In the News & Local Events



Debt Consolidation Loan
http://www.americandebtreduction.com Isn't it time you refinanced to consolidate debt? You can find more information on exchanging links and how it can be beneficial at the following website ... Click here to read the full article.

Let the Short Sales Begin

Today the Administration's Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternative Plan takes effect, offering incentives to borrowers, servicers, investors and second lien holders to push short sales through the system. Yep, everyone gets a cut of government funds to get these troubled borrowers out of their homes and get them sold, even if the sale price is... Click here to read the full article.

Fewer Sellers Cut US Home Prices in March

The percentage of U.S. home sellers cutting their asking price declined again in March, and home owners made smaller reductions in prices, according to a report by real estate website Zillow.com Wednesday. Slightly more than one in five homes, or 20.7 percent, listed for sale on the Zillow website had at least one price cut as of the end of... Click here to read the full article.

Police officers receive awards
Before a throng of more than 150 family, friends, and fellow police officers, the city of Marco Island Police Department held its 2010 award ceremony at the First Baptist Church of Marco Island and bestowed 223 awards in various categories. "We have come a far way from presenting the awards in a garage years ago to not having an award... Click here to read the full article.

Up to 8,000 expected for beach Easter service
The 22nd annual Easter Sunrise Service on the Beach will be held at 7 a.m. Sunday between the Marco Island Marriott Beach Resort, 400 S. Collier Blvd., and the Madeira Condominium. If the weather is agreeable, organizers said they expect 6,000 to 8,000 attendees. Last year, more than 6,000 attended the service. Scores of boats usually... Click here to read the full article.

Wedding bells for the Wishing Well
Martini’s Upstairs (Formally Bombay Club) played host Friday night to “Dale and Donna’s mock wedding” to raise funds for The Wishing Well Foundation, Inc. The madcap wedding of Dale and Donna was based on the popular on-and-off Broadway show “Tony and Tina’s Wedding.” The ceremony put a comical spin on just about everything and... Click here to read the full article.

Going out on a linb for wildlife
Although small in number, the group that met Saturday to discuss Marco Island’s wildlife concerns was packed with a powerhouse of naturalists. All 15 participants agreed on one major point: There is less wildlife on the island and the presence of diverse species is shrinking. “I thought about contacting the Audubon Society I’m so... Click here to read the full article.

Market Conditions for Marco Island

As of February 17, 2010, there are 191 single family homes on the market ranging in price from $234,900 to $2,395,000. There were 17 closed single family home sales from January 1 through February 1, 2010 ranging in price from $225,000 to $1,530,000 as recorded in Sunshine MLS. The real estate market in Marco Island remains strong which is why... Click here to read the full article.

5 Things Every Real Estate Pro Knows
Those who consistently make money in real estate know the market. They know the location and the history. They know what new developments are planned. They know the transportation and the schools. They know everything about the area where they invest. They have to know it all. Staying ahead of the competition in real estate investment means... Click here to read the full article.

What you Need for your Mortgage Broker and Real Estate Agent
* How much want to pay total per month * If you’re a salaried employee, two years of W2s and 30 days of pay stubs * If you’re a business owner, two years of personal tax returns and, if incorporated, corporate returns * Last three months of bank statements * Photo ID Bring to your first meeting with the Realtor: * Preapproval... Click here to read the full article.

Homebuyer's Handbook: Buying can be intimidating prospect; get off on the right foot
It’s easy to get ahead of yourself when you’re looking at houses and before you know it, you’ve fallen in love with a home that costs $100,000 more than you can afford. That’s why it’s important to do your financial homework before you dive in for the fun part and visit possible homes, says Brenda Fioretti, president of the Naples... Click here to read the full article.

Southwest Florida Attracting International Buyers
International clientele are once again making up a significant number of the buyers for the Southwest Florida real estate market. In fact, in Naples, 25% of the population (double the national average of 12%) are foreigners. According to a recent survey conducted for the Florida Association of Realtors, a majority (54%) of Florida agents worked... Click here to read the full article.

Florida Ranked 5th Best State for Business Friendly Taxes
According to the 2010 State Business Tax Climate report released this week by the Washington D.C. based Tax Foundation, Florida remains among the top 10 states in the nation when it comes to “business friendly” taxes. Florida ranked 5th in this year’s report and has had the best ranking among Southern states for several years in a row. A... Click here to read the full article.

Architect for rapper Eminem, says Marco, Collier construction on the rebound

Marco Island- Going to the “big house” has a different connotation for architect William Lewis. Instead of being his place of confinement, the big house he designed on Laurel Court has been his liberation. The relief he feels when he goes there to view its construction is the result of his journey through boom and bust on Marco... Click here to read the full article.

Best place to look for killer deals
Know where the buying opportunities are by knowing the inventory. Look at the County’s Inventory Chart Baring a major influx of Bank Owned inventory, the under $100,000 range is very healthy. $200,000 to $300,000 can expect minor downward pressure $300,000 and up can expect major downward pressure Time block your priority Ask... Click here to read the full article.

Real Estate Recovery
COLLIER COUNTY - Some good news from the local housing market. The Naples Area Board of Realtors (NABOR) says there's been a steady increase in the number of homes sold and they expect that trend to continue. Last year, the average home in the naples area took nearly 200 days to sell. Now, now homes are selling 19% faster at 161 days on the... Click here to read the full article.

Southwest Florida Real Estate Market is Improving
A Few Reasons Why the Southwest Florida Real Estate Market is Improving With the continued decrease in prices, some by 40% or more, buyers are finding many good deals available. Prices have stabilized in many areas and inventory is finally starting to fall. Developers have cut back the building of new homes in many existing projects or... Click here to read the full article.

Home Sales Going Up In Marco Island
Average price per square foot for Marco Island FL was $284, a decrease of 47.5% compared to the same period last year. The median sales price for homes in Marco Island FL for Dec 09 to Feb 10 was $396,000 based on 198 home sales. Compared to the same period one year ago, the median home sales price increased 12.8%, or $45,000, and the number of... Click here to read the full article.

As Mortgage Rates Drop Again, Is It Time to Refinance?
Mortgage interest rates have fallen below 5 percent again, according to Freddie Mac's Primary Mortgage Market Survey. "This comes at a time when house price declines are moderating and consumer demand for prime mortgages at commercial banks has picked up," said Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac vice president and chief economist. Mortgage interest... Click here to read the full article.

Real Estate Secret: Fixer-upper homes have special FHA loan program
The word "as-is" can indeed be one scary phrase. Especially when buying a home in today's market where foreclosures and short sales that need fix-up work are plentiful. But a little-known Federal Housing Administration loan program that's been around since 1978 can help take the sting out of "as-is." Only 219 borrowers took advantage of the... Click here to read the full article.

The Facts, The History, The Future of Marco Island's real estate market revealed

The Real Estate Market - The Pre 2003 Years In general, in the past, a high percentage of real estate sales on Marco Island tended to be for cash. The buyer was either purchasing a residence to replace a primary home in the north or purchasing a winter home. The Real Estate Market - The 2003 to 2005 Years In 2003, buyers began to look at... Click here to read the full article.