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Bonita Springs, FL Real Estate News

By Chris Griffith, Bonita Springs Listing Specialist - Agent
(Downing-Frye Realty, Bonita Springs, FL)
Just a few miles North of Bonita Springs, Florida is Estero Florida.  Estero is one of the fasted growing communities in Southwest Florida.  Enjoy a few suggestions for activities in Estero. 1.   Catch a Florida Everblades hockey game at Germain Arena.  Germain Arena also hosts recreational ice skating and various concerts, acts and events.  Check the schedule of events.2.  Tour Koreshan State Historic Site.  One of the earliest settlements in SW Florida.3.  Canoe or Kayak the Estero River.  Equipment  can be rented at Estero River Outfitters.4.  Visit Miromar Outlets.  Over 140 stores and outlets shops at your fingertips. 5.  Tour one of the great bundled golf communities of Estero Florida.  Pelican Sound offers use of formal and casual Golf Club and River Club dining, a beautiful and ...
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By Chris Griffith, Bonita Springs Listing Specialist - Agent
(Downing-Frye Realty, Bonita Springs, FL)
 •10.    Visit Barefoot Beach.  Barefoot Beach Preserve is 342 acres of natural land, one of the last undeveloped barrier islands on Florida's southwest coast.•9.      Shop the new Coconut Pointe Mall.  Check out the brand new stores, restaurants and movie theater.•8.      Visit Everglades Wonder Gardens.  Everglades Wonder Gardens has over 2000 species of native wildlife & plants including: lush botanical gardens, wild Florida Panthers, Black Bears, Native & Exotic Birds, live Otter show, Flamingos, Rattlesnakes & Reptiles. •7.      Rent a boat or kayak and tour the back bays and rivers or head out to the gulf.•6.      Visit the Bonita Springs Art League or plan your trip around one of their art festivals.  •5.      Catch a round of golf at Raptor Bay.•4.      Pamper yourself at the St...
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By Chris Griffith, Bonita Springs Listing Specialist - Agent
(Downing-Frye Realty, Bonita Springs, FL)
The Southwest Florida Real Estate market has seen several years of above average home appreciation. Sellers have enjoyed profits from selling their homes and using the revenue to upsize, pay off debt, pay for college or add to their retirement plan. If you have been undecided and waiting for the right time to buy a home, now is the time! Here are 5 great reasons to buy Bonita Springs Florida Real Estate. Inventory - Supply and demand.  When supplies go up, prices come down. The supply of homes competing for buyers has been on the rise all year. Home sellers have offered more incentives to attract buyers from other homes.  Developers are offering great incentives which include mortgage payments for a period of time, homeowner association fees paid for a period of time or designer upgrade...
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By Chris Griffith, Bonita Springs Listing Specialist - Agent
(Downing-Frye Realty, Bonita Springs, FL)
  1. Clean and repair your home.  It should go without saying, but clean your house as if you were going to eat off the floors.   Make cosmetic repairs such as touching up paint, especially on cornerbead, and planting fresh flowers. Make sure the home smells fresh and clean, too.  2.  Remove clutter. Put away the figurine collection, toys and everything that is lining the bathroom and kitchen counters.  A crowded house makes it look smaller and makes it harder for buyers to imagine it as their own.  3.  De-personalize. Take down family photos, trophies and other personal touches. A buyer needs to imagine the house as a blank slate, ready to be occupied and personalized by them.  4. Consider holding a special preview. If you are having an open house from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., invite y...
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By Chris Griffith, Bonita Springs Listing Specialist - Agent
(Downing-Frye Realty, Bonita Springs, FL)
There would be nothing worse than watching your home go up in flames just before the holidays.To keep your holiday safe the Bonita Springs Fire Rescue suggests following these safety tips to help protect your family: Test all lights and cords for broken sockets or bare wires before decorating the tree or house. Place lights on a fireproof surface, leave them switched on for at least 15 minutes, and watch for any danger signs, such as smoke or melted wires. Use only lights that have an Underwriter's Laboratories or similar approval tag. Place your Christmas tree close to an electrical outlet to reduce the need to use extension cords. If you do use extension cords, use only heavy-duty cords. Never overload electrical sockets. If you choose a fresh tree, check the water level daily. If you...
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By Chris Griffith, Bonita Springs Listing Specialist - Agent
(Downing-Frye Realty, Bonita Springs, FL)
Simple.  I thought this was cute.  White Christmas in Florida 
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By Chris Griffith, Bonita Springs Listing Specialist - Agent
(Downing-Frye Realty, Bonita Springs, FL)
The cost savings of housing your kid, plus appreciate, makes college town real estate a fairly wise investment to consider. Be sure to create a strategey go get the best return on investment in grown college town that boast more than late-night keggers. Scout for a sound real-estate investment. But prices have peaked. Your favorite city or resort destination is played languishing. Too expensive, and gloom an doom forecasts of corrections, oversupply or "bubble bursting". If you're considering an invetstment with real possibities, I have one in mind, a real-estate niche that plays defense and offense at the same time: college-town real estate.Read More Here:  College Town Real Estate   Also Read:  College Town LifeSouthwest Florida features the 10th State University,  FGCU.  For housing ...
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By Chris Griffith, Bonita Springs Listing Specialist - Agent
(Downing-Frye Realty, Bonita Springs, FL)
Adam Tarr & Sharon Kotula wrote about Phoenix Arizona and the Valley of the Sun - A GREAT place to live  and Jeff Belonger  wrote about The City of Brotherly Love: Part 2 of 6 - The Historic Sites & Famous People of Philadelphia......A series of Blogs  (There was a part 1 somewhere, but I'm weary).  Excellent insites into each of their fair cities.This evening I found a hometown blog site to let you all know about.  I received a google news alert and stumble onto it.  It may give you great ideas how to best blog your city's points of interests and activities.http://www.myunitedstates.us/blog/index.phpI'll be adding info about my city, Bonita Springs, Florida.  Maybe the guys from The 19th Hole can blog their city golf courses.    
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By Chris Griffith, Bonita Springs Listing Specialist - Agent
(Downing-Frye Realty, Bonita Springs, FL)
                                                                      You will lose the excitement that a new listing generates. Most activity on a listing comes within the first 30 days. An initial high price will discourage buyers, causing you to miss out on pent up demand. •1.         You will lose the most qualified prospects! Buyers will not "just make an offer" because they may never even see your property. They will view the properties that are priced within their purchase power range, knowing that they cannot afford anything above their price ceiling. •2.         Over pricing helps sell other, more competitively price homes first. Your home may be used to demonstrate the good value of other properties. Your objective should be to enter the market in a position that will attract ...
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By Chris Griffith, Bonita Springs Listing Specialist - Agent
(Downing-Frye Realty, Bonita Springs, FL)
Walk across the street and look at your property as if you were a potential buyer. Ask yourself what a buyer might object to. The following is a list of suggestions: The Exterior Lawn: The yard should be neatly mowed, raked and edged. Trees/Shrubs: Should be pruned and shaped to compliment the property. Flowers: Consider adding seasonal flowers. Sidewalks/Driveways: Should be swept and washed to remove debris, dirt and stains. Cracks should be repaired and patched. Painting: Check the home for any needed maintenance just as a buyer would. Repaint or touch up as necessary. You can't find a better investment when you are selling your house! Don't let the outside turn buyers off before the inside turns them on. Doors/Windows: All doors and windows should be in good working order. Clean and...
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By Chris Griffith, Bonita Springs Listing Specialist - Agent
(Downing-Frye Realty, Bonita Springs, FL)
Land Ho! (Moat and Ship, Too!) Every town has one.  That building so odd, so unual that everyone talks about it.  It becomes a landmark.  Unfortunately, it sits vacant between business that have closed after they enter it.  It's been a restaurant, bar, dance club, bingo hall.  It's been empty for a while and for sale for over a year.The behemoth ship shaped building is on the block.  For a mere $4.25 million asking price, the 3.62-acre site of the landmark Ship restaurant property in Bonita Springs can be yours.  It fronts US 41 in an area with heavy traffic and exposure.  It is just down the street from the new Coconut Point Mall.   The property is zoned both residential and commercial, so development options are wide open.In case you are interested in the building and the property, Ro...
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By Chris Griffith, Bonita Springs Listing Specialist - Agent
(Downing-Frye Realty, Bonita Springs, FL)
Minutes after I posted on Lenn Harley's Blog DON'T TELL MY AGENTS I'M SENDING BUSINESS AWAY  I received a referral from a relocation company I have done business with for years.  I called the seller's as soon as I did a brief overview of the subject property and neighborhood.After a series of questions about myself and if I know the neighborhood I get asked about the condition of the market.  I explain, "The market hasn't been without it's hurdles, lately."  As a matter of fact, none of the homes listed in this particular Bonita Springs neighborhood has sold in several months, which the seller knows.  The seller says to me, "You really don't give me the warm fuzzy feeling."  I really felt like retorting, "Would you prefer I just lie to you? What do you want to hear?"It is amazing to me ...
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By Chris Griffith, Bonita Springs Listing Specialist - Agent
(Downing-Frye Realty, Bonita Springs, FL)
How far is too far when you're selling real estate?  MLS Alliance is a massive MLS system that most of SW Florida will soon have blanketing the area.  Basically, any agent buying or selling real estate in the Bonita Springs, Florida area will be able to access property listings in Port Charlotte, Florida and even farther north.  My question to my managing broker was "Why do I need this?  Don't you feel that working 60 miles or more from my area of expertise is reckless?"  Further, I stated that I wouldn't buy my own real estate in Port Charlotte or beyond without a professional helping me why would I suddenly become an expert "there" and sell it to one of my clients or customers?  Read Lonn Dugans blog:  Real estate is local, so get a local expert. Several people in the office chimed in...
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By Chris Griffith, Bonita Springs Listing Specialist - Agent
(Downing-Frye Realty, Bonita Springs, FL)
A few weeks ago I posted a blog regarding Amber Alerts and how easy it is to get them text messaged to your cell phone.  Again, I plea to every to consider spreading the word about the service.  Our SW Florida community is suffering from the abduction of a newborn infant from it's mother at knifepoint.  We all pray for the safe return of Baby Bryan.  Learn details and follow the story here: Bring Bryan Home.Officials are concerned that, fearing immigration issues, the hispanic community may be hesitant to contact authorities. They are urged to speak with their clergy, business owners or anyone else they are comfortable with to convey any information they may know.
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By Chris Griffith, Bonita Springs Listing Specialist - Agent
(Downing-Frye Realty, Bonita Springs, FL)
 Many boaters in Southwest Florida know it can be hard to dock their boats because there are so few spots to do so. The recent decision from members of the Bonita Springs City Council will make it get even harder.   The city of Bonita Springs has the option to buy the docks that are currently up for sale, but they won't be doing that.The docks in question are at Big Hickory Marina.  There are now dock in Fish Trap bay that are currently being researched by the city and city councilman Gary Price.  The Fish Trap docks are for sale, as well.  The concern is that if the city does not purchase the docks that developers will, and commercialize them. Gulf access property, with a boat dock or boat lift,  in Bonita Springs, Florida has entry level pricing of $400,000 to over $4,000,000.Carl Joh...
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By Chris Griffith, Bonita Springs Listing Specialist - Agent
(Downing-Frye Realty, Bonita Springs, FL)
The latest store to open at the Simon Group Coconut Point Mall is the Barnes and Noble Book Store.  Barnes & Noble store hours are seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m., with cafe hours beginning at 7 a.m.  The Coconut Point Mall is located at US 41 ( Tamiami Trail ) and Coconut Road (at The Brooks) at the city limits of Estero and Bonita Springs, Florida.The entire tenant list for the 500 acre facility is available at http://www.coconutpointretail.com/.  In addition to commercial space the facilty will have commercial condominiums and residential condominiums.     
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By Chris Griffith, Bonita Springs Listing Specialist - Agent
(Downing-Frye Realty, Bonita Springs, FL)
Tonight, December 05, 2006 is the annual tree lighting ceremony at Riverside Park on Old US 41 Road, Bonita Springs, Fl.  The sixth annual event kicks off at 5:00.  It is a free event.  For more information visit The Bonita Banner, Bonita Springs Hometown newspaper.
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By Chris Griffith, Bonita Springs Listing Specialist - Agent
(Downing-Frye Realty, Bonita Springs, FL)
 Enthusiasm is the greatest asset in the world.  It beats money, power and influence.                                                                  You can get your own Fortune Here I found this "forune" on my kitchen counter this morning.  I guess Jen, my "assistant", had Chinese yesterday. The best Chinese take out in Bonita Springs, by the way, is Gold China.  The best Crab Rangoon in SW Florida
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By Chris Griffith, Bonita Springs Listing Specialist - Agent
(Downing-Frye Realty, Bonita Springs, FL)
Follow six primary rules for your exchange to meet stringent IRS regulations: Real Property Use. Both your old and new properties must qualify as investment or business use. If both properties pass this test, you can exchange nearly any type of real estate. 45 Day Identification Period. You have 45 days from the closing of your sale to list the properties you may want to buy. There are no exceptions to the deadline. 180 Day Exchange Period. From the sale closing date, you have 180 days to close on the purchase of one or more properties from the 45-day list. Again, there are no exceptions to this deadline. Qualified Intermediary (QI). The IRS mandates that you use a QI to prepare the legal documents for your exchange. Because the QI must be independent, it cannot be your friend, employee...
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By Chris Griffith, Bonita Springs Listing Specialist - Agent
(Downing-Frye Realty, Bonita Springs, FL)
A Community Development District (CDD) is a local, special purpose government authorized by Chapter 190 of the Florida Statutes as amended and is an alternative method for managing and financing infrastructure required to support community development. Real Estate in Lee County, which includes the cities of Bonita Springs, Estero and Fort Myers may be subject to a CDD.Continue Reading: What is a CDD 
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