Joy & Shane Goushaw

LEE PLANTATION

If you are looking for a quiet yet friendly 55+ / Retirement Community near Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel Island, than I am excited to introduce you to Lee Plantation! Lee Plantation is a Manufactured Community with the kind of amenities you would find at resort style properties.

Some of the Amenities Are:

1. Billiards Room

2. Large Pool overlooking the lake and wooded area

3. Large Clubhouse

4. Meticulously landscaped yards

5. Gated community

6. Fitness Room

7. Spa and Sauna

8. Fabulous Activity Calendar!

Take a look at some of the photos below! Start dreaming of the day you can drive away from the cold snow, pull your car or RV up next to your new home in Fort Myers and unpack with the Florida sunshine on your back! Your family and friends will love visiting you in your new Fort Myers home!

Lee Plantation Pool and Lake

Clubhouse at Lee Plantation

This home in Lee Plantation is FOR SALE! Brand New Listing!

Lee Plantation is a deeded community with Low HOA fees at $435 per quarter. Most all of the homes have brick skirting and large lanais. Lee Plantation Retirement Community in Fort Myers, Florida is located 15 minutes from Fort Myers beach and Sanibel Island. Hop in your car and in 5 minutes you arrive and can be ready for some fabulous Fort Myers shopping at The Tanger Outlet, Target and Publix!

Stop by for a visit sometime, you will be glad you arrived at this Fort Myers Gem of a community!

The SW FL Real Estate Market, including Fort Myers and Cape Coral have had their share of ups and downs lately! Does that mean that it is better to stay put and continue to rent instead of purchase your first home? I am sure you have heard the news that home prices have come down significantly in Fort Myers! Mortgage rates continue to remain at all time lows. This does make for a historical time to purchase a home in the real estate market in Lee County.

Home ownership must be looked at on a case by case basis and looked at realistically by the buyers. It can be advantageous for you to purchase a home if you meet some solid criteria first:

1. Are you pre-qualified?

2. Do you have a down-payment? FHA now requires 3.5%, while a Conventional Loan requires 10-20%.

3. Are you planning to stay in the same location for 5-10 years?

4. Are you realistic about what is available in your price range? Should you wait and save up more money to get more house, or do you love the idea simply of being a home owner and fixing a home up as you go to make it your very own?

On the other hand, renting a home in Fort Myers may work to your advantage if:

1. You do not have the down payment.

2. You don't have the 2-3 years of documented income taxes

3. You do not qualify - you have to get back on your feet and save the money.

4. You have recently lost your job, or there is a significant risk that you may lose your job.

5. You recently moved to a new area. Renting a home in Fort Myers can be a wonderful way to get to know the city and surrounding communities if you recently made a move. It will give you the time you need to work with a Fort Myers Realtor who can show you homes in several different communities before you make your purchase.

6. You want to save more money for more of a house.

Buying a home in the Fort Myers area can be a great way to begin to create equity as the real estate market is at record lows. It is important to keep in mind that we are beginning to see signs of a decline in inventory of homes for sale. Now is probably not the time to wait for the bottom of the market if you are a qualified buyer. We can help show you the Fort Myers and surrounding areas of Lee County to find the right home for you and guide you through the process each step of the way.

However, if you don't quite meet the criteria for home ownership at this time, don't fret, we can help find you that perfect rental while you get prepared to be a home owner in your time. We can also work with you when the time is right to help you with your home purchase in Lee County, Florida!

So, what are you waiting for? It may just be the time to meet with the qualified Professionals in the lending industry and in Real Estate to help you determine if it is better in your unique and personal situation to rent vs. buy.

www.FortMyersRealEstateFloridaHomes.com

Every community that has condo units, carriage homes or coach homes has something unique and special about it. It could be the amenities, the location or the view.

Some boast of being elite golfing communities such as Crown Colony, The Legends, and Colonial Country Club. They have impressive country clubs with plenty of social activities centered around the golfing lifestyle. Crown Colony- Golf, Country Club, Tennis, Community Pool, Fitness Center

Others are located near the beaches and offer tremendous family friendly amenities like Laguna Lakes and Parker Lakes.

Laguna Lakes - Children's Play Area, Fitness, Tennis, Sand Volley Ball, Community Pool

Parker Lakes- Community Pool, Basketball, Fitness, Children's Play Area, Tennis, Shuffle Board

And, not all HOA and Condo Associations are created equal either. Here are some important tips to keep in mind when purchasing your condo:

1. What are the HOA and Condo Association fees? Remember, the fees are subject to adjust and change. Also, keep in mind that some charge annual special assessment fees.

Crown Colony: HOA $440.00 - Quarterly, Condo fee $1046.00 Quarterly. This includes: Cable, Insurance, Irrigation, Water, Land / Lawn Maintenance, Legal / Accounting, Pest Control External, Security, Sewer, Trash Removal

Eagle Ridge Lakes: HOA $287.50 Monthly. This includes: Irrigation, Water, Lawn / Land Maintenance, Legal / Accounting, Pest Control External, Recreation Facilities, Street Maintenance, Trash Removal, Sewer

Parker Lakes: HOA $300.00 Monthly. This includes: Fidelity Bond Insurance, Lawn / Land Maintenance, Master Association Fee is included, Repairs, Reserve, Sewer, Street Lights, Street Maintenance, Trash Removal

Eagle Ridge: HOA Fee $100.00 Annually, Condo Association Fee $895.00 Quarterly. This includes: Cable, Insurance, Lawn / Land Maintenance, Legal / Accounting, Pest Control External, Sewer, Trash Removal, Water

The Legends: Condo Fee $790.00 Quarterly, HOA fee $1250.00 Quarterly, $1100.00 One Time Special Assessment Fee. The fees include: Irrigation Water, Lawn / Land Maintenance, Legal / Accounting, Security.

2. How much extra does it cost to use the amenities. Some communities such as Crown Colony and The Legends have additional charges to have a golf and country club membership. The cost could be upwards of $40,000 depending on which community it is. Or, if you live in Eagle Ridge Lakes, you can drive down the road to Eagle Ridge and pay as you play golf. However, you are paying much less in Eagle Ridge Lakes on your HOA's than you would pay if you lived in Eagle Ridge. Two communities that are very close to each other, but with very different costs involved.

3. Consider the floor you want to live on? Top floor end units typically have higher resale value due to their vaulted ceilings, extra window, better views, and on a top floor unit no one lives above you. This means that you will not hear your neighbors walking overhead. However, the energy costs will be higher as there is more space to heat or cool down.

4. Is it a gated community or is there actually a guard at the gate taking note of visitors and guests into the community? You will pay extra to live in a community where a hired security guard actually works the gate.

5. What is the view that you would like to have?

A lake view typically has a higher resale value than a landscaped area or a view that faces other units.

A condo is a perfect way to enjoy a Florida lifestyle for seasonal snowbirds, to annual residents because of the low-maintenance and wonderful community amenities. Have fun thinking about what features you would want and need your condo and the community it is in to have!

Check out Florida Homes for more resources on buying your new dream condo!

I feel blessed to wake up every morning to the beautiful sunshine and to live in a tropical climate. Living here makes one feel as if they are on vacation everyday, if you stop and take the time to appreciate it. All too often I find myself rushing from one place to the next without fully appreciating the beauty and warmth around me. This morning however, I sat on my back lanai sipping coffee and I smiled as I watched the golfers on the green climb out of their golf cart.

I then took in the long lake view in front of me and smiled as I know it is not only lovely but is also a home to various fish, snakes, turtles and even an alligator or two.

Next I glanced up on the roof tops and saw one of the four bald eagles that has a nest in the preserve a mile from where I live. I snapped a couple of photos and wanted to share them with the community.

There are so many reasons to love SW Florida, also very good reasons to stop and reflect on God's beauty that is all around us. I could have missed the eagle had I not stopped to look for it.