Michael Glastonbury

I spend a lot of time out and about in Deep Creek. It's a fairly small area and I feel I know it fairly well. But the other day, while out in deep Deep Creek I had an epiphany. Deep Creek is actually several neighborhoods rolled into one. Earth-shattering you might say (with tongue firmly in cheek!). Bear with me.

It's true though! Take the most southerly area. It's a very mature neighborhood. Homes have been here since at least the early eighties. That means they're approaching 30! Not such a young new neighborhood as us Deep Creekers are apt to boast. I do admit that is a thoroughly civilized part of Florida with many lakes and the few trees left that made it through Hurricane Charley.

The easterly area, just off rampart Boulevard is an area of fairly new development, mainly condos and planned communities. One of many Florida condo communitiies that was overbuilt during the last - and seemingly distant - boom!

East of Rio de Janeiro Boulevard is the Deep Creek Golf Course. It's an area which has seen a proliferation of condos and townhouses, many of which are new.

To the north of Sandhill Boulevard are many newer homes. This is the area where much of the last boom took place and the homes are just gorgeous. There are lakes, and treed lots. The homes are larger with high vaulted roofs - which seems the modern style in Florida design - than in the southern part.

And towards the Peace River - about as far into Deep Creek as one can go. Well this is like a wilderness. There are less homes out here than in other parts of Deep Creek. It seems the boom never quite made it this far, and some may say that this is a good thing. There are many vacant lots in the area, most of them uncleared which tends to lend the area a more rural feel. It has a distinctly different feel than other more developed parts of our beloved neighborhood. There is wildlife here too - if you consider bunnies wildlife. I did run across a family of Bobcats early one morning, and the birdlife out here is exquisite.

All in all, our little community is quite charming and there is a spot here for everyone. Those who want to be near the highways and byways, and also for those who want to be far from the madding crowd.

Deep Creek offers it all!

It's been a long while since I took to the keyboard to pontifiicate on Southwest Florida Real Estate goings-on!

If anything the outlook has deteriorated since my last post of well over a year ago. The economy has soured. Bank bailouts, auto bailouts, mortgage meltdowns and credit cruches. Sounds like a breakfast cereal. Despite all the bad news, there is a glimmer of hope out there!

Seems like a bunch of far-sighted individuals are starting to see some value in the market. And what's not to like if you're a Value Investor. It is indeed 'kid in a candy-store' time for those who can see the value - and have some cash! Also there is a glimmer of hope emanating from our friends in the mortgage biz. Seems like refinancings are going through a mini-boom of sorts.

Well we're still a longway from any sort of normal market, and pessimism still abounds, BUT with the increasing activity in speculation and refinancings, there possibly is a glimmer of light on the horizon.

Don't hold your breath, but I believe a slow recovery is underway. Of course opinions are a dime a dozen - and mine are half-price (this week only!) - but, as in the stock market, when there's blood in the streets, it's time to buy!