Life In Bonita Springs

Hire a Professional to Appeal

Your Bonita Springs Real Estate Tax

Just a few days ago I received a phone call from a gentleman asking for an MLS report for a specific property in Bonita Springs, on a specific sale date. Occasionally, this happens, it's usually a local property appraiser and I'm happy to comply and answer any questions I can, provide floor plan, community information, etc. This call was different. The man on the phone runs a business helping Florida homeowners appeal their property tax bills. He was calling to get specific data to help a homeowner in Bonita Springs fight for a lower tax bill for their condominium in Bonita Bay.

The Lee County Property Appraiser has an appeals process to specifically help homeowners dispute their tax assessments and get their bills reduced, should their be errors or oversights. Property Tax Professionals, Inc. can help you arm yourself for the appeal, gather data and represent you before the Value Adjustment Board.

Property Tax Professionals work on contingency fee basis:

The fee is calculated as a percentage of the savings from your current tax bill when they win the case before the Value Adjustment Board hearings. They work on a no reduction - no fee basis. Meaning - they earn a contingency fee if we lower your property assessment. It's a win-win situation. You earn the lion's share of the tax savings.

If you'd like to learn more about using a professional to appeal your bill for property tax in Bonita Springs, Estero or Lee County contact:

Bill McBrayer
Property Tax Advisor
Property Tax Professionals, Inc.
4241 Northlake Blvd. Suite B
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410

(954) 958-9969
(561) 627-6551
(561) 627-3108 fax

http://www.floridataxappeals.com/

To learn more about property tax in the state of Florida visit: http://www.floridataxwatch.org/

*Just a reminder, if you've received your property tax bill for your Bonita Springs home or condo and feel there is an error or discrepancy you should be working your way through the appeal process. Our Lee County tax assessments arrive in Just a friendly reminder that if you are concerned about your latest tax assessment, NOW is the time to be working on an appeal. Each municipality has it's own review board with scheduled dates for presenting your case for appeal.

Love is in the Air in Bonita Springs

If you're looking for something special to send your sweetie this Valentine's Day take a few ideas from the pros.  Bonita Springs Flowers and Gifts is located right on US 41 - Tamiami Trail and they're a one stop shop for special deliveries.  Bonita Springs Flowers and Gifts offer a large variety of gifts, flowers, stuffed animals, balloons and other cute keepsakes to send to your near and dear.  Bonita Springs Flowers and Gifts also offer FTD flower delivery services throughout the United States.  If your loved one's aren't in Bonita Springs with you, you can still send them warm wishes.

Bonita Springs Flowers and Gifts

• Same Side of 41 & Just South of Tokyo Bay Steakhouse & Prudential Florida WCI
• 24940 S Tamiami Trail Ste 102, Bonita Springs, FL 34134
• Toll Free: 800-553-9434
• Local: 239-992-2229 
• Visit their website: http://www.bonitaspringsflowers.net/

If you're looking for something on the sweeter side be sure to check out Harry & David at the Miromar Outlet Mall.  Harry & David Store offer an unbelievable selection of goodies; from Valentine candy to cakes, munchies and Valentine gift baskets.  Stop in and pick up your own or go to the http://www.harryanddavid.com/ online store and have it delivered.

Harry and David Stores of Estero, Florida

• Miromar Outlets
• 10801 Corkscrew Road, Suite 127
• Estero, FL 33928
• (239) 498-5421
• Visit their website:  http://www.harryanddavid.com/

Finally, if you're looking for a great place to share an excellent glass of wine and intimate Valentine dinner, make a reservation at Roy's Restaurant.  Hawaiian Fusion Cuisine is on tap at Roy's.  Roy's blends fresh local ingredients with European sauces and bold Asian spices, always with a focus on seafood.   You just have to try the chocolate soufflé desert, it's the best and a perfect Valentine desert.

Roy's - Bonita Springs

• The Promenade Mall
• (239) 498-7697
• 26831 South Bay Dr. Suite 100, Bonita Bay Promenade
• Bonita Springs FL 34134

Bonita Beach | Barefoot Beach | Little Hickory

Looks like a three day weekend is sneaking up on us.  Our little city of Bonita Springs swells a little with jet setters flying in to RSW get their "sun" on.  Mid February isn't too bad for the skin, it's the closer to Easter sun that spanks that northern skin.  That may be the next photo-journalism series I do on my Bonita Springs mobile Blog:  Florida Sunburns.   We [locals] see them all over town when spring gets closer.  Souvenirs of the trip to Bonita Springs emergency rooms.  Northerners under estimate our Bonita Springs sun and think an hour should do it....yeah, well done, kind of do it.  Take care of your skin when you visit the gulf beaches of Bonita Beach and Bonita Springs.  We want you and your epidermis to stick around.  My kids called it sun scream.   Put on your sun scream and put it on often. 

Clean up the beach when you leave, too.  The Rules are:  Take only pictures and leave only footprints...and wear sun screen or sun scream, whatever works best for you.

More Chris Than Even Chris Can Stand, Thanx Lola

If you're an average Bonita Springs resident you probably don't know what a meme is.  For the sake of regular readers and subscriber I will tell you that being memed is a way to play tag on the internet for us "nerdy types".  It's a type of viral blog posting.  You're currently reading my blog Life in Bonita Springs and I was tagged on Lola Audu's Grand Rapids Blog.  Lola is a real estate broker in Michigan. 

The point of the blog meme is to share information about oneself.  The rules are: 

• Give 7 interesting details
• Tag at least 2 other people.

Now I just KNOW you're dying to know:

1. I have lived in Bonita Springs for over twenty years.  Raised my kids here, they were born here. (they just turned 20 years old) Yes, they...they're twins.  When I go, I go big.
2. My daughter and I jumped out of a perfectly good airplane for her 18^th birthday.  The 20^th birthday was uneventful.  (thank gosh) We have priceless video of the whole event and occasionally pull it out to laugh at our ridiculous selves.
3. I love snow skiing and I'm a bit of a daredevil.  The steeper the better, bumps and trees are a challenge.  I just don't like to get cold so I use those little heat packs in my shoes and mittens.  Who ever invented those deserves the Nobel Prize.
4. My friends at Keller Williams and I just finished the Naples Half Marathon.  We're scaling back the next race to 5K at Susan G Komen Race for the Cure | Coconut Point Mall 5K , come join us!
5. Quietly and without fanfare I write hand written notes to store managers to compliment their employees.  (especially hard workers that I don't think are getting what they deserve)  I also write an occasional complaint letter.  There is a local grocery store with only 1 electric cart left and it is rarely available.  My mom couldn't shop the other day and that ticks me off.  A LOT.  I'd mention their name but I'm tired of people getting their knickers in a knot for me writing about THEM not doing THEIR job.  Hmm. Maybe I can just mention all of the grocery stores in Bonita Springs:  Publix, Albertsons, and Sweet Bay.  We'll let their corporations figure it out, fair enough?  My mom is a sick little old lady recovering from cancer and grocery shopping is the only thing she can manage outside of the house.  ::guilt trip::
6. I retain tons of useless trivia in my head.  I'm not bad at Jeopardy but I just don't see this useless information about googolplexes and plankton paying off in the long run.
7. I'm afraid of cockroaches.  Palmetto bugs are my nemesis.  I would not be a good Fear Factor candidate for that very reason.  I know, I know, I'd jump out of a plane but can't handle cockroaches.  I'm an enigma....or selective sissy.  Your choice.

Coconut Point Event | Pet Event 

Tropical Tails is the most anticipated pet event in South Florida for 2008. 

The event is Saturday, February 23, 2008.

Coconut Point Town Center, Estero, FL 10 a.m.- 4 p.m.

Bonita Springs Real Estate | Estero Florida

Homestead Exemption March 1 Deadline

Homestead Exemption is a constitutional benefit of $25,000 removed from the assessed value of your Lee County property, which includes the cities of Bonita Springs and Estero, Florida. It is granted to those applicants who timely file by March 1st, possess title to real property and are bona fide Florida residents living in the dwelling and making it their permanent home on January 1st. Bonita Springs and Estero Properties granted Homestead Exemption automatically receive the "Save Our Homes" benefit. For additional information about other exemptions for which you may qualify or for more information about Save our Homes, visit the Lee County Property Appraisers web site at www.leepa.org and select from the Exemption Information menu options. You can also find the info about homestead and other related exemptions here:

Homestead and Exemption Information

To be eligible to apply for the Homestead Exemption on-line you MUST meet the following qualifications:

• Be a US citizen
• Own and reside on the property as a permanent resident as of January 1st
• Provide the social security number for all applicants and the spouses of all applicants
• Have a permanent Florida Driver's License. (If you do not have a license in this or any other state, you must provide a Florida ID card. A "Florida Only" driver's license cannot be accepted.)
• Have Florida vehicle registration/license plates on your vehicle
• Be registered to vote in Lee County. If you are not registered to vote you must apply in person
• Sign an on-line statement that you do not claim any residency based ad-valorem tax exemption or tax credit in any other jurisdiction (in or out of Florida).

If you do not meet these qualifications you must apply in person. If you must apply in person, or if you wish to apply in person, their office is located at:

2480 Thompson Street, Fort Myers, Florida 33901. The telephone number is (239) 533-6150.

Riverside Park of Bonita Springs - Free Movies

The Bonita Springs Estero Realtors Association (BEAR) in partnership with the Bonita Springs Area Chamber of Commerce has teamed up with the city of Bonita Springs to offer movies on the lawn as part of a new plan to draw visitors to the downtown Bonita area and to the new park.

Movies in the Park started last year at Riverside Park in Olde Bonita Springs. 

The movie begins at 7 p.m.

On Saturday, Feb. 2, "The Sound of Music," will be shown.

Map to Riverside Park

Joy at RSW - Fort Myers Airport 

Nearly a bajillion people come through our new airport every year.  Not really, maybe about a 250,000ish every month.  Check the stats.  Anyway it's alot of people.   Tonight I went to the airport to meet my parents.  They were returning from Cleveland Hopkins to RSW - USA 3000 a super airline that doesn't punish you with price jumps just for booking last minute (booo! to the rest of the airlines).  My parents flew down for about $100 each and didn't decide to fly until last night.  You gotta love that handly little benefit of  USA 3000.

The flight usually comes in about 15-20 minutes early so I go early to people watch and meet them.   I had about 20 minutes of good people watching.  It was actually refreshing to see how happy people were to see each other.   They were just plain NICE to each other.  An older man holding mint green roses that met his bride, children meeting their mom and sobbing.  Just pure joy.  It's like eves dropping watching people.  Little hearts were floating in the air at B terminal.  It was a welcome releif from my back stabbing, imploding real estate deal day in sunny Bonita Springs.  Eh, you win some, you loose some.  How nice to wrap my day up where everyone was winning something. 

Peek in on this stolen moment - I can only  imagine it was a mother and a daughter because their slow motion stare could have burned steel before they embraced, then dad had his hug.  How lucky they are to love each other and be loved by each other so much.

Coming Soon: West Bay Club Tour

Ya know, I just love details like this.  It's one of the prettier ceiling fans I've seen.  As a matter of fact just about everything is pretty at West Bay Club.   It's all about the details, don't you think?

Today, West Bay Club invited our office of Keller Williams agents to the Jasmine towers in West Bay.  The views are outstanding, by the way.  I ended up touring the community and snapping some photos and such so I can bring the amenities to you.  In a day or so, as time allows, I'll add the page.  I just felt that I needed to share the West Bay Club fan right away.  The world probably couldn't wait to see it either.  If you want to see this fan up close and in person, just give me a call.  If you live in West Bay Club you can take the fan tour at the Fitness Clubhouse downstairs. 

You can always pick up one of those awesome tower condo's at Jasmine and put this fan on your back lanai and sip that mojito while the sun goes down.  How about a lanai like this one: