Life In Bonita Springs

Two Laborers From Dog Patch USA

My parents were hard workers.  I couldn’t think of better poster children for Labor Day than the two of them.  They were farmers, like as in milking cows, herding cattle, we had pet raccoons, raised chickens, kind of farmers.  They were also in construction.  Labor was a daily activity … don’t get me started on the strife of being raised on a farm.

While my father has been gone for a few decades, my mother is still around.  She is still a worker.  When she manages the strength, she cans sauce and veggies and gives to others.  She’d kill me if she knew I shared with you but, since she’s been ill she still cuts coupons, shops sales and has her husband of nearly 25 years or children buy the sale food with coupons on double coupon day for the local pantry. 

The labor force this year is suffering.  If you’re gainfully employed, enjoy your Labor Day vacation and if you can spare a coupon or cash, buy a jar of peanut butter for your local food pantry.  You know some kid has a belly with an echo in it that needs quieted. 

If you’re in Bonita Springs, Florida you can drop a jar at the Bonita Assistance Office:

10322 Pennsylvania Ave
Bonita Springs, FL 34135

(239) 992-3034?

You can always drop it off at Spanish Wells Country Club on Thursdays at Bonita Springs Rotary Club Noon, closer to 11:45 would be the best time.  Several members are affiliated with Bonita Assistance and would be happy to deliver it for you.

I Swear It’s The Last Real Estate Market Report … This Week

Care to know how many units of real estate were sold during the month of July?  Well it’s below and I even go back three years so you can see the improvement, or weakening of the market.  For the most part it’s all about improvement.  The real estate market is moving especially swiftly under $400,000.

Absorption Rate For Bonita Springs

& Estero Real Estate

The numbers really have improved in the single family home market, manufactured home market and the high rise tower market, just look at what they were in July of 2008.  Keep in mind that the numbers would even be better if the pending and active with contract properties closed sale.  There is a huge amount of real estate in Bonita Springs and Estero that is pending sale, waiting to be closed.  The sale doesn’t count until the real estate transaction is recorded at the court house.

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As usual, this information is deemed accurate, not guaranteed.  Don’t cross your eyes that could get stuck like that.

Gulf Front and Beach Front Real Estate Sales

Much like the Southwest Florida Real Estate Market Update, the beach front, Barefoot Beach and Bonita Beach Hickory area has seen an up tick in sales.  There’s no better way to see where your going by looking at where you’ve been. 

While sales are up, there remains a large inventory on Bonita Beach and in Barefoot Beach.  The current cumulative absorption rate at Barefoot Beach, including all building styles – condos, homes, villas is 3.26 years of inventory.  The current absorption rate on Bonita Beach along Hickory Blvd., both sides, homes, condo and villas is 3.29 years.

If you’d like a breakdown for a specific building or condo on the beach just email and ask.

As usual, all information is deemed accurate and not guaranteed.  Eat your vegetables.

In Front of Paradise Village

July Real Estate Sales Volume 2004-2009

Real Estate prices are down but the volume of sales really picked up a whole bunch. Out of curiosity I just went back to see all closed real estate sales in the month of July going back six years.  There’s nothing better than seeing real estate sales volume over a period of time to show you where you’ve been and where you’re going.  This is good news for Southwest Florida real estate.  We took off last November (2009) and have steadily increased our sales and we’re slowly balancing out.

The largest moving sector for the last year has been the $200,000 and under sector of real estate.  This is the first month that the largest selling real estate sector was the $200-400,000 sector.  Check out the graph for those stats here:

What Price Range is Selling?

Enjoy your Labor Day weekend.  The sun is shining at Bonita Beach and on the real estate market.

As usual, this information is deemed accurate, not guaranteed.  You also shouldn’t run with scissors.

Real Estate Sales $400,000 & Under Dominates

Since November 2008 our market started picking up.  It began with the $200,000 and under price range and then real estate $400,000 was the largest share of sales.   July 2009 is the first month that $200-400K out sold $200K and under in this market recovery.  If you’d like to see the statistics for last month, read also:

SW Florida Real Estate Sales June 2009

As usual, this information is deemed accurate, not guaranteed.

The Banks Ran Me Around For Two Years and One Half Years

Two and one half years with no payments made to the bank, no response from the bank, no foreclosure, no loan modification, seven accepted offers at about $40,000 as a short sale on his home when he just needed and wanted an interest rate adjustment for what he owed on his $150,000 mortgage. 

Meanwhile, the home has been upgraded with beautiful stone floors and turned into a home, for a family.  The bank has sold to another bank three times, changed hands and killed seven purchase offers in the process and held everyone hostage.  The home owners and the seven buyers.

Every time a bank takes over another the entire process is back to start, again.

Eventually, some bank will take the home from them because they can, not because they should.  The current owners still have jobs, just wanted to work it out and became victims of the bigger is better cannibalizing banking industry.

The End of Snail Week 2009 in Bonita Springs

Forgetting to post this last week on snail week I just found these in on the disk and my first thought was, wow, I *totally* depressed folks with loan modifications and foreclosure stories so the only way to cheer up that kind of depression is with two snails making out at midnight. Heck yeah!

Read also: Snail Foreclosure

LBD, the Little Brown Dog, needed a walk and in the summer months driveways are mine fields full of snails. I’m super skilled and avoided this pair with my ninja-like abilities.  Naturally, I took advantage of their situation by running inside and grabbing the camera.

In case you’re wondering, their names are Pam and Tommy. 

You just didn’t recognize him because his tattoos are on the other side.