Condos are in good supply all over Lee County Florida. Buyers have many options. The News Press focused on severl areas in Southwest Florida. The areas include Cape Coral, Estero and Bonita Springs, Fort Myers and South Fort Myers, Naples, Sanibel and Captiva, Pine Island and all of SW Florida real estate.
The focus was one in a series of price ranges. This part focused on what $500,000 and looked at homes on water and golf course properties, as well as condominiums.
Enclosed is a copy of the most recent Board Meeting Notice that is to be posted at the Clubhouse:
NOTICE
MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Notice is hereby given in accordance with the By-laws, that the aforementioned regular monthly meeting will take place at the Danforth Lakes Clubhouse on Monday, AUGUST 14th, 2006 at 6:30 pm.
Should you desire to attend and address the Board on a certain topic please email me and let me know your name and the topic you would like to discuss so we can add you to the agenda and allow ample time for several requests to be addressed if needed.
Thank you
Enclosed is a copy of the most recent Board Meeting Notice that is to be posted at the Clubhouse:
NOTICE
MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Notice is hereby given in accordance with the By-laws, that the aforementioned regular monthly meeting will take place at the Danforth Lakes Clubhouse on Monday, AUGUST 14th, 2006 at 6:30 pm.
Should you desire to attend and address the Board on a certain topic please email me and let me know your name and the topic you would like to discuss so we can add you to the agenda and allow ample time for several requests to be addressed if needed.
Thank you
HIGHLIGHTS OF MEETING MINUTES FROM 06/17/06:
NEW BUSINESS:
Open Forum– A resident suggested a Yard of the Month award to help promote the community’s awareness. A resident on FPL was annoyed that some residents are using their front entry as a storage area. Other homes have driveway pavers stacked on the property. A resident asked if the violations were being addressed.
Architectural Control Committee– The Chair of the committee provided a brief report.
Building and Grounds Committee. The Chair of the committee reported. a motion to purchase another bench exactly the same as the other 2 thru Peachtree. Approved $25.00 for a Yard of the Month Home Depot GC. A sign will be purchased/used for this event for the winner to place in yard.
Fining Committee. Reported.
OLD BUSINESS:
Downed Trees– Greenscapes lawn crew was out and took care of the work….all have been restaked
Entrance Sign– Should be completed next Wednesday or Thursday.
Entrance Makeover– K. Hayden and member of B&G committee, S. Odonnell to meet with Greenscapes on 6/21.
Roundabout—still waiting on quote to complete the roundabout the correct way with adding addtl flowers in the middle once ground is raised. Hiring Dumposaurus Dumpsters & Rolloff Rental was also discussed.
Greenscapes and Mulch.—Greenscapes does not do bulk mulch only bagged since the labor would be higher if they did. Other quotes higher per K. Hayden.Board to make decision and advise Ken this week so not to delay any further to go with GS.
Powerwashing- power washing quotes were discussed…Board to advise Ken of a decision this week if they desire to go with his qrtly quote of $325 for soffits, pool deck, pool furniture, white fence around deck & dumpster & concrete sidewalks around clubhouse.
Fountain Update-Westchester-updated what was taking place with Westchester fountains. One is to be pulled this coming week for replacement the other may just need repaired.
Financial Review.
Violations reviewed.
Leasing Equip Requirements—Berry’s does not lease Exercise Equipment. Motion to approve the $3,495.00 quote from Berry’s, plus tax and handling, for a new treadmill with a heart monitor not to exceed $4015 per the quote.
Manager’s Report.
Next meeting scheduled for 7/17/06 @ 6:30
On Saturday July 15, 2006 the Ellis Team at RE/MAX Realty Group hosted a Reflection Lakes open house tour with a limousine. The challenge in Reflection Lakes is that it is a gated community in SW Florida, and open house signs are not allowed. Directional signs are not allowed either, and Realtor’s and owners are not allowed to post phone numbers to call at the gates call box for customers wanting to get into Reflection Lakes to see the open house. Even if customers could getinto the gates, they wander aimlessly around the subdivision wondering where the open house actually is.
To combat this, The Ellis Team came up with a pro-active marketing idea. Our office at RE/MAX is located just outside of Reflection Lakes at 7910 Summerlin Lakes Dr. We thought we could hire a limo company to transport customers in and out of the gates and directly to the homes on open house tour. Customers could enjoy something fun and different, and wouldn’t have to worry about directions, or getting through the various gates. We would have cookies and treats at the office where customers would meet to view the homes.
To promote the event, we first turned to our radio show. The Ellis Team hosts a weekly real estate radio show on WINK AM 1240 Saturday’s at 11:00 AM. The Reflection Lakes Open House Tour would be Saturday from 1-4 pm. We introduced the event in each the beginning and at the end of the show. Listeners could even call our office for directions. We also advertised all week on WINK Radio announcing the event. Lastly, we devoted a large section of our weekly Saturday color newspaper ad to the event.
The event was a success. We had 5 happy families tour Reflection Lakes without hassle. They very much enjoyed the treats and limo ride as they toured in style. They also got to see four unique and diverse properties in Reflection Lakes. Prices ranged from $350,000 
to $760,000. Two had lake views and two had preserve/ Lakes Park views. The customers seemed sincerely interested, and one has even put their property on the market with The Ellis Team in hopes of selling it and buying one of the open house properties. 
We couldn’t be more pleased as to how it turned out. And the homeowner’s association has to be happy as well, because there were no open house signs, no directional signs, no messages at the gate for customers, and nothing to enforce. It gets quite tiring for Board members to police owners and agents hosting open houses. Board members spend countless hours removing signs, sending notices to offending owners, dealing with owners and agents seeking to pick-up their illegal signs, and hearing complaints from residents about the offenses. For once a Realtor complied with all the regulations and hosted an open house tour with a touch of class.
Most of all, it was fun, effective, and we look forward to doing it again soon. If you live in Reflection Lakes and are considering selling, call the Ellis Team today to get your home listed and on the next tour. 239-489-4042 SW Florida real estate is selling. It takes proper pricing and aggressive real estate marketing. The Ellis Team can assist with both.
In addition to showing the homes in Reflection Lakes, we also showed the community tennis courts, community pool, and the community clubhouse.
Star Power Systems was founded by Howard Brinton, a top agent in real estate sales in Colorado, and the premier education provider for real estate professionals everywhere.
The Star Power Conference will be held July 19-22 in New York City at the Marriott Marquis hotel. Howard began a series of audiotape interviews with top producing brokers and agents around the country, and "STARS" were born. Since then, he has conducted more than 18,000 hours of research and one-on-one interviews with more than 300 leading producers.
Brett Ellis will be presenting in Thursday morning’s general keynote session entitled "Road Warrior Technology." Brett will be presenting among other things his extensive use of Blogging through a company called Real Estate Blogsites. Real Estate Blogsites is a recommended supplier for Star Power’s attendees because it helps them get their message out, and attain top search engine rankings.
Brett is a regular speaker for Star Power Systems. "I like meeting with other Top Agents in the industry." It invogorates us, we always come back pumped up, and we’re glad to share top secrets with other top agents. Star Power has done wonders for our career, and we always enjoy giving back to other agents, just as others have done for us. Go Star Power! Together, we all win!
The numbers just may not work for developer WCI Communinites to develop downtown Ft. Myers. It’s frustrating to a developer when the city keeps changing the rules, it may be more in keeping with what the community wants and what will ultimately make downtown thrive and prosper.
Downtown Fort Myers needs an infusion of progress sooner rather than later though, so it would be a setback if WCI does indeed pullout.
Hank Fishkind, a noted Florida economist predicts good things for SW Florida due to several factors. The regional airport, Florida Gulf Coast University, and others.
Hank does see a housing bubble though due to high inventory of homes and condos. Hank predicts a 2-3 year wait for prices to really rise again as we work through all the new inventory. Others believe the inventory will be absorbed much quicker than what Hank believes, including us.
We’re seeing sales picking up again, and that stats are proving it. We look for sales to gradually increase in the 2nd half of 2006, which will be a reverse from the 2nd half ofd 2005 where sales decreased in the second half. Sales in Fort Myers have been strobger than in Cape Coral.
Each market in SW Florida real estate has a sub market, and it’s important to know how each sub market is performing when bringing a home to market, or when purchasing.
WCI Communities announced it is laying off employees nationwide due to a slowdown in home building. While official numbers were not released, it is speculated that approximately 400 employees will be laid off, and perhaps 40 or so in the Fort Myers arrea.
WCI Communities is known for building communities such as Gateway, Gulf Harbour, Pelican Landing, Pelican Bay, Pelican Sound, and Wildcat Run. Current communities include Tiburon, Tuscany Reserve, The Colony, The Seasons, and others.
Company forecasts are for a slower year for new home sales. Only 3 towers will be released for sale instead of the anticipated 11.
Nationwide Insurance recently requested a 71% rate hike, citing higher re-insurance costs to cover major catastrophies. State Farm recently requested a 79% hike, but now says that won’t be enough and has withdrawn the offer.