Naples, Bonita Springs & Estero Real Estate Industry News & Updates

Estero is a city of contrasts.  Situated on Southwest Florida’s Gulf Coast, it lays between Naples to the south and Fort Myers to the North. The city grew up around the Estero River, which goes on to flow into the beautiful Estero Bay.  The contrasts of beachside living, where leisure activities and relaxing in the sun are equally attractive pastimes, and the excitement of the city, with its cosmopolitan mix of boutiques, bars and restaurants, are the ingredients that make Estero such a special place to invest in property. This spring, Estero is host to some very special visitors. [...] Read More

There’s a reason Lee County is home to the second most-popular real estate market in the U.S. among foreign buyers, Realtor Brett Ellis said.  “It may not have a Naples address, but foreign buyers are saying, ‘Do I want a Naples address, or to make money?'” said Ellis, a Realtor with RE/MAX Realty Group in Bonita Springs. According to real estate research firm DataQuick, Cape Coral-Fort Myers ranked second in popularity after the Lakeland-Winter Haven area out of 97 markets examined in the nation in March.[...] Read More

Belle Lago is a single family community located in Estero Florida.  A newer neighborhood in Estero, Belle Lago is still building new single family homes by Toll Brothers.  Belle Lago’s community amenities consist of a grand clubhouse with a multipurpose room, fitness center, aerobics studio, library/craft room, game room, card/TV lounge and locker rooms.[...] Read More

But the Chapter 9 filing was not accepted by Gov. Charlie Crist’s office, which means that Stoneybrook residents may face assessments to keep the public golf course from closing.[...] Read More

If timing is everything, then completion of the Beach Clubhouse at Miromar Lakes Beach & Golf Club held particular significance to the Fredericks. Miromar Lakes resident Connie Frederick says “it seemed like the Beach Clubhouse was being built just for my daughter’s wedding.”

The Frederick family watched construction progress and a few months after completion, their event took place. That was a little over a year ago. Since then, the Beach Clubhouse has been the site of many holiday celebrations, private family gatherings and a host of community activities.

The Beach Clubhouse is the third and final building in the 39,000-square-foot Beach Club, which is the centerpiece of the community. With architectural flair and amenities that are much more than the typical country club, the Beach Club has garnered numerous best clubhouse awards and it has proven to be a major influence in shaping the social life of residents.

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The median price of a single-family-home resale in September in Lee County was $89,700 in Lee County — 37 percent off $141,400 a year earlier, according to statistics released today by the Florida Association of Realtors.  Meanwhile, the number of homes sold increased 77 percent in the same period from 746 to 1,321.

In Charlotte County, the median price fell 19 percent from $136,900 to $110,600 while the number of homes sold increased 56 percent from 153 to 238.  Statewide, the median price fell 19 percent from $174,900 to $142,000 while the number of homes sold increased 34 percent from 10,778 to 14,419.

In a separate report also issued today, the National Association of Realtors said U.S. home sales rose 9.4 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.57 million in September, from a downwardly revised pace of 5.1 million in August.

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By LAURA LAYDEN Naples News

Fort Myers area Realtors sold more homes in the first eight months of this year than they did in all of 2005.

Members of the Realtor Association of Greater Fort Myers and the Beach Inc. sold 13.6 percent more homes from January to August than they did in the height of the market four years ago.

In 2005, a total of 9,842 homes sold. This year, through August, Realtors in the Fort Myers area sold 11,178 single-family homes, according to a report by the Fort Myers Realtor association.

Sales were up 80.7 percent in August, compared to the same month a year ago. Year to date, sales are up 124.9 percent, compared to the same months a year ago.

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Contributed by Tani Hurley Public Relations   Naples News

ESTERO — As the new Estero Parkway extension nears completion, residents in neighborhoods along the Parkway will find themselves minutes away from entertainment, education and shopping — all without the hassle of crossing Interstate 75.

“The new extension of Estero Parkway provides an overpass that links the road from Three Oaks Parkway to Ben Hill Griffin Parkway, allowing easy access to Germain Arena, Florida Gulf Coast University and Gulf Coast Town Center,” said Ken Thirtyacre, president of Toll Brothers’ Florida West Division.

Two Toll Brothers communities, Belle Lago and The Reserve at Estero, are on Estero Parkway.

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BY DON MANLEY  News Press

Even a recession can be the right time to build if a project is sufficiently unique and has location on its side.

It’s that mindset that’s resulted in Ravenna, the newest neighborhood in the upscale Miromar Lakes Beach & Golf Club community in Miromar Lakes, near Estero.

Developer and builder Gulfshore Homes will complete construction this month on Ravenna’s first building. Long-range plans call for 10 of the three-story, Venetian-styled buildings on a roughly 12-acre parcel bounded on three sides by Miromar’s lakes Como and Maggiore.

Each floor will have two residences and at each building’s base will be boat houses for each home capable of accommodating vessels up to 23 feet long. Each unit will have a private elevator.

Realtors, the developer and a Miromar official say boat houses are rare for inland developments.

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ESTERO — West Bay Club in Estero is still swinging.

Sales continue at the resort-style golf community, offering traditional and tower homes.

Behind the hustle and bustle of U.S. 41, the development sits quietly near the Gulf of Mexico, bordered by Estero Bay, the Estero River and Halfway Creek.

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