Life In Bonita Springs

Yeah, this just about boils it down to the ugly reality of buying an, reo,foreclosure, bank owned home.

If you do not see the video aboveCLICK HERE.

Riverside Park Events – Things to Do

With season and cooler weather upon us, Downtown Bonita Springs is ready to celebrate!  The following is an update on events in Riverside Park.  

THIS WEEKEND!  Riverfest - Friday and Saturday, October 23 & 24 - There's fun for the entire family at this year's Bonita Springs Riverfest at Riverside Park. This two-day event kicks off with a Fish Fry on Friday night at 5:30 pm.  Tickets are $15.00 and can be purchased by calling City Hall 949-6262, or the night of the event.  Saturday from 10:00 am til 2:00 pm, enter the river race in your canoe or kayak, cheer on your favorite team, enter the Quacker Race ($5.00), say Bye Bye Butterfly ($10 to release a butterfly), relax with some live music, and enjoy great food from Buffalo Chip's and the Survey Café.

Don't let the fun stop at Riverfest!  Put on your lederhosen and head down to Survey Café for an Oktoberfest Party Saturday Oct. 24th from 5:00-9:00!  Beer, brats, live music, hourly sing-alongs, and of course a Chicken Dance contest at 7:30!  I know - it's a personal plug... But it is Downtown!  : )

COMING UP in Downtown Bonita Springs!

Bonita Springs Concert Band - Sundays at 2:00 - Oct 25; Nov 22; Dec 13; Jan 17; Feb. 7; March 7; April 11 - What better way to spend a Sunday afternoon than a free concert in the park!  Bring your refreshments, a blanket or some chairs and enjoy!     

Halloween in the Park - Saturday, October 31 6:00-8:00 pm - Candy will be handed out to the Trick or Treaters as they enter the "Happy Halloween World" of fun, games, and prizes. This is a great way to celebrate safely and take part in a fun filled community event that's sure to be a big hit with the little ghosts and goblins!  Sponsored by The Community Relations Committee and BEAR(Bonita-Estero Association of REALTORS®) in conjunction with the City of Bonita Springs.

Farmers Market - Every Wednesday morning 8:00 am to 1:00 pm beginning November 4

Rain Barrel Workshop - 9:30 am at Community Hall.  Pre-registration and payment is required.  Call City Hall for more information 949-6262.

Evenings in the Park!  Friday, November 13, 5:00 - 8:00 pm - One of my favorites!  Stroll along the Artist Cottage promenade, enjoy live music, free wine and snacks from the Artists, and explore the Historical Liles Hotel.  Evenings in the Park is held the second Friday of each month thru the season.

Fruit Tree Club Sale - Saturday, November 14,  9:00 am - 3:00 pm

Taste of Bonita 2009- Sunday , November 15, 11:00 am - 5:00 pm - A Bonita favorite!  Enjoy live music while tasting samples from some of the best restaurants in Bonita!  

Holiday in the Park 2009 - Tuesday evening, December 1, 4:30 to 8:00 pm - Always a magical evening for the children with snow and a visit from Santa!  

Movies in the Park 2010 - Saturday,  Jan 9th, Feb. 6th & March 6th - Stay tuned for movie titles!

Keep the Beautiful in Bonita - Saturday, February 27th, 8:00 am - Join your neighbors under the Banyan Tree for coffee and muffins and then head out to clean up our neighborhoods.   

Bonita Blues Festival - Saturday and Sunday, March  12-13, 2010 - Featuring award winning headliners from across the country and benefiting local charities, this event just gets better every year!  Stay tuned for the line-up!

Last, but definitely not least, Council has taken another important step towards revitalization of Downtown!

The City of Bonita Springs has approved revisions to the Land Development Code for the Downtown Redevelopment area which includes financial incentives and special development standards to encourage redevelopment.  Call City Hall (949-6262) for a copy of this important document.   

Have a great week and hope to see you at Riverfest this weekend!

Lori Nelson

Halloween in The Park – Riverside Park

The Bonita Springs-Estero Association of REALTORS® Community Relations CoonitmBmittee in conjunction with the City of Bonita Springs is proud to present the second annual "HALLOWEEN IN THE PARK" at Riverside Park in downtown Bonita Springs, Florida.  It runs from 6pm to 8pm on Saturday, October 31, 2009. 

This event provides a safe and fun environment for your little ones to go trick or treating. 

We will have local Bonita Springs businesses with tables in the park distributing candy to the children. If you are a business interested in having a no fee table at this event please contact Lenore Bennett  239-992-6771 for further information. This event benefits the children in the community of Bonita Springs, Florida while promoting you and your business.  Last year we had over 300 children participate and over 30 businesses with tables.

When:  October 31, 2009, 6:00-8:00pm

Where: The Pavilion at The Riverside Park in Bonita Springs

Register Your Table:  Lenore Bennett (239) 992-6771 ext. 311 or lenore@bonitaspringsrealtors.com

What if Being Neighborly is The Cheapest, Most Effective Security System?

We’ve become a condensed society. We stay in our homes which are sandwiched together on the tiny parcels of land so close we could lean out our windows and high five each other yet nobody really knows each other.

Just think back a decade or two or to when you were young and growing up. The houses were probably farther apart and it was a long time ago. Who were your neighbors then? You probably remember more of your neighbors from back in the day than you even know living near you today.

Our country isn’t only going through an economic crisis it’s going through a socialization crisis. People have buckled themselves behind closed doors and chosen to watch reality television instead of living their own reality.

In my own neighborhood for months now a hand full of us have, with great purpose, waved at cars that passed by. My neighborhood is gated and there are dozens of face to face opportunities with neighbors while waiting for the gate to open. It is entirely possible to wave while waiting for the gate to open without a shred of acknowledgement from the other neighbor.

While everyone was busy installing security systems in their home and gates at their community entrances they forgot one simple fact. That if everyone in the neighborhood knew who their neighbors were, they’d know who didn’t belong and wouldn’t need security systems.

People have become some introverted I now wonder if anyone would dial 911 if smoke was rolling out of a window at my own house. At the very least, I hope someone has enough heart and compassion to try to save the dog.

The inventory of excuses for not knowing who lives amongst us include, we’re too busy, we’re seasonal residents, I’m never home. They’re all weak excuses. It doesn’t cost a thing to know your neighbors and it doesn’t take a lot of time, either.

Maybe our culture just needs socialization lessons because we’ve gotten so far off track. If you’ve been stumped on how to act neighborly here’s a skill set list to get or keep you and your neighbors on friendly terms.

· Keep the fingers together and use a single hand motion when you need to say hi, but you don't have time to chat. This is a nice way to let them know you acknowledge them but pressed for time and you can’t talk further. You should then make an effort to talk later at a further date. That would be talk to them, not about them.

· Wiggle your fingers up and down, with the palm out when waving at neighborhood children or older folks. This is a friendly, non-confrontational way to acknowledge your neighbors. Especially the grumpy ones.

· Consider smiling at your neighbor. Smiling, while it may be personally painful to some, is nearly free so why not try it.

· Use all your fingers, no matter how you feel about some of your neighbors. Someone has to be the bigger person so it may as well be you.

It’s OK that we don’t know all of our neighbors but a shame that we don’t know most of them. Then again, maybe you know your neighbors and they’re friendly and maybe my neighbors just don’t like sarcasm.

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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.

You can subscribe to a weekly email newsletter by visiting www.LifeInBonitaSprings.com and entering your email in the subscription area on the left pane of the web page or by adding us to your reader by subscribing to this blog. Oh, and if you’re reading this content anywhere else but www.LifeInBonitaSprings.com or Naples Daily News it is probably stolen.

There's no place like 4%, There's no place like 4%

It appears as though potential home owners had their house land on the higher rates of 5% and reward them with some red ruby slippers to wish rates back down into the 4% range. But you better hurry and take advantage of the minor dip back down before you wake up and realize the reality of the 5% range. Mortgage Rates for October 20, 2009 30 Year Fixed:

Interest Rate - 4.875%

APR - 4.966%

Payment - $793.81

15 Year Fixed:

Interest Rate - 4.375%

APR - 4.530%

Payment - $1,137.93

30 Year Jumbo:

Interest Rate - 5.125%

APR - 5.233%

Payment - $2,722.43

15 Year Jumbo:

Interest Rate - 4.625%

APR - 4.808%

Payment - $3,856.99

*The rates published on this page are applicable only to requests received from this site or by calling 352-308-7219. Mortgage rates published on this page are the current rates for a single-family, primary residence based on a 30-day lock period and are subject to change without notice. In order to receive a guaranteed rate, you must have applied for an application through Knightlines Mortgage Services, LLC and received a verbal confirmation from a mortgage broker that your desired rate is locked. Your guaranteed mortgage rate will depend on factors such as current market conditions, loan product, occupancy, property type and your credit profile.

Loan Product Information

• Conforming rates are for loan amounts not exceeding $417,000 ($625,500 in AK and HI)

• Jumbo rates are for loan amounts exceeding $417,000 ($625,500 in AK and HI)

• Additional loan products, rates and lock periods are available.

Conforming Fixed APR calculation assumes a $150,000 loan amount with a 20% down payment, estimated borrower paid finance charges of .75% of the loan amount plus discount and origination if applicable. If the down payment is less than 20%, mortgage insurance may be needed on the loan. This could increase the monthly payment and the APR.

Jumbo Fixed APR calculation assumes a $500,000 loan amount with a 20% down payment, estimated borrower paid finance charges of .75% of the loan amount plus discount and origination if applicable. If the down payment is less than 20%, mortgage insurance may be needed on the loan. This could increase the monthly payment and the APR.

Jason Price

Owner/Principal Broker

(352) 308-7219 Phone

For some time now, Knightlines Mortgage Services has been offering the people of Florida a convenient way to finance and re-finance their residential property.

But that isn’t the entire story - we are also doing commercial lending in all 50 states.  AND - now we can offer commercial financing OUTSIDE of the country as well.  Caribbean, South America, etc - just call for the details.

The Goats on Sandy Lane Estero Fl

And he said to me in the softest Swiss accent, “If you didn’t bring me food, then why are you here?”

I drive by these goats all the time and you probably do, too.  They’re on Sandy Lane between Corkscrew Road and Broadway by the Fig Tree and The Groves.  The Groves is a neighborhood that was built in an area that was once … an orange grove.

Since I was visiting my friend Zippy and his gal and I mentioned the goats they offered to take me over to meet them.  They *swore* they were friendly and that the owners wouldn’t mind us visiting.

We pulled up and they said to toot the horn and they’d pay attention.  I did, then I scrambled out of the car to take the pictures.  It was like Bonanza … with goats!

I don’t know how many there were but there were dozens of them.  They all seemed good natured but I didn’t touch them because they’re not my goats and I’m all about not getting bitten or horned by a goat.  Besides, you know I was most certainly not wearing practical shoes to be able to escape killer goats. 

They all seemed nice and some got up close to see if I had any offerings of food or weeds.

… and as fast as they came to check us out, they realized there was no food in our possession and they left in a cloud of dust.  Fickle little creatures.

Maybe You Almost Missed This …

Hang Up and Drive – Shut Up and Eat

Remember when cell phones fist came out? I’m old enough to remember cell phones with a battery pack, suit case thing with a corded receiver. There really was no discrete way to walk around on a cell phone, back in the day, because it was work to look cool with a mobile phone.

Flash forward a few decades and just about everyone is walking around with a phone or a blue tooth perched on their ear; in traffic, in the elevator, at the store, everywhere. Lost? Need something? There’s an app for that.

I popped into the grocery the other day. At check out I was third in a line being led by a young woman. The man in front of me was thoroughly over the situation of the woman in front of us holding up the line because she was talking on the phone instead of taking care of business.

It occurred to me that this woman, who I’d estimate to be in her early twenties, probably doesn’t know any different. While it’s not my job to make excuses for her or educate her, she did grow up with cell phones, computers and a lot of the modern conveniences that we all depend upon. This woman didn’t know or care about phone manners.

The last few decades have brought changes at the speed of light where technology is concerned. Everyone’s lives are far different than anyone could have ever imagined. Unfortunately, the technology has grown faster than the rules and manners for using it.

Maybe it just needs to be said so I’ll just say it. It’s not OK to check out at a grocery store and be on a cell phone. It’s rude. It’s no different than turning your back and having a conversation with another person and ignoring what’s going on.

You’re supposed to be engaged in a transaction with the clerk that’s trying to tell you your credit card is maxed out, not on your phone telling Tiffany about the great shoes you got at DSW.

Anywhere you’re in queue, with exception to waiting to get on a roller coaster, you should probably not be on the phone. Besides retail stores, that includes the post office and department of motor vehicles. The exceptions are calling 911, someone’s in labor or a perfect match for a kidney has been found.

Maybe it should also be mentioned that phones ringing in restaurants shouldn’t be the norm, either. While some of patrons could be fans of Taylor Swift they’d prefer not to hear her ring tone it in the middle of dinner. The “I didn’t know my phone was going to ring, fumble for it in my purse or pocket show” doesn’t make it less rude, either.

It’s a phone and it rings at unexpected times. It also vibrates, so maybe that feature should be explored. Short of that whole labor, waiting for a kidney thing does one really need the volume that high or even at all?

We use our phones for everything and there’s an App for nearly everything but is it appropriate to use them when we should be interacting with others in person?

Out of curiosity I searched to see if there were any phone apps for etiquette or manners and there weren’t any. How’s that for irony?

Photo courtesy: John Kannenberg

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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.

You can subscribe to a weekly email newsletter by visiting www.LifeInBonitaSprings.com and entering your email in the subscription area on the left pane of the web page or by adding us to your reader by subscribing to this blog. Oh, and if you’re reading this content anywhere else but www.LifeInBonitaSprings.com or Naples Daily News it is probably stolen.

Don't Think We're in the 4's Anymore

Toto Over the weekend a major tornado wreaked havoc on the mortgage industry. Analysts are certain of the cause, but while siphoning through the damage, on thing is certain. 4% interest rates have disappeared from this realm of reality. While we can only hope that these rates find their red ruby slippers sticking out from under some financial institution, we are left to embrace the reality that they are now merely a memory of the past and a dream of the future.

30 Year Fixed:

Interest Rate - 5.125%

APR - 5.278%

Payment - $816.73

15 Year Fixed:

Interest Rate - 4.625%

APR - 4.883%

Payment - $1,157.10

30 Year Jumbo:

Interest Rate - 5.50%

APR - 5.61%

Payment - $2,838.95

15 Year Jumbo:

Interest Rate - 5.00%

APR - 4.184%

Payment - $3,953.97

*The rates published on this page are applicable only to requests received from this site or by calling 352-308-7219. Mortgage rates published on this page are the current rates for a single-family, primary residence based on a 30-day lock period and are subject to change without notice. In order to receive a guaranteed rate, you must have applied for an application through Knightlines Mortgage Services, LLC and received a verbal confirmation from a mortgage broker that your desired rate is locked. Your guaranteed mortgage rate will depend on factors such as current market conditions, loan product, occupancy, property type and your credit profile.

Loan Product Information

• Conforming rates are for loan amounts not exceeding $417,000 ($625,500 in AK and HI)

• Jumbo rates are for loan amounts exceeding $417,000 ($625,500 in AK and HI)

• Additional loan products, rates and lock periods are available.

Conforming Fixed APR calculation assumes a $150,000 loan amount with a 20% down payment, estimated borrower paid finance charges of .75% of the loan amount plus discount and origination if applicable. If the down payment is less than 20%, mortgage insurance may be needed on the loan. This could increase the monthly payment and the APR.

Jumbo Fixed APR calculation assumes a $500,000 loan amount with a 20% down payment, estimated borrower paid finance charges of .75% of the loan amount plus discount and origination if applicable. If the down payment is less than 20%, mortgage insurance may be needed on the loan. This could increase the monthly payment and the APR.

Jason Price

Owner/Principal Broker

(352) 308-7219 Phone

For some time now, Knightlines Mortgage Services has been offering the people of Florida a convenient way to finance and re-finance their residential property.

But that isn’t the entire story - we are also doing commercial lending in all 50 states.  AND - now we can offer commercial financing OUTSIDE of the country as well.  Caribbean, South America, etc - just call for the details.

The Off Leash Dog Park at Lover’s Key

The summary?  I wanted to go see some fun. The off leash dog park at the beach is a hilairous, hot mess.  The problem is my dog is horrified at the idea of getting dirty, sandy and wet.  We tried it, he failed miserably at being a dog and went from beach chair to beach chair begging to be picked up by anyone that gave him the time of day.

A man’s got to know his limitations and his dogs limitations, too.  Today I went to dog beach to watch other peoples [normal] dogs enjoy other dogs, water, chasing birds and being as free as the wind blows.  It looked something like this:

Click For More information and the official:  Off Leash Dog Park Site

If you’re looking for a map to the location of dog beach …