Cape Coral Real Estate Archives - Page 44 of 63 - Fort Myers Real Estate and Homes For Sale

By Brett Ellis

Ellis Team – Keller Williams Realty Fort Myers & the Islands

Fort Myers Real Estate Agent

1520 Royal Palm Square Blvd #160

Fort Myers, FL 33919

239-489-4042

Circle the date. April 21, 2015 things are going to change in a significant way. These are the words directly from Google. We’re talking about Mobilegeddon, and whether you’re a real estate agent, business owner, or consumer, you will be affected on April 21. So we ask the question, is SW Florida ready for mobilegeddon?

Since 2013 I’ve been speaking to agents nationwide about the importance of having a mobile friendly website. Google has stated how important mobile is and they do not want to rank websites high if the consumer doesn’t have a good experience on their mobile device when they get there.

Last year we told readers that consumers were spending more time on the web from their mobile then they were on their desktop computer. ComScore data proves this out, and many webmasters who view their logs will tell you mobile is more popular now than desktop.

The problem is, many websites are not setup to handle mobile visitors properly. Portent recently crawled 25,000 sites and found that 40% of those sites were not mobile friendly.

If you’re on your mobile device you can do a search in Google and it will return results. It will say if the results are mobile friendly, but you better pay attention to those results. The companies you see today may not be the same companies you see on April 21. If they do not have the mobile friendly seal of approval from Google, they are going to drop out of the search results. This is significant.

Mobilegeddon will be a larger algorithm change than either the Panda or Penguin updates. If this is all Greek to you, it’s OK. Consumers don’t need to know all the details, but local businesses do.

Consumers who are hiring a real estate agent should ask questions about the agent’s web presence and whether it’s mobile friendly. The public tends to think all agents are the same and all advertising is the same.

I can assure you all agents do not have the same negotiating skills, nor do they have the same marketing skills. Pretty soon we’re going to find out which agents win in the online marketing business.

If you’re a buyer or seller, Mobilegeddon is going to matter to you. The buyers will be directed to sites that are mobile friendly. According to one site buyers are 53% more likely to purchase from mobile while they are shopping.

Imagine buyers driving around looking at neighborhoods. When they see a neighborhood or sign they like, do you think they write it down to pull up later or do they inquire on their Smartphone? The answer is they are not waiting.

The Ellis Team is receiving many mobile leads per week. The registration form even says Mobile lead. We’re receiving phone calls directly from the online information as well.

Buyers today want immediate information. They go on Smartphones first. If they call, they don’t want voicemail. They want to talk to a live person. They can get general info online in an instant, so your systems better be designed to answer that call when the buyer is ready. If the agent isn’t ready when the buyer is, they’ll find another agent. Statistics show buyers and sellers work with the first person they talk to 70% of the time.

If you’re a seller, you’ll want to list with an agent who’s ready for Mobilegeddon and has systems and people to answer the phone. If you miss either step, you miss the buyer. Buyers want the same thing. They don’t like wasting time, and they want an agent who is up to today’s way of doing business.

Our website is mobile friendly. www.Topagent,com You can search for homes, find out your home’s value, ready weekly articles, and get market statistics on your desktop, tablet, or Smartphone. Do some searches on your Smartphone this weekend, then try again on April 21st. What you see may be different.

You can call us at 239-489-4042

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SW Florida Real Estate Market Update

Check out Bella Casa Condominiums. We’ll be happy to show you this project in South Fort Myers

Other Resources

Ellis Team

Fort Myers Real Estate Agent

7910 Summerlin Lakes Dr

Fort Myers, FL 33907

239-489-4042

Traffic on the roads has slowed down in town, but traffic in the real estate community hasn’t. We’ve listed some homes and had contracts on them in short time. So we asked the question, did the dates for season change this year?

Last week two deals fells out and I was kind of mad because the seller had taken their home off the market for 2-3 weeks in March only to have a buyer decide they’re not buying in Lee County. The sellers had just given up most of March for a flaky buyer.

The good news is within a few days we found a cash buyer with another cash buyer in waiting and the property will close near the original closing date so the seller is happy. I’ve spoken with several real estate agents who tell similar stories and they feel the buyers are still engaged and looking.

I decided to delve into the pending sales statistics to see if what I’m seeing is true overall, and the answer looks to be it is. As I’ve stated before agents tend to judge the market by how their own deals are going rather than looking big picture.

I looked at new pending sales in February which is the latest data released and they were up 21% this year, as you can see from the chart. This has been a positive trend dating back to September 2014.

Did the Dates for Season Change This Year?

Almost every statistical category has improved over last year, from median days on market, percent of list price received, pending inventory, active listings, and month’s supply of inventory.

I’m not sure you can call a 6.1% decrease in active listings an improvement because we need more, but it does signal we’re in a great market for sellers.

Because February data doesn’t always tell the story in April I decided to search the MLS for pending sales right now. This week it came back at 2,531 pending listings, up from 2,386 back in February.

I’m thankful for all the pending sales we have right now, but I’m eve more thankful for the two that just sold again in April after having their deal fall out. That is a wonderful sign.

We have several new construction deals in place too as some buyers just could not find what they were looking for in the resale market. Sometimes it just doesn’t exist. Buyers are surprised to find that when they enter their search criteria sometimes there is only 3-4 matches. Sometimes it’s zero.

This is why it’s important to have your finances in order so when you spot that house that matches your criteria you’re in a position to pounce. Other buyers just like you are also waiting for that home to hit the market. You cannot assume you are the only buyer.

It’s kind of like dating on one of those Internet dating sites. When a new attractive person enters the site they’re going to get immediate interest. In real estate, the best homes go fast and the one’s that sit there are the unattractive and overpriced homes.

Just like dating, there’s a match for everyone, you just have to play in your league. If you’re an overweight balding middle age man that drinks beer and sits on the couch all day you’re probably not going to attract that active in-shape 25 year old model. She’s going to end up with someone in her league, not yours.

In real estate, all homes will find a buyer at the right price. Even if the home is unattractive someone will buy it. You just have to price it in the right league, or get off the couch and work on it. When price meets value, a home will sell.

Don’t wait when you see your home come on the market. Feel free to search the MLS at www.Topagent.com

If you’re selling, call an experienced match maker who can help you play in your league. We’ll get your home sold and you’ll be on your way to having fun. 239-489-4042

Call us to sell your home. 239-489-4042

SW Florida Real Estate Market Update

Check out Bella Casa Condominiums. We’ll be happy to show you this project in South Fort Myers

Other Resources

Best Public High Schools in Florida

Ellis Team

Fort Myers Real Estate Agent

7910 Summerlin Lakes Dr

Fort Myers, FL 33907

239-489-4042

Nationally I’ve been reading stories about writers concern there may be another housing bubble forming. Anytime prices rise people wonder when it will peak, and anytime prices fall people wonder when it will bottom. It’s just human nature. So the question is, has the SW Florida real estate market run out of stem?

Latest national statistics released this week show pending sales up 3.1% despite colder weather up North. With an improving economy and still historic low interest rates it would be hard to argue the market could cool off.

Another report suggests home prices are outpacing wages which could damper prices. This is true. Sometimes home prices rise faster on low supply, and when this rise outpaces wages eventually this can slow price growth until wages catch back up. It’s not totally a supply/demand market as other economic forces will limit prices beyond simply supply.

As you can see from the attached chart, locally our prices have more than doubled in the past 4 years. SW Florida has been on a good run, so naturally people may wonder if there is a bubble forming locally as well.

The good news is we don’t think so. Are 25% price gains year after year sustainable? That answer is no. February 2015 median sales prices were up 6.5% over 2014. That is sustainable. Traditionally average annual price gains have been 3-5%.

It’s quite natural our prices have doubled because really they fell too far and too fast in the bust. That was an over-reaction due to a banking crisis and banks dumping assets on the market.

Banks are lending again and they no longer have the properties to dump on the market. Prices fell below replacement cost which means they were artificially too low. We think prices are back to a healthy balance between replacement value, supply, demand, and economic conditions.

The future looks better for SW Florida than does the rest of the country. The US economy is growing again and that’s good news for everyone but it isn’t growing at the pace it should be. By all accounts Florida is, and SW Florida is leading the way.

We have below state and national unemployment averages. Our weather and lifestyle is an alluring attraction to employers and employees alike.

Home building is back which will add jobs to our area. All signs point to a good economic climate in Florida for the foreseeable future. The prognosis may be for measured, sustainable gains which are always preferable.

Season was busy. Have you noticed traffic has lightened up substantially this past week? We’ll be watching March sales numbers when they’re released later in April. We think they’ll be pretty decent.

All eyes locally turn to the next few months. We’ll be watching pending sales in April and May and this will give us a pretty god sign of what 2015 will bring. So far it’s been a good season, but we have noticed a few buyers showing indifference this year compared to years past. This is always the case, but there is a general feeling amongst some buyers that the big gains are over and our market is back to fully priced.

Nobody is afraid prices could go backwards, but they’re not afraid prices will be 50% higher in 2 years either. It’s causing pause and normalcy, even in a low inventory market.

If you’re a seller and you’ve been waiting, now may be a good time to sell. Our prices are up and we don’t have inventory, Yet! That could change one day when our market flattens out, whenever that day is. We don’t have that crystal ball. We just feel it’s more likely to flatten than go up or down substantially. Better yet, let’s just keep the truck rolling at normal sustainable gains and call it a day!

Call us to sell your home. 239-489-4042 Feel free to search the MLS at www.Topagent.com

While selling real estate is a complicated process with lots of details, selling blue skies and sunshine is easy, especially to our Northern friends who have been buried by another brutal winter.

One question that we get asked a lot by people relocating to SW Florida is what are the schools like? People are deeply concerned about the quality of education their children will receive, and about their resale value. Up North, the school district may be the largest determinant of their neighborhood’s value.

Top Rated SW Florida High Schools

People are happy to learn that SW Florida does very well in the state of Florida. In fact, a new study came out from Niche that ranks the top public high schools in Florida. Niche also ranks colleges, private schools, and elementary and middle schools.

Many people know that Fort Myers High School has consistently ranked in Newsweek’s Top 100 High Schools in America and that in 2008 Fort Myers High School awarded the most I.B (International Baccalaureate) diplomas in North America and was #8 in 2011.

What many may not realize is Fort Myers High School isn’t the only top high school in SW Florida. In fact, there are 5 top rated SW Florida high schools on the Niche Top 100 in Florida list.

17. Fort Myers High School

29. Naples High School

57. Gulf Coast High School

62. North Fort Myers High School

97. Barron Collier High School

We’ll concentrate on the two Lee County Schools for just a moment. North Fort Myers High School ranked A- in academics and A in student culture and diversity. They ranked B+ in teachers, extracurriculars and activities, and sports and fitness.

Fort Myers ranked A in academics, student culture and diversity, extracurriculars and activities, and sports and fitness. They ranked A- in teachers grade.

Naples ranked A in academics, student culture and diversity, and sports and fitness while ranking B in teachers and health and safety.

Cypress Lake Middle School has long been ranked as one of the top middle schools in the state however this year they didn’t rank in the top 100 according to Niche. Three Naples middle schools ranked in the top 100, #60 Pine Ridge Middle School, #71 North Naples Middle School, and #96 Gulfview Middle School.

Pelican Marsh Elementary scored highest in Lee and Collier County at #73 in state and Osceola came in at #78 Seagate Elementary came in at #88

Good schools are a staple of a healthy community and a talented and educated work force. SW Florida has excellent schools all the way up to graduate and post graduate at Florida Gulf Coast University as well as degrees from Florida Southwestern State College.

We have a complete list of high schools on our website with links to each school.

It is impossible for SW Florida to grow into a culturally vibrant community without solid education, and we can all be proud of the education offered here in our area.

A link to the complete Niche Florida rankings can be found:

Best Public Elementary Schools in Florida

Best Public Middle Schools in Florida

You can also search for your dream home at Topagent.com We have lots of homes close to schools and universities so have fun searching.

Introducing Bella Casa Luxury Condominiums in Fort Myers

SW Florida Real Estate Market Update

Check out Bella Casa Condominiums. We’ll be happy to show you this project in South Fort Myers

Other Resources

Ellis Team

Fort Myers Real Estate Agent

7910 Summerlin Lakes Dr

Fort Myers, FL 33907

239-489-4042

Now May be Best Time to Sell Your SW Florida Home

Most people in SW Florida realize the real estate market has been recovering for some time now. So many either lost their homes or felt like they were in prison trapped in their own homes because they had negative equity. For the past two years more and more homeowners have been able to sell due to rising equity. Today we’d like to discuss why now may be best time to sell your SW Florida home.

We still find a large number of home sellers who are surprised that they can finally make a move. Some like that they are in positive equity positions again and sell while some believe the market is increasing so why sell now? Now May be the Best Time to Sell Your SW Florida Home

Home prices in Lee County are up 44.16% in 2 years. That’s a remarkable jump but that rate won’t continue. Here are some facts that might help you decide if now is the right time to sell your home:

The price of your home has gone up and so has the price of your replacement home. If you’re considering selling in Lee County and buying another one locally, waiting can cost you money
Interest rates are going up. We’ve already noticed a slow creep and they’re expected to go higher in the next 2 years. Not only will rising rates limit the buyer pool of your home, it will increase borrowing costs for your next home should you choose to finance.
Insurance rates are climbing on older homes. Insurance companies may raise rates on homes with older roofs, plumbing, and electrical wiring. It may cost more to stay in your older home than a newer home.
Maintaining an older home can be costly. You may have to spend money on a new roof, appliances, paint, pool, and more in the next 5-10 years. Some sellers elect to put that money into a newer home instead of throwing money at an older home that costs more to maintain and insure.
Your window for opportunity may be shrinking. As interest rates rise your options may dwindle. It may cost you more to move in 3 years so you decide to stick with what you’ve got. You’re stuck with an aging home that costs more to insure and maintain simply because you missed the interest rate window.

If you’re unsure about what your home is worth or if now is the right time, we have answers for you. Simply call the Ellis Team at RE/MAX at 239-489-4042 and we’ll discuss your options. Everyone’s situation is different and we can guide you through the maze. We can give you detailed pricing estimates and discuss all the factors that affect you.

We also have an online computer model that gives you an estimate of your home’s value. It rates your neighborhood, provides a list of comparable sales with the date your neighbors sold and the sold price per square foot, and an estimate of your home’s value.

Simply go to Topagent.com and click on the Find Out What Your Home is Worth link. It’s simple and Free.

As always, if you’re serious about making a move there’s no substitute for speaking with a professional. We’re happy to talk. We’re here for you either in person or online. We hope you appreciate our efforts to bring you quality information and we hope that when you decide it is time to sell, you’ll consider calling the Ellis Team at RE/MAX. If you think now may be best time to sell your SW Florida home, we’ll handle you with care. 239-489-4042 or TopAgent.com

Good luck and Happy House Selling!

Introducing Bella Casa Luxury Condominiums in Fort Myers

SW Florida Real Estate Market Update

Check out Bella Casa Condominiums. We’ll be happy to show you this project in South Fort Myers

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