Life In Bonita Springs

The Illusion of Foreign Buyer's in the Bonita Springs Real Estate Market

The headlines make for great copy - "The British Are Coming", "International Buyers Flock to Florida", "Foreign Buyers Scoop up Florida Real Estate". There has been enough coverage of the alleged foreign invasion to actually convince the public that it is largely true. Many people have been led to believe that Florida is so full of Foreign Nationals buying up real estate that it could snap off and sink into the Gulf of Mexico.

Listen, I don't doubt for one minute that we still have our usual amount of European buyers. We may even have a few more Canadian buyers. What I do doubt is a marked increase simply because the dollar is weak against the currency of a few particular countries. Just because there is leverage against a Foreign National's currency, it doesn't mean they are taking full advantage of it. The are many more economic conditions that influence a buyers ability and willingness to buy real estate besides the value of their currency against the US dollar.

Unfortunately, Sellers banking on a foreign buyer bail-out are in for a rude awakening. As a real estate agent in Bonita Springs I have had my sellers ask, "How do we attract foreign buyers?", "What are you doing to find foreign buyers?" and "How are you advertising to the Europeans?" I offer to anyone that has a desire to have their home appeal to foreign buyers to prepare their home for sale no differently than marketing to local buyers.

• Properly price the home to appraise and stand out in the market
• Prepare the home to be shown by cleaning, repairing faulty items and staging it.
• Use photos and visual tours to attract Internet shoppers.
• Make the home accessible to buyers and agents.

It's not rocket science. Even if there really was a deluge of foreign buyers and their money was worth more against our dollar, those buyers are not going to over pay for a home without doing research. At what point would anyone think being a Foreign National renders a person unable to make a sound business decision? Buyer's have access to the same Internet that the Sellers use. The Internet has leveled the playing field. Without even picking up the telephone a foreign buyer can and will:

• Research real estate online prior to their arrive
• Confer with their local real estate agent via email from the comfort of their home to narrow their search and learn about the market and values
• Prepare a list of potential properties to see upon arrival
• Have their agent research values the potential homes they'd like to see for the best possible buys

Let's not forget, they'll also have the appropriate CMA - Comparative Market Analysis prior to writing an offer, followed up with an appraisal prior to closing as an aid to verify value of the real estate they choose to buy.

Oddly, exactly the same practices are used by both foreign and domestic buyers to locate and purchase real estate. Further, the foreign and domestic buyers also share another similar trait - they both may have the ability to buy but they still need to be willing to buy for a transaction to come together.

Susan G. Komen 5K at Coconut Point Mall

The Susan G. Komen 5K at Coconut Point Mall was this morning and well over 6,000 participants entered the race. I’ve been riding the fence about running. I really didn’t feel like doing it after coming off of a few weeks of a really bad cold/flu and not being able to train for the run. At the last minute I decided to suck it up and just do it because there were gobs of women [and a few men] who were just to sick to do it all together and they needed someone to show up and do it for them.

Today, I ran the race for a lot of people who are tucked in my heart, a few people that lost their fight in the past and a few that are fighting right now and need someone to help carry them through their struggle. I threw someone who needed a lift on my back and ran a 5K for her. Lori from Hurricane, WV might have never been to Bonita Springs, Fl until today but she ran a decent 31:01:56. It was a little slow for her host but she crossed the line wearing pink and finished 535^th place overall (out of over 6,000).

Way to go Lori, your official Susan G. Komen ofSouthwest Floridaparticipation shirt is in the mail.

If you’re a contestant, these are the official race results. I’ve also added a few images in a Flickr show of the event, contestants.

Susan Komen 5K Photos Here

Bonita Springs Homeowners Waiting for a No-Show

Would you ever not show up at the dentist, your mother's house or your sister's house after you said you were on the way? I didn't think so. Who would do that? That would be just wrong, rude and inconsiderate, right?

Every day real estate agents make appointments to show buyers of homes and condominiums property. Customarily, in the Bonita Springs area an appointment is required because someone is either living in the home or renting it. The agent makes an appointment for a time frame, for example, Tuesday between 2-3:00 p.m. The appointment is confirmed with the home owners or tenants so they know to expect them and [hopefully] tidy up the place.

In the last week I've made appointments for buyers agents to show two of my listings and even explained in detail that the properties were owner occupied. This means:

• The owner will know if they show up or not.
• The lights are on and the home is ready.
• They've hired someone to walk the dog for that hour.
• They're sitting on a park bench waiting hours thinking "they're on the way".
• They might be sitting in a neighbor's house killing the time while they're getting jerked around.
• They're sitting with their newborn baby in the car, parked around the corner.

I've even gone so far as to explain to the other agent that one of the homeowner needs to be notified if their party is running late or cancels because of her circumstances with a few other variables in their life. It's not really that hard - you run behind, you call the listing agent and explain that you're running behind an hour and a half. Sometimes, maybe they just need to call and cancel, too. Sometimes a buyer gets in the neighborhood and they just aren't "feeling" it. Fine. They aren't feeling it, but I'm sure they can handle a 30 second phone call giving the home owner the courtesy of a phone call letting them know to turn the lights off and blow out the candles.

Sellers are willing to do what it takes get their home sold. They're cleaning and readying their homes and accommodating appointments even at the last moment. They didn't sign up to be a whipping boy.

If you're a buyer of real estate know that you might have to endure a pause in your day for a a cancellation phone call [which your agent makes] when it is decided to not see a home on schedule. It's nearly painless, a mere 30 second interruption. If you're an agent, you need to pick up a Manners 101 course and start treating other's like you'd like to be treated.

All in Favor of Fixing the Mortgage Say Aye!

This is a cute little post card that I scanned a while back and decided share today. I can't tell you who mailed it to me and they didn't put a logo on it. Darn. If you're seriously interested in getting a mortgage or refinancing I would be happy to point you in the direction of a trusted, reputable lender. Remember, rates are great, especially if you fix 'em.

Things to Do | Skydiving in Southwest Florida

There are a few excursion day trips that can be made to Lake Okeechobee and the Clewiston area from the Bonita Springs - Estero area.  There  are a variety of air boat, fishing trip and nature tours offered.  If you're looking for things to do, perhaps something a slightly more adrenaline packed, you should stop by Airglades Airport and visit Air Adventures of Clewiston, Florida.

Air Adventures of Clewiston offers a variety of activities for skydivers for both novice and experienced jumpers.  They offer classes for individual thrill seeker, eager to learn and the easy way out for people like me; a tandem jump strapped to an experienced skydive instructor who shares a similar desire to live.  That's my kind of ride.

Be sure to make reservations in advance of showing up to jump.  There are only so many spots in the flight schedule and they book up fast.  Plus, you'll want to reserve a videographer if it's your first trip.  The videographers take both still and video of your jump, which will be mailed to you a few days after the event.

Make a day of it by bringing lunch and drinks.  The airfield is in a somewhat rural area and it may be easier for you to bring it with you.

Skydive Fl and Airglades airport is about 70 East of Bonita Springs on State Route 80 in Clewiston, Florida.  It's a great scenic drive through rural Florida farm land and sugar cane fields.

Take a look at the official website to see tons of pictures, programs and even make reservations.

Skydive Fl

Air Adventures of Clewiston
Airglades Airport
3200 Airglades Blvd.
Clewiston,  FL  33440
(800)533-6151
(863)983-6151

The Sign of The Times?

Yesterday I had a visual home inspection on a recently contracted condominium in Bonita Springs. I spoke with a few neighbors while we waited for the buyers to arrive and naturally, we talked about real estate. Everyone always has a question or opinion about the market.

Usually everyone asks the same question, but it's phrased in a variety of ways:

• Say, how busy are you?
• Don't you miss being busy?
• Things picking up yet?
• Is the sky really falling?

I was asked the same question in its own way and actually was able to say, "As a matter of fact, I just ran the sales numbers for the last three February's and can share with you that sales are up. Hey, the Earth isn't shaking, but sales are up."

Take a look at the recorded sales for February 06, February 07 and February 08. I broke it down into a few housing style groups to not lump it all together. The sales are for the Bonita Springs area and Estero, Florida combined:

I think the public is just blinded by excessive inventory right now and it only seems like nothing is selling because there is just so much on the market. Mix in the boo-hoo news that never has anything good to say and it only makes it easy to believe the real estate market in Bonita Springs isn't recovering. There is still a lot of inventory and it will take time to absorb it. I took the liberty of working the absorption rates for a variety of home styles.

City wide absorption rates are a bit of a broad stroke of the brush. Certainly, each neighborhood varies depending upon inventory and popularity. If you're interested in finding out the absorption rate for your neighborhood or the style of home in your area call your real estate agent. Simple statistics, a basic equation and 5 minutes of time and you'll have the answers regarding your hyper-local market and how long it will take to sell of the existing inventory.

If you're a seller and wonder why an absorption rate is important for you to know, read also: So, What Is The Absorption Rate For Your Bonita Springs Home?

Wave Goodbye To "Season"

If you're a seller of real estate with lofty goals of getting your home sold this season, you need to suck it up and take action now or your home just might rot on the vine over summer. We've got an early Easter, this year so seller's need to shake a tail feather.

Sellers, take the initiative: Get a fresh C.M.A. (comparative market analysis) or even an appraisal. If your home has been on the market for a while and you're wondering why it isn't selling, if you're anxious for it to sell and you want it sold by May 1^st you need to get it priced to sell and ready to be sold. Read also: Why Your Bonita Springs Home is NOT Selling

Listen, interest rates are great and contrary to reports, buyers are out there. They just have so much to choose from that they are only looking at homes and condominiums that are priced right. If you don't have your home priced right it's just white noise to buyers.

So what is "priced right" to sell in the Bonita Springs real estate market?

• The home should likely be priced at the entry level of the competition.
• Use absorption rate calculators to make sure your home is priced in a time frame to sell.
• The home has to appraise at the purchase price in order for a bank to lend money on it. Period. No matter how much a buyer or seller loves a home, it's only worth what an appraisal comes in at. Don't play games, you can't fool the banks.

Read also: 5 Tips For Sellers in the Bonita Springs Buyers Market and Bonita Springs Home Seller Safety Tips

Happy Birthday Krusty

Today is Krusty's birthday if you didn't guess by the title. I've been put in charge of throwing a soiree with tacos as the entrée, orange soda and a Publix cake. Yes, there was an order placed. Hey, I have to let him think he's getting away with something just for tolerating nick name like Krusty. Don't worry, we'll square it up when he finds out that he's got a pink princess cake.

Although I was going to the Publix store to get the pink princess cake I made a pit stop at Mehmett's in Estero around the corner. Mehmett's is a roadside produce stand. It's an awesome, rustic place because it's sort of an open air store with bins of fruit and vegetables in an old citrus processing barn.

There really aren't many places left to buy a vine ripe tomato in this area. Most of the other stands have closed. I am particular about a tomato being ripe, the real kind of ripe, not gassed in a plant somewhere so I buy local. Mehmett's also has just about any other type of produce you'd need to pick up, too. They have local produce and even some exotics fruits and veggies. Personally, I think the beets are unnecessary but that's my own private Idaho.

'Mehmett's ships fruit, by the way. If you want to send citrus back north, this is a great place to stop. They also bring in strawberries from Plant City that are just about the best in the world.

If you're looking for a place to get the best local veggies in Bonita Springs and Estero visit Mehmett's Last Stand. It's 20921 Tamiami Trail (US 41) in Estero right by Koreshan State Historic Site. It's just one block north of Corkscrew Road.

In the Bonita Springs area there is a fruit stand at the Flamingo Island flea market and a stand at the Lions Club on Pennsylvania Avenue. If you know of any others in the area just add it in the comments section below.

It's that time of the year, citizens of Bonita Springs. Don't forget that tonight, at precisely 2:00 a.m. your clocks move ahead one hour and the value of your real estate gets moved back to 2004 levels.

Check your batteries in your smokes and CO2 detectors, too.

Why Would You Want to Keep This View Secret?

Real estate for sale + photos = sold real estate.

The basis of this article is to tell you that if you are a seller of real estate in Bonita Springs, Estero or SW Florida your home has to be able to be found and seen by buyers. The National Association of Realtors statistics found that buyers want to see photos and lots of them. (Psst. They might want to see a visual tour, too.) Since over 71% of home buyers begin their home search on the Internet, photos of your home have become more important than ever. That 71% is a national average, too. Since Southwest Florida is a resort destination it's likely that that figure is even higher. Buyers of real estate in the Bonita Springs area are shopping online for their homes before they even get here.

A wide angle lens camera brings more punch to images and can even capture a small room such as a powder bath. Important items to consider in the photo line up or visual tour:

• Exterior front of home(minus the trash cans & get the car out of the driveway)
• Rear view of home
• Interior shots, especially kitchen and living areas (toilet lids down)
• Scanned floor plan (in photo format)
• Neighborhood amenities
• The front gates if it's a gated community (why not show it's security features)
• Street long photo with several homes in view to show the neighborhood
• If your home has a pool or a particularly pretty view show it off

This information might sound basic but there are homes for sale locally that have no photos. Really. How are buyers of real estate, snowed in their northern home ever going to find your home and fall in love with it if they can't see it?