27th annual Luminary Festival

Friday, December 2^nd and Saturday December 3^rd Captiva and Sanibel Islands will be celebrating Luminary Festival with lights, activities and entertainment from end to end! Visit Santa and have your picture taken, visit the wonderful shops and boutiques and have some refreshments. The Trolley is running from 5:30 to 9:30 for easy shop hopping!

Author Series At The Sanibel Library

The Sanibel Public Library Author Series will present Nancy Taylor Rosenberg on Thursday, December 8^th at 7 p.m.

Tickets are still available to Sanibel Public Library cardholders. The limit is two tickets per cardholder.   

Island Sun 11/25/11

Looking for an Amazing Getaway?

When planning a getaway this Winter & Spring be sure to consider the islands of Sanibel & Captiva. Our islands boast some of the most beautiful scenery in Florida: natural beaches, miles of bike paths and protected species. Visit our local botiques and restaurants as you relax and warm up from those cold winter months.

Check out the Chamber of Commerce for more information:

http://www.sanibel-captiva.org/

Join the Shellabration!

Shellabration 2012! is an islandwide, week-long celebration of the Sanibel Shell Fair and Show, designed as a tribute to our islands’ shell bounty. The celebration will run from February 26 through March 4, with The Shell Fair and Show running March 1 to 3 at The Community House.

Shellabrators from around the island are joining in on the excitement with events and promotions. Everybody is invited to participate. A calendar of events will be prepared and promoted in local and national publications, so let us know what you plan to do!

Stay tuned for more informationa bout Shellebration 2012!!

Island Sun (11/18/11)

Lions Christmas Trees on the Way!

The Sanibel-Captiva Lions Club continues

its tradition of service as its

members prepare for the annual

sale of Christmas trees on the islands.

The premium Fraser Christmas firs have

been freshly cut and will be shipped in

refrigerated trucks from North Carolina

just in time for Thanksgiving weekend.

They will be located in the Bailey’s

Center, between the Grog Shop and

Island Cinema.

The tree lot will open on November

26. You can stop by to pick your special

tree any day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

“We’d like to thank everyone in

advance for supporting this holiday tradition.

We hope to sell more trees this year

than ever!” said Tom Hoover, a past president of the Lions Club.

During this period the Lions will

also host another one of their popular

fish fries. The fish fry will take place on

Luminary evening Friday, December 2,

at The Community House. The event will

start at 4 p.m. and last until the fish runs

out. The menu will feature fresh fried fish,

cheese grits, baked beans, coleslaw, choice

of beverages and apple pie. As usual, even

carry-out will be available! There is an $8

suggested donation for adults; children

under five will be admitted for free. Money

raised at the fish fry will benefit the Lions’

Summer Camp Scholarships for individuals

with learning and other disabilities

who will be able to attend Quest’s Camp

Thunderbird program. For more information

about the camp, visit: www.questinc.org.

Island Sun (11/18/11)

Folk Legend Livingston Taylor In Concert

Pop legend Livingston Taylor returns to Sanibel 8 p.m. Saturday, November 26, for a special Thanksgiving weekend performance at BIG ARTS Schein performance Hall, 900 Dunlop Road.

He has enjoyed a lustrous career in music as a singer-songwriter since the release of his self-titled debut in 1970 and critically acclaimed second release, Liv. A virtuoso on guitar and piano, Taylor is the musician behind the top 40 hits I Will Be In Love with You and I’ll Come Running. Other notable releases over the years include Three Way Mirror, Man’s Best Friend, Life is Good, Good Friends and Bicycle. Taylor has also enjoyed the

honor of collaborating with folk legends Carly Simon, Linda Ronstadt, Vince Gill,

and his brother, James, for whom Taylor wrote lyrics for the double Grammy winning 1997 album, Hourglass.

His musical knowledge has inspired a varied repertoire, and he is equally at home with a range of musical genres – folk, pop, gospel, jazz – and from upbeat storytelling to touching ballads. Taylor keeps a busy schedule touring internationally and instructing the next generation of musicians as a full-time professor at Berklee College of Music in Boston.

Tickets to Liv Taylor are $42 loge, $37 floor, and $15 child.

The Livingston Taylor concert is sponsored by West Gulf Company LLC. For tickets, stop by BIG ARTS, 900 Dunlop Road, Sanibel, call 395-0900, or go to http://www.bigarts.org/.

Island Sun (11/18/11)

PRICE REDUCTIONS!

Check out the price reductions on these great Southwest Florida Homes:

Visit http://www.teampetel.com/ for full details

Sunset South Condo - Sanibel - Perfect beach condo 2 bed/2 bath, garage, totally remodeled! Now $544,000

Stratford Place - Ft. Myers - 2 Bed/2 bath condo with over 1500 sq ft. and spectacular lake and golf course views. Now $109,00!

Sandalfoot Condos - Sanibel - Great Rental Income Potential! Great location, 2 bed/2 bath, great amenities. Now $489,000

Boater's Delight! - Sanibel - Large home located on canal with direct access to San Carlos Bay. Updated kitchen, relaxing pool. 3 bed/2.5 bath Now $998,000!

Call John today at 239-560-4960
Or email us at teampetel@msn.com and we'll find you the perfect home!

FISH Thanksgiving Baskets Program: Can You Help?

For several years, FISH (Friends in Service Here) of Sanibel has helped clients in need with Thanksgiving holiday baskets for families and gift cards to local restaurants for Thanksgiving dinners for seniors and single clients.

FISH will be  providing Thanksgiving Baskets for families in need again this year. Donations of fresh vegetables, potatoes, canned vegetables, stuffing mix, turkey gravy, cranberry sauce, and additional holiday foods are needed and most appreciated to  help FISH provide these baskets for island families in need.

Call the FISH Walk-In Center at 472-4775 or come by the center located at 1630 Periwinkle Way for information about the types of foods needed. Food or monetary donations to assemble the necessary items for each basket are truly appreciated.

Island Sun (11/11/11)

The Weather is Beautiful In SW Florida!

On your way to Southwest Florida for a visit? Considering a visit and looking for wonderful things to do? Check out the Edison & Ford Winter Estates. With the mild fall weather a walk around the grounds of this gorgeously preserved historic site is an ideal activity. Click on the link below for more information.

http://www.edisonfordwinterestates.org/

Why You Should Choose Fort Myers?

Established in 1886, Fort Myers is the historical and governmental hub of Lee County. It is the gateway to the Southwest Florida region, which is a major tourist destination in Florida. The winter homes of Thomas Edison (Seminole Lodge) and Henry Ford (The Mangoes), which are both primary tourist attractions in the region, are located on McGregor Boulevard in Fort Myers.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 40.4 square miles .31.8 square miles of it is land, and 8.6 square miles of it is water.

Fort Myers has a year-round warm, monsoon-influenced climate that is classified as either subtropical or tropical savanna. Notwithstanding the classification, the area has short, mild to warm winters, with most of the year's rainfall falling from June to September. Monthly averages range from 64.9 °F (18.3 °C) in January to 83.1 °F (28.4 °C) in August, with the annual average being 74.9 °F (23.8 °C).

Fort Myers is the current spring training home for the Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins baseball clubs.

There are many fun and interesting places to discover and explore in Southwest Florida! Click the link below for videos tours of Fort Myers.

http://www.cityftmyers.com/LocalArea/CommunityVideos/tabid/1315/Default.aspx

Meet John Petel

Thank you for being reading The Coconut Telegraph! We’re glad you found us and hope you find our posts interesting and informative. We strive to provide you with the lasts news in Real Estate in order to help you make informed decisions about buying or selling property in Southwest Florida.

In addition, we bring you news and information on Sanibel, Captiva and the surrounding areas. We hope you find Southwest Florida as beautiful and interesting as we do!

If you would like to learn more about what makes Team Petel so successful, click on the link below and meet John Petel!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDHSniOduXQ&noredirect=1

Upcoming Events at the Sanibel Recreation Center!

UPCOMING SPECIAL EVENTS

***“Sanibel Night” at the Florida Everblades tickets available for a reduced rate at the

Sanibel Recreation Center. Tickets sales end November 16th

***Teens join in the fun of “Sanibel Night” at the Everblades with the Teen Group. Ticket sales end November 16th

**Free Diabetes, Glaucoma, Hearing and Blood Pressure Screenings by the Sanibel-Captiva Lions Club on

Friday, November 18th from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

***Sign up now for the Youth Basketball League. Registration ends on November 12th.

See the front desk for details.

Is the New-Home Market Finally Leveling Off?

WASHINGTON – Oct. 31, 2011 – The nation’s largest home builders say that buyer traffic has picked up, sales increased and prices are stabilizing, according to The Wall Street Journal. The Commerce Department reported that, for the first time in five months, new-home sales rose, increasing 5.7 percent in September. Builder confidence also rose, reaching its highest level in a year in October, according to an index of builder sentiment by the National Association of Home Builders.

© Copyright 2011 INFORMATION, INC. Bethesda, MD

Investors See Bigger Profits from Rising Rents

NEW YORK – Oct. 27, 2011 – Rental demand and prices continue to soar, and investors are cashing in. Rents are rising at a 5.17 percent annual rate – up from last year’s 4.72 percent rate. If rents continue to grow at their current pace, they won’t be too far behind the record-high reached in 2000 of 6.18 percent, according to Axiometrics Inc.

The rental market has added about 1.4 million new renters this year, some of whom were former homeowners who faced foreclosure or a short sale. Renters are increasingly showing an appetite for single-family homes owned by investors.

As such, the number of investors in the market is growing. Investors make up anywhere between 20 and 40 percent of monthly existing home sales, according to home-sale data. With home prices and interest rates low, more aspiring investors are jumping in. Nearly 60 percent of investors in a recent survey by Realtor.com considered themselves newcomers to real estate investing.

“This is a long-term investment,” says Greg Rand, CEO of OwnAmerica. “Rents are a steady return on your investment through the years, leaving you with an attractive asset when prices improve. And they will. The best profits in real estate accrue to long-term investors who take a long-term view.”

Source: “Rising Rents Improve Investors’ Return,” RISMedia (Oct. 20, 2011)

The Coast - A Collaboration At BIG ARTS Features Evening of Photography, Music and Poetry.

by Gordon Campbell

The Coast – A Collaboration, an evening of photography, music and poetry featuring Charles Sobczak, a Sanibel writer, and his son, Logan Sobczak, a composer, will take place at BIG ARTS Phillips Gallery Thursday, November 10 at 7:30 p.m. There is a suggested $5 donation at the door.

The evening includes a presentation of some of the best nature photography ever taken. Charles will present spoken prose followed by a composition inspired by that work, and, conversely, Logan will play a piece and Charles will read a poem based on the music. A question-and-answer session with wine and cheese will follow.

          Charles Sobczak is a well-known writer whose works include Six Mornings on Sanibel, Way Under Contract, Living Sanibel – A Nature Guide to Sanibel & Captiva Islands, and, most recently, A Nature Guide to Southwest Florida, which has been chosen as a finalist for the President’s Book Award by the Florida Publisher’s Association.

          Logan Sobczak is a recent graduate of University of Florida. He holds double majors in philosophy and political science and plans to continue his education at the Chicago Art Institue in 2012. He has played piano since he was 12 and started writing original compositions shortly thereafter.

Source: Island Sun (11/04/11)

Renters Spent 5% More Than Homeowners

NEW YORK – Oct. 27, 2011 – Rising rents are forcing renters to outspend homeowners on housing costs, according to a new study.

Since 2005, homeowners’ housing expenses have climbed from 31.9 percent of their household budget to 33.2 percent. In that same time period, renters’ expenses have jumped from 35.6 percent to 38.4 percent, according to the October CoreLogic U.S. Housing and Mortgage Trends.

In the last 26 years, homeowners have increased the amount they spend on household expenses by 12 percent while renters have increased it by 22 percent, according to the study.

Growth picture enjoys uptick

WASHINGTON – Oct. 25, 2011 – Economists have significantly raised their estimates of third-quarter economic growth ahead of the government’s official report Thursday, easing near-term fears of another recession.

A consensus of economists surveyed by Bloomberg News estimates the economy grew at a still-modest 2.5 percent annual pace last quarter, up from their 1.8 percent projection less than two weeks ago. The brighter picture follows better-than-expected data on retail sales, manufacturing, jobs and business investment.

“We should take some comfort that the economy isn’t hurtling into recession,” says Capital Economics’ Paul Ashworth. Ashworth estimates third-quarter growth was 3.2 percent.

That’s not robust, but it beats the anemic expansion of less than 1 percent the first half of 2011. Amid last summer’s debt battle in Congress, the downgrade of the U.S. credit rating and financial turmoil in Europe, many analysts thought the U.S. was on the verge of another downturn.

Since Oct. 3, 10-year Treasury yields have risen nearly half a percentage point, indicating growth prospects are prompting a shift of money to higher-risk assets, says market strategist Anthony Valeri of LPL Financial.

Source: Inman News (10/18/11)

Homeownership rate second highest on record

WASHINGTON – Oct. 25, 2011 – The homeownership rate is at its second-highest level on record, only behind the record high set in 2000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, which began collecting homeownership data in 1890.

By region, the homeownership rate is:

• Midwest: 69.2 percent
• South: 66.7
• Northeast: 62.2
• West: 60.5

Nearly every metro area had more homeowners than renters in 2010. The metro areas with the highest homeownership rates were in Michigan and Florida. Monroe, Mich., had the highest percentage of owner-occupied units at 79.8 percent, followed by Punta Gorda, Fla., at 79.7 percent.

Source: Inman News (10/18/11)

Florida’s existing home and condo sales up in September

ORLANDO, Fla. – Oct. 20, 2011 – Florida’s existing home and existing condo sales continued their upswing in September, according to the latest housing data released by Florida Realtors®. Existing home sales increased 10 percent last month with a total of 15,036 homes sold statewide compared to 13,723 homes sold in September 2010, according to Florida Realtors.

“One of the most overlooked statistical trends in all of real estate is the growth in home sales, both single-family and condo, in the state of Florida,” said Florida Realtors Chief Economist Dr. John Tuccillo. “We’ve seen an upward trend in sales since January 2011, and September’s sales were a full 10 percent above September 2010. Even prices, which have been static over the past few months, are well above where they were in January 2011.

Source: Inman News (10/18/11)

Best day to list real estate for sale: Friday

SEATTLE – Oct. 20, 2011 – After analyzing 1.2 million listings in 16 markets across the country for 21 months, Redfin found that sellers have a better chance of moving their homes off the market if they list them on a Friday.

The brokerage says the study indicates that Friday listings are 12 percent more likely to change hands within 90 days. Additionally, 94.4 percent of properties listed on a Thursday or Friday sold close to the list price; in contrast, only 93.3 percent of those listed on a Sunday or Monday sold close to the list price.

Friday listings were 18.8 percent more likely than Sunday or Monday listings to be toured, with Redfin noting that “homes listed on Fridays are the freshest in buyers’ minds when they’re making their weekend plans.” Buyers also prefer to visit the newest listings first to beat the competition.

The study’s conclusion: “More tours leads to more offers, and more offers leads to a better price and a better chance of selling.”

Source: Inman News (10/18/11)