Fort Myers Beach Real Estate News

Seafood Festival at Santini Plaza January 14, 2012!

2011-12-19T11:40:00.000-08:00

Come enjoy a day of fun and food at the Seafood Festival at Santini Marina Plaza Saturday (near Fort Myers Beach), January 14, 2011 from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm! The event will feature the restaurants of Santini Marina Plaza serving amazing seafood samplings, fresh baked pastries and a delectable assortment of cake and ice cream treats along with over 40 street vendors! Our non-profit group, FindAHomeGiveAHome will be there with some adorable animals looking for their new adoptive forever homes! Be sure to stop by and say hello!

Check Out Newton Park on Fort Myers Beach!

2011-12-17T11:31:00.000-08:00

Newton Park, located across from Publix at 4650 Estero Blvd is a historic home and beach front property that has been converted in to a public park! The property belonged to Jim and Ellie Newton, whose friendships with Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, Harvey Firestone and Charles Lindbergh are chronicled in the book, "Uncommon Friends" which was written by Jim Newton. The Town of Fort Myers Beach converted the grounds in to a public park that boasts beach access, parking, picnic areas, restroooms, bocce courts and meeting rooms. Each Wednesday there is a free guided beach walk, "Treasures of the Sea" at 9am. Open bocce ball, also free, is every Tuesday from 5:30pm to 7:30pm. Come enjoy this wonderful park!

"It's a Beachy Christmas" December 10th

2011-11-10T13:06:00.000-08:00

Santini Marina Plaza and Fish Tale Marina hosting "It's a Beachy Christmas" December 10th!

Come join the fun at Santini Plaza December 10th and enjoy an all day celebration with Christmas choirs, performing children's groups and arts and crafts street vendors. The day will end with a theatrical performance under the stars at 7:00 pm. Beach Haus Productions will perform the hour long show "It's a Beachy Christmas: An Evening of Christmas Shorts" on stage in the rotunda area of the Ship Store at Fish Tale Marina in Fort Myers beach, Fl. Arrive early to enjoy the evening, the christmas lights and the holiday treats are included in the $15 ticket price. A cash bar will also be available.

Fort Myers Beach Christmas Boat Parade December 3rd

2011-11-08T11:01:00.000-08:00

The Greater Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce Boat Parade will light up Fort Myers Beach on December 3rd! The festive boats will navigate the intracoastal waterway on a two hour journey to kick off the holiday season.

The vessels will assemble in from of the docks at Salty Sam's Marina and embark at 6:10pm heading northwest through Matanzas Pass towards Bowditch Point and then turning back at Pink Shell Resort passing Nervous Nellies, Matanzas Inn and finishing at Salty Sam's Marina. Spectators can enjoy the lights and boats at many waterfront restaurants, and public areas.

Paint the Beach Art Show - Nov. 14 - 20, 2011

2011-11-05T10:45:00.000-07:00

The Beach Arts Cooperative proudly presents "Paint the Beach Art Show" at Sanitini Plaza (within Fort Myers Beach Florida) set for November 14, 2011 to November 20, 2011.

Be sure to stop by Santini Plaza to see all the wonderful local art! Different events are scheduled daily.

November 15th to November 17th - watch artists paint!
November 18th - Judging event includes a gala with music, food, awards and a collectors review. Tickets available $20 prior to event of $25 at the door.
November 19th to November 20th- collectors sale.
November 20th - The Orpheus Players will present a play, "Sisters of the Sea" featuring sword fighting choreography. The play will be held at Santini Plaza, tickets are $30 which includes hors d'ouerves and cash bar.

More details are available at www.fortmyersbeachart.com

Howl'oween Pet Parade at Fish Tale Marina

2011-09-24T10:36:00.000-07:00

Howl'oween Pet Parade set for October 22, 2011 at Santini Plaza!!

Start planning your costume and your pet's costume for the Howl'oween Pet Parade coming up October 22nd! There will be plenty of fun for people and pets including the pet parade, street fair extravaganza, The Fort Myers Beach Marching Band and the clown brigade! Prizes will be awarded for parade entries including best pet costume, best human costume, best decorated wagon and best decorated golf cart!

Festivities will begin at 10:00am, parade entrants are asked to assemble at 9:00am at the Fish Tale Marina. No charge to enter the parade, however, pre-registration is required. To enter, call Bonnie at 239-443-8810 at the Fish Tale Marina/Santini Plaza.

Don't have a pet? That's ok! Come out and enjoy the parade and fun! See you there!

American Sand Scuplting Competition and Festival

2011-09-10T06:57:00.001-07:00

The 25th annual American Sand Sculpting Competition and Beach Festival is set for November 2nd to November 6th 2011.
This year's event boasts 16 sculptors with more than 35 combined championship titles.

Competition days will be Friday,November 4th through Sunday, November 6th with galleries open from 9:00am to 6:00pm. Ticket sales will be available from 9:00am to 5:00pm.
The event will feature world class sand sculptors, food, music and fun for the entire family which includes:

Sand 101: an educational area where sculptors will teach the secrets of building great sand castles.

Party on the Pavement: Beginning at the main entrance at Gullwing there will be food and beverage vendors, music and games for the kids, other vendors will be on site too! There is no entrance fee to join in the fun, however, a nominal fee is required to enter the gallery and see the sculptures up close.

Sand Vendor Village: A variety of vendors that feature everything from art and jewelry to novelties and sweets, along with children's activities, photo opportunities and local food and drinks!

Amateur Competition: Sunday November 6th, anyone can join a team to try sand sculpting. Winners and awards will be announced at the awards ceremony with the professional sand sculptors.

Free parking will be provided at Lover's Key State Park with a free shuttle to and from the event entrance.

This year's event will be held on the beach in front of Gullwing Beach Resort and Pointe Estero Resort with the main entrance at Gullwing.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Coastal Cleanup Scheduled for September 17, 2011!

2011-09-10T06:44:00.000-07:00

Keep Lee County Beautiful is sponsoring this year's Florida Coastal Cleanup effort scheduled Saturday, September 17, 2011 on Fort Myers Beach from 9:00am to 11:30am.
Everyone is encouraged to come to Fort Myers Beach and help in the cause to clean up the beachfront. Check in point is at Beach Elementary School. Volunteers will be provided with refreshments following the clean up.

The Coastal Cleanup is the only cleanup where trash is collected and recorded. Volunteers work in groups of 4, with 3 people collecting trash and the 4th person recording the trash on data cards. The data cards are then sent to the Ocean Conservancy where the information is used in the development of new environmental protection acts and change the behaviors that cause marine debris.

Latex gloves will be provided, however, anyone wishing to bring their own work gloves are welcome to do so.

Fort Myers Beach trolley-only lanes in the works

2010-10-04T07:34:00.000-07:00

Trolley-only lanes may be a great solution to ease congestion on Fort Myers Beach . During the peak times of January through April, drivers can easily wait 30 - 45 minutes in traffic. Improving access to the beach is a win-win situation for tourists and residents alike.

Click here to read full article.

The American Sandsculpting Championship Festival

2010-09-27T08:00:00.000-07:00

This 24th Annual Fort Myers Beach event promises to be the best one yet! Taking place over a 5 day period, this is an opportunity to see some of the most beautiful and creative works of art imaginable. Bring the whole family and enjoy the refreshments, exibitions, and visually compelling sandsculptures on our beautiful beaches.

Click here for full details

Fort Myers Beach Still Oil Free

2010-08-27T06:24:00.000-07:00

And Fort Myers Beach residents are optimistic that it will stay that way.

"Recent projections by the

Government indicate the probability of oil impacting our destination is less than 1 percent."

Read full article.

Fort Myers Beach Art Events

2010-08-25T12:36:00.000-07:00

Coming up in November on Fort Myers Beach is both the Paint the Beach event as well as the annual American Sandsculpting Championship!

Paint the Beach... is the first plein air painting competition to be held on Fort Myers Beach. The dates will be November 8-14. Prize money is generous - first prize is $1,000, second is $750, third is $500. There will also be a prize for the "Quick Draw" competition to be held on November 13.

Afterwards, awards will be presented at a reception and gala at Santini Marina Plaza & the works will be on sale to the public.

Click here for more details.

Classes Offered at the Fort Myers Beach Library

2010-08-19T12:45:00.000-07:00

Upcoming activities at the Fort Myers Beach library:

Learn to make a custom necklace in the Jewelry Making class on August 25 at 6:30pm.

Basic computer class - August 26 at 10:30am.

North End Fort Myers Beach - Batiki West

2010-08-11T10:07:00.000-07:00

I'm starting a new series of posts about the different condos on Fort Myers Beach so you can see in more detail what Fort Myers Beach has to offer.

The North area of Fort Myers Beach contains wonderful opportunities, exciting island nightlife and wonderful shopping for casual beach wear. Fishing opportunities at Matanzas Pass bridge and boating from one of the many marinas in this area add to this casual relaxed location.

The first condo I would like to highlight in the North area is Batiki West. From Batiki West you can walk to shopping & it's right across from the beach. The units are all 2 bedroom/2 bath with open balconies that take in bay & gulfviews. It is located near Time Square and the post office. Some boat docks are available as well as some underbuilding parking.

See more details about Batiki West.

Beach Web Cam

2010-07-28T08:54:00.000-07:00

Fort Myers Beach is still gorgeous & oil free!

View webcam

Visit the Local GreenMarket

2010-07-23T08:43:00.000-07:00

What to do on Fort Myers Beach this summer?

Visit the Alliance for the Art's GreenMarket for locally grown produce, live music, cooking demonstrations & other events.

Chefs Reiner Drygala & Heath Higginbothem from Bistro 41 share their knowledge during weekly cooking demonstrations, created with ingredients from the GreenMarket.

Special events coming up include voter registration booths, July 24th Blood Drive and children's activities provided by Florida Historical Society's Story Lady.

The market is constantly adding new vendors with products including clay art, custom jewelry, potted plants and even customized lifestyle plans.

Visit the GreenMarket on Saturday morning from 8am to noon.

Full article here.

Buyers Interested in Walkability

2010-07-09T13:12:00.000-07:00

This is an interesting tidbit found on RealtyTimes.com -

"Homebuyers are ranking a home's walking distance to schools, stores, neighborhood parks, and more as high on the list of influences to buy a home. Buyers are interested in purchasing a house that allows them to get around without the car."

I'd say that Fort Myers Beach ranks up right up there for that specification!

Read full article here.

Fort Myers High Honored

2010-06-15T07:46:00.000-07:00

Fort Myers Beach residents will be happy to know that "Fort Myers High School has been ranked 71st by Newsweek Magazine in it's annual rankings of the best high schools in America. This is yet another honor in a long list of honors earned by the school."

Read full article

For the Sports Fans

2010-06-01T13:19:00.000-07:00

Fort Myers beach has plenty to offer you sports fans out there. Here's the latest:

Beach Little League - schedule here.

Caloosa fishing tournament to be held June 3-6 - get the details here.

Here's an article on Fighting Larger Fish.

And apparently the Mullet Toss was a complete success - full story here.

Go out & enjoy! In the meantime I'll continue to keep you up to date on what to do on Fort Myers beach.

Weekend Plans

2010-05-26T08:03:00.000-07:00

If you are in need of some fun this weekend head on down to Fort Myers Beach!

There are two separate fundraisers being held. On Saturday, The Surf Club is hosting their Fireworks Cook-Out which benefits the "Light Up the Sky" Fourth of July Fireworks Fund. Sunday brings the Beach Pub Mullet Toss, an all-day benefit with live music, raffles, prizes, food, giveaways and mullet-tossing! This one benefits Reverend Nadine's after-school program for "VIP Kids" at Beach Elementary.

All in all a great way to spend the weekend: doing good, supporting some worthy causes & having a blast!

Read full article here.

Chair Sculpture

2010-05-26T07:55:00.001-07:00

This article just made me grin.

Long-time Fort Myers Beach resident Artie Monro is the maintenance man at Estero Beach & Tennis Club. He spends off the clock time creating sculptures from lawn chairs. He's been going strong for 8 months now, creating on average one per week.

He's done such designs as an Easter basket, Zippo lighter, tricycle, dinosaur, sailboat, light bulb, palm tree, butterfly, a snail & a toothpaste squirting onto a toothbrush.

It just made me smile to know that he's having fun & the residents enjoy it as well.

Read the full article here.

Last Minute Weekend Plans

2010-05-14T13:18:00.000-07:00

I'm a little late sharing this but if you don't have plans for the weekend yet you may want ot visit the 15th annual Taste of the Beach hosted by the Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce.

So far 21 restaurants are on the docket, such local hot spots as Nemo's, Matanzas, Junkanoo, Pincher's Crab Shack - it goes on and on.

Get the full info here>>

Sanibel Harbour Award

2010-05-14T13:13:00.000-07:00

More good news from the Fort Myers Beach area:

Sanibel Harbour Marriott is among the top four percent of AAA Diamond rated hotels in the country. To show how truly impressive this is consider that Sanibel Harbour is the only Four-Diamond rated property in Fort Myers.

Read full article here>>

Dodgeball Competition

2010-05-04T10:35:00.000-07:00

Dodgeball comes to Fort Myers Beach!

The Bay Oaks Recreation Campus with host a dodgeball league starting on May 12th.

These are adult coed league of six. Fee of $200 per team includes a team shirt.

Register before May 3rd to be part of the fun!

Read full article here.

Archealogist Led Walking Tour

2010-04-28T08:05:00.000-07:00

There's always more to do on & near Fort Myers Beach:

"Archaeologists Marion Almy and Lee Hutchinson of Archaeological Consultants, Inc. will lead a walking tour of downtown historic Fort Myers..."

Save the date - May 7, 2010 at noon

Read full article here.

Home Sales up in Fort Myers Area

2010-04-16T07:40:00.000-07:00

Good news: the real estate market is looking up on Fort Myers Beach! That means that many are seeing the value of purchasing homes in the area. If you are thinking about buying contact us to see some available properties.

"The Realtor Association of Greater Fort Myers and the Beach reported that 1,141 single-family homes were sold in February, up 21.9 percent from last year, and 12 percent from the previous month."

Read full article here.

New Fort Myers Beach Resource

2010-04-05T09:21:00.000-07:00

While searching for news to share with you this week all I found a new resource for Fort Myers Beach news.

Sand Paper is an online newspaper/magazine/blog. Actually, they were recently rated one of the Best American Media Outlets. Read full article here.

I'm glad I know about them now since the more news about Fort Myers Beach, the merrier!

Fort Myers Photography Contest

2010-03-31T08:36:00.000-07:00

Are there any amateur Fort Myers Beach photographers out there?

You can enter the third annual Shooting the Blueway contest by taking up to three photos on or along the Calusa Blueway. Categories include: paddlers on the trail, nature photography and signs on the blueway.

For more information read the full article here.

March on Fort Myers Beach

2010-03-18T07:31:00.000-07:00

Things to do around Fort Myers Beach in March:

March 19-21 Bay Oaks - Annual Tennis Tournament

March 19 & 20 Saint Raphael's - Rummage/Yard Sale

March 27 Pilot Club - Annual Fashion Show & Luncheon

Library Events

2010-03-11T13:05:00.000-08:00

Several things caught my eye on the Fort Myers Beach library's March schedule.

Among them:

Cardmaking, book discussion, a knitters meet and a jewelry making class.

Ukrainian Egg demo, Dog Day.

Artist of the month: Suzanne Carlston

Ukrainian Egg display

Bonsai display

You can pick up a full schedule at the library front desk or click here to read the full article.

Concert Series at a Great Rate

2010-03-05T06:58:00.001-08:00

Attention Fort Myers Beach dwellers: There are four concerts remaining in The Fine and Performing Arts Concert Series at the Shell Point Retirement Community.

These include:

Ensemble Galilei Friday, March 12th
Contiguglia Brothers Thursday, April 8th

The last four concerts will be offered at a special rate of $35 each or all four for $120 (a $20 savings).

Read full article here

CMCS Shrimp Festival Sailboat Race

2010-03-05T06:46:00.000-08:00

The Shrimp Festival sailboat race (hosted by the Caloosahatchee Marching and Chowder Society) is coming to Fort Myers Beach on March 13th.

Three buoy races are to be run starting at 10am. Also, be sure to attend the shrimp boil social at the Cape Coral Yacht Club afterward, reservations required.

Read the full article here.

Algenol Comes to Lee County

2010-02-18T06:46:00.000-08:00

Great news for Fort Myers Beach & the surrounding areas: Algenol is relocating their administrative offices & bio labs to Lee County.

"Algenol is a fully integrated biofuels company using direct algae-to-ethanol technology to product transportation fuel and alternative green-based chemicals."

This will provide an initial 120 jobs within the next several years, among other benefits to the community, such as attracting like-minded businesses & scientists in the field. Algenol will also be forming a partnership with FGCU to establish research programs for students pursuing careers in the field.

Read full article here.

Fort Myers Beach businesswoman is Lee County's citizen of the year

2010-02-18T06:39:00.000-08:00

I'm very excited to share that Fort Myers Beach businesswoman Roxie Smith has won Lee County's Paulette Burton Citizen of the year award for this year!

Full article here

Tips for Buyers

2010-02-04T09:57:00.000-08:00

I've gathered a list of tips for buyers of Fort Myers Beach real estate (or anywhere else, for that matter):

Making an aggressive offer in today's competitive market

9 tips for homebuyers and sellers in 2009 (still relevant in early 2010)

How to Cope with Home Buying Stress

Talk to Neighbors Before Buying a Home

Buying in a Depressed or Slowing Market

Ten Tips for Homebuyers

Hope these help!

Happenings on Fort Myers Beach

2010-01-26T09:55:00.000-08:00

Coming up on Fort Myers Beach:

January 29 & 30 - Gumbo Fest kicks off with a two day Arts & Crafts Festival at the Shell Factory & Nature Park Read more.

February 4, 11:00am - Fashion show, auction & luncheon at Sanibel Harbour Resort and Spa to benefit programs & treatments at Lee Memorial Health System's state-of-the-art Regions Cancer Center. Fashions will be provided by Tanger Outlet Stores. Read more.

March 13 & 14 - 52nd Annual Fort Myers Beach Shrimp Festival. Now seeking Shrimp Queen participants! Participation benefits the Fort Myers Beach Lions Club & local Sight and Cancer projects. Read more.

More Help for Haiti

2010-01-26T09:46:00.000-08:00

More support for the Haiti relief effort comes from Fort Myers Beach!

This past weekend the Lani Kai donated a percentage of sales to the Haiti rescue relief fund. Read full article here.

On another note, here are words from the front - one former Beach resident serves on a Search and Rescue team. These are his impressions via email. Read full article here.

Helping Haiti Earthquake Victims

2010-01-21T07:20:00.000-08:00

If you are in the Fort Myers Beach area & would like to donate or help out with the relief effort for Haiti, there are several options available:

Winning Kids Club is preparing to house Haitian orphans
The Winning Kids Club is a nonprofit charity organization that assists local disadvantaged and disabled children living in Lee or Charlotte counties, but according to president Gail Ghigna-Hallas, the group’s focus is switching exclusively to caring for up to 10 Haitian children ranging from infants to 5 year olds. Read full article here>>

Coral Ridge Cemetery to hold vigil for victims of earthquake
Coral Ridge Cemetery is hosting a vigil today for the people killed in the Haitian earthquake. Starting at 5:30 .pm., the vigil is open to the public. Those attending are being encouraged to bring donations of food, clothing, water and money to help those in need. Read full article here>>

FBC gives $1 per blood donor toward Haitian Relief Fund
For everyone who attempts to donate blood between Saturday, Jan. 16 through Monday, Jan. 25, FBC will donate $1 to the American Red Cross Haiti Relief Fund. FBC is also donating more than 1,000 bottles of water to relief efforts. Read full article here>>

Ladies Fishing Tournament Coming to Fort Myers Beach

2010-01-05T13:10:00.000-08:00

1st Annual Chix-N-Stix Ladies Tournament is coming to Fort Myers Beach Dec 4th through the 5th.

Check-in at 5pm, Friday, December 4th which includes a goody bag for the ladies. Following that is the anglers' meeting at 7pm. The real fun begins on Saturday the 5th at 7am with an end time of 3pm when all teams will meet back at the Fish-Tale Marina with their fish for a weigh-in.

Whitney March, with the School of Saltwater Fishing show, will be filming on site.

The Weigh Station will be packed to the gills with vendors, spectators, media, anglers & even a masseuse for those tired hands starting at 2pm until Bahama Breeze Island Grille opens the bar at 5pm.

The awards dinner will be at 7pm at Fish-Tale Marina. Bahama Breeze will provide an open bar specializing in Martini's. The winners will be determined & the top 5 teams will be awarded cash, prizes & trophies. Even more prizes will be awarded in the fun & youth divisions.

The Holiday Inn across from the Fish-Tale Marina has special tournament rates of $79/night available. Just tell them you are with CNS!

For more information and sponsorship information, visit http://www.chixnstix.net/ or call Kristi Riley at 239-850-1707 or Lacey Rush at 239-980-1436

2010 on Fort Myers Beach

2010-01-01T07:36:00.000-08:00

Here are a few of our picks for things to do in the coming year on Fort Myers Beach:

January 16th: Golf Tournament

March 13th: 52nd Annual Fort Myers Beach Lions Club Shrimp Festival

March 13th: Shrimp Festival Parade

April 3rd: 15th Annual Easter Egg Hunt

July 4th: 4th of July Fireworks

September 21st: 6th Annual Ambassador Committee Tapa Hop

November 10th: 24th Annual American Sandsculpting Championship Festival

All of these events are held at 17200 San Carlos Blvd., Fort Myers Beach, FL, 33931.

For more information: Call 239-454-7500 or visit www.fortmyersbeach.org.

A Tale of Two Trolleys

2009-12-22T12:25:00.000-08:00

This News Press article on the Naples & Fort Myers Beach trolleys caught my eye & I wanted to make sure you are all aware of the Fort Myers Beach trolley as it is a fun & frugal way of traveling about our area. At $31 dollars for a month pass, it's hard to beat! (Per ride the cost is $0.50.)

Interviews with regular passengers show how convenient the trolley truly is to locals and visitors alike: Cornelius murphy, a Bonita Springs local, takes the trolley into Fort Myers Beach to work, while vacationers, Ted and Donna, didn't even have to rent a car for their visit.

Read the full article here.

Congratulatons - Beach Soccer Team

2009-11-25T08:09:00.000-08:00

We would like to extend our congratulations to the Lions Club of Fort Myers Beach Under-18 soccer team! They recently scored the Under-18 Boys Championship soccer title by defeating the club from San Carlos Park. Way to go Fort Myers Beach team!

Jazz at the Roadhouse Cafe and Piano Bar

2009-11-16T09:21:00.000-08:00

One of the recommended attractions near Fort Myers Beach is the Roadhouse Cafe and Piano Bar, which is owned by Sherri Colombo-Neely & her husband Marc. It has been compared to a supper club of the '50's due to the nightly musical fare & relaxed atmosphere.

It was modeled after the original Roadhouse Cafe in Hyannis, Cape Cod and stays true to the original's deliciously eclectic menu.

Beyond typical dining, patrons can dine in "The Cave", a cave-like dining room that seats 6 as well as in the Wine Room which seats 23-25 people for all sorts of events and parties.

According to Sherri, ""The biggest compliment we get is when someone tells us they feel like they've been invited in our home," Sherri said. "People have told us upon stepping into our restaurant, they feel like they're in Chicago or New York City, and they actually make a night here, coming in for dinner, then enjoying some drinks and live jazz music. We just want people to come in, relax, and have a nice night out."

Read the full article here.

Fort Myers Beach Fire Station Wins Award

2009-11-15T09:38:00.000-08:00

The 2009 Summit Award went to Fowler Construction and Development for their work on the design of Fort Myers Beach Station #32.

The project was a collaboration among the district, the planning team - Gora McHahey Architectural Firm - and Fowler Construction.

The building design serves as both fire protection and Advanced Life Support transport. Beyond that it is also a command and operation center during disasters or storms.

The fire district has been serving Fort Myers Beach for 60 years, since 1949.

See full story with quotes here.

Pirate Festival on Fort Myers Beach

2009-10-15T09:33:00.000-07:00

The fourth annual Pirate Festival was held recently on Fort Myers Beach. Guests were treated to a live black-powder demonstration, a ship-to-shore-battle, belly dancing and swashbuckling galore. Authentic food was served aplenty, as well as live music & treasures for sale.

View the gallery of fun here.

If you missed out this time the next Pirate Festival is scheduled for October 2010. Get more information here.

Yacht Services on Fort Myers Beach

2009-10-10T13:14:00.000-07:00

It looks like service for boats & yachts on Fort Myers Beach is about to improve in the near future:

"Diversified Yacht Services has purchased 2.5 acres of waterfront on San Carlos Island, near Fort Myers Beach, to expand its yacht and boat repair business."

Also, "The company's services include... 'pretty much the whole gauntlet for any sized boat'. "

(Excerpt from News-Press.com)

It sounds like a great thing for those of you who own in the area now, as well as for those looking at Fort Myers Beach real estate to buy soon.

30 Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rates are Below 5 Percent

2009-09-03T07:00:00.001-07:00

There is no better time to purchase real estate on Fort Myers Beach.

According to Free Rate Update, their research "shows current 30 year fixed mortgage interest rates as low as 4.875% available with zero buy down points" as of August 31 ,2009.

And rates have indeed fallen further as Bank Rate is showing 30 year fixed rates to be 4.250% currently.

Moving to Fort Myers Beach: Personal

2009-08-10T07:47:00.000-07:00

We just noticed that the Chamber of Commerce has some great resources for those that are or will be relocating to the Fort Myers Beach area.

We thought we would highlight some of them here to help you with your move.

Their Useful Links page includes links to Government, Education, Tourist Related & Local Media information.

They provide a Member Directory as well so you can search for local businesses based on what you are looking for.

You can also Request a Relocation Package that they have so thoughtfully put together for those new to the area.

We hope these links give you a little help with your more!

Sports on Fort Myers Beach

2009-07-27T11:44:00.000-07:00

There are plenty of sports on Fort Myers Beach. You may choose to be involved in them or be a spectator. Either way, there's a lot to do & see for the local sports enthusiast. Maybe you'll even find a sport that's new to you! Click below for more information on the latest happenings.

Hammerhead Rugby tourney

Kayak angling tournament

Extreme Volleyball Professionals

Pricing Your Home

2009-07-21T11:39:00.000-07:00

We came across this article about pricing your home for sale in the current economic climate.

Pricing Your Home in 2009

It's a simple & realistic look at finding out what your home is worth in this market, as well as providing some choices that sellers have.

We found it to be a rather informative article. Hope you find it as useful as we did!

Highlighted Listing: Canal Front Cutie!

2009-07-10T07:35:00.000-07:00

This one is small but it is one of our favorites!

It's a one bedroom, two bath on the canal. The community features a heated pool, picnic area & bbq, assigned parking, community laundry, boardwalk along the canal & marina. It is also very close to shopping, restaurants, beach, pharmacy, bookstore, you name it!

It is turnkey furnished & ready for you to move in. This is perfect as a vacation home, if you've always wanted to live across the street from the Gulf of Mexico or if you are interested in renting it out to make some extra income.

Please click here to view the virtual tour to appreciate how truly nice this little property is.

Fort Myers Beach Webcam

2009-06-24T09:50:00.000-07:00

You can check out what's happening on Fort Myers Beach right now! Click here to view the webcam.

Things to Do on Fort Myers Beach

2009-06-10T07:10:00.000-07:00

There is plenty to do on Fort Myers Beach this summer & on through Christmas. See below for some of our favorite picks & click here for more information for any of the events.

June 2009

Sunday 21st - 14th Annual Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce Taste of the Beach
Sunday 21st - Father's Day Pancake Breakfast @ Bonita Bill's Waterfront Cafe
Sunday 21st - US Open 2009 Bethpage Black Father's Day Scramble
Saturday 27th - Kids Fishing Tournament

July 2009

Saturday 4th 11th Annual Fourth of July Celebration
Saturday 4th 4th of July Fireworks
Saturday 4th Billie Swamp Safari July 4th

August 2009

Thursday 20th Business After Hours

September 2009

Thursday 10th General Membership Luncheon
Tuesday 22nd 7th Annual Tapas Hop

October 2009

Friday 9th 4th Annual Pirate Festival

November 2009

Wednesday 4th 23rd Annual American Sandsculpting Championship Festival
Tuesday 1st 4th Annual Spirit of the Holidays Dinner Auction

December 2009

Saturday 5th 22nd Annual Christmas Boat Parade
Saturday 12th 14th Annual Spirit of the Holidays Pancake Breakfast
Monday 14th Holiday Decorating Contest

Fort Myers Beach Blog - Guest Articles

2009-05-08T12:10:00.000-07:00

I want to share my new favorite Fort Myers Beach blog with you!

It showcases guest posts by visitors to the Fort Myers Beach area.

Guest author Nancy writes, "How can I describe Ft. Myers Beach? One word is all it takes: AWESOME!" Sherry comments, "I am with you 100%." Read the entire post here.

Another guest article touches on a bit of Fort Myers Beach history from a long time visitor's point of view. One memorable comment from Scott reads, "Great place for Families!". Read the entire post here.

Beach Cottage on Palmetto Street, Fort Myers Beach

2009-04-20T07:12:00.000-07:00

Here's a new listing from our offerings on Fort Myers Beach. This one is a great little beach cottage on stilts. Lots of upgrades have been made - new kitchen, tile, Ondura roof, appliances, fenced back yard. There is also much opportunity for improvement as there is plenty of space for a pool and expansion.

Upstairs houses the main living area with one bed, one bath, a large living area & a large open deck. Down below is an unfinished one bed, one bath that you can finish per your specifications. Weekly rentals are allowed so you could easily rent out the lower section of the house or the entire house.

The cottage is enticingly close to the beach which is great for you family or your renters. Click here to see more details.

All About Fort Myers Beach

2009-03-19T07:18:00.000-07:00

The town of Fort Myers Beach has put up an amazing website - http://www.fortmyersbeachfl.gov/ that offers so much great information about our little corner of the world here that I just had to share.

They have thoughtfully included information about the local government & the community as well as a section on doing business. Also provided are separate menus specifically for residents & visitors.

Not only is the entire site stuffed full of useful information, but it also houses island history that is sure to be best read while at leisure. Just the Story of Fort Myers Beach alone covers the earliest days, homesteaders and settlers, early subdivisions, the hurricanes and much, much more. Beyond the Story, there is also history on Early Days on Estero Island & Fort Myers Beach Historic Preservation Board.

We were so excited to discover such a comprehensive resource for the Fort Myers Beach area that we just had to share with you all.

Fort Myers Beach Events

2009-02-19T06:47:00.000-08:00

There are so many things to do in the Fort Myers Beach area, whether you are a visitor or a resident. Below is a sampling of events coming up in the February and March for all to enjoy:

April

Southwest Florida 7th Annual Burrowing Owl Festival
February 21, 2009 Saturday10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Event takes place at:Rotary Park Environmental Center
5505 Rose Garden Road Cape Coral, FL 33914
Contact: Pascha Donaldson, President Tel: 239-980-2593
http://www.ccfriendsofwildlife.org/

Edison Festival of Light: Light Up the Town
2254 Edwards Drive, Fort Myers, Florida 33901 (Downtown Fort Myers)
Phone: (941) 334-2999
http://www.edisonfestival.org/

Edison Festival of Light: Crafts on the River
Centennial Park (Edwards Drive), Downtown Fort Myers
http://www.edisonfestival.org/event_schedule/crafts.html

Grapefruit League
Boston Red Sox, Minnesota Twins vs. Regional Spring Training Teams
City Of Palms, Downtown Fort Myers (2201 Edison Ave, Ft Myers, FL 33901)
Dates: To be announced.

Annual Lee County Fair Lee Civic Center
11831 Bayshore Road North Fort Myers, Florida 33917
(239) 543-8368
http://www.leeciviccenter.com/2008fair.htm

Artfest Fort Myers
Downtown Fort Myers, Florida
2443 First Street,Fort Myers, FL 33901
(239) 768-3602
http://www.artfestfortmyers.com/

March

Annual Lee County Reading Festival
The Harborside Event Center & Centennial Park
http://www.lee-county.com/library/ReadingFestivalHome.htm

Fort Myers Springs Boat Show
Lee Civic Center, North Fort Myers, Florida
http://www.fortmyersboatshow.com/

71st Annual Sanibel Shell Fair and Show
The Sanibel Community Association and The Sanibel - Captiva Shell Club
2173 Periwinkle Way
Sanibel, Florida, 33957

Greek Fest - Greek Food, Music, Dance and Family Fun
Annuciation Greek Orthodox Church
8210 Cypress Lake Dr. Fort Myers, Florida
(239) 481- 2099

Major League Baseball Spring Training
Red Sox:
City Of Palms Park, Downtown Fort Myers
2201 Edison Ave, Ft Myers, FL 33901
Minnesota Twins:
Hammond Field, South Fort Myers
14100 Six Mile Cypress Parkway Fort Myers, FL 33912
Dates: To be announced.

Fort Myers Shrimp Festival
Fort Myers Beach
Lynn Hall Park, Estero Island, Fort Myers Beach, FL
(239) 454-7500
http://www.fl-seafood.com/consumers/festivals/ftmyers_festival.htm

Bonita Springs Tomato and Seafood Festival
Bonita Recreation Center, Bonita Springs
(239) 334-7007

Cape Coral Sounds of Jazz
Jaycee Park 4125 SE 20th Place Cape Coral, FL
(239) 573-3122
Dates: To be announced

For more information, please visit the Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce website.

Real Estate in Paradise

2008-10-29T12:52:00.000-07:00

One of our favorite listings lately is this one that which is located at 7150 Estero Blvd #803 at the Creciente building.

The unit is upgraded & furnished & fit for a king. It boasts Gulf views out to Sanibel & the North end of the beach. You can watch the incredible sunsets from your spacious balcony with glass sliders.

This unit has lots of upgrades, including: tray ceiling in the kitchen, newer appliances, lots of ceramic tile & custom mirrors.

It also comes with an outside parking space as well as other building amenities. There is a community pool & sauna, billiards, exercise room, shuffleboard, bike storage, tennis courts - the extras abound!

The Creciente is well managed by an on-site management company. The building is located near a bird sanctuary for all you bird watchers. Also, if you just want to spend time on the beach, you will just have a short walk to the large sandy beach. Enjoy views of the Gulf of Mexico on the way!

Conveniences also surround you at the Creciente building - Holiday Inn is nearby as well as the Santini Plaza, which includes shops, restaurants & entertainment. Or you may choose to simply enjoy a movie featured at the local Beach Theater.

Living at the Creciente is like living on vacation, permanently!

Favorable Reviews for Fort Myers Beach

2008-10-14T10:05:00.000-07:00

I thought I would share some of fantastic reviews I've read lately about Fort Myers beach.

As always there are lots of opinions on restaurants in the area:

"Snug Harbor: A current favorite of ours" - sixth review down the page.

"Split Rail Restaurant: Home Cooking at Great Prices! This comfortable restaurant offers generous portions of your favorite home-style meals at terrific prices." - seventh review down

"Plaka (Greek) Restaurant: Best Gyros. There's a Plaka I and Plaka II. Thank goodness. Sharing is loving." - last review on first page

Tons of useful tips on things to do:

"Check out Time Square" - third review down

"The Beach: Top of the Mast Beach Bar and Rebel Water Sports!" - eighth down

"Sea Rocket USA thrill ride" - last review on first page

Here are more ideas on things to do that are more off the beaten path:

"Lovers Key" - first review

"Go to see the J.N. Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge" - third review down

Regarding shopping & other pleasures:

"After a hard day at the beach and walking around shopping, what could be better than going to the spa." - first review

"There are many neat little shops in like a little village near the pier and around the square." - second review down

Here are some comments on the local nightlife:

"The Neon at Night" - second review down

"Cabasca's: Happenin' Place at night" - third review down

So whether you are visiting or a year round resident, try some of these - especially if they are new to you. You may find something you had been unaware of before but that becomes a must-do!

Happenings on Fort Myers Beach

2008-09-12T07:39:00.000-07:00

There will be Canoe trip with the Bird Patrol
Guided walk in the woods
Genealogical society meetings
LCBW bachelow auction and meeting
Fort Myers Beach Yacht Club meeting
Estero speed-dating evening
Chili cookoff at the Holiday Inn
Free healthy living expo
Conservancy 'Bump in the Night'
Yoga
Living Green workshops
Swing dancing
and much, much more.

Click here to read more about these exciting coming events.

Affordable Condo - Across From the Beach!

2008-08-17T06:58:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wanted to live on or near the beach? Perhaps even have a vacation home in beautiful Florida? This affordable condominium unit could make that possible!

At 6899 Estero Blvd, Estero Cove sits right across the street from the beach. It is a steal at $229,000 - perfect for a vacation get-away property. This 2 bedroom, 2 bath unit also includes a pool, fishing pier, bike storage, tennis courts and a great view from the lanai as well as being completely furnished. A total turnkey solution! You can even walk to the shops and restaurants as well as the beach for all around convenience.

Click here to learn more about this particular offering.

Click here to see all of our listings.

Your Getaway Destination!

2008-07-17T07:18:00.000-07:00

Weekly and monthly vacation rentals are available at the Estero Yacht and Racquet Club!

The Club is located on the South end of Fort Myers beach. It is a top floor 2 bed/2 bath unit offering beautiful wide canal views.

This particular rental has been completely remodeled with new flooring, paint, appliances, cabinets and all new furnishings to be the perfect getaway for your family or group of friends.

It can sleep several as there are 2 bedrooms plus a sleeper sofa in the living room. The master bedroom boasts a king size bed while the second bedroom comes equipped with twin beds.

There is plenty of entertainment inside the unit as well as outside. The living room is finely appointed with TVs & VCR/DVD player. And from the screened lanai you can watch all the boats and activity happening in the canal. Other entertainment that takes you outside the unit - and face it, who wants to stay inside on vacation? - includes a heated pool, tennis courts as well as boating. You can bring your own boat & dock it at the Marina, just steps from the club. And, don't forget the seven miles of beach - dare we leave that out?

Beyond that you can enjoy bicycling, golf, mini-golf, fishing, bird watching and people watching. A trolley service will transport you all over the island for just 25 cents per ride. There is so much to do & see. There is shopping, restaurants, the public library and much more!

Click here for our rates and more information.

Fort Myers Beach Restaurants

2008-06-10T06:38:00.000-07:00

Greetings From Paradise Newsletter August 2005

2005-12-08T11:16:00.000-08:00

If you would like ANY information on current listings in and around Ft. Myers Beach, or for a free Market Analysis of your property, just give us a call! If you are interested in any of the other beautiful Florida areas, whether it is houses, condos, or commercial properties, we would be happy to refer you to an excellent agent. Don't forget, we cover all of the surrounding areas!

Greetings from Paradise!

The Ft. Myers Beach LPA (Local Planning Agency) voted YES for an 18,000 square-foot office building that will replace the Shell gas station at 6231 Estero Boulevard. Sunstream Inc. requested that the one-half acre site located at the intersection of Estero Blvd. and Bahia Via Drive adjacent to Charley's Boat House Restaurant and 7-Eleven, be rezoned from Commercial Boulevard to Commercial Planned Development; this will allow them to construct a two-story commercial office building over parking.

The Town Council approved an $890,000 grant from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection that could be used for dune restoration and vegetable plantings in a four-mile stretch of the beach damaged in last year's Hurricane Charley. Council also approved a new contract for Town Attorney Anne Dalton that will pay her $125 per hour, plus one-half hours for drive time to all meetings.

In other business, the Town recently negotiated with owners of the Beachway Resort
(a proposed 240-unit hotel at San Carlos Boulevard and Pine Ridge Road), to pay the Town $20,000 per year to help offset trolley costs. Council voted also to set the tentative millage rate for the 2005-2006 budget at .85, the same rate that was assessed last year, and set the public hearing for Sept 12. In a new development, Council approved an engineering study to determine right of ways that would be needed to construct a road parallel to Estero Boulevard that would help motorists exit Estero Island more quickly. The new road would be possible because David Meyers owns the property necessary for the Town to build the new road. Meyers has offered to help the Town by donating the necessary property for some considerations on a new hotel complex that he would build near the Times Square area.

Portable A-frame signs have been banned from Estero Blvd. This has a number of small business owners upset; they claim it hurts their visibility to attract customers.

Cut-rate carrier Southwest Airlines announced service to Fort Myers from Southwest Florida International Airport beginning in October. Historically, when Southwest enters a new city, fares drop dramatically and demand for travel increases.

The re-trial of Don Moringiello, the Ft. Myers Beach man accused of shooting his 57-year old wife Fern at their house on Randy Lane and then dumping her body in the Back Bay, is scheduled to begin on July 18. The last trial ended in a hung jury and received national attention when it was aired on Court TV last time around.

In the cover letter to the Personal Brochure we mailed recently I mentioned that I met Isabelle in 1998. Ahem..... that would be 1988. My only excuse is that she's made every day seem so new and exciting and she's so..... I better stop while I'm ahead.

Biographies: "Nicholas and Alexandra" by Robert K. Massie

This is one of the classic biographies I have been meaning to read for a long time. Nicholas II, Tsar of all the Russias, would have ruled very comfortably in peacetime, but WW I exposed his essentially platonic nature. Many of the events leading to this family's demise began with the discovery that their only son Alexis was a hemophiliac. Endless lengths were resorted to in keeping this from the outside world, lest the crown be found vulnerable. The strain on the parents accelerated as they dealt with numerous "accidents" in which the young Tsarevich nearly died from internal bleeding. Alexandra, at her wit's end, turned to the religious healer Gregory Rasputin (as fascinating and repellant a figure as any in history). His psychological hold over the Empress was to have disastrous consequences, as she became convinced that he alone could save her son and thus preserve the future succession. When Nicholas took direct control of the armies on the Front, Rasputin came to have inordinate powers over Alexandra in the appointing and firing of ministers, advisors, etc. It was only a matter of time before the Bolshevik uprising played on these themes and brought everything to a crisis point. After the Communist Revolution, the royal family was shunted from one lonely Siberian outpost to another. Abandoned by his royal cousins, Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany and King George of England, the sad, tragic last days of the Tsar and his family is one of history's more lamentable chapters. As it turns out, the author, Mr. Massie, has a special insight into their lives, as his own son is also a hemophiliac.

"Sinatra: The Life" by Anthony Summers and Robbyn Swan

Most of us are familiar with the very public life of Frank Sinatra, but it's the private life, away from the paparazzi and hangers on that we long to see. After all, very few singers have been able to pluck the heart-strings of generations of listeners the way this man could. What drove Sinatra, what made him tick? What gave the songs an immediacy that other singers lacked?

The tantalizing lights and glamour of New York beckoned like a siren song across lower Manhattan to his hometown, Hoboken, NJ. Bing Crosby, his idol, set the mark and then Frank exceeded it. He went for it all, got it, and then faced the disillusionment of money, power, and a lost love named Ava Gardner. Tommy Dorsey, the Big Band leader who gave him his first break, may have summed it up best: "'''He's the most fascinating man in the world, but don't stick your hand in the cage."

Classical Music: My fifteen favorite pieces I ever heard. (My abject apologies to all the giants that I had to leave out.) ( in no particular order:)

"The Transcendental Etudes" by Franz Liszt. Performed by Claudio Arrau. The Chilean master patiently lifts us up to the Teutonic regions where Liszt dwells.
"Piano Concerto #2"by Johannes Brahms. Leon Fleischer with George Szell and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. This was one of my early favorites. As good as communication gets between performer and conductor. Welcome back Leon!
"Concerto for Cello and Orchestra" by Sir Edward Elgar. Yo Yo Ma with Sir Colin Davis conducting. The brilliance of any composer is to bring you into their world and show you the truth. Mission accomplished here.
"'Quiet City" by Aaron Copeland. Pick an orchestra, but preferably one conducted by Copeland. It evokes the lonely, twilight canyons of New York like nothing else.
"The Rite of Spring"' by Igor Stravinsky. I can't imagine what it was like to attend the world premiere of this revolution in sound. Run for cover!
Trilogy: "An American in Paris" "Concerto in F" "Rhapsody in Blue"by George Gershwin. Andre Previn and The Pittsburgh Orchestra. Pulses with the energy and optimism of the young American genius.
"The Unaccompanied Suites for Cello" by Johann Sebastian Bach. Performed by Yo Yo Ma. It feels like you know Bach after hearing these, but it only scratches the surface of this Leviathan's powers.
"Piano Concerto #3"by Sergei Rachmaninov. Those Russians had a stranglehold on evoking the "bittersweet" elements in music.
"The Violin Concertos"' by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. David & Igor Oistrakh work their magic with The Gewandhausorchester, Leipzig. If this was all we had of Mozart, he would still be on a pedestal by himself.
"Symphony #4"by Gustav Mahler. The playful, younger side of the composer before the dark complications of the later works. Wagner taught everybody something.
Any Chopin polonaises, waltzes, or mazurkas performed by Artur Rubenstein. A refined style filled with deceptive simplicity and an occasional sly wink.
"Symphony #3 Eroica" by Ludwig Van Beethoven. Herbert von Karajan and The Berlin Philharmonic. Napoleon's heroics are given a grand scale to play on, and von Karajan is the man to compel it.
"Symphony #3" by Johannes Brahms. Leonard Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic. A kinder, gentler presence after the volcano of Beethoven, but still plenty of power.
"Romeo and Juliet" Music for the ballet by Sergey Prokoviev. Lorin Maazel and The Cleveland Orchestra. Brings some modern muscle and sinew to a familiar story.
"Violin Concerto #1" by Beethoven. Jascha Heifetz and The Boston Symphony Orchestra. Complete mastery of an instrument. Due diligence has been served.

Real Estate Update:

The following are closed sales taken from the Multiple Listing Service for the period May 22nd to July 22rd this year.

Condominiums Single Family Homes
Ocean Harbor #1103 $965,000 5640 Williams Dr. $2,410,500
Waterside #534 $796,000 3131 Estero Blvd $2,200,000
Pointe Estero #501 $642,500 3120 Estero Blvd $2,100,000
Sandarac #303-A $660,000 5790 Estero Blvd $2,010,000
Riviera Club #604 $625,000 5820 Estero Blvd $2,00,000
Seaside #209 $620,000 8068 Estero Blvd $1,650,000
Harbour Pointe #1023 $599,000 120 Little Carlos Ln $1,600,000
Carlos Pointe #624 $595,000 4960 Estero Blvd $1,600,000
Ocean Harbor #1201 $586,000 21 Bayview Blvd $1,299,000
Palm Harbor #703 $595,000 270 Tropical Shores Way $1,200,000
Harbour Pointe #611 $585,000 724 Estero Blvd $858,500
Captains Bay N. #402 $565,000 121 Sand Dollar Dr $790,000
Islands End #103 $550,000 380 Donora Blvd $779,000
Riviera Club #806 $545,000 444 Washington Ct $749,000
Ostego Bay #3-C $540,000 3 Avenida Carita $720,000
Bermuda Dunes #1002 $515,000 14 Sunview Blvd $720,000
Creciente #605 $510,000 421 Connecticut St $700,000
Hibiscus Pointe #842 $500,000 240 Bahia Via $680,000
Terra Mar #905 $469,000 215 Bahia Via $675,000
Privateer #213 $460,000 101 Baymar Dr $650,897
Casa Marina #721 $459,900 111 Estrellita Dr $640,000
Terra Mar #202 $434,000 473 Washington Ct $620,000
Marina Towers #307 $415,000 722 Estero Blvd $610,000
Hibiscus Pointe #724 $399,000 430 Donora Blvd $610,000
Est. Bch &Tennis #PH7-A $399,000 250 Flamingo St $595,000
"""""""""""""""#605-A $389,000 135 Gulfview Ave $590,000
"""""""""""""""""100-B $370,000 5525 Avenida Pescadora $585,000
""""""""""""""""901-B $370,000 9 Pepita St $575,000
""""""""""""""""1001-A $315,000 212 Flamingo St $515,000
Creciente #123E $398,000 3306 Shell Mound Blvd $510,000
Windward Point #708 $385,000 8001 Buccaneer Dr $510,000
Royal Pelican #312 $380,000 219 Ohio Ave $443,000
Estero Cove #353 $345,000 207 Miramar St $363,500
Estero Cove #432 $310,000 5809 Lauder St $240,000
Admirals Bay #242 $330,000

Want to know what houses and condos were selling for in 1999? Check out the bottom of the last page.
Recent Sales by Bob & Isabelle Wells:

Island Beach Club #901 $700,000 Pointe Creek (Bell Tower) $345,000
Hibiscus Pointe #724 $399,000 Parker Lakes (The Grove) $344,000
Estero Beach & Tennis #605-A $389,000 Ocean Harbor #601-A $545,000

Please call us if you are thinking of selling now or in the near future! We have been
among the Island's top producers since 1990 and can assure you excellent service.

Bob & Isabelle Wells
Nesbit Real Estate
7205 Estero Blvd. Santini Marina Plaza
Ft. Myers Beach, FL 33931
239-463-3188 ext. 207 (Bob) ext. 214 (Isabelle)
Toll Free Hot Line: 866-765-8500
Internet: http://www.bobandisabelle.com/
E-mail: realtors@bobandisabelle.com
Rated in the top 1% of brokers in the U.S.

If you would like the newsletter e-mailed to you, please give us a call, or e-mail us or Click Here

Some 1999 selling prices:
Condos Houses
Creciente #211 $195,000 8258 Estero Blvd $705,000
Waterside #335 $251,900 5485 Avenida Pescadora $175,000
Hibiscus Pointe #631 $169,900 200 Virginia Ave $100,000
Estero Cove #323 $109,000 21 Fairview Blvd $360,000
Eden House #301 $225,000 935 3rd St. $125,000
Creciente #905 $227,000 11851 Isle of Palms Dr $130,000
Sandarac #305-B $220,000
Royal Pelican #331 $170,000
Ocean Harbor #601-A $227,500
Terra Mar #1003 $219,900
Est. Bch & Tennis #501-B $123,000
Captains Bay #403 $175,000

Greetings From Paradise June 2005 Newsletter

2005-11-17T11:22:00.000-08:00

Greetings from Paradise!
Ft. Myers Beach Mayor Bill Thomas lost his three-year battle with pancreatic cancer on April 19th at the Hope Hospice in Ft. Myers. He is survived by his wife of forty- two years, Diane, and their three sons and ten grandchildren. He was 68 yrs old. Originally from Boston, Massachusetts, he grew up in Rhode Island. Vice Mayor Bill Van Duzer has succeeded him as Mayor.
The Ft. Myers Beach LPA (Local Planning Agency) voted unanimously to approve a multi-family Gulf-front condominium project that will replace the aging Carousel Motel at 6230 Estero Blvd. There will be twelve upscale Gulf-front condominiums with a building height limited to three stories over parking, not to exceed 45 feet over base flood elevation. The combined maximum interior space of the structure cannot exceed 48,926 square feet. The project should start construction early next year. If you would like sales information on this property, call Isabelle here at the office hot line: 866-765-8500.

Town Attorney for the last ten years, Richard Roosa, was dismissed and replaced by Anne Dalton Esq. Dalton graduated from Fordham University in 1997. She will serve as an interim replacement for a time not to exceed one month, at a salary of $150.00 an hour, until a permanent attorney is named.

Ken Katcko has been appointed to fill the vacant seat of Bill Thomas on the Town Council. Katcko owns Hammerhead Gym on the Island. He is originally from Canada.

The Town Council voted to rezone The Mound House from residential to Commercial Planned Development. Details will be studied by the Cultural and Environmental Learning Center Advisory Board to clarify what uses would be allowed at the facility.

It's so nice this time of year to walk into the pro shops at area golf courses and be greeted like a long lost friend. Staid country club atmospheres lessen noticeably and, even better, you can actually finish a round in four hours or less. Rates are at least 50% cheaper too. Now that we have so many good courses within a twenty-mile radius, this area is becoming a golfer's paradise.

Just a reminder: The primary election for town council is October 4, 2005. The General election is November 5th. The qualifying period for candidates is noon August 15th through noon August 19th. The only requirements are: 1) being a beach resident for a one-year period, and 2) being a registered voter.

Do you know what property on the Beach was selling for in 1991? I looked at an old Multiple Listing Book for the period of July-Sept. 1991. The results are at the bottom of the last page.

Books: "The Last Party " (Scenes from my life with Norman Mailer) by Adele Mailer

Wow! Talk about a no-holds-barred tell-all- this is it! Adele Morales met Norman Mailer in New York in 1951 just after his novel about WW II, "The Naked and the Dead" had made him the hottest young writer in America. Over the next ten years she saw all the good, bad, and ugly of this complicated, driven man, while also struggling to maintain her own identity in the glare of his world. The ugly ended with Norman stabbing her one ill-fated evening. These two seemed to bring out the best and the worst in each other, and Adele doesn't hold back on the telling of either.

"Irrational Man" A Study in Existential Philosophy by William Barrett
Written in 1958, this brilliant, lucid explanation of existential thought could have been written yesterday, it is so relevant. From the Greeks through the Middle Ages, The Enlightenment, Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Heidegger, up to Sartre, the author traces the roots of man's journey to understand "being"and what it means to take his place in the universe.

"John Adams" by David McCullough

It's hard not to like the style of Mr. McCullough, and harder still not to like John Adams. We all wonder what those"founding fathers" were really like, and thanks to the abundant written correspondence of John and Abigail Adams we get first-hand impressions of Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and George Washington, to name the most illustrious. If you had to start a country, you could do worse than this group, but I'm not sure it would have come out as well as it did without Adams and his tenacious character. A remarkable man from a remarkable time.

Weekend Getaway Tip: Boca Raton Resort & Spa
When you are a couple, and work together like we do, it is imperative to get away for a weekend every few months or so. But where do you go without getting on an airplane and killing one-third of your time passing in and out airports? Key West is too long a drive and Miami Beach is fun, but getting there is nerve racking. Boca Raton is a nice alternative and it's only two-and-a-half hours away by car on Florida's east coast.

After cruise-controlling through the sensory deprivation of Alligator Alley (audio deprivation too, because we have a rule of never talking business on these trips, which can lead to some stunning silences for the first hour or so) you can skirt around Ft. Lauderdale and sift through west Boca until you get to the Intercoastal Waterway. Look for the big pink Tower: this is going to be the resort. After getting past the security gate you will feel "untouchable" in the freest sense of the word. You are now in the world of founder and high society eccentric, Addison Mizner. It was his dream in 1926 to create "the greatest resort in the world." It certainly feels like he succeeded! They still talk about the days when Mr. Mizner would stroll the grounds greeting guests with a pet monkey on one shoulder a macaw on the other, and two chows leading the way. The Cloister rooms have views of the golf course and gardens, while the Tower rooms have spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean and the Intercoastal. Just walking around here is a visual experience: the architecture is a pastiche of ecclesiastical, Italian Renaissance, and Greco-Roman, with lots of flamingo pink colors framed by lush foliage. You'll find guests wandering around in a cocoon of self-contentment, nary a worry line to be seen. If you want to curl up and read a book, I suggest the croquet court: players in white flannel putter around, hitting about one shot every two minutes. One note: Pass on the option of playing golf at the Boca C.C. It's a twenty minute shuttle ride away, and is not as plush as the more famous older course on the hotel grounds. There are three restaurants at the resort, six or so bars, so you don't really need to go anywhere. If you do, and it's around dinnertime, make sure to allow about twenty minutes for valet parking to get your car to the front. You won't mind waiting however, because this is a great place to people watch. You'll have fun guessing who is going to get in, or out, of the white Bentley, or who might have to fess up about renting the Toyota Tercel.

We got the Bed and Breakfast package. There are few things more pleasurable in life than trying to act nonchalant as you answer the gentle morning knock and wave the hushed attendant in with the white linen-draped table. Let's see: morning newspaper, fresh flowers, little cards reading "decaffeinated" and "tea"' next to their decanters, the heavenly aroma of baked croissants, toast, slightly seared ham, the eggs trembling ever so over-easy under their metal heat covers, squeezed orange juice covered with plastic wrap to save each precious drop, four different kind of preserves in their little jars waiting to be slathered with abandon once you sign your OK and the door closes on the retreating attendant. We wouldn't mind being kept prisoner in our pink Tower for a few more days! There's also a wonderful spa on site, but after paying for our room, we couldn't fit it into the budget.
501 East Camino Real, Boca Raton 33431 http://www.bocaresort.com/ Tel: 561-447-3121

The Market was the hottest we have ever seen it this past season. Many properties had multiple offers within the first few days of listing. If you think you might want to sell, please call us; there has never been a better time to maximize your profits.
.Recent Sales by Bob & Isabelle Wells:
Palm Harbor #701W $580,000 130 Ohio Ave. $280,000
Waterside #243 $499,000 Creciente #912 $529,000
Palm Harbor #202W $460,000 Creciente #410 $755,000
Yacht & Racquet Club #228 $277,000 Captains Bay #203 $360,000
Estero Cove #453 $265,000 Ostego Bay II #5-C $545,000
Royal Pelican #337 $339,000 7879 Buccaneer Drive $500,000

Real Estate Update:
The following are closed sales taken from the Multiple Listing Service for the period March 23rd to May 22nd of this year.

Condominiums Single Family Homes
Bermuda Dunes #1403 $532,500 4340 Estero Blvd. $526,950
Waterside #521 $755,000 237 Egret St. $730,000
Palm Harbor #701-W $580,000 3306 Shell Mound $361,000
Estero/Bch Tennis #PH2 $274,000 21050 St Peters Dr. $1,235,000
Marina Towers #603 $425,000 341 Jefferson Ct. $535,925
Sandarac #404-B $500,000 250 Primo Dr. $690,000
Estero/Bch Tennis #302-A $220,000 726 Estero Blvd. $1,050,000
Waterside #421 $505,000 540 Randy Ln. $1,025,000
Lovers Key Resort #805 $375,000 127 Washington Ave. $339,000
Ocean Harbor #1205 $610,000 7979 Buccaneer Dr. $500,000
Santa Maria #310 $259,000 140 Bay Mar Dr. $565,000
Island Beach Club #1004 $665,000 3320 Shell Mound $410,000
Creciente #723 $499,500 135 Bay Mar Dr. $465,900
Estero/Bch Tennis #206-A $293,000 330 Madison Ct. $650,000
Waterside #2H2 $685,000 117 Gulfview Ave. $545,000
Caper Beach Club #906 $842,000 200 Eucalyptus Ct. $442,000
Creciente #912 $529,000 117 Hibiscus Dr. $357,000
Estero Bch/Tennis #801-C $269,900 130 Ohio Ave. $280,000
Pointe Estero #1001 $657,000 40 Fairview Blvd. $479,900
Terra Mar #704 $449,000 2543 Cottage Ave. $540,000
Island Winds #501 $585,000 428 Palermo Cir. $370,000
Creciente #410 $755,000 460 Palermo Cir. $475,000
Estero Cove #453 $265,000
Royal Pelican #328 $400,000
Captains Bay #403-N $439,900
Estero Bch/Tennis #801-A $254,900
Casa Marina #634 $434,900
Island Shores #101 $820,000
Boardwalk Caper #201 $402,500
Riviera Club #903 $500,000
Sandarac #610 $650,000
Sunset #105 $650,000
Hibiscus Pointe #342 $379,500
Estero/Bch Tennis #706-A $355,000

This is the best real estate market we have seen in fifteen years. If you have thought about selling, we can assure you an excellent price for your property. Call us today for a Free Market Appraisal !

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1991 Condominium selling prices: Yacht & Racquet Club #224 $87,900 Seaside #206 $155,000 Estero Cove #521 $115,000 Riviera Club #105 $130,000 Creciente #712 Listed @ $159,900 (Expired w/o selling!) Creciente 920 $175,000 Sandarac #503 $163,000
Sunset #1005 $188,000 Estero Beach/Tennis #1008 $78,500 Average sale price: $127,817.

Single Family Home Selling prices: 145 Jefferson St. $92,000 3552 Estero Blvd 3br 2.5 bath gulf front built in 1990, 3709 total sq. ft. 5 car garage $539,000 161 Chapel St. $82,500
7830 Buccaneer Dr $133,900 5560 Avenida Pescadora $190,000 Average sale price: 167,312.

Greetings from Paradise! April 2005 Real Estate Newsletter

2005-10-20T11:23:00.000-07:00

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According to the Milken Institute's 2004 Best Performing Cities Index, Ft. Myers-Cape Coral tops the list! The institute's report cites "a robust recovery in tourism" and "growing populations of retirees" as key drivers for metro job growth in the nation.
Who were the rest?
2. Las Vegas
3. Phoenix-Mesa
4. West Palm Beach-Boca Raton
5. Daytona Beach
6. Sarasota-Bradenton
7. Fayetteville (Ark.)
8. Riverside (CA.)
9. Ft. Lauderdale
10. Monmouth (NJ.)
11.Washington D.C.
12. Tampa-St. Pete.

In a scene reminiscent of "Who's On First?" the five Town Council members finally agreed on Bill Van Duzer as Mayor for the coming year and Howard Rynerson as Vice-Mayor. They also voted to have the disputed election for three Town Council seats, this coming November. This should be interesting. If it's half as nasty as the last election, we're in for some real fireworks.

Town Attorney Richard Roosa appears to be on the way out.
The Council voted unanimously to hire an interim attorney before voting to fire Roosa at the upcoming April 4th session. Mayor Bill Van Duzer said that many residents were not happy with Roosa's job performance. Councilman Reynolds said "A lot of folks believe that the attorney has given not very good direction to the Council." Town Manager Marsha Segal- George has been instructed to hire an interim replacement.

At a meeting with the Ft Myers Beach Civic Association, attorney Charles Meador explained his reasoning behind the lawsuit he filed to overturn the decision by council members a few years back to change their terms from three to four years. He also reiterated his decision to run for Bill Van Duzer's seat in the fall election. According to Mr. Meador, "When Ms. Segal-George equated Ft Myers Beach residents to some lower form of life on the evolutionary scale as compared to Sanibel residents, that's all I need to source. That's my hidden agenda."

Work on the $39.4 million Summerlin Road project has been scheduled for early April.
It will include an overpass on San Carlos Blvd., which will widen Summerlin Rd. from four to six lanes from San Carlos to Gladiolus Blvd. Two flyovers will be constructed at the intersection of Summerlin Blvd and Gladiolus Dr to help east- and west- bound traffic turn left onto Summerlin. A reverse flyover will be constructed on eastbound Gladiolus for motorists turning left onto Summerlin. Confused? Weekly meetings will be conducted throughout the construction to address business owner concerns about how it will affect them.
Concerning traffic on our Island: If they don't want to (1) put a pedestrian over/underpass at Times Square-thus eliminating the red light, (2) close the left turn lane to the north end of the Island and reroute it to Crescent Street, then reroute all exiting traffic off the north end through Old San Carlos Blvd., then the only long term solution that makes any sense is a mid-island bridge. I should think there is enough of a tax base on this Beach to enable our council members to lobby for this project, don't you?

Ballet and Men (Why doesn't it work?)
Let's try to solve this riddle once and for all. Ladies, I'm afraid you're never going to get men to love or even like ballet. Isabelle bought tickets to "Coppelia" by Clement Philibert Leo Delibes, at the Naples Philharmonic, so I had to go. I think my experience was like that of most men: it feels like there's a noose around your neck and you're being led to a gallows.

This is how most ballets go, and this one was no exception: The curtain rises to a soft strain of violins; then the corps de ballet comes out on tiptoes (these are the lesser ballerinas who set up the main action- they also look like the only ones who are having fun), harps strum an idyllic mood until the prima ballerina makes her entrance- she's the one with the twelve-inch neck and the most makeup- then her suitor/prince prances on in tights and begins mincing around and...Sorry, but this is where it all ends for us guys. It's embarrassing! We start to look at the set design or maybe speculate on the sadist who invented the ballet slipper (I once saw a photo of Rudolf Nureyev's feet and it looked someone had dropped a bowling ball on them), or you might begin counting the moles on the person's neck in front of you. Unfortunately, about now, there is a fifteen-minute intermission to prolong the agony. You hear all the women around commenting ecstatically on the music, costumes, etc. and all you can think of is your couch and ESPN.

The second act starts with the bad guy/gal trying to break up the young lovers. Betrayal, confusion, desolate looks, all mimed to the limit. Someone finally clues them in and they hurriedly set about with the other ballerinas and tight wearers to set things right.
In the third act the suitor/prince leaps exuberantly around the stage in a bravura solo that gets everybody clapping. The prima flies on to join him, he picks her up repeatedly, letting her down oh so nimbly onto her tippytoe. Love triumphs, the corps de ballet with their own flock of suitors flutter around the principals and the curtain comes blessedly down. You start to fumble automatically for your car keys but then look over at your spouse and notice she has a golden glow that you've seen very few times in your marriage (sort of the same glow we would get if we broke 80 or our team won the Super Bowl). Gentlemen, I put it to you: perhaps the best advice- other than real estate, of course- that you will ever glean from this newsletter: Go to the ballet with your wife every five years. You'll score a lot of points believe me (and god knows we need as many of those as we can get!).

Best Books Read Recently:
"I Am Charlotte Simmons" by Tom Wolfe
Mr. Wolfe takes on collegiate life in his latest novel. Our heroine, Charlotte Simmons, is a backcountry Carolina high school senior with a straight A average, class valedictorian, etc. etc. etc.; she's also quite pretty. She wins a scholarship to Dupont University, one of the two or three most prestigious colleges in the country (you'll have fun trying to figure out which school it's modeled on). How she deals with this environment and it's myriad pressures: social, sexual, and intellectual, add up to an unsettling view of campus life. If you have a son or daughter about to enter college, this book might give you a few sleepless nights. Tom Wolfe has been a tremendous talent for a long time, but I have a feeling that he hasn't written his best book yet. Now, let's seeâ€¦ which actress is going to play Charlotte in the movie version?

"Running With The Bulls" (My years with the Hemingways) by Valerie Hemingway
In 1959 nineteen year old Valerie Danby-Smith, on assignment in Madrid, was sent to interview Ernest Hemingway. A native of Dublin, she wasn't in awe of the famous writer, and this no doubt helped overcome any mawkishness Hemingway might normally feel. In short order she became a kind of personal assistant to him, and was swept up in the frenetic pace of bullfights, partying, and bravado that trailed behind the famous man and his wife Mary as they traveled through Spain and France. She joined the Hemingways at their house in Cuba and watched helplessly as Castro and the revolution took over, forcing them out. Dispossessed from his home, and his creative powers quickly waning, Ernest lost his will to live and all too shortly afterwards, committed suicide. At his funeral in Ketchum, Idaho she met his estranged son Gregory, and ended up marrying him. That Gregory was a closet transvestite, who ended up getting a sex change operation, is a story that you couldn't have made up on a bet.

Restaurant Review: Zorba's Greek Restaurant
I've only been here for lunch, but each time it's been delicious! I usually get the same thing: Greek salad and gyro sandwich combination. In ten years, when I get tired of that, I'll order something else. Isabelle had the mousaka, which was perfect. The waiter told me they have belly dancing in the evening, and of course a more expanded menu. There is outside seating as well. It has a nice family-run feel to it. Address: 9106 Bonita Beach Road Tel: 992-5005 In the Sunshine Plaza Shopping Center.

Real Estate Update:
The following are closed sales taken from the Multiple Listing Service for the period January 23rd to March 22nd of this year.

Condominiums Single Family Homes
Waterside #4H4 $760,000 1661 I St. $1,375,000
Riviera Club #1201 $715,000 5120 Williams Dr $825,000
Sunset #500 $675,000 380 Donora Blvd $689,000
Waterside #1P1 $665,000 310 Jefferson Ct $685,000
Islands End #705 $595,000 227 Ibis St $675,000
Waterside #144 $585,000 445 Madison Ct $600,000
Waterside #173 $580,000 22 Palmview Blvd $575,000
Islands End $501 $565,000 290 Dundee Rd $565,000
Islands End #303 $540,000 5545 Avenida Pescadora $550,000
Sandarac #211-A $485,000 6021 Gulf Rd $525,000
Creciente #503 $485,000 8057 Estero Blvd $510,000
Creciente #507 $479,000 21072 Saint Peters Dr $464,000
Terra Mar #507 $479,000 129 Falkirk St $400,000
Sand Caper #506 $460,000 5551 Estero Blvd $400,000
Terra Mar 406 $449,000 260 Miramar St $376,000
Creciente #915 $441,250 915 North St $370,000
Creciente #214 $440,000 222 Delmar Ave $368,000
Hibiscus Pointe #763 $439,000 5542 Palmetto St $332,000
Casa Marina #741 $430,000
Bermuda Dunes #202 $415,000
Terra Mar #301 $400,000
Hibiscus Pointe #112 $394,000
Terra Mar #203 $390,000
Leonardo Arms #317 $385,000
Harbour Pointe #322 $378,000
Bay Village #205 $295,000
Royal Pelican #312 $305,000
Admirals Bay #155 $275,000
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