State and National News:

• Fewer homes for sale, inventories fall sharply   Read more….
• Offshore Investors snapping up Fla real estate   Read more…
• State forecasts property value increases   Read more…
• ForSaleByOwner.com Founder uses Agent to sell home   Read more…
• Fewer foreclosure warnings in July   Read more…
• Good thing with shorter mortgages   Read more…
• Number of short sales on the rise   Read more…
• South Florida’s condo market recovering   Read more…

Taxes, Insurance and more:

• Federal Health Insurance available online   Read more…
• Paws for Patriots   Read more…

Cape Coral and SW Florida News:

• Average Floridan getting younger   Read more…
• Cape’s Convention Center dream gaining popular traction   Read more…
• South Cape business boom   Read more…

Real Estate Tips:

• 10 major Mortgage mistakes to avoid   Read more…
• Biggest decorating mistakes   Read more…
• Tips for small spaces   Read more…

Green News:

• Cape Coral Nature Trails   Read more…

_____________________________________________________________________

Check out my website at

www.CapeDeb.com

_______________________________________________________________________

This month’s feature property…..  asking price $29,900

Location! Location! Location! FABULOUS GULF ACCESS LOT!…….This GREAT home site is located in Unit 59… Imagine building your dream home….walking out your back door…..getting in your boat and heading out to any where in the world. That’s ACCESS!!! Boating access to the Gulf of Mexico, beaches, and surrounding islands such as Cayo Costa, Cabbage Key, Sanibel, Boca Grand… Not to mention…this area offers some of the best fishing to be found anywhere.

“LOOKING FOR NEW LISTINGS!  Most of mine are under agreement or sold….”

(click picture for more info)

{CapeDeb’s Listings here}

{Search all properties here }

______________________________________________________________________

Do-It-Yourself Home Security: Windows May Leave You Vulnerable

By: Joseph D’Agnese

Published: November 12, 2010

Protecting your home from break-ins starts with a do-it-yourself home security check to indicate whether your windows are an open invitation to criminals.

Check ground-floor and basement windows

Ground-floor and basement windows are more likely to be targeted than those on the second floor, and deserve the most attention. The exception is those second-floor windows that can be easily accessed by a deck or other elevated structure outside the home.

Start your home security check by looking at your ground-floor windows from afar. Are they blocked by high shrubbery? Bushes give ideal cover for someone planning to break or force open a window; cut greenery back so that front windows are fully visible from the street.

Keep locks locked

Make sure all windows can be opened, closed, and locked with relative ease—and then remember to keep them locked whenever you’re not around. The biggest problem that occurs with windows is when home owners exit their home and leave windows wide open—and vulnerable.

In spring and fall, when daytime temperatures swing and windows are frequently opened and closed, get in the habit of locking windows as you shut them.

Install simple security devices

Add blocking devices to the most easily accessed windows so they can’t be opened from outside.

• Wooden dowels placed in the track block windows that slide horizontally, and require no installation.

• Steel locking pins (about $7 each), inserted in small holes that must be drilled through the frames, prevent vertically-sliding windows from being opened.

If you install a home security system later, the pros will install glass-break sensors on your most vulnerable windows.

Check garage windows

Garage windows are often forgotten—give them a home security check to make sure they’re securely locked. Install curtains or apply translucent security film on garage windows so that valuables aren’t readily visible. Thieves are more likely to attempt a break-in if they see items worth stealing.

Joseph D’Agnese is a journalist and book author who has written numerous articles on home improvement. He lives in North Carolina.

Visit HouseLogic.com for more articles like this. © Copyright 2010 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

——————————————————————————————————————————————–

Deborah ‘Deb’ Cullen, CRS, GRI, ABR, e-PRO, SRES, RSPS, SFR

deb@CapeDeb.com

www.CapeDeb.com

239.233.2322

Sign up to receive a free copy of the monthly newsletter click here

State and National News:

• Free advice to help owners keep their homes   Read more….
• Florida consumer confidence up   Read more…
• Government in talks to rent out foreclosures   Read more…
• Foreclosure activity down   Read more…

Taxes and Insurance:

• Some Cape Coral residents may see decrease in taxes   Read more…
• Florida Insurance cost comparison made easy   Read more…
• Tax exemption for military now available   Read more…
• Tax break on gas prices   Read more…

Cape Coral and SW Florida News:

• Tax rate to remain the same in proposed budget   Read more…
• Violent Crimes down in Cape Coral   Read more…
• Cape’s first ‘Net Zero’ house   Read more…
• Cape gets dredging permit   Read more…

Real Estate Tips:

• Turned down for a loan?  Find out why   Read more…
• Hurricane Preparation Guide   Read more…
• Family Emergency Plan   Read more…
• 7 smart fertilizer tips   Read more…

Green News:

• Off the beaten track – Cayo Costa and Cabbage Key   Read more…

_____________________________________________________________________

Check out my website at

www.CapeDeb.com

_______________________________________________________________________

This month’s feature property…..  asking price $29,900

Location! Location! Location! FABULOUS GULF ACCESS LOT!…….This GREAT home site is located in Unit 59… Imagine building your dream home….walking out your back door…..getting in your boat and heading out to any where in the world. That’s ACCESS!!! Boating access to the Gulf of Mexico, beaches, and surrounding islands such as Cayo Costa, Cabbage Key, Sanibel, Boca Grand… Not to mention…this area offers some of the best fishing to be found anywhere.

“LOOKING FOR NEW LISTINGS!  Most of mine are under agreement or sold….”

(click picture for more info)

{CapeDeb’s Listings here}

{Search all properties here }

______________________________________________________________________

7 Hot Home Improvement Trends that Make Your Home Work for You

By: Lisa Kaplan Gordon Published: May 13, 2011

Home improvement trends embrace energy efficiency, low maintenance exteriors, and double-duty space.

Trend #1: Maintenance-free siding

We continue to choose maintenance-free siding that lives as long as we do, but with a lot less upkeep. But more and more we’re opting for fiber-cement siding, one of the fastest-growing segments of the siding market. It’s a combination of cement, sand, and cellulosic fibers that looks like wood but won’t rot, combust, or succumb to termites and other wood-boring insects.
At $5 to $9 per sq. ft., installed, fiber-cement siding is more expensive than paint-grade wood, vinyl, and aluminum siding. It returns 80% of investment, the highest return of any upscale project on Remodeling magazine’s latest Cost vs. Value Report.
Maintenance is limited to a cleaning and some caulking each spring. Repaint every 7 to 15 years. Wood requires repainting every 4 to 7 years.

Trend #2: Convertible spaces

Forget “museum rooms” we use twice a year (dining rooms and living rooms) and embrace convertible spaces that change with our whims.
Foldaway walls turn a private study into an easy-flow party space. Walls can consist of fancy, glass panels ($600 to $1,600 per linear ft., depending on the system); or they can be simple vinyl-covered accordions  ($1,230 for 7 ft. by 10 ft.). PortablePartions.com sells walls on wheels ($775 for approximately 7 ft. by 7 ft.).
A Murphy bed pulls down from an armoire-looking wall unit and turns any room into a guest room. Prices, including installation and cabinetry, range from $2,000 (twin with main cabinet) to more than $5,000 (California king with main and side units). Just search online for sellers.
And don’t forget area rugs that easily define, and redefine, open spaces.

Trend #3: A laundry room of your own

Humankind advanced when the laundry room arose from the basement to a louvered closet on the second floor where clothes live. Now, we’re taking another step forward by granting washday a room of its own.
If you’re thinking of remodeling, turn a mudroom or extra bedroom into a dedicated laundry room big enough to house the washer and dryer, hang hand-washables, and store bulk boxes of detergent.
Look for spaces that already have plumbing hookups or are adjacent to rooms with running water to save on plumbing costs.

Trend #4: Souped-up kitchens

Although houses are trending smaller, kitchens are getting bigger, according to the American Institute of Architects’ Home Design Trends Survey.
Kitchen remodels open the space, perhaps incorporating lonely dining rooms, and feature recycling centers, large pantries, and recharging stations.
Oversized and high-priced commercial appliances—did we ever fire up six burners at once?—are yielding to family-sized, mid-range models that recover at least one cabinet for storage.
Since the entire family now helps prepare dinner (in your dreams), double prep sinks have evolved into dual-prep islands with lots of counter space and pull-out drawers.

Trend #5: Energy diets

We’re wrestling with an energy disorder: We’re binging on electronics—cell phones, iPads, Blackberries, laptops–then crash dieting by installing LED fixtures and turning the thermostat to 68 degrees.
Are we ahead of the energy game? Only the energy monitors and meters know for sure.
These new tracking devices can gauge electricity usage of individual electronics ($20 to $30) or monitor whole house energy ($100 to $250). The TED 5000 Energy Monitor ($240) supplies real-time feedback that you can view remotely and graph by the second, minute, hour, day, and month.

Trend #6: Love that storage

As we bow to the new god of declutter, storage has become the holy grail.We’re not talking about more baskets we can trip over in the night; we’re imagining and discovering built-in storage in unlikely spaces–under stairs, over doors, beneath floors.
Under-appreciated nooks that once displayed antique desks are growing into built-ins for books and collections. Slap on some doors, and you can hide office supplies and buckets of Legos.
Giant master suites, with floor space to land a 747, are being divided to conquer clutter with more walk-in closets.

Trend #7: Home offices come out of the closet

Flexible work schedules, mobile communications, and entrepreneurial zeal are relocating us from the office downtown to home.
Laptops and wireless connections let us telecommute from anywhere in the house, but we still want a dedicated space (preferably with a door) for files, supplies, and printers.
Spare bedrooms are becoming home offices and family room niches are morphing into working nooks. After a weekend of de-cluttering, basements and attics are reborn as work centers.

Lisa Kaplan Gordon is a HouseLogic contributor and homebuilder.

Visit HouseLogic.com for more articles like this. © Copyright 2010 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

——————————————————————————————————————————————–

Deborah ‘Deb’ Cullen, CRS, GRI, ABR, e-PRO, SRES, RSPS, SFR

deb@CapeDeb.com

www.CapeDeb.com

239.233.2322

Sign up to receive a free copy of the monthly newsletter click here

To remove your name from our mailing list, plea

Paradise is selling fast! 

There are currently:

1475 single family homes for sale in Cape Coral, FL

1565  homes have sold in the past three months

That leaves us with an absorption rate of: 2.8 months  

What does that mean? 

Let’s say that not another house went on the market.  How long would it take to sell the existing inventory?  Only 2.8 months…. 

Rule of thumb:

A ‘normal’ real estate market (if there is such a thing) has an absorption rate of 6%

When is it a buyers market?  When the absorption rate is over 6 %

When is it a sellers market?  When the absorption rate is under 6% 

You can have some of this FABULOUS weather too but you better hurry. 

RUN don’t walk…..

Paradise is selling fast!

State and National News:

• Fixed mortgage rates touch new low for 2011   Read more….
• Seven Deadly Credit Score Sins   Read more…
• More Americans flock to the South, West   Read more…
• Rising Rents   Read more…
• Survey: Americans still optimistic about houseing   Read more…
• 7 Great Places to retire   Read more…

Taxes and Insurance:

• Property Tax Break for Active Duty Military   Read more…

Cape Coral and SW Florida News:

• Cape Coral 2nd safest city in Florida   Read more…
• 5 markets ripe for appreciation  Read more…

Real Estate Tips:

• 30 quick fixes and tips for everyday home problems   Read more…
• Lessons from a Home Inspector   Read more…
• May home-maintenance checklist   Read more…

Green News:

• Beaches   Read more…

_____________________________________________________________________

Check out my website at

www.CapeDeb.com

_______________________________________________________________________

This month’s feature property…..  asking price $39,900

Location! Location! Location! FABULOUS GULF ACCESS LOT!…….This GREAT home site is located in Unit 59… Imagine building your dream home….walking out your back door…..getting in your boat and heading out to any where in the world. That’s ACCESS!!! Boating access to the Gulf of Mexico, beaches, and surrounding islands such as Cayo Costa, Cabbage Key, Sanibel, Boca Grand… Not to mention…this area offers some of the best fishing to be found anywhere.

(click picture for more info)

{CapeDeb’s Listings here}

{Search all properties here }

______________________________________________________________________

State and National News:

• Fixed mortgage rates touch new low for 2011   Read more….
• Seven Deadly Credit Score Sins   Read more…
• More Americans flock to the South, West   Read more…
• Rising Rents   Read more…
• Survey: Americans still optimistic about houseing   Read more…
• 7 Great Places to retire   Read more…

Taxes and Insurance:

• Property Tax Break for Active Duty Military   Read more…

Cape Coral and SW Florida News:

• Cape Coral 2nd safest city in Florida   Read more…
• 5 markets ripe for appreciation  Read more…

Real Estate Tips:

• 30 quick fixes and tips for everyday home problems   Read more…
• Lessons from a Home Inspector   Read more…
• May home-maintenance checklist   Read more…

Green News:

• Beaches   Read more…

_____________________________________________________________________

Check out my website at

www.CapeDeb.com

_______________________________________________________________________

This month’s feature property…..  asking price $39,900

Location! Location! Location! FABULOUS GULF ACCESS LOT!…….This GREAT home site is located in Unit 59… Imagine building your dream home….walking out your back door…..getting in your boat and heading out to any where in the world. That’s ACCESS!!! Boating access to the Gulf of Mexico, beaches, and surrounding islands such as Cayo Costa, Cabbage Key, Sanibel, Boca Grand… Not to mention…this area offers some of the best fishing to be found anywhere.

(click picture for more info)

{CapeDeb’s Listings here}

{Search all properties here }

______________________________________________________________________

State and National News:

• Buying a Short Sale   Read more….
• Housing Affordability Reaches 20 year high   Read more…
• Banks want higher down payments   Read more…
• Florida’s real estate outlook perks up   Read more…

Taxes and Insurance:

• Home Ownership offers plenty of Tax Benefits   Read more…
• Some procedures changing for taxpayers this season   Read more….

Cape Coral and SW Florida News:

• Sneak peek at Burnt Store Road widening project   (Drop me an email at deb@CapeDeb.com and I will forward plan to you)
• Residential Permits are up   Read more…
• Red Sox’s Spring Training Dreams   Read more…

Real Estate Tips:

• Showing tips for Sellers   Read more…
• Get a jump on Spring Cleaning   Read more…
• 24 Cleaning Problems – Solved   Read more…
• How to fix cracks in concrete   Read more…

Green News:

• State Senator wants to get rid of Florida Fishing Licenses   Read more…

_____________________________________________________________________

Check out my website at

www.CapeDeb.com

_______________________________________________________________________

This month’s feature property…..

BACK ON THE MAREKT….HOT PROPERTY!!!  only $239,000

3 bedroom/3  Bath Pool WATERFRONT home with over 1900 sq feet of living area…

Fabulous Basin View, Access to the Gulf of Mexico,   and much more!!!

(click picture for more info)

{CapeDeb’s Listings here}

{Search all properties here }

______________________________________________________________________

1. Will remodeling make your home better than everyone else’s?  To make the right move-or-remodel decision, you have to know: 

• Your home’s value. Easy. Just ask a REALTOR® to estimate it and tell you how it compares with the value of the other homes in your immediate neighborhood. Ask her what she thinks your house will be worth after the improvements, too.

• Your neighbors’ home value. Hit some open houses. Seeing the inside of area homes will inspire you; help you make good choices about finishes, room sizes, and how much to spend; and, admit it, entertain you.

• Your remodeling costs. Once you’ve got your renovation vision, get a quote from a home improvement contractor or, if you’re remodeling it yourself, tally the costs of the items on your supplies shopping list.

Then add the remodeling costs to the value of your home. If the number you get is more than 10% above the average value of homes in your neighborhood, you’re over-improving and probably won’t be able to sell for what you put into the remodel.

Here’s why: No one wants to buy the most expensive home on the block (your home) if they can spend the same money to get a similar home on a block of higher-priced homes. Would you pay $200,000 to live on a block where all the other homes are valued at $100,000? We hope not.

Make home improvements that are typical for the neighborhood. Don’t put granite countertops in a trailer, and don’t put laminate countertops in a Trump Tower condo. Your tour of open houses gives you a chance to verify that your planned remodel isn’t an over- or under-improvement for the neighborhood.

2. Do you love where you live?

Want to keep your kids in the same school district, but can’t find or afford a bigger, better house? Love the neighbors? Have an easy commute to work? Stay put. If you’ve soured on the traffic, the neighborhood’s crime rate, or the nosy neighbors, move on.

3. Do you have room to expand?

If your remodeling plans include increasing the overall size of your home, the size of your lot may be the deciding factor in whether to move or remodel. If you live in a 1,500 sq. ft. ranch on a 3,000 sq. ft. lot, you might be able to add a second story to turn it into a 3,000 sq. ft. two-story, but you’re not likely to add 1,500 sq. ft. at ground level. And if you have a septic tank and well, the location of those will limit how and where you add onto your home (or cost you a bundle to move).4. Can you afford to move?

Consider these moving costs: sale costs for your existing home, shipping your household goods, buying window treatments and possibly furniture for the new house, costs to fix up your existing home before sale, higher utility costs (if your next house is bigger), insurance cost differences, and property taxes.

  
More from HouseLogic
Q&A: Author Sarah Susanka Talks Budget-Smart Remodeling
Should You Move or Improve?
Other web resources
Find your local remodelers 
Average project cost 
Dona DeZube, HouseLogic’s news editor, moved across the same street twice when she remodeled two houses in Columbia, Maryland,
before she moved to a house in Clarksville, Maryland.

She remodeled that house and then moved back to the same street in Columbia.
She despises moving, but her husband loves remodeling.

——————————————————————————————————————————————–

Deb Cullen, CRS, GRI, ABR, e-PRO, SRES, RSPS, SFR

deb@CapeDeb.com

www.CapeDeb.com

239.233.2322

Sign up to receive a free copy of the monthly newsletter click here

To remove your name from our mailing list, please click

     SOLD!!!

This is true Tropical Living!  This beautiful WATERFRONT home is located at the intersection of Horseshoe  and Aranack Canals…and not only offers a fabulous southern exposure but also a wonderful view of the wide basin.  Boating access to the Gulf of Mexico, beaches, and surrounding unique islands such as Cayo Costa, Cabbage Key, Captive, Sanibel, Boca Grand…(just to name a few) is a boaters dream.  Not to mention…this area offers some of the best fishing to be found anywhere.  You’ll love the fact that this home is less than 2 miles away from an 18-hole Championship Golf Course.  When you walk into this beautiful home you’ll immediately feel like you just entered Paradise….lots of windows and sliders offer plenty of sunshine and a lovely view of the pool.  This well maintained home has a HUGE pool deck (one of the largest you’ll find) making entertaining a delight. Tiled floors, formal dining, breakfast room, high ceilings, split bedroom design, and lots more.  Interested in an INVESTMENT?…Current tenants have been there for  2 ½ years and are on a month-to-month basis but are willing to stay.  Fast answer to all offers…..

click here for more info….

for more info call or email Deb Cullen 239.233.2322 deb@CapeDeb.com

Paradise is selling fast! 

There are currently:

2441 single family homes for sale in Cape Coral, FL

1225 homes have sold in the past three months

That leaves us with an absorption rate of: 5.9months  

What does that mean? 

Let’s say that not another house went on the market.  How long would it take to sell the existing inventory?  Only 5.9 months…. 

Rule of thumb:

A ‘normal’ real estate market (if there is such a thing) has an absorption rate of 6%

When is it a buyers market?  When the absorption rate is over 6 %

When is it a sellers market?  When the absorption rate is under 6% 

You can have some of this FABULOUS weather too but you better hurry. 

RUN don’t walk…..

Paradise is selling fast!

State and National News:

• Mortgage rates fall to fresh low   Read more….
• Florida job growth expected to rise next year   Read more…
• Promising signs that growth will continue   Read more…
• Lee County looks at cutting fees   Read more…
• Florida condo sales up   Read more…

Taxes and Insurance:

• Florida Tax Guide   Read more…

Cape Coral and SW Florida News:

• Christmas in Florida   Read more….
• Gateway project makes comeback   Read more…
• Downtown Fort Myers’ project launced again   Read more…

Real Estate Tips:

• Christmas Decorations Dos   Read more…
• Tips for hanging Christmas lights   Read more…
• Getting your house ready for Winter   Read more…

Green News:

• First Fruits sprout   Read more…

_____________________________________________________________________

Check out my website at

www.CapeDeb.com

_______________________________________________________________________

This month’s feature…..

Own a piece of Paradise…..

This WATERFRONT Homesite offers boating access to the Gulf of Mexico and beyond for only $49,900…..

(click picture for more info)

{CapeDeb’s Listings here}

{Search all properties here }

______________________________________________________________________

Published: August 24, 2010

When your house no longer suits you, you can move or remodel. Find out which big change is the right investment of your housing dollars. Just about everything else—remodeling costs, the hassle of living in a construction zone, or the ability to live happily without one more bathroom–is a personal preference. After all, your home isn’t just your largest investment; it’s also the place where your family lives.

1. Will remodeling make your home better than everyone else’s?

To make the right move-or-remodel decision, you have to know:

• Your home’s value. Easy. Just ask a REALTOR® to estimate it and tell you how it compares with the value of the other homes in your immediate neighborhood. Ask her what she thinks your house will be worth after the improvements, too.

• Your neighbors’ home value. Hit some open houses. Seeing the inside of area homes will inspire you; help you make good choices about finishes, room sizes, and how much to spend; and, admit it, entertain you.

• Your remodeling costs. Once you’ve got your renovation vision, get a quote from a home improvement contractor or, if you’re remodeling it yourself, tally the costs of the items on your supplies shopping list.

Then add the remodeling costs to the value of your home. If the number you get is more than 10% above the average value of homes in your neighborhood, you’re over-improving and probably won’t be able to sell for what you put into the remodel.

Here’s why: No one wants to buy the most expensive home on the block (your home) if they can spend the same money to get a similar home on a block of higher-priced homes. Would you pay $200,000 to live on a block where all the other homes are valued at $100,000? We hope not.

Make home improvements that are typical for the neighborhood. Don’t put granite countertops in a trailer, and don’t put laminate countertops in a Trump Tower condo. Your tour of open houses gives you a chance to verify that your planned remodel isn’t an over- or under-improvement for the neighborhood.

2. Do you love where you live?

Want to keep your kids in the same school district, but can’t find or afford a bigger, better house? Love the neighbors? Have an easy commute to work? Stay put. If you’ve soured on the traffic, the neighborhood’s crime rate, or the nosy neighbors, move on.

3. Do you have room to expand?

If your remodeling plans include increasing the overall size of your home, the size of your lot may be the deciding factor in whether to move or remodel. If you live in a 1,500 sq. ft. ranch on a 3,000 sq. ft. lot, you might be able to add a second story to turn it into a 3,000 sq. ft. two-story, but you’re not likely to add 1,500 sq. ft. at ground level. And if you have a septic tank and well, the location of those will limit how and where you add onto your home (or cost you a bundle to move).

4. Can you afford to move?

Consider these moving costs: sale costs for your existing home, shipping your household goods, buying window treatments and possibly furniture for the new house, costs to fix up your existing home before sale, higher utility costs (if your next house is bigger), insurance cost differences, and property taxes.

——————————————————————————————————————————————– 

Deb Cullen, CRS, GRI, ABR, e-PRO, SRES, RSPS, SFR

deb@CapeDeb.com

www.CapeDeb.com

239.233.2322

Sign up to receive a free copy of the monthly newsletter click here

To remove your name from our mailing list, please click

State and National News:

• Where do people want to live   Read more….
• Major settlement in Drywall Litigation   Read more…
• Banks resume foreclosures   Read more…
• 5 Traits of today’s Home Buyer’s   Read more…
• Smaller homes to remain popular   Read more…
• States with the highest and lowest Property taxes   Read more…

Taxes and Insurance:

• National Flood Insurance extended to 2011   Read more…

Cape Coral and SW Florida News:

• Fall 2010 Cape Coral Parks and Recreation Guide   Read more…
• Lee County foreclosures down   Read more…
• Classes enlighten local homebuyers   Read more…

Real Estate Tips:

• Dos and Don’ts for Sellers and Buyers   Read more…
• 10 Reason to Buy a Home   Read more…
• Budget makeover ideas   Read more…
• How to organize your linen closet   Read more…

Green News:

• Fighting Conchs stump scientists   Read more…

_____________________________________________________________________

Check out my website at

www.CapeDeb.com

_______________________________________________________________________

This month’s feature…..

Beautiful Affordable home in Paradise!!!!!!  PRICED AT $52,000

(click picture for more info)

{CapeDeb’s Listings here}

{Search all properties here }

______________________________________________________________________

5 Tips for buying a Foreclosure

Published: March 29, 2010

Get prequalified for a loan and set aside funds, and you’ll be ready to purchase a foreclosed home.

1. Choose a foreclosure sale expert. Lenders rarely sell their own foreclosures directly to consumers. They list them with real estate brokers. You can work with a real estate agent who sells foreclosed homes for lenders, or have a buyer’s agent find foreclosure properties for you. To locate a foreclosure sales specialist, call local brokers and ask if they are the listing agent for any banks.

Deb Cullen, CRS, GRI, ABR, e-PRO, SRES, RSPS, SFR

deb@CapeDeb.com

www.CapeDeb.com

239.233.2322

Sign up to receive a free copy of the monthly newsletter click here

To remove your name from our mailing list, please click here

State and National News:

• Facing foreclosure? Find options   Read more….
• Air Conditioner Rebate starts 8/30   Read more…
• U.S. Census Bureau releases info on nation’s housing  Read more…
• Economic confidence ticks up   Read more…
• Florida population grows again   Read more…

Taxes and Insurance:

• Amendment 3 off November Ballot   Read more…

Cape Coral and SW Florida News:

• New ideas for downtown Cape Coral   Read more…
• New playground hinges on grant   Read more…
• Cape to consider Spreader pact   Read more…
• Cape Coral may be an Army Reserve Center   Read more…

Real Estate Tips:

• Hurdles for home financing   Read more…
• What will it cost to maintain that home?   Read more…
• Makeovers - Before and After   Read more…
• Kitchen Offices   Read more…

Green News:

• Florida Panther   Read more…

_____________________________________________________________________

Check out my website at

www.CapeDeb.com

_______________________________________________________________________

This month’s feature…..

Gulf Access Lot….PRICED at $99,000!!!!!!

(click picture for more info)

{CapeDeb’s Listings here}

{Search all properties here }

______________________________________________________________________

The Value of Home Maintenance

By: John Riha Published: March 9, 2010

Regular home maintenance is key to preserving the value of your house and property.
If you think home maintenance is an unavoidable series of weekend-eating chores, remember the age-old advice of Benjamin Franklin: “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” The fact is, proactive maintenance is essential to preserving the value of your home—without it, your home could lose 10% of its value. Regular, routine maintenance enhances curb appeal, ensures safety, and prevents neglected upkeep from turning into costly major repairs.

“It’s the little things that tend to trip up people,” says Frank Lesh, former president of the American Society of Home Inspectors and owner of Home Sweet Home Inspection Co. in Chicago. “Some cracked caulk around the windows, or maybe a furnace filter that hasn’t been changed in awhile. It may not seem like much, but behind that caulk, water could get into your sheathing, causing mold and rot. Before you know it, you’re looking at a $5,000 repair that could have been prevented by a $4 tube of caulk and a half hour of your time.”

Maintenance affects property value

Outright damage to your house is just one of the consequences of neglected maintenance. Without regular upkeep, overall property values are affected.

“If a house is in worn condition and shows a lack of preventative maintenance, the property could easily lose 10% of its appraised value,” says Mack Strickland, a professional appraiser and real estate agent in Chester, Va. “That could translate into a $15,000 or $20,000 adjustment.”

In addition, a house with chipped, fading paint, sagging gutters, and worn carpeting faces an uphill battle when it comes time to sell. Not only is it at a disadvantage in comparison with other similar homes that might be for sale in the neighborhood, but a shaggy appearance is bound to turn off prospective buyers and depress the selling price.

“It’s simple marketing principles,” says Strickland. “First impressions mean a lot to price support.”

Prolonging economic age

To a professional appraiser, diligent maintenance doesn’t translate into higher property valuations the way that improvements, upgrades, and appreciation all increase a home’s worth. But good maintenance does affect an appraiser’s estimate of a property’s economic age—the number of years that a house is expected to survive.

Economic age is a key factor in helping appraisers determine depreciation—the rate at which a house is losing value. A well-maintained house with a long, healthy economic age depreciates at a much slower rate than a poorly maintained house, helping to preserve value.

Estimating the value of maintenance

Although professional appraisers don’t assign a positive value to home maintenance, there are indications that maintenance is not just about preventing little problems from becoming larger. A study by researchers at the University of Connecticut and Syracuse University suggests that maintenance actually increases the value of a house by about 1% each year, meaning that getting off the couch and heading outside with a caulking gun is more than simply a chore—it actually makes money.

“It’s like going to the gym,” says Dr. John P. Harding, Professor of Finance & Real Estate at UConn’s School of Business and an author of the study. “You have to put in the effort to see the results. In that respect, people and houses are somewhat similar—the older (they are), the more work is needed.”

Harding notes that the 1% gain in valuation usually is offset by the ongoing cost of maintenance. “Simply put,” he says, “maintenance costs money, so it’s probably best to say that the net effect of regular maintenance is to slow the rate of depreciation.”

How much does maintenance cost?

How much money is required for annual maintenance varies. Some years, routine tasks, such as cleaning gutters and changing furnace filters, are all that’s needed, and your total expenditures may be a few hundred dollars. Other years may include major replacements, such as a new roof, at a cost of $10,000 or more.

Over time, annual maintenance costs average more than $3,300, according to data from the U.S. Census. Various lending institutions, such as Directors Credit Union and LendingTree.com, agree, placing maintenance costs at 1% to 3% of initial house price. That means owners of a $200,000 house should plan to budget $2,000 to $6,000 per year for ongoing upkeep and replacements.

Proactive maintenance strategies

Knowing these average costs can help homeowners be prepared, says Melanie McLane, a professional appraiser and real estate agent in Williamsport, Pa. “It’s called reserve for replacements,” says McLane. “Commercial real estate investors use it to make sure they have enough cash on hand for replacing systems and materials.”

McLane suggests a similar strategy for homeowners, setting aside a cash reserve that’s used strictly for home repair and maintenance. That way, routine upkeep is a snap and any significant replacements won’t blindside the family budget. McLane’s other strategies include:

Play offense, not defense. Proactive maintenance is key to preventing small problems from becoming big issues. Take the initiative with regular inspections. Create and faithfully follow a maintenance schedule. If you’re unsure of what needs to be done, a $200 to $300 visit from a professional inspector can be invaluable in pointing out quick fixes and potential problems.

Plan a room-per-year redo.“Pick a different room every year and go through it, fixing and improving as you go,” says McLane. “That helps keep maintenance fun and interesting.”

Keep track.“Having a notebook of all your maintenance and upgrades, along with receipts, is a powerful tool when it comes to sell your home,” advises McLane. “It gets rid of any doubts for the buyer, and it says you are a meticulous, caring homeowner.” A maintenance record also proves repairs and replacements for systems, such as wiring and plumbing, which might not be readily apparent.

John Riha has written six books on home improvement and hundreds of articles on home-related topics. He’s been a residential builder, the editorial director of the Black & Decker Home Improvement Library, and the executive editor of Better Homes and Gardens magazine. His standard 1968 suburban house has been an ongoing source of maintenance experience.

Read more: http://www.houselogic.com/articles/value-home-maintenance/#ixzz0zKQBI6vHVisit houselogic.com for more articles like this. Reprinted from HouseLogic with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®
Copyright 2010.  All rights reserved.

—————————————————————————————————————————————————-

Deb Cullen, CRS, GRI, ABR, e-PRO, SRES, RSPS, SFR

deb@CapeDeb.com

www.CapeDeb.com

239.233.2322

Sign up to receive a free copy of the monthly newsletter click here

To remove your name from our mailing list, please click here

 

City Water/Sewer in and ASSESSMENTS PAID!! NEW ROOF 6/2010!!!!! This is it….the one you have been waiting for. Open floor plan…split bedroom design (master on one side of house–two bedrooms on the other side)…………… RARE–HUGE! HUGE! HUGE! Lanai for fantastic outside living……..invite your friends and family or just come relax. This home has a great layout and offers lots of space for entertaining. Comes furnished and includes washer/dryer. Don’t miss out……..won’t last long!!!!!!!!

Call or email today for more info….

Deb Cullen

239.233.2322

deb@CapeDeb.com

Lee County Lis Pendens filed………

 First, what is a lis pendens?  A lis pendens is a written notice that a lawsuit has been filed with the courts concerning real estate. You could kind of call it…one of the first indicators of a possible foreclosure.

 Everyone’s talking about foreclosures.  Are they slowing down?  Will there be a new wave?

 It is important to keep in mind that not every lis pendens filing will turn into a foreclosure but I’ve been watching the overall numbers for a while now…waiting for a sign.  You tell me what you see……

If you would like me to email you all the figures and graphs….drop me an email at deb@CapeDeb.com

Paradise is selling fast!

There are currently:

2525 single family homes for sale in Cape Coral, FL

1582 homes have sold in the past three months

That leaves us with an absorption rate of: 4.7 months

What does that mean?

Let’s say that not another house went on the market.  How long would it take to sell the existing inventory?  Only 4.7 months….

Rule of thumb:

A ‘normal’ real estate market (if there is such a thing) has an absorption rate of 6%

When is it a buyers market?  When the absorption rate is over 6 %

When is it a sellers market?  When the absorption rate is under 6%

You can have some of this FABULOUS weather too but you better hurry.

RUN don’t walk…..

Paradise is selling fast!

CALL OR EMAIL FOR A ‘FREE’ CAPE CORAL MAP ….

Debbie Cullen, CRS, GRI, ABR, e-PRO, SRES, RSPS, SFR

Serving SW Florida (Cape Coral…aka Paradise)

239.233.2322

deb@CapeDeb.com

www.CapeDeb.com

State and National News:

• Mortgage rates drop to another low, 4.58%   Read more….
• Big changes to condo laws take effect    Read more…

Taxes and Insurance:

• Tax credit extension passes   Read more…

Cape Coral and SW Florida News:

• 1st Quator 2010 Local Market Report   Read more…
• New model: SWFL has less than one percent chance of getting oil   Read more…
• City issues more single-family home permits   Read more…
• Lee County Community Gardens   Read more…
• 2010 Summer Cape Coral Parks and Recreations Guide   Read more…

Real Estate Tips:

• Beach style for your home   Read more…
• Organize your Garage   Read more…
• 4 cheap cleaners that work   Read more…
• Before and After Basements   Read more…
• What to look for in an outdoor kitchen   Read more…

Green News:

• Frequently asked questions in Cape Coral  Read more…

_____________________________________________________________________

Check out my new website at

www.CapeDeb.com

_______________________________________________________________________

This month’s feature…..

Rose Garden Villa Condo….

(click picture for more info)

-High ceilings, Bright Corner Unit

-one of Cape Coral’s best kept secrets

{CapeDeb’s Listings here}

{Search all properties here }

______________________________________________________________________

10 Tips for Saving Energy in the Kitchen…..

Article From HouseLogic.com

By: Douglas Trattner

Published: August 28, 2009

Spending less money on utility bills doesn’t mean you need to rush out and purchase a whole new suite of Energy Star appliances. With occasional light maintenance and good habits, you can greatly improve the energy efficiency of your large kitchen appliances—up to about $120 annually—without sacrificing convenience.

Refrigerator/freezer

Energy-efficiency experts tell us to focus our efforts on the biggest energy hogs in the house, and that definitely includes the fridge. Because it cycles on and off all day, every day, the refrigerator consumes more electricity than nearly every appliance in the home save for the HVAC systems. The average refrigerator costs about $90 per year to operate, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. The good news is that a few simple adjustments can trim roughly $38 to $45 off those utility bills.

1. Adjust the thermostat. By setting the thermostat colder than it needs to be, you might increase your fridge’s energy consumption by as much as 25% on average. Adjust the refrigerator so that it stays in the 37-40 degrees F range. For the freezer, shoot for between 0-5 degrees F. You could save up to $22 per year. If your model doesn’t display the current temps, invest in two appliance thermometers (one for the fridge, one for the freezer). They cost roughly $3-$20 apiece at online retailers.

2. Clean the coils. As dust accumulates on the condenser coils on the rear or bottom of the fridge, it restricts cool-air flow and forces the unit to work harder and longer than necessary. Every six months, vacuum away the dust that accumulates on the mechanism. Also, check to see that there is at least a 3-inch clearance at the rear of the fridge for proper ventilation. This routine maintenance can trim up to 5% off the unit’s operating cost, says energy savings expert Michael Bluejay, saving you about $4.50 a year.

3. Use an ice tray. Automatic ice makers are a nice convenience, to be sure, but it turns out the mechanisms are energy hogs. An automatic ice maker can increase a refrigerator’s energy consumption by 14% to 20%, according to Energy Star. By switching off the ice maker and using trays, you can save about $12 to $18 off your annual electricity bill. Most units require little more than a lift of the sensor arm to switch them off. To reclaim the space remove the entire unit, a simple DIY job on many models.

4. Unplug the “beer fridge.” Many homes have an extra fridge that runs year round even though it’s used sparingly. Worse, these fridges tend to be older, more inefficient models. By consolidating the contents to the main fridge and unplugging the additional unit, you eliminate the entire operating cost of a fridge. The second-best solution is to make sure the extra fridge remains three-quarters full at all times. The mass helps maintain steady internal temps and lets the fridge recover more quickly after the door is opened and closed, according to the California Energy Commission.

Ovens and ranges

“Green” cooking all comes down to proper time and space management. By using gas and electric stoves more effectively, you can painlessly save a few dollars a year.

5. Cut the power early. As anybody who’s ever bumped a burner on an electric stove can attest, those heating elements stay hot long after they’ve been switched off. Put that residual heat to work by shutting off the burner several minutes before the end of the cook time. The same technique can be applied to the oven. The savings can add up to a couple bucks every month.

6. Match the burner to pan. When a small pan is placed on a big burner you can practically see the money disappearing into thin air. By matching the burner to the pan, electricity won’t be squandered heating the kitchen rather than the food. The reverse is true, too. A small burner will take considerably longer to heat a large pan than would an appropriately sized burner. For gas stoves, don’t let the flames lick the sides of the pot. Follow these tips and watch the utility bills shrink by a few dollars a month.

7. Do away with preheating. You can save about $2 a month by not preheating your oven (20 cents per hour to operate electric oven; eliminate 20 30-minute preheats a month). Many cooks agree that the practice is wholly unnecessary for all but a few recipes, namely baking breads and cakes. This approach may add a few minutes to the overall cooking time, but it eliminates all that wait time on the front end.

Dishwasher

As with washing machines, most of a dishwasher’s energy needs go to heating the water. Still, says Lane Burt, an energy policy analyst with The Natural Resources Defense Council, a 10-year-old dishwasher can be made nearly as efficient as a newer model simply by knowing when and how to run it. Follow a few simple tips, and you can reduce your annual utility costs by roughly $35-$54.

8. Manage the load. Most dishwashers use the same amount of water and energy whether they’re run full or half-full. You can cut your operating costs by one-third or one-half by running the machine only when it’s full. It costs about $54 to run a pre-2000 model dishwasher per year, based on government data. Proper load management can save up to $27 each year.

9. Activate energy-saving features. A dishwasher’s heated dry cycle can add 15% to 50% to the appliance’s operating cost. Most machines allow the feature to be switched off (or not turned on), which can save $8-$27 per year, assuming an operating cost of $54 annually. If your dishwasher doesn’t have that flexibility, simply turn the appliance off after the final rinse and open the door.

10.  Use the machine. Many homeowners believe they can save water and energy by hand washing dishes. The truth is that a dishwasher requires less than one-third the water it would take to do those same dishes in the sink. By running the machine (when full), you can cut down the operating time of the hot water heater, your home’s largest energy hog. Not only will you save a buck per month, you won’t have to do the dishes.

Douglas Trattner has covered household appliances and home improvement for HGTV.com, DIYNetworks, and the Cleveland Plain Dealer. During the 10-year stewardship of his 1925 Colonial, he’s upgraded almost every household appliance. After lengthy deliberation, he recently replaced an aging top-load washing machine with an energy-efficient front-load unit

Visit houselogic.com for more articles like this. Reprinted from HouseLogic with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®
Copyright 2010.  All rights reserved.

—————————————————————————————————————————————————-

Deb Cullen, CRS, GRI, ABR, e-PRO, SRES, RSPS, SFR

deb@CapeDeb.com

www.CapeDeb.com

239.233.2322

Sign up to receive a free copy of the monthly newsletter click here

To remove your name from our mailing list, please click here

State and National News:

• New Federal Short Sale Program   Read more….
• Fed: Homes with Chinese Drywall must be gutted   Read more…
• Home Sales show healthy gain   Read more…
• Federal Foreclosure Program announced   Read more…
• Condo Lending   Read more…
• The Recession is over, but not officially   Read more…

Taxes and Insurance:

• IRS info on Tax Credits   Read more…

Cape Coral and SW Florida News:

• San Souci Bay gets mixed reactions   Read more…
• New Life for River Hall   Read more…

Real Estate Tips:

• Is your house in a Flood Zone?   Read more…
• Simple Spring Decorating Tips   Read more…
• Gardening Ideas   Read more…
• 8 Things to get rid off   Read more…

Green News:

• Manatee rescued in North Fort Myers   Read more…

_____________________________________________________________________

Check out my new website at

www.CapeDeb.com

______________________________________________________________________

7 Gardening Mistakes to Avoid

Article From HouseLogic.com By: Oliver Marks
Published: March 15, 2010

Novice gardeners can get their landscapes off to a healthy start by heeding some tried-and-true tips from the pros.

Gardening is just about the simplest do-it-yourself home improvement work there is. If you can dig a hole, turn on a spigot, and snip a dead flower off a vine, you’ve got the basic skills down. Still, you do have to make some judgment calls, so it helps to know the ground rules, so to speak, that can help you avoid making some rookie mistakes.

Mistake #1: Making changes too soon

Take the excitement of buying a home, add a nice stretch of spring weather, and you get a lot of enthusiasm for doing yard work. That’s great; seize the day, but don’t jump into wholesale landscape changes, like pulling out plants or reorganizing the layout quite yet.

“That weed that you want to yank out in the spring might turn out to be a gorgeous fall-blooming vine,” says Gary Blondell, owner of Gary’s Gardens, a nursery in Severna Park, Md. Plus, it takes time to learn the landscape and figure out exactly what changes make sense.

Avoid this by: Living with the landscape for a full year, so you can observe it in all seasons.

Mistake #2: Planting too close together

You buy a wheelbarrow full of young shrubs and perennials and plant them in a pleasing arrangement. But if they look properly spaced now, they’re actually way too close together.

Unless you’re creating an evergreen hedge, when the idea is packing things tightly together, the immature plantings will grow into each other in a few years and struggle to compete for sun, water, and soil nutrients. You’ll either have to dig them up and transplant them-or possibly throw them away.

Avoid this by: Following the spacing requirements on the plant label-even though the results will look absurdly sparse at first.

Mistake #3: Planting without a plan

Putting in new garden beds without a long-term landscape plan is like tiling, painting, and wallpapering your house before you figure out your future remodeling plans: There’s a good chance you’ll have to undo your efforts in the near future.

Avoid this by: Drawing a simple, bird’s eye view sketch of your yard, and figuring out the rough location of any future construction-additions, patios, outbuildings, pools-so you can plant around them.

A good local nursery or home improvement store can help you with your design. Or you can hire a landscape designer to create a starter plan for as little as $250 to $500. Find a professional at the Association of Professional Landscape Designers (http://www.apld.com) or the American Society of Landscape Architects (http://www.asla.org).

Mistake #4: Neglecting the root ball

Even the hardiest plants need a little help getting their roots established in their new locations. But just turning on the sprinkler every day to douse the foliage isn’t enough to ensure that they get the nutrients and hydration they need. You have to get the water to a plant’s nerve center–the root ball below ground–or it’s going to be stunted or short-lived.

Avoid this by:Placing the hose near the root ball and setting the water to a trickle for about 20 to 30 minutes. Do this twice a week-more during hot, dry spells-for the first four to 12 weeks. Choosing the right irrigation system can help with this task while saving water (http://www.houselogic.com/articles/water-saving-irrigation-strategies/).

Mistake #5: Ignoring your yard’s sun conditions

Too many nursery shoppers pick plants based only on looks-not the growing conditions they need, which are almost always indicated on a label wrapped around the trunk or a marker pressed into the soil. “They put a sun-loving perennial under a dense tree or something that wants partial shade out in full-day sunshine,” says Blondell. “It looks great for about a week, and then it begins to die.”

Avoid this by: Watching the spot where you’re going to put the plant and estimating the amount of sun it gets over the course of the day during the growing season. To translate that to the language on plant labels, use this key:

Full Sun 6 hours a day or more Part Sun/Part Shade 3 to 5 hours Shade Less than 3 hours

Mistake #6: Misusing irrigation systems

An automatic irrigation system is a luxury that allows you to keep your landscape hydrated throughout the growing season with almost no effort. Unfortunately, with the wrong settings, it can also bring disease, root rot, and an untimely death to the plants in your landscape.

“People tend to set their systems to come on for 15 or 20 minutes each morning,” says Blondell. “That provides a nice saturation of the surface, but not a deep penetrating soak to reach the roots of large shrubs and trees.” And a deeper soak is better for the lawn, too, because it promotes deep root systems.

Avoid this by: Watering for longer intervals-say, 40 to 60 minutes-only two to three times a week. Check with the company that maintains your irrigation system for local recommendations.

Mistake #7: Not budgeting for landscaping during construction projects

Whether you’re building a house or an addition, the bulldozers that excavate the job and the pickups that park on the lawn will damage the grass, trees, and shrubs. And the new building configuration will call for new landscape plantings.

Unfortunately, homeowners don’t often include money in their budgets for this work. So you wind up with a beautiful new family room, screened porch, or solarium, with a few azaleas thrown in around the foundation as an afterthought.

Avoid this by:Allocating 10 to 20 percent of your construction budget to the landscape-both hardscaping and plants-or at least making plans to spend that money as soon as possible after the construction job is complete.

A former carpenter and newspaper reporter, Oliver Marks has been writing about home improvements for 16 years. He’s entering his second summer at his house and has big plans for upgrading its scraggly foundation plantings.

Visit houselogic.com for more articles like this. Reprinted from HouseLogic with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®
Copyright 2010.  All rights reserved.

______________________________________________________________________

Deb Cullen, CRS, GRI, ABR, e-PRO, SRES, RSPS, SFR

deb@CapeDeb.com

www.CapeDeb.com

239.233.2322

To remove your name from our mailing list, please click here

GULF ACCESS lot located on the Fishingrod Canal! This fabulous home site offers an eastern exposure making morning sunrises a view to behold. Located in desirable Unit 59…a short boat ride to Matlacha Pass and the Gulf of Mexico. Imagine building your dream home….walking out your back door…..getting in your boat and heading out to any where in the world. Now that’s ACCESS!!! No waiting around for an answer on this one seller promises quick response to all offers.

Cape Coral is one of the magical jewels of SW Florida…hundreds of miles of waterfront canals….palm trees……blue skies and lots of SUNSHINE!  Located just a 35 minute ride from the Fort Myers International Airport, 15 mile drive to the sandy beaches of Sanibel, 35 miles to Naples….

For more info CLICK HERE

State and National News:

• Short Sale Incentives start April 5th   Read more….
• New Foreclosure Prevention Plan Announced   Read more…
• Experts says Real Estate is Recovering   Read more…
• Financial help for homeowners with defective drywall   Read more…
• Government unveils plan to shrink some home loans   Read more…
• Health Care Reform Bill passes   Read more…
• Investors are buying houses again   Read more…

Taxes and Insurance:

• Redrawn FEMA maps   Read more…

Cape Coral and SW Florida News:

• Cape Coral Sewer summit   Read more…
• Cape Coral Realtors strive  Read more…
• Celebrate New Bedford day   Read more…
• Development excites Cape Coral   Read more…

Real Estate Tips:

• Get your house ready for Spring   Read more…
• Landscape Design Courses   Read more…
• Bathroom Storage ideas   Read more…
• How to hang artwork   Read more…

Green News:

• Cape Coral plans to cut consumption   Read more…

_____________________________________________________________________

Check out my new website at

www.CapeDeb.com

______________________________________________________________________

The Pros and Cons of Condos…….

Condominiums and townhouses offer an affordable option to single-family homes in most areas. But consider these facts before you buy.

1. Storage. Some condos have storage lockers, but usually there are no attics or basements to store belongings.
2. Outdoor space. Yards and outdoor areas are usually smaller in condos, so if you like to garden or entertain outdoors, this may not be a good fit. However, if you hate yard work, this may be the perfect option for you.
3. Amenities. Many condo properties have swimming pools, fitness centers, and other facilities that would be very expensive in a single-family home.
4. Maintenance. Many condos have onsite maintenance personnel to care for common areas, do repairs in your unit, and let in workers when you’re not home.
5. Security. Many condos have keyed entries and or even door attendants. Plus, you’ll be closer to other people in case of an emergency.
6. Reserve funds and association fees. Although fees generally help pay for amenities and provide savings for future repairs, you will have to pay the fees agreed to by the condo board, whether or not you’re interested in the amenity or not.
7. Resale. The ease of selling your unit is more dependent on what else is for sale in your building, since units are usually fairly similar. Single-family homes usually are more individual.
8. Freedom. Although you have a vote, the rules of the condo association can affect your ability to use your property. For example, some condos prohibit home-based businesses. Others prohibit pets. Read the covenants, restrictions, and bylaws of the condo carefully before you make an offer.
9. Proximity. You’re much closer to your neighbors in a condo or townhome. If possible, try to meet your closest prospective neighbors before making a decision.

Reprinted from REALTOR® Magazine Online by permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

Copyright 2005. All rights reserved.                        www.REALTOR.org/realtormag

______________________________________________________________________

Deb Cullen, CRS, GRI, ABR, e-PRO, SRES, RSPS, SFR

deb@CapeDeb.com

www.CapeDeb.com

239.233.2322

To remove your name from our mailing list, please click here

Newly released by the Realtor® Association of Greater Fort Myers & the Beach, Inc:

February 2010

In February, our members sold 1,141 single-family homes, which is 21.9% above last year and 12% above the prior month. The median price of a single family home in the Greater Fort Myers area was $85,000, down 5.6% from $90,000 a year ago due to the continued influence of distressed properties on the market. Buyers from around the country (and the world) continue to be attracted to our area because of the affordability, the low interest rates and the looming deadline for the home buyer tax credit.

January 2010

In January, a total of 1,079 homes were sold by members of the MLS, which is 22.5 percent more homes than the previous January. 1,799 pending sales were recorded, which is 29.8 percent lower than January 2009 and 48.2 percent lower than the prior month. The decline in pending home sales resulted in the months of inventory growing from 2.0 months in December to 4.1 months in January – this figure is still below what is considered to be a balanced market – 5-6 months of available inventory.

December 2009:

Members of the Association closed 1,340 single family home sales in December, bringing the total for 2009 to 16,789; this is a 91.4 percent increase vs. 2008 when 8,768 homes were sold.  Of the December sales, 48.3 percent were bank-owned, 18.2% were short sales and the remaining traditional sales made up 33.4 %. The median price was $89,929, which is 8.0 percent lower than the prior December; however, the median price continues to be driven down by the number of bank-owned and short sales properties. During Quarter 4, the median price for traditional sales was $135,000 (a 3.5 % decrease from the prior quarter), for bank-owned sales it was $69,900 (up 2.7 %) and the median price for short sales was $94,950 (up 6.6 % from last quarter).

State and National News:

• Interest Rates to remain low   Read more….
• Foreclosure bargains getting harder to find   Read more…
• Should buyers try to beat the tax credit?   Read more…
• 10 Cities with climbing home prices   Read more…
• Bankers: the end of the foreclosure crisis is near   Read more…
• Vacant lots become hot property   Read more…
• Company out of drywall trial   Read more…
• 4 Reasons to Sell Now   Read more…

Taxes and Insurance:

• What’s need to claim tax credit?   Read more…

Cape Coral and SW Florida News:

• Cape Coral at top of the list for affordable housing   Read more…
• Lee County looking up, but a long way to go   Read more…

Real Estate Tips:

• The kitchen is still king   Read more…
• Top 7 credit score mistakes   Read more…
• Conquering Sentimental Clutter   Read more…
• 10 Home features buyers want   Read more…

Green News:

• Manatee  in Cape Coral   Watch video….

_____________________________________________________________________

Check out my new website at

www.CapeDeb.com

______________________________________________________________________

10 Ways to Make Your House More Salable…….

1.      Get rid of clutter. Throw out or file stacks of newspapers and magazines. Pack away most of your small decorative items. Store out-of-season clothing to make closets seem roomier. Clean out the garage.

2.      Wash your windows and screens to let more light into the interior.

3.      Keep everything extra clean. Wash fingerprints from light switch plates. Mop and wax floors. Clean the stove and refrigerator. A clean house makes a better first impression and convinces buyers that the home has been well cared for.

4.      Get rid of smells. Clean carpeting and drapes to eliminate cooking odors, smoke, and pet smells. Open the windows.

5.      Put higher wattage bulbs in light sockets to make rooms seem brighter, especially basements and other dark rooms. Replace any burnt-out bulbs.

6.      Make minor repairs that can create a bad impression. Small problems, such as sticky doors, torn screens, cracked caulking, or a dripping faucet, may seem trivial, but they’ll give buyers the impression that the house isn’t well maintained.

7.      Tidy your yard. Cut the grass, rake the leaves, trim the bushes, and edge the walks. Put a pot or two of bright flowers near the entryway.

8.      Patch holes in your driveway and reapply sealant, if applicable.

9.      Clean your gutters.

10.  Polish your front doorknob and door numbers.

Reprinted from REALTOR® Magazine Online by permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

Copyright 2005. All rights reserved.                        www.REALTOR.org/realtormag

______________________________________________________________________

Deb Cullen, CRS, GRI, ABR, e-PRO, SRES, RSPS, SFR

deb@CapeDeb.com

www.CapeDeb.com

239.233.2322

To remove your name from our mailing list, please click here