An article in the The New Brunswick Business Journal titled Becoming a snowbird can make good sense offers tips to Canadians looking to buy a second home in the US. The article details why it is a good time to buy in the US right now and an organized approach to completing a purchase.

The Fort Myers market on Florida’s southwest coast is very popular with Canadian second home buyers. Our climate is tropical, so chances are you are going to experience warm weather throughout your winter visit. The beaches of Southwest Florida are beautiful and a magnet for young and old alike.

USA Today covers our local market in an article titled “Fort Myers has home bargains as market recovers from bubble.” The article cites market improvements of 121% for home sales from June 2008 to June 2009. The article also discusses is an 18% drop in homes sales in June 2010 and attributes this decrease to the end of the home-buyer tax credit, a lapse in the National Flood Insurance Program and concerns about the oil spill.

New home sales at Bella Terra in Estero have continued at a strong pace in 2010. Bella Terra developer Lennar recently announced that it has sold 100 homes in the community since December. Bella Terra new construction housing options range in size from 1,400 SF villas starting in the $160s to single-family homes with 3,800 SF priced in the $500s.

I just read an article in the New York Times titled The Roller-Coaster Ride Called a Short Sale with great fascination. It seems the post-bubble real estate challenges that we have been dealing with here in SW Florida are now reality in Manhattan as well. I don’t know about you, but it sure is hard for me to visualize many market parallels between the likes of Gator Circle or Gateway and the Upper East Side.

Old Florida nature and serenity rule the day at the South Fort Myers Hendry Creek community……surrounded by creeks and anchored by two lakes, water views dominate the scenery the in this upscale community. With just 65 single-family homes, Hendry Creek offers an intimate and welcoming environment to raise a family in South Fort Myers. Hendry Creek offers the lifestyle of a bygone rural Florida era in a convenient in-town location.

With shared community boat docks, gulf access boating need not be an expensive proposition for Hendry Creek residents. HOA fees at Hendry Creek are currently $500/year and include use of the shared community boat docks, community tennis courts and fishing in the neighborhoods two stocked lakes. From Hendry Creek, Estero Bay and the white sand beaches of Lovers Key, Fort Myers Beach & Sanibel and Captiva Islands are easily accessible.

Fort Myers has a long track record as a popular vacation destination for snowbirds and retirement area for active adults. We are fortunate that real estate developers have recognized this ongoing trend and have purpose-built communities to meet the needs of active adults. The Cascades at River Hall is a Fort Myers area community dedicated to 55+ active adult lifestyles.

Cascades at River Hall features single-family homes designed with open floor plans and primarily single-level living. Nature enthusiasts will treasure the water and preserve views that are available from every home in the Cascades community. Walking throughout the community, which is wrapped by farms and environmentally protected land offers an ever changing palette of Southwest Florida nature and beauty.

The most expensive home to sell in Lee County, Florida during June 2010 was an under-construction, river-front estate in Alva owned by former MLB player Mike “Gator” Greenwell. This 8,100 SF estate, located at 12350-20 Old Rodeo Drive in Alva features 4 BR and 6 BA and 1,500 feet of frontage on the Caloosahatchee River. The selling price was $3.060M / $378 SF.

Congratulation to selling Realtor Aldee Rosenberg with Coldwell Banker for closing the most expensive residential property in June 2010.

The latest Brookings Institute State of Metropolitan America Report has some very interesting data regarding the Cape Coral-Fort Myers Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). This area is categorized as a Mid-Sized Magnet with similar characteristics (high growth, low diversity, low education) as cities including: Baton Rouge, LA; Boise, ID; Greenville, SC; Jacksonville, FL; Little Rock, AR and Oklahoma City, OK.

Some of the key indicators about the Cape Coral – Lee County including our ranking out of the top 100 MSAs:

Pulte Homes announced that it has sold the club at Crown Colony Golf and Country Club to its members. Development of this prestigious south Fort Myers golfing community was competed by Pulte in 2006. Crown Colony is located in south Fort Myers on Winkler Avenue Extension off Summerlin Road and sits on a 403-acre site.

Crown Colony features a private championship course designed by Ron Garl that plays 7,013 yards, par 72. Both golf and social memberships are available at Crown Colony and membership is optional. The club also welcomes non-resident members.

The News-Press reports that WCI Communities is back with gusto from the brink of extinction following a chapter 11 reorganization. Near-term plans call for the construction of five new spec homes at Pelican Preserve, 55+ active-adult master-planned community in Fort Myers.