July 2010

The mid year 2010 Naples real estate market statistics for both home and condominium sales are listed below.

Naples is just south of Ft. Myers and Bonita Springs, and is known as the "Crown Jewel"  of SW Florida's Gulf Coast. It is a truly cosmopolitan, quaint, and cultural city and has transformed itself into a dynamic international and world renown destination.

Naples is also the jumping off point to the Everglades, Ten Thousand Islands and the Big Cypress National Preserve, all of which are perfect places for photography, bird watching, and where alligators roam, and ghost orchids hide. This is where you can enjoy outstanding…

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released its Fiscal Year 2009 annual State of Fair Housing Report this week. The report is a compilation of complaints filed with HUD and a review of the agency's progress in enforcing the Fair Housing Act.

According to the report, there were 10,242 complaints filed with the agency. Discrimination based on a person's disability status (44%) accounted for the largest single category of complaint, followed by discrimination based on race (31%) and discrimination based on family status (20%). It also highlights HUD's recent efforts to ensure that the agency's core housing programs…

T he mid year 2010 Bonita Springs real estate market statistics for both home and condominium sales are listed below. Bonita Springs, known as the "Gateway to the Gulf,"  is one of Southwest Florida's fastest growing coastal cities. Lifestyle options are endless and its central location between Ft. Myers and Naples make it a most desirable destination in which to live.

Bonita Springs Real Estate Sales Data

Bonita Springs Home Sales Mid Year 2010*:

• 442 Closed Sales (312 in 2009)
• Average Sales Price - $419,018
• Median Sales Price - $260,000
• Average Days on Market - 165
• Average Sales Price Per Square Foot - $166.15
• The…

With new home sales up 33% in the Southern region of the country for June, we thought it might be a good time to point out some of the areas where you can definitely get a bargain. We've sold homes in each of these gated communities this year and can attest to that fact that you can get a new home or condo with all the bells and whistles for less money than many of the re-sale properties currently on the market.

Here's a list of communities you should definitely check out:

• Bella Terra (Lennar) in Estero
• Heritage Bay (Lennar) in Naples
• Lely Resort (Stock) in Naples
• Moody River Estates (Lennar) in North Ft. Myers
• Paseo…

The mid year 2010 Pelican Landing real estate market statistics for both home and condominium sales are listed below. Pelican Landing is an upscale gated golf community with excellent amenities and is considered one of Bonita Springs premier gated golf communities.

Pelican Landing distinguishes itself by being the only community in the area to own a private barrier island on the Gulf of Mexico. The island includes a 32 acre beach park that residents have daily access to via a community run boat shuttle service. Residents can also opt for membership in the Pelican's Nest Golf Club. Its two 18 hole Tom Fazio designed golf courses…

In this type of market, we have all been there; a property under contract appraises for less than the purchase amount and the sale falls apart. Unfortunately, more often than you might think, it is not solely the appraisers fault. Many times the fault lies with the mortgage lender. And, believe it or not, the practice of lenders cutting value off the appraisal has been going on for years. It's just that during a normal market times, the practice isn't as noticeable as it is today.

How can this be? Well, lenders are now really fearful that the government agencies like Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and FHA/VA (all of which have policies…

The sales of homes and condominiums in the Southwest Florida real estate market held up pretty well as we transitioned into the summer season in May. Many buyers continued to move from being "on the fence" to a more "determined to buy" attitude as inventories continue to fall and many of the best deals were being snapped up by both snowbirds and investors alike.

Here's a synopsis of the May sales numbers:

Bonita Springs Real Estate Sales

Bonita Springs Real Estate Market Highlights:

• May sales totaled 135 and were up 19% from a year ago.
• Single family home sales were up 43% and totaled 73 sales.
• Single family home…

Yesterday, Congress passed the extension of the Homebuyer Tax Credit closing deadline. The extension applies only to transactions that have had contracts in place as of April 30, 2010 and have yet to close. The new closing deadline is now September 30, 2010. There is will be no gap between June 30 and the date the President signs the bill into law.

Additionally, the Senate also passed the National Flood Insurance Program extension through September 30, 2010. This will allow transactions in the pipeline to move forward and is retroactive to cover the lapse period from June 1, 2010 to the date of enactment.

While both extensions…