Monthly Archives: June 2016

What Does $ 1 Million Buy in SW Florida Real Estate Market?

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Now it really gets fun. We’ve been doing a series of articles on what you can buy at various price points, and today we answer the question, what does $ 1 Million buy in SW Florida real estate market?

We concentrated our search on single family homes but there are some nice condos available in SW Florida in all these prices ranges.  None of the listings presented here today are our listings.  In fact, in all four articles so far, none have been.  We’ve been trying to educate readers on what you can buy, so we’ve hand selected some interesting properties.

What Does $ 1 Million Buy in SW Florida Real Estate Market?

1 Million Buy in SW Florida Real Estate Market
Fort Myers Million Dollar Home

In Fort Myers we found a home listed for just under $1 Million.  It is a large 2 story home with over 4,400 square feet of living area.  It is located between McGregor and the River and this pool just really caught our eye.  There are so many great homes located in this area it was hard to choose.  This is a fairly newer home built in 2007 so it was unique.

1 Million Buy in SW Florida Real Estate Market St James City
St James City Million Dollar Home

We found a home in St James City listed for just under $1 Million as well.  It has 3 bedrooms, 2 ½ baths and has gulf access with a boat dock right out your back door.  You can be fishing some of the world’s best fishing spots in minutes.  This home is bay front and has 2 boat lifts.

1 Million Buy in SW Florida Real Estate Market Sanibel Island
Sanibel Island Million Dollar Home

Next we head over to Sanibel Island, home to some of the world’s best shelling.  This home is a 4 bedroom, 2 bath home and has excellent rental income.  You can enjoy this home for yourself on gorgeous Sanibel Island or you can rent it out and receive close to $70,000 income until you’re ready to call it home.  Or you could do both, renting it out and vacationing here.  It is nicely decorated and is furnished.

1 Million Buy in SW Florida Real Estate Market Cape Coral
Cape Coral Million Dollar View

Lastly we found a home in Cape Coral priced just over $1 Million by a few thousand dollars.  Imagine heading out on your boat in this gulf access waterfront home and when you come back after a great day of fishing or boating you can jump right into your gorgeous pool.  That’s living the good life and what SW Florida is all about.  This home features 4 bedrooms plus a den and 3 full baths.  It is over 3,000 square feet of living area.  If you’d like to rent this home you can for $8,000- $10,000 per month.

They say SW Florida sells itself, and it does.  Once people vacation or visit SW Florida they’re hooked, but where do you go to find more information and snoop around all the homes for sale?

Simply go to www.LeeCountyOnline.com and you can search like a Realtor.  The database includes all homes for sale in the MLS and is updated every 5 minutes, so you’ll know about price changes or new listings hitting the market before other buyers.  The key to scoring a great deal is to work with an agent who is knowledgeable about the market and having access to the data.

We provide both for you.  If you have a property to sell, we can help with that too.  Many buyers must sell a property before they can purchase another.  If your property is located in another city, we can find you the best agent in that city.

You can always call us at 239-489-4042 if you’d like to speak with an experienced agent, or search away on our website until you find something that interests you.  Our team is here to help you wherever you are in the process, and on your terms.  Give us a call, you’ll be glad you did.

 

The Ellis Team at Keller Williams Fort Myers & The Islands is hiring agents– Read more and see if you have what it takes.

What Does $ 750,000 Buy in Lee County Real Estate Market?

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If you’ve been reading our articles lately you’ll notice we’re doing a series on what you can buy in the SW Florida real estate market at various price points.  In recent weeks we’ve done the $250,000 and $500,000 range and showed you some excellent choices in those ranges.  Today we answer the question, what does $ 750,000 buy in Lee County real estate market?

If money is no object, it gets a lot more fun to shop as we go higher in price.  These are by no means the entirety of the market, but rather a sampling of a few things you could buy around town in this price range.

What Does $ 750,000 Buy in Lee County Real Estate Market?

750,000 Buy in the Lee County Real Estate Market
Fort Myers Beach Waterfront Pool Home

At Fort Myers Beach we found a nice waterfront home on a wide canal built in 1981. It is 3 bedrooms, 2 baths.  It has a gorgeous pavered pool area and boat lift for your boat at the canal.  It’s located mid island at Fort Myers Beach and is listed for $725,000.

http://blog.topagent.com/2016/05/20/250000-buy-lee-county-real-estate-market/ Fort Myers
Fort Myers Gulf Access Waterfront Home

In Fort Myers we found another gulf access waterfront home.  This home has 4 bedrooms, 3 1/2 baths with 2,549 sq ft living area.  I like the stainless steel appliances, granite counter tops, wood like floors, and of course its location.  Keep in mind, none of these listings are ours and we’re reporting based upon pictures in the MLS.

http://blog.topagent.com/2016/05/20/250000-buy-lee-county-real-estate-market/ Cape Coral
Cape Coral Waterfront Pool Home

In Cape Coral we found a home just under $750,000 with almost 2,600 sq ft of living area.  This too is a gulf access waterfront pool home with no bridges.  It’s a 2 minute boat ride to the river.  It has 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, high tray ceilings and stainless steel appliances with granite counter tops in the kitchen. It has a boat lift and a wet bar with refrigerator area off the pool for entertaining when you get off the boat.

If money is no object, it gets a lot more fun to shop as we go higher in price. These are by no means the entirety of the market, but rather a sampling of a few things you could buy around town in this price range. Palmira Golf & Country Club
Palmira Golf & Country Club Bonita Springs

Lastly, we have a gorgeous home on the golf course for you in Bonita Springs priced below $750,000.  It is located in Palmira Golf and Country Club and features 3 bedrooms, 3 ½  baths with granite counter tops and custom cabinets on a quiet cul-de-sac street.  The community offers a resort style pool and a community center, fitness center and bar and grill.

The bottom line is SW Florida has so much to offer for all kinds of different lifestyles.  Whether you’re a casual boater, avid fisherman, tennis player, golfer, workout buff, or just like to chill out on your lanai and watch nature, SW Florida has it all.

We have single family homes, condos, villas, town homes, and coach homes for easy living.  This is one reason our agents spend time asking buyers questions.  We don’t really sell anything, because SW Florida sells itself.  Rather, we listen to what buyers like to do, what makes them happy, and how they will use their home.  Once we determine that, we can identify suitable properties and make some recommendations based upon the buyer’s lifestyle.  Each home and each community offers something different.

It can be a daunting task when you’re not from here.  Buyers don’t want to make a mistake.  This is why hiring a seasoned agent accustomed to working with buyers can make all the difference.  I can’t tell you how many times buyers have thanked us for listening to them and suggesting certain properties based upon their needs.

We help with new construction as well.  It doesn’t cost any more to use a Realtor, and many times it will save you money because we know the incentives being offered.  Builders also like Realtors because we can be a source for repeat business.  A good Realtor can point out the pros and cons based upon your needs, not the seller’s or the builder’s.

We have new construction available on our website at TopAgent.com and of course we have the entire MLS available at www.LeeCountyOnline.com  Of course, there’s no substitute for talking with experienced agents who know the area.  If our team can help, please call us at 239-489-4042

Good luck and Happy House Hunting!

Ellis Team is hiring

The Ellis Team is looking for talent.  If you’re a licensed agent in Florida and willing to learn and work, we may have the opportunity for you.  Please contact us.  Our team is growing and we need good people to help our clients.

What Does $500,000 Buy in Lee County Real Estate Market?

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A few weeks ago we wrote an article about what $250,000 buys in the SW Florida real estate market. Today we answer the question,

What does $500,000 Buy in Lee County Real Estate Market?

What Does 500,000 Buy in Lee County Real Estate Market
Inventory Active Listings

We use the MLS to do our search but you can do the same and search like a Realtor at www.LeeCountyOnline.com and find the same homes.

What does 500,000 buy in Lee County real estate market Carillon Woods
Carillon Woods Pool Home by fibreglass pool installers Geelong

In Fort Myers we found a home in Carillon Woods listed for $498,000 that is 3 bedrooms, 3 1/2 baths and has a nice pool. The home is nearly 3,200 sq ft of living area and is in a gated community with sidewalks, street lights, tennis courts and playground. Carillon Woods is a very popular neighborhood in this price range.

What Does 500,000 Buy in Lee County Real Estate Market Cape Coral waterfront home
Cape Coral Waterfront Pool Home

In SW Cape Coral we found a gulf access waterfront pool home with 3 bedrooms, 2 ½ baths and almost 2,500 sq ft living area on a 120 ft canal for $500,000. It has a 3 car garage and is only a few years old. We especially like the infinity pool on this home.

what does 500,000 buy in lee county real estate Fort Myers Beach
Fort Myers Beach waterfront home

At Fort Myers Beach we found a home that is waterfront, completely furnished, and located on a large lot at just under $500,000. It is 3 bedrooms, 2 baths and is located mid-island close to shopping, supermarkets, entertainment, and marina.

Grandezza pool home Estero Florida
Grandezza Pool Home Estero

In Estero we located a 3 bedroom 2 bath home in Grandezza with 2,190 sq ft living area and is a former model for just under $500,000. It has a gorgeous solar heated pool and heated spa and overlooks a preserve.

Again, none of the listings I this article are ours. We just wanted to give you an overview of some of the kinds of things you can find in this price range. Of course, you can find waterfront condos, homes on golf courses, and so much more. Lee County is fairly large and has lots to offer with varying neighborhoods, locations, and amenities.

Because our area offers so many different types of boating, golf communities, and neighborhoods with lakes, preserves, and varying lifestyles it pays to sit down with an agent that’s familiar with the entire county and can listen to your wants and desires.

At the Ellis Team we feel like we don’t have to sell anything. Rather, we listen to your needs and match you with properties that meet what you’re looking for. Some agents specialize in one neighborhood or one amenity and they struggle when people ask about other areas. Many times that buyer will come back to the original community they called on, but they want an agent who can explain the differences first so they can see if that’s really what they’re looking for. If you can’t be flexible and in curiosity when working with a buyer, chances are you’ll just lose them to another agent who can.

That’s one reason why we provide all the listings on our website along with so much community data and market reports. We want buyers to feel comfortable with their purchase. It’s a big decision and some buyers are paralyzed because there is so much data and they’re afraid to make a mistake. This is where a good team can assist you. We marry the data with personal, professional advice to help you attain your dreams, and that’s all a buyer is trying to do.

We take the hassle out of the buying process. If you’re a seller, you should talk to us too as we work with a lot of buyers, and chances are we may have a buyer looking for a property just like yours. If not, our marketing will surely attract attention for your home.

You can always call us at 239-489-4042 or search away at www.LeeCountyOnline.com

Good luck and Happy House Hunting!

Viridian pool home South Fort Myers

Pool home in Viridian in South Fort Myers- 4 Bedrooms 4 Baths

The Ellis Team has several new listings coming to the market.  We have a 4 bedroom lakefront home coming for $450,000 in Reflection Lakes.  We have a gorgeous home in San Carlos Park on a 3 lot site coming this upcoming week for $215,000.  We also have 2 units at Bella Casa coming this week as well, and don’t forget the 2 new listings we just listed at River Hall for $275,000 and $215,000

We’ll have a few more listings coming as well as soon as we can get them ready.  If you’re a buyer, call us as we may be listing exactly what you’re looking for.

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April Housing Shows Some Signs of Improvement

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If you ask many real estate agents in SW Florida most would tell you the 2016 wasn’t a good one this year and the numbers would bear that out.  We’ve been reporting since January that sales just haven’t come in like they have in previous years as inventory grew.  April housing shows some signs of improvement though as sales improved.

The numbers may look a little better simply because last years numbers have been revised down.  For the past several months year over year prices have been positive because of those changes.  Had it not been for those changes we could have seen some negative prices.

April Housing Shows Some Signs of Improvement

April Housing Shows Some Signs of Improvement Closed sales by sales price
Closed Sales by Sales Price

So let’s take a deeper dive into what we know.  Closed sales by sale price dropped at the lower end simply because there is no inventory at the low end, so don’t read anything into that.  $150-$300k is strong. Once we get over $300,000, that’s where we start to see weakening in the market.  It’s been this way all year.

April Housing Shows Some Signs of Improvement
Inventory by Current List Price

Let’s look at inventory by current list price.  Here we start to see inventory rising at anything over $150,000.  We’ll keep our eyes on those numbers.  $200k especially jumped out at us, although as agents we’re glad because it’s been hard to find any inventory in that range to show buyers.

April Housing Shows Some Signs of Improvement Inventory Active Listings
Active Listings Inventory Lee County

When we look at overall listing inventory we see it’s risen year over year every month since January. New pending sales dropped 7.3% in April, so overall listing inventory could continue to rise in coming months.  We’ll continue to track those numbers as well.

New listings were up 2.9% in April.  When we see listings rising and pending sales falling, we can reasonably assume inventory may rise a bit in coming months.

As bad as all this sounds, April was an improvement in some areas over what we were seeing in February and March.  We predicted a market shift months ago and I think the numbers show that.  We’re not rocket scientists.  We just study the numbers.  Many times the future isn’t hard to predict if you study where the tracks are headed.

If you’re a seller or need to sell in the next few months, you need to know these numbers.  In fact, I’m going to be starting up a Seller’s Club whereby we’ll produce a monthly video each month going over the numbers in detail.  We don’t have room to show all the graphs here so we spread them out over the month, but in that video we could show them all as they are hot off the press.

E-Mail us at Brett@topagent.com if you’re considering selling and would like to be included in the seller’s club monthly video update.

Lastly, we haven’t covered the distressed market in awhile.  That’s because there isn’t much of a distressed market anymore.  We continue to get calls from buyers looking for foreclosures and short sales.  This past week we received two calls in about 30 minutes, and when we tell them there aren’t many, they are bewildered.

April Housing Shows Some Signs of Improvement Distressed Market
Lee County Distressed Market

As you can see, there were only 9 single family short sales in the county, and only 55 foreclosures. That’s indicative of a fairly healthy market.  Oh the market has shifted from a seller’s market, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a healthy market.

The market rarely stands still.  It can shift like sand at the sea and it can be balanced and healthy or sick.  Right now we have a pretty healthy market.  If you’re a buyer or seller, it pays to know the hot spots and weaker spots.

You can search the MLS and do market research for Free at www.LeeCountyOnline.com or call us at 239-489-4042

Good luck and Happy Selling!