this information, is that home sales have
remained virtually unchanged from this year to last. The media
likes to negatively portray our areas real estate market as being on a
downward cycle, but the reality is that we are selling homes. The
very slight decrease from last year’s is most likely due to the slightly
longer than normal negotiation times associated with bank owned
properties and short sales.

It is certainly a great time to buy, homes are offered at huge
discounts from the preceding years, interest rates continue to be at
some of the lowest levels ever offered, and financial institutions are
loaning money more freely again.

If you thought living in Florida was just a pipe dream, it could be
your reality. If you are interested in searching for a new home
take advantage of our user-friendly home search. href="http://www.florida-future-realty.com/real-estate-home-search">http://www.florida-future-realty.com/real-estate-home-search
or call us to speak with one of our knowledgeable agents. We look
forward to helping you with your real estate needs.

Yours in
Success,

The Florida Future Realty Team

Florida Real Estate Assistance, LLC

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Susan Milner — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 17:55:16 +0000

Congress just passed yet again another extension to the first time
and repeat home buyer tax credits. The tax credits allow up to
8,000 to new home buyers and up to 6,500 to repeat home buyers.
The former bill stated that a valid contract must be entered into by
April 30, 2010 and closed on or before June30, 2010.

The new bill allows for a little breathing room to buyers who are
involved with the arduous process of short sales and banked owned
foreclosures, there are many of these properties available in today’s
market and are offered at a discounted rates which makes them a
desirable. These types of transactions are known to take quite a
bit longer than traditional real estate sales transactions to
complete.

This new bill allows for all contracts entered into by April 30, 2010
can now be closed on or before September 30, 2010 and still be eligible
for the tax credits. The new bill style="text-decoration: underline;">doesn’t grant any new tax credits it
only extends the deadline in which the transaction can be closed.
Home buyers and investors that have been involved in long
bank negotiations can still reap the benefits of these generous tax
incentives. This extension will allow buyers the opportunity to
purchase a home or investment property they may have not been able to
otherwise.

If you would like more information about the first time and repeat
home buyers tax incentives please follow this link : href="http://www.florida-future-realty.com/tax-credit-guidelines-for-new-and-repeat-cape-coral-home-buyers">http://www.florida-future-realty.com/tax-credit-guidelines-for-new-and-repeat-cape-coral-home-buyers

If we can help in anyway please don’t hesitate to call.

Yours in Success,

The Florida Future Realty Team

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Susan Milner — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 18:07:19 +0000

Cape Coral’s real estate market has been less than predictable in
recent years; we have had our share of ups and downs. As real
estate professionals there are ways to track the markets progress and
predict the changes to come. This prediction comes in the form of
absorption rate. The absorption rate is the rate in which
the market absorbs and eliminates inventory. We have broken down Cape
Coral price brackets and what it means to buyers and sellers.

Homes in Cape Coral with a price ranging from $0 to $150,000 have
turned over 4.5 times in the past 12 months and currently, we have 2.6
months of inventory available in that specific price range.

Homes in the price range of $150,000 to $200,000 have turned over 2.3
times in the last year and the current inventory is 8.5 months.

Gulf access homes in Cape Coral at no specific price point, in the
last year have turned over 1.4 times with an inventory of 8.5 months.

What do months of inventory indicate? Typically 1-4 months of
inventory indicate a seller’s market, 5-6 months is generally a balanced
market and 7 months or more points toward a buyer’s market.

How does this information specifically relate to buyers and sellers
of Cape Coral real estate?

Sellers

The absorption rate is very important to know. Since it tells
something about how long it might take to sell the home. A higher
number of inventory typically means more competition from other
sellers. A lower number may indicate that we are in a seller’s
market, so the need to make sure your marketing strategies are “spot on”
is detrimental to a quick sale. Good marketing will insure your
home will be displaying a sold sign before you neighbors.

Buyers

Buyers also need to be aware of the absorption rate. If the
market is shifting into a time of low inventory, it isn’t the time to be
throwing out “low ball” offers hoping to get a good deal.
When inventory is low and buyers have increased, chances are
the buyers will be introduced to a situation where the home has
multiple offers. When inventory is high your chances of getting a
“steal” have increased significantly.

Buyers and sellers who pay attention to the changes in the market
will be more informed and can make decisions accordingly. Most
important whether buying or selling real estate in Cape Coral it is
important to work with an experienced agent to help you calculate the
absorption rates for the homes that you are interested in.

*This blog was written 6-22-10 all calculations are subject to
change, for accurate information please call a speak with our
knowledgeable team members.

Yours in Success,

The Florida Future Realty Team

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Susan Milner — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 21:23:19 +0000

Government Guidelines For The Remediation Of Chinese Drywall

Many Cape Coral homes have been deemed “Chinese Drywall homes” and
unfortunately that comes with a stigma. Most buyers are scared
away from the thought of purchasing a home affected with this mainly
because of the unknown. We have learned a lot about them in recent
months and there continues to be more information on how and what is
necessary to correct the problems and make the home just like new.

Fortunately, the government has also stepped in and created a task
force that studied the effects Chinese drywall has on each individual
component of the home. It is now mandated and guidelines were
created for removal and remediation. This allows home owner the
security of knowing the job was done correctly.

The Interim Remediation Guidelines for Homes with Corrosion form
Problem Drywall are as follows

They state that you must replace:

All possible problem drywall
All fire safety alarm devices(including smoke alarms and carbon
monoxide alarms)
All electrical component and wiring (including outlets, switches,
and circuit breakers);and
All gas service piping and fire suppression sprinkler systems

According to the guidelines, once these repairs have been made your
home or potential home is ready and safe to occupy. People have
once thought that it could spread to surfaces such as wood, tile,
carpet, and furniture. The task force stated that they do not have
any scientific basis to believe that to be true.

The material in the effected drywall is high levels of sulfur, which
emits a corrosive gas that attaches itself to anything metal (copper
pipes, electrical wiring, HVAC, systems, appliances and so on) we know
that the removal process can be time consuming and added expense is
involved, but people should not steer clear of these properties
anymore. There are many of these homes in inventory that are
priced well below market value giving the consumer the potential of
instant equity once the repairs have been made.

We have been in contact with a local contractor that states they are
able to repair these homes for approximately $21.00 a square foot (just
to give you an estimate of the repair costs). This contractor will
guarantee the complete removal of the drywall and all directly affected
components.

We also have been made aware of a lender that has allocated funds for
rehabs, including Chinese Drywall.

We hope this information help open doors for buyers that just haven’t
found the “right” place.

All information above was gathered from href="http://www.dryallresponse.gov/">www.dryallresponse.gov
Information is subject to change as investigations continue.

Yours in Success,

The Florida Future Realty Team

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Susan Milner — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 17:56:13 +0000

Get Started Saving For Your Dream
Home

How to save money seems to be on everyone’s mind these days, we all
strive to hold on to every last penny and make it stretch as far as it
will go. We have come up with some helpful and creative ways to
help you and your family stay on budget, so you will be able to afford
that dream home much more quickly.

Here are 20 tips to get you closer to making that down payment on
your home

1. Wash your laundry with cold water in place of hot.
2. Hang your clothes outside to dry
3. Turn the thermostat up in the fridge
4. Fix leaky faucets
5. Pack your lunch
6. Use rechargeable batteries
7. Grow your own fruits and vegetables
8. Turn off the water while brushing your teeth
9. Rather than renting movies, check them out at the library
10. Pay your bills online and save the postage
11. Bring your coffee from home
12. Shop year round for Christmas presents
13. Save gift bags and reuse them
14. Buy all purpose cleaners rather than different solutions for
each task
15. Save and actually eat last night’s leftovers
16. Buy in bulk
17. Cancel your newspaper subscriptions, most all information can
now be found online
18. Take a shorter shower
19. Make your own baby food
20. Buy or sell your next home with Florida Future Realty

Try implementing some of these helpful tips into your everyday life
and soon you will have enough saved for that down payment.

Yours in Success,

The Florida Future Realty Team

Florida Future Realty, Inc

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href="http://www.floridafutureagents.com/" target="_blank">Fort Myers
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estate

239-542-8521

Susan Milner — Mon, 24 May 2010 17:14:07 +0000

How to pick the pick the perfect agent.

As with anything, the real estate profession is filled with honest
trustworthy agents, but there are those who give all hard working agents
a bad name, with their lack of knowledge and shady practices.
During the real estate boom, every Tom, Dick and Harry wanted to get in
on the action and unfortunately many did. There are countless
stories of many of agents that ruined deals, artificially drove up
prices and were engaging in fraudulent practices with mortgage brokers
and appraisers, all for an extra buck. Now unfortunately,
consumers are having a hard time trusting Cape Coral real estate agents
or brokers. Now that the market crashed, we are left with the real
professionals wanting to provide consumers with exceptional service,
and honest business practices.

Here are some guidelines to help you pick the agent that is right for
you:

Make sure you interview with the potential agent.

You need to make sure your personalities click; you will be spending a
lot of time with this person. They need to fully understand your
wants and need and most importantly your budget. Are they willing
to show you properties that are not listed by their Cape Coral
brokerage? Do they seem to be honest? Are they interested in developing a
long term business relationship with you? Many people buy and sell
multiple times in their lives, building a strong trustworthy
relationship with your customers can only benefit their business.

Do some research.

You can find out so much about a person by simply imputing their name
into Google and hitting search. Visit their website; make sure
they have experience in the type of property you are looking to buy.
What have they sold? What type of property seems to be their specialty?
Most importantly, ask for references and make sure to call.

Ask your friends and family.

Most likely someone you know or are related to have bought or sold a
Cape Coral property recently, and can share some useful tips and
valuable information with you. Would they recommend their agents to you?
If they answered yes, what traits made that particular agent so
special? What kind of overall experience did they have?

These a just a few tips to help you weed through the mountain of
agents a find the best fit for your needs. Put your trust and
confidence in this person, they will be responsible for the largest
transaction of your life and because of that pick carefully.

Call our team of highly qualified professional to answer any of your
real estate related questions. Florida Future Realty is here to
help.

Yours in Success,

The Florida Future Realty Team

(239)542-8521

Susan Milner — Fri, 21 May 2010 14:27:22 +0000

Are You
Living ’Green”?

When you think of going ‘green’ and reducing your carbon footprint
what first comes to mind? “Instead of tossing out my soda cans, today
will be the day I dig out the laundry occupying my recycle bin and use
it as it was intended.” Well that is indeed a great start, but if
we want to make a difference on the grand scale of things we can start
by reviewing the materials we use to build or remodel our existing
homes, or research the ‘green’ practices already in place in a home we
intend to purchase. When researching home builders and modelers in
SW Florida, I came across many dedicated builders with the mission of
transforming existing or building more ‘green ‘dwellings. Here are
some useful tips to incorporate in your next project.

What are some
things that make a home ‘green’?

Exterior paint with LRV (light reflective value) absorbs less heat
in turn lowers your air conditioning costs.
ICF wall system a step up from the standard concrete wall systems
includes two built-in layers of foam insulation.
2″ overhangs help shed rain water away from walls and foundation
reducing cooling costs
Solar or hybrid water heating system. Water heaters are the biggest
energy waster of all your appliances.
Impact rated and tinted glass windows and doors.
Bamboo flooring vs. carpet; certain types of carpet can emit VOC
gases that contribute to poor indoor air quality.
Heatlok Soy spray foam insulation uses recycled plastic waste to
create rigid spray polyurethane foam.
Energy Star Appliances
Relocating your washer and dryer to the garage can help you save on
air-condition costs.
Use any available recycled materials to remodel or construct your
home.

These are just a few suggestions to help get you started on the path
to living a more ‘green’ existence. And most importantly ask your
contractor what he/she does specifically to incorporate ‘green’ into
their building practices.

As always, if we can be of assistance to you please call one of our
knowledgeable team members.

Yours in Success,

Florida Future Realty Team

(239)542-8521

Susan Milner — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 21:36:40 +0000

Relay for Life Cape Coral

Florida Future Realty, Inc. was so excited to be a part this year’s
Cape Coral Relay for Life. The event was held on the football
field of Ida Baker high school and decorated to resemble Mardi
Gra. More than 70 teams of local business participated for an
amazing night. Teams sold anything from food to crafts; there was
even a tarot card reader in the tent next to us. The Florida
Future Realty, Inc. tent consisted of carnival like games for the kids
and a raffle.

Many of the teams brought tents to camp in, as the event lasted
through the night into Saturday morning. There was a
comedian to provide comic relief, and a DJ that played through the night
to keep the participants awake and walking the track all 18 hours of
the event.

There were thousands of attendants there for a common goal, to help
find a cure for cancer. This year $132,000 was raised, which exceeded
last year’s totals by a few thousand.

Cape Coral’s Relay for Life was a huge success. We were so
fortunate to be asked to participate in this event, and had a wonderful
time supporting the cause.

While visiting our site please feel free to use our MLS search
engine.

http://www.forida-future-realty.com/real-estate-home-search

Yours in Success,

The Florida Future Realty Team

(239)542-8521

Susan Milner — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 20:15:31 +0000

Hybrid Water Heating System

Today is Earth Day; we all need to work together to save our planet
Earth form further and irreversible destruction. If each person
takes one step forward in the direction of living “green” we will make
huge strides toward the big picture. As Cape Coral home owners we
can take a close look at our appliances and the energy we are wasting
because of our out dated and less efficient models.

One new product to recently hit stores in Cape Coral and across the
country is a hybrid water heater. This is an appliance that we
don’t think of to often, until we step into the shower one morning and
find it to be frigid. Or worse come home from a long day of work,
and are greeted with a steady stream of water escaping from the front
door.

Water heaters use the most energy of any household appliance,
and were not regulated by Energy Star until 2008′. About 17 percent of a
home’s energy usage stems from its water heater. That equates to
hundreds possibly thousands of wasted dollars each year.
Unfortunately there are only a few hybrid water heaters on the
market at this time and they do cost considerable more than their
conventional counter parts- 2,000 to 3,000 for the few on the market
now.

When you hear the word “hybrid” you automatically think of half gas
half battery powered car. Though hybrid water technology is still
evolving and can contain a combination of technologies, the term hybrid
actually refers to a combination of tank and tank less water heating
system. The new water heater models vary. One of the few available
uses multiple passes of the heat and water to warm up more
efficiently. The machine has 44 pipes that heat up, and the water
flows around them for quick heating. Unlike a tank less system,
the hybrid heater contains a reservoir to hold water at all times so you
will never run out.

If it is time to replace your water heater in your Cape Coral home or
if you just looking to reduce your carbon footprint, consider a hybrid
water heating system. It is not only great for the environment it
is also great for you pocket book.

If we can help in any way or answer any questions please call.

239-542-8521

Yours in Success,

Florida Future Realty Team

Susan Milner — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 17:35:59 +0000

Online Foreclosure Auctions
Hit Lee County

Lee County became the 14^th county in Florida to begin
foreclosure auctions online. It was put in place to cut the
county’s cost associated in traditional court house auctions. They have
eliminated the need for extra manpower freeing up much needed county
funds.

With so many foreclosures in the Cape Coral and Fort Myers area this
method just makes sense. By holding the online auctions they are
able to reach more potential buyers and investors hopefully resulting in
a greater sales price and maximum exposure for each property. The
website is user-friendly and lists all pertinent information regarding
each property. Times, and dates of upcoming auctions are featured
on an interactive calendar. When you have selected a property all
information including case details, are easily accessible.

A proxy bidding system is set in place. Proxy bidding is much
like EBay in the fact that you set the maximum amount you are willing to
pay and the computer automatically increase you bid at $100.00
increments each time your current bid has been surpassed.

This online auction was created by the Realauctions.com a
Fort-Lauderdale based company.Realauctions.com is privately owed company
that specializes in the advertising and sale of delinquent tax
certificates for County and municipal governments.

To sign up for this service visit:

www.lee.realforeclose.com

It is easy and free to sign up. They have made available a
tutorial that will help you understand the process and easily navigate
through their site.

If you would like more information please follow the link above.

If we can help you any way please doesn’t hesitate to call. While
visiting our site please feel free to use our MLS search engine.

http://www.forida-future-realty.com/real-estate-home-search

Yours in Success,

The Florida Future Realty Team

239-542-8521

What

Susan Milner — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 22:22:30 +0000

What is This?

The Florida Future Realty Inc. team is holding a contest to see who
is the most familiar with our community and the interesting things in
it. We have a collection of pictures that we will be manipulating
and contorting as to confuse even the most seasoned historian.
Visit our website www.florida-future-realty.com,
if you are able to identify the image you will be handsomely rewarded
with a gift card. Please e-mail your guesses to href="mailto:marketing@floridafutureagents.com">marketing@floridafutureagents.com,
the first person to correctly identify this noteworthy landmark will be
notified and rewarded. Please remember to include all
contact information in your email. We will then post the winning
name on our website next to the complete picture.

Please feel free to use our MLS search engine while visiting our
site, and peruse our noteworthy articles for some valuable information.

We look forward to hearing from you. If you have any questions, as
always, feel free to contact us.

Yours in Success,

The Florida Future Realty, Inc. Team

239-542-8521

Agents and relatives of agents are not eligible to
participate in this contest.

IMAGE 1

height="113" width="187">

Cape Coral Golf Course Home for Sale

Susan Milner — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 14:59:52 +0000

Cape Coral Florida is a beautiful place to call home! With over 400 miles of canals, it is also a boater’s dream. Palmetto-Pine Country Club is Cape Coral’s ONLY private golf course!

864 SW 18th Terrace, Cape Coral, FL 33991
Shows like a model home!

This beautiful 2 story home is located on the 2nd hole of Palmetto-Pine Country Club in SW Cape Coral.

Screened in lanais up & downstairs with large inground pool overlooks the golf course.

Great entry way with formal dining area curves around to the large kitchen.

The kitchen has stainless steel appliances, including a double oven, water filtration system and garbage disposal at sink.

There is also an island and built in desk.
You will find plenty of storage in these large and plentiful cabinets.

The laundry room is connected from the kitchen and garage and is very large.

The 2 car garage includes a separate door for the golf cart too!.

The master bedroom is downstairs with a separate sitting room attached as well.

2 walk-in closets plus separate garden tub and shower.

The living room includes a large built in entertainment center.

French doors lead to your lanai.

Upstairs you’ll find 2 more bedrooms plus a full bath & living room.

Not a short sale or foreclosure. Schedule a private showing.

(239) 542-8521 or E-mail Susan@SusanMilner.com

Florida Future Realty, Inc.
(239) 542-8521
(239) 218-2229 cell

Copyright 2010 Susan Milner

Susan Milner — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 14:26:27 +0000

As a full time resident in Cape Coral, Florida I am asked often what
is available in Cape Coral and Fort Myers for sale. After searching
online many come up confused as to what you can actually purchase and
for what price. In this series I will explore homes in all price
categories to give out of area buyers a better idea of the area.

Today we will be visiting homes that can be purchased right around
$1,000,000. There are several great options from single family estate
homes, to beach houses to oceanfront condos!

So what does 1,000,000 buy in the Cape Coral, Florida and Fort Myers,
Florida 2010 real estate market?

Here are a few of my favorite
options:

height="1000" width="700">

Below you will find many more options for spending $1,000,000 on
Southwest Florida real estate.

height="1000" width="700">

So, what do you think? Ready to make the investment?

Call Susan Milner at (239) 218-2229 for more information on these, or
any other listings in and around Cape Coral & Fort Myers, Florida.

Susan is the broker in charge & owner of Florida Future Realty,
Inc.. Florida Future Realty, Inc. is an independent real estate
brokerage centrally located in Cape Coral, Florida.

You can also continue to search for other real estate online at title="search real estate"
href="http://www.florida-future-realty.com/real-estate-home-search">www.Florida-Future-Realty.com.

Copyright 2010 Susan Milner | Florida Future Realty, Inc.

Cape

Susan Milner — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 19:23:02 +0000

Cape Coral Living

Cape Coral Florida in our opinion is a great place to live and raise a
family. Cape Coral is considered to be one of the safest cities
in Florida with populations over 150,000 according to the Florida Dept
of Law Enforcement. There are approximately 167,000 residents in Cape
Coral soaking up the 355 days a year of sunshine.

Cape Coral offers a rich quality of life, affordable home prices, and
waterfront living that has attracted now permanent residents. Not
only do we offer several golf courses, we have 400 miles of canals and
mega-river that will exceed the expectations of any water
enthusiast.

Cape Coral is rich in diversity and culture that is celebrated
through festivals throughout the year. Oktoberfest, Red-White-and-Boom,
and Cape Coral festival of art are just a few that attract thousands.

Florida Future Realty is so proud to be a part of this community, and
we are sure you will too.

The Florida Future Realty Team

(239)542-8521

www.florida-future-realty.com

Susan Milner — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 08:35:54 +0000

Florida Future Realty, Inc to hold several open houses this weekend,
April 10th & 11th!

The Florida Association of Realtors is planning its first annual
state wide open house to be held on April 10^th and 11^th,
2010. This event will precede the April 30^th ending to
the tax incentives offered to home buyers. Realtors will be able
to exhibit their listings this weekend for maximum exposure and
unlimited buyer traffic. All realtors involved will ask to fly blue
balloons at each open house for an awesome display visible from
Tallahassee to Key West. This event offers buyers a convenient way to
tour multiple homes to find the best fit for their needs. This
will be a great way to view what is available in the local housing
market and a fun way to get familiar with your community.

We will feature these Cape Coral & Fort Myers listings:

href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=2003+NW+33rd+Ave,+Cape+Coral,+FL.+33993&sll=26.57172,-81.888975&sspn=0.011169,0.022724&gl=us&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=2003+NW+33rd+Ave,+Cape+Coral,+Lee,+Florida+33993&ll=26.691695,-82.042379&spn=0.011158,0.022724&z=16&iwloc=A"
target="_blank">2003 NW 33rd Ave, Cape Coral, FL. 33993
Saturday and Sunday 10a.m. to 2p.m.

href="http://floridafutureagents.com/sw-fl-listings/864-sw-18th-ter-cape-coral-fl-33991-3336/">864
SW 18th Terr, Cape Coral, FL. 33991
Saturday and Sunday 10a.m. to 2p.m.

href="http://maps.google.com/maps?oe=UTF-8&gfns=1&q=5594+Pendlewood+Ln,+Fort+Myers&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=5594+Pendlewood+Ln,+Fort+Myers,+FL+33919&gl=us&ei=X6G0S5D5BMLflgeIqv1s&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CAcQ8gEwAA"
target="_blank">5594 Pendlewood Ln, Fort Myers, FL. 33919
Saturday 11a.m. to 3p.m.

href="http://floridafutureagents.com/sw-fl-listings/1914-hill-ave-fort-myers-fl-33901/">1914
Hill Ave, Fort Myers, FL. 33901
Saturday & Sunday 10a.m. to 2p.m.

href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=1012+NW+15th+Place+cape+coral+fl+33993&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=22.511228,83.671875&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=1012+NW+15th+Pl,+Cape+Coral,+Lee,+Florida+33993&z=15">1012
NW 15th Place, Cape Coral, FL. 33993
Sunday   10a.m. to 2p.m.

If we can answer any questions please call Florida Future Realty and
speak with one of our knowledgeable team members. We look forward to
speaking with you. Feel free to search other great Ft Myers & Cape
Coral Properties for sale on our 24 hour href="http://www.florida-future-realty.com/real-estate-home-search">Southwest
Florida real estate search engine too!

Yours in Success,

The Florida Future Realty Team

(239)542-8521

www.floridafutureagents.com

Copyright 2010 Florida Future Realty, Inc.

Susan Milner — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 20:58:18 +0000

Homestead Exemption Laws

Over 1,000 people move to Florida every day according to
dmv.org. Not only are families relocating from other states
but they are also moving from other countries. Is this because of
the beautiful sand beaches, warm sunny weather, or miles of green golf
courses? It may just be because of the generous tax laws offered
to Florida residents.

The law states that Florida residents are eligible for a 25,000
exemption on the assessed value of their home. Those with an
assessed value of more than 50,000 are eligible for an additional 25,000
exemption, depending on the value of their property. The exemption can
only be applied to non-school taxes, and the property must be worth at
minimum 75,000 to be eligible for the entire exemption amount.

In addition to the homestead exemption we have the Save our homes
amendment which protects homeowners by limiting the tax assessment to a
maximum of 3% each year.

You may also qualify for one or all of these exemptions listed below.

Widow/Widower’s Exemption $500.00

Disability Exemption $500.00

Veterans Disability Exemption $5,000.00

If you are a foreign buyer there is something to be aware of and that
is the FIRPTA withholding Rule. This stands for investment in
real property tax act of 1980. FIRPTA authorized the IRS to withhold
income tax on nonresident aliens and foreign corporations with sales of
US real property. When a person or corporation purchases a US real
property from nonresident aliens or foreign corporations, they are
required to withhold 10% of the amount. This tax is intended to ensure
that the US is able to tax the gains from the sale of property

Whether you are buying a new home or vacation home, moving
from another state or another country or just planning
to purchase an investment property,your taxes will always be
based on the assessed market value of your property. You will
never be penalized and made to pay higher taxes simply because you
are native to another place. The Homestead Exemption and
Save our homes amendment are offered to full
time Florida residents.

There are exceptions to all tax information listed above we
recommend visiting these sites for more detailed information.

http://leepa.org/Exemption/GeneralExemptionInfo.aspx

www.irs.gov

Once you have made the decision to relocate to this beautiful
city of Cape Coral, contact our Florida Future Realty Team we are here
to assist you.

Yours in Success,

The Florida Future Realty Team

(239)542-8521

Susan Milner — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 17:39:57 +0000

Are we still selling homes in Cape Coral? The answer is yes, and in
record numbers. We have been getting so much negative national
media attention, that our ideas are clouded with misinformation.

The National Association of Realtors published their polls and it
shows that in 2009 with the assistance of realtors, 16,260 homes were
sold. In 2005 when the housing boom began, the record was 12,123

However one significant change is the declining home prices. In 2005
the median home price was 278,200, now in 2009 we were at 90,400. This
decline is due to the record number of short sales and foreclosures now
flooding the real estate listings. Sellers are now coming to their
senses and listing their homes more realistically, their homes are
worth significantly less from what they were selling for 5 years ago.
The fact of the matter is that homes are STILL
selling. We may have to navigate through a few detours, from bank
negotiations to new lending laws, but properties are moving.

Buyers also need to understand that there are great deals to be had,
but when a property is under market value as many of them are, they may
sell very quickly and most likely there will be multiple offers.

So when searching for real estate in Cape Coral, we suggest you
secure your financing and act quickly when you find the right home at
just the right price. Call one of our agents at Florida Future
Realty to assist you in your home buying experience.

Yours in Success,

Florida Future Realty Team

(239)542-8521

www.floridafutureagents.com

www.florida-future-realty.com

Susan Milner — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 17:23:58 +0000

Florida Future Realty is providing clients with a mobile real estate
search created by Smarter Agent that makes it possible to search all
local property listings from their mobile device, regardless of whether
it is listed by Florida Future Realty or another broker
or agent. Florida Future Realty‘s mobile real estate
search is the only house-hunting tool that works on 95% of cell phones
across all carriers.

With Florida Future Realty‘s Smarter Agent
application, interested home buyers can be in any neighborhood
and view detailed property information at the touch of a button. The GPS
technology in the mobile phone, when available, locates users and pulls
up addresses and information on listings in their immediate area. Sales
price, square footage, tax information, beds/baths, interior and
exterior features, pictures and more become available instantly in the
palm of their hand.

Consumers can also search by address, community name, city or zip
code when GPS is not available, or if they want to search for real
estate in an area other than their current location.

The “Call to See” feature within the mobile application will connect
users to Florida Future Realty if they have questions
or want to schedule a tour of the property.

Consumers can get Florida Future Realty‘s mobile
real estate search on their cell phone by texting FFR
to 87778 to receive a text message with a link to download the mobile
real estate application.

Smarter Agent is available as a fully downloadable application on
hundreds of devices across Sprint, AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon
Wireless. A premium mobile web version is also available on 95% of cell
phones. The fully downloadable application is free to download on Sprint
devices, BlackBerry devices, the iPhone, and Google’s Android G-1. The
premium mobile web version is free to access.

Florida Future Realty

239-542-8521

www.floridafuturerealty.com

Susan Milner — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 22:40:44 +0000

Tax Credit guidelines for new and repeat home buyers

Buying a new home in Cape Coral is
both an exciting and stressful experience. The federal government
has made an offer we just can’t refuse. Homes are now going to be
much more affordable than ever, with a fantastic tax incentive for
buyers. This is an amazing opportunity to finally own your own home or
relocate to the digs of your dreams. Read below to see which
program you qualify for.

$8,000 First-time Home Buyer Tax Credit

The $8,000 tax credit is for first-time home buyers only. For this
tax credit program, the IRS defines a first-time home buyer as someone
who has not owned a principal residence three-years prior to the
purchase.

The tax credit does not have to be repaid unless the home is sold or
is not used as the buyer’s principal residence within three years after
the initial purchase.

The tax credit is equal to 10 percent of the home’s purchase price up
to a maximum of $8,000.

The tax credit applies only to homes priced at $800,000 or
less.

The tax credit now applies to sales occurring on or after January 1,
2009 and on or beforeApril 30, 2010. However, in cases where a binding
sales contract is signed by April 30, 2010, a home purchase completed by
June 30, 2010 will qualify.

For homes purchased on or after January 1, 2009 and on or before
November 6, 2009, the income limits are $75,000 for single taxpayers and
$150,000 for married couples filing jointly.

For homes purchased after November 6, 2009 and on or before April 30,
2010, single taxpayers with incomes up to $125,000 and married couples
with incomes up to $225,000 qualify for the full tax credit.

The $6,500 Move-Up / Repeat Home Buyer

The tax credit does not have to be repaid unless the home is sold or
ceases to be used as the buyer’s principal residence within three years
after the initial purchase.

The tax credit is equal to 10 percent of the home’s purchase price up
to a maximum of $6,500.

The tax credit applies only to homes priced at $800,000 or less.

The credit is available for homes purchased after November 6, 2009
and on or before April 30, 2010. However, in cases where a binding sales
contract To be eligible to claim the tax credit, buyers must have owned
and lived in their previous home for five consecutive years out of the
last eight years.

is signed by April 30, 2010, the home purchase qualifies provided it
is completed by June 30, 2010.

Single taxpayers with incomes up to $125,000 and married couples with
incomes up to $225,000 qualify for the full tax credit.

We at Florida Future Realty want to
make your Cape Coral home buying experience as positive and stress
free as possible.   Please call one of our qualified agents to
assist you with finding the perfect home, or browse our site to begin a
search of your own.

Yours in Success,

Florida Future Realty Team

(239)542-8521

href="http://www.floridafutureagents.com/">www.floridafutureagents.com

href="http://www.florida-future-realty.com/">www.florida-future-realty.com

Island Sound at Pelican Preserve Condo for Sale

Susan Milner — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 14:19:40 +0000

With the Estero River and a pristine wooded preserve as your backyard, a 27 hole championship golf course, 6 lighted tennis courts, boat launch, fitness center and oversized pool, Island Sound in beautiful Pelican Sound in Estero, Florida is a perfect choice to enjoy a real Florida lifestyle.

This 2 bedroom 2 bath custom designed condo has an eat-in kitchen and dining area, tiled floors throughout, screened lanai where you can relax in the beautiful Southwest Florida outdoors and is situated near the pool. Each spacious bedroom has plantation style shutters and custom paint throughout. The condo boasts a spacious living room adjoining the lanai.

The Pelican Sound Golf Club has a pro shop, men’s and women’s lockers and a casual grille to stop in after your round of golf on the championship course. As well as the Golf club, Island Sound offers the River Club with a state of the art fitness center. Enjoy a light dining experience as you overlook the Estero River from the deck at the River Clubs restaurant.

Pelican Sound Golf & River Club is conveniently located near the beach, great shopping, restaurants and has some of the best schools Lee County has to offer, including Florida Gulf Coast University.

For more information on this unit, including the current listing price, contact us at 239-542-8521 or email inquiry@FloridaFutureAgents.com.

As always you can follow us on twitter, find us on facebook or search more properties for sale.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Yours in Success,

Florida Future Realty, Inc.
(239) 542-8521
www.Florida-Future-Realty.com

Chinese Drywall found in Cape Coral & Fort Myers houses

Susan Milner — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 17:11:49 +0000

cape coral real estate
Chinese Drywall in and around Cape Coral, Ft. Myers and Lehigh Acres is something to be aware of

Over the past couple of years we’ve been hearing more and more about Chinese Drywall in SW Florida. Our office focuses mostly in Cape Coral & Fort Myers real estate. There are many homes & communities that have been affected by Chinese Drywall. Most of these homes were built between the years of 2003-2008 but there have been some instances found dating back as early as 1998.

During those periods, our housing/building boom, drywall was imported into the United States that was manufactured in China & much of it contained potentially toxic materials.

If you are considering purchasing a home in our area that was built, or remodeled in those timeframes you will most definitely want to have a home inspection that includes a Chinese Drywall inspection.

How does an inspector look for Chinese Drywall? At the present time, the only sure way to confirm that the house has Chinese Drywall is to send a portion of the drywall off to a lab to be tested.

An inspector can look for signs of Chinese Drywall though. Some signs are:

Corroded Copper
in electrical wiring
in air handler

Silver
in faucets and other fixtures
jewelry
mirrors

Odor
similar to bad well water / sulfur / rotten-egg

What are some potential issues of Chinese Drywall?

Health
I’m not for sure if these have been confirmed but people have complained of respiratory problems, allergy-like symptoms, headaches and nervous system issues.

Electrical & Structural
again confirmation may, or may not, exist ~ I’ve heard of complete electrical panels being burnt out
the toxic fumes could penetrate into the concrete blocks or other components of the house ~ most typically into other wood items such as cabinets

What is the remediation process for Chinese Drywall?

Complete removal of all Chinese Drywall
Depending upon the severity of the spread this could include the blocks, cabinets, wiring, pipes or more

As I am not an expert on Chinese Drywall I have included links to other resources where you can continue your education if you so choose.

US Consumer Product Safety Commission: http://cpsc.gov/info/drywall/
Article on CNN: http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/03/18/chinese.drywall/
Article from WSJ: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123171862994672097.html
Article from our local News-Press: http://www.news-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009909220331
Additional information & photos: http://www.chinesedrywall.com/gallery.html

At the present time we have buyers actually seeking out Chinese Drywall homes to purchase & other buyers steering clear of them. Armed with information you can make the decision that is best for you.

As always, we look forward to working with you. You can search Cape Coral real estate from our website 24/7 from the comfort of your home or office. When you are ready for more information simply let us know & we’ll get in touch quickly.

Make it a GREAT day!

Yours in Success,

Susan Milner
Broker of Florida Future Realty, Inc.
(239) 542-8521
www.SusanMilner.com

~ as with most things, the signs stated above could be signs of other conditions of the home and may or may not equate to Chinese Drywall. Make sure to hire a professional to make the correct determination.

Copyright 2009 Susan Milner ~ Florida Future Realty, Inc.

Lee County real estate market statistics

Susan Milner — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 01:15:54 +0000

Welcome to September. I can’t believe we’re 2/3 through 2008 already. This year seemed to FLY by. It has proved to be a very historical year so far for real estate here in SW Florida.

With unprecedented foreclosures and short sales in Lee County, the values definitely continued to decline. Sales went up over the year however.

I’d like to share with you statistics I pulled up today. From January – August residential sales (not including multi-family or land) in Lee County by the year.

2009: 13,505 *
2008: 7,252
2007: 5,414
2006: 8,052
2005: 10,896 *
2004: 9,351

* 2005 was our peak year for values & volumes prior to 2009 which clearly shows nearly 125% more sales than in 2005! I also calculated the median sales price to compare these 2 historical years. In 2005 the median sales price was $248,000. In 2009; just $85,000. While this fact is troublesome for some sellers it presents an amazing opportunity for buyers.

Is this a turning point for the SW Florida real estate market? It sure looks like it. The prices are lower than they’ve been in years creating a fantastic opportunity for buyers. There is also the $8,000 tax credit for first time home buyers through the end of November.

Sellers must be priced right and positioned well in the market. Properties priced well will move. Sellers who may be upside down in their mortgage have options as well. From loan modifications to short sales & beyond. Our office successfully closes several short sales each month.

It is going to be some time before the prices begin to go back up but with the amount of sales taking place at least we can see the light again.

If you have any questions about real estate please give us a call. We’re here and ready to assist.

Florida Future Realty, Inc is a full service brokerage servicing all areas of SW Florida – buyers & sellers alike.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Yours in Success,

Florida Future Realty, Inc.
Inquiry@FloridaFutureAgents.com
(239) 542-8521

Susan Milner — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 19:20:35 +0000

Tax Credit for First Time Home Buyers

Tax credit for first time home buyers is a great incentive to
purchase a home in SW Florida. Last year, Congress passed a tax
incentive for first time home buyers with the notion it would encourage
and motivate potential buyers and stimulate the housing market. That tax
credit however was a repayable interest-free loan that many first time
home buyers had trouble with. This year, with the new president and a
new economic outlook, the first time home buyer has much more to look
forward to in the home buying avenue. The American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act of 2009 is well underway and gives home buyers another
opportunity to own a home. What is it?

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 authorizes a tax
credit of up to $8,000 for qualified first-time home buyers purchasing a
principal residence on or after January 1, 2009 and before December 1,
2009. This tax incentive does not have to be repaid which makes it a
true tax credit. This is great news if you have been thinking about
purchasing a home in SW Florida! There a few eligibility requirements
for the first time home buyer that have to be met in order to receive
the credit.

For instance, the home you purchase must be used as your primary
residence for a minimum of three years. Otherwise, you will have to
repay the tax credit amount unless you meet certain criteria for
exception. It is best to check with an accountant to get more detailed
information on the allowable exceptions. Also, in order to receive the
tax credit, a first time home buyer should not have owned a principal
residence during the three-year period prior to the purchase. There are
also income limits to receiving the tax credit. The income limit for
single taxpayers is $75,000; the limit is $150,000 for married taxpayers
filing a joint return. Again, this is an area of expertise for an
accountant or tax professional.

The economic stimulus plan has made participating in the tax credit
for first time home buyers fairly easy. You claim the tax credit on your
income tax return. The IRS has Form 5405 which helps determine the home
buyer’s tax credit amount. That’s it! No other forms are required. So
now potential first time home buyers have more advantages in the real
estate market. According to the Florida Housing Finance Corporation’s
research, the tax credit will help more than 3,000 people into new
homes.

Keep in mind that in SW Florida there are many homes with low asking
prices, as well as short sales and foreclosures on the market ready and
available for purchase. Also keep in mind that in order to qualify for
the 2009 tax credit, a signed contract on a home must be completed by
November 30, 2009. There is still time to take advantage of the first
time home buyer tax credit as well as the low interest rates- this is
the perfect combination to make your dream of owning a home possible.

Contact one of our Real Estate professionals for more information on
first time home buying incentives.

The Florida Future Realty, Inc Team!

href="mailto:inquiry@floridafutureagents.com?subject=Florida-Future-Realty.com%20email">inquiry@floridafutureagents.com

(239)
542-8521 Office Line

(888) 764-6665 Toll Free

Copyright 2009 Florida Future Realty, Inc

Cape Coral real estate broker Susan Milner appearance on NBC 2

Susan Milner — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 00:25:20 +0000

Cape Coral real estate – foreclosures selling with multiple offers.

Cape Coral foreclosures can be a great opportunity to purchase a great deal. But as this news story confirms, these homes are often times selling quickly & with multiple offers for buyers to compete with.

Make sure you have your pre-approval letter or proof of funds letter ready. Make sure you are working with an agent who understands the market and can help you determine the value of the house so your offer wins!

At Florida Future Realty, Inc. we have agents trained to assist you with your home purchase.

We look forward to working with you.

Yours in Success,

Florida Future Realty, Inc.

www.Florida-Future-Realty.com

(239) 542-8521

Susan Milner — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 21:10:59 +0000

See video: href="http://susanmilner.com/2009/03/cape-coral-real-estate-broker-susan-milner-appearance-on-nbc-2/"
target="_blank">Cape Coral Foreclosures

Cape Coral foreclosures can be a great opportunity to purchase a
great deal. But as this news story confirms, these homes are often times
selling quickly & with multiple offers for buyers to compete with.

Make sure you have your pre-approval letter or proof of funds letter
ready. Make sure you are working with an agent who understands the
market and can help you determine the value of the house so your offer
wins!

At Florida Future Realty, Inc. we have agents trained to assist you
with your home purchase.

We look forward to working with you.

Yours in Success,

Florida Future Realty, Inc.

www.Florida-Future-Realty.com

(239) 542-8521

Cape Coral gulf access house for sale

Susan Milner — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 02:13:05 +0000



This beautiful, new home in SE Cape Coral is ready for new owners. Located very near the Caloosahatchee River (only 1 bridge to navigate under).

This very large home features a formal dining room, large living room, breakfast room and separate den or study.

Spacious master bedroom has 2 walk in closets & dual vanities, jacuzzi tub and walk around shower. 2 other bedrooms on other side of the home connect and both have full bathrooms as well.

The kitchen comes equipped with all appliances, center island, solid surface counters and wood cabinets!

Outside you’ll find the lanai with swimming pool with great views down the gulf access canal.

3 car garage, hurricane panels, irrigation system and manibloc plumbing truly complete this home.

Call us, or your agent, today to schedule a private showing!

This home is priced right at only $375,000.



Search for more Cape Coral homes!

Yours in Success,

Susan Milner
Florida Future Realty, Inc.
www.Florida-Future-Realty.com
(239) 542-8521

Cape Coral Real Estate Compared to Black Friday

Susan Milner — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 14:10:52 +0000

Cape Coral, FL   Real Estate news

How our current real estate market relates to Black Friday.

We all know Black Friday. The day after Thanksgiving that so many rush out in the wee hours in the hope of finding that AWESOME deal on some electronic or other great Holiday gift.

We’ll compare the glossy store circulars to the real estate websites.

A couple will be lucky & will be able to buy one of the 3 50″ flat screen t.v.s for $50.

We’ll call that an under valued short sale that got lucky. You know the $50,000 home that exists in Cape Coral. You look at the photos online and can’t believe your eyes. But you get down here to see that the house needs a lot of work (of course there were no pictures of that), the neighbors houses all look the same and it is very far away from every convenience.

Quit a few others will be able to buy that same t.v. for $500.

We’ll call that a bank owned property that didn’t get proper marketing. Maybe a listing agent called another agent or buyer right out the door on it. Maybe the listing agent didn’t provide enough photos to entice buyers so only one offer came in.

And several others will miss the boat and have to pay $750 the following day.

We’ll call that the typical great buyer deal. Bank owned; short sale or private seller. The buyer got a great deal. Their agent did everything to help them find the best deal. The buyers are still very happy with their purchase and realize that the real estate market is MOVING in Cape Coral. The house that they bought for $175,000 sold for nearly $400,000 in the peak.

Everyone knows that we are in a buyer’s market. But that’s a little misleading. How so? Well because; properties that are priced correctly are moving quickly and often times with multiple offers. So if you are up north looking at a house for $50,000 and you think you can buy it for less than that chances are you can’t. If anything you’ll probably have to pay more. I know it seems strange but that is what is happening. It happens time and time again when I work with buyers to find them deals.

A little trick to try: Look at homes listed slightly higher than other comparable properties. Offer just under what the others are asking and you may just get it. Or at least a decent deal. Why? Well because the homes just over market value are not getting any attention. Many sellers want to stay high to ‘give themselves wiggle room’.

To conclude, a very small percentage of buyers made a quick decision and were lucky enough to purchase a 3/2 pool home for $100,000. Many were lucky enough to purchase one for $125,000 but most paid upwards of $175,000 and more.

So with Black Friday coming up in conjunction with our busy season; I hope this guide assists you with your investment in Cape Coral real estate.

Yours in Success,

Susan Milner

Florida Future Realty, Inc.

(239) 542-8521

Specializing in great waterfront properties in Cape Coral & Surrounding areas. Visit us online at www.Florida-Future-Realty.us or search for homes online anytime at www.Florida-Future-Realty.com.

Copyright 2008 Susan Milner Florida Future Realty, Inc.

Cape Coral Real Estate | Cape Coral Foreclosures

Susan Milner — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 13:43:29 +0000

Cape Coral Foreclosures – Great Opportunities for Buyers!

Cape Coral, FL   Cape Coral buyers, Paul & Sharon came to visit me last week. They are looking for a nice home in Cape Coral, Florida. What they wanted was a slight stretch but we were able to find a few homes to go check out. Their hopes: SW Cape Coral / inground pool / city water & sewer / good condition / price under $100,000.

I love a good challenge so we scoured the MLS (multiple listing service) and eliminated many on looks alone. We were left with 2 decent possibilities. As we go to head out the front door of Florida Future Realty, Inc., in walks Stephanie from ABC 7 News. She has interviewed me previously for another story. She is doing a story about the foreclosures in Cape Coral and the city’s plan to help clean up the situation. She is looking for some sort of list of addresses of foreclosures. Since we were on the way out I didn’t have the time to print out a list for her but I invited her to follow along. She agrees, Paul & Sharon agree and off we go. I can send you that list each week if you’d like: Cape Coral Foreclosure \ Cape Coral Short Sale List

The first house we look at is only $94,500. It is in OK shape but it needs more cosmetic work than my customers are looking to do. The next one we look at is GREAT though. After the news team leaves we spend quite some time really looking at the house. They are very interested in this. And it is only $104,500. I tell them it is a good price and that they may already have an offer. They want to think about this and after they leave I call and talk with the listing agent. He advises that there is another offer but encourages us to submit a back up. That evening I meet with Paul and he signs an offer. I present it later that night. No word. The next day we hear that the other (original) offer is looking pretty good. My customers will still keep their offer on the table as a ‘back up’.

A bit discouraged now, my customers, Paul & Sharon ask that I keep searching. I find a few others but nothing as nice as this last one.

They headed back home with nothing under contract But I’m still keeping my eyes peeled for a house that will fit their wishes. I’m sure we’ll find something else good. It might just take a tad longer.

Fun news: We were all on the news that evening that we looked at those 2 homes.

(This photo was taken in the uglier home for $94,500)

Nothing big but here it is:

ABC7 Appearance

Lessons learned:

1) There are some amazing real estate investment opportunities in Cape Coral, Florida

2) Being on the news is fun – even though my customers weren’t 100% up to it (you were both GREAT sports)

3) Properties that are priced right are moving quickly!

If you’d like to search for homes in Cape Coral, Florida please let us know. Myself and my team of licensed real estate agents look forward to working with you to find the best deal for you. Everyone is looking for something different. There are houses priced from $50,000 to 2,000,000 in Cape Coral so there is one suited for you & your needs.

See homes in Cape Coral by price range or search thousands of cape coral real estate listings! Anytime 24 hours a day from the comfort of your own home. When you are ready to see them in person let me know!

I look forward to working with you!

Yours in Success,

Susan Milner

Florida Future Realty, Inc.

239-542-8521

susan@susanmilner.com

Cape Coral Homes Insurance – Affordability of Florida Insurance

Susan Milner — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 15:30:12 +0000

Cape Coral Homes Insurance – Affordability of Florida Insurance

As a Cape Coral real estate brokerage, we are often asked about the costs and availability of homeowners insurance in the SW Florida area.

Many believe that the costs are very high and others wonder if it is even available.

While many insurance providers have stopped writing in Florida after the busy Hurricane Season of years past, many more have opened up in Florida.

Many insurance companies have been around for many years while others are new to Florida.

There is an excellent website to give you an ideea of insurance costs.

http://www.shopandcomparerates.com/HOCompareRates.htm

You can click on ‘lee county’ for a list of companies and a quote from each.

Next, you’ll need to know about flood insurance. In my opinion, I think flood insurance is a good idea in Cape Coral, regardless of your location. If a big storm hit us directly we’d all be under water. But FEMA has a new map out with the different floodzones for you to review:

http://msc.fema.gov/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/FemaWelcomeView?storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&langId=-1

Here’s a link to a map of SE Cape Coral:

http://map1.msc.fema.gov/idms/IntraView.cgi?KEY=1584830&IFIT=1

Floodsmart has a great article with questions to ask your real estate agent:

http://www.floodsmart.gov/floodsmart/pages/flood_policies/ask_your_real_estate_agent.jsp

Feel free to contact a licensed real estate agent with Florida Future Realty, Inc. for local insurance contacts or for any real estate related questions you may have.

We have great home buys available here in Lee County, Florida.

Susan Milner

Florida Future Realty, Inc.

(239) 542-8521

Search Cape Coral & other area listings: www.Florida-Future-Realty.com

Susan@SusanMilner.com

HUD Homes in Cape Coral | HUD Certified Broker in Cape Coral

Susan Milner — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 19:17:43 +0000

Here is the most recent list of HUD homes available in Cape Coral!

CAPE-CORAL

Property Case Address Price Bed/Bath List Date Bid Deadline Priority

092-916314 2858 NW 6TH TER
CAPE CORAL, FL 33993 $114,000 3/2 10/24/08 11/02/08 Owner Occupant
(Investors bid on 2008-11-03)

View Map View Property Details

Property Case Address Price Bed/Bath List Date Bid Deadline Priority

095-035002 3335 DANDOLO CIR
CAPE CORAL, FL 33909 $107,350 3/2.5 10/24/08 11/02/08 Owner Occupant
(Investors bid on 2008-11-03)

View Map View Property Details

Property Case Address Price Bed/Bath List Date Bid Deadline Priority

092-783639 634 SE 10TH PL
CAPE CORAL, FL 33990 $112,100 4/3 10/10/08 Daily All Bidders

View Map View Property Details

Property Case Address Price Bed/Bath List Date Bid Deadline Priority

092-917577 1126 SW 1ST TER
CAPE CORAL, FL 33991 $109,250 3/2 10/10/08 Daily All Bidders

View Map View Property Details

Property Case Address Price Bed/Bath List Date Bid Deadline Priority

092-907790 501 NW JUANITA CT
CAPE CORAL, FL 33993 $75,000 3/ 2 10/17/08 Daily All Bidders

View Map View Property Details

Property Case Address Price Bed/Bath List Date Bid Deadline Priority

092-879609 120 NE 24TH AVE
CAPE CORAL, FL 33909 $105,000 Price Reduced 3/ 2 10/10/08 Daily All Bidders

View Map View Property Details

If you’d like to search for homes in Cape Coral, Florida please let us know. Myself and my team of licensed real estate agents look forward to working with you to find the best deal for you. Everyone is looking for something different. There are houses priced from $50,000 to 2,000,000 in Cape Coral so there is one suited for you & your needs.

See homes in Cape Coral by price range or search thousands of cape coral real estate listings! Anytime 24 hours a day from the comfort of your own home. When you are ready to see them in person let me know!

I look forward to working with you!

Yours in Success,

Susan Milner

Florida Future Realty, Inc.

239-542-8521

susan@susanmilner.com

Cape Coral HUD homes

Susan Milner — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 14:00:26 +0000

Property Case Address Price Bed/Bath List Date Bid Deadline Priority

092-783639 634 SE 10TH PL
CAPE CORAL, FL 33990 $112,100 4/3 10/10/08 10/19/08 Owner Occupant
(Investors bid on 2008-10-20)

View Map View Property Details

Property Case Address Price Bed/Bath List Date Bid Deadline Priority

092-917577 1126 SW 1ST TER
CAPE CORAL, FL 33991 $109,250 3/2 10/10/08 10/19/08 Owner Occupant
(Investors bid on 2008-10-20)

View Map View Property Details

Property Case Address Price Bed/Bath List Date Bid Deadline Priority

092-879609 120 NE 24TH AVE
CAPE CORAL, FL 33909 $105,000 Price Reduced 3/ 2 10/10/08 10/14/08 Owner Occupant
(Investors bid on 2008-10-15)

View Map View Property Details

Property Case Address Price Bed/Bath List Date Bid Deadline Priority

092-907790 501 NW JUANITA CT
CAPE CORAL, FL 33993 $75,000 Price Reduced 3/ 2 09/12/08 Daily All Bidders

View Map View Property Details

Property information from NHMS (buyers must submit bids through a registered real estate agent).

Are you looking for a HUD home in Cape Coral, Florida? Florida Future Realty, Inc. is a licensed real estate brokerage registered with HUD. Our agents can show you HUD homes for sale.

Our agents also have access to all the other great listings for sale, including HUD homes, foreclosed homes, bank owned homes, reos, corporate owned properties, short sales and real estate for sale by motivated sellers.

Cape Coral short sales

Fort Myers short sales

Lehigh Acres short sales

E Ft. Myers short sales

N. Ft. Myers short sales

Estero short sales

You can search for all of the properties available in Lee County right online from the comfort of wherever you have internet access. Our website contains a user friendly real estate search engine and is 100% free to use. Go ahead, check it out: Lee County Real Estate Compare properties, see photos, get notified of new listings that match your criteria, save your favorites, schedule showings and more!

We look forward to hearing from you!

Yours in Success,

Susan Milner

Florida Future Realty, Inc.

239-542-8521

Copyright 2008

Cape Coral’s hot real estate market

Susan Milner — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 14:18:46 +0000

Everyone is talking about Cape Coral, Florida and Ft. Myers, Florida real estate. First time homeowners can finally afford to buy, northerners can easily afford that second home in Cape Coral. Investors can cash flow again in Lee County.

Buyers, give us a call to see what I mean. 239-218-2229 – my personal cell phone!
Last week I had customers from Germany enter into a contract on a beautifully appointed S. Ft. Myers condo near the beach at half of the pice of 2004/2005. Great condition from the seller (not a short sale). They’ll soon be enjoying those grey winters from Germany in their new coach home in sunny SW Florida They are thrilled!

I have an investor about to go under contract for a 3/2/2 CBS home in Cape Coral for $60,000. Yes, you read that correctly, $60,000. Bank Owned. It needs some repairs but he’s handy.

I just sold a gulf access short sale in Cape Coral that needed to be finished (about 95% complete) ~ beautiful 4/2 with granite counters, stainless steel appliances, brick pavers, high ceilings and doorways, large tiles, inground pool, etc ~ Only $285,000! (The seller owed just under $600,000)

~ Watch the video below ~

We look forward to hearing from you. You can search for homes all over Lee County on our website: Cape Coral Real Estate

Yours in Success,
Susan Milner
Florida Future Realty, Inc.
www.Florida-Future-Realty.com
239-542-8521
susan@susanmilner.com

Expecting to Buy a short Sale | What to Expect

Susan Milner — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 13:36:21 +0000

What to Expect when you are expecting to buy a short sale

So, you are expecting? Expecting to buy a short sale? Short sales are handled much differently from traditional sales. Here we will go over the differences to help you through the process.

The first thing to consider: Your time frame for purchase

Do you have enough time to wait for an answer? Short sales can take 30-60 days to receive an answer. We’ve heard horror stories of it taking 5-6 months in some cases as well. This could have been due to a number of factors that we cannot thoroughly cover here.

The next thing to consider: Choosing a Real Estate Agent

Have you found a real estate agent who has the knowledge to guide you through the short sale process? Ask them questions like “have you helped a buyer purchase a short sale before?” if so, ‘how did the process go?” Then ask, “Have you ever negotiated a short sale for a seller before?” and if so, “how did that process go?”

Watch for the agents’ opinion of short sales. If an agent has had a bad experience with a short sale you’ll be able to pick up on that. If they feel like they are a waste of time you’ll notice that too. Then you need to find someone who understands the process and can help you through it.

Next thing you’ll do: View the homes

Next your agent will schedule appointments to show you the short sales you are interested in. While you are viewing these properties, take note of the condition of the property. How long ago did the seller stop maintaining the property or is it still being maintained? If there are tenants living there – when does their lease expire? Are they willing to stay or do they plan to leave? Are they keeping the house or property neat? Or are they destroying it?

Ready to Submit an Offer: Make sure it is written up correctly

Your agent should of course called the listing agent to determine the status of the short sale. Does the seller plan to accept 1 offer or many? Have any offers already been submitted? If so, what was the outcome? Was there a previous bank approval? What were those terms? Does the seller plan to sign an offer and then take the property off of the market or do they intend to keep it available for sale?

Your offer will consist of the following:

Far/Bar As-Is Contract: This is an approved as-is contract. It does not require for the seller to be responsible for any repairs. It does give the buyer the right to inspect.

Short Sale Addendum: This form spells out the timeframes. You can give any number of days for the seller to obtain bank approval. You can make the offer’s effective date good from the time of acceptance by the seller or from the time of receipt of written approval from the bank. We advise the latter as to not lose money with inspections without knowing the outcome of your offer.

Approval letter if financing: This is a letter from your lender approving your financing.

Or

Proof of Funds if paying with cash: This can be a letter from your bank stating “Mrs. Buyer has adequate funds available to close on said property for $this much money” or it can be a copy of a bank statement.

Earnest Deposit: Typically at least $1,000. The seller’s lender will want proof of this so go ahead and have it ready. It shouldn’t matter who is holding the escrow but if the seller is already working with a specific local title company it is best to have it placed there.

Seller Acceptance:

Seller acceptance shouldn’t take more than a day or two in most cases. Remember though, the seller is only agreeing to sell the property if their lender agrees to a short sale. It is critical that you have a contract signed with the seller. Otherwise there is no deal.

Then you: WAIT for seller’s lender’s approval

Determine how often you’ll get updates. Do you want to know what is going on every week? Only when there is progress? Do you want to be called? Emailed? Communication is key. You and your agent should have a plan.

GREAT NEWS: Approval

Now your effective date starts. This means that your inspection period starts, your loan approval period starts. Make sure you work diligently on your financing because asking for an extension can be a real headache.

At Closing: One extra form

Most banks are now requiring the buyer to sign an affidavit of arms length transaction. This ensures that nothing funny is going on. (like you are buying mom’s house). Some banks are even doing background checks on buyers to verify this as well. Otherwise your closing will be handled like any other real estate closing.

There you have it, What to Expect When you are Expecting – To Buy a short sale.

Keep in mind that this is not a full list of what could happen but it is a generalization to help you with the process. If you are considering a short sale purchase in Lee County please contact our team for help. We have the experience to advise you when a short sale can work and how to handle the transaction – start to finish.

We look forward to your successful purchase.

Search Short Sale (and other) listings:

Cape Coral short sales

Fort Myers short sales

Lehigh Acres short sales

E Ft. Myers short sales

N. Ft. Myers short sales

Estero short sales

You can search for all of the properties available in Lee County right online from the comfort of wherever you have internet access. Our website contains a user friendly real estate search engine and is 100% free to use. Go ahead, check it out: Lee County Real Estate Compare properties, see photos, get notified of new listings that match your criteria, save your favorites, schedule showings and more!

We look forward to hearing from you!

Yours in Success,

Susan Milner

Florida Future Realty, Inc.

239-542-8521

Copyright 2008

Investing Money in Real Estate

Susan Milner — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 22:59:08 +0000

I have received so many phone calls in the past 2 weeks from cash buyers.

People who want to invest their money in real estate. They do not feel that their money is safe in their banks. Safe, maybe? But what about the value?

Just like when those from foreign countries buy because of the exchange rate; the exchange rate from liquid cash to real, tangible real estate is excellent.

Maybe your money is ‘safe’ at the bank. I mean it is insured up to $250,000 at each bank. But what happens when your bank closes its door or when there is a rush from everyone wanting their money? There may be a wait or there may not be any left.

This blog is not intended to instill fear or panic. It is just an observation.

Lately I’ve had more buyers calling, emailing and stopping by looking for a place to invest their hard earned cash.

I love real estate. I still think it is one of the best investment vehicles. Especially for long term growth and stability. You know it is there, it is insurable, it is saleable, it is rentable, it is a tax write off – it appreciates and it is a necessity.

If you are considering real estate I can help you find some great investments. From vacant land, to single family homes to multi families, everything is on sale! Why not own in Paradise? SW Florida is truly like living in paradise every day!

Search properties for sale in Lee County, FL right from my website.

I look forward to hearing from you soon!

Yours in Success,

Susan Milner

www.Florida-Future-Realty.com

239-218-2229

- Out of the country? You can skype me for free

FloridaFutureRealty on Skype

Cape Coral Real Estate Economics

Susan Milner — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 16:10:56 +0000

Cape Coral, FL Are you concerned about what to do with your cash in light of the current economy? Have you considered investing in real estate?

Are you looking for an investment property? Second home? Retirement property? SW Florida was hit hard with the decline as we experienced such a high in the boom.

You can now purchase great homes in Cape Coral under $75,000! You can purchase gulf access vacant land under $75,000!

You can buy a gulf access condo under $150,000 in Cape Coral. You can buy a Cape Coral gulf access single family house under $200,000.

Looking at a smaller investment? You can buy an off water vacant lot in Cape Coral under $15,000!

These are just some opportunities that are available.

Real estate is safe. So long as you pay your taxes your investment is very secure.

If you’d like to chat about the possibilities of investing in real estate in SW Florida: Cape Coral, Ft. Myers and Lehigh Acres feel free to call me.

I can be reached at                239-218-2229         or via email at Susan@SusanMilner.com

You can also search for real estate: Lee county real estate for sale

I look forward to working with you!

Yours in Success,

Susan Milner

Florida Future Realty, Inc.

Your Future In Florida Awaits!

Copyright 2008 Florida Future Realty, Inc. Susan Milner

Cape Coral Real Estate

Cape Coral short sales and Cape Coral Foreclosures

Susan Milner — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 14:25:03 +0000

Are you looking for a great deal with a Cape Coral Short Sale or a Cape Coral Foreclosure? We can send you a new list each week for your review. Just select from below what you are looking for and we’ll do the rest. The list will be sent via email so make sure your email address is correct!

Yours in Success,

Susan Milner

Florida Future Realty, Inc.

(239) 542-8521

Cape Coral Real Estate

Email Susan

Copyright 2008 Susan Milner

Gulf Access Properties Under $200,000 – WOW!

Susan Milner — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 17:27:29 +0000

Did you know that you can now find properties in Cape Coral with access to the Gulf of Mexico for under $200,000?

Many of these homes need repairs – from minor to major but for these prices – WOW!

Check out the current available properties:

Cape Coral Gulf Access Properties under $200,000

Florida Future Realty, Inc.

(239) 542-8521

Susan@SusanMilner.com

Copyright 2008 Florida Future Realty, Inc.

Your Future in Florida Awaits!

Invest in Short Sales | Cape Coral Short Sales | Ft. Myers Short Sales

Susan Milner — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 19:21:16 +0000

Invest in Short Sales | Cape Coral Short Sales | Ft. Myers Short Sales

Are you interested in Cape Coral short sales? Want to hear the truth about them?

Do you and/or your agent understand them?

One thing that I think is VERY important is to note the source of the information you find.

How many short sales has this agent been involved with? How many have actually CLOSED?

Getting bad advice is possible so you need to understand where this information is coming from.

Would you take advice about building wealth from someone currently in poverty? No, of course not. Then why would you take advice on short sales from someone who has never closed on one?

As of today, 626 residential short sales have closed in Lee County since January 1, 2008. The average days on market was 145. That is from list date to sale date.

I pulled out a ranking report ~ by agent ~ by sold counts as listing agent ~ sorted by # of closed listings.

I rank #5. Susan Milner of Florida Future Realty: #5 in residential short sales closed out of our entire MLS for this time period of Jan 1, 2008-Aug 28, 2008. 2 of the agents listed above me are brokers and take credit for every sale in their entire office. I am also the broker at Florida Future Realty but I do not take credit for my agents’ listings. The rankings were all my listings. A couple of them were referred by agents in my office but I was the listing agent.

So, being ranked #5 out of a total of over 5,000 agents in our local board of REALTORS I consider myself a good source of information on short sales.

Do I claim to know everything about short sales? No, of course not. But I would be a better source of information than someone who has never handled a short sale through to the end.

Everyone’s situation is unique to them and a seller should seek the counsel of an experienced attorney and/or tax accountant to make sure that a short sale is their best option.

Often times these agents and/or you, their customer, do not have all of the information or knowledge to make an informed decision about short sales. Before you make a decision do your homework.

If you have a question about selling your house as a short sale or a question regarding purchasing a short sale, please give our office a call. We are here to assist you with your real estate needs. Having the added experience with these short sales gives us an advantage in assisting our customers with their short sale buying or selling needs.

We also handle bank owned properties. Often times these homes are priced so well that buyers are experiencing multiple offer situations and the properties typically sell for higher than list price in these cases.

We price our short sales correct with the market. This provides a much higher likelihood of the short sale being approved and it provides for an easier process for all involved.

Want to see our current short sales?

Cape Coral short sales

Fort Myers short sales

Lehigh Acres short sales

E Ft. Myers short sales

N. Ft. Myers short sales

Estero short sales

You can search for all of the properties available in Lee County right online from the comfort of wherever you have internet access. Our website contains a user friendly real estate search engine and is 100% free to use. Go ahead, check it out: Lee County Real Estate Compare properties, see photos, get notified of new listings that match your criteria, save your favorites, schedule showings and more!

We look forward to hearing from you!

Yours in Success,

Susan Milner

Florida Future Realty, Inc.

  239-542-8521

Copyright 2008

Children Should Be Included in a Home Purchase

Susan Milner — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:59:13 +0000

(I didn’t provide a link to the post because it is a members only blog and that wouldn’t be right, but it is a featured blog right now so you can easily find it)

Well I just read a blog from another active rain blogger who wrote a post about how some children should not come with parents to look at homes as they are a distraction and oftentimes a safety hazard or possible liability (break something).

While I totally agree that children should be watched by their parents I also do not see the issue with the real estate agent assisting in the entertaining of the child(ren). On many occasions I have had children in my car, or their parent’s car along with showings.

While I will draw the line at changing diapers (yes, seriously nearly asked once); I have no issue to keeping little Sally or Tommy involved and out of trouble. I have allowed kids to color while in my car, listen to their favorite music, stop for snacks/potty breaks, open lockboxes, etc.

Of course I can still answer any questions my buyers my have. Usually buyers can look through a house themselves. I’ve already told them the high points of the house. Obviously you keep an eye on the buyers too – they shouldn’t be wandering alone either in some cases just in case.

They shouldn’t have to be bothered with hiring a babysitter. They shouldn’t exclude their children in the process, in my opinion. And if they do decide to exclude their children in their home buying process then I believe that that is THEIR decision and NOT their real estate agents.

Moving is a family event in my eyes. Involving them will make the entire transition smoother for all involved.

While I definitely believe that there are extreme cases of bad parents and possible bad kids, I think that overall having the entire family along for the trip is a good idea.

Besides, if you are in line with your ideal client/customer then I’m sure you’ll enjoy their whole family.

If you are attracting customers who have rotten kids or customers who don’t involve their children at all then maybe that isn’t the right customer to attract. On the contrary, if you truly hate children then don’t send out the thoughts to attract families. Focus on YOUR ideal client.

In conclusion, I was truly amazed at the number of real estate agents who commented on the other blog about their ‘awful’ experience with children on showings and just the general distaste of children in general.

I just can’t imagine the person who cannot see the good in children. But that’s a personal choice I suppose. Just be clearer on the type of customer that makes a good customer for you and the ‘wrong’ customers just won’t be attracted to you.

Yours in Success,

Susan Milner

P.S. All of our SW Florida real estate agents are happy to assist you and your entire family, or lack thereof, in your home search.

Search Cape Coral Real Estate now.

Copyright 2008

Florida Future Realty, Inc.

Cape Coral Spreader Canal

Susan Milner — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 00:53:39 +0000

I live across the street from what is known as the Spreader Canal in Cape Coral. It is a 200 foot wide canal along most of the west coast of Cape Coral.

Beyond this spreader canal is a preserve area of mostly mangroves.

Tonight the sunset was so pretty I grabbed my camera and snapped some shots.

This is a photo of my next door neighbor’s Palm Trees.

You cannot see the water in this photo but it is just below.

Here is the water view, just to the south of the palm trees.

And here is a view down the intersection of a canal with the larger, spreader canal

So, that’s my front yard….

What do you see in your front or back yards?

Copyright 2008 Susan Milner

Florida Future Realty, Inc.

www.Florida-Future-Realty.com

Cape Coral Foreclosure Problem

Susan Milner — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 16:07:13 +0000

I just finished reading an article put out by The Associated Press over at MSNBC about the amount of FORECLOSURES. Looks like our area – Cape Coral / Fort Myers – ranks #1 according to data supplied by RealtyTrac. You can click to read that article here.

Why all the foreclosures? I was asked just that last week by a woman who found me on my Cape Coral Real Estate website. She wanted to know why there were so many SHORT SALES and FORECLOSURES in our area.

There are a few reasons for it.

One reason is that real estate is cyclical. That’s right. Real Estate goes up & it goes down. Check the historical data, it is true.

Another reason in our area specifically I suppose, everyone got greedy. Investors & just average people all wanted to make A LOT of $$$$ in real estate. They heard that their friends bought some land or a house in Cape Coral & doubled their money in 2 years. Heck, many of these same people made a lot of money in the previous few years here as well. Yes, that is also TRUE – check the records. But what goes up must come down?

It came down. Many investors speculators were just getting into the market here, building a new home hoping to make a fortune (because others did). Unfortunately, hundreds of other investors speculators were doing the exact same thing. The builders were delayed because of the influx, the city’s permit department was behind too, – - you get the picture. Many investors speculators had to WAIT. While they waited many other homes finished & were sold to end users. But by the time their homes were near completion the supply was HUGE. We still had a demand for Cape Coral homes but the supply was just too large.

Unfortunately, most of these investors speculators did not have a plan B. They assumed they would sell & make a fortune. Many, at this point, hoped that they could at least sell and break even or take a small loss just to move on. But we weren’t able to tell the buyers to pay for the other’s misfortune. They wanted a deal and were going to get a deal because of the excess inventory. Homes were, and still are, selling but they must be priced right.

The next reason is the lending. Yes, I said it. The lenders were giving loans to anyone with a pulse it seemed. How was it that an average person earning $50,000 a year was able to afford 2-5 brand new homes (around $250,000 each) with 0% down? HMMM. But they were given the loans. Did someone misstate the truth? Not sure but I do know that many were stated or even no doc loans so they weren’t even checked on. The banks were making their money, so were the mortgage brokers. Heck, the real estate agents, appraisers, title companies, builders, etc were all making money as well. Home investor speculator was expecting to make theirs too.

The same banks that so generously handed out financing the previous few years were tightening up their guidelines. Many would be buyers could not qualify. Uh oh – that just shrunk our buyer pool.

Prices continued to decline, financing options changed, option arms reset, economy slowed as a whole….

So what can we do now? Read more about the Cape Coral Foreclosure problem….

Yours in Success,

Susan Milner

Florida Future Realty, Inc.

(239) 542-8521

Specializing in great waterfront properties in Cape Coral & Surrounding areas. Visit us online at www.Florida-Future-Realty.us or search for homes online anytime at www.Florida-Future-Realty.com.

Copyright 2008 Susan Milner Florida Future Realty, Inc.