September 2010

International buyers are taking advantage of a weak dollar in order to buy Florida real estate at a record pace. Many are just taking advantage of the drop in property prices but most also see the Florida market as a desirable and secure investment for the future. In fact, during the last 12 months, foreign buyers purchased almost 25% of all the existing homes sold within the state.

According to a 2010 survey conducted for the Florida Association of Realtors, a majority (65%) of Florida agents worked with an international client within the past 12 months and over 30% of them worked with 5 or more international clients in the same…

T he mid year 2010 real estate market statistics for both home and condominium sales on Sanibel and Captiva are listed below.

The Islands are two of the most sought after destinations in all of Southwest Florida. Everything you could wish for from sunning, shelling, wave running, fishing, sailing, or just relaxing are available and most of it is just minutes away from anywhere you are located. Both markets offer many home choices that are just terrific; seaside condominiums, Gulf front mansions, old restored Florida cottages. Essentially, almost any type of property you can imagine. And once you find just the right place, you'll…

Advocates who are trying to keep real estate taxes reasonable in Florida won one battle but lost another as state courts have ruled on two important cases.

In the first case, The Florida Supreme Court rejected the wording as misleading in Amendment 3, thereby officially knocking it off of the November ballot.

In the second, The First District Court of Appeals once again rejected an appeal by out-of-state homeowners questioning the constitutionality of Florida’s Save Our Homes (SOH) law and its offspring, the amendment that allows homeowners portability on their tax savings when they relocate into a new home anywhere within the…

The mid year 2010 Estero real estate market statistics for both home and condominium sales are listed below. Estero is ideally located between Ft. Myers and Bonita Springs and is currently in the process of building and developing wherever you travel. It is one of the last areas to be developed in south Lee County and the community offers excellent schools, shopping, and of course, year round sunshine.

Estero Real Estate Sales Data

Estero Home Sales Mid Year 2010*:

• 158 Closed Sales (114 in 2009)
• Average Sales Price - $279,852
• Median Sales Price - $225,500
• Average Days on Market - 107
• Average Sales Price/Square Foot -…