What can I buy for 1,000,000

As a full time resident in Cape Coral, Florida I am asked often what is available in Cape Coral and Fort Myers for sale. After searching online many come up confused as to what you can actually purchase and for what price. In this series I will explore homes in all price
categories to give out of area buyers a better idea of the area.

Today we will be visiting homes that can be purchased right around $1,000,000. There are several great options from single family estate homes, to beach houses to oceanfront condos!

So what does 1,000,000 buy in the Cape Coral, Florida and Fort Myers, Florida 2010 real estate market?

Here are a few of my favorite options:

Below you will find many more options for spending $1,000,000 on Southwest Florida real estate.

So, what do you think? Ready to make the investment?

Call Susan Milner at (239) 218-2229 for more information on these, or any other listings in and around Cape Coral & Fort Myers, Florida.

Susan is the broker in charge & owner of Florida Future Realty, Inc.. Florida Future Realty, Inc. is an independent real estate brokerage centrally located in Cape Coral, Florida.

Yours in Success,

The Florida Future Realty, Inc

239-542-8521

inquiry@floridafutureagents.com

Homestead Exemption Laws

 Over 1,000 people move to Florida every day according to dmv.org.   Not only are families relocating from other states but they are also moving from other countries.  Is this because of
the beautiful sand beaches, warm sunny weather, or miles of green golf courses?  It may just be because of the generous tax laws offered to Florida residents.

The law states that Florida residents are eligible for a 25,000 exemption on the assessed value of their home.  Those with an assessed value of more than 50,000 are eligible for an additional 25,000 exemption, depending on the value of their property. The exemption can
only be applied to non-school taxes, and the property must be worth at minimum 75,000 to be eligible for the entire exemption amount.

In order to qualify you must be a Florida resident having title to real property and making it your permanent residence by Jan 1st.  The deadline to apply is March 1st.

In addition to the homestead exemption we have the Save our homes amendment which protects homeowners by limiting the tax assessment to a maximum of 3% each year.

You may also qualify for one or all of these exemptions listed below.

  • Widow/Widower’s Exemption $500.00
  • Disability Exemption $500.00
  • Veterans Disability Exemption $5,000.00
  • Blind persons Exemption $500.00

If you are a foreign buyer there is something to be aware of and that is the FIRPTA withholding Rule.  This stands for investment inreal property tax act of 1980. FIRPTA authorized the IRS to withhold income tax on nonresident aliens and foreign corporations with sales of US real property. When a person or corporation purchases a US real
property from nonresident aliens or foreign corporations, they are required to withhold 10% of the amount. This tax is intended to ensure that the US is able to tax the gains from the sale of property.

Whether you are buying a new home or vacation home, moving from another state or another country or just planning to purchase an investment property,your taxes will always be based on the assessed market value of your property.  You will never be penalized and made to pay higher taxes simply because you are native to another place. The Homestead Exemption and Save our homes amendment are offered to full
time Florida residents.

There are exceptions to all tax information listed above we recommend visiting these sites for more detailed information.

General Info

IRS

Once you have made the decision to relocate to this beautiful
city of Cape Coral, contact our Florida Future Realty Team we are here
to assist you.

Yours in Success,

The Florida Future Realty Team

(239)542-8521

inquiry@floridafutureagents.com

Updated 1-12-2011

Homes still selling in Cape Coral?

Are we still selling homes in Cape Coral? The answer is yes, and in record numbers.  We have been getting so much negative national media attention, that our ideas are clouded with misinformation.

The National Association of Realtors published their polls and it shows that in 2009 with the assistance of realtors, 16,260 homes were sold.  In 2005 when the housing boom began, the record was 12,123

However one significant change is the declining home prices. In 2005 the median home price was 278,200, now in 2009 we were at 90,400. This decline is due to the record number of short sales and foreclosures now flooding the real estate listings.  Sellers are now coming to their senses and listing their homes more realistically, their homes are worth significantly less from what they were selling for 5 years ago.
 

The fact of the matter is that homes are STILL selling.  We may have to navigate through a few detours, from bank negotiations to new lending laws, but properties are moving.

Buyers also need to understand that there are great deals to be had, but when a property is under market value as many of them are, they may sell very quickly and most likely there will be multiple offers.

So when searching for real estate in Cape Coral, we suggest you secure your financing and act quickly when you find the right home at just the right price.  Call one of our agents at Florida Future Realty to assist you with your home buying experience.

Yours in Success,

Florida Future Realty Team

(239)542-8521

inquiry@floridafutureagents.com

 

Cape Coral Real Estate for Sale

Our Listings

Florida Future Realty, Inc. has real estate listings around Lee County. Our main focus is on Cape Coral real estate & Ft. Myers homes.

If you would like to set up your own search ~ Cape Coral Real Estate Home Search. Our licensed real estate agents are able to provide you with additional information and/or show you all of the real estate currently listed on the market.

We look forward to hearing from you!

 

 

Florida Future Realty, Inc.

Cape Coral, FL 33904

(239) 542-8521

Email: Inquiry@FloridaFutureAgents.com

Cape Coral House

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

 

Cape Coral Real Estate Brokerage

Cape Coral, FL

We’ve been busy with exciting changes at Florida Future Realty, Inc.

Hope to see you soon!

 

Florida Future Realty, Inc.

1222 SE 47th Street

Cape Coral, FL 33904

 

 

 

 

Yours in Success,

Susan Milner

Florida Future Realty, Inc.

www.FloridaFutureAgents.com

FloridaFuture@gmail.com

 

We’re now open to adding agents to our office. Great splits, support,
technology, training & more!

Considering a second home?

What will a second home in SW Florida cost?

As the prices of homes in SW Florida are, can we say, more than affordable, many people across the U.S. and abroad are entertaining the possibility of a second home. The biggest question on everyone’s mind is “What will it cost me?” Obviously it is pretty easy to find the listing prices of homes online but to truly understand what the ‘cost’ will be can take doing some research. In this article I will go over the basic costs you can expect
to pay when investing in a second home here in beautiful Cape Coral or Ft. Myers, Florida.

First to consider: Cost of Money
Are you planning to pay cash or do you plan to get a mortgage for some of
the purchase price? If you plan to pay cash make sure that you are comfortable with the rate of return on your investment. You may wish to consider getting a loan for some of the purchase to keep more capital for other investments (more houses, or?). If you are going to obtain financing make sure you determine which loan is best for you and your needs. Most investment properties will require 20-25% down. If you are Foreign National you must be prepared to put down at least 30% in most cases. You can also attempt to receive a loan from your country as well. The rates will be lower but you may have to put up your current
home as collateral (borrow against your equity). Some second homes may be
purchased with less money down. But your payments will be much lower with
the more money you put down on your purchase.

For comparison purposes here let’s take one of current waterfront listings.

It is located at 1429 Vendome Ct. Cape Coral, Florida 33904. It is a
gulf access home, built in 2007.

The current asking price is $375,000. Let’s assume that you plan to put down 25%. This means that you will be putting adown payment of $93,750.

Here is an estimate of closing costs:

Taxes: $ 6,422.24*

Loan fees: $3,846

Prepaid taxes & insurance: $5,778

Total costs to close: $103,374.

* from current 2008 tax bill – properties are reassessed every year
here so this could change. Currently this home is assessed at $374,230.

If we can help you further your search for a new home or second home, please don’t hesitate to call. We look forward to hearing from you!

Yours in Success,

The Florida Future Realty Team

239-542-8521

Inquiry@floridafutureagents.com

Captiva Real Estate

Welcome to Southwest Florida

Captiva Real Estate

Southwest Florida is a beautiful area to call home. With miles of beaches, canals, lakes & rivers you’ll never be wondering where to go for water activities. Golf? SW Florida is home to many of the best golf courses in the country. With temperatures that are pleasant year round you can forget the cold, ice & snow for good!

Florida Future Realty, Inc is an innovative real estate leader in SW Florida. We understand today’s buyers & sellers and will never attempt to stuff you into any type of ‘mold’. We believe that each individual is in fact, individual and cater our real estate services to match your specific needs.

Many of our customers are tech-savvy. They want answers & without much wait. That’s where we come in. We provide tons of INFORMATION right at your fingertips from your own home or office.

While we can’t wait to chat with you & hopefully meet one day soon, we understand that you may not be ready for that yet. That’s OK! We are not pushy. We are ready to work with you when you are ready. You ARE the customer, right?

The menu above should allow you to find what you are looking for but for quicker navigation use the links below:

Search Active Listings through the MLS

Find out what your home is worth

List with us

Sell your house as a short sale

We look forward to working with you.

Yours in Success,

Susan Milner

Broker/Owner

Florida Future Realty, Inc.

Cape Coral, FL

Call us if you have any questions now: (239) 542-8521 or email inquiry@floridafutureagents.com


Cape Harbour Cape Coral

Cape Harbour Real Estate

Cape Harbour is a high end, gated, luxury community located in SW Cape Coral. With townhomes to estate homes, you are sure to find something that you like.

Cape Harbour Real Estate in Cape Coral, Florida ~ View this slideshow below to see currently available listings for sale in Cape Harbour or create your own search if you’d prefer: Cape Coral home search.

Cape Harbour Single Family Homes for Sale:

Too big for you? What about one of these luxury Townhomes for sale in Cape Harbour?