Joe Kendall "Waterfront, New Construction, Foreclosure and Short Sale Specialist"
Another day comes to an end in Southwest Florida!
Sunset picture from heading toward Sanibel Island!
Welcome to my Southwest Florida Real Estate News Letter!
I would like to welcome my past & current clients, friends and neighbors who may be reading this news letter for the very first time. Welcome! I would also like to say It has been a very interesting Fall here in southwest Florida. In regards to the weather, the fishing and the real estate market! To all my clients up north, I hope that you had a safe and enjoyable summer, where ever you maybe reading my real estate news letter. We have had an un-eventful hurricane season here in southwest Florida, the weather has been seasonally warmer then normal averaging in the mid 80's during the day and upper 60's at night with very little rain.
The Fishing has been very good at times! What can I say its fishing! I have been able to catch a variety of fish! Snook, Redfish, Sea Trout are plentiful, the Sheepshead and Angel Fish are still around too. I was down at the CAPE Coral Yacht Club this week and one guy caught a real nice black tip shark from the Pier in the middle of the afternoon!
Come on down and visit play some golf, go fishing and let me show you what your money will buy you now in southwest Florida. If you have not noticed lately? You will be surprised by our home prices here in southwest Florida. There may not have been a better time to buy a home in Southwest Florida in the past then right now! The prices have been rolled back to most cases 2003 levels, the variety, selection and locations are many. Now is the time to buy your retirement home, vacation home or your new dream home here in southwest Florida.
Real Estate Market driven by Foreclosures, Short Sales!
The Sign of the times in Cape Coral & Lee High Acres Florida!
I am going to try explaining our current real estate market today, but for me to be able to hopefully to do this in writing verse talking to you in person; I need to tell where we have come in two years today's current numbers. Cape Coral Florida in 2004 was rated the 4thfastest growing city in the United States, people and investors from around the country and the world , Having their eyes set on buying and flipping real estate in southwest Florida. Specially Cape Coral & Lehigh Acres. Buyers/investors where buying lots, building homes, buying waterfront homes and reselling them, So the story goes. Well when the real estate market stopped in summer of 2004 buyers and investors where calling builders and refusing to close on new construction homes, resale home purchases, waterfront homes including lots. Now lots of Home owners unable to afford these homes with interest rates increasing since 2004, now have lots these properties in the foreclosure & Short Sale Process. Today there are 1298 listed short sale homes alone not included all the pre-foreclosure homes! Asking prices listed in Cape Coral Florida from $100,000. Prices are down 40% to 60% and some even higher! The real estate market has become a Home Buyers Real Estate Market! The Banks are making the calls on accepting real estate contracts. There really is no lower in going in price, when you can make an offer directly to the bank. Let me ask you this? Who is lower then dealing directly with the Bank?
HOT NEWS! Bill HR 1876 has passed the House and is now in the hands of the Senate of this bill is to alleviate homeowners from the tax burden from a short sale. ( something similar to the tax exemption for principal residence). This bill is a sure bet on passing! It will eliminate that burden of a Hugh tax bill --- and this will be a blessing for the homeowners that are already in a bad way! This bill will pass with flying colors! This is great news and has gotten the banks to look more seriously at the short sales contracts then getting the home in their current inventory.
Florida Tax Reform will be on the January 29 Ballot!
On October 29, 2007, the Florida House joined the Florida Senate on a package of property tax reforms that will be put before voters to decide on January 29, 2008. The final constitutional amendment contains four items (outlined below) that seeks to reduce property taxes on both homestead property and non-homestead property. The Portability Issue will give a lot of local people a chance to move up or down on a property and take their homesteaded tax bill with them as they may not been able to afford a property without doing being able to do so!
Property Tax Reform Package
The property tax reform package includes both a general bill, SB 4D, and a Senate joint resolution, SJR 2D. Those provisions with the note (SJR 2D & SB 4D) denote sections of the bill that take effect only if SJR 2D is approved by the voters on January 29, 2008. Provisions with the note (SB 4D) denote sections that are not contingent upon voter approval.
Double HomesteadExemption (SJR 2D & SB 4D)
An additional $25,000 homestead exemption is provided for the value of homestead property above $50,000. This exemption does not apply to school taxes.
Portability (SJR 2D & SB 4D) I love this one! Vote yes!
Homestead property owners will be able to transfer their Save Our Homes benefit (up to $500,000) to a new homestead within two years of giving up their previous homestead. If the just value of the new homestead is more than the previous home's just value, the entire differential can be transferred; if the new homestead has a lower just value, the amount of the accumulated benefit that may be transferred is proportional to the value of the new homestead.
(For those who gave up their homestead in 2007 before the amendment was passed, the differential may be transferred if they apply for a new homestead January 1, 2008 or January 1, 2009.) This provision applies to all taxes, including school taxes.
Tangible Personal Property Exemption (SJR 2D & SB 4D)
A $25,000 exemption is provided for each tangible personal property return. This provision applies to all taxes.
Assessment Cap for Non-Homestead Property (SJR 2D & SB 4D)
Non-homestead property will have a 10% assessment cap (similar to Save Our Homes) but the cap will apply only to non-school levies. The 10% cap will sunset after 10 years, when it will be presented to the voters for re-approval. Most residential property will be reassessed at just value when it is sold; commercial property and residential properties with 10 or more units will be reassessed after a significant improvement or a sale. This provision will not take effect until the 2009 tax roll, or 2010 if the amendment is approved in November. This provision does not apply to school taxes. This is a great improvement from the current 22% That is being done currently in Lee County
Fiscally Constrained Counties (SB 4D)
The bill requires an annual appropriation to fiscally constrained counties to make up for revenue reductions resulting from the adoption of the constitutional amendment by the voters.
Yacht Club Area, Cape Coral Florida!
Sailboat Access, No Bridges, Some may have a Pool and or a boat lift
Yacht Club Area! Starting $250,000 Down from $675,000 to $850,000 in 2004!
Call or email me today for a complete list of gulf access single family homes!
Gulf access 2 bed 2 bath condos some with docks included start around $160,000
Celebrate Christmas this Year in a new home! 
One build I work with has over 80 homes finished ready for the holidays! Some builders have set prices, but many you can make an offer! If you are thinking about a new construction home take me with you, or allow me to drive you to the different homes builders, I can help you sort thru the sales agents sales pitch and give you straight advice on the builder, the home location and look out for your best interest in mind. I do this for free as my expenses are paid happily by the home builder. Please call or email with your thoughts about what ou would like in a new construction home Inventory homes starting around 165,000
3 bed 2 bath 1740 sq. ft. Cape Coral Florida 4 bed 2 bath 1700 sq ft. Cape Coral Florida
Gated Communities or Developments in Fort Myers Florida.
Fort Myers Florida has several Home developments in and around the city of Fort Myers. Discover the Florida lifestyle like no where else! Several of these developments have golf, tennis, fitness centers, day spas; the list goes on and on! Then there are some that are just real nice neighborhood developments. Please allow me to email you few samples of life style choices here in Southwest Florida.
Here is list of names of developments in Fort Myers Florida.Alva, Belle Lago, Briar Cliff, Briar Ridge, Brookshire, Brynwood, Buckingham, Burnt Store Marina, Caloosa Trace, Calusa Palma, Candlewood, Catalpa Cove, Coachlight Manor, Colonial Country Club, Colonial Shores, Cross Creek, Crown Colony, Cypress Lake, Cypress Lake Estates, Cypress Landings, Devonwood, Downtown River District, Eagle Ridge, Eastwood Golf and CC, Fiddlesticks Country Club, Fort Myers Country Club, Fort Myers Villas, Gateway Golf and Country Club, Gladiolus Preserve, Gulf Harbour Golf and Country club, Hendry Creek, Heritage Farms, Heritage Palms, Heritage Pointe, Hideway Golf Course, Iona, Jamaica Bay, Jonathan Harbour, Laguna Lakes, Legends Golf and Country Club, Lochmoor, Lochmoor Waterway Estates, Majestic Palms, Miromar Lakes, Myerlee Country Club, Newport Glen, Oakmont at the Lakes, Olde Hickory Golf and Country Club, Page Park, Paloma Park, Parker Lakes, Pelican Preserve, Pinebrook Lake, Pine Glen, Pine Manor, Reflection Lakes, Renaissance, Riva Del Lago, Riverbend Golf CC, Riverside Yacht Club, San Carlos Park, Sandelwood, Seven Lakes, Shadow Wood Preserve, Shell Point Village, South Pointe West, St. Charles Harbour, Stoneybrook of Fort Myers, Terra Verde, The Cove at Six Mile Cypress, The Forest Golf and country club, The Harborage, The Landings, The Reserve, The Vines, Three Oaks, Tice, Tidewater Island, Timber Lakes, Town and River, Verandah, Victoria Cove, Whiskey Creek, Woodgate Estates, Woodlands Golf Course
Thanks for taking the time to read my news letter. Planning a trip to Florida in the near future? Please give me a call in advance and let us schedule your own personal showings of waterfront homes, new construction, Look at some developments, or maybe even vacant land here in southwest Florida. I make buying a home in Florida fun and exciting! Just ask my past clients! I make it ALL ABOUT YOU!
Best Wishes; Thank-You for all your referrals! Please keep them coming! I appreciate it :)
Joe Kendall, Realtor Sandals Realty
Phone 1-888-699 Sand (7263) Direct line 239-560-0726
Website.www.ViewswFlorida.com. it's not about me, it's all about you!
This is not an attended solicitation for already listed property
