Members of the Association closed 1,340 single family home sales in December, bringing the total for 2009 to 16,789; this is a 91.4% increase vs. 2008 when 8,768 homes were sold. Of the December sales, 48.3% were bank-owned, 18.2% were short sales and the remaining traditional sales made up 33.4% . The median price was $89,929, which is 8.0% lower than the prior December; however, the median price continues to be influenced by the number of bank-owned and short sales, which continues to drive down the overall median price. During Quarter 4, the median price for traditional sales was $135,000 (a 3.5% decrease from the prior quarter), for bank-owned sales it was $69,900 (up 2.7%) and the median price for short sales was $94,950 (up 6.6% from last quarter).
Housing Statistics SW Florida December 2009
January 25th, 2010What is happening in Cape Coral, Florida
January 21st, 2010Hello from sunny Florida,
There are great things happening in Cape Coral. And I thought you might be interested to know.
Just last night was reported that the Defense Department is planning to build an Army Reserve Center in Cape Coral. That will bring a lot of jobs and new residents to SW Florida. If you like to read or see more, please click on this link: http://www.winknews.com/news/local/82222687.html
Last week the new VA Clinic broke ground in NE Cape Coral. It will be a “State of the Art” clinic. For more information please click here: http://www.nbc-2.com/Global/story.asp?S=11822352
And just today we were able to read that the US is planning a National Swim Center also in Cape Coral. More information please click here: http://www.news-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2010100121044
Together with the planed redevelopment of Down Town Cape Coral I strongly feel that there will be a lot of activities, companies and businesses coming to Cape Coral in very near future. If you would like to read more about the Redevelopment Agency in Cape Coral, please click here: http://www.downtowncapecoral.net/
I hope you enjoy the information. Please let me know if you have any questions. You can also visit my web site at: http://www.spotfloridarealestate.com for more interesting links and information about sunny SW Florida.
Looking forward hearing from you soon
Monika
Did you know that Cape Coral has over 400 Miles of Canals?
January 15th, 2010| Did you know?
Did you know that Cape Coral has over 400 Miles of Salt or Fresh Water Canals – that is more than Vince Italy. Cape Coral is often named “Venice of America”. Today I would like to tell you a little more about the Canals in Cape Coral. Salt Water Canals – Gulf Access Canals Are divided into: Direct Sailboat Access: Those canals lead out to the Gulf of Mexico without having to deal with bridges – however there still could be a lock or a lift which would have to be passed on the way out to the ocean. Unrestricted Sailboat Access: Those canals lead out to the Gulf of Mexico without having to pass any bridges nor going through a lock or lift on the way out Gulf Access: Those Canals lead out to the Gulf of Mexico but there could be low bridges and / or a Boat Lock or Boat lift to pass Riverfront: The River leads also to the Gulf of Mexico Gulf Front: Those Homes are directly on the Gulf of Mexico Gulf Access, intersecting Canals will give you most of the time a very nice water view The most expensive but also desirable homes are Unrestricted Sailboat Access, Riverfront or Gulf Front. Freshwater Canals Those canals do NOT lead out to the Gulf of Mexico, from most of those Canals however you will be able to drive your boat to some fresh water lakes. Sometimes those canals look like that there is a connection to the salt water, but most of the time this is not true. There are levies in between or dams to separate the fresh water from the salt water for environmental reason. Again, please let me know if you have any questions – I will be there for you to help. Monika |
||
| – Always there for you Monika Wilson Century 21 Sunbelt Realty http://www.spotfloridarealestate.com http://www.floridaisforyou.com I speak English and German |
|
|
|
|
A lot to be thankful for?
November 25th, 2009Thanksgiving – still a lot to be thankful for
Listening to the media and a lot of people talking and discussing, we could think that times have never been as bad as they are right now. But is that really true? Isn’t there a lot to be thankful for? Aren’t we just taking the good things all around us for granted or don’t recognize them anymore?
We hear from accidents, car crashes, murders, crimes,wars – but do we hear about how many people are driving, walking and playing without anything happening to them, do we hear about those countries who are living in peace since ever? We hear more about people committing crimes than about people who are doing good deeds. We are not able to see the beauty in the world anymore because we hear from wars, environmental disasters, global warming and dirt all around us. We see the trash but do we see the pretty flower right next to it? One could think that the bad and wrong is in the majority – but is it really? I don’t think so. If we would really try very hard, I am sure we will realize how much good is happening all around us.
I am not saying we should deny the negative because it is really there. But if we just see the negative only and not the positive anymore, none of us will have the motivation or power to do something to make it better. If there is trash all over the street, why should we pick it up. We rather add our own trash on top of it. – It does not matter anymore – who cares.
But if we would learn (and yes I believe it is a learning process) to see the good things again, we will have enough motivation and strength to do everything in our power to make the good even better and “clean up” the bad.
Take the job less rate, yes it is terrible. But now people looking for a job, either don’t’ go out looking for a job because they think it will not work out anyway, or they go out looking but have their mind set that they will not get the job anyway. This is like self fulfilling prophecy and it will happen exactly how we thought it would. Not because that is how it goes, it is because we are going into the whole job situation with a wrong motivation and attitude.
Having a negative set of mind will make a situation worse, having a positive outlook makes a situation better. Only if we can see how it would be if we master the one or other problem we are willing and motivated to do everything we can to get there, to achieve our goal and make things better.
Lets all try between now and the end of this year to more concentrate what is good than what is bad and focus on our goals with a positive outlook. Everything is possible if we just do every single day one step towards this goal. Lets concentrate to make things better in and with our own family and friends, so they can go and do the same with their friends and friends of friends. Instead of wining and complaining about certain issues start thinking about how to solve the issue and start working on this solution. All the sudden we will realize – “wow that really works”
Stop thinking “Who cares and it doesn’t matter” to “I care and I can make things better”
With this said – I wish all of you a very happy Thanksgiving.
Monika
Short sale dilemma
November 10th, 2009Today I had a very shocking situation. And I admit I got very upset over this. So upset that I was starting to inform the local media and the goverment. – But after taking a deep breath I decided against it.
Here is what happend. A few month back I had a client who put in an offer on a short sale property. It is a very nice home, fairly new and very exclusive and high quality. It is located on a Fresh Water Canal in SW Cape Coral. This offer was written for $ 310,000 cash. The short selling bank refused to take this offer. And after several times and endless hours on the phone plus dealing with a very frustrated buyer - we finally gave up on this house.
Today I received a call from another client of mine, who picked up the very same house as a new listing in the MLS. Now it is listed as a bank foreclosure for $ 178,900.
American Tax Payers just took a loss of $ 131,600!!!!!! - That does not make any sense to you – well don’t feel alone it does not make sense to me either.
What is the Market doing in South West Florida
August 7th, 2009
Of course I don’t have a crystal ball either. Even so that I am a realtor in Cape Coral since 1994 and have seen the market going up and down. Fact is that the market is going in cycles and that there are indication for experienced Realtors and Buyers and seller when the market is entering a new cycle.
Comparing our market today with the beginning of 2004 is pretty much comparing “bananas with bananas”. The market is ready to bounce back. Even so we are still dealing with bank foreclosures and short sales, we have more properties sold than we have coming new on the market. We see the prices coming up and we see multiple offers on certain properties. In a lot of cases we have to offer over asking price just to get the property.
It is my honest opinion that the market will bounce back sooner than a lot of people are expecting, I strongly feel that prices probably will go higher than they were in 2005. Right now most properties are selling under their real and true market value, in 2005 most properties were selling way above true market value. Very soon we will see properties selling to a price they are really worth – and out of experience we will see it going up to above market value again.
Florida is still a great place to live, we have the sun, the beaches and a lot of activities. People here are very friendly and people feel home pretty much right away. Real Estate is an investment you can enjoy, feel and touch. Other than in stocks and bonds – Real Estate will not just disappear, it will be there during good and bad economic times. People always need to live somewhere and space is running out. There is just so much and there will be no more.
Just a little story to show how much money can be made in Real Estate if we are watching the market very closely and have the feeling for the right timing..
I had a young man from Germany coming over to purchase a vacant land in Cape Coral. We discussed our options and his budget. (his budget was $ 15,000) I found him a nice piece of land in NE Cape Coral, which he purchased for $ 11,000. His mother was not to happy with my choice since she thought he bought a lot way out and in the middle of nowhere. That was in summer 2004. Towards the end of 2005 this young man sold this same property for $ 85,000. That is a nice return on his money. – And by the way, yes when he bought the property in 2004 it was pretty “lonesome” at the furthest NE location of Cape Coral. When he sold the property the whole neighborhood had very nice new homes around him. Cape Coral was just growing like crazy. And that is where we will be in very near future again.
Please visit my web site at: http://www.spotfloriarealestate.com and click on the tab “search properties”. Here you can open up a free account and check on currently listed and sold properties. You will see properties on the market for not even 1 day and they are sold already. That is how fast and hot the market is. Don’t get me wrong, there are sitll very nice and good priced properties out there – but time is running out.
Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.
Monika
About
August 7th, 2009Real Estate in South West Florida is a good investment. It is an investment you can feel, touch and enjoy. Florida is always a piece of paradise – we have the good weather, the beaches and friendly people.
I came to South West Florida from Germany in 1990 and I feel home here. In 1994 I became a licensed Realtor and am a fulltime Realtor since then.
Please feel free to email, call or visit me for any Real Estate related question or for any question about the area around Fort Myers and Cape Coral. And by the way I speak English and German fluently
Hello Everyone
August 7th, 2009
Welcome to my blog. Here I will give updates about current developments in the Real Estate Market in South West Florida, Cape Coral, North Fort Myers, Fort Myers, Pine Island and Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel and Captiva Islands. I am in South West Florida since 1990 when I moved to this wonderful place from Germany. Since 1994 I am a full time licensed Realtor in the Cape Coral Area. I work for Century 21 Sunbelt in Cape Coral, Florida and I live in rural North Fort Myers.
Looking forward talking with you
Monika
-
Archives
Categories
- Century 21 Sunbelt (4)
- Monika Wilson (4)
- Real Estate (4)
- cape coral (2)
- florida (2)
- Uncategorized (5)
