At Florida Future Realty, Inc we are always focusing on how we can make the real estate process more pleasant. This is for our customers and our agents. So we recently revamped our entire office. We changed things up and gave the office a more inviting feel. Agents have more areas to meet with customers and do their work. Customers have a professional yet comfortable location for all of their real estate needs. Below are photos of our new look. Stop by to see us! We are open regular hours Monday-Friday 9am-5pm and by appointment on the weekends!

Florida Future Realty, Inc.
2816 Del Prado Blvd. S Unit 2
Cape Coral, FL 33904
(239) 542-8521

Hope to see you soon!

Yours in Success,

Susan Milner

Florida Future Realty, Inc

Search Cape Coral real estate

Florida real estate agents

www.SusanMilner.com

(239) 542-8521

(239) 218-2229 Cell

Susan@SusanMilner.com

Copyright 2010 Susan Milner of Florida Future Realty, Inc.

Cape Coral is located near the SW Coast of Florida. We are a peninsula surrounded by water. There are over 400 miles of canals throughout the city. Many of these canals lead out to the Gulf of Mexico while others are freshwater and connect to other canals and/or lakes. To say that we are anything BUT a waterfront community would be misspeaking. Cape Coral IS a waterfront community. Most homes on the water have a car in the driveway or garage and a boat sitting out back in the canal. Cape Coral residents love the water. They love to boat in Cape Coral. Cape Coral residents also enjoy fishing in and around Cape Coral. Many residents also enjoy the serene waterways and wildlife in Cape Coral’s waters even if they do not venture out often into the waters.

The BP Oil Spill has many people worried. Even though Cape Coral has not been directly affected by the oil spill all of us have been indirectly affected. Watching the sad photos of the wildlife covered in oil is enough to make anyone angry. Hearing about loss of income for fisherman is sad for all of us. And for sure knowing that lives were lost in this accident is horrible.

My family and I have been to the beaches several times since the spill began. The water is still beautiful. We are not smelling any of the oil around here either. At the present time experts are saying that we are safe from the oil spill in our area of Cape Coral, Florida. Below is a photo taken this past weekend of Sanibel Causeway. There were many others out enjoying our beautiful weather & beaches.

Sanibel June 12, 2010

We hope that this continues to be of no concern for residents of Cape Coral. We continue to assist buyers and sellers alike with their real estate needs as normal. There are many great opportunities for buyers in our area and as they are attracted to Southwest Florida this is also a good time for sellers to market their home for sale.

Susan Milner

Florida Future Realty, Inc

Search Cape Coral real estate

Florida real estate agents

www.SusanMilner.com

(239) 542-8521

(239) 218-2229 Cell

Susan@SusanMilner.com

copyright 2010 Susan Milner Florida Future Realty, Inc.

Cape Coral, Florida

June 1 is the first day of Hurricane Season.

This year is predicted to be a busy hurricane season. The official NOAA predictions are as follows:

“We estimate a 70% probability for each of the following ranges of activity this season:
14-23 Named Storms,
8-14 Hurricanes
3-7 Major Hurricanes
An ACE range of 155%-270% of the median.” (from http://www.cpc.noaa.gov/products/outlooks/hurricane.shtml)

NOAA is clear to state that they DO NOT make landfall predictions. They are unable to predict landfall until a few days out.

It is always best to be prepared as you never know exactly what may happen in your neighborhood/area. The good news with Hurricanes is that they give us plenty of warning. We are notified of their formation SEVERAL days before they are even close to United States in most cases. This gives you plenty of time to prepare. Whether you plan to board up and stay at your house or board up and leave is up to you. Depending upon the strength of a Hurricane you can make the best choice for you and your family.

I remember when Hurricane Charley hit our area in 2004. Most people didn’t even make the necessary preparations because they had never experienced a storm this large. They were used to small storms that caused minimal damage. We knew it was headed our way as at least a category 2 storm well in advance. However, as it approached it reached a category 4 Hurricane status. Many older homes sustained minor to major damage and many other homes sustained minor roof, pool cage and tree damage. We lost power through most of the area for several days. Charley was definitely a wake up call for our area.

The following years were mild for us including last year which was also pretty mild in and around Cape Coral.

You can watch 2009’s season in video below:

I wrote the article below in the past to remind people of other natural disasters around the US and World to put Hurricanes ‘in perspective’.

Being in SW Florida, I hear concerns from people about Hurricanes from time to time. We usually end up discussing historical data, newest hurricane codes & then I typically go into ‘natural disasters elsewhere’.

Honestly, I cannot think of a single place to live that there won’t be something weatherwise to concern yourself with. Basically it comes down to picking the ones that least annoy you, or maybe are least likely to kill you.

Here are some I can think of:

• Hurricanes
• Tornadoes
• Mudslides
• Blizzards
• Avalanches
• Fires
• Floods
• Draught
• Extreme Heat
• Wind
• Earthquakes
• Tsunamis
• Sink Holes
• Volcanic Eruptions
• Solar flares, meteors, etc…

So, what natural disasters do you have to explain in your area?
Oh, I almost forget Florida is also the lightning Capital of the World
But I can’t see myself living anywhere else!

In conclusion, I hope everyone makes the logical preparations for this Hurricane Season. Be prepared in advance & hopefully you won’t need to execute your plan or even break out your Hurricane Kit. But as with anything, being safe is always better than being sorry. And when a Hurricane is coming & quickly things get crazy and it is difficult to get the necessary items you need.

Here are some additional resources for you:

Download the 63 page Hurricane Guide

View NOAA.gov for up to the minute Hurricane information

Go to Weather.com for weather updates.

As always, should you have any questions about real estate in and around Cape Coral, Florida we are here to help!

Yours in Success,

Susan Milner

Florida Future Realty, Inc

Search Cape Coral real estate

Florida real estate agents

www.SusanMilner.com

(239) 218-2229

Susan@SusanMilner.com

copyright 2010 Susan Milner Florida Future Realty, Inc.

cape coral real estate

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.

Honestly, I cannot think of a single place to live that there won’t be something weatherwise to concern yourself with. Basically it comes down to picking the ones that least annoy you, or maybe are least likely to kill you.

Here are some I can think of:

Hurricanes

Tornadoes

Mudslides

Blizzards

Fires

Floods

Heat

Wind

Earthquakes

I found an article put on USA Today that goes into more detail about these things.

They also have a cool interactive map to show you where these natural disasters occur.

So, what natural disasters do you have to explain in your area?

Oh, I almost forget Florida is also the lightning Capital of the World

But I can’t see myself living anywhere else!

Yours in Success,

Susan Milner

Florida Future Realty, Inc.

Search Cape Coral & other area listings: Cape Coral Real Estate

Susan@SusanMilner.com

COPYRIGHT 2008 Susan Milner of Florida Future Realty, Inc.

Ok to reblog in full – not ok to copy in whole or in part

In fact, some of the worst weather we experienced here was from an initial storm band that came through on Sunday evening. I posted a brief video of it: Tropical Storm Fay in Cape Coral. 

Lee County schools are scheduled to reopen tomorrow, Wednesday, August 20, 2008 as usual.

Many businesses are now posting that they are opened as well. We will be opened as normal, tomorrow, August 20, 2008 at Florida Future Realty, Inc.

Those in central Florida and along the Eastern coast should still be using caution and remain prepared. Tornadoes and flooding are very likely.

As always, should you, or anyone you know have a real estate question, contact us at Florida Future Realty, Inc.

Search for Cape Coral real estate anytime online at our very user-friendly website.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Yours in Success,

Susan Milner

Real Estate Broker, Florida Future Realty, Inc.

 239-542-8521

If you recently moved here to Lee County you need to register your child(ren) with the Lee county school system.

If you have a child going into Kindergarten they too will need to register. Children must be 5 years old as of Sept 1, 2008 to be eligible for enrollment.

Lee county also has a free VPK (preschool) program as well. Children must be 4 years old as of Sept 1, 2008 to enroll.

If you are new to the district, you can start here: How to Register your child

The 2 typical questions I am asked about the schools here in Lee County are:

• What school district is this home in?

Lee County is set up as a school choice county. This means that you get your pick of what school your child goes to. You can pick from any of the schools in your zone. Most people end up getting their first or second choices. Go ahead, check out the Lee County School’s Zoning Map.

• Are the schools good here?

Well that’s easy to answer. Lee County has a grading system set up for the schools. You can see how each ranks here in Lee County.

You can also find more information about homes and the communities at our website: www.Florida-Future-Realty.com

Feel free to call us for help with anything, we’ll be glad to help you find the answer!

239-542-8521

Florida Future Realty, Inc.

Video tour created with my Mino Flip Camera – it is SO COOL!

Yours in Success,

Susan Milner
Florida Future Realty, Inc.
(239) 542-8521
Search Cape Coral & other area listings: www.Florida-Future-Realty.com
Susan@SusanMilner.com

Today my son and I spent about 2 hours within the trails of the Four Mile Cove Ecological Preserve right here in Cape Coral, Florida.  Located just south of the Midpoint bridge, right on the Caloosahatchee River.

We both brought our cameras so I hope you enjoy our photos. I’m going to showcase my son’s photos first!

Did I tell you he is only 5 years old?

Ok, so I took some photos as well to share with you of Cape Coral Park and Recreation’s Four Mile Cove Ecological Park:

So that’s it. Four Mile Cove Ecological Preserve is located in Cape Coral just north of the Midpoint Bridge. It is a 365 acre preserve with wildlife and plants. You can buy native plants there, rent kayaks and walk through the trails. FREE Admission. Open year round. Kayaks and plant sales are seasonal. Call 239-574-7395 in season for more information.

Yours in Success,

Susan Milner

Florida Future Realty, Inc.

(239) 542-8521

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

Susan@SusanMilner.com

All photos are copyright 2008 to Susan Milner. You may not copy or reprint for any reason. Thanks.

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.