Joy & Shane's Blog

Fort Myers Real Estate Information

Will The $8,000 First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit Be Extended?

Joy & Shane Goushaw (Sandals Realty) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:52:12 -0600

An article that was just posted by the Associated Press 22 minutes ago has announced that it is not a "done deal" yet, but it looks promising for the $8,000 First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit to be extended. It was an easy 98-0 vote in the Senate just a short while ago to extend the $8,000 First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit, as well as to include a $6,500 credit to Home Owners who have lived in their current home for at least 5 years.

The important next step will be for the legislation to go to the House, where it is reported that it should be approved rather quickly, and then it will be sent to President Obama for his signature. There is still the possibility that this legislation will not go through, however with 98 voting for it and 0 voting against it, the likelihood of it arriving on the President's desk is quite high. The $8,000 First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit was attached to a bill extending unemployment benefits. This raises the stakes even higher for getting this bill passed soon.

Fort Myers Home Sellers now is a great time to meet with a Fort Myers Listing Agent to discuss marketing your home as First Time Home Buyers will be looking to purchase a new home. Would you like to know what your home is worth? Please request a Home Value Report.

Shane and I are both Fort Myers Listing Agents as well as able to represent Fort Myers Buyers as Fort Myers Buyers Agents. If you have any questions regarding purchasing your first home or marketing your home for sale, please contact us. We will take the time to share with you about our local Fort Myers and Cape Coral real estate market.

Providing Excellence & Service in Your Real Estate Experience

Happily Serving Fort Myers, Fort Myers Beach, North Fort Myers, Estero, Cape Coral, Lehigh, Bonita Beach, Bonita Springs, Naples, Marco Island, Sanibel Island, Captiva Island

Shane & Joy Goushaw

Licensed Professional Realtors

Sandals Realty

Cell: 239-823-9419

Fax: 239-245-8042

Please vist our Website

Please visit us on our Blog

Thinking of Selling Your Fort Myers Luxury Home? From the Perspective of a Fort Myers Listing Agent

Joy & Shane Goushaw (Sandals Realty) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 10:34:07 -0500

The real estate market is changing in Fort Myers. We are seeing a lack of inventory in lower priced homes including bidding wars. Typically these homes are in the $100,000 - $199, 000 price range. If you have a Fort Myers or Cape Coral home in this price range now really is the time to have it marketed by a Fort Myers Listing Agent.

Luxury homes in Fort Myers are selling as well, and as you may imagine, they are selling for significantly less than they were 3 or 4 years ago. Homes in the exclusive community of Fiddlesticks Golf & Country Club that sold in 2006 for over 1 million are now selling for almost half of that.

If you are selling a Luxury Fort Myers home, the good news is that these homes are also selling. However, the flip side is that it is important to keep in mind the turn of events in the Fort Myers luxury real estate market of loss in home value. Luxury homes are losing value due to an increase in foreclosures in Fort Myers Luxury home market share. It would be prudent to not price your home too expensively. The most regrettable thing that could happen is for your home to sit on the market with multiple price reductions. We call this "Chasing the Market" in Real Estate.

Sit down with your Financial Planner or Real Estate Professional and evaluate the value of your home while mapping out a strategy to achieve your goal of selling. One way you can do this is to have an in-depth study of the value of comparable sold homes in your community.

Home Value Request

Shane and Joy Goushaw

Licensed Professional Florida Realtors

Sandals Realty

Contact Us

Follow our Blog

Selling Your Fort Myers Home During Season - From the Perspective of a Fort Myers Listing Agent

Joy & Shane Goushaw (Sandals Realty) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 18:59:44 -0500

If you are a Fort Myers Seller, now is the time to consider selling your home!

Reasons Why it is a Great Time to Hire a Listing Agent:

1. Snowbirds and Vacationers

As anyone driving around Fort Myers and Cape Coral can see our traffic has been steadily increasing over the past couple of weeks. Looking at the license plates we are seeing more and more out of state plates. As it gets colder up north, the snowbirds flock to the sunshine of Florida's Gulf Coast. Even at McGregor Baptist Church in Fort Myers, where we happen to attend, the parking lot and the pews are filling up week by week.

Many of these people are looking to purchase a home in Fort Myers or Cape Coral.

2. Supply & Demand

Because of the decrease in home inventory and the increase of home buyers, the current demand for a home is higher than the inventory of good homes to meet the need. We need more inventory to meet this demand.

Now is the time to sell while other Fort Myers Sellers are only just beginning to consider putting their home on the market. Now is the time for you to have your home marketed and listed in the Fort Myers MLS.

If you would like to discuss marketing your home, please feel free to contact us. We would be more than happy to answer any questions you may have.

Happily serving Fort Myers, North Fort Myers, Fort Myers Beach, Cape Coral, Lehigh, Estero, Sanibel Island, Captiva Island, Bonita Beach, Bonita Springs, Naples, Marco Island.

Providing Excellence & Service in Your Real Estate Experience - As Both Fort Myers Listing Agents and Representing Fort Myers Buyers

If you would like additional information on the real estate market conditions in Fort Myers & receive information on what your home value is then please contact us, Shane & Joy Goushaw - www.WeLuvFortMyers.com

Shane & Joy Goushaw

Licensed Professional Florida Realtors

Sandals Realty

Cell: 239-823-5280

Fax: 239-245-8042

Our Website: www.FortMyersRealEstateFloridaHomes.com

Our Blogsite: www.WeLuvFortMyers.com

RealEstateClipArt

Why Did Your Listing Expire? Fort Myers Listing Agents Can Explain

Joy & Shane Goushaw (Sandals Realty) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 23:04:54 -0500

Sellers, we can empathize with the challenges that you are facing when selling your Lee County home. It is a market unlike any other that you will probably ever find yourself in again. In my research on the Greater Fort Myers and the Beach MLS I have found many reasons for the unfortunate event of expired listings. And, after a stellar track record with selling homes in a declining market, I think we have the authority to share what will and will not sell your Fort Myers or Cape Coral home.

Price - Good homes expire because of incorrect pricing.

Are you chasing the market with a price that is too high? Homes are selling in the Fort Myers, Cape Coral and Lee County real estate market but the homes do need to be priced competitively and also aggresively to stand out from the crowd.

Has your home expired because it was "over-priced?" As Listing Agents in Fort Myers who genuinely care about our clients accomplishing their goal of selling and moving onto the next phase of their lives, we will explore pricing strategies with you. We will seek to understand where you are coming from and what is holding you back from pricing your home in-line with the comparable solds. If you do not have the wiggle room with price because of what you owe on your mortgage, then we can discuss alternatives to conventional sales. We have successfully closed Short Sales in Fort Myers and in Cape Coral. That may not be your only option, some of our sellers consider bringing cash to closing if they are able to. Neither solution is a pleasant one. We understand and will help discuss all options with you for the best possible outcome.

Photos - Poor image quality and few photos will cause your home to get overlooked by Fort Myers and Cape Coral Buyers.

All too often I have looked through the Fort Myers MLS expired listings and have seen such poor quality in photographs and lack of photographs. As Realtors using the Fort Myers MLS, we are able to input up to 10 photos in the Fort Myers MLS, so why did your Fort Myers Listing Agent only take a shot of the front of the home that is not cropped and has not had the brightness and contrast adjusted to make it look sharp and stand out? Shane is a photographer and has taken photography classes, he also a graphic design background. He has the skills to make your images stand-out. Your home needs to be displayed with pride. There is an art-form to taking photos of a home, we can discuss with you the best ways to capture your home on camera. We also add virtual tours to every listing. Again, this is such an important and often over-looked means of marketing a home.

Communication and Updates on Market Condition - Homes expire because of lack of communication from Listing Agent to Seller about the Real Estate Conditions. Agents need to continually be re-evaluating the strategy for selling the home and communicating with the Seller.

One of the biggest complaints that Sellers who have left their former Listing Agent shares with us about the previous relationship is "I never heard from my Realtor." Or, "They never told me when homes sold or new listings went on the market in my community." We provide our Sellers with a ListingBook Account, so that you can stay updated on the market trends in your community. You will see just like we do, when new homes go on the market, have a price reduction, are marked pending and then sold. We will also stay in touch with you and discuss what these changes in your community mean for you, the seller. This will help you to trust us when we make recommendations on strategy for selling your home.

The bottom line is that your home should not expire without selling. The Real Estate relationship between Listing Agent & Seller needs to be built on trust. If you trust your professional agent, you are going to trust the recommendations that they make to sell your home. You can be sure that we care about your goal of selling your home and will come up with an individualized strategy and marketing campaign to help you sell.

Selling a home in Fort Myers, Cape Coral or Lee County is kind of like riding on a plane during turbulence. You know it will end, but it is a bumpy ride. It is bumpy enough in this real estate market, we want to smooth out the journey for you as much as we are able.

Please don't hesitate to call if you have any real estate questions pertaining to selling your Fort Myers home. We will do our very best to answer you through honest insight into the current Fort Myers real estate market.

Recent Blogs on Selling Your Fort Myers Home

Sellers Get to Know Your Competition

Nine Tips to Sell Your Fort Myers or Cape Coral Home

Short Sales - Not for the Faint of Heart

Attention Home Sellers - More Tips to Sell Your Home

Providing Excellence & Service in Your Real Estate Experience!

Happily serving Fort Myers, Nort Fort Myers, Fort Myers Beach, Cape Coral, Estero, Lehigh, Sanibel Island, Captiva Island, Bonita Beach, Bonita Springs, Naples & Marco Island.

Shane & Joy Goushaw

Licensed Florida Professional Realtors

Sandals Realty

Cell: 239-823-5280

Fax: 239-245-8042

Our Website: www.FortMyersRealEstateFloridaHomes.com

Our Blogsite: www.WeLuvFortMyers.com

Sellers - Get to Know Your Competition!

Joy & Shane Goushaw (Sandals Realty) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 19:00:16 -0500

Are you selling your home in Cape Coral or Fort Myers? Then I would strongly recommend getting a ListingBook Account. A ListingBook Account will provide you with all of the homes in your area that are for sale.

Not only will you see the Active Listings, you will also get notified and will be able to track when your competition is:

1. Pending

2. Has a Price Reduction

3. When your competition Sells

4. And, what Price the home or condo is Sold for.

You can modify your criteria to cover only your neighborhood or those of the surrounding neighborhoods. It is a practical and useful tool that we provide free for you.

It is easy to get a ListingBook Account, all you have to do is click Here and fill out the form. Please specify that you are a Cape Coral or Fort Myers Home Seller and that you want the ListingBook Account.

It is really pretty easy and you will probably find that you develop a ListingBook addiction when you learn just how useful a tool and a guide it is for you while doing research on selling your Fort Myers or Cape Coral home or condo.

We are available should you have any questions regarding Selling your Fort Myers or Cape Coral Home or about the ListingBook.

Get Your ListingBook Account HERE!

Happily Serving Fort Myers, Fort Myers Beach, North Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Lehigh, Estero, Sanibel Island, Captiva Island, Bonita Springs, Bonita Beach, Naples, Marco Island.

Providing You With Excellence & Service in Your Real Estate Experience!

Shane & Joy Goushaw

Licensed Professional Florida Realtors

Sandals Realty

Cell: 239-823-5280

Fax: 239-245-8042

Our Website: www.FortMyersRealEstateFloridaHomes.com

Our BlogSite: www.WeLuvFortMyers.com

Is Your Drywall Making You Sick? Cape Coral Couple Has Chinese Drywall and A Baby.

Joy & Shane Goushaw (Sandals Realty) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:25:46 -0500

I found this ARTICLE on Chinese Drywall this evening that made me stop and just shake my head again and sigh. As I reflect on this very unfortunate issue, it makes me feel emotions of frustration and sadness. I am amazed at how many resources went into building these homes that has been wasted.

From what I am hearing, most all of the materials used in homes with the Chinese Drywall has to be replaced including: air conditioning units, appliances, carpet, cabinetry, and of course the drywall. The drywall emits a sulfur compound that seeps into everything and corrodes materials that would normally withstand years of wear and tear in a matter of months. Not only is it a huge waste of resources but the health complications that it causes is changing the lives of normally healthy individuals to people with chronic respiratory conditions.

Shane has personally helped several individuals move from their Chinese Drywall Home into rentals. Some of the bigger builders such as Lennar are setting aside money to go in and gut their homes with Chinese Drywall and replace with proper drywall.

If you have questions about whether your Cape Coral or Fort Myers home was built with Chinese Drywall, then I would recommend having your home tested for Chinese Drywall. Please note that most of the Chinese Drywall is being found in homes built between 2005-2007.

If you are buying a Cape Coral or Fort Myers home built between 2005-2007 it is a good idea to also have it tested for Chinese Drywall. Not every home built during that time period does have it, but you definetly want to be sure.

Check out this article on: The Prisoners of Drywall

This Photo is from Florida Department of Health of Corroded Copper from Chinese Drywall. For more information and more photos click here at Florida Department of Health

Providing You With Excellence & Service in Your Real Estate Experience!

Happliy Serving Fort Myers, Fort Myers Beach, North Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Lehigh, Estero, Sanibel Island, Captiva Island, Bonita Springs, Bonita Beach, Naples and Marco Island

Shane & Joy Goushaw

Licensed Professional Florida Realtors

Sandals Realty

Cell: 239-823-5280

Fax: 239-245-8042

Website: www.FortMyersRealEstateFloridaHomes.com

BlogSite: www.WeLuvFortMyers.com

Lamotta's Italian Restaurant & Pizzaria - It's Where the Fort Myers Locals Go For Authentic Italian Food

Joy & Shane Goushaw (Sandals Realty) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 18:52:04 -0500

Located on San Carlos Blvd. near the new Target in SW Fort Myers, Lamotta's is a local favorite for authentic Italian Cuisine. Lamotta's is only 15 minutes to Fort Myers Beach and close to many of the local marinas. Family owned for 29 years by First Generation Sicilians, you cannot get more authentic than this!

My husband raves about the sauces and antipasta salad. Shane will ussually include a stop at Lamotta's and treat his clients who are new to town when they are previewing homes. He was there today with buyers from Boston.

Some of their specials include: Seafood, Pizza, Mediterranean, Italian Northern, Sandwiches, Italian, Italian Southern. Make sure and save room for desert, you won't want to miss out on the Tiramisu, Cannoli and Spumoni.

When you stop by, tell the friendly owners that Shane Goushaw with Sandals Realty sent you!

Address: 15660 San Carlos Blvd, Fort Myers, FL 33908

Happily serving Fort Myers, Fort Myers Beach, North Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Sanibel Island, Captiva Island, Bonita Springs, Bonita Beach, Estero, Naples, Marco Island.

Providing Excellence and Service in Your Real Estate Experience!

Shane & Joy Goushaw

Licensed Professional Florida Realtors

Sandals Realty

Cell: 239-823-5280

Fax: 239-245-8042

3 Bedroom / 3 Bathroom + Den Fort Myers Foreclosure - Colony Lakes

Joy & Shane Goushaw (Sandals Realty) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 18:24:12 -0500

Come Visit Colony Lakes in Fort Myers Just off of Winkler and Summerlin. 15 minutes from Fort Myers Beach and 20 minutes from Sanibel Island! This is a quiet community with a pool and children's play area. Low HOA fees.

3 Bedroom / 3 Bath + Den in Colony Lakes - A Fort Myers Foreclosure!

Call for more information!

Providing Excellence and Service in Your Fort Myers Real Estate Experience!

Happily serving Fort Myers, Nort Fort Myers, Fort Myers Beach, Cape Coral, Estero, Lehigh, Sanibel Island, Captiva Island, Bonita Beach, Bonita Springs, Naples, Marco Island.

Shane & Joy Goushaw

Licensed Professional Florida Realtors

Sandals Realty

Cell: 239-823-5280

Fax: 239-245-8042

Family Fest 2009 at McGregor Baptist Church October 31 - Things To Do in Fort Myers for Halloween!

Joy & Shane Goushaw (Sandals Realty) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 15:33:52 -0500

Are you looking for a Family Friendly activity that is SAFE and FREE this Halloween? Do you want a place you can take your children to as an alternative to traditional October 31st activities that will be memorable and start a new tradition? Then join us ouside McGregor Baptist Church on October 31st for a Family Fest that you will not forget! Go ahead and dress up and be prepared for lots of laughs as your family participates in games, inflatable bounce houses, face painting and of course LOTS of CANDY! Security will be present all day. If you are looking for things to do in Fort Myers this Halloween, you will not want to miss Family Fest 2009 at McGregor Baptist Church!

McGregor Baptist Church is located on Colonial Blvd just west of I-75 and East of 41.

Date: October 31, 2009

Time: 3:00 - 6:00 pm

Admission is FREE!

Check out the fun cartoon VIDEO here

Providing Excellence and Service in Your Real Estate Experience!

Shane & Joy Goushaw

Licensed Professional Florida Realtors

Sandals Realty

Cell: 239-823-5280

Fax: 239-245-8042

Happily serving Fort Myers, Fort Myers Beach, North Fort Myers, Lehigh Acres, Estero, Cape Coral, Bonita Springs, Bonita Beach, Sanibel Island, Captiva Island, Naples and Marco Island.

New Listing! 3 Bedroom / 2 Bath Pool Home and a Lake View in Crown Colony - Fort Myers Golf Community

Joy & Shane Goushaw (Sandals Realty) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 14:56:23 -0500

Crown Colony in Fort Myers is in an ideal location in SW Fort Myers. Located just off of Winkler and Summerlin Rd you are 15 minutes from Fort Myers Beach and 20 minutes from Sanibel Island. Golf membership in Crown Colony is not required but is available. Use of the pool, fitness center, luxury clubhouse facilities with a restaurant and bar that overlooks a lake and golf course is available to all home owners.

Home prices range from $299,000 for a 3 bedroom / 2 bathroom home to $729,000 for a 4 bedroom / bath home.

Below are the two newest home listings for Crown Colony "Hot off the press!"

1.) 3 Bedroom / 2 Bath Lake View Pool Home in Crown Colony / Corner Lot

Listed at: $339,000

2.) 4 Bedroom / 3 Bath Home on a Lake with Pool in Crown Colony

Listed at $545,000

We happily serve Fort Myers, Fort Myers Beach, Estero, Sanibel Island, Captiva Island, Gateway, Lehigh Acres, Cape Coral, North Fort Myers, Bonita Springs, Bonita Beach, Naples and Marco Island.

We are available to provide you with education and information on the current conditions in Fort Myers while providing you with excellence and service in your Fort Myers Real Estate experience.

Shane & Joy Goushaw

Licensed Professional Florida Realtors

Sandals Realty

Cell: 239-823-5280

Fax: 239-245-8042

Going, Going, Gone! Home Inventory In Fort Myers Is Not What It Used To Be

Joy & Shane Goushaw (Sandals Realty) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 18:39:32 -0500

If you are looking for a 3 bedroom, 2 bath home in Fort Myers I don't recommend waiting. I did a search in the Realtor's Greater Fort Myers MLS in two separate price ranges to make note of the current inventory of homes and just as I thought, it is decreasing significantly.

First, I looked at the inventory for 3 bedroom / 2 bath homes in the $150,000 - $200,000 price range. There are currently 62 Active listings available for this range. This is out of 21 geographic areas in Fort Myers.

Next, I looked at the $200,000 - $250,000 range for 3 bedroom / 2 bath homes in Fort Myers once again out of 21 geographical areas. This turned up a bit more inventory with 143 homes in this particular price range.

Shane has three buyers from out of state who have just reduced the inventory by three homes from their recent accepted offers in these two particular price ranges. Currently, we know of many more buyers who are looking and just waiting to place an offer on the perfect home that meets their criteria.

I am proud to say that two of these clients are direct referrals from former clients. One Buyer shared with Shane that his friend who has not had the best experiences with Realtors in the past liked Shane because he was honest, an excellent communicator and knew that Shane would look out for the best interest of his friends. What a compliment! I know this to be true as I can testify to his character, but when a client experiences our service and professionalism "first-hand" and lets others know about it, that is when it really counts!

If we can help you in your home search in the Fort Myers area, please call us. We are more than happy to provide you with education, support, superior negotiation skills and expertise on the current conditions of our real estate market.

Happily serving, Fort Myers, Fort Myers Beach, North Fort Myers, Lehigh Acres, Bonita Springs, Bonita Beach, Naples, Marco Island, Sanibel Island, Captiva Island, Estero, Cape Coral, and Matlacha.

Providing Excellence & Service in Your Real Estate Experience!

Shane & Joy Goushaw

Licensed Professional Realtors

Sandals Realty

Cell: 239-823-5280

Fax: 239-245-8042

Crown Colony Homes For Sale!

Joy & Shane Goushaw (Sandals Realty) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 20:26:38 -0500

Beautiful homes in Crown Colony for sale! Fort Myers Short Sales, Foreclosures and Conventional Sales available in this highly desirable golfing community in Fort Myers, FL. Contact us for more information.

Crown Colony Entrance

Crown Colony Homes

Crown Colony Golf

Shane and I are available to answer your Fort Myers or Lee County Real Estate questions. It is better to ask then to wonder and our focus is on educating our clients so that they can be as successful as possible in the purchase or sale of their home.

Providing Excellence and Service in Your Real Estate Experience!

Happily serving Fort Myers, Fort Myers Beach, Estero, Nort Fort Myers, Lehigh Acres, Bonita Beach, Bonita Springs, Naples, Marco Island, Sanibel Island, Captiva Island.

Shane and Joy Goushaw

Licensed Professional Florida Realtors

Sandals Realty

Cell: 239-823-5280

Fax: 239-245-8042

Our Website: www.FortMyersRealEstateFloridaHomes.com

Our Blogsite: www.WeLuvFortMyers.com

9 Tips to Sell Your Home

Joy & Shane Goushaw (Sandals Realty) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 19:59:02 -0500

Every Seller wants to be as prepared as possible so that they can sell fast and get top dollar for their home. Sellers need more than just good luck when it comes to selling in today's challenging Real Estate Market. Home Sellers want to "up the odds" in selling their home and have sound strategies so that Home Buyers are rushing to see their home and place an offer on it, not the neighbors down the street. Here is how to turn your home into the house that goes from "For Sale!" to "Just Sold!"

1. Do Away with Pet Odor from Fido and Fluffy - A Great Tip From Dave Sulvetta - Camden County NJ Realtor.

Clean up pet stains
Place odor neutrilizers around cat litter boxes
If possible, keep pets at a friend or relatives when your home is shown. There is nothing worse than a buyer being greeted by slobbering Fido at the front door.

2. Make Minor Repairs

Patch up holes in the wall
Paint in neutral colors - Don't give a buyer any reason to think they are going to have to do more work (such as paint the pink bathroom)
Complete finishes - base molding, door molding, buy matching light switch plate covers and electrical outlet covers and finish the unfinished projects you have lived with for years.
Fix leaks and repair water damage
Get your air conditioner serviced

3. De-Clutter - It is amazing how much every home seller accumulates in such a small amount of time.

Clean off your desk and organize with essential office supplies only. Sort through and file or shred the papers that have been sitting on your desk for months.
Pack, sell or donate nick-knacks
Organize pantry cupboards, clothes and linen closets. You want people to see how much storage space your house has. Line up your shoes, shirts, and pants. Neatly arrange your spice racks.
Clean off kitchen counters and bathroom counters - only keep essentials that match in that space.
Rearrange furniture to create room and openness.

4. It is Nothing Personal, so "De-Personalize"

Pack up personal heirlooms
Pack up the majority of personal photographs and replace with pictures and artwork that matches the color theme and style of your room.

5. Remove / Replace Any Items That You Plan On Taking With You

If you are planning on taking your $1,500 front loading washer and dryer with you, have them removed from your house (put in storage or at a family or friend's home) and replace with traditional washer and dryer.
Do you love your wine refrigerator? Make sure and remove it from sight as many Buyers might expect that it comes with the house, or use it in negotiations.
Any window treatments or light fixtures that are not staying? Replace, replace, replace or be prepared to see them included in the contract and you don't want to have a disheartened buyer if you are not prepared to sell them with the house.

6. Make Your Whole House Sparkle and Shine

Vacuum
Wash windows
Keep your bathrooms sparkling clean
Do the dishes everyday so they do not pile up

7. Separate Emotionally With Your House

Treat all negotiations and contract offers as "business deals."
Don't take low offers personally. Ask your Listing Agent to show you the comparable solds and then counter the buyers offer strategically - don't counter from an emotional point of view. Your goal is to sell and although low, the offer is not meant to be personal.
Be prepared to hand over the keys on closing day - picture yourself handing the keys over and anticipate ahead of time what that may feel like.

8. Have the Lowest Priced and the Most Show Worthy Home in Your Community - You want your Listing Agent's comments to other Realtors in the MLS to be, "Your buyers will not be disappointed! You will be proud to show this home!"

Visit the comparable homes that are also for sale in your Fort Myers community - Know your competition and make your house look better both through the listing price and the general appearance.
Stay up to date through your Fort Myers Listing Agent and ListingBook Accounton the new homes that come on the market and their prices in your community.

9. Focus on the Curb Appeal

Trim the bushes
Keep your grass mowed
Plant flowers in bright colors such as Yellow
Take away any nick knacks in the yard that might be distracting and take away from your house

Shane and I are available to answer your Real Estate questions. It is better to ask then to wonder and our focus is on educating our clients so that they can be as successful as possible in the sale of their home.

Providing Excellence and Service in Your Real Estate Experience!

Happily serving Fort Myers, Fort Myers Beach, Estero, Nort Fort Myers, Lehigh Acres, Bonita Beach, Bonita Springs, Naples, Marco Island, Sanibel Island, Captiva Island.

Shane and Joy Goushaw

Licensed Professional Florida Realtors

Sandals Realty

Cell: 239-823-5280

Fax: 239-245-8042

www.realestateclipart.com

Our Website: www.FortMyersRealEstateFloridaHomes.com

Our Blogsite: www.WeLuvFortMyers.com

Selling Your Fort Myers Home? Need A Listing Agent?

Joy & Shane Goushaw (Sandals Realty) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 18:52:02 -0500

If you have any questions regarding what it will take to sell your home in Fort Myers and Lee County surrounding areas, please call us today. Shane and I can go over our home selling strategies with you. We are here to help you and serve you in your real estate needs.

Providing Excellence and Service in Your Real Estate Experience!

Happily serving Fort Myers, Fort Myers Beach, Estero, Nort Fort Myers, Lehigh Acres, Bonita Beach, Bonita Springs, Naples, Marco Island, Sanibel Island, Captiva Island.

Shane and Joy Goushaw

Licensed Professional Florida Realtors

Sandals Realty

Cell: 239-823-5280

Fax: 239-245-8042

Our Website: www.FortMyersRealEstateFloridaHomes.com

Our Blogsite: www.WeLuvFortMyers.com

www.realestateclipart.com

You Can See Dolphins & Alligators in the Same Day in Fort Myers - Things to Do in Fort Myers, Florida

Joy & Shane Goushaw (Sandals Realty) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 21:55:54 -0500

Is this what you think of when you envision Fort Myers, Florida? Swimming pools, palm trees, white sandy beaches? The beach is afterall one of the main attractions that draws so many visitors and countless individuals looking to relocate and buy real estate to the tropical climate of Fort Myers each year.

Besides being a beach town, Fort Myers also has thousands of acres throughout the city of natural wildlife and wetland preserves. Shane and I visited just one of several wetlands located within the city limits this past Sunday. The one we chose to visit was "Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve"located on Six Mile Cypress "smack dab" between Colonial and Daniels.

Cypress Trees

The Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve is 9 miles long and 1/3 miles wide (2500 acres of wetland). It is home to a wide array and diverse population of plant and animal life. Wooden trails built throughout the wetlands are built up above the water. Animals can pass underneath the wooden path either through the water when it is the rainy season, or on the swampy land during the dry months.

Shane Looking for Alligators in Alligator Lake

Looks Like Shane Found the Gator!

Besides alligators, Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserveis home to Bald Eagles, Osprey, Wood Peckers, Raccoons, Panthers, Small Reptiles, Squirels and a wide variety of fish.

For an aerial map of the Six Mile Cypress Slough and watershed area, click here

We spent about 3 hours quietly walking the trails so as not to disturb the wildlife. If the visitor center had been open, it would have taken us a bit longer as we would have stopped there as well. Parking is $3.00 for the day. It is well-worth a stop at Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve if you live in Fort Myers or are simply visiting and passing through.

Providing Excellence and Service in Your Real Estate Experience!

Happily serving Fort Myers, Fort Myers Beach, Estero, Nort Fort Myers, Lehigh Acres, Bonita Beach, Bonita Springs, Naples, Marco Island, Sanibel Island, Captiva Island.

Shane and Joy Goushaw

Licensed Professional Florida Realtors

Sandals Realty

Cell: 239-823-5280

Fax: 239-245-8042

Contact Shane and Joy Goushaw

Our Website: www.FortMyersRealEstateFloridaHomes.com

Our Blogsite: www.WeLuvFortMyers.com

Short Sales - Not For The Faint of Heart!

Joy & Shane Goushaw (Sandals Realty) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 18:26:59 -0500

When I sold my first Fort Myers Short Sale (a condo in the community of Bellamar at Beachwalk) in 2007 the Short Sale process was uncharted territory. Suddenly, the road map to closing had changed, and it seemed to happen almost overnight! Some of the new obstacles to overcome were extended waiting periods of weeks and months to hear back on offers from banks. BPO's were being paid for by the banks to provide an "idea" of value for the home and what that particular home "should" sell for. And, I was being asked the same question over and over again from Home Buyers and Sellers alike, "Just what is a Short Sale?" - Answer: When a Seller asks permission from the bank to sell their home for less than what they owe the bank.

Now folks have become more familiar, sometimes almost "de-sensitized" to the notion of a Short-Sale. The Short-Sale is not going away anytime soon and there is a story behind every home bought and sold as a Short-Sale. One of the reasons we will continue to have more homes in the Fort Myers MLS is that there will be another wave of ARMs into 2010. However you feel about them, either as the Seller trying to sell "Short" or the Buyer hoping to purchase your new home, Short Sales are here to stay in the immediate future.

A couple of tips to keep in mind through the Short Sale process:

1. Hire a Professional Licensed Realtor who has the big "E" in Short Sales "EXPERIENCE"

2. Be prepared to wait, and wait and wait - whether you are buying or selling. The banks have an influx of homes that they are processing short right now. To illustrate: my husband recently spoke with a Listing Agent of a Short Sale for one of his Buyers. The Realtor shared that this particular home was recently reassigned to a brand new negotiator because the last negotiator was "overwhelmed" with work from other short sales pile on their desk.

3. Buyers and Sellers - Know the basic Short Sale process:

A.) Buyer -You find the home you want to place an offer on and you look over the comparable solds with your Realtor to come up with a market value for the offer price.

B.) Buyer's Agent obtains your signatures on the offer and submits the contract to Short Sale Listing Agent.

C.) The Listing Agent reviews the contract with Sellers, who have to agree to the price and if/when they do agree, then the offer is submitted to the bank.

D.) Sellers - It is in your best interest to already have submitted a Short Sale package. Your Listing Agent can obtain the requirements for you from your particular bank. This will need to be submitted either when you first list your home, or no later than the time of the offer. The bank is asking for very personal information from you. Some of the information they are looking for is: A "Hardship Letter", proof of income, Tax filings, Debts, Assets - bank account information.

E.) Understand that if there is a second mortgage on the home, it can take even longer to close on a Short Sale. The reason for this is that the first mortgage gets the payout first. However, the second mortgage (bank) has to agree to the "leftover" money they will receive or not receive. One of Shane's Short Sale listings took almost a year to close because of this. However, he did sell the home as the buyer and the seller were patient and stuck with it. It took double the negotiation efforts to work out a conclusion both banks felt good about.

F.) Your feelings of frustration, anxiety and excitement are all very normal. If I had a support group for buyers or sellers of Short Sales, I just know it would be full!

Shane and I are available as a resource to you should you have any additional questions about selling your home in a short sale or buying a short sale. You can contact us either by phone or email.

Happily serving Fort Myers, Fort Myers Beach, Estero, Lehigh Acres, Bonita, Bonita Beach, Sanibel Island, Captiva Island, Naples, Marco Island.

Providing Excellence and Service in Your Real Estate Experience.

Shane & Joy Goushaw

Licensed Professional Florida Realtors

Sandals Realty

Cell: 239-823-5280

Fax: 239-245-8042

Website: www.FortMyersRealEstateFloridaHomes.com

Blog: www.WeLuvFortMyers.com

Attention Home Sellers - Follow These Steps to Sell Your Home!

Joy & Shane Goushaw (Sandals Realty) — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 19:18:48 -0500

If you are a conventional Seller in this real estate market you know just how frustrating it can be to sell your home. In today's real estate market you are facing hurdles around every corner that can sabotage the sale of your home including:

Competition against low foreclosure prices
Buyers who place multiple offers on more than one property
Home Buyers who have not saved up enough for a down payment + closing costs and need help from Sellers for the closing costs or a reduced offer price.
Home Sellers often have very little room to come down in asking price or help with closing costs because of the drop in home values and what they personally owe to the bank on their mortgage.
More and more Buyers have poor credit scores
Fewer loan / financing products to place Buyers in

Now that you know what your up against you can develop a strategy to sell your home and move forward to the next phase in your life - Follow these steps you can control and you can almost be guaranteed to sell:

Listing Price and Home Condition - You need to have the BEST / LOWEST priced home in your neighborhood the DAY your home goes on the MLS.

Listing Price: Do not make the mistake, though often times well-intended, of listening to your Realtor's suggestion on price, and when it is lower than you had hoped say to them, "If it does not sell in 30 days we will reduce the price." There is a term in Real Estate called, "Chasing the Market." This means in layman's terms that eventually with all of your price reductions over the course of the several months your home is on the market, that you will actually end up selling your home FOR LESS then you could have sold it at your Realtor's original recommended list price.

2. Home Condition - Be the home in the BEST condition in your neighborhood.

Condition: Stage, Fix, Stage, and Repair - Fix the drywall that has water stains, paint your home in neutral colors to attract more buyers, work on the curb appeal, make your house sparkle, now is the time to get your AC serviced if you have not done so in 5 years (though I recommend regular AC maintenance), update your light fixtures, de-clutter, de-personalize, clean out your closets so that buyers can see how much storage space there is. Ask for the help of a professional stager, or the input of your Realtor. My husband and I have helped many of our clients with simple things such as sharing what the Seller can do to play up their homes best features. Sometimes it really is as simple as re-arranging some furniture.

Another strategy Shane and I employ when discussing list price and property condition is the same as Mike Aubrey from HGTV's Real Estate Intervention and we will take our Sellers on a tour of their competition and the homes that are for sale in their neighborhood and community. We will also show the comparable sold, pendings and active reports to the Seller. This helps tremendously when understanding where the Listing Agent is coming from in their pricing strategy.

When Selling your home, here are a couple of other helpful tips to keep in mind:

In Real Estate, it really is about Location, Location, Location! If your home is on the best lot in your community you are extremely fortunate. That will help tremendously and will attract a very large pool of buyers. However, keep in mind that simply because you have the lake view, does not mean in this market that you will get what you are hoping for in an offer price, or that you make money on the sale of your home. It does mean that your home will more than likely sell much quicker and at a better price in this market. If your home backs up to another house or a major road, understand that a buyer will not be willing to pay more for your home. The very things that are taking away value from your home, a buyer will also know will take away value from the house when they go to sell.
Seller concessions or Realtor bonuses have not been proven to sell a home. As Listing Agents, my husband and I would recommend coming lower on your asking price instead of providing a Realtor bonus. It is in your best interest to do so. Seller concessions such as carpet allowances or paint allowances can work against you. Buyers want homes they can move right into. Do the work first, don't give them a reason to have your house be placed in the # 5 slot on their list, or even come in at # 2. You want the Numero Uno spot and to be # 1 in their mind.
If you cannot do the work before you sell to fix up your home, then your price will need to reflect that. Be aware that you will need to price lower than fixed up comparables in order to help your home stand out and receive an offer. Buyers are pretty savvy these days. As easy as it is for them to find their dream home on-line, it is also just as easy to check out the pricing for new floors at Home Depot or Lowes.
Hire a Licensed Professional Realtor in your state to assist you. Clean and stage your home so that they can take photos and make a virtual tour that will wow the Buying audience.
Treat it like a business and set aside your emotions. That is so difficult to do as Sellers watch what little value they had in their homes disappear. If you can set aside your emotions, you will be better able to move forward to the next stage and opportunity in your life. If you have difficulty setting aside your emotions, you will have a challenging time with the negotiations and pricing. You don't want to be a stumbling block in the sale of your home. Dear Seller, you have enough challenges to overcome.
DO keep your sense of humor! Laughter is after-all the best medicine!

If you have any questions at all about selling your home, please do not hesitate to call and ask us. That is what we are here for. Providing Excellence and Service in Real Estate.

Proudly serving Fort Myers, North Fort Myers, Estero, Lehigh Acres, Sanibel Island, Captiva Island, Bonita Springs, Fort Myers Beach, Naples and Marco Island.

Shane and Joy Goushaw

Licensed Professional Florida Realtors

Sandals Realty

Cell: 239-823-5280

Fax: 239-245-8042

sgoushaw@hotmail.com

Visit our website at: www.FortMyersRealEstateFloridaHomes.com

Visit our blogsite at: www.WeLuvFortMyers.com

Pending Home Sales Surge Forward in Fort Myers Real Estate

Joy & Shane Goushaw (Sandals Realty) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 22:08:25 -0500

A Fort Myers NewsPress article on Pending Home Sales being up 6.7 percent nationwide grabbed my attention today! The National Association of Realtors said that it was the highest surge in pending home sales since October 2001 when pending salesrose 9.2 percent. Lawerence Yun, the Realtor's chief adviser attributes the surge to the $8,000 tax rebate that first time home buyers can anticipate receiving if they purchase their new home by the end of the year. Specifically, first time home buyers have until November 30th to close in order to receive the tax credit. As interest rates rise and the deadline looms ahead for the $8,000 First Time Home Buyers tax credit we can expect to see more pending sales in Fort Myers as First Time Home Buyers in the Lee County Real Estate Market rush to buy a home.

The article I read today in the Fort Myers NewsPress so interested me that I spent time this evening researching pending home sales in Fort Myers. There are currently 995 Pending Sales in the Lee County Real Estate Market, well as of 8:05 pm this evening. The Lee County areas I have included in the search are: Fort Myers, Fort Myers Beach, Cape Coral, North Fort Myers, Lehigh Acres, Estero, parts of Bonita, Matlacha, St. James City, Pine Island, Sanibel Island and Captiva Island.

If the number 995 seems too large to grasp, let me see if I can break it down some for you:

826 Single Family Lee County Fort Myers Homes are currently Pending

The lowest priced is currently an auction property in East Fort Myers at $9,900

The highest priced pending is located on N. Yachtsman Dr. in Sanibel Island at $1,495,00

7 High Rise Condos with 8 (+) stories are Pending in the Fort Myers area

Lowest Priced - $145,500 located on Palm Beach Blvd in the business district of Fort Myers in Alta Mar

Highest Priced - $549,000 located on Bay Beach Ln in Fort Myers Beach

10 Manufactured Homes are Pending in the Fort Myers area

Lowest Priced - $13,900 located in East Fort Myers

Highest Priced - $245,000 in St. James City - Gulf Access

98 Low Rise Condos with 1-3 Stories are currently Pending in the Lee County Real Estate Market

Lowest Priced - $7,000 which is a condemned condo located in the Renaissance. The bank is in the process of mold remediation.

Highest Priced - $999,000 on Gulf Dr. in Sanibel Island

16 Attached Villas or Duplex Units are currently Pending Sales in Lee County

Lowest Priced - $34,900 in Lehigh Acres

Highest Priced - $269,000 in the Legends Golfing Community located in Fort Myers

24 Townehomes in Fort Myers and Lee County Florida are currently Pending Sales

Lowest Priced - $39,900 located in Pine Groves Fort Myers

Highest Priced - $139,900 in Timber Ridge also in Fort Myers

1 Detached Villa in the Fort Myers area is currently Pending

$29,900 in Lehigh Acres

13 Mid-Rise Condos (4-7 stories) are currently Pending in the Fort Myers Real Estate Market

Lowest Priced - $64,000 located in Osprey Cove in Estero

Highest Priced - $519,000 in Loggerhead on Sanibel Island

I love doing research and putting the facts together because the numbers speak volumes! The proof is in the pudding, so to speak and our pudding in Fort Myers are the Pending Sales.

If you would like your own account to search for homes in Fort Myers you can request a ListingBook account and watch as new homes are listed, homes go Pending and then are Sold. Keep track of the Fort Myers Real Estate Market like a Realtor!

Request ListingBook Account Here

Fort Myers Real Estate Blog

Fort Myers Real Estate Information

Are You Paying to Mow Your Cape Coral Neighbor's Yard Through Your Tax Dollars?

Joy & Shane Goushaw (Sandals Realty) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 21:54:02 -0500

Cape Coral drew much attention from being named "The Foreclosure Capital of the World" several months ago. This title brought much attention to this tropical city on Florida's SW Gulf Coast. Buyers from around the world once again rushed to pay cash for the over-abundance of foreclosures in this boater's paradise.

Part of the challenge of being the "Foreclosure Capital of the World" is waiting for new Cape Coral Buyers to make their purchases and having homes once lovingly tended to and cared for sit vacant. Much attention has been placed on coming up with a solution and the community has shown just how "neighborly" they are by joining together to mow overgrown lawns in their neighborhoods. I have even heard of churches getting groups together on a Saturday to cut grass! Now that is true community!

Another solution has been to use tax payer dollars to cut the overgrown lawns. In fact, the City of Cape Coral spent $230,000 in tax payer dollars between June 2007 - July 2009 to pay lawn companies to maintain these unsightly yards.

Both are viable solutions which place the burden on the community. However, Cape Coral has shown itself resilient in these very difficult times and solution focused instead of problem focused.

Providing Excellence and Service in Your Real Estate Experience. Proudly Serving Both Buyers and Sellers in Cape Coral, Fort Myers, North Fort Myers, Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel Island, Captiva Island, Estero, Lehigh Acres, Bonita Beach, Naples and Marco Island.

Contact Shane and Joy

Licensed Professional Realtors

Sandals Realty

Cell: 239-823-5280

Fax: 239-823-5280

Check Out Our Website! www.FortMyersRealEstateFloridaHomes.com

Check Out Our Blog! www.WeLuvFortMyers.com

Are You Looking to Buy a Fort Myers Home Before You Sell Your Own?

Joy & Shane Goushaw (Sandals Realty) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 20:20:51 -0500

We all know exactly how exciting it is to envision your new life in a brand new home. It is so much fun to picture what color to paint the walls, how to arrange furniture and what you will use the living space for. It is nice to drive around taking flyers out of boxes and calling the listing agent with a list of questions on the asking price, etc. However, if you have not sold your house yet, we may need to step on the brakes before getting too many steps ahead of where you need to be - I can hear those tires screeeching the car to a halt right now!

There are many good and valid reasons why someone would buy a home before they sell, and every situation is different. As a Realtor, it is our job to find you the house you can see yourself living in - afterall, that is why you picked up the phone to call us. I would like to build on the role of a Realtor for Buyers and share with you that we are also there to provide information and educate about the buying and selling process and give you some food for thought to reflect on when you are thinking about buying before you sell.

What would you do if you fell in love with a home before you sold yours and you want to place an offer? Emotions can get the best of all of us, and it is important to keep things in perspective when buying a home. If you are obtaining financing, will you be able to qualify holding another mortgage? If you are not able to and you write an offer "contingent on the sale of" your property, it will not look like it is as "strong" of an offer. The Listing Agent may advise their Sellers to write an addendum stating that if another Buyer places an offer on their home, and you have not sold yours then they can go with Buyer #2.

Let's say you get an offer on your home (YAY!) and you decide to go out looking for a home and you find one. What happens if the Sellers of the home you have an offer on, accept yours and you are under contract then YOUR Buyers back out of YOUR offer. Can you financially afford to carry two mortgages?

It is important to keep in mind that there are very specific times in life when you either have to buy before you sell or are able to buy before you sell. Maybe you have a job offer in another location and need to move or you can afford to carry two mortgages and you found the home of your DREAMS - Only you can determine if those shoes fit you. If the shoes fit someone else and are a bit two big or two small for you, you just might want to reign in the horses and wait the sale of your house out.

It is always a GREAT idea to do market research before buying your home. Use the time that your house is for sale to check out neighborhoods and make a list of "must haves" for your new home.

We are more than happy to assist you with any questions you might have about the buying or the selling process in Fort Myers, Fort Myers Beach, Cape Coral, Lehigh Acres, Estero, Sanibel Island, Captiva Island, Bonita Beach, Bonita Springs, Marco Island and Naples. Providing you with Excellence and Service in Your Real Estate Experience.

Contact Us Today

Shane and Joy Goushaw

Licensed Professional Realtors

Sandals Realty

Cell: 239-823-5280

Fax: 239-245-8042

Visit our website! www.FortMyersRealEstateFloridaHomes.com

Visit our blog! www.WeLuvFortMyers.com

Just Sold! 4 Bedroom Lake View Home - Fort Myers Near Beach Foreclosure!

Joy & Shane Goushaw (Sandals Realty) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 23:13:16 -0500

This beautiful home is located in Colonial Shores approximately 15 minutes from Fort Myers Beach and 20 minutes from the bridge to Sanibel and Captiva Island. This home complete with lake view, brick paver drive and tiled roof was a foreclosure! Shane recently closed on it after several months of Shane's dilligent efforts and much patience on the part of his buyers.

The future of Real Estate looks as if it will continue to involve a market of Short Sales and Foreclosures into the 3rd quarter of 2010. We strive to provide education to buyers in the Fort Myers and Cape Coral Real Estate Market, so that Fort Myers home buyers can utilize a strategy to help you be succesful in your home purchase in these challenging times.

Strategies for a Succesful Offer on a Foreclosure Home:

1. Be prepared with either "Proof of Funds" if you are a Cash Buyer, or your "Pre-Qualification Letter" if you are obtaining financing.

2. Talk to your lender ahead of time to discuss any potential pitfalls that may come up when you go through the Loan Application process and come up with a game plan to overcome those challenges.

3. Be prepared to bring your "Highest & Best" offer. We are noticing many Fort Myers and Cape Coral foreclosures listed at "Below Market" prices to induce "Bidding Wars" from potential buyers. Also, Banks are asking the listing agent of their foreclosure or REO properties, to list the home for 5 days before they accept any offers. This means that when you put an offer on your "dream home" the first day it is on the market, hoping to be the first one in, your offer will not be countered or accepted for 5 days in order for the home to gain more exposure on the MLS.

4. Have representation from a Buyer's Agent who is knowledgable in the current Fort Myers and Cape Coral Real Estate Market. Utilize the services of a Licensed Professional with a proven track record. They will be your best resource and support as you attempt to purchase a foreclosure property.

5. Obtain a record of comparable solds to the home you are interested in from your Realtor. Looking at recent sold comparables is a good indicator of what the bank will accept in an offer.

6. Be mentally and financially prepared to make improvements in the homes and pay for your own repairs. Fort Myers Foreclosures are sold "As-Is." This means that the Seller, or the bank, will not make any repairs prior to closing.

7. When your Realtor finds a home that meets your criteria, don't wait to write an offer. That home is probably being watched by many other buyers who are ready to jump in.

We are looking forward to assisting you with your next home purchase, whether it is a Fort Myers or Cape Coral Short Sale or Foreclosure. We are available to answer any questions you might have and look forward to serving you today. Providing excellence and service in your real estate experience.

To view homes as the day they go on the market, please ask for a ListingBook Account.

Proudly serving Fort Myers, Cape Coral, North Fort Myers Real Estate Experts, Estero, Lehigh Acres, Bonita,

Sanibel Island, Captiva Island, Naples, Marco Island, Fort Myers Beach.

Licensed Professional Florida Realtors

Cell: 239-823-5280

Fax: 239-245-8042

Will the $8,000 First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit Be Extended?

Joy & Shane Goushaw (Sandals Realty) — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 19:43:29 -0500

As November 30 and the deadline looms on the horizon to receive the the $8,000 First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit, more First Time Home Buyers in Fort Myers, FL are scrambling to get under contract. In today's Fort Myers Real Estate Market it has become increasingly more and more challenging to get under contract and to close in 30-45 days. Please contact us to discuss a game plan for finding your Fort Myers home and closing by the November 30 deadline.

It seems that there are opposing view points on extending the $8,000 First Time Home Buyer tax credit, however we are learning that Congress is attempting to negotiate a deal on an extension. Read More Here...

If you are interested in learning more about Fort Myers Foreclosures, Short Sales, and Traditional Homes that are for sale in Fort Myers, we would be more than happy to get you established with a ListingBook Account and to assist you with any questions you might have about our current Fort Myers and Cape Coral Real Estate Market. In this challenging but very rewarding Fort Myers Real Estate Market, customer service is worth its weight in gold and Shane will treat you as gold.

For more information about us and our excellent customer service, please visit our website

We are looking forward to providing you with Excellence and Service in Your Real Estate Experience! Proudly serving Fort Myers, Fort Myers Beach, Cape Coral, Lehigh Acres, Bonita Springs, Bonita Beach, Estero, North Fort Myers.

Stop by and visit our blog

Shane & Joy Goushaw

239-823-5280

sgoushaw@hotmail.com

Sandals Realty

Buying A Home in Fort Myers Florida - Save Money on Home Owner Insurance!

Joy & Shane Goushaw (Sandals Realty) — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 16:00:14 -0500

Recently one of our Fort Myers buyers came back with some wonderful news about saving money on Home Owner Insurance in Fort Myers. Mr. & Mrs. Buyer had the qualified Home Inspector of their choice provide them with a home inspection. In addition, we recommended that they also have a Wind Mitigation Inspection. As a result of that inspection, Mr. & Mrs. Buyer were pleased to find out that they would save approximately $150 in their insurance premium. This resulted in a reduction in the cost of their monthly mortgage payment!

The Wind Mitigation Inspection they had done for their Fort Myers, FL home verified the construction methods that creates the wind mitigation discounts. These discounts are based on how the home was built in regards to offering greater protection from wind and hurricane damage. Good information to know as a Buyer in Cape Coral and Fort Myers.

Needless to say, Mr. and Mrs. Fort Myers Home Buyer were very, very happy with the result, and we were happy for them!

Make sure that the inspector you hire is certified! You can expect to pay between $75-99 give or take a few dollars.

We cannot refer you to any inspectors, but a good check in the yellow pages, cross referenced with the BBB is a good starting place to look for one.

We will always strive to provide you with excellence and service in your real estate experience! Covering these SWFL Gulf Side locations: Fort Myers, North Fort Myers, Bonita, Cape Coral, Estero, Lehigh, Naples.

Shane Goushaw

Sandals Realty

239-823-5280