Catalina Isles - Ft. Myers

The A+ neighborhoods & Properties are still selling strong!
With all the Real Estate gloom & doom out there, I thought this would be a
great story. It's truly amazing how fast the homes are selling out in the Catalina Isles
 Neighborhood!!! I counted 22 homes under construction, and I'm sure there are more under permit.
All week long are suppliers, construction workers, lunch trucks, &
Realtors working. This neighborhood is getting close to being sold out. I have been informed that DR. Horton, the Builder has acquired Banyan Bay (a neighborhood just
South of here). Ryland homes started building there but stopped during the Real Estate slow down. As a Licensed Florida Realtor, I could choose just about anywhere to live.
In my opinion it's about location, quality construction, amenities and where
we can get the best bang for our buck.
For my family, Catalina Isles fits all the above criteria.
1. Location- Catalina Isles is nestled between a Huge Nature preserve
and the South end of Winkler Avenue, Approximately 1 mile South of the
 Summerlin/Winkler intersection. Close to Lakes park, a brand new WA-KE
 HATCHEE COMMUNITY PARK a 25+ acre park include walking trails, tennis
 courts, dog park, playground and restroom facilities. Ten minutes to Fort
Myers Beach. Fifteen minutes to Sanibel Island. One traffic light to Health
 Park Hospital, and 20 minutes to downtown Fort Myers.
 2. Quality Construction- A world class builder, D.R. Horton stands by
 their product. Instead of gambling on an abused Foreclosure or Short Sale,
 clients prefer a brand new house that's competitively priced with a
 warrantee.
3. Amenities- A Gated community with a club house, pool, playground, &
exercise room with a beautiful lake view that's not too over the top. I love
that all the maintenance is bundled at a very reasonable price.
4. Prices that compete with anywhere in Lee County.
Call me today for a free tour of Catalina Isles! David Foster (239) 246-5660

Guest Blogger: Brad from Primary Residential Mortgage Inc!

Needs list for the financing of your new home:

In today’s tightly regulated financial world, documentation for proof of income, assets, employment, etc. is now a much more thorough process than ever before.  Dotting of every I and T is being taken and additional steps have been added to the process to insure that nothing is being overlooked.  When preparing for your financing appointment, be sure to gather the following items to bring with you.  Do not be alarmed when additional items are requested midstream as some of the items provided may open up for additional documents to justify/satisfy the underwriter during the loan approval process.

1.       2 forms of identification for all parties applying for financing

2.      Tax returns for the past 2 filing years w/ all schedules and pages

3.      W2’s/1099’s for the past 2 years

4.      Pay-stubs covering 1 month for all parties applying for financing

5.      Bank statements for the past 2 months for all accounts being used to show assets for purchase / All pages

6.      Most recent IRA/401k statement(S)

7.      Most recent monthly mortgage statement on property currently owned OR Landlord contact information if renting

This will get you off to a good start, and provide your loan officer with sufficient information to submit your loan into processing.

Brad A. Stahlhut

Primary Residential Mortgage Inc.

P – 239-418-1170  F – 239-277-0325

BStahlhut@primeres.com

NMLS # 323904

What To Do When You’re Behind on Your Mortgage Payments

You have options!

Don’t think you have to relocate right away. The average foreclosure process in Florida takes 728 days. The lenders would prefer to have the home occupied. If the home is vacant no one is paying utilities, and the risk of break-in’s and vandalism is increased.

Anytime you’re behind on your payments it puts extreme stress on you and your family.

You need someone on your side that can help you take the problems head on.

 A Realtor can help guide you through this sometimes overwhelming process.

The best thing to do is cooperate with the bank and explain your hardship. Most lost mediation coordinators I’ve dealt with say it doesn’t matter how much money you have made in the past. If you have had a six figure income in the past, but can prove hardship you could be an excellent short sale candidate. You have to have a legitimate reason for not making your payments. Loss of Job, hours, decreased amount of work and income, Health issues etc. If the mortgage payment is the only bill you’re having trouble making, a short sale could be your best option. Some lenders will even give you a check for up to $5000.00 if you cooperate in the short sale process. Always seek a Real Estate Attorney and your Certified Accountants advice before proceeding with the short sale process. The IRS web site is a good resource for your financial & tax questions.

Two Helpful resources are - The Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act and Debt Cancellation http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=179414,00.html 

Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives- http://homebuying.about.com/od/shortsale/qt/Hafa-Short-Sale-Program.htm

An experienced Real Estate agent has a team of consultants that will guide you through the process. If you are behind with multiple bills, bankruptcy could be an option.

A short sale is a great alternative to foreclosure if you can qualify. Foreclosure is a law suit against you. This is a very expensive process involving attorney’s fees, court cost, filing fees, late fees etc. This should be your last option.

You may be able to get a loan for a car or even a home in 7 years but the debt will follow you forever. 

If you have questions for an experienced Realtor who is professional, confidential, and compassionate with your situation, call David Foster @ 239-246-5660 or go to my web Site - http://www.dfoster.us/

10 questions to ask before hiring a Realtor to sell your property

Realtor's are not all created equal, just like any other profession. Choosing the right Realtor can make a big difference in how quickly and efficiently you get your home sold. Here are 10 questions you should ask a Realtor before allowing him or her to list your property.

What do you do to make my listing stand out online? Make sure your Realtor is going to have nice pictures of your home that will make it desirable for buyers to want to come and look. Search online for that Realtor's other listings and see what you think. Did they only post a few pictures or did they really take the time and make sure all the great aspects are showcased? Look at the written descriptions, do they paint a desirable picture in their writing or just jot down a few things? Does your Realtor put in the time and effort to make your home stand out in a sea of other listings?
How do you determine what I should sell my house for? Pricing your house correctly is extremely important if you want to sell your house and get the most you can out of it. A good Realtor will take some time to do research and find the perfect sales price for both you and the buyer.
How do you advertise my home to buyers and other Realtors? Throwing your listing up on MLS might not be enough. How else do they get the word out? How often will they do an open house, what online sites do they use?
Do you have past clients I can speak with? Don't be afraid to ask for references. Call people who recently used the Realtor to sell their home. A good Realtor will have many clients just dying to tell you about their great experience. If they don't want to give you contact information, that just might be the red flag you need to move on to someone else.
Will I always be working with you? Make sure you will have the Realtor you choose working with you. You don't want to be passed off to some assistant or someone with less experience and qualifications. If you find a Realtor you like you want to make sure they will be doing your open houses, available to take your calls and will be present at your closing.
How will you keep in contact with me during the selling process, and how often? Chances are you will have many questions along the way. Is your Realtor going to be available for you to talk to daily if you need to? Will they be giving you status reports? Are they going to keep in touch and let you know what potential buyers are saying about your home and make changes if necessary for your selling plan? If you aren't getting much interest, what are they going to do to change that?
How does your commission work? Don't be afraid to talk money. You will be paying your Realtor, how does their pay structure work and what are the terms? You may find most Realtors work similar but it never hurts to ask, and get it in writing.
What is your cancellation policy? What if you choose a Realtor who seemed great when you interviewed him or her and down the road they turn into less than desirable? What would your options be? Will you be stuck with them or do they guarantee your happiness?
Can you tell me about yourself and your past experiences in listing homes? Say this to your Realtor and listen to how he or she responds. Give them a chance to tell you their strengths. If they leave something out, like if they don't mention how quickly they sell, or how they get close to asking price, these are defiantly things you will want to ask about. Chances are you will be paying the same price for a great Realtor and a not so great Realtor. Listen to what they say, look for passion, knowledge and experience in their answers. Go with your gut, are they a good match?
What are the assets and the drawbacks of my home? Use this opportunity to ask what they think. Most likely you already know some. Does the Realtor take the time to look around and find great selling points? Are they missing some drawbacks that could make a difference to buyers or do they spot these things and offer solutions? Remember, you are hiring and paying a professional to list your home, give them the opportunity to speak and see what they have to say. You will be able to tell if they are knowledgeable and experienced.

By: David Foster Realtor GRI
New Age Technology -Old School Values 
www.davefoster1.realtor

12 Reasons to buy a home in Southwest Florida

1.  NO SNOW! They call it the Sunshine State for a reason!

2. Red Sox and Twins Spring Training

3. A great area to raise your children

4. Tons of restaurants and shopping

5. You get a lot for your money

6. Mortgage rates are at an all time low

7. You will be the envy of all your Northern friends and family

8. More year round golf courses than you could ever imagine!

9. Beautiful Sunsets

10. Miles and Miles of Relaxing Sandy Beaches

11. World Class Fishing and Boating

12. Great history! Edison and Ford Winter Estates and Burroughs Home