Life In Bonita Springs

Appliance Repair or Just a Second Opinion of Condition

The major appliances are always on the list of the items that get checked during the home inspection process.  Whether the purchase of real estate is as-is or not, the home inspector will check everything, refrigerator, oven, dishwasher, washer, dryer, microwave, etc. 

At a recent home inspection, where I was the listing agent the home inspector found moisture in the water collection tray of the fridge and remarked that the water line was leaking and needed repaired.  The reality of the situation was that condensation was forming on the little ice flapper thingy and would run down to the tray. The water line itself had no leak at all.

The home buyers were adamant that the fridge needed a repair and were refusing to close unless it was fixed.  I called the Appliance Doctor who was able to come out right away (the day of closing) and make the repair.  It turns out that even though the technician from Appliance Doctor was prepared for a repair and brought the necessary parts on the first visit, there wasn’t a repair to be made.  He determined that it was really only condensation forming.

As explained to me by the Appliance Doctor technician, this particular model “does this” and if we had googled it we would have found scads of consumer complaints on forums regarding the issue.

Now, even though the Appliance Doctor knew that this was a common occurrence for this model, he disassembled the entire ice maker mechanism, cleaned it,  and reassembled it for a test, just to make sure. 

There are a couple of lessons to be learned by this little ice maker flapper thingy:  Sometimes, home sellers need to pay for a second opinion instead of a repair in order to get a property closed … even when they know they’re right. 

It’s about winning the war, not the battle, home owners … getting the real estate closed.  Second, there are really affordable, smart appliance people who will take emergency calls for silly things like sweaty ice flapper thingies and not charge an arm and a leg.

If you need a great home appliance repair in Bonita Springs or Estero, Florida, call The Appliance Doctor  or visit their website:

• 239-936-0111 – Lee County
• 239-992-0505 – Bonita Springs  Estero
• 239-540-9500 – Cape Coral
• 239-434-7546 – Naples
• 239-642-0505 – Marco Island
• 239-353-2020 – Golden Gate
• www.SickAppliances.com

Found on Wild Turkey Ave Bonita Golf & Country Club

  The Newest Park in Bonita Springs | Imperial River

River Park in Bonita Springs is the latest addition to Bonita Springs Parks.  The name “River Park”, not to be confused with Riverside Park, is because this park also is located on the Imperial River. 

The location of River Park is at the Imperial River Bridge on US 41 Tamiami Trail in Bonita Springs, Florida on the west side near (and sort of behind) the K-mart store.  River Park is on the opposite side of US 41 from the Imperial River Boat Ramp.

The first phase of River Park currently offers acres of open, free space plus a two boardwalks which lead thru mangrove estuaries to the Imperial River and a lengthy span of floating boat docks. Future phases of improvement will likely occur at the eighteen acre River Park location.

If you’re a Bonita Springs boater or you are going to Canoe the Imperial River you now have a destination to stop, take a break, tie up and enjoy lunch, or a place to pick up or drop off passengers. 

From River Park, boaters and canoers are within walking distance to K-mart, Publix, Subway Sandwich Store, plus a few convenience and drug stores. 

River Park will also be a great location to enjoy seasonal events, such as the Bonita Springs Boat Parade.  At this time, parking at River Park is limited and there are no rest room facilities. Since River Park is within close proximity to a nesting American Bald Eagle, the park will remain as-is until the hatchlings have fledged and construction can begin again.  Eagle nesting is October 1 thru May 15.

If you’re looking for things to do and would like to visit the new River Park on the Imperial River follow the map below:

Jungle Miniature Golf in Bonita Springs

Congo River Golf is one of the newest additions, or rather attractions, that has come to the Bonita Springs and Estero Florida area.  It’s basically an entertainment center that consists of miniature golf with a few perks like a  party room, to host birthday, anniversary or group events and has a arcade game room and a gem mining feature.

Recently, I attended Rotary Club night at Congo River Golf so I’ve had a chance to play the course.  It’s probably the only course I’m fit to play in the area.  It was fun to discover that besides miniature golf there is a list of hidden treasure items to find through out the course. It was fun for the adults so I can see that this would be a really fun thing to do with kids.

Congo River Golf is one of two miniature golf courses in Bonita Springs.  You can read about the other miniature golf course here:  Golf Safari Bonita Springs

Read also: Congo River  Golf of Bonita Springs, Florida.

Congo River Golf is located on US 41 Tamiami Trail in Bonita Springs, Florida, just south of “The Ship” beside Bonita Bubbles Car Wash.  Here’s a map to the Congo River location:

Real Estate, The Economy & Southwest Florida Tourism

Tourism makes for great people watching. Having just returned from an Olympic level of people watching in New Orleans, I’d actually been a bit reflective and had thinking about the big city versus our little city when a friend of mine called to see how the trip went.

There really isn’t much in similarity between the two cities by comparison because, well, the two areas are wildly different … with the exception of tourism. It seems we both get our fair share of tourists.

Right about the time that I was explaining finer points of how nicely New Orleanians seemed to treat their tourists, a stream of PG-13 verbal rage crawled thru the phone, sprinkled with a few colorful words.

It’s not the first time I’ve recognized frustration projected at visitors this fall or any fall for that matter.

Now, combine that with the honking horns, wagging middle fingers and the occasional bumper sticker that reads “If it's tourist season why can't we shoot them?” and it might actually appear that we don’t appreciate tourists in Southwest Florida. It certainly makes it look like we don’t need them.

The locals complaining about tourists have actually been on my mind since I saw the first car hauler rattle into town this fall.

I’ve lived here for decades and have grown use to them starting to show up shortly after Labor Day. You’ve may have seen them off loading along the Trail and at entrances to communities without giving them a second thought.

Basically, the car haulers mean the snowbirds are coming back. The flock is a blessing and I know many local business owners really felt their absence this year and have been counting on their return.

From that perspective, it would make sense that complaining about our main source of industry shouldn’t be so fashionable. If you’re one of those types maybe you’ve been thinking about this all wrong.

What if being stuck behind a slow poke in traffic means that we’re lucky?

We’re lucky that out of all of the warm places in the state of Florida or even the U.S. of A the visitors chose to come here. They chose to support our local businesses, shop at our stores, dine in our restaurants, buy our real estate and contribute to our economy even if it’s just for nine months out of the year.

Nobody is a fan of heavy traffic or actually having to make a reservation to eat dinner but most of us should probably be grateful for our snowbirds, especially this year.

It was a long, hot summer and the business owners who took a shot at their American dream and stretched their leveraged necks out over the quiet summer are counting on us to make the seasonal residents and tourists feel a little bit more welcome. That would mean less grumbling and no anti-tourist bumper stickers.

Now, in fairness to the locals and to keep myself from being tarred and feathered for being pro-tourist, I will recommend that the visitors and seasonal residents may no longer drive in the fast lane … ever, write checks instead of use a debit card at the grocery or complain about how much cheaper things are up north. Fair is fair.

Now get out there, Southwest Florida, and welcome the visitors with a friendly smile and a warm heart. And make sure you use all of your fingers when you’re waving at folks in traffic this season.

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Real Life in Bonita Springs is a project by Chris Griffith dedicated to writing useful blog posts for consumers about the Bonita Springs, Florida area.  Find out what it is really like to live in Bonita Springs, Florida by reading about our fair city. You’ll get the latest in local real estate information, Bonita Springs real estate market reports and a little bit of humor.  If you have topic ideas, feel free to request a story about the idea, after all, this site is just for you.

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Fresh Pastry and Bread in Estero Florida

Real estate can lead to bakeries?  I was recently previewing homes for sale in Bonita Springs and ran into a lovely woman who told me she was opening a bakery in Estero, Florida … a German Bakery to be exact.  It was only a few weeks before I was driving in the area and stopped into visit the bakery and see what was available.

Besides cakes, strudel and the delicious Linzer cookies above the bakery offers a variety of breads including pretzel bread.  If you haven’t had pretzel bread I’d highly recommend you try it.  You can buy by the piece instead of buying a huge package of buns.

If you’re looking for the best in home made baked goods which offers delicious old world recipes stop into Bread and More in Estero or call in an order at 239-390-2774.

Bread and More is located at 20461 S. Tamiami Trail, Estero, Florida 33928 just a couple hundred feet north of Broadway, follow this map:

$200K and Under Rules The Real Estate Market

Real estate has price ranges that sell faster than others.  For the last eighteen months or so real estate priced under $200,000 has been selling the most, followed by the $200-400,000 price point.  There are definite growing pains for for real estate that is priced over $400K. 

If you’re interested in seeing the condition of the sale real estate report and October real estate sales history for a decade, read also:

The Condition of The Sale of SW FL Real Estate

October 2001-2010 Real Estate Sales History

At The Band Shell in Olde Bonita Springs

Welcome to Downtown Bonita Springs! The following events are held in Riverside Park in Bonita Springs, Florida unless otherwise noted. For more information on any of these events please call Bonita Springs City Hall 239-949-6262.

Join the Artists in the Park the second and fourth Friday of every month for an evening under the stars while strolling the artist’s studios. A terrific way to start your weekend and support local Bonita Springs artists!

The Bonita Springs Farmer’s Market is open from 8:00-1:00 every Wednesday beginning in November 2010. Support your local farmers and vendors... fresh veggies, flowers, seafood, baked goods, and more!

November 2010

7^th – Bonita Springs Concert Band 2:00 pm

12^th – Evening in the Park 5:00 pm

13^th – Tropical Fruit Tree Club Sale 9:00 am

21^st – Taste of Bonita 11:00 am -5:00 pm

26^th – Evening in the Park 5:00 pm

December 2010

7^th – Holiday in the Park 4:30 pm

10^th – Evening in the Park 5:00 pm

11th - Bonita Springs Boat Parade 2010 | Bonita Springs, Fl 

                See link for details. Not at Riverside Park.

12^th – Bonita Springs Concert Band 2:00 pm

17^th – Evening in the Park 5:00 pm

January 2011

5^th – Movies in the Park 7:00 pm

14^th – Evening in the Park 5:00 pm

23^rd – Bonita Springs Concert Band 2:00 pm

28^th – Evening in the Park 5:00

30^th – Bonita Village Band 2:00 pm

February 2011

5^th – Movies in the Park 7:00 pm

11^th – Evening in the Park 5:00 pm

20^th – Bonita Springs Concert Band 2:00 pm

25^th – Evening in the Park 5:00 pm

26^th – Keep the Beautiful in Bonita Clean-Up 8:00 am

27^th – Bonita Village Band 2:00 pm

March 2011

5^th – Tropical Fruit Tree Club Sale 9:00 am

5^th – Movies in the Park 7:00 pm

11^th – Evening in the Park 5:00 pm

11^th & 12^th – Bonita Blues Festival

www.bonitablues.com

13^th – Bonita Springs Concert Band 2:00 pm

19^th – CREW Concert

20^th – Bonita Village Band 2:00 pm

25^th – Evening in the Park 5:00 pm

April 2011

2^nd – Celebrate Bonita

13^th – Bonita Springs Concert Band 2:00 pm

30^th – Imperial River Conservancy Clean-Up 8:00 am Meet at Liles Hotel

Click the map below for directions to Riverside Park in Downtown Bonita Springs, Florida:

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Short Sale, Foreclosure or Equity Owned?

Curious about what’s selling out there?  It’s not all foreclosures.  We’ve maintained equity real estate sales in the fifty percent range for the last few months.  For more real estate market reports, read also:

What Price Range of Real Estate is Selling?

October 2001-2010 Real Estate Sales History

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All information is deem accurate, not guaranteed and subject to change.  Check the date on this report for freshness.  If you have questions regarding your particular neighborhood, your street or your home specifically you’re welcome to contact us for a current market report. Real estate consumers that read this website are urged to seek independent, professional legal, real estate and financial advice before engaging in any transaction. All information is deemed, accurate, subject to change and not guaranteed.

Southwest Florida Historical Statistics

For what it’s worth, real estate sales in September totaled 589 units. While you do see a big dip in sales over last years spike, we’re holding trend with a balanced number of units in the 500’s. 

Our real estate buyers are financially sound buyers producing cash for purchases or financing by an equity line on their primary residence or by obtaining financing on their Florida real estate. 

Lender guidelines are strict but buyers can get financing if they’ve shown a history of paying their bills, have a job or assets and aren’t sporting too much dept.  Makes sense, huh? 

For more real estate sales reports for October 2010, read also:

What Price Range of Real Estate is Selling?

The Condition of The Sale of SW FL Real Estate