Our market has softened somewhat in southwest Florida, but there is plenty of good news to be had. Buying a Florida Gulf Coast Home? Search all Homes for Sale Selling a Florida Gulf Coast Home? Click here for a Home Value Report Welcome back to your southwest Florida quarterly market update. As you can see in the video above, today I’m letting my son and daughter take the reigns to give you the latest scoop. The market has softened somewhat in southwest Florida. What I mean by that is home prices didn’t rise as much as we’re used to. However, our region is still a very strong market. In fact, we’ve seen an increase in the total number of sold properties. In the first quarter of 2016, the market saw 6,747 sales. This year, there were 7,053 sales. That’s an increase of 5%. We’ve also seen an increase in the median sale price. In the first quarter of 2016, our median sale price was $231,250. This year, it’s increased 8% to $250,000. Homes are still selling fast in southwest Florida. There’s even more good news. Homes are still selling fast in southwest Florida. The average days on market for homes in our area is down to 49 days. A common question we agents hear is, “How much should I list my home for to leave room for negotiations?” To give you an idea, statistically speaking, homes have sold for 96% of their asking price so far this year. Our team average, though, is much higher. You can call us to learn more about that fact. Lastly, if you need a mortgage to buy your next home, now is the time to act. Mortgage rates are currently hovering around 4.2%. A special thanks to Alanna and Trevor Leugers for assuming my duties for the day. If you have any more questions about our market or you’re thinking about buying or selling a home, give us a call, shoot us an email, or send us a text message. 

Today we've got a pocket listing to share with you. This is one of the most desirable properties you'll ever see in Cape Coral. Buying a Florida Gulf Coast Home? Search all Homes for Sale Selling a Florida Gulf Coast Home? Click here for a Home Value Report Every business has a pocket listing.What do we mean by that? In this case, a pocket listing is a super-secret deal that we can pass onto our customers. If you're reading this, it's because you fit certain criteria for this great property that we wanted to tell you about. It's in the best location in Cape Coral, literally minutes away from gulf access. It also has sailboat access. It's truly one of the most desirable properties here.This property will sell in a matter of days.Once we put this property on the market, it will sell in a matter of days, so if you're reading this, don't wait to jump on this deal. This property is just waiting to be demolished and have your dream home built on it. If you're interested in this property, reach out to us right away. We look forward to telling you more!

Forbes magazine recently published its 10 Hottest Real Estate Markets list and we wanted to share what areas in Florida made the list! Buying a Florida Gulf Coast Home? Search all Homes for Sale Selling a Florida Gulf Coast Home? Click here for a Home Value Report We’ve got some exciting news for you today! An article was recently put out by Forbes magazine highlighting the 10 hottest real estate markets in the nation and three of our markets here in Southwest Florida made the list! Cape Coral/Fort Myers is in the top 10 every year, and this year came in at number two. Tampa/St.Petersburg came in at number five, and Sarasota/Bradenton came in at number 10. Forbes predicted Cape Coral will be number four in job growth this year.There are many factors that go into getting on the Forbes list for hottest markets, and you might think the biggest factor for our markets is the sunny skies and 80 degree weather. However, the biggest factor to getting on the Forbes list was job growth. In fact, in a different article, Cape Coral was predicted to be number one in job growth, with Forbes predicting Cape Coral to be number four. Either way, we are in a top market, and you can read all about it in the Forbes articles here. If you are looking to buy or sell in these hot markets, or if you have any questions about real estate, don’t hesitate to give us a call. We are always happy to help!

What's it like working with us to buy a home? See what recent buyers David and Vicki had to say about their buying experience. Buying a Florida Gulf Coast Home? Search all Homes for Sale Selling a Florida Gulf Coast Home? Click here for a Home Value Report Today I'm joined by David and Vicki, who recently became homeowners after working with our team. We wanted to share a little bit about their experience with you. David and Vicki found us simply by searching online, where our name popped up first on Google. "It has been a very good experience," Vicki says. "Lona is a professional and she met with us the first day and went over everything, and asked us the right questions about what we wanted. She was able to deliver that for us." David and Vicki said they'd definitely recommend us to anyone looking to buy or build a home on the Florida Gulf Coast.It was a pleasure working with David and Vicki!"With the care that we got and the help that we had in choosing what we did, Lona really was spot on for us," David says. "She stayed with us through the entire process." It was a pleasure working with David and Vicki, and we'd love to work with you, too! If you're interested in buying, selling, or building a home, don't hesitate to give us a call or send us an email today. We'd love to help you!

Whether you’re a customer, friend, or family member, we want to thank you for your loyalty and wish you a very happy holidays. Buying a Florida Gulf Coast Home? Search all Homes for Sale Selling a Florida Gulf Coast Home? Click here for a Home Value Report Today we’re joining you live from the gorgeous Cape Harbor marina to wish you a very happy holiday season.Doug wishes he could be here, but he’s currently training about 100 other Realtors from around the nation this week. However, I did bring along a couple special helpers from the future leadership team of Leugers Real Estate Advisors to spread the holiday cheer: our son Trevor and our daughter Alanna. We wouldn’t be where we are without you.Whether you’re a customer, friend, or family member, we just wanted to thank you for your loyalty. We had another successful year in real estate here in southwest Florida, and we couldn’t have done it without you. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your business, for entrusting us to serve you with one of your largest investments, and for all the referrals to your friends and family members. If there’s anything we can do for you, please let us know. In the meantime, have a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year!

Ken Egan always recommends getting a pre-inspection, whether you’re a buyer or a seller. As you’ll see, they benefit you in more ways than one. Buying a Florida Gulf Coast Home? Search all Homes for Sale Selling a Florida Gulf Coast Home? Click here for a Home Value Report Today on the show you’ll meet Ken Egan. Ken is the owner and a certified home inspector with Pillar To Post Home Inspections. Today you’ll learn about the most costly and common issues found in homes here in Southwest Florida. You’ll also learn some unique ways to use a home inspection to your advantage beyond just the methods used by traditional real estate agents. At the end of the podcast, Ken and I will have a giveaway for our loyal listeners. Ken will be sharing a super special discount if you’re interested in getting a home inspection. Doug Leugers: Welcome to the show, Ken. Ken Egan: Glad to be here. Doug: Why don’t we start off by pretending you’re in an elevator with me and I’m curious as to what it is that you do. How would you give everybody an overview of what it is that you do? Ken: The service that we provide, the home inspection process, would include the inspection of a home, whether somebody is about to sell or they’re interested in purchasing one. We can go in with an expert’s point of view in viewing the attic, the roof system, the AC system, the hot water heater, the entire plumbing system, the electrical system, doors and windows, structural, and any other concerns that the home buyer or seller may have. Doug: So you provide peace of mind when it comes to buying a home, essentially, right? Ken: That is correct. The most important thing is to give the client more awareness to exactly what they’re about to purchase so there are no surprise costs. Doug: What are some of the most common and costly issues that you see here in South Florida? Ken: Well, the most common issues that we do see are probably more plumbing-related. It can be something like simple maintenance issues, like doors or windows out of adjustment. But plumbing, there might be moisture issues, whether it comes from plumbing systems, or sprinkler systems, or even a roof, and the AC system. The most costly out of them, I would say, would be the roof, followed by the AC system, and, of course, plumbing, depending on the extent of the problem. Doug: Being that that’s the most costly—the roof and the AC replacement, usually—what kind of  price range or cost are we talking about there? Ken: Well, I just re-roofed my home, which is about 3,000 sq ft., and that was around $12,000 for a shingle. You can figure if you want with a tile roof or a slate or something, you can figure it’s going to be double or triple. Doug: Wow, $24,000 at least. Ken: But they last longer than shingles. Doug: Yeah, that’s true, but still could be a huge cost expense to a buyer that wasn’t expecting that. I’ve heard about pre-inspections—I’ve heard a lot of top agents across the country talking about it at these different real estate events that I’ve been to, and how they use pre-inspections to save their customers money, and a lot of money. That being said, can you explain what a pre-inspection is and how and why a homeowner should invest in a pre-inspection and how it will save them a lot of money? Ken: First, I’d really recommend a pre-inspection to anybody who’s interested in selling their home. What it is, is it covers the same territory of what a regular home inspection would be if they were a buyer. The advantage of it is that by having a pre-inspection, you would be made aware before a buyer is there and wanting you to repair it. So there is no surprise repairs that need to be done, and can possibly be remedied at much less cost than a buyer wanting you to be compensated for. Doug: Gotcha. Yeah, to put some numbers to that, it’s said that around 30% of deals, give or take, fall apart from the time they go pending to the closing table, and a lot of those issues are because of home

We’re excited to pull back the curtain and unveil one of southwest Florida’s best kept secrets - the Useppa Island Club. Thanks to our friends Brian and Mary McColgan, we were recently able to explore the island. It’s a place rich with history and beauty. Useppa Island was originally home to Native Americans and has also been inhabited by the U.S. army as well as the C.I.A. In 1896, a Chicago businessman built a hotel on the island, which was later bought by legendary New York advertising executive Barron Collier. He developed the island into a resort, adding things like a nine-hole golf course and tennis courts. He decided to turn the island into an escape for industry giants, political bigwigs, and celebrities. Some notables who frequented the island include the Vanderbilts, Rockefellers, Rothschilds, Shirley Temple, and Herbert Hoover. Mr. Collier fell in love with the island and made it his official residence from where he directed his real estate empire. The island has changed many hands since Mr. Collier’s death in 1939. A posh and exclusive Florida island, Useppa Island is home to 109 residents who are lucky enough to call it their home. A leisurely stroll along the white, sandy beach will melt your heart with pride as you see one of southwest Florida’s most beautiful masterpieces. There is lodging on Useppa for those who want to visit, but it’s limited. After all, the island is exclusive. Your options include the Collier Inn and Suites, Island Room and Suites, and the Useppa Village. There is no shortage of activities for you to enjoy on the island. There is no shortage of activities for you to enjoy on the island including tennis, swimming, life-size chess, and some of the world’s best fishing. There are some great dining options as well. The island is one mile long and half a mile wide. Its lush landscape can be explored by meandering down the winding paths throughout the area. If you have any questions for us about the island or would like to take a look at it yourself, give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you.

The average American consumes 71.2 lbs of beef and 54.1 lbs of poultry each year. Next time you need some meat in your life, come check out Beach Brothers BBQ. Buying a Florida Gulf Coast Home? Search all Homes for Sale Selling a Florida Gulf Coast Home? Click here for a Home Value Report We are back again with another small business spotlight. Today we are at the best BBQ restaurant in paradise, Beach Brothers BBQ. Whether you are hungry for a rack of slow-smoked ribs, an oversized pulled pork sandwich, or $2 tacos overflowing with toppings, Beach Brothers BBQ is the best place for you to get your meaty fix. The average American consumes 71.2 lbs of beef and 54.1 lbs of poultry each year. You’ve got to get your protein somewhere, and that’s why we recommend you try out Beach Brothers BBQ in Cape Coral. "They use quality ingredients and do things the right way." They use quality ingredients and do things the right way. Grillmaster Lloyd slow smokes each rack of ribs for hours at a low temperature, ensuring the meat falls off the bone when served. Lloyd uses three or four different types of wood, depending on his mood. If the pulled pork and ribs weren’t enough to make you hungry, you can always swing over to Beach Brothers for $2 Taco Tuesdays. Imagine a tortilla shell filled with your choice of smoked or jerk chicken or pork, topped with a mound of cheese, peppers, lettuce, and Beach Brothers BBQ sauce. To learn more about Beach Brothers, check out their website here. If you have any real estate needs for us in the meantime, don’t hesitate to give us a call. We would love to hear from you!

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The numbers are in for the second quarter of 2016. How does this year’s real estate market compare to last year’s? Home values in the southern region of the U.S. went up 5.9% overall. Floridians should see around a 7% increase in home value. That is down a bit from the previously projected 9% increase in home value, but a 7% appreciation rate is still stronger than what most of the country will see. Thanks to Brexit and other economic factors, mortgage rates have actually gone down a little bit. Right now, interest rates are hovering right around the 3.5% range. Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, the Mortgage Bankers Association, and the National Association of Realtors all predict that interest rates will go up anywhere from 4% to 4.37% through the third quarter of 2017.  “ Our market may be getting back to normal. ” As for our local market, the total number of homes sold during the second quarter of 2016 dropped by 12% from the previous year: in 2015, there were 10,052, and in 2016, there have been 8,810 homes sold. Don’t be alarmed by that drop; this simply means that our market may be getting back to normal. It looks like we are adjusting back to the 2012 level, which is a pretty good pace for the real estate market. Meanwhile, home prices in our area increased by nearly 3.2%. In 2015, the median sales price was $232,500. This year, that number jumped to $240,000. That is not the huge appreciation rate we’ve seen in the past year or so, but it’s still a fair rate of appreciation for the second quarter. If you have any questions about the market or how things look for your neighborhood specifically, give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!