Visitor Stories From The Sanibel Historical Museum And Village

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Throughout the Sanibel Historical Museum and Village’s buildings are binders inviting visitors to share their memories of Sanibel –whether as long-time residents, as visitors of many years, as students at the Old Schoolhouse, or whatever moves them to record their Sanibel experiences. Loose-leaf pages (themselves a reminder of times past, having come into use

around 1900) and pens are provided, and that’s all one needs to bring the past alive.

From Grace Benham Herst

“I spent two wonderful years here from 1939 to 1941. I loved the school, the beach, the remoteness of everything. We used to go to Fort Myers when we wanted ice cream – there was none on the island because there was no electricity.”

From a Waterville, Ohio visitor

“From 1948 to 1952, we came to Fort Myers each year to visit my grandparents. We took the ferry out to Sanibel and a wagon pulled by a tractor or pickup truck took us to our accommodation. The cottage we stayed in was a clapboard bedroom with two double beds and a dresser – that’s it. Then there was a screened porch with a kerosene stove, table and chairs and sink (with pitcher and bowl, I think). We stayed two or three nights and hunted shells and swam and hunted shells some more. Then, the little cart took us back to the ferry, sunburned and carting our shells.”

From an unidentified visitor

“I can remember my husband’s grandmother, Jesse Shipley, drove us to the beach down Donax Road, which was only dirt. We drove up on the beach and parked. You could look both ways on the beach and not see one building.”

From Ruby Singleton Sanders

“My father ran the mail boat Santiva from 1936 to 1952. I would ride with him in the summer on occasion and walk from Bailey’s store across to the beach using a palmetto ‘swisher’ to keep off the mosquitoes.” (Ruby’s father was Cleon Singleton.)

Read more about people’s experiences living on and visiting Sanibel at the Sanibel Historical Museum and Village. In addition, the Old Bailey Store contains copies of old newspapers, and just about all the houses have plenty of reading material explaining their history.

The Sanibel Historical Museum and Village is open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday through August 3, and reopens November 6 on a full schedule, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. It is located at 950 Dunlop Road (next to BIG

ARTS). There is handicap access to all buildings. For more information, call 472-4648 during business hours or visit www.sanibelmuseum.org.

Island Sun (July 26, 2013)

Have you met John Petel?

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Ask The Chamber

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Q: Where can we go to see wildlife/birds/alligators/pelicans/manatees?

A: These are some of the most popular questions asked at the Visitor Center of the Sanibel Captiva Chamber Of

Commerce. The staff and volunteers who staff the center are the first people whom visitors meet and they love this question because it gives them the chance to talk about their favorite subject – the islands of Sanibel and Captiva.

This is the aspect of the job that they enjoy most: helping our many visitors –up to 1,500 a day in season – find the

attractions for which Sanibel and Captiva are renowned worldwide. Our natural beauty and the wildlife that makes it

home is a top reason for coming here and the chamber staff and volunteers know that they are the ambassadors for

this extraordinary and unique resource.

They also know that this resource is fragile and has to be carefully cherished; a view shared by all members of the

chamber. Island businesses know that our visitors treasure the unspoiled quality of our islands and our unique natural beauty. Think how difficult it would be to recreate this quality in our modern age: particularly so on an island adjacent to the waters of the Gulf. Islands such as ours could have huge potential for both active recreation like fishing, boating and sailing and passive sunsoaked holidays by the sea, relaxing on our beaches. It is nothing short of miraculous that the Sanibel founding fathers not only had the vision to see the potential for Sanibel but were able to put together the plan and carry it through that saw that vision become reality.

The chamber is proud to play a full part in guarding this resource – not only is it vitally important to residents, it is at

the heart of our members’ business proposition. Restaurants, hotels, resorts, small inns and cottages and retailers in variety

earn their livelihood because man, in a happy alliance with nature, has turned the dream  into the Sanibel that we know

today. Chamber members are determined to play an active part in protecting the qualities conceived by their predecessors.

We did not create them: we are remarkably fortunate in enjoying them and we accept responsibility for handing them on

to future generations.

Chamber members do so by actively participating in causes that have as their goal the preservation of the sanctuary

quality of Sanibel. A key principle of the Sanibel Plan is that Sanibel is and should remain a sanctuary: a sanctuary for wildlife and native vegetation, a sanctuary for natural beauty, a sanctuary for residents seeking tranquility and visitors seeking a unique break from the bustle and stress of urban life.

The importance of sanctuary is a belief is shared by residents and businesses alike and is it lies at the center of the chamber’s mission – “To promote the prosperity of our members and preserve the quality of life in our community.” The interests of residents, businesses and the natural world with which they share Sanibel are inextricably intertwined: the quality of life for human residents is dependent on conserving the natural world. The chamber, therefore, supports the non-profits and the many individuals that do so much to keep the island a haven for nature.

Chamber members participate in the many fundraising activities arranged to benefit our natural environment. They work with the city to ensure that the detailed regulations that protect the Sanibel way of life are understood and respected. They also jointly explore ways to reconcile these regulations with changing realities and residents’ needs: for example, the near universal use of smart phones has fundamentally altered the telecommunications infrastructure. Business has a responsibility to ensure that the innovation demanded by consumers in 2013 can live side-by-side with nature without harmful effects to either. Leadership provided by individuals, nonprofits, the city and businesses has shown that we recognize that we are mutually dependent on each other. All can benefit from this recognition.

Island Sun (July 19, 2013)

Sanibel Historical Village Closing For Season August 3

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The Sanibel Historical Museum and Village will close after Saturday, August 3 for the remainder of the summer and into early fall. The museum will re-open on Wednesday, November 6 and resume a Wednesday through Saturday schedule from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

According to museum manager Emilie Alfino, the traditional three months when the museum is closed to the public affords staff an opportunity to make an needed repairs, repaint and spruce up the grounds. Museum volunteers also use the break to prepare next season’s exhibits and plan special events. Administrative staff members are busy updating databases, refining procedures, marketing and improving existing exhibits. Hurricane shutters go up on all the windows until the week before re-opening.

“The village may be quiet, but we keep working behind the scenes to improve the museum and to prepare for next season,” said Alfino. “I already have more goals for the summer than I can probably fulfill, but every goal is a labor of love and makes the village a more enriching, educational and fun experience for our visitors.”

Next season’s visitors to the village can look forward to a continuing array of exhibits in each of the seven historic buildings and special docent-led tours of the village at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. In addition, Twilight Talks, which were so popular in the past, are being planned. Meanwhile, work continues on Shore Haven and its Caretakers Cottage.

The Sanibel Historical Museum and Village is currently open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and is located at 950 Dunlop Road (Next to BIG ARTS). There is handicap access to all buildings. Admission is $5 for adults 18 and over. Members and children under 18 are free. For more information, call 472-4648 during business hours.

Island Sun (July 19, 2013)

‘Ding’ Days Photo Contest Is Under Way

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July marks the opening of the 26^th annual “Ding” Darling Days Amateur Nature Photography Contest. Deadline for submission is September 15.

The contest, sponsored by the “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge (DDWS), is held in conjunction with “Ding” Darling Days, October 20 to 26.

Complete contest rules are listed below. For an entry form and other contest information, visit www.dingdarlingsociety.org/photo-contests. Or contact DDWS at dingdarlingoffice@yahoo.com or 239-472-1100 ext. 223.

DDWS will announce winners and award prizes at Conservation Art Day on Saturday, October 26, during “Ding” Darling Days.

Entries may be delivered in person to J.N. “Ding” Darling NWR or by mail to:

“Ding” Darling Wildlife Society (DDWS), 1 Wildlife Dr., Sanibel, FL 33957 (Attention: Gary Ogden).

·         There is a $25 per person entry fee that provides you with a membership to the Society and is used to defray the cost of the contest. One fee covers two entries per person.

·         Only amateur (all ages) photographers are eligible to enter (may not possess a professional photographer tax identification numbers for the sale of photographs).

·         Photos must be 8” x 10” (or full frame 8” x 12”) with an 11” x 14” mat. This will facilitate display in the Visitor Center (Please, no hangers on the backs of the photographs). Frames are not permitted. Please submit a digital copy on a CD/DVD/Flash Drive. Each photo must be at least 2MB. The two photo entries can be copied onto the same CD/DVD/Flash Drive.

·         Each person may enter up to two photos but is eligible to win only one award. One $25 fee covers two entries per person.

·         Photos that have won awards in previous “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society photo contests may not be resubmitted.

·         Judging will be anonymous. Please do not put your name or anything that will identify you on your photograph.

·         Judging criteria:

1)      Technical excellence (sharpness, lighting, composition, exposure)

2)      Originality/creativity

3)      Interest

4)      Ability to be reproduced for publication

·         On digital photos, only limited image modifications are permitted. Minor manipulation should be used only to produce a more natural looking photograph. Cropping is allowed by adding  any elements not existing in the original scene will not be allowed. Judges, at their discretion, will disqualify any photos that appear to be manipulated beyond these guidelines.

·         All photos will become the property of DDWS and will not be returned. There is no need to include a return enveloped or postage. Photos may be used by DDWS in any way with appropriate with appropriate credit.

·         First, second, and third place winners and honorable mentions will be formally announced during the “Ding” Darling Day’s weeklong celebration held in October. Cash prizes will be awarded.

·         The refuge and Wildlife Society cannot be held responsible for loss or damage of photos.

·         There are three judges: A refuge staff person, a professional photographer, and a member of the Sanibel community.

To support DDWS and the refuge with a tax-deductible gift, visit www.dingdarlingsociety.org or contact Birdie Vertesch at 292-0566, 472-1100 ext. 4 or director@dingdarlingsociety.org.

Island Sun (July 19, 2013)

Some condos nixed by FHA now have a backup plan

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WASHINGTON – July 19, 2013 – A Federal Housing Administration (FHA) notice released today says that it’s seeing an increase in the number of condominium project approval applications that contain mortgagee exception clauses or have language that allows a unit to be rented for less than 30 days or used for hotel purposes.

The FHA uses a specific definition for transient rentals that make a project ineligible for FHA funds. In addition to a ban on rentals of less than 30 days, it looks at the way the unit it is used, and whether or not renters receive amenities generally considered ones that come with a hotel rather than a condo. Those “customary hotel services” could include room service, maid service, furnishing and laundering of linen, bellboy service, etc.

Until today’s announcement, condominium legal governing documents (Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions, or CC&Rs) had to be amended to remove unacceptable language to make the project eligible for FHA approval. However, there is now another option:

Condo association: If it won’t amend the CC&R, the association board may provide an executed written statement on letterhead that confirms no units in the project are currently rented for less than 30 days, and no lessor provides services normally associated with a hotel.

Lender: If the association decides not to amend the CC&R but submits a statement, an originating lender must also provide an executed statement on letterhead that affirms it will not use the unit for a transient rental if it one day takes the unit back through foreclosure or other actions.

Borrower(s): All borrowers must also execute form HUD-92561, Borrower’s Contract with Respect to Hotel and Transient Use of Property, which applies to all condominium loans using FHA insured financing.

http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/article.cfm?id=294199

Rate on 30-year mortgage declines to 4.37%

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WASHINGTON – July 19, 2013 – Average rates on U.S. fixed mortgages declined this week as concern waned in the financial markets over the Federal Reserve’s possible slowing of its bond purchases this year.

Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday the average on the 30-year loan slipped to 4.37 percent. That’s down from 4.51 percent last week but is still near the highest level in nearly two years.

Just two months ago the rate was 3.35 percent, barely above the record low of 3.31 percent. Rates had surged in recent weeks amid concern over the Fed’s bond purchases, which have kept interest rates low.

The average on the 15-year mortgage fell to 3.41 percent from 3.53 percent last week.

Chairman Ben Bernanke said last week the Fed will continue to stimulate the economy, even after it begins to slow the bond purchases.

Even with the recent gains, mortgage rates remain low by historical standards. Low rates have helped fuel a housing recovery that is helping to drive economic growth this year.

Greater demand, along with a tight supply of homes for sale, has pushed up home prices. It also has led to more home construction, which has created more jobs.

The Commerce Department reported Wednesday that U.S. builders started work on fewer homes in June, mostly because apartment construction fell sharply. But applications for permits to build single-family houses rose to the highest level in five years, suggesting the housing recovery will continue.

The yield on the 10-year Treasury note, which mortgage rates typically track, fell on Wednesday to 2.49 percent from 2.53 percent as investors bought U.S. government bonds following comments by Bernanke in his appearance before a U.S. House committee. He said the central bank had no firm timetable for cutting back on its bond purchases. The Fed would consider reducing its stimulus program if the economy improves, Bernanke said, but he stressed that the reductions were “by no means on a preset course.”

The yield on the 10-year note edged up to 2.52 percent Thursday morning.

To calculate average mortgage rates, Freddie Mac surveys lenders across the country on Monday through Wednesday each week. The average doesn’t include extra fees, known as points, which most borrowers must pay to get the lowest rates. One point equals 1 percent of the loan amount.

The average fee for a 30-year mortgage was 0.7 point this week, down from 0.8 point last week. The fee for a 15-year loan also slipped to 0.7 point from 0.8 point.

The average rate on a one-year adjustable-rate mortgage was unchanged at 2.66 percent. The fee declined to 0.4 point from 0.5.

The average rate on a five-year adjustable mortgage fell to 3.17 percent from 3.26 percent. The fee eased to 0.6 point from 0.7.

http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/article.cfm?id=294195

5 ways home loans are becoming easier to get

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SANTA ANA, Calif. – July 18, 2013 – The easy credit that crashed the housing market led to lending standards so strict that Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke blamed them for hurting the recovery.

In recent months, however, lenders have relaxed their grip somewhat as the market has rebounded and home prices have soared.

More ways to get a mortgage are in the offing, mostly for borrowers with solid incomes and strong track records. Real estate analysts also say rising rates could spur renewed competition among lenders.

“They are considerably more flexible than they were two years ago. It’s gaining steam,” said Guy Cecala, publisher of Inside Mortgage Finance, a company that tracks and analyzes the mortgage market. “If you didn’t qualify a year ago, it wouldn’t hurt to go back and find out if you can qualify now.”

Bankers remain cautious but are becoming more accommodating, agreed Erin Lantz, director of Zillow Mortgage Marketplace: “The pendulum is swinging back to more normal, but still prudent, lending guidelines. Loans are becoming a bit more accessible.”

The Mortgage Bankers Association has come up with a tool, the Mortgage Credit Availability Index, to help measure trends in mortgage availability. The index rose 7.2 percent in May from May 2012, meaning it has become “somewhat easier” to obtain a loan, said Rick Allen, chief operating officer of MortgageMarvel.com, a mortgage shopping website.

Here are five ways that mortgage experts say the market is becoming more flexible:

1. Some lenders are easing payment and credit score requirements. Having a modest downpayment or a lower than stellar credit score won’t necessarily keep you from buying a home. Between March 2011 and March 2013, Zillow Mortgage Marketplace saw a 570 percent increase in the number of lenders offering conforming loan quotes with downpayments between 3.5 percent and 5 percent, Lantz said. That does not include the Federal Housing Administration, which allows downpayments of 3.5 percent.

If a borrower can provide a bigger downpayment, a bank may dial back on a high credit score requirement. Cecala said lenders have wiggle room because of overlays, standards they impose above those required by mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

2. Piggyback loans are popping up. The term describes two mortgages taken out at the same time for one property, so a borrower can avoid paying for private mortgage insurance on a traditional loan representing more than 80 percent of a home’s value. Piggybacks also help borrowers avoid higher interest rates on jumbo mortgages.

Jeff Lazerson, who runs Mortgage Grader, an online brokerage in Laguna Niguel, Calif., said he began offering piggyback loans again this year, allowing borrowers to refinance up to 90 percent of the value of their homes. But unlike piggyback loans in the past, he said, “With these, you have to income-qualify for it and have some skin in the game.”

He said the loans are conservatively underwritten, requiring at least a 700 credit score even if the borrower has put down more than 10 percent on the mortgage.

3. Stated income loans are back. These don’t require tax returns to prove income, but they’re also tougher to get than in the boom days, when they were given to people with no or few financial resources and dubbed “liar loans.”

“I am starting to see lenders advertising stated income loans, which will be helpful to so many self-employed borrowers,” said Christine Donovan, a real estate broker at DonovanBlatt Realty in Costa Mesa, Calif. “The rates are not great, and it requires higher downpayments, though it seems like a step in the right direction.”

Stated income loans are important to self-employed homebuyers because they tend to have fluctuating income and frequently write off expenses, she noted, which can make it more difficult for them to qualify for a mortgage when tax returns are required.

4. Subprime loans are emerging again, but with a change. Before the housing crash, some lenders provided interest-only loans to people with bad credit and no collateral. Lenders entering the subprime market now, however, tend to require hefty downpayments from borrowers, who may have healthy incomes but went through a short sale or took another credit hit before rebounding.

“We are getting more calls and solicitations from newer lenders that are pushing subprime-type products,” said Dennis C. Smith, co-owner of Stratis Financial Corp., a Huntington Beach, Calif., mortgage firm that does not offer them.

The loans are in limited supply but are likely to be a growing part of the mortgage market, serving mostly untapped and underserved borrowers desperate for credit access, said Keith T. Gumbinger, vice president of HSH.com, a mortgage information website.

But, he added, “Any new entrants into this space will likely learn the recent (housing crash) lessons and return to the more traditional underwriting standards.” The loans also are expected to be heavily regulated.

5. Rising interest rates could encourage competition. Lantz predicted rising rates could soften consumer demand and increase the supply of available loans. Lazerson said he sees mortgage brokers and banks imposing fewer overlays in the future.

Interest rates are expected to continue increasing, with some analysts saying 30-year fixed-rate mortgages could hit 5 percent in the next 12 months. (They reached 4.51 percent last week.)

“As there are fewer borrowers and they (lenders) are trying to figure out ways to get loans in the door and fund loans, they’re going to be less restrictive,” Lazerson said.

Jay Brinkmann, chief economist at the Mortgage Bankers Association, said in Investor’s Business Daily recently that rising rates alone won’t drive down home sales in the long run. “Some people might decide to buy a smaller house in a different area, but you won’t see a big decline based just on interest rates,” he said.

Competition has been missing from the market since 2008, Cecala said.

“What will be interesting is to see how far it will go,” he said. “It’s getting more flexible by the day, but it’s still not opening the door to what you’d expect.”

So far, real estate and mortgage brokers say, the average buyer seeking a home loan or trying to refinance has not seen much in the way of relaxed underwriting criteria.

Those benefiting from the recent easing, they said, tend to be strong borrowers or those who never deserved to be cut out of the housing market.

“It’s not a sea change that’s allowing a whole bunch of new people in to the market,” Cecala cautioned.

Allen said MortgageMarvel.com’s benchmark data from last year, drawn from more than 650,000 mortgage applications across the nation, shows online borrowers had a median credit score of 755, a median household income of $90,000 and a 79 percent loan-to-value ratio on mortgages they sought.

“For now, there are reasons for bankers to be cautiously optimistic, but there remains a wait-and-see attitude before any widespread moves to ease standards will be made,” he said.

Smith said the FHA will accept FICO scores as low as 580, though many lenders require 620 or higher, and most have floors of 660 for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans.

“I don’t see these guidelines changing for the lower, and personally don’t feel they should,” he said.

Although it’s a bit easier to get a home loan now than it was a year ago, Donovan said, “I am still seeing numerous people who are having trouble qualifying for a loan when make-sense, common-sense lending would say they should be able to get a loan.”

http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/article.cfm?id=294151

Real estate appraisers optimistic about future

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CHICAGO – July 17, 2013 – Eighty percent of residential appraisers and 78 percent of commercial appraisers said they’re upbeat about their future, according to a survey conducted in May-June by the Appraisal Institute, the nation’s largest professional association of real estate appraisers.

“Appraisers have faced a challenging real estate market in recent years, and it’s great to see that so many valuation professionals are feeling optimistic about the future,” says Appraisal Institute President Richard L. Borges II.

Survey results

• 95 percent of residential appraisers and 49 percent of commercial appraisers said there is more demand for their services than there was one year ago

• 84 percent of residential appraisers said their local residential real estate market is strong

• 46 percent of commercial appraisers said their local commercial market is strong

• 86 percent of residential appraisers and 55 percent of commercial appraisers said demand for their services is strong

• 32 percent of residential appraisers and 45 percent of commercial appraisers anticipate more demand for their services during the next one to two years.

“Real estate trends are typically local in nature, and it’s a positive sign for the nation’s economy that appraisers around the country reported increased demand for their services,” Borges says.

http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/article.cfm?id=294074

How to avoid movers’ scams

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SACRAMENTO, Calif. – July 15, 2013 – Karen Purdie feels she got flim-flammed by the moving man.

Last December, she went online, researched various moving companies and hired one to move her elderly parents from Grants Pass, Ore., to her home in West Sacramento. She got an estimate, told them what needed to be moved and set a delivery date.

Three days later, Purdie says, the movers showed up hours late – at 9:30 p.m. on a Saturday night. Her parents’ mattress was soggy, a dresser mirror was shattered and a number of items – including their favorite recliner chairs – had been left behind in Oregon by the movers. Worse, the moving crew wouldn’t unload anything until they were paid – in cash.

“It was horrible. It wasn’t a complicated move. Never in my wildest dreams would I have anticipated what happened,” said Purdie, a state employee, who’s filed a claim seeking reimbursement for damages.

Last year, consumers like Purdie filed more than 11,100 complaints with the Better Business Bureau nationwide. Nationally, moving companies rank among the top BBB complaint categories.

“When moving during the busiest moving time of the year, taking extra precautions when choosing a mover is imperative,” said Gary Almond, president of the Northeast California BBB, in an email. “Know who runs the business, where it’s located and ensure you know who is handling your personal and important possessions.”

The company that Purdie hired, Alliance Worldwide Van Lines, has several locations nationwide with “F” and “D-minus” ratings, based on consumer complaints. The BBB said the company may have subcontracted Purdie’s move to another firm. Efforts to reach Alliance were unsuccessful.

Certainly, moving is no one’s idea of a good time. Whether it’s schlepping furniture, books and belongings across town or cross-country, it’s a lot of work. But there are ways to make the adventure go as seamlessly as possible.

Choose carefully

Don’t rely on TV or Internet ads. Get recommendations from friends or family. Check a company’s complaint history through the Better Business Bureau and its licensing status through state or federal agencies, such as the California Public Utilities Commission.

“The biggest mistake that consumers make is going online and not dealing with brick-and-mortar companies,” said Steve Weitekamp, president of the California Moving & Storage Association, which represents about 350 licensed moving companies in the state. “Anyone who tries to do this online is asking for a problem.”

In addition to checking a company’s licensing and complaint history, he recommends stopping by its office to gauge its professionalism.

Get it in writing

Get at least three estimates from companies that send an estimator to your home. Avoid online firms where you fill out a do-it-yourself inventory list.

Generally, for moves of less than 100 miles, you’ll be charged hourly rates. For longer-distance and out-of-state moves, you’ll be charged by weight and mileage. Some companies have minimums: i.e., at least four hours or 5,000 pounds.

Compare competing bids but avoid low-ball prices that seem too good to be true. Companies are required to provide a maximum price in writing on what it’ll cost, door to door.

“Before the first piece of furniture is loaded on a truck, the consumer should have a ‘Not-to-Exceed’ price. It’s the maximum they can charge,” said Weitekamp.

Be specific

The best precaution, especially on a long-distance move, is to fill out an inventory, where you and the mover list all major items and their condition. Anything that’s already nicked or damaged should be noted. Be clear about exactly what is going in the truck vs. what you’ll be packing and moving yourself.

Know the extras

Movers can charge extra for elevators, flights of stairs (beyond a single-family home) or “long carry” fees when their truck can’t get closer than 75 feet from your front door.

Also, if they get to your house and there are 50 extra boxes in the garage or furniture that you changed your mind about taking, you’ll be asked to fill out – and pay for – a “change order” for the additional items.

Avoid peak times

The summer months, June through August, are when movers’ calendars and trucks fill up fast. Especially with apartments and rental homes, the first and last days of the month – and Fridays – are the busiest.

If possible, request a midweek or midmonth move. And try to schedule it at least 30 days in advance.

Accidents happen

The lampshade gets crushed, the glass vase chips, the flat-screen TV cracks, the leather sofa is ripped. Damage can happen in the hustle and bustle of moving.

Under federal law, all moving companies are liable for basic repayment, if they damage an item during a move. It’s 60 cents per pound, per item. The coverage is included in your moving estimate.

But it could be woefully inadequate. If you’ve got a 10-pound, $1,000 Lalique glass bowl that gets broken, for instance, you would be repaid $6.

If you want added coverage, movers offer “replacement value” or “cash value” coverage against potential loss or damage.

Also, check your homeowners’ insurance to see if damages are covered.

If you’ve packed a box yourself and something breaks, you’ll have to show that the box itself was damaged. Otherwise, the mover can’t be sure that your packing skills didn’t contribute to the broken goods.

Some dos/don’ts

Do have a “first-off-truck” box that has essentials you’ll need immediately at your destination.

Don’t pack anything onto a moving truck that’s personally valuable: fine jewelry, cash, vital documents, business records, etc.

Another tip: Don’t move a flat-screen TV unless it’s been unplugged for 24 hours. If moved while still warm, it could suffer internal damage.

Be there

Too many consumers, said Weitekamp, make the mistake of not being present or paying attention while movers are at work. You should be an active participant, he said. Supervise packing. Do an accurate inventory. Watch as the goods go out and come in. Walk through the house to see that nothing gets left behind. At the new location, check the inventory for anything missing or not in the same condition.

“Moving is a very personal service, where you’re entrusting all your worldly possessions to someone you just met,” Weitekamp said. “The mover is going to load everything you own into a truck, close the door and drive away.”

A little caution ahead of time can save a lot of expensive headaches.

http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/article.cfm?id=293966

Best Beaches in the World

U.S. News Travel has named the Top 12 Beaches in the World - and Sanibel is ranked #10!

http://travel.usnews.com/Rankings/Best_Beaches_in_the_World/

Check out the article and read all about the World's Best Beaches including our beautiful barrier island, Sanibel. Let John Petel help you find your perfect place in paradise CLICK HERE

River Cruises Return For Summer At Edison Ford

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Beginning Sunday, July 7 and Monday, July 8, the Edison & Ford Winter Estates and Captiva Cruises will offer short cruises on the Caloosahatchee River and tours of Edison Ford on Sundays and Mondays at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., noon and

1 p.m.

The cruise and tour is a great way to learn about the ecology and history of the river that the Edison and Ford families explored and fished. In 1886, Thomas Edison purchased 15 acres along the Caloosahatchee and built “Seminole Lodge,” his stunning winter estate facing the river. He also built a 1,800 foot long wood pier with entertaining areas and a boathouse for his electric launch, the Reliance.

Today, visitors to the Edison & Ford Winter Estates will also tour the Caloosahatchee on a modern flat-bottom vessel complete with awnings and the same leisurely travel agenda. The river cruises are a great way to experience the history of this important river and the ecology and environmental significance to Southwest Florida.

Cost for Edison Ford members: adults are $20, children 12 and under are $15; non-members: adults are $40, children 12 and under are $30. Admission includes an audio tour of the Edison Ford homes, gardens, lab and museum as well as an historian-led boat cruise of the Caloosahatchee River.

Contact Edison Ford for cruise times, ticket information, tour options and to arrange special times and dates for group reservations. River cruises are available on Sunday evenings for sunset cruises, family gatherings, private events and children’s dolphin parties. The Edison & Ford Winter Estates is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. For more information about the site, visit www.edisonfordwinterestates.org.

Island Sun (July 12, 2013)

doc Ford’s Captiva nears Completion

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The menu is set, the renovation moves forward, and hiring is ongoing for the third and newest Doc Ford’s Rum Bar and Grille on Captiva Island outside of South Seas Island Resort’s entrance. When the restaurant opens to the general public later this summer, it will occupy the former Holy Smoke Heavenly Barbecue, with seating for more than 300 people.

Seating will include outdoor patio tables and three separate dining rooms – one with a stage and bar, another holding

the main bar, and the third decorated with historic photographs of South Seas and other parts of the island.

“The anticipation is mounting on both sides of the story,” said general manager Jean Crenshaw, who has managed Doc

Ford’s Sanibel Rum Bar & Grille for more than 10 years. “We’ve been seeing a lot of people from Captiva in our Sanibel

restaurant in recent months, checking out our food and drinks – excited to see us open on Captiva. I am looking forward

to welcoming guests who have not dined with us before.”

The menu at the Captiva Island Doc Ford’s will pretty much mirror that of the Sanibel restaurant except for the addition

of flatbreads, she added, which the restaurateurs introduced at their second location on Fort Myers Beach. Like the first

two restaurants, the third will serve tropical cuisine and cocktails inspired by the Doc Ford series of murder mysteries by

New York Times bestselling novelist and Sanibel resident Randy Wayne White.

The atmosphere, too, will be similar, with cozy booths, sports TVs in some of the rooms, and lots of warm wood. The

restaurant will host live entertainment on its stage every weekend, said Crenshaw.

Chef Greg Nelson, the original chef at Doc Ford’s Sanibel and most recently the executive chef at the Fort Myers Beach

location, joins Crenshaw on the management team, under the ownership of Sanibel residents Marty Harrity and Mark Marinello.

Managers continue to hire staff and will hold job fairs at their Fort Myers Beach location on July 9 from 5 to 7 p.m. and July 13 from 9 to 11 a.m. Interested persons can also apply in person at either of the two existing locations.

“We are thrilled about our upcoming opening on Captiva,” said Harrity.“Our new venture with South Seas Island

Resort has our entire team at Doc Ford’s very excited.”

For more information, visit www.docfords.com.

Island Sun (July 12, 2013)

Edison State Ranked Nationally

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Edison State College ranked in the Top 100 across several categories for Community College Week’s annual Top 100 Associate Degree and Certificate Producers. The results cover the 2011-12 academic year.

“It’s always nice to be included in a national ranking by a well-regarded publication like Community College Week,

but we are more focused on the quality of the education our students receive,” said Dr. Jeff Allbritten, president, Edison State College. “We attribute our success first and foremost to our students. They work hard to achieve their academic goals. Just as important is the dedication of our faculty, who guide them along the way.”

In all the categories, Edison State moved up in the rankings, with the exception of the 72nd ranking for Associate Degrees, All Disciplines, Total Minority. New this year is Edison State’s 26th ranking nationally for its nursing program.

The annual report divides its results into two-year and four-year institutions. Edison State College’s rankings are included with four-year institutions as follows:

26th for Associate Degrees, Nursing,

Registered, Administration, Research &

Clinical

45th for Associate Degrees, All Disciplines

38th for Associate Degrees, All Disciplines, Total Non-Minority

72nd for Associate Degrees, All Disciplines, Total Minority

93rd for Associate Degrees, All Disciplines, African-Americans

Island Sun (July 12, 2013)

CoreLogic: Foreclosure inventory down 27% for year

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IRVINE, Calif. – July 9, 2013  – CoreLogic released its May National Foreclosure Report with a supplement featuring quarterly shadow inventory data as of April 2013.

According to CoreLogic, the U.S. had 52,000 completed foreclosures in May 2013, down from 71,000 one year earlier – a year-over-year decrease of 27 percent. On a month-over-month basis, however, completed foreclosures increased 3.5 percent – from 50,000 in April 2013 to 52, in May.

Florida, however, continued to lead the nation in both completed foreclosures and number of homes in its foreclosure inventory. In the year ending in May, the state recorded 103,000 completed foreclosures compared to second-place California with 76,000. Michigan (64,000), Texas (51,000) and Georgia (47,000) rounded out the top five. The five states, added together made up almost half of all U.S. foreclosures.

The Sunshine State, at 8.8 percent, also ranked No. 1 in foreclosure inventory as a percentage of all mortgaged homes. The remaining states in the top five for foreclosure inventory include, New Jersey (6 percent), New York (4.8 percent), Maine (4.1 percent) and Connecticut (4.1 percent).

Nationally, CoreLogic says that the total residential shadow inventory as of April was fewer than 2 million units – a supply of 5.3 months and down 34 percent from its peak in 2010. The shadow inventory is also down 18 percent for the year.

As of May 2013, about 1 million U.S. homes were in some stage of foreclosure (the foreclosure inventory) compared to 1.4 million in May 2012 – a year-over-year decrease of 29 percent. Month over month, the foreclosure inventory was down 3.3 percent.

At the end of May the number of seriously delinquent mortgages – those at least 90 days or more past due – hit its lowest level in four-and-a-half years.

“The stock of seriously delinquent homes, which is the main driver of shadow inventory, is at the lowest level since December 2008,” says Dr. Mark Fleming, chief economist for CoreLogic. “Over the last year it has decreased in 42 states by double-digit figures, resulting in rapid declines in shadow inventory for the first quarter of 2013.”

The value of shadow inventory was $314 billion as of April 2013, down from $386 billion in April 2012 and down from $320 billion six months earlier.

http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/article.cfm?id=293687

10 tips for buying real estate with IRAs

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NEW YORK – July 8, 2013 – Want to invest in real estate through a retirement account? It’s possible, but it’s also far more difficult than simply buying and selling investment property.

“Given the combination of bottomed-out home prices and a still-tight lending environment, utilizing funds from a retirement account to purchase investment homes with cash, or at least with a large downpayment, can give individual buyers a better chance of competing in this tight housing market,” says Daren Blomquist, vice president at RealtyTrac.

Blomquist says investing with retirement money “gives consumers a path to more quickly build their nest egg since all proceeds from the real estate investment – whether that be from rental cash flow or from selling the property – go directly back into the retirement account.”

However, he also says retirement investors should conduct thorough research first.

Look before you leap
Retirement funds can be a good fit for some investors but it’s not for everyone. “It depends on the person’s age and the type of property,” says Sheldon Detrick, CEO of Prudential Alliance Realty in Oklahoma City, Okla. “Rental property, especially on the lower end, can be a good investment at any age. It’s usually profitable and easy to sell. On the other hand, buying land in outlying areas in anticipation of population growth is something only those under 50 should consider.”
 
Know the ground rules
Lorraine and Richard Walls, a couple in Midlothian, Va., decided to use their retirement accounts to buy investment properties in Southwest Florida. But before making the plunge, the Walls spent a full year researching how self-directed real estate IRAs work, learning the basic ground rules every investor should know before they get started. Those ground rules include:

• Title: Any property purchased by an IRA is owned by the IRA – not an individual.
• Purchase money: any money used to purchase a property with an IRA has to come directly from your IRA, not you individually, and you can’t be reimbursed by your IRA. This includes earnest money and closing.
• Rehab and carrying costs: similar to purchase money, any costs associated with rehabbing or carrying the property must be paid directly by the IRA. An IRA custodian can help with this.
• Income: any income generated from the property has to flow back into the IRA.
• Prohibited transactions: purchases made with an IRA need to be for investment, not personal use. Also an IRA cannot do business with family members of “lineal descent,” which includes you, a spouse, parents, children, grandparents, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In addition, you cannot borrow money from a self-directed IRA or use it as security for a loan.
 
Use a Roth IRA to “pay taxes on the seed, not the crop”
According to Jeff Desich, chief executive of Equity Trust Company, choosing a Roth IRA over a traditional IRA is a “no brainer” for most real estate investors because although a traditional IRA allows for tax-free contributions, the earnings are taxed when pulled out for retirement down the road. “My dad would always say would you rather pay tax on the seed or on the crop,” Desich says.

Buy in your comfort zone
“We stuck to Lehigh (Acres, Fla.), which everyone said don’t do it,” says Lorraine Walls, adding that the couple now owns a total of nine properties in Lehigh Acres, one of the nation’s hardest-hit real estate markets. “I went with what I was comfortable with. We don’t need to make millions straight away.”
 
Plan your exit strategy but be flexible
Although she purchased the Lehigh Acres homes primarily for the long-term cash flow, Walls said steady gains in home price appreciation have her rethinking that strategy. “Actually, I’m thinking about selling because the prices have almost doubled in the last two years,” she said, noting that her real estate agent is urging her to list one home in particular. “I paid $58,000 for this property, and he wants to list it for about $105,000.”
 
Consider creative investing strategies
Early in his career, veteran real estate investor Stan Brady said he focused mostly on fix-and-flip properties that he sold to owner-occupant buyers. But his strategies have evolved over time to focus on optioning investment deals that he finds and negotiates for other investors who don’t have the time to find and negotiate those deals.

“A typical transaction for me would be taking an option contract … and then turn around and resell the property to a group of investors,” says the Atlanta-based investor. “Now they have a portfolio rental and I get back the profit in my IRA.”
 
Set up a 401(k) under real estate investing business
While a normal employer 401(k) plan won’t allow you to invest in real estate, everyone who invests in real estate is in business for themselves, Desich says, which gives him or her the right to have a retirement plan for that business. If someone is investing in real estate and finding success, then that person can set up a 401(k) that permits real estate investments and allows contributions up to $50,000 per year plus $50,000 for a spouse.
 
Make it a family affair and multiply your purchasing power
Investors have the option of partnering their IRA with others, according to Desich. For example, a husband and wife might each have a Roth IRA, and both may have a 401(k). Add in two kids who each might have a Roth IRA and the family can use all six accounts to purchase a deal and share the percentage.
 
Pay all cash or make a large downpayment to compete with institutional buyers
Besides the tax breaks that allow investors to build their retirement nest egg, self-directed IRAs give buyers the option of paying all cash or making a sizable downpayment – helping to compete in a market where multiple bids are the norm.

“Offer a high deposit and close within two weeks,” Walls says is her rule of thumb. “Offer them 50 percent, and bingo you’ll get it.”
 
Build a strong team around you
“You want to choose your partners wisely,” says Desich. “Biggest point outside the IRA, we help to connect the dots. Whoever you use, you need to have an attorney or accountant you work with who can help you; or find a custodian who can help you answer questions. We’re not all created the same.”

http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/article.cfm?id=293613

Ask the Chamber

Q:Where can we go to see wildlife/birds/alligators/pelicans/manatees?

A: These are some of the most popular questions asked at the Visitor Center of the Sanibel Captiva Chamber Of Commerce. The staff and volunteers who staff the center are the first people whom visitors meet and they love this question because it give them the chance to talk about their favorite subject – the islands of Sanibel and Captiva. This is the aspect of the job that they enjoy most: helping our many visitors – up to 1,500 a day in season – find the attractions for which Sanibel and Captiva are renowned worldwide. Our natural beauty and the wildlife that makes it home is a top reason for coming here and the chamber staff and volunteers know that they are the ambassadors for this extraordinary and unique resource.

They also know that this resource is fragile and has to be carefully cherished; a view shared by all members of the chamber. Island businesses know that our visitors treasure the unspoiled quality of our islands and our unique natural beauty. Think how difficult it would be to recreate

this quality in our modern age: particularly so on an island adjacent to the waters of the Gulf. Islands such as ours would have huge potential for both active recreation like fishing, boating and sailing and passive sunsoaked holidays by the sea, relaxing on our beaches. it is nothing

short of miraculous that the Sanibel founding fathers not only had the vision to see the potential for Sanibel but were able to put together the plan and carry it through that saw that vision become reality.

The chamber is proud to play a full part in guarding this resource – not only is it vitally important to residents, it is at the heart of our members’ business proposition. Restaurants, hotels, resorts, small inns and cottages and retailers in variety earn their livelihood because man, in a happy alliance with nature, has turned the dream into the Sanibel that we know today. Chamber members are determined to play an active part in protecting the qualities conceived by their predecessors. We did not create them: we are remarkably fortunate in enjoying them and we

accept responsibility for handing them on to future generations.

Chamber members do so by actively participating in causes that have as their goal the preservation of the sanctuary quality of Sanibel. A key principle of the Sanibel plan is that Sanibel is and should remain a sanctuary: a sanctuary for wildlife and native vegetation, a sanctuary for natural beauty, a sanctuary for residents seeking tranquility and visitors seeking a

unique break from the bustle and stress of urban life.

The importance of sanctuary is a belief is shared by residents and businesses alike and is it lies at the center of the chamber’s mission – “To promote the prosperity of our members and preserve the quality of life in our community.” The interests of residents, businesses and the natural world with which they share Sanibel are inextricably intertwined: the quality of life

for human residents is dependent on conserving the natural world. The chamber, therefore, supports the non-profits and the many individuals that do so much to keep the island a haven for nature.

Chamber members participate in the many fundraising activities arranged to benefit our natural environment. They work with the city to ensure that the detailed regulations that protect the

Sanibel way of life are understood and respected. They also jointly explore ways to reconcile these regulations with changing realities and residents’ needs: for example the near universal use of smart phones has fundamentally altered the telecommunications infrastructure.

Business has a responsibility to ensure that the innovation demanded by consumers in 2013 can live side-by-side with nature without harmful effects to either. Leadership provided by individuals, nonprofits, the city and businesses has shown that we recognize that we are mutually dependent on each other. All can benefit from this recognition.

Island Sun (July 5, 2013)

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Fla. home to 7 of top 15 retirement investments

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IRVINE, Calif. – July 5, 2013 – RealtyTrac released a special report on real estate investing in cities that are retirement hot spots – ones where at least one-third of the population is age 65 or older.

“These popular retirement cities will very likely be an area of growth in the housing market over the next 15 years as baby boomers retire in greater numbers,” says Daren Blomquist, vice president at RealtyTrac. “The baby boomer generation started retiring in 2011, a trend that will continue at least through 2029, ensuring plenty of demand for both rentals and owner-occupant purchases in these markets for the foreseeable future.”

The report found 40 cities nationwide with at least 33 percent of the population age 65 or older. Among these 40 cities, 25 posted annual increases in median home prices. In addition, 27 had a positive capitalization rate, which suggests that rentals in those markets generate positive cash flow. RealtyTrac ranked the top 15 of 40 retirement hot spot cities based on the annual percent change in home prices as of May.

Florida had almost half of the nation’s top 15 retirement hot spots, with seven in the list, and Dunellon ranked at No. 1 nationwide. In Dunellon, 38 percent of the population is retirement age or older, and home prices jumped more than 31 percent in the past year. The estimated cap rate in Dunnellon is more than 10 percent based on the average rent for a three-bedroom home there.

Six other Florida cities made the top 15 list: Naples, North Fort Myers, Punta Gorda, Sun City Center, Venice, and Orange City.

Arizona and California each contributed two cities to the list, and Arkansas, Pennsylvania, Oregon and New York each had one city in the top 15.

Florida cities in top 15

1. Dunellon: 38% of residents retirement age; $76,941 median sales price in May 2013
2. Naples: 44% retirement age; $267,473 median sales price
6. North Fort Myers: 44% retirement age; $84,500 median sales price
8. Punta Gorda: 45% retirement age; $138,938 median sales price
9. Sun City Center: 76% retirement age; $99,750 median sales price
10. Venice: 52% retirement age; $148,238 median sales price

http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/article.cfm?id=293586

When we’re all connected, online privacy is tough to achieve

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SEATTLE – July 3, 2013 – Services that offer secure Web browsing and search have been enjoying a surge in popularity since the revelations about National Security Agency monitoring of domestic phone calls, email and Internet activity.

“We always knew people didn’t want to be tracked, but they didn’t know what to do about it,” said Gabriel Weinberg, founder of the Pennsylvania-based DuckDuckGo, which allows users to search the Internet anonymously. “Now there are private alternatives you can switch to and never look back.”

But how secure can we really be in an age of social networking, e-commerce and the cloud?

We now store our documents and photos in the cloud, where a determined hacker might find them. Federal authorities armed with a search warrant can read our texts in real time, as Galleon hedge fund founder Raj Rajaratnam learned when he was charged with insider trading. And we spill out our lives on Facebook and our opinions on Twitter.

Experts say that while sites offering online anonymity can conceal part of your Internet activity from prying eyes, they can’t hide all of it. Even when you use a secure Web searcher, by clicking on one of the links it displays, you leave privacy behind, and your information is visible to whatever web page you land on.

“There are limits to what they can do,” said Seth Schoen, the Electronic Frontier Foundation’s senior staff technologist.

Jeff Chester, executive director for the Center for Digital Democracy, says most Americans “have already sacrificed their privacy” by shopping, signing up for discounts and engaging in other online activities that people take for granted.

That makes it easier for the government to spy on us, Chester said, if that’s what it wants to do.

Still, there are many ways to increase your online privacy. You can tinker with the privacy settings on your browser; add encryption and ad-blocking extensions to it, and search anonymously with several search engines. You can encrypt emails and mobile phone calls and the data you store in the cloud.

For browsing, for example, Chrome’s “incognito mode” doesn’t save a history of where you have been, and deletes cookies after you’re done with a Web page. Firefox and Internet Explorer have similar settings.

A browser extension called HTTPS Everywhere defaults to the encrypted version of a web page if it’s available.

The Tor Project is considered by some to be the ultimate in protecting your identity on the Internet. The project provides a free bundle of software, including a special browser, that it says prevents the tracking of the source and destination of your Internet activity, which could be used to track your behavior and interests. Tor routes your activity through three randomly selected computers around the globe out of a total of more than 3,200 staffed by volunteers. HTTPS Everywhere is built into the browser.

For searching, DuckDuckGo provides anonymous web searches and Blekko has its own proprietary “spam-free” search engine so it doesn’t send your queries to other search engines, as many “anonymizing” platforms do.

The Netherlands-based Surfboard Holding’s Ixquick and Startpage let you continue to web pages via a proxy server, which substitutes its address for yours, masking your identity.

But Jeremiah Grossman of WhiteHat Security says “proxies and Tor are the way to go” but warns “the value provided by proxies is completed voided when using sites like Gmail and Facebook when you voluntarily hand over your data – something that pretty much everyone does.”

If you’re worried about government snooping, the Dutch company that makes Ixquick and Startpage is beyond reach of a U.S. court subpoena and doesn’t save your data anyway.

“It’s a lot harder to force a Netherlands-based company to cooperate with programs like PRISM than it would be with a U.S.-based company,” said Ixquick CEO Robert Beens.

For phone calls and emails, PGP by Symantec and the free GPG offer public key encryption for email and data, while RedPhone and TextSecure by Whisper Systems encrypt your mobile Android phone and text messages. Both people have to be using the software.

For the advertising averse, Adblock Plus lets users filter ads on websites. It claims 40 million users. Yahoo allows visitors to its web pages to opt out of ads through its Ad Interest Manager.

Some search sites filter content, blocking out most advertising. Blekko searches are pretty much free of unwanted clutter.

And Yippy is a search engine that blocks malicious and objectionable content and is considering moving to a subscription-based model with no ads. “Advertising is Big Brother,” said CEO Rich Granville.

On the other hand, Google likes to remind people that advertising pays for the many services it offers.

Online security tips

Here are a few ideas for specific situations where you want more privacy than is afforded by your native software and system, courtesy of Seth Schoen, senior staff technologist at the Electronic Frontier Foundation.

1. You want to keep your browsing private at work: Use a browser made by the Tor Project or a paid VPN (for virtual private network) link, or a personal hotspot. Don’t use an employer-provided or administered computer if company policy allows surreptitious monitoring.

2. You want to avoid government surveillance: Install HTTPS Everywhere on your browser and consider the Tor Browser Bundle.

3. You want your mobile calls to be shielded from eavesdroppers: Install an encrypted VoIP application such as RedPhone or Silent Circle.

4. You want your information in the cloud secure from snooping: Encrypt your data before uploading it. Some services actually require data to be encrypted before it is uploaded: SpiderOak, Wuala and Tarsnap.

http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/article.cfm?id=293529

4th of July Parade on Sanibel!

It's a Sanibel tradition to have a parade filled with fun and entertainment on 4th of July. We had a great time! 

See you there next year!

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