I have recently been speaking with many Baby Boomers and I almost forgot that I am one of them!  Yes I am at the tail end of the Boomer generation but I am considered a Baby Boomer! When I got to thinking about what it means to be a Boomer I started to realize some of the changes that have been taking place in my life! Having turned 50 just a few years ago I quickly found out that I needed longer arms to read the newspaper! I never realized how cold the bathroom floor was in the middle of the night! (That is because I used to sleep like a rock for 8 hours and never get up!) My wife Patti, told me that I had something called "selective hearing" but after visiting the ear doctor I now have microphones on my ears! Boy it is wonderful being a Baby Boomer! I wanted to share with you somethin... 06/10/2008

I was listening to our local talk radio show earlier today and they were discussing how to save money now that gas has topped $4.00 a gallon in Southwest Florida! The number one suggestion was for people to discuss with their bosses the possibility of working from home one day per week! Now while this is not practical for everyone, it certainly does make sense for many people! How fortunate are we as Realtors to be able to work from home everyday if we want! The days of going to the office everyday are certainly in the past! Thanks to technology it is now possible to be in business where ever and whenever we want! Now more than ever it is imperative to stay in touch with the latest technology that can help us work smarter and not harder! I have made a commitment to keep our office on th... 06/08/2008

  Here is the 24 hour report for activity in the Cape Coral Real Estate market according to the MLS. This information is provided directly from our local MLS. Please feel free to check back often for the most accurate and updated information available in the Cape Coral area for local real estate reports and statistics. For more free reports and Cape Coral Real Estate visit http://www.intelligentlisting.com/ New Listings 47   Back on Market 14   Price Increases 4   Price Reductions 93   Contingents 6   Pendings 20   Solds 14   Expireds 31   Inactives 10   SELLERS:  Visit my website http://www.colleenpearsall.com/ for a FREE over the net home evaluation. BUYERS:  Visit my website http://www.colleenpearsall.com/ to be the first to know about hot new listings!   Colleen Pearsall 239-458-556... 06/07/2008

Fox National News reported the other day that lee county is soaring in sales. This time last year we had 3 years inventory and as of today they reported their is only 9 months.   Properties have been reduced by sellers and lenders for quick sales. "Unbelievable pricing"     We have 50 full time agents working the SW Florida's Gulf Coast Real Estate market. Foreclosure & Discounted properties are our specialty. Instant $$$ appreciation.   Buy real estate with your IRA: Investing IRA   Need to sell you home because of financial trouble? We handle short sales and foreclosures.       Our company works with  Mortgage Brokers that have programs to fit your financial needs. Creative financing & competitive rates. Quick & easy turn around time.   Looking for a vacation rental or long term renta... 06/06/2008

We are ready for another big weekend with buyers coming into town from all over the country! New York, New Jersey and Michigan will be represented this weekend in beautiful Cape Coral, Florida as the word has definitely gotten out that NOW is the time to buy! The deals are out there and the buyers are coming! I have noticed a big change this week in the increase of inquiries for waterfront properties! I knew it was coming, but if you believe what you read in the newpaper, the "experts" were saying that would not happen for at least a year! Well it has started already! Just this week alone we added 10 or 12 buyers to our Listingbook service! This free service allows our buyers to search the MLS on their own. Each of these buyers was looking for waterfront propertiy! If you would like you... 06/06/2008

There's an amazing selection of Cape Coral foreclosed homes. These homes are now bank or corporate owned. The selection includes waterfront, gulf access, direct access, sailboat access as well as homes on dry lots. Many are newer homes.  Now is fantastic home or investment buying opportunity, but …..? Foreclosed homes must be purchased "as is" from the lender or corporate financial institution. Don’t expect a foreclosed home to be in perfect condition. It is possible to inspect these homes before making an offer but often in Cape Coral’s fast moving foreclosure market, there is little time to do a proper professional inspection. When home owners are faced with foreclosure they usually stop maintaining the home. In Cape Coral’s lovely tropical climate, the landscaping will either die in... 06/06/2008

My wife, Patti, has always said that everything happens for a reason! And she is also very quick to always remind me to look for the good in everything and in everybody! After 22 years together I think she has finally gotten through to me! I now look at things very different than I did before and I try to put a positive spin on everything! Here in Cape Coral, Florida our market has started to rebound and since Christmas sales are strong! That is a very good thing for Realtors and buyers alike! It is also a positive for sellers who did not buy at the peak of our Boom!! We live in a location that is very condusive being in a good mood because, with the exception of maybe 5 days a year, the sun shines daily! We live in a beautiful home and for the most part we have our health! See how well... 06/05/2008

I have been reading post after post on the frustration of short sales! And yes I agree they are not easy and very frustrating at times! Here in beautiful Cape Coral, Florida we have literally thousands of homes listed as short sales! We have found that patience is the key and if your buyer is willing to wait it will pay off! Within the last week we have been able to close on 3 short sales for our buyers! The average time from making the offer to closing was 3 months! If you really think about it that is not bad at all! And we received our standard commission! Short sales are a necessary evil in today's marketplace and the key to success is working with agents who are good at what they do! So if you are currently working with short sales and getting frustrated hang in there. Work them an... 06/03/2008

Cape Coral Florida taxable property value decreased close to 26% according to the Lee County Property Appraisers Office.  This estimated taxable value information was released yesterday by Property Appraiser Ken Wilkinson.  He stated this was one of the toughest annual valuations periods he has gone through in years.  So what does this mean to you as the real estate consumer?  This means that most likely the Fall 2008 Trim Notices and Tax Bills should be providing some savings.  This should allow many buyers to increase their buying power by having the potential for lower property taxes by shifting around their qualifying ratios their total mortgage payment (PITI)  July 1st 2008 the property appraiser will release the certified taxable values and then in late August the property apprais... 06/03/2008

     Joe Kendall Realtor with Sandals Realty, Waterfront & Foreclosure Specialist writes:: Do you remember when waterfront property was so over priced it truly was not affordable for most? You only have to look back 3 years to 2005 when waterfront property was selling at an unbelieveable rate and an unbelievable price! Well, I believe everything goes in cycles and what goes up, must come down and we will slowly start the process of improving in our real estate market.  Today, your best value is in buying a waterfront property as hundreds of waterfront homes are within the foreclosure, short sale or bank owned process of selling the property. Waterfront property has dropped so much in price, it truely is a option every home buyer should consider before buying a home here in southwest Flo... 06/03/2008

Once again I was reminded last week of what a wonderful career I have chosen! Business is booming and agents are busier than they have been in years! Just being around the office and seeing all of the activity and smiling faces is exciting! This passed week we closed quite a few transactions but I noticed a trend that is starting to develop! 5 of our closed transactions were for first time home buyers! Does anybody else feel the way that I do when you see the look on their face when you have finished the closing? That look is PRICELESS! It makes all the days when we are under pressure and putting out fires seem worth it! Throughout my career I can honestly say that working with a couple, young or old, on the purchase of their first home is extremely rewarding! Now is the time to buy and... 06/02/2008

June 1st, 2008 is the official start of the 2008 Hurricane Season for cities throughout the U.S. including Cape Coral FL.  The question you need to start asking yourself is "Are you prepared?" In Cape Coral this preparation should start with registering for the City of Cape Coral's CODE RED notification program.  The reverse 911 system will notify you via phone (any number you choose) in case of any type of emergency or public service notification such as a boil water notice, etc...Register for CODE RED notification from the City of Cape Coral. Your next step is to stop by your local Publix and purchase a NOAA 7 Channel Weather Radio.  The one that I own is the WR-100 made by Midland Radio.  When severe weather conditions such as thunderstorms, tornados, hurricanes, wildfires, floods, e... 06/01/2008

   Joe Kendall Realtor with Sandals Realty, Waterfront & Foreclosure Specialist writes:: Do you remember when waterfront property was so over priced it truly was not affordable for most? You only have to look back 3 years to 2005 when waterfront property was selling at an unbelieveable rate and an unbelievable price! Well, I believe everything goes in cycles and what goes up, must come down and we will slowly start the process of improving in our real estate market. Home Buyers your best price, location and selection is Now !  Today, your best value is in buying a waterfront property as hundreds of waterfront homes are within the foreclosure, short sale or bank owned process of selling the property. Waterfront property has dropped so much in price, it truely is a option every home buyer... 06/01/2008

  Here is the 24 hour report for activity in the Cape Coral Real Estate market according to the MLS. This information is provided directly from our local MLS. Please feel free to check back often for the most accurate and updated information available in the Cape Coral area for local real estate reports and statistics. For more free reports and Cape Coral Real Estate visit http://www.intelligentlisting.com/ New Listings 66   Back on Market 13   Price Increases 7   Price Reductions 108   Contingents 11   Pendings 25   Solds 29   Expireds 26   Inactives 17   SELLERS:  Visit my website http://www.colleenpearsall.com/ for a FREE over the net home evaluation. BUYERS:  Visit my website http://www.colleenpearsall.com/ to be the first to know about hot new listings!   Colleen Pearsall 239-458-5... 05/28/2008

I just want to keep everyone informed of what is really happening in our little corner of the world, Cape Coral and Ft. Myers! This "dead" real estate market that everyone is telling you about, must have been kept secret from the agents in our office! Why? Well this week, a historically slow week, has been awesome. We processed 10 commission checks this week for 10 different agents! The largest of which was $27,000 and that was just for the buyers side! That is a pretty good year for a lot of agents and considering he is on a 95% split I know he is extremely happy, but he does those deals a few times a year! We also had 11 new contracts processed in the office this week! One "lucky agent" sold a $450,000 lot because he did floor time! Oh by the way he also picked up a listing from the s... 05/23/2008

It does not matter what you feel about the situation in Iraq, we must take time out this Memorial Day weekend to remember all of the men and woman who will not be spending this weekend at home with their families. We also need to remember all of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice to allow us all to live free! Not only those who gave their life in Iraq, but all those who have died over the years in the various wars and conflicts!  Here is a link that someone shared with me and I wanted to now share it with you: Enjoy and pass it on! Three soldiers wrote the song and put this together in their 'free time' over there. The Singer needs a Recording Contract when He comes Home!  http://www.flashdemo.net/gallery/wake/index.htm In your travels please remember to say thank you to a vet o... 05/22/2008

This is great news.  #1 it is a key evacuation route for Pine Island.  There is only one section left that is not 4 lanes.  It is preventing the regional mall concept from going further.  If all the stars align and the funding comes thru (years earlier than anticipated) we will be in fat city and closer to being the big city we are meant to be.  05/21/2008

Cape Coral Home Prices have gone through some downward changes over the past twelve months.  As consumers we want to know that we're getting the best deal and we're making a secure investment.  A common question consumers have been asking is "How Low Will They Go?"  Real Estate is a market that has ups and downs.  Just as we couldn't time the exact point at which prices were going to peak we're not going to be able to time the exact point when prices will stabilize. So what should we do as consumers with all of this information... We should look at the positive situation we are presently faced with.  Southwest Florida is filled with multitudes of property For Sale. The benefit is that you can pick the cream of the crop home that is exactly what you are seeking.  You have a wide variety ... 05/20/2008

      Joe Kendall, Realtor with Sandals Realty writes, When some people hear of bank owned properties in Florida, the first thing that comes to their minds are poor conditioned, stressed properties.  this is not always the case here in southwest Florida, Here in Lee County Florida there are several bank owned property that are brand new and have never been lived in ! Several of these homes where purchased within the last 3 years with the attention of the investor flipping and upgrades where purchases in the mind set of standing out in a crowd of thousands of investment property! Hundreds of these homes never sold and have been foreclosed on by the banks. Cape Coral Florida in the last 90 days has shown Bank short sales are selling at fair market value and the bank owned property is sell... 05/20/2008

So says the News-Press.  I observed 2 1/2 years after the real estate market started to dive the city and county are just now starting to react to what was happening all around them.  I've never understood why government is reactive and not proactive.  Why did they seem to turn a blind eye to the doubling and then tripling of taxes in a 2 year period and think this would not have an effect on real people.  This is basic economics 101.  If you hurt property owners that do not have the benefit of homestead  they are going to leave and find a friendlier place to live and own property. And leave they did and yet our government seems surprised. Now more people are losing their jobs at the city and county. I don't like anyone losing their job. But, local businesses have already cut employees,... 05/19/2008