The real estate market in Southwest Florida continued to boom in November. In fact, for the first eleven months of the year, the Cape Coral and Ft. Myers market areas have seen total sales soar over 70% on a year over year basis.

Cape Coral and Ft. Myers Real Estate Sales

Cape Coral and Ft.Myers November Highlights:

• Single family home sales were up 71% and totaled 1,245 sales.
• Single family home inventory has fallen to just 1.9 months worth of supply.
• Condos sales were up 237% and totaled 235 units.
• Condominium inventory has fallen to just 3.6 months worth of supply.

Continue Reading Fort Myers and Cape Coral Real Estate Sales – November, 2009 Update

Tags: markets, real estate, sales, SW Florida

For the first time in 2009, new foreclosure filings fell in the third quarter for Lee and Collier counties in Southwest Florida. In fact, in September new foreclosure filings reached their lowest level of the year.

For Lee County, there were 13,206 new filings from July to September, down 5.19% from the second quarter and 2.19% below the third quarter of 2008. In September, there were 1,584 filings for the month, down from 1,625 in August and 2,447 a year ago.

In Collier County, there were 2,997 new filings, down 15.65% from the second quarter and 4.49% below the third quarter of 2008. In September, there were 1,068 filings for the month, down from 1,138 in August and 1,310 a year ago.

Continue Reading Southwest Florida Foreclosure Filings Fall in Third Quarter 2009

Tags: foreclosures, markets, real estate

The Bonita Springs City Council has agreed to keep its tax rate the same as last year. The 2009 tax rate will be 82.73 cents per $1,000 of assessed value. That’s great news for Bonita Springs homeowners, who will likely see a 17% decrease in their property taxes.

When you add in the fact that the Lee County Property Tax Rates are also going to remain unchanged, 2009 is going to bring a welcome relief to area residents stung by recent years rising real estate taxes.

In addition, both the City Council and the County Commissioners reduced spending accordingly in order to make up for the short fall in tax revenues. Fortunately, both groups were able to focus their cuts on areas that will not decrease services or have a major impact on residents in general.

Continue Reading Bonita Springs Property Tax Rate to Remain Unchanged

Tags: living, real estate, taxes

After a sizzling first seven months of the year, real estate sales in Southwest Florida remained strong in August. In fact, more homes were sold in the first 8 months of this year (by 13.6%) than in 2005, the biggest sales year ever in Southwest Florida. August marked the fourteenth month in a row sales have climbed in Lee and Collier counties. The Cape Coral and Ft. Myers market area saw total sales rise over 80% on a year over year basis and the Bonita Springs and Naples market area wasn’t too shabby either, up 38%.

Continue Reading August Florida Real Estate Sales Remain Strong

Tags: real estate, sales, SW Florida

According to the Editors at Money magazine, the Florida city of Port Charlotte is the best place to retire to in the country.

The ranking is not surprising when you consider Port Charlotte’s central location here in Southwest Florida. It is just adjacent to Punta Gorda, 50 miles south of Sarasota and 40 miles north of the Ft. Myers and Naples areas. In addition, the city is nestled right on Charlotte harbor, which offers hundreds of miles of cruising waters and protected shorelines for both boating and fishing enthusiasts alike. Knowing the area well, we’re surprised it didn’t make their list for the Best Places for a Long Life.

Continue Reading Port Charlotte Named Best Place to Retire in the U.S.

Tags: living, markets, real estate