Archive for the ‘ Uncategorized ’ Category

Florida Gulf Coast and the Oil Spill

Tuesday, May 4th, 2010

Today my subject has nothing to do with Real Estate in SW Florida directly,  however with a concern all of us have. Since the Oil Rig exploded in front of Louisiana’s coasts a lot of people are very concerned what kind of influence this disaster will have for Florida, the beaches and the nature. Of course there are a lot of theories and different approaches. And a lot of questions. The media reporting about a catastrophic event, some others are reporting that it is terrible but the consequences would not be as bad as expected. I don’t know, but I do know that the Floridians are used in dealing with “emergencies” and know how to handle disaster situations. Thinking back to 2004 and Hurricane Charley, it was amazing how well every single resident helped cleaning up, not only their own homes, but also the neighbors, the neighborhoods and the communities. Almost nobody was sitting around waiting for somebody else to help, we all started helping each other. Today all help organisations, institutions, researches, fishermen and ”normal” people are ready and ready to go and clean animals, beaches and the water. Thousands of volunteers have signed up already, information fliers are being handed out, in how to deal with stranded animals, watch out for bird nests on the beach and stay save. We will have our beaches back in no time – if needed. We did it after Hurricane Charley and we will do it again.    

 Tonight on the news they reported, that Florida might be lucky and that we would only feel minimal damages. I have done some researches and I think I found very good and hopefully acurate information.  Please click on the following links for more information.

Florida might be spared:

 http://www2.tbo.com/content/2010/may/03/031623/spill-should-ooze-our-beaches-usf-prof-says/

Responds Unit and Information what is being done right now, pictures and reports, plans and maps 

http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com/go/site/2931/#

Mote Marine Laboratory and Volunteer sign up

 http://www.mote.org/index.php?src=forms&ref=Gulf%20of%20Mexico%20Oil%20Spill%20Response%20Sign%20Up

I hope those links will answer a few of your questions and put you a little on ease.

Monika

Housing Statistics SW Florida December 2009

Monday, January 25th, 2010

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% increase vs. 2008 when 8,768 homes were sold. Of the December sales, 48.3% 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% lower than the prior December; however, the median price continues to be influenced by the number of bank-owned and short sales, which continues to drive down the overall median price. 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).

Did you know that Cape Coral has over 400 Miles of Canals?

Friday, January 15th, 2010
Did you know?

Did you know that Cape Coral has over 400 Miles of Salt or Fresh Water Canals – that is more than Vince Italy. Cape Coral is often named “Venice of America”.

Today I would like to tell you a little more about the Canals in Cape Coral.

Salt Water Canals – Gulf Access Canals

Are divided into:

Direct Sailboat Access: Those canals lead out to the Gulf of Mexico without having to deal with bridges – however there still could be a lock or a lift which would have to be passed on the way out to the ocean.

Unrestricted Sailboat Access: Those canals lead out to the Gulf of Mexico without having to pass any bridges nor going through a lock or lift on the way out

Gulf Access: Those Canals lead out to the Gulf of Mexico but there could be low bridges and / or a Boat Lock or Boat lift to pass

Riverfront: The River leads also to the Gulf of Mexico

Gulf Front: Those Homes are directly on the Gulf of Mexico

Gulf Access, intersecting Canals will give you most of the time a very nice water view

The most expensive but also desirable homes are Unrestricted Sailboat Access, Riverfront or Gulf Front.

Freshwater Canals

Those canals do NOT lead out to the Gulf of Mexico, from most of those Canals however you will be able to drive your boat to some fresh water lakes. Sometimes those canals look like that there is a connection to the salt water, but most of the time this is not true. There are levies in between or dams to separate the fresh water from the salt water for environmental reason.

Again, please let me know if you have any questions – I will be there for you to help.

Monika


Always there for you
Monika Wilson
Century 21 Sunbelt Realty

http://www.spotfloridarealestate.com

http://www.floridaisforyou.com

I speak English and German

Last
 
Forward
Trash
Next

A lot to be thankful for?

Wednesday, November 25th, 2009

Thanksgiving – still a lot to be thankful for

 

Listening to the media and a lot of people talking and discussing, we could think that times have never been as bad as they are right now. But is that really true? Isn’t there a lot to be thankful for? Aren’t we just taking the good things all around us for granted or don’t recognize them anymore?

 We hear from accidents, car crashes, murders, crimes,wars – but do we hear about how many people are driving, walking and playing without anything happening to them, do we hear about those countries who are living in peace since ever? We hear more about people committing crimes than about people who are doing good deeds. We are not able to see the beauty in the world anymore because we hear from wars, environmental disasters, global warming and dirt all around us. We see the trash but do we see the pretty flower right next to it? One could think that the bad and wrong is in the majority – but is it really? I don’t think so. If we would really try very hard, I am sure we will realize how much good is happening all around us.

 I am not saying we should deny the negative because it is really there. But if we just see the negative only and not the positive anymore, none of us will have the motivation or power to do something to make it better. If there is trash all over the street, why should we pick it up. We rather add our own trash on top of it. – It does not matter anymore – who cares.

 But if we would learn (and yes I believe it is a learning process) to see the good things again, we will have enough motivation and strength to do everything in our power to make the good even better and “clean up” the bad.

 Take the job less rate, yes it is terrible. But now people looking for a job, either don’t’ go out looking for a job because they think it will not work out anyway, or they go out looking but have their mind set that they will not get the job anyway. This is like self fulfilling prophecy and it will happen exactly how we thought it would. Not because that is how it goes, it is because we are going into the whole job situation with a wrong motivation and attitude.

 Having a negative set of mind will make a situation worse, having a positive outlook makes a situation better. Only if we can see how it would be if we master the one or other problem we are willing and motivated to do everything we can to get there, to achieve our goal and make things better.

Lets all try between now and the end of this year to more concentrate what is good than what is bad and focus on our goals with a positive outlook. Everything is possible if we just do every single day one step towards this goal. Lets concentrate to make things better in and with our own family and friends, so they can go and do the same with their friends and friends of friends. Instead of wining and complaining about certain issues start thinking about how to solve the issue and start working on this solution. All the sudden we will realize – “wow that really works”

 Stop thinking “Who cares and it doesn’t matter” to “I care and I can make things better”

 

With this said – I wish all of you a very happy Thanksgiving.

 Monika

Short sale dilemma

Tuesday, November 10th, 2009

Today I had a very shocking situation. And I admit I got very upset over this. So upset that I was starting to inform the local media and the goverment. – But after taking a deep breath I decided against it.

Here is what happend. A few month back I had a client who put in an offer on a short sale property. It is a very nice home, fairly new and very exclusive and high quality. It is located on a Fresh Water Canal in SW Cape Coral. This offer was written for $ 310,000 cash. The short selling bank refused to take this offer. And after several times and endless hours on the phone plus dealing with a very frustrated buyer - we finally gave up on this house.

Today I received a call from another client of mine, who picked up the very same house as a new listing in the MLS. Now it is listed as a bank foreclosure for $ 178,900.

American Tax Payers just took a loss of $ 131,600!!!!!!   - That does not make any sense to you – well don’t feel alone it does not make sense to me either.

Hello Everyone

Friday, August 7th, 2009

monikawebWelcome to my blog. Here I will give updates about current developments in the Real Estate Market in South West Florida, Cape Coral, North Fort Myers, Fort Myers, Pine Island and Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel and Captiva Islands. I am in South West Florida since 1990 when I moved to this wonderful place from Germany. Since 1994 I am a full time licensed Realtor in the Cape Coral Area. I work for Century 21 Sunbelt in Cape Coral, Florida and I live in rural North Fort Myers.

Looking forward talking with you

Monika