Life In Bonita Springs

Boat Storage, Boat Docks and Boat Clubs in Bonita Springs

If the prices of homes in Bonita Springs with gulf access has you looking for alternatives to boating access here are a few ideas that you might want to explore. Besides trailering your boat and using public boat ramps in Bonita Springs you may find a few of these ideas helpful.

There are not many marinas offering in and out storage in Bonita Springs. First, check into Bonita Bay Marina.  The marina is centrally located and offers fairly fast access to the gulf via the Imperial River.  You can visit the marina website here: www.bonitabaymarina.net

Some boaters keep their vessel at Fish Tale marina on Fort Myers Beach for in and out service.  Here’s a link to their website: www.thefishtalemarina.com 

Barefoot Boat Club on Bonita Beach Rd. offers boat storage and boat storage condominiums for purchase.  The boat condo sales can be found in the MLS under boat dock searches, not a vacant land search.   Also under the boat dock search there may be boat docks located on 3rd Street in Little Hickory Shores from time to time. 

Last, if you do not have a boat already you may want to consider joining Bay Water Exclusive Boat Club in Bonita Springs, Florida.  You have your pick of boats to reserve from fishing boats to pontoon/party boats.  They are in the process of also setting up jet skis for use by club members.  It’s a hassle free way to own a boat with little maintenance.

Jasmine in Bonita Farms Bonita Springs Fl

April brings tons of blossoms to Bonita Springs and there is one great spot to visit in Bonita Farms area.  The fence on West Terry Street that circles Highland Woods has so much jasmine growing on it that sometimes you can smell it a quarter of a mile away.  It’s amazing.  You can park your car near the power line easement at West Terry Street and Holly Lane if you’d like to park and take a walk past it.

There are other great blossoms to look at in Nuttinglikit Grove off of Pennsylvania Avenue.  Both Poinciana and Jacaranda Trees grow in that community.

An invasive plant, the Downy Rosemyrtle is actually growing along the power line easement at Holly Lane.  It’s very pretty but it’s not a desirable plant in this area.  There are also tons of gopher tortoises living in the easement so go take a look!

Finding Attainable Bonita Springs Workforce Housing

A few days ago I received a phone call from a man considering a move to the Bonita Springs-Estero area. He was researching for a possible transfer to take a new job and he was having difficulty finding a property to purchase or rent online. After a brief discussion I was able to explain to him that the ranges in prices that he was searching barely existed. Those properties in his proposed budget, in the area he was looking, come and go very quickly if at all.

It’s been about fifteen years since we’ve felt this sort of pinch in local housing. Consumers who are in the work force are feeling the change more so than others searching for housing. What’s causing the change is a variety of aspects including demographic changes and the population growth in southwest Florida.

Both Lee and Collier Counties are already feeling the press of Baby Boomer migration. Many have worked their whole lives with a dream of a Florida retirement. The current rate of those turning 65 in the United States is about 8,000 per day. It’s a trend that will continue for years. Florida is not only been feeling the effects of the Boomer shift but also of those who push their chips into the middle of the table hoping that southwest Florida will offer their family new opportunities.

The influx of those declaring residency has not only had an effect on the prices of real estate but the inventory of rental housing. Those who already owned second homes in southwest Florida may have had them rented until they were able to retire or move into them. When they officially become a Floridian they move into their home which removes their property from the rental pool. Simply put there are fewer rentals than there were a few short years ago.

Areas such as Bonita Springs have noticeably fewer apartment complexes than many coastal cities. During the heyday of the housing boom many of the apartment complexes were converted to condominiums complexes and the units were sold off individually. 

Reference San Mirage, The Tides at Pelican Landing and The Sanctuary 

The rental apartment inventory took a substantial hit and there haven’t been many apartment buildings built within city limits since the Great Recession.

The American dream of home ownership is quite a challenge for the local work force. Those of us in the Bonita Springs real estate industry have steadily watched entry level prices coming up and the trend is expected to continue. Even where it appears that there may be housing available, in many areas it is not attainable due to the high costs of flood insurance and home owner insurance. In some circumstances those fees are large enough to force the buyers over their debt to income ratios, unable to obtain a mortgage. Costly HOA fees affect debt to income ratios, too.

Reference: Bonita Farms, Arbel, Wesbobean, Imperial Pines 

For many, the dream of living in southwest Florida is being eclipsed by the cost of housing. Whether a person owns or rents, the average person should spend about 30% of their income on housing. The primary source of moderate to middle income employment in southwest Florida is in the service sector and various trades. The wages from many of these jobs simply cannot support the cost of housing on the Gulf coast. Many people are now finding themselves either stretching their housing budget to the brink or enduring grueling daily commutes to and from areas where workforce housing is more attainable.

The availability of work force housing is only going to become more challenging. The effects will be felt by the entire community. The lack of housing options available to community service sector such as law enforcement, fire service and teachers is not only frustrating but impacts the quality of life for all residents, regardless of age and income. How do we facilitate the needs of the growing population when the very personnel we need for safe and balanced community cannot afford to live here?

Things To Do With Kids in SWFL Off the Beach Part II

One of the most popular places for people to visit is the Naples Zoo which is located 1590 Goodlette-Frank Road, Naples, Florida. They are open daily from 9:00 - 5:00pm. Adult ticket prices are $21.95 and Children 3 and up are $12.95 (2018 pricing). The Naples Zoo is a great walk thru zoo with many other great features like a boat cruise on an island of monkeys,lemurs,and apes, There is also an open air theater where you can experience the animals up close and personal.

My boys also love when we get to see the alligator feedings! For $5 you can get a few pieces of lettuce and hand feed the giraffes. The zoo does not have anywhere to buy food but you are allowed to bring a lunch or snacks. They have a great picnic area with a playground close by. The Naples Zoo is a great place for the whole family and is sure to provide some great memories.

Another great place to visit is the Naples Botanical Gardens which is located 4820 Bayshore Dr, Naples, FL 34112. The Naples Botanical Gardens is 170 acres of plants from all around the world. We recently visited the Gardens for the very first time and we had such an amazing time.

At the time we visited the Botanical Garden they were featuring dinosaurs which I am told they do every so often.  With two small boys dinosaurs are what made us want to make our first trip there but even without the dinosaurs it is such an amazing place to walk around.

There are 9 different themed gardens and untouched 90 acres preserve. One of the gardens is a children’s garden which includes a butterfly garden, tiny cottages, a splash pad, tree house, and watering cans so the kids can take care of the garden. Naples Botanical Gardens is open from 9:00am-5:00pm ticket prices are $14.95 for an adult and $9.95 for children 4 and older (2018 pricing).

The newest place to visit is the brand new Chipmunk Indoor party. The Chipmunk Indoor Party is exactly what is sounds like a huge place for kids to play inside! The Chipmunk has arcade games, indoor bounce houses, craft/lego room, a indoor playground, a concession stand and a party/event room. The price is $12 per kid for 2 hours, I believe if you bring more than one kid it is $10 per kid for 2 hours (2018 pricing). They also have birthday party/event packages.

My youngest son and I had to check it out when we heard about it and he LOVED it he spent almost our entire two hours on the giant slide that goes into a ball pit. There is an age limit 0-11 years old for safety reasons. Chipmunk Indoor Party is located at 9128 Bonita Beach Road in Bonita Springs, Florida near Sunshine Ace Hardware Store.

This is Part II You can read Part I here: Things To Do With Kids in SWFL Off the Beach - Part I

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About the Author - Jenna Hatfield is a life-long resident of Bonita Springs, Florida and mother of two boys.

Bonita Springs Real Estate Market Update March 2018

It’s official. Season is over so we’re going to be wrapping up a the pending sales and closings for the next several weeks.  Just because season is over doesn’t mean we don’t sell real estate in Bonita Springs.  We just sell to a different type of clientele.  The locals are shuffling around and we go through our “graduation lull” and then we start getting visits from the be-back buyers.  Those are the folks who looked this winter and either didn’t find what they wanted or they have been studying what they want and have decided to take the plunge.

About half way through the summer we start getting “can’t find a rental”. Those folks who buy a home because they either can’t find a rental or they decide that what they would rather use that rental money as part of the down payment or remodel cost.

Last months sales were consistent where short sales and foreclosures are concerned.   We had about 97.5% equity sales.  Very few distressed sales.  Our active listings are at 99% non-distressed properties.   Cash sales were nearly 60% which is up over the last few months. Conventional financing was used for about 34% of the purchases made.

If you’re a real estate buyer or seller in the Bonita Springs area keep this in mind – nearly 70% of our sales occurred in the price point under $400,000.  The closer you get to zero the more competitive it gets!  That’s a lot of entry level real estate moving.  That also creates growing pains in the top tier or luxury real estate market.

If you’re ready to buy or sell a home or condo in the Bonita Springs or Estero, Florida area call or text today to get started.  239-273-7430

Choosing Plants For Your Bonita Springs Home

Most home owners in Bonita Springs don’t have the opportunity to landscape their home from scratch. I didn’t think I would but my dear friend Irma blew through last September and took with her some over grown, mismatched, tired trees and left a bit of an eyesore behind.  Fortunately for me I had already had the banyan tree removed.  Read also: That Bonita Springs Home With a Huge Tree

Even if you’re landscaping your Bonita Springs home on a budget you want to guarantee success of the plants you put in. Here are a few tips that I can recommend you employ to get the best possible results.  I’m a numbers and data person so I researched my plants and I also drove high and low looking at landscaping.  With that in mind I can share whether a home is $300,000 or $3,000,000 many of the plants are the same.  I drove through the new communities of Bonita Landing and Bonita National as well as older existing communities such as Bonita Bay and Pelican Landing just to get ideas. 

The plant list I eventually came up with was a list of plants that would tolerate varying wet/drought conditions and do well with no shade.  I confessed early on that I have no trees left so my front yard is blazing hot. Whatever your home has to offer make sure you plant according to the shade/sun you have to offer/torture plants with.  My full-sun-take-no-prisoners yard ended up with a plant list of common yet beautiful plants that were economical to purchase and would grow quickly.

The plants were purchased at a variety of big box stores and at two of my favorite garden nurseries, Driftwood Nursery and Greenway Nursery, both located in Estero, Florida. In the front yard: Lariope, Flax Lilly, Lantana, Jatropha, Texas Sage, Hibiscus, Indian Hawthorne, Sky Flower Trees.  The side yard now has Lollypop Verbena, Cassia Trees, Scarlet  Milkweed and Queen’s Wreath growing on the bird seeder pole.  I also have Dutchman’s Pipe on the mailbox and Passaflora on the lamp post.

If you’re not an experienced gardener I will share that this plant list was developed not only to withstand Florida’s sun but to also help our pollinators and butterflies. I love butterflies and attracting all sorts of birds and wildlife.  The butterflies are easy to attract if you choose the right plants.  Flowers that produce nectar for them to eat and the host plants for them to lay their eggs on. FYI: those eggs will become caterpillars that eat the plants and make them temporarily look shabby.  The set of plants I put in will attract: Monarch, Gulf Frittilary, a variety of Sulphur, Pipevine Swallowtail, Cassius Blue, a variety of Skippers and the Zebra Longwing.

Read also 30 Days to a Butterfly Garden

To help the plants get a foot hold and to ensure their success they were watered well. I do have an irrigation system.  We put landscaping fabric down prior to planting and we mulched heavily to help hold in moisture after the plants were installed.  I chose the dark brown colored mulch called Cocoa Brown. It has a rich, chocolate color and the contrast sets off flowering plants quite nicely.

The long story short of my new landscaping is the proper research, planning and care has yielded one-hundred percent success in the plantings. I had one plant that looked a little stressed but it bounced back nicely.

My next series of side yard plantings will include Porter Weed in purple. The red just doesn’t do well here.  Also, I will have a few Fire Bush put in, as well. All are very popular with butterflies, humming birds and honey bees.

Click the photo album above and you will see more photos.  Let me know if you have questions about planting for the pollinators.  I’d love to help!

Imperial River Gulf Access Home Stats

This real estate market report is for the area located between Bonita Beach Road and West Terry Street, Old 41 Road and US 41. It’s also known as Imperial River East or BN08.  Communities within this area include Edenbridge, Brendan Cove, Bonita Farms, Paradise Village, Serrano, Heitmans, Plan of Riverside, Arbel, Palmesta, Citadel and Pirates Cove.

The long story short about homes for sale in the Imperial River area is that sales numbers in February were fewer than ten closed sales. That includes a combination of gulf access and non gulf access homes.  The majority of sales were bargain sales under 200K including a few condos located in Spanish Harbor,  Citadel and The Sanctuary.  Only two gulf access homes closed sale in Bonita Farms on Del Ln; a large home at $700,000 and a “tear down” at $240,000 (lot value).  The new owners are renovating it.

There were no vacant land closed sales in this area during the month of February.

To see current properties currently for sale visit: Imperial River East Homes For Sale

Bonita Springs Real Estate Market Update February 2018

The Bonita Springs and Ester real estate market is cooking right along and slowly decelerating into spring.  Easter is April 1st this year so we’ll start seeing shutters closing down and more car haulers.  We’ve already seen a few car haulers in the usual places along US 41 such as Bonita Bay and Pelican Landing and on Coconut Road at The Colony and Shadow Wood.  Some of our seasonal residents are sending their cars back, already.   I saw a 1942 woody getting loaded up on a carrier today. What a beauty!

We’ve had record pending sales in the area, no doubt that we were playing a little catch up from the post Irma blip of no sales for a few weeks.  Many folks are taking advantage of bargains and, sadly,  many home owners in the Bonita Springs area will be carrying their homes into the summer unsold.  Price means everything in some neighborhoods and for buyers there is leverage when sellers are not aware of the inventory and their current predicament. It’s all about the numbers so if you’re looking to score a deal search in a neighborhood with the numbers on your side. It doesn’t mean it has to have a lot of inventory. I know of a community with only 2 properties for sale but the rate of sale indicates that there is 17 months of inventory. That’s good for buyers to know!  It’s good for that math to accompany your offer to the seller, too.

In all, we’re still running with a fair amount of cash and there are few distressed properties. 

For those of you who shopped for homes in Bonita Springs this winter and are thinking of coming back know that very often May and June offer a little bit of a lull so it’s a great time to shop without pressure … or dinner reservations. The city runs a little more fluidly without all of the traffic. Come back and visit us. Know that hotel rates are far more favorable, even at the Hyatt Resort.

If Angela or I can help you buy or sell a home feel free to reach out at any time. Call or text 239-273-7430 to get started today.

An Opinion of Your Bonita Springs Home

Recently, I sold a Pelican Landing condo to a client.  She is a repeat client. I’ve sold her real estate before.  This condo purchase was a downsize to have more of a turn-key lifestyle for fast trips in and out of RSW.  The hunt for condos and homes in Bonita Springs was fairly brief but there was a lot of toad kissing involved before we found just the right condo. When the perfect condo was found it wasn’t exactly perfect but it had just the right view and the cosmetics could be changed.

The buyer remarked to me that some of her family members were disappointed that it wouldn’t be big enough. That they may want to come see it in person first before she writes a contract for it.  Many buyers do bring friends, family members or trusted advisors to see the property and that is important. The missing component to that application is that the “second opinion” on the real estate hasn’t been through the high and low search.  They haven’t seen the worst of the worst and the very reason why the property you’ve chosen is the one chose.  They’re rending an opinion based on the one property that they have viewed and nothing else to base it on whether it’s visual or smell. Yes, some real estate smells.

As a frequent buyer or seller of real estate (for my own personal investing) in the Bonita Springs area I often have people who visit my homes remark that if I ever found a ‘little gem’ like this, to let them know.  Some gems aren’t gems when they’re purchased. My gem has white tile floors circa 1990 and sea foam green walls.  Today it’s sporting porcelain wood plank looking tile.  If I had asked family members to tell me what they thought of this home before I bought it they would have given it the big thumbs down. Meanwhile, a paint job, new flooring and a few years in the rear view mirror there is a little equity built up in the property.

It’s a tough call to get a second opinion and you need to be ready to either let your trusted advisor know about the other properties so you can set the stage or be thick skinned enough to handle an opinion that may not be too kind.

Removing a Large Tree in Bonita Springs Florida

It doesn’t matter if it’s a banyan tree or an oak tree.  Big trees that are not properly maintained are a head ache and a very costly matter to clean up.  Nature lover’s love trees and while they may try to keep them there are some valid reasons to groom and sometimes even removed big trees.

From my own standpoint of having purchased a canal front, gulf access home in the area of Bonita Farms in Bonita Springs I will share that I bought a home with an enormous ficus tree on the edge of the sea wall. In a perfect world (when there weren’t five competing offers) I would have negotiated the cost of removing the tree or at least grooming it.  It cost thousands of dollars to remove the tree, which I did a preventative measure so there wouldn’t be sea wall and property damage.  Thank goodness I did because Hurricane Irma came roaring through months later and that tree would have crushed my house and the neighbors house.

Large trees can also cause a silent, hidden damage to sidewalks, driveways, home foundations and septic/sewer systems.  Those roots grow slowly but they are powerful and can cause damage to your Bonita Springs home, long term.

Large trees are beautiful and provide much needed shade from the Florida sun.  You just have too keep the cost in mind when purchasing a home in the Bonita Springs area.  The cost isn’t in just cutting it down it’s also in the dump fees to remove the debris and the stump grinding to restore the yard where the tree was located.

There are a few things you to can to help with a surprise expense of tree removal. The first is to groom current trees.  If you have a large tree contact a tree company to trim it back.   They can groom that large unruly tree back to a tidy sphere.  It will keep branches from whipping your home in wind storms.  You can also have them start taking a branch or two off every year to minimize and reduce the over all size tree. 

If you’d like to learn more about a specific tree located on a property in Bonita Springs and how to best manage it contact a licensed tree service.  Some trees could be protected and have restrictions for trimming, cutting down or removing.

If you’d like neighborly advice from locals who have used tree services in Bonita Springs you can ask questions on the Bonita Springs Estero Community Forum