http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2011/real_estate/1109/gallery.best_places_retire.moneymag/2.html

-CNN MONEY: For retirees who are looking for lower taxes, cheap housing and a gentle climate, Cape Coral scores on all fronts. Home prices here, for example, have fallen more than 60% since the 2006 peak. For homebuyers, that means a lot of bang for the buck: A newly renovated three-bedroom, 1,800-square-foot house with a pool was recently bought here for $145,000.

Lots of Florida towns have seen dramatic price drops, of course, but Cape Coral has something else going for it: It's paradise for water lovers. The town is sliced with 400 miles of canals, half of which have access to the Gulf of Mexico, about 20 minutes away by boat.

This quiet place doesn't offer much nightlife. But there's a public golf course, a weekly farmers' market with live music, and a nearby outlet mall. Training camps for the Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins are just 15 minutes away.-

Wow I am so happy to see Cape CoralFL is #2 on the list. This sleepy city is a paradise for water lovers. Cape Coral offers all the conveniences of any other Florida city but has a small town community feel. Cape Coral is suffering some growing pains from the big boom of 2005 but the potential for development is tremendous. Cape Coral code enforcement insures properties are maintained. SouthwestFloridaInternationalAirport is nearby. This airport is well connected and a pleasure to fly in and out of.

Please don’t think you’ll get anywhere near the water for $95,000, although there are simple homes without pools in this price range. Real estate prices for Cape Coral waterfront property are some of the lowest prices in the country.

I just closed short sale this morning. After only five weeks of negotiation the back accepted the buyers offer. The property was a good investment for the buyers. The short sale was the perfect remedy for the sellers. They received a $3,000 check from HAFA. If you are a primary home owner you may also be eligible for relocation money.

The negotiation process begins with a sales contract. Listing your home with me will bring a ready willing and able buyer to contract quickly. This offer is subject to 3^rd party approval. The 3^rd party is your lender. I manage the negotiation process on your behalf with your lender. The process is all about negotiation so you need to have a strong, successful negotiator on your side.

Financial documents the bank will require from you are:

Your recent pay stubs

Your current Bank Statements

Two years of tax returns

Hardship letter to your lender

Your Lender can forgive your debt. You can avoid deficiency judgment. The Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act offers relief to homeowners. Primary homeowners no longer have to pay taxes on that forgiven debt. The lender will typically pay all closing fees and Realtor commissions.

 Need short sale advice? Contact me for a FREE and confidential evaluation.

Barbara Klare

GulfCoast Realty

cell: 239-292-1358

e-mail: bklare@comcast.net

http://www.cape-coral-foreclosure.com

Are you heading towards foreclosure? You are not alone, thousands of people are in the same situation. I'm sure you bought this property in the height of the market, have negative equity and have stopped making payments for good reasons. There is a solution! I can help you! Lenders are now accepting less money than owed on your mortgage. The lender does not want to take your house back and will allow a sale current market value. It's called a Short Sale. All lenders are accepting short sales at a record pace.

Through the HAFA program, you can get relocation funds. I’ve even had several banks offer the homeowners funds to sell their home as a short sale.

The key to getting this accomplished is using a Professional Realtor who knows how to take advantage of the market conditions. I am the Realtor you need!  I have years of expertise and steady supply of qualified buyers looking to purchase pre-foreclosure property. Negotiation is the key to success! Once we have an accepted offer my team of expert negotiators will work successfully with your lenders towards a short sale agreement.  An approved short sale saves you from going into foreclosure. My negotiation team will perform due diligence and work effortlessly on your behalf.  They have a solid reputation with many lenders and your short sale will close with minimum effort on your part.

I can help you get off the hook! My advice is FREE & CONFIDENCIAL.
Don't hesitate to contact me and let me explain how this process will work for you … for more info call 239 292 1358

B A R B A R A  K L A R E - Broker Associate

Gulf Coast Realty Network
4002 Del Prado Blvd, Cape Coral, FL 33904
Cell: 239 292 1358   *   Fax: 866 316 9920
Email: bklare@comcast.net  *   Web: www.cape-coral-foreclosure.com

Are you telling yourself that you'll just "walk away" from your home? Foreclosure is the worse choice possible. There is no such thing as "walking away'. The bank will file a judgment and you will have to file bankruptcy. That is really no fun. Your credit will be shot for years. If you can't keep up your home payments there are other options than foreclosure.

I realize most of the available information that helps homeowners make pre-foreclosure decisions is confusing. Most homeowners are in denial, confused and stressed at the prospect of loosing their home. Your best option may be a short sale. A short sale is at no cost to the seller. A well negotiated short sale will mean you can avoid a deficiency judgment A short sale will minimalize credit damage compared to a foreclosure.

How do you initiate a short sale? Hire a local Realtor, like myself, with successful short sale experience. I will market your home to get a solid contract at market price. Have your recent financial information and a well written hardship letter to your bank prepared. I will submit all your info to your banks asset manager in your behalf. Then the negotiation process begins. Usually nothing more is required of you. Expect the bank to pay all closing costs including negotiation fees and real estate commissions. The process will take a few months depending on your bank. Meanwhile, you can stay in the home until the short sale closes.... FREE

Stop the denial, stop kidding yourself, stop going through your savings, stop drowning in debt and give me a call. My advice is FREE.

Barbara Klare, Broker Associate
Gulf Coast Realty
cell: 239-292-1358
e-mail: bklare@comcast.net
www.cape-coral-foreclosure.com

Cape Coral Home Owners – Is a Short Sale for You?

If you can’t keep up your mortgage payments and are trying to sell your home as a short sale, the U.S Treasury has come up with a solution.

Read Reuters article, dated November 30th 2009
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN3046464720091130

There is good news about the short sale process. On November 30th 2009, the U.S. Treasury set much needed guide lines for mortgage companies to speed the short sales process. The new voluntary guidelines through the HAFA program will be in effect April 5th 2010 although loan servicers may elect to act before then.

See entire terms here HAMP
What does this mean to the home seller? 
Pre-approved list price acknowledging sales costs and real estate commissions
Response to a sales contract within 10 days
Release you from all responsibilities for repaying your mortgage
Receipt $1,500 to help pay some of your moving expenses

What does this mean to the home buyer?
Make an offer with confidence that the price is real
No more waiting months to find out the mortgage lender won’t accept a short sale

HAFA Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives Program
HAMP Home Affordable Modification Program

If you’re thinking that a short sale of your home may be the right alternative for you, please give me a call. I have a vast amount of successful experience with the short sale process.

Barbara Klare, Broker Associate
Gulf Coast Realty
cell: 239-292-1358
e-mail: bklare@comcast.net
www.cape-coral-foreclosure.com

Deadline for Florida’s Homestead Exemption
Did you buy a new home in the past year? If the home is your primary residence you are eligible for the $50,000 tax exemption and a 3% tax cap called SOH.

The dead line for filling for the 2010 Homestead Exemption is March 1st 2010. Home owners can submit applications by Januarey1st 2010.
Homestead Exemption is a $50,000 tax exemption deducted from the assessed value of your property. Applicants must file by March 1, have title to the property and must be Florida residents living in the dwelling and making it their permanent home as of January 1.

Read more and download online applications Exemption/General Exemption Info

LOOKING FOR A DEAL IN CAPE CORAL FLORIDA??? I SPECIALIZE IN CAPE CORAL FORCLOSURE HOMES - CAPE CORAL BANK OWNED - CAPE CORAL REO HOMES
FREE LIST E-MAILED DAILY barbaraklare.listingbook.com

Barbara Klare
Gulf Coast Realty
cell: 239-292-1358
e-mail: bklare@comcast.net
www.cape-coral-foreclosure.com

For the potential SW Florida home buyer it's a great time to buy as we have hit the bottom and there's proof prices are going up. This coming season in Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Lehigh Acres, Bonita Springs and surrounding areas you will come across amazing deals. When you find a home you like, be ready to pull the trigger. Thanks to the recent media attention, our market is saturated with buyers looking for a deal.

Your home buying decision may have to be a quick one. Follow these real estate investor rules and avoid making a big mistake! Before you buy remember the "9 types of houses you shouldn't buy".

9 types of houses you shouldn't buy

1. Small house (less than 1200 sq/ft)

2. Small master bedroom (especially if lacking closet space)

3. Busy street (main road or very close to one)

4. Bad location (far from conveniences or near to undesirable areas)

5. Bad layout (living and dining areas must have a logical flow)

6. No garage (1 car isn't good either)

7. Bad lot (non-conforming shape)

8. Mixed use commercial or multi family

9. Messy neighbors (can bring the value of your home down by 20%)

Cape Coral Short Sale - Are you qualified to sell your home as a short sale?

Are you upside down on your primary residence or 2^nd home and need to sell? Have you stopped making mortgage payments because you really can not afford to do so? Selling the home as a short sale may be the answer.

A Short Sale is when your mortgage holder agrees to accept less money than the amount actually owed on the mortgage. A short sale can be successfully negotiated.  Lately, the mortgage lenders have been accepting more short sale contracts and statistically more short sale purchases have been closing. Some lenders are easier to deal with than others. The seller must proper and convincing documentation to the mortgage lenders that they can no longer afford to make payments. The property value must have fallen below the amount of the loan.

If the mortgage lender approves the short sale, the home can be sold without the seller having to come up with cash to cover the shortfall. The mortgage is satisfied.

How do you get started if you think you may be able to sell your home as a short sale? First of all, contact me so we can discuss your homes selling potential. If you decide to move forward with the sale I will list and market your home to the highest profession standard. At the same time, get your financial information organized and write a hardship letter. You will also have to sign a release to RL Towns Consulting. This is a professional negotiating firm that I prefer to use. The actual negotiations start with the offer.

You can expect the negotiation to take 3 to 6 months. Success depends on the seller's cooperation with the negotiator and the buyer's willingness to wait through the process.

Don't hesitate to contact me if you would like to sell. How will i work for you? See my client testimonials  
www.incredibleagents.com
Barbara Klare
Gulf Coast Realty
cell: 239-292-1358
e-mail: bklare@comcast.net
www.cape-coral-foreclosure.com

Looking For a Real Estate Deal in Cape Coral? Call 239-292-1358. I Specialize in Cape Coral foreclosure property – Bank Owned - REO Homes – Short Sales … Free list e-mailed daily. Visit www.cape-coral-foreclosure.com

Cape Coral Market Report for August 1st – October 31st 2009

Total 1,637 single family Cape Coral homes sold
710 foreclosures
509 non-distress sale
418 short sales
November 1st 2060 single family Cape Coral homes active on market

Although this season is usually sluggish in the real estate market, Cape Coral home sales were still strong. The market remained hectic. Short sale closings have greatly increased over the past year. Might be banks are have finally realized they better take the money and run!

The average sale price of foreclosed homes is $82,219.  Most of these distressed homes were snapped up within a few days with the average “days on market” being just 12. Average sale price was 100.6% of asking price. Multi offers situations are the norm.

Gulf Access homes were great deals. The average price is $249,900 with 64 days on the market and selling at 96% of asking price.
The coming season is expected to be busy. Many more foreclosure will be coming on the market. Higher end homes and coming through the foreclosure process and will soon be on the market. This may be the chance to buy the SW Florida home you’ve always dreamed of.

Harbour Preserve, the most prestigious section of Cape Harbour gated gulf access community - OVERSIZED BUILDING LOT WITH DEEP WATER DIRECT ACCESS -  Private boat dock, basin view, southeastern exposure. Purchase lot and have your dream home built by one of Cape Harbour’s designated builders.

Barbara Klare
Gulf Coast Realty
239-292-1358
www.barbaraklare.com

Lot is priced to sell at $399,000. Owner financing may be available.
Cape Harbour is luxury yachting community located in Cape Coral Florida.
www.capeharbour.com