Arthur Frommer says beaches, shopping and refuge help make island his favorite spot.

The dean of U.S. travel writers ranks Sanibel Island first among his 10 favorite places to visit — in the world.

That’s above the island of Bali and Paris, which are Nos. 2 and 3, respectively, on Arthur Frommer’s list.

To be sure, it’s high praise from Frommer, who in 1957 published “Europe on $5 a Day,” which is credited with changing the way a generation of Americans visited Europe. The book launched one of nation’s the biggest lines of travel guides, under Frommer’s name.

Tourism promoters in Lee County, not surprisingly, are thrilled about the compliment, and the media and visitor buzz it is creating.

“It’s perfect timing,” said Ric Base, president of the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce. In a few weeks local tourism’s winter high season kicks in. That’s when demand — and lodging rates — are the highest.

Reservations for island lodgings and vacation rentals already are looking very strong, Base said. Frommer’s remarks can help sustain the momentum, according to Base.

About a year-and-a-half ago, chamber staff gave Frommer a “behind-the-scenes tour, all over the islands,” Base said, adding that Frommer is a longtime repeat visitor to Sanibel.

Writing for his Dec. 28 frommers.com blog, Frommer calls Sanibel an “idyllic haven of white-sand beaches, condos whose sea-front apartments are available for weekly rentals, excellent restaurants, good shopping.” He then singles out for special praise, J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge, “visited by thousands of birds of every species, who bask in the sun after diving for fish and are one of the great natural sights of wildlife in America.”

Frommer’s remarks also appeared in a column he writes, and which a number of newspapers across the country use.

Favorable remarks “from a person of Arthur Frommer’s caliber means they will be repeated in a number of media outlets. The reach will just grow and grow,” said Lee Rose, a spokesman for Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau.

This isn’t the only recent accolade from important travel sources. TripAdvisor recently named greater Fort Myers as No. 3 among of the “15 destinations on the rise,” based on a significant increase in user reviews for the area on the travel Web site over the past year. Sanibel and sister island Captiva were also recognized by readers of TripAdvisor when they were named the “Top 25 Beaches in the United States & the World” in TripAdvisor’s Travelers Choice 2011.

Some visitors to Lighthouse Beach late Tuesday afternoon didn’t hesitate to add their endorsement of Sanibel.

“It’s beautiful,” Jeremy Rosen and Susan Crouch of Pittsburgh said in unison.

“We just love the area,” Crouch said. “We are planning on moving down.” She said they learned about the island through word-of-mouth recommendations.

St. Louis-area residents Camie and Roy Northcutt said they honeymooned on the island 25 years ago, and have been coming back ever since.

Camie Northcutt said she loves the shells, the cleanliness of the beach and the minimal commercialism.

Ray Northcutt said he enjoys the quiet: “It’s not so much a crazy college beach,” he said. “It’s a laid-back beach.” Written by

Laura Ruane

According to the almighty Freddie Mac, mortgage rates have hit an all time nationwide low. As of this week, the nationwide average for 30 year fixed mortgage rates hit 3.89 percent. On that same note (no pun intended), 15 year fixed fell to 3.16 percent (also a record low). What does this mean for the consumer? Are the banks lending? Who’s my competition when applying?

These are all legitimate concerns for the average consumer. The all-time lows mean increased mortgage applications to banks. As of last week, application rates rose significantly after the holidays. The consumer should take this movement in a positive direction, because if you have quality cash flow and a respectable credit score then you have a fighting chance. Refinancing is a smart decision at this point in time and I highly advise it to those applicable. The good news we see here is that banks are lending again. The blood seems to be leaving the water and its safe for lending and trust to resume. The competition will be tight when going to a lender but remember this is a good thing. These record lows are a glimmer of light for buyers and sellers and once again proves our economy  to be gaining momentum.

All the best,

Justin Helmus

Lead Buyer’s Specialist- Team Michael Burke

239.850.6175

jshelmus@gmail.com

Americans, and even more so the population in SWFL, are sick and tired of hearing about doom and gloom when it comes to real estate. Over the past couple years; it has been a very sobering experience for all involved with real estate. Well, I am here to tell you things are shifting and shifting for the better that is! According to Housingwire.com (the leading RE news source), foreclosures over 2011 have done an interesting thing. The data on the 2011 foreclosure data came out yesterday that shows the number of foreclosed properties dropped to 2007 level lows. The raw data in 2011 suggests a dramatic decrease of 35% compared to 2010.

What does this mean for the future? One thing is for sure; we are still seeing great opportunities for purchasing and investing. The single-family home inventory has decreased creating a supply and demand effect. The fact of the matter is that we are seeing the economy move in a positive direction, jobs are being created, people are receiving record home loan rates, discretionary income exists again, and more importantly consumer confidence is back up. Now is the time for real estate!

Full article on foreclosure Click Here:

Justin Helmus

Buyer’s Specialist

Team Michael Burke

By: Dick Hogan – News-Press.com / Jan 3, 2012

Combine the sharp drop in homes coming back on the market with higher housing prices at the end of 2011 and builders in Lee County get some good news for a change.

The number of foreclosed homes coming back on the market for resale by lenders in Lee County was down sharply as 2011 closed while housing prices rose — good news for builders hoping to be competitive in price with existing homes.

A glut of foreclosed homes following the implosion of the real estate market in 2006 pushed prices down sharply for existing homes. Builders found themselves unable to compete with the low prices and the number of houses being built went from more than a thousand in 2005 to about 100 at present.

In December, 23 permits were issued in Cape Coral, six in the unincorporated county, three in Sanibel and 10 in Bonita Springs. Numbers weren’t available Tuesday from Fort Myers and Fort Myers Beach.

Meanwhile, the median price of an existing home in the county with the assistance of a Realtor was up as the year ended: $106,300 in November, up 20 percent from $88,500 a year earlier.

From modest homes to mansions, prices inched up enough to make the price of new construction roughly equal to that of an existing home, said Jeff Tumbarello, director of the Southwest Florida Real Estate Investment Association, which issued a report Tuesday on the 2011 foreclosure and real estate market.

“Go try to buy a million-dollar house and see what it costs to buy a lot and put the same house on it,” he said. “It’s almost the same.”

The number of foreclosure lawsuits filed actually bumped up in 2011: there were 586 filed in December compared to 423 a year earlier.

But fewer foreclosures were resulting in actual judgments followed by public auction sales: there were only 293 in December compared to 582 a year earlier.

That was a result of a slowdown in the judicial system’s handling of foreclosures as the so-called “Rocket Docket” — a speeded-up procedure for pushing those cases through the courts — came to an end mid-year, Tumbarello said.

William Noah of Re/Max Hometown Properties, which is representing developer Pasquale Franchi’s Casa di Fiori condominium project in Cape Coral, said both investors and prospective homeowners are interested in the project, which has 52 units already built and ready for sale plus land for another 152 yet to be built.

By next week he hopes to have permission from the state Department of Condominiums to start marketing the condos, which will go for $115,000 to $125,000 — about half the price in 2005 when the project was started as Island Pines of Cape Coral.

One big advantage Franchi has is that he’s offering seller financing to buyers with 10 percent down: banks typically won’t look at a condo mortgage for less than 20 percent down, Noah said.

Dennis Cantwell, president of Sand Springs Development in Estero and also president of the Lee Building Industry Association, said the difficulty in getting bank financing is a major problem in the home-building industry these days but that he’s seeing signs of a recovery. He’s been relying on remodeling for work but now has a house under construction for the first time in two years.

Caitlin Hustrulid, director of members services and events for the association, said the group’s Parade of Homes will have at least 41 homes as it showcases the area’s new home construction the first three weekends in February.

That’s up from 32 last year and a far cry from the event’s low point of 12 houses in 2010, she said. “A lot of people who have participated in the past are jumping in and doing it again, a lot of smaller custom home builders.”

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Shadow Wood at The Brooks

Copperleaf at The Brooks

Spring Run at the Brooks

Lighthouse Bay at the Brooks,

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Spring Run At The Brooks
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Click on a community below to view available property of click here for our advanced search feature.

Barefoot Beach
Bella Terra
Belle Lago
Bonita Bay
Bonita Shores
Bonita Villages
Breckenridge
Brendan Cove
Cascades At Estero
Cedar Creek
Coconut Point
Coconut Shores
Colonial Oaks
Copper Oaks
Copperleaf
Estero Country Club
Estero Palms
Fountain Lakes

Grandezza
Hawthorne
Highland Woods
Hunters Ridge
Lighthouse Bay
Marsh Landing
Miromar Lakes
Mediterra
Pelican Landing
Pelican Sound
Palmira
Rapallo
Reserve At Estero
Quail West
San Remo

Shadow Wood At The Brooks
Rookery Pointe
Spring Run At The Brooks
Stoneybrook
Spanish Wells
The Vines
Vasari
The Colony
Villages At Country Creek
Villagio
Village Walk
Wildcat Run
West Bay Club
Worthington Country Club

Michael Burke – Coconut Point Real Estate

As seen in The News-Press December 17, 2011

There is no arguing that now is great time to buy a home in Southwest Florida. You’ve done everything to prepare; you have a down payment, you’ve selected the right agent and you’re ready to get pre-approval on a home loan. The next step is to select a lender.

While your agent can help you select a lender, you want to be comfortable with that selection. You should know yourself what to look for in a lender and you should know what to recognize as a red flag. The point is that you want to be sure you’re working with the right lender. Here are some things to consider…

What type of company is it?

There are mortgage brokers, mortgage bankers and banks/credit unions. Mortgage brokers have been hamstrung by many of the recent regulatory changes and typically lack the actual ability to approve and/or lock a loan. Banks are usually limited in program choices and hamstrung by tighter underwriting. Mortgage bankers have the financial stability and direct lending capability of the bank coupled with the wide product menu and expertise of the mortgage broker.

How does the company operate?

Many people are dismayed when they find out where their loan is processed or underwritten….or where the appraiser is from. It is important to work with a company (and their affiliates) who understand the nuances of your local market. Asking the questions up front can save you headaches down the road.

What about the individual loan officer?

Your relationship with your LO (and their processor) becomes the most important ingredient to a successful transaction. How well do they educate you about the process, the requirements…the factors that determine your approval or the interest rate you will get? Many LOs are “order takers”. Others are weak in follow up or communication. This is difficult to determine on your own which is why the referral from another person who used them or your real estate agent has far more value than most people know (until it’s too late).

Too many people stay focused on quoted rates and fees and neglect to see the whole picture of what is needed from a lender. Look for great communication, superior information and education, understanding of the local market and someone who looks at your application as something more than a number. Be prepared to pay a little more to get a better experience (even though it might not cost you any more)….in the long run, lowering stress can be more important.

So, you’ve found the right lender, now what?

If you’ve been preparing yourself to purchase a home, you probably know that underwriting guidelines for lenders become more stringent. Let’s examine what a good mortgage application looks like. There are a few items you should be aware to help get your loans approved (with the best possible terms), and, at the same time, lessen some of the stress that goes along with the mortgage process.

Income documents

Most lenders want to see a full month of paystubs and two years’ complete Federal Tax Returns. Assembling them ahead of time and holding on to every paystub you get is a good idea even before you find a home and/or submit your mortgage application because it will save you time later. Moreover, looking at those documents and being prepared to explain any deductions that show up is crucial. Child support, alimony, garnishments, and Unreimbursed Employee Expenses are often crippling factors that, if explained and dealt with upfront, can make your loan approval smoother.

Asset documents

Most lenders will scour your bank accounts for the two months prior to going to contract. They are looking for large deposits because large deposits can signal a new loan that wouldn’t show up on your credit report yet. What’s a “large deposit”? Typically, any deposit that would represent more than your income can support. If you make $5000 a month, after taxes you likely net $3800 (or $1900 a bi-weekly pay period). Therefore, deposits in excess of that will need to be explained and documented. Sold a motorcycle? Have a paid receipt and motor vehicle documents in place. Received a gift? You will need a Gift Affidavit, proof of the donor’s ability and transfer of the funds. Any and all questions should be discussed with your loan officer.

Credit Score Optimization

Do your best to curtail your use of credit as it relates to your available credit lines. Target a cap of 30% of usage of available lines to get the best scores. Do NOT cancel credit cards. That will lower your amount of available credit, thereby raising your percentage of usage. That will damage your score. Do NOT shop for a car, explore life insurance, apply for a new credit card or increase the limits on your current cards because the running of your credit by people in other industries will also lower your credit score. Most importantly, don’t do anything that will require having your credit run without first discussing it with a mortgage professional who knows the impact it could have.

Appraisal Concerns

It’s unlikely you will make an offer to purchase without checking out comparable home sales. It’s also likely you received that type of data from the real estate agent you are working with. Make sure your agent prepares the same information for the appraiser. Data about similar sales, similar homes currently on the market and maybe even cost estimates for any repairs or improvements anticipated can preempt future problems with appraised values and conditions.

It is recommended that you hold onto copies of everything financial, think before allowing your credit to be run and work with an agent and loan officer who can use their experience to put your loan application in its best possible light…as soon as you start thinking about buying a home.

Your real estate agent is also a good source of information in helping you select a lender. Your agent should be aware of all of this information and more. However, selecting the right people in every area will help make your buying transaction painless and smooth. 12-17-11

By D. Michael Burke, P.A. Keller Williams Elite Realty

Michael@CoconutPointRealEstate.com www.CoconutPointRealEstate.com

Andrea Stetson | Special to news-press.com

Residents sit on a balcony overlooking the soft, white sand and shimmering Gulf water while they enjoy a meal, drinks or simply conversation.

Mediterra is more than seven miles from the beach, yet every day residents enjoy the Gulf view. Now, they are enjoying it even more with new upgrades and renovations that were just completed at Mediterra Beach Club.

The club on the northern end of Bonita Beach has always been the only one in Bonita Springs with a swimming pool and raised balcony. But now it’s even better. After being closed for six weeks, the beach club recently reopened with a whole new look.

“The members decided they wanted to lighten it up,” said Tom Wallace, general manager. “It was mostly dark wood.”

The walls were painted light sea-foam green. The dark wood bar was replaced with white painted wood. Lighter, sandy-colored tiles now cover the floor.

“Now it’s like bringing the view inside so the inside matches the outside,” Wallace said.

New bright, yellow umbrellas on the balcony add to the lighter, brighter scene.

A swimming pool on a raised balcony and a restaurant overlook the beach. Residents of Mediterra can enjoy eating on the terrace as they watch the sunset, dolphins and the blue-green water. Below, indoor dining also is an option at the Mediterra Beach Club

The beach club is one of the main things that attracted Mary Lynn Myers to Mediterra. She comes to the club several times a week to socialize with friends and enjoy the view.

“We are so lucky we live in paradise,” Myers said. “This is the quintessential part of paradise.”

Myers said the beach club was always wonderful, but the renovations make it even better.

“I like the fact that it looks a lot like the beach,” she said. “It’s lighter and more open.”

Carl Dill, a Mediterra resident, was instrumental in getting the club its new look.

“When it was built by the developer it was a Mediterranean theme,” Dill explained. “The decor was very similar to what we had in the clubhouse. It was the dark wood, and beach clubs, in our minds, should be light and airy. It should be like a beach club and not a Mediterranean club perched on the sand.”

So Dill, who is president of the board of governors, pushed for changes and said the outcome has been wonderful.

“All the members really love the light feel,” he said. “The blue and the white are so much more lively and have a beach club feel.”