Buying a home in Cape Coral FL at any budget

Every year around this time, many of our Northern neighbors experience their first freeze.  The chill in the air prompts them to pack up their belongings and head south.  Our city will soon wake from its summer slumber and welcome back the snowbirds, vacationers and extend a warm invitation to our potential transplants.  Northerners; No need to pack up those Bermuda shorts and flip-flops just yet, come see what all the fuss is about.  If you are in the market to buy a vacation home or thinking of relocating altogether there is no better time than the present.  Home prices along with interest rates are at an all time low, with plenty of inventory to choose from.  No matter what your budget or criteria there is something here for everyone. Listed below is what you can expect within your budget.

What can you get for up to $100,000?

Well there are many homes available in that price range, 214 to be exact.  There will be an average of 1472 sq feet and 3 beds and 2 baths.  In this price range 17 of these homes do offer an in-ground pool. None of these homes have access to the Gulf of Mexico, but 4 are located on non-navigable fresh water canals, which is still a nice view.   There are 42 of the 214 homes available with the city utilities in and paid. The majority of the 214 homes are located in the NW, NE area of Cape Coral, which is a bit further from the heart of the city, but still a close drive to Pine Island Rd., where many great restaurants and retail stores are located.  106 of these homes are regular resale’s, 53 are foreclosures and 55 are short sales. In this price range many of these homes will not be considered move-in ready, but with some work will still be a great investment.

What can you get from $101,000 to $200,000?

In this price range, a lot of requests we hear from buyers such as; with a pool, 1800 sq feet minimum and access to the gulf can be met, but the price will be closer to the $200,000 mark.  There are 506 homes available in this price range with the average homes being a 3 bed two bath with 1,817 sq ft.   Out of the 506 homes 230 have in-ground pools (average price being $154,841) and 184 have the city utilities in and paid.  96 of 506 homes are waterfront but only 45 of the 96 are gulf access, some with closer proximity to the Gulf of Mexico and/or the Caloosahatchee River than others.  The average home price for the 45 gulf access homes with a pool is $189,900, a great buy for this type of home.   The number of homes in this price range that are regular resale’s are 378, 46 are foreclosures and 82 are short sales.

It is important to understand that some short sales and foreclosures at any price range may have been stripped of certain fixtures, left vacant for extended periods of time, or may have not been properly maintained.  It is really important to have a home inspection to make certain you account for all necessary repairs and to be certain there will be no major surprises after closing.

No matter what your price range or criteria, we are certain we can find a great home to fit your needs, it is just important to be realistic and flexible and all the rest will easily fall into place.  If we can help you find the perfect home at the perfect price please don’t hesitate to call, we look forward to hearing from you.

The Florida Future Realty Team

239-542-8521

inquiry@floridafutureagents.com

*Please note the figures here were obtained from the MLS( multiple listing service) on September 26, 2011 are figures are subject to change, feel free to call for updated statistics.

Selling your Cape Coral home?

It seems that buyers and sellers are still nervous about the housing market in Cape Coral. We are getting calls every day from people anxious with questions about selling their Cape Coral homes. “Is now a good time?” “What are my options if it doesn’t sell?” They speculate on
conditions improving with hopes they will get what they owe on their homes without having to put it on a short sale or worse, have it foreclosed.

The truth is, you, as a seller, will know when it is the right time. As real estate agents, we can assist you with your process, we can also answer your question, but we certainly don’t know
when you are ready to let go of your house. Sometimes, taking a “holistic” approach to home selling may work wonders for you. For instance, if you look at the home selling process in the big picture or the grand scheme instead of how it may affect you right at that
moment-it may  ease some of your stress about letting go of the house.

Big decisions like selling your home don’t come easy.
An experienced listing agent will know that and take your concerns and questions into consideration when you speak with them.  Here are a few tips to help you along the way:

1)      Interview Real Estate Agents

Ask questions that pertain to your specific needs. Decide what is important to you in a listing agent. Find out what credentials an agent has. Get references from past customers. Ask for testimonials from past clients. Check out Real Estate websites and Publications. Ask the listing agents to show you a marketing plan. A reputable agent will offer a CMA (comparable market analysis) on your home so you can make an informed decision about listing your home with them. You will know if you and the agent are a good match-after all, you have to work together.

2)      Get Your Home Ready

Pack up personal items such as family pictures. You can even rent a storage unit for a few months where your packed boxes of family treasures can be out of the way from the new home owners. Stage your home as if it was a showroom for customers to browse. If you need
assistance with staging your home, an experienced listing agent can offer advice on how to get started.

3)      Get Rid of Clutter

Remove books from bookshelves. Clean and organize shelves and closets in kitchens, bathrooms and bedrooms. Put everyday items in a small bin in a kitchen or hallway closet for easy access. Put knick knacks away in a box and put in storage. Clean off kitchen counters. Think of your home as a model home.

4)      Make Minor Repairs

It’s not necessary to start remodeling the outdated bathroom, but it is a good idea to fix leaking faucets and cracked or broken tiles. Minor repairs can also include, patching holes in walls, replacing burned out light bulbs and fixing broken windows, doors and door
locks.   

5)      Clean, clean, clean

This is the time to make your house appear shiny and new! A thorough cleaning of windows inside and out will be a welcome sign for potential buyers. A few more things to consider when cleaning and organizing your home: polish faucets, re-grout tubs and showers, get rid of pet odors, vacuum carpets, mop floors and replace worn out rugs. It is also a good
idea to make a clear pathway to your front door so that buyers feel like they want to enter your home.

6)      Outside Area and Curb Appeal

It is best to look at your house from the outside in. Mow lawns and cut down bushes or hedges that may be in the way of a clear path to the front door. If there is a pool, keep it clean. Sometimes it is best to hire a regular lawn and pool service if you can’t keep up with it
yourself. Other things to consider are to replace broken shutters, shine the door handles and pressure clean driveways. Scrutinize your home from a buyer’s point of view.

These are only a few suggestions to take into consideration. Again, an experienced agent will be able to go over any other areas of concern you may have.  Call the Florida Future Realty, Inc. office for a no obligation consultation on selling your Cape Coral or Ft. Myers home.  The office is open Monday through Friday and weekends by appointment.  

Yours in Success,

The Florida Future Realty Team

239-542-8521

Inquiry@floridafutureagents.com