What exactly does the future hold for those looking to buy or sell real estate in Cape Coral?

1. Time Heals All.  Right now, many who have the ability to buy a home and should are afraid to because of the horror stories they hear.  The further they get away from those feelings the more likely they will feel better about buying a home.
2. The market will turn when the money supply loosens.  Right now it is more challenging than in the past, (noticed I did not say impossible) to obtain money to buy a home.  Once the guidelines and qualifications loosen and more people can obtain money properly, we will see an increased demand for homes and the prices will follow.
3. Foreign Money will continue to flow in.  With a weak dollar, the word is out.  Foreigners have always loved S.W. Florida.  With the strong exchange rate and the lower property values foreigners recognize this is one of the best buying opportunities in years. (P.S. If it is good enough for them, isn't it good enough for you?)
4. It will snow again this winter up North.  Hardly a week goes by that I don't run in to someone from the north who tells me how they don't miss the snow.  Cold weather and snow is one of the best sales tools we have.  It happens every year like clockwork.  The buyers come in droves and can't wait to move here.
5. Baby boomers are coming too!  We can't stop them now. There are too many of them and they have more wealth than any generation before them.  They are going to have a major impact on the demand side for real estate in SW Florida.  Count on it!!!
6. More Businesses will Come to Florida.  Thanks to the current affordability of housing and labor coupled, with the great weather and lifestyle that Florida affords, businesses will again start looking to Florida for growth and expansion.  More jobs mean more housing needs, which again in turn drives demand and prices upward.
7. Housing Shortage causes possible price spike!  Right now, there is an excess of inventory in the market place, which needs to be absorbed.  The good news is that it is not being replaced with new housing starts at the same pace.  The situation that I predict will occur is once demand equals supply it might be too late.  Building your typical home in SW Florida takes between 6-12 months.  By the time builders recognize that demand is strong enough they will not be able to deliver inventory for at least six months.  This will cause a further strain on supply causing a possible spike in prices due to supply and demand issues
8. Timing the market is impossible.  Only six months after the bottom was hit will anyone realize it.  Once it is obvious, watch out because everyone will be rushing back in to buy.  It is the herd mentality, when the media tells us we are past the bottom, everyone will be in a buying frenzy.
9. BRC Properties will be short lived.  BRC -Below Replacement Cost Properties are those homes where you can buy the existing home for substantially less than it would cost to buy a home site and contract with a builder to build a new home.  This is a situation that rarely comes along but is quite prevalent in the Cape Coral market.  DO NOT expect it to last long.  Once the supply tightens these will be the first properties to go and very quickly.  How bad could you get hurt buying one of these homes today if the cost of recreating it is more than you paid for it?

Cape Coral's real estate market is full of foreclosure and short sale opportunities.  Knowing how to capitalize and successfully buy one of these properties can be challenging.  To help you better understand the market and the opportunities download our FREE REPORT: How to Successfully Buy Foreclosures & Short Sales" & "The Ten Biggest Mistakes Buyers Make."