WASHINGTON – June 11, 2014 – New home construction activity is currently insufficient in most of the U.S., and some states could face persistent housing shortages and affordability issues unless housing starts increase to match up with local job creation, according to a new Continue Reading

From the Islander Newspaper: The Sanibel-Captiva Optimist Club's longest-running 4th of July event celebrates 35 years of fun for teams and families as they puzzle out the clues while following a prescribed driving course around the Island. Prizes will be awarded for correct Continue Reading

NEW YORK – June 2, 2014 – Over the last 12 months, completed foreclosures have fallen to the lowest level since the Great Recession began in 2007, according to CoreLogic's April National Foreclosure Report, which shows completed foreclosures at 599,000 nationwide. Completed Continue Reading

NEW YORK – June 2, 2014 – Porch, a real estate website that tracks home-improvement projects, says that almost 50 percent of all home-improvement projects involve handyman services during the six months prior to a home sale. When it comes to home improvement projects Continue Reading

All fans of baseball are invited to the 21st Annual Sam Bailey's Islands Night at Hammond Stadium on June 4. Each year, the Sanibel Island community is not only invited to watch a baseball game at Hammond Stadium, but also assist in raising needed funds for local charities. Continue Reading

http://www.realtor.com/news/fixed-mortgage-rates-lowest-level-year/   Fixed mortgage rates across the United States have eased for a second consecutive week, bringing them to their lowest level since November 2013. The average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage dropped Continue Reading

Article from the Islander Newspaper: The beginning of sea turtle nesting season in Southwest Florida is upon us once again. This year, SCCF welcomes new Sea Turtle Coordinator Kelly Sloan, who joined SCCF in December 2013. Sloan brings six years of experience, having worked Continue Reading

All-cash deals hit a record 43% of home sales during the first three months of 2014, according to RealtyTrac. That's up from 19% a year earlier and the highest level reported since RealtyTrac began tracking the deals in early 2011. The jump is due to two main factors: Continue Reading

MIAMI – May 12, 2014 – When people ask Miami Realtor Javier Gonzalez how South Florida's housing market is doing, it often makes him laugh. "It's a real complex question. Every market is a micro market," said Gonzalez, an agent with RE/MAX Advance Realty. "A lot of people Continue Reading

ORLANDO, Fla. – May 12, 2014 – Florida's housing market reported higher median prices, more new listings, fewer days on the market and a slight uptick in inventory during the first quarter of 2014, according to the latest housing data released by Florida Realtors®. Closed Continue Reading

Music, food and fun were on tap Saturday at the annual Beer in the Bushes event to benefit the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation on Sanibel Island. Those attending were treated to a wonderful evening of beautiful Florida weather, New Belgium beer stations, hot food and Continue Reading

  http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/article.cfm?id=307465 TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – April 25, 2014 – Homebuyers still have access to down payment assistance grants, interest-free second mortgages and other special home loan programs, provided they have decent Continue Reading

http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/article.cfm?id=307548 WASHINGTON – April 28, 2014 – After months of stagnant activity, pending home sales rose in March, marking the first gain in the past nine months, according to the National Association of Realtors®. The Continue Reading

 http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/article.cfm?p=1&id=307134 Number of homes seriously underwater at two-year low IRVINE, Calif. – April 17, 2014 – RealtyTrac released its U.S. Home Equity & Underwater Report for the first quarter of 2014, and it finds Continue Reading

In the coming weeks islanders will begin noticing nests on the beach full of sea turtle eggs. The official nesting season on Sanibel and Captiva occurs annually May 1 to Oct. 31 and officials from the City of Sanibel and Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF) are Continue Reading