Cape Coral Real Estate Blog

Came back last weekend from a mission trip to the Dominican Republic with a medical team that provide services to patients and I translate.  Here are some of the pictures so you can take a look at it. 

Jorge Hernandez of Sandbill Realty Group Inc. is getting a web site makeover from Daniel DiGriz of www.MixMySite.com

The goal is to make the site more interactive for Florida real estate buyers and sellers. Look around, browse or search our Cape Coral, Lehigh Acres, and Ft. Meyers, Fl. real estate listings.

Kudos to Daniel DiGriz and MixMySite for a great job!

Jorge will donate $500—on behalf of his clients who buy or sell real estate using his services—to Hope International Ministries.

Real estate agent Jorge Hernandez understands that when you buy property, you get more than just a house. You get a community—a place to raise your family. Jorge is dedicated to making our community a better place to live. That’s why he is donating—on behalf of his clients who buy or sell real estate with his help—$500 from every closed transaction to Hope International Ministries. It’s his way of showing his dedication to the community, to the people who live here and to his profession. And if you have any questions concerning the real estate market, Jorge is more than happy to answer them. Give him a call, no strings attached.

I invite everyone to learn more about Hope International Ministries by browsing their complete web site at www.hopeinternationalministries.org

Thursday, July 3

• 9th Annual Fireworks Show: Miromar Outlets and Germain Arena present an annual celebration with kids activities and music in addition to fireworks which begin at dusk.

The Mambo Brothers Blues Band performs from 5-7 p.m. followed by Deb & The Dynamics.

The Southern Extreme Water-Ski Team performs on the lake from 7-8 p.m, Miromar Outlets, 10801 Corkscrew Road, Estero. 239-948-3766.


• Annual July 4th Parade: The annual Brightest Horizons Child Development Center will conduct its annual 4th of July parade which includes 162 children from Brightest Horizons, staff, volunteers, and neighbors marching from the center to San Jose Mission Church and returning to the Center for a cookout.

Everyone is invited to participate in the parade and cookout, 10 a.m., Brightest Horizons Child Development Center, 10320 Gladiolus Drive, Fort Myers. 481-2100.


• Independence Day Fireworks Celebration: Enjoy a baseball game between the Fort Myers Miracle and the Tampa Yankees at 7:05 p.m. followed by a big fireworks celebration, $8, box seats; $6, grandstand reserved.

Hammond Stadium - Lee County Sports Complex, 14400 Six Mile Cypress Parkway, Fort Myers. 768-4210.

Friday, July 4

• Riverfest 2008: Live entertainment starts at 6 p.m. and features Lee Brice, Cracker Blues and Kaitlin Walker.

Kids activities included.

Contests include “Most Patriotic Motorcycle.” Fireworks start at 9:30 p.m.

Bring lawn chairs and blankets, 6 p.m., free. Centennial Park, Edwards Drive, Fort Myers. 239-332-6813.


• 4th of July Dinner Dance Cruise: Special holiday cruise along the Caloosahatchee River aboard the Capt. JP, 7:30-10:30 p.m., $34 plus taxes.

J.C. Cruises, Edwards Drive, Fort Myers. 334-7474 or jccruises.com.


• Red White and Boom: Bring the family family and celebrate the birthday of our country with fireworks, food, drink, and local arts and crafts, all in downtown Cape Coral from 4-11 p.m.

Red, White & Boom is held on Cape Coral Parkway from the foot of the Cape Coral Bridge to Del Prado Boulevard.

The Cape Coral Bridge and Cape Coral Parkway will shut down from noon July 4 until 3:00 am July 5. 549.6900, ext. 109.


• 4th of July Fireworks: 9-9:30 p.m., Naples Municipal Pier, 12th Avenue South, Naples. 213-7120.


• American Liberty Express: Enjoy a train ride through the Train Village as it celebrates our nation’s birthday.

Infants younger than one year and pregnant women are restricted from riding the train.

Hours are 10 a.m.-1:45 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m.-3:45 p.m. Saturday and noon-3:45 p.m. Sunday, $5 for ages 6 and older; $2, for ages 1-5. Lakes Regional Park, 7330 Gladiolus Drive, south Fort Myers. 267-1905.


• City of Naples Independence Day Parade: The Parade starts promptly at 10 a.m. at the corner of 3rd Street South and Broad Avenue South, turns onto 5th Avenue, and ends about noon near City Hall on 8th Street South, downtown Naples, Naples.


• Fishermen’s Village Fourth of July Celebration: Begins at 5 p.m. and continues until 9 p.m.

Entertainment and parking are free.

Features live entertainment by Sounds of the Virgin Islands. See fireworks over Charlotte Harbor beginning at 9 p.m.

Bring a lawn chair, free. Fishermen’s Village, 1200 W. Retta Esplanade, Punta Gorda. (800) 639-0020 or fishville.com.


• Fourth of July Parade and Fireworks: Parade begins at 10 a.m. at the Beach School and heads north on Estero Boulevard.

Fireworks take place at dusk, Fort Myers Beach Pier, Fort Myer Beach. 462-8798.


• Freedom Family Fun Fest: Activities for kids, music, performance from the Lehigh Spring Festival “Idol” winners, horseshoe tournament for adults and a “cutie pie” contest for ages 2-4.

Due to the dry spell, there will be no fireworks, noon-6 p.m., Veterans Park, 55 S. Homestead Road, Lehigh Acres. 369-5818.


• Freedom Swim: The 4th of July Freedom Swim commences from the public beach at the west side of the north end of the southbound U.S. 41 bridge over Charlotte Harbor.

Parking is available on the public land on the east side of the north end of the northbound bridge.

Landing will be held at Fishermen’s Village.

Each swimmer is responsible for his own safety and support team, Fishermen’s Village, 1200 W. Retta Esplanade, Punta Gorda. (941) 661-5622.


• Independence Day Celebration: Catholic Mass at 11 a.m. followed from traditional July 4th buffet, bingo, games and adult beverages from noon to 5 p.m, $8, adults; $3, children 12 and younger.

Knights of Columbus San Carlos Council 2596, 4040 Princeton St., Fort Myers. 936-7874.


• Old-Fashioned July 4th Celebration: Prizes for most outrageous red, white and blue costume, barbecue, apple pie and ice cream, bike wash and biker games, and sink Uncle Sam in the dunk tank.

Proceeds benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Harley Davidson, 2160 Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers. 278-4546.

• Red, White and Zoo: Even the animals at Naples Zoo celebrate during the July 4th weekend from Friday through Monday, when they get to play with firecrackers which are giant cardboard tubes stuffed with treats and decorated in red, white and blue.

Military personnel will receive free admission to the Zoo by presenting current military identification or membership card in a veterans organization and matching name photo ID.

Adults and child guest in their party will also receive $2 off regular Zoo admission, regular admission is $18.75, ages 13 and older; $10.50, children 3-12.

Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens, 1590 Goodlette-Frank Road, Naples. 262-5409.

• San Carlos Park 18th Annual Old-Fashioned 4th of July Parade and Celebration:

The parade begins at 8:30 a.m. in the sunshine Ace Hardware shopping plaza followed by a celebration from 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. which includes live music by Catalyst, carnival games, horseback rides, food vendors, bounce house and giant slip and slide, Three Oaks Community Park, 18251 Three Oaks Parkway, San Carlos Park. 410-8747.

• Star Spangled Bonita: Immediately following the 9 a.m. 4th of July parade at Pennsylvania and Old U.S. 41, an annual party in the park will be held featuring children’s activities, refreshments, hot dog eating contest, and musical entertainment by the Consecutones, free admission. Riverside Park, 27300 Old U.S. 41, Bonita Springs. 565-5996.

What is a credit score?

• 35% - Payment History
• 30% - Debt Ratio
• 15% - Length of Credit History
• 10% - Types of Credit
• 10% - Number of Credit Inquiries

How can I find out my credit score?

How can I get a free copy of my credit report?

How long will the items get reported on my file?

• Delinquencies (30–180 days): Can remain seven years from the date of the initial missed payment.
  
  
• Collection accounts: Remain seven years from the date of the initial missed payment that led to the collection (the original delinquency date). When a collection account is paid in full, it will be marked "paid collection" on the credit report.
  
  
• Charged-off accounts: Remain seven years from the date of the initial missed payment that led to the charge-off (the original delinquency date), even if payments are later made on the charged-off account.
  
  
• Closed accounts: Closed accounts are accounts that are no longer available for further use. Closed accounts may or may not have a zero balance. Closed accounts with delinquencies remain seven years from the date they are reported closed, whether closed by the creditor or by the consumer, but the delinquency notation will be removed seven years after the delinquency occurred when pertaining to late payments. Positive closed accounts remain ten years from the closing date.
  
  
• Lost credit card: If there are no delinquencies, credit cards that are reported lost will continue to be listed for two years from the date the card is reported lost. Delinquent payments that occurred before the card was lost are reported for seven years.
  
  
• Bankruptcy: Chapters 7, 11, and 12 remain for ten years from the filing date. Chapter 13 remains seven years from the filing date. Accounts included in bankruptcy will remain seven years from the date they were reported as included in the bankruptcy.
  
  
• Judgments: Remain seven years from the date the judgment is filed.
  
  
• City, county, state, and federal tax liens: Unpaid tax liens remain fifteen years from the filing date. Paid tax liens remain seven years from the paid date of the lien.
  
  
• Inquiries: Most inquiries listed on your credit report will remain for two years. All inquiries must remain for a minimum of one year from the date the inquiry was made. Some inquiries, such as employment or pre-approved offers of credit, will show only on a personal credit report pulled by you.
  

Is there anything that cannot be in my credit report?

• Medical information (unless you give your consent)
• Notice of bankruptcy (Chapter 11) that is more than ten years old
• Debts (including delinquent child support payments) that are more than seven years old
• Age, marital status, or race (if the request is from a current or prospective employer

What can a driver do to fight the rising cost of fuel? The answer may be in the vehicle.

Surging gasoline prices may finally do what years of public service announcements couldn't: shock South Floridians out of their cars and into trains, car and van pools, even onto bicycles and scooters.

We've come close before, vowed every Memorial Day to change our ways and then hopped back into our cars.

But pump prices keep hitting records: $4.122 per gallon in Miami-Dade County and $4.069 in Broward the latest.

Will we back down before gas prices do? Maybe.

National and regional highway vehicle miles traveled, a key indicator for transportation experts, are down significantly for the first time since the 1970s oil shortages.

Tri-Rail and Metrorail ridership is way up, more big employers are subsidizing commuting costs and we're carpooling more.

''People always wondered what the plateau would be when people start to panic,'' said Jim Udvardy, South Florida Commuter Service's project director. ``Originally people thought $3 a gallon, which came and went. But at $4 a gallon . . . I think we hit something new.''

Stephen Reich, program director at the University of South Florida Center for Urban Transportation Research, said it was too soon to predict whether habit changes will become permanent.

So how about getting out of the car? National Dump the Pump Day is June 19, and transit agencies will encourage you to do just that.

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1. De-Clutter: This one is simple. De-clutter everywhere; inside and outside. If it's taking up space it is a potential candidate to be thrown out. The sellers need to make that all important mental conversion from "home to live in" to "house for sale." Personal things are a big distraction as you want the buyers to be able to visualize their own belonging in the house.

2. Repair: Buyers want everything working so don't disappoint them - dripping faucets, broken windows, leaking roofs, damaged walls and doors, etc, beg the question in the buyer's mind...What else is broken or doesn't work?

3. Lots of Light: The last thing home buyers want to see is a dark home with all of the doors and windows covered. Let the light in and open some windows to let in some fresh air. Room deodorizers leave the impression of covering something up as does a window that has the blinds drawn.

4. Clean Windows: Buyers want to know and see the view they will have from every room - don't make them look through dirty windows. If they do, the impression of a having great view is literally going "out the window."

5. Kitchen and Bathrooms: Two of the most important rooms in the house. They must be spotless and first class. Just cleaning up isn't going to be good enough - you need to "deep clean" all counters, floors, cabinets and all the fixtures in the bathrooms. In the bathrooms consider new fixtures or countertops and perhaps redoing the shower and tub enclosures. If new fixtures are not in the budget you may want to consider having them refinished. Think about having all the tile steam cleaned and make sure all grout is free from grease and dirt.

6. Odors: Absolute deal killers are cigarette or pet odors. If this is a problem - have the drapes, carpets and furniture professionally cleaned and please..."no smoking" in the house. Also, cooking odors are not a good thing. The best bet is to always for plan fresh air. Often a little lemon oil mixed with water in a spray bottle used lightly used will add just a bit of freshness without overpowering the house.

7. Paint: A fresh coat of paint on the outside or inside is an excellent way of freshening up your home. Be sure to use neutral colors and avoid accent painting. Don't try and guess what a potential buyer will like. In most cases they should use a professional painter because it's always a bigger job than most people think.

8. Yard Work: Deal with overgrown bushes, shrubs and trees. Everything in the yard needs to be trimmed, watered, manicured and "living." Remove everything lying around the yard including sports equipment, boats, trailers, toys, etc. You may also add some color by placing some annuals in planters in the back as well as in the front. Curb appeal makes that all important "first impression."

9. Furniture: The bottom line... less is best. If it's old, worn or dated, you should put it in storage. Remember that you are setting a stage and the actor needs to be the house - not their furniture.

10. Hardwood Floors: Hardwood floors can be a huge plus for buyers unless they look like a 20 year old basketball court. It may be a great investment to have them all refinished - but keep in mind that it's not a simple weekend project.

While this has scared conventional investors away from the real estate market, smart contrarian-thinking investors are scooping up both residential and commercial real estate assets at 20%, 30%, 50% and even 70% from current appraised values; even in the case of properties considered 'upside-down' (mortgage exceeds current appraisal value), savy investors are walking away from deals with juicy profits 20 to 40% or more by using the 'short-sale' method of extracting deep discounts from mortgage-holders; one such investor in Clearwater, Florida is pulling in an average of $15K to $35k per short-sale deal, with a volume of over fifty houses per year bought and sold using the 'short-sale' method negotiating with banks. Savy investors know that markets, including the real estate markets, behave historically in cyclical fashion ("What goes up, must come down", and vice-versa). For example, who would have thought that gold - languishing at the under $300 per ounce range for years, would zoom up to the current value of over $1,000 per ounce? Savy investors who got into gold early on, have realized returns of over 300% in less than five years! Savy investors who picked properties (including New York City skyscrapers) back in the Big Depression days in the 1930's, later became multi-millionaires and even billionaires! Where the public then saw only despair, and a hopeless market, savy investors saw a golden opportunity to make a ton of money scooping up assets as low as 10 cents on the dollar.

Of course, one must invest wisely, and carefully choose the right real estate assets to buy; the true value of a real estate property can only be determined after a careful analysis of various key factors: condition of property (calculate correctly its rehab costs), its location (accessibility to convenient shopping, cultural amenities, crime free, etc.), and current appraisal value (less than 45 days). The optimal strategy for an investor is consistently the same: buy as low as you can, and sell high as you can; in today's real estate market, it would be wise for the investor to sell his inventory of properties at least 15 to 20% market value - so as to attract bargain-seeking buyers and go to closing in the shortest possible time. A wise, long-term strategy for an investor would be to sell, rent or lease-option the inventory of acquired properties to reserve a nice cash-flow for the retirement years. Bottom line is, GET OUT THERE AND SCOOP UP YOUR SHARE OF REAL ESTATE TREASURE, and by doing so you're not only securing your financial future, but you're also helping to heal the U.S. economy