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The panic feels palpable, doesn’t it? As if we weren’t worn out enough with the housing meltdown, now we’re told we’re in for a very chilly – if not frigid - economy over the next few years. Understandably, it makes sense to conserve funds and be sure you have enough cash to weather this perfect storm. So real estate is probably out of the question – or is it?

When you consider that as an asset, even though real estate is no where near as liquid as cash or securities, it still represents a sound investment slice of your portfolio for the long term. So you might want to look at it again now.

Why now when everything else seems to be losing value overnight? Perhaps simply because other assets are more vulnerable to extreme price volatility. When did a house lose 22% of it’s value from the day before? Being less liquid means it can’t sell as quickly as other paper investments, but it also means the price is more stable over a longer period. Sure it will decline. But it will also appreciate. But both swings take months, if not years, but not days.

So when should you purchase that second home in the sun? Maybe when the prices are the lowest they’ve been in the past 5 years? That will undoubtedly be a strong motivator for people who have managed their finances well and can apply some of the cash from recent securities sales toward an asset they can actually live in and enjoy. Maybe that’s you? Then maybe it’s time consider such a move.

But don’t just take my word for it. Let’s look at the remarkable sales statistics for homes in Lee county the past few months - the area comprising Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Bonita and yes, Burnt Store Marina.

Here’s a link to an article from Sunday’s News Press (Oct 12, 2008):
Lee-County-Sales-up-over-2007-News-Press-10-12-08.pdf

And here’s a video clip from a recent NBC News story about the sudden increase in sales for Cape Coral (about :25 seconds in)http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22425001/vp/27087106#27087106

In summary, we’re seeing some compelling statistics:

• The total number of homes that went under contract last month are up 200% over the same month in 2007 and almost 13% above the record-setting year of 2005
• Third quarter in total is 140% higher than the same period last year
• Overall, sales for the year are up 80% over 2007
• Inventories are declining
• Interest rates are extremely favorable for buyers with excellent credit
• Money flowing out of the Stock Market is flowing back into real estate – at least here in Lee County
• Energy costs will be significantly lower in winter here than they are up north
• It’s a veritable paradise outside

If you’re looking for the deal of the decade now is the time to seriously look at the opportunities in this waterfront area. Burnt Store Marina continues to be an oasis right on Charlotte Harbor offering quick, direct access to the Gulf for beaches, fishing and boating. Burnt Store is the largest private Marina on the Gulf coast with 525 wet slips, 300 dry slips, three onsite restaurants, 27 hole executive golf course and Club House, Fitness and Tennis Center and miles of designated walking and riding paths.

When you’re ready – not ‘if” – I’ll be ready to make sure you get the best deal you can. In the meantime, email me with your requirements and what your ‘dream’ home is. I’ll find the best price and features available.

We’ll get through this. We’re undergoing a rapid re-evaluation of our country’s asset values – including stocks, currency, real property - and it’s long overdue. But remember the old moniker that worked so well for smart investors in the past “buy when they’re selling, and sell when they’re buying”. Go contrary to the market and you’ll come out way ahead of the herd.

Thanks for reading and hang in there!

Sandi

************* Call Sandi anytime at 239-851-6244 ************

Three significant things are starting to happen in the Southwest Florida market:

1. The newspapers are reporting that month to month sales are on the increase in both Charlotte and Lee counties (Collier does not provide this data). Read the recent April 23rd article here: http://www.gulfwaterfrontproperty.com/News-Press-Stats-April

2. Buyers are flocking to low-priced properties and actually entering into bidding wars. We haven't seen that since 2005. But that shows how the prices are at the point where the deal is too good to pass up.

3. Our inventory of resale homes in Charlotte County has declined for the 14th straight month in a row. Finally, as of today (May 1st) we're now below 5000 homes on the market. At our peak in March of '07 there were 6600 homes for sale. So we're steadily working through the inventory.  

Other areas of the country are still at the beginning of the Foreclosure curve, but we may be starting to come out of it here in this corner of the world. Most of the Builder's inventory of spec homes is sold at this point - except for a few planned communities that started too late in the peak in 2005 to sell out then. 

There are currently 175 foreclosures listed in the Charlotte county MLS. They're selling briskly because they're priced so aggressively. Here's a list for reference: Summary-of-Foreclosures-4-29-08.pdf

I've often said that we were the first to crash and we'll be the first to start the climb back up. Maybe we're starting that transition now.

Interestingly, today an article in Moneywatch.com (read an excerpt here) has finally stated that the reported statistics for home sales around the country are very skewed because the analysts are too intent on applying a universal trend to markets that are inherently local. As one expert admits, it's like trying to say the temperature outside is the same everywhere in the country.

At least in this market, there are some great buys disappearing daily. Stay tuned - or better yet - call me for the latest great deals.

Thanks for reading.

Sandi