April 2014

The Bonita Springs real estate market we've been predicting for months now looks as if it is coming into being. The closed sales for March of 2014 are down by 37.8% in a year over year comparison. Many experts were saying our sales would slow due to rising prices. However, with active listings declining by 41.3% year over year – it appears the lack of inventory is more of the culprit that we are seeing on a daily basis as the year moves forward. There is just too little inventory available for buyers to choose from, especially in the more affordable price ranges.

Bonita Springs’ average home sale prices were up by 8.2% to $469,834…

They have rather unusual names like Sparky Lee's Hole, Houla Dog and Dean-O Hicks Reef. These are just a few of the artificial reefs off Collier and southern Lee County's coastlines that aren't necessarily able to be found via a GPS coordinate. Many have been tossed and buried by hurricanes and the larger than normal waves that over time have just pounded them into submission.

Now, thanks to more than $1.3 million in various grants from BP’s Gulf Tourism and Seafood Promotional Fund, the local Collier County governmental agencies and the Community Foundation of Collier County and the Economic Recovery Task Force have joined…

It's that time of year again. Our winter snowbird friends are flying back north for the summer. And, it is just the right moment for addressing what to do in preparing your SW Florida home to help prevent mold and water intrusion while your away.

SW Florida's high humidity and heat during the summer months takes a toll on your property both inside and out. The easiest way for preventing mold development while you’re gone on the inside is to install, and use, a humidistat on your air conditioning unit. By keeping your humidity at a minimum 60%, the air conditioner should activate often enough for drying the air within your home.…

An old adage goes "that money can't buy you happiness."  Well, maybe not. But it can buy you a home in one of the country's "Top 10 Happiest Beach Towns."

Coastal Living magazine took its second annual look at the country's "10 Happiest Beach Towns"  in 2013 and you might be surprised by the towns that made their final list.

According to Jennifer Slaton, the magazine's executive editor, "our staffers nominated their favorite beach towns and then winnowed the results down to the final 10. Our readers then ranked the finalists from one to ten."

So what makes a beach town happy? According to Slaton, "staffers used multiple…

The Naples area housing market (including Bonita Springs and Estero) is one of the healthiest in the country according to a new report produced by John Burns Real Estate Consulting. The California based national marketing research firm said "strong demand from second home buyers and retirees (up 30% year over year) have been pushing prices up an average 0.5% a month,"  according to the company's proprietary Burns Home Value Index.

Last year, flights to Southwest Florida International (RSW) airport experienced their largest increase since 2007, the consulting firm noted, which generally correlates into higher vacation home sales.…