Courtyard homes featuring a private guest suite with a cabana bath are now available in Estero at both the Reserve at Estero and Belle Lago.  The guest suite which is separate from the main house simplifies the hosting of your out-of-town guests.  Courtyard floor plans with their separate suites have also proven popular for buyers needing private home offices, artists studios and families with adult offspring living at home.

Currently available new construction courtyard home floor plans are as follows:

Reserve at Estero

Villa Gracia – 3 BR / 3 BA / 1,821 SF

Belle Lago

Vincenza – 3 BR /  2.5 BA 2,683 SF
Villa Maria – 3 BR / 3 BA / 2,030 SF
Playa Riente 4 BR /  3.5 BA / 3,525 SF

Here are resources to view active listings in the Reserve at Estero and Belle Lago communities in beautiful Estero, Florida.

Miromar Lakes is one of the finest communities in Southwest Florida and offers lifestyle choices for a wide range of tastes and interests.  Mirror Lakes was recognized in 2011 as the Community of the Year by the National Association of Home Builders, the first winner in Florida in 30 years!  Experience the luxury amenities of a five-star resort combined with a tropical climate and convenience of Southwest Florida.

With over 700-acres of freshwater lakes, Miromar Lakes is a dream come true for water enthusiasts who enjoy water skiing, sailing and fishing.  Golfers treasure the Arthur Hill designed “signature” championship course which features Bermuda greens and is playable on a year-round basis.   Residents treasure the communities Beach Clubhouse which offers a dining room or al fresco dining at the water’s edge.

After a day on the water, golf course or tennis courts, relax in the Miromar Lakes spa or get a work out in at the fitness center.  Miromar’s professional concierge service can handle the routine household issues of the day so that you can focus on enjoying life!

Housing options at Miromar Lakes range from luxury waterfront estate homes to waterfront villas and condos along the golf course.  Here is a resource to view active Miromar Lakes real estate.

The Meadows of Estero is a community of 262 coach homes located off US-41 just north of the Coconut Point Mall.  The community is nearing sellout with just seven new coach homes remaining.

There are two floor plans to choose from in the remaining inventory of new coach homes.  Floor plan options are a 2 BR / 2.5 BA / 2,011 SF  and a 3 BR / 2.5 BA / 2,878 SF configurations.  Both floor plans have attached two-car garages.

Amenities at this 50-acre development include a clubhouse, fitness center and pool.

Here is a resource to learn more about this community and view available Meadows of Estero real estate.

The Preserve at Corkscrew is Southwest Florida’s newest community featuring 440 new homes in Estero.  Located on Corkscrew Road between Wildcat Run and Bella Terra, offers an exciting opportunity to buy in a completely new community with an extensive roster of amenities.

The Preserve at Corkscrew developer is Cameratta Properties, who developed High Point Place on the Fort Myers Riverfront.  Cameretta is teaming with respected national builder Pulte Homes who recently released floor plans for the Preserve at Corkscrew which include:

Garden Series:  1,641 – 2,211 Sq. Ft. | 3 Bedrooms – 3 + Den | 2 - 2.5 Baths | 2 Car Garage l 50′ Homesites

Classic Series:  1,939 – 3,564 Sq. Ft. | 2 – 5 Bedrooms + Den | 2 – 3.5 Baths | 2 – 3 Car Garage l 60′ Homesites

Estate Series:  2,404 – 3,078 Sq. Ft. | 3 – 4 Bedrooms + Den | 2 – 3 Baths | 2 - 3 Car Garage | 75′ Homesites

Pricing for these floor plans has not yet been released.  Here is a resource to learn more about the Preserve at Corkscrew in Estero Florida.

While foreclosures and short sales still dominate the Southwest Florida real estate headlines, new construction in exciting subdivisions continue to gain momentum in the market.  Many buyers, particularly remotely located second home owners, want a new turnkey move-in-ready solution.

While builders are finding it challenging to borrow to fund new subdivisions, they are seeing significant success building new homes on vacant lots in existing subdivisions.  Buyers with short windows to find a home during a visit to Southwest Florida are usually wowed with the new home offerings vs. what is available in the distressed listings.

Last week’s Lee Building Industry Association Market Trends 2011 Symposium provided an opportunity to review and rejoice in the rebirth of our residential construction market. There is a significant amount of activity across many communities, here are the top five subdivisions in Lee County measured by single-family permits in the year ending June 30, 2011:

• The Plantation 114
• Sandoval 104
• Village Walk 97
• Bella Terra 86
• Botanica Lakes 85

Source: Land Solutions

Our team is available to work with buyers at all the communities with new construction in Lee County.  We have previewed all the available options and can expedite your search by aligning your housing needs with the most appropriate available offerings.

The Estero gated communities of Belle Lago and The Reserve at Estero are featuring an incentive sale offering significant savings on new construction homes in these neighborhoods.  The incentive program is being sponsored by national builder Toll Brothers and runs through July 31, 2011.  The discounts and incentives vary by community and property.

The Reserve at Estero offers new construction single-family homes starting in the mid $200,000s.  Homes range in size from 1,509 SF to 2,545 SF.  Community amenities include a clubhouse, resort-style pool and tennis courts.

Belle Lago features new construction single-family homes priced from the mid 300,000s.  Amenities at Belle Lago include a clubhouse, pool, tennis courts, basketball court and walking trails.  Belle Lago residents also have cart access and the opportunity to join the Estero Country Club at The Vines.

Here is a resource to learn more about the Reserve at Estero and Belle Lago communities.  Our buyer-focused agents are available to assist and guide your purchase of a new construction or existing home in these Estero communities.

The Residences at Coconut Point development continues to attract new buyers with 24 closings year-to-date in 2011 and 10 more sales presently pending.  Buyers are attracted to the urban lifestyle experience available at Coconut Point which is located above and adjacent to a 1.2 million square foot regional retail and office development.  Residents enjoy walking to a multitude of restaurants, clubs, shopping, cinema and office buildings.

The Residences at Coconut Point’s 290 units range in size from 1,000 SF to 2,000 SF and all feature private lanais or rooftop decks.  The communities’ amenities include a European-style swimming pool and a fitness center.

Currently both new construction and resale units are available at the Residences at Coconut Point.  Here is a resource to view active Residences at Coconut Point real estate listings.  Please inquire if you would like assistance in getting the best deal in this exciting and unique Southwest Florida community.

See larger image Retrofitting Suburbia, Updated Edition: Urban Design Solutions for Redesigning Suburbs (Paperback) By (author) Ellen Dunham-Jones, June Williamson List Price: $49.95 USD New From: $34.49 In Stock Used from: $39.09 In Stock

Thirty new single-family homes have been sold so far this year in the gated Reserve at Estero community.  Families are drawn to this Toll Brothers which offers nine different home designs.  At full build-out, The Reserve at Estero community will have a total of 494 homes.

Community amenities include a clubhouse, fitness center, game room, swimming  pool, tennis courts and a playground.  The Reserve of Estero is located on Estero Parkway midway between US-41 and Three Oaks Parkway.

Here is a resource to view Reserve at Estero homes listed for sale.

The two developer model units at Jasmine Bay within Estero’s West Bay Club are now available for sale.  Both of these units are decked out to the nines with designer appointments and are sure to evoke a WOW when you walk through the door!  The views of the Bay, Gulf of Mexico and West Bay golf course are stunning from both of these 18th floor units.

Unit 1805 is located in the South Tower at Jasmine Bay and features 3 BR / 3 BA with 1,766 SF. It showcases a Nuhouse Design Associates interior that creates a classic yet modern feel.  The designer paired dark furniture with light fabrics to provide a striking, dramatic contrast that embraces West Bay’s casual and comfortable lifestyle.  This unit is offered at $775,900.

Unit 1806 is also located in the South Tower at Jasmine Bay and features 3 BR / 3.5 BA with 2,342 SF.  It was decorated by Chad Renfro Designs and features a British West Indies inspired design.  Light furniture and bold blue stripes are utilized to bring comfort and elegance to this palace in the sky.  This unit is offered at $895,000.

Our team is available to provide low-pressure information-rich assistance if you are interested in viewing these designer models.  Here is a resource to view all available property at the West Bay Club.

If the proposed changes are approved, Camaretta looks to move forward later this year with underground site work.  Plans also include utilizing two national builders for the construction of the 440 single-family homes.  This location on Corkscrew Road East of I-75 has proven very a popular location with the success of Bella Terra, Grandezza, Stoney Brook and Wildcat Run communities.

The timing on this project could prove to be a home run as builders are currently constructing new homes on an infill basis in Southwest Florida.  Much of the infill work will be completed as this project comes on-line and the Preserve at Corkscrew will be well-positioned as one of the first post-crash a new developments in Southwest Florida.

West Bay Club is running a promotion offering discounts on Premier Equity Memberships through March 18, 2011.  During this time frame, equity memberships are available with the purchase of any new home for $15,000.  This represents a $20,000 savings vs. the regular non-discounted rate for an equity membership of $35,000.

West Bay Club in Estero, Florida features a Pete and P.B. Dye designed 18-hole, 7,878 yard championship golf course.   The 868-acre West Bay Club is surrounded by natural beauty including the Estero River to the North, Halfway Creek to the East and Estero Bay to the West.  Playing a round at West Bay encompassed by pristine flora and fauna on an Audubon Signature Sanctuary designated course  is a treasured experience.

Our team is ready to assist in your search for a home at West Bay Club or any other Southwest Florida community.  Here is a resource to view active West Bay Club real estate listings.

Spectacular views of Estero Bay coupled with high-end finishes position Jasmine Bay at West Bay Club high-rises at the top of the charts in Southwest Florida.  These towers stack up favorably with other luxury high-rise developments in Southwest Florida including Mastique, High Point Place and Palmas Del Sol.

Jasmine Bay luxury appointments include private balconies, high ceilings, architectural ceilings, Italian raised-panel cabinetry, marble bath countertops, soaking tubs and over-sized showers.  Jasmine Bay residents enjoy private elevator lobbies to each residence.

Both new construction and resale options are currently available at Jasmine Bay starting in the $300,000s.  Here is a resource to view active Jasmine Bay listings.

Belle Lago is uniquely positioned as an exclusive upscale community with the benefit of relatively modest homeowner association fees. Belle Lago residents also enjoy the beauty and convenience of a new community without the burden of a Community Development District (CDD) fee that is common at many newer Southwest Florida communities.

The roster of amenities at Belle Lago is extensive including a clubhouse, fitness center, aerobics studio, pool, tennis, basketball and walking trails.  Belle Lago residents are also eligible for membership at the adjacent Estero Country Club which can be accessed by a private golf cart path.

Belle Lago developer Toll Brothers is currently building single-family villas and estate homes in the community.  Single-family villas are offered in six floor plans ranging in size from 2,030 SF – 2,660 SF starting at $379,995 and estate homes in six floor plans ranging in size from 2,721 SF – 4,354 SF starting at $496,995.  Quick delivery options are currently available at Belle Lago.

Resale options are also available at Belle Lago starting in the mid $300,000s.  Here is a resource to view active Belle Lago real estate listings.

The National Association of Home Builders recognized Miromar Lakes as the community of the year for 2011.  This prestigious honor as the #1 community in the country is a major coupe for Southwest Florida and Miromar Lakes.

Located between Naples and Fort Myers, Miromar Lakes offers a luxurious waterfront living experience in a tropical resort setting.  This master-planned community features 700-acres of sparkling freshwater lakes that residents can enjoy year-round in Southwest Florida’s tropical climate.  Miromar Lakes features award-winning amenities including an Arthur Hills designed signature championship golf course, waterfront clubhouse and Manhattan-style concierge services.

Housing options at Miromar Lakes include waterfront luxury estates, single-family homes, condos and coach homes located in 22 distinct neighborhoods.  Here is a resource to view active Miromar Lakes real estate.

The four communities seeking this change from Fort Myers to Estero Bay are Belle Lago, Osprey Cove, The Reserve at Estero and The Vines.  Reasons cited for the change include significantly increased property values in Estero and geographic proximity with Estero rather than Fort Myers.  While many times HOA inspired border changes tend to be silly, this one makes perfect sense.  These four communities truly feel like they are in Estero and it is surprising to see a Fort Myers address associated with them.

One potential problem is that other South Fort Myers communities like Shadow Wood Preserve, Tidewater Island and Harborage might want to break with Fort Myers and join with Estero Bay as well.  I can envision the headlines now, we belong in Estero Bay as we are closer to Estero Bay than the other four communities making up Estero Bay.  Not to mention Fort Myers Mayor Randy Henderson and the Lee County Commissioners negotiating that Estero Bay has to take San Carlos Park if it wants to pluck the ritzy gated communities away from Fort Myers.

Prices have been reduced on remaining Phase I coach homes at The Meadows of Estero.  This community features upscale 2 BR + den & 3 BR / 2.5 BA coach homes with over 2,000 SF of living space.  Phase I pricing now starts at $175,000 for selected close-out units, reduced from $190,000.

Meadows of Estero coach home finishes include coffered ceilings, gourmet kitchens with granite countertops, over-sized lanais and elegant art niches.  Community amenities  include a 5,000 SF clubhouse, heated pool and hot tub.

The Meadows of Estero is located off US-41, 1/2 mile south of Corkscrew Road.  This location offers convenient access to Florida Gulf Cost University, Coconut Point Town Center, Miromar Outlets, Germain Arena and the beaches of Southwest Florida.

Here is a resource to learn more about The Meadows of Estero.

In a region known for its auto-dependent gated-community lifestyle, an urban walker-friendly condo option is now available.  The Residences at Coconut Point is a residential condo community located at the vibrant Coconut Point Mall in Estero, Florida.  The community features eight mid-rise Mediterranean-inspired buildings with 289 residences located directly above or adjacent to Southwest Florida’s largest retail center.

High-end finishes are found throughout the Residences at Coconut Point including 10-ft ceilings, marble top baths, eight-foot solid core interior doors, soaking tubs, walk-in showers, and private patios or Julliette balconies with french-style doors.

Residence at Coconut Point amenities include gated parking, fitness center, pool and beautiful grounds with fountains, palm trees and gardens.

New construction units are available in 1,2 or 3 BR configurations and start at $149,000.  Here is a resource to view active listings and learn more about the Residences at Coconut Point.

Miromar Lakes is a master-planned luxury community featuring 700-acres of sparkling freshwater lakes and an Arthur Hills designed signature golf course.  Located in South Lee County, Miromar Lakes is widely recognized as the finest community in Southwest Florida.

Housing options range from waterfront luxury estates to single-family homes, condos and coach homes in Miromar Lakes 22 distinct neighborhoods.  Here is a resource to view active Miromar Lakes real estate.

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.

Currently there are over 20 re-sales available at Bella Terra ranging in price from 74,800 for a 2 BR / 2 BA 1,242 SF condo to $499,000 for a 3 BR /  4 BA 3,889 SF executive home.  Here is a resource to view active Bella Terra MLS listings.

In TV terms the wonderful suburban neighborhoods of Leave It To Beaver, The Brady Bunch and Bewitched are fading and the urban lifestyles of the Odd Couple, Mary Tyler Moore and Frazier are coming of age.

What does this mean for the Southwest Florida and the greater Fort Myers area?  While no one is ever going to confuse Southwest Florida with the Upper West Side, we do have some really dynamic urban areas like 5th Avenue in Naples.  In recent years, a handful of urban-oriented projects have been developed or renovated that address this shifting lifestyle demographic.

Developments in the Fort Myers area offering an urban lifestyle experience include:

High Point Place – Riverfront high-rise in downtown Fort Myers walk to restaurants, Publix, Starbucks, offices, parks, theatres and museums.

Residences at Coconut Point – Condos located on the upper-levels of the Coconut Point Mall which has emerged as the destination in South Lee County.

Rapallo – Gated condos and villas adjacent and very walkable to the dynamic Coconut Point Mall

Cape Harbour – Waterfront boating community with vibrant boardwalk featuring restaurants, retail and community events.

Patio De Leon – Downtown Fort Myers renovated historic condos located above commercial space.

Earnhardt Condominiums – Downtown Fort Myers renovated historic condos located above commercial space

When the market turns and development starts up again, it would sure be wonderful to see more project like these completed rather than starter homes on random 1/4 acre plated lots in the hinterlands.

One of the buyer misconceptions about our current Fort Myers area real estate market is that banks will approve ultra-aggressive, low-ball offers on short sales and foreclosures.  Approving low-ball offers in Lee County has absolutely not been the operating model for lending institutions during 2009.   Particularly for foreclosures, much of the discount on these properties is reflected in the aggressive selling price.

The numbers speak for themselves regarding the ratio of selling price to listing price.  In 2009, 20,480 residential properties were sold in Lee County for a total of $2.7B.  The average listing price was $140,706 and the average selling price was $132,068.  This represents an average selling price to listing price ratio of 94%.  Anyone who tells you that banks are accepting offers at 50% of asking price is just not dealing with reality.

Complete inventories of Estero foreclosure listings, Fort Myers foreclosure listings and Cape Coral foreclosure listings are available on our site.

We continue to see significant activity mostly from second-home buyers looking to take advantage of aggressively priced foreclosure listings.  Here are free web resources that are updated daily with the latest foreclosure listings:

• Fort Myers foreclosures
• Fort Myers beach foreclosures
• Cape Coral foreclosures
• Estero foreclosures
• Bonita Springs foreclosures

The Sarasota Herald-Tribune has an interesting article about Norman Radow, who has been hired to liquidate the real estate portfolio of bankrupt Leman Brothers.  West Bay Club in Estero is one of the assets that Radow is currently focused on.  A big challenge at West Bay Club is that only 617 of the originally planned 1,054 properties have sold.

In the year that Radow has been overseeing the West Bay Club, his modifications have cut the annual operating deficit has been cut from $2.5M to $31,000.  These changes have included the closing of unprofitable restaurants and opening the club to guests of the nearby Ritz-Carlton Hotel.

Currently, resale coach homes at West Bay Club are available starting in the mid $300s.

Estero Palms, a gated community of 32 single-family homes in Estero, has sold 22 of its 32 home sites.  On a positive note, 14 of these sales have occurred since May 2009.  Estero Palms features estate homes which start in the $220,000s.  Estero Palms was developed by Taylor Morrison.

Estero Palms is located in Estero on Block Lane just west of River Ranch Road.  This convenient location is adjacent to Estero High School and the Estero Recreation Center.

The real estate market in the greater Fort Myers area has been dominated by foreclosure and short sale activity.  This REO activity has driven significant price declines in Southwest Florida real estate.

In the third quarter of 2009, home prices in the Fort Myers-Cape Coral area dropped on average 40%.  This 40% decline led the nation for the 3rd quarter.

We are seeing a major shift upmarket in foreclosure activity.    At this time last year, the largest pocket of foreclosure activity was centered around single-family starter-type spec homes in Cape Coral neighborhoods like Gator Circle and in Lehigh Acres.  Investor heavy condo developments like Bellasol, Cypress Landing and Sail Harbour were also heavily impacted with foreclosures. Many of these lower-priced homes and condos REOs were snapped up by a new set of investors with an eye towards generating a cash-flow positive rental income stream

Today, significantly more foreclosures are hitting the market in upscale communities like Miromar Lakes, Bella Terra and Gateway.  With more amenities which drive higher condo and HOA fees, these properties are less attractive to investors to purchase as rental property.  Second home buyers are definitely the target for this high-end class of foreclosures.  Our team has been extremely busy this fall showing this class of property to out-of-town buyers.  Several have liked what they have seen and are buying upscale foreclosed homes and condos.

All these foreclosures are creating outstanding buying opportunities for bank-owned property.  Estero foreclosures and Fort Myers foreclosures are very popular with out-of-town 2nd home buyers looking for their own piece of Florida sunshine.

Estero, with its location close to Naples and the beautiful Estero Island beaches, is a Southwest Florida community popular with foreign buyers.

Levy and other people with whom “Globes” has talked mention double-digit returns on investment. A comparison with the Israeli real estate market is necessary in view of the rise in housing prices in Israel in recent years, and Levy has no doubt which pays better.

“We cannot find such returns in Israel,” he says. “In Israel, the ratio between home prices and rental prices is disproportionate. An average three-room apartment in central Israel costs NIS 1 million and the average rent is about NIS 100,000 a year.

Southwest Florida leads the nation in foreclosures and homes are currently available at prices below replacement cost.  Fort Myers foreclosures and Estero foreclosures are popular with foreign nationals.  Many are investing now with plans to rent out the property until retirement.

We welcome foreign national investment to help fuel our market recovery. Distressed property is available throughout SW Florida, here is a resource to view Estero foreclosures and Bonita Springs foreclosures.  Cash offers are the key for foreign nationals to move quickly on a distressed deal.

These figures certainly jive with what our team has experienced in the distressed property trenches of Southwest Florida.  It can be challenging trying to convince an eager buyer that the aggresively priced short sale listing has a very low probability of closing.  We are experiencing far higher closing percentages with foreclosure listings.

Here is a free resource that is updated daily to view Southwest Florida foreclosures:

• Bonita Springs foreclosures
• Cape Coral foreclosures
• Estero foreclosures
• Fort Myers foreclosures
• Fort Myers Beach foreclosures
• Pine Island foreclosures

If you do decide to move forward and make an offer on a short sale, please read this blog post about the questions that you need answered prior to submitting the short sale offer.