The Warm and Cozy Home - Stay happy and healthy until your next trip to Sanibel!

The Warm and Cozy Home
by Deirdre Sullivan

We've got more than 9 mood-lifting ideas to make your home more welcoming and efficient this winter.

The dark days of winter can really do a number on your well-being. Shorter days trigger the blahs; freezing temps spark the sniffles. So we put together a list of ideas that'll turn your home into a comfy haven.

Cozy and Clever Energy Savers

Here's how to create a brighter and warmer home without using more energy or cranking up the thermostat.

1. Clean dirty light fixtures and dusty bulbs to make your home appear 30% brighter without turning on more lights. 
2. Seal sneaky air leaks. It's not just window and door leaks killing your cozy vibe. Don't forget to plug stealthy gaps around recessed lights, electrical boxes and wall outlets. Use a lit incense stick or a scented candle to hunt down draft spots while leaving behind a cozy scent.
3. Replace your traditional gas or wood fireplace. Why? Both suck out heated indoor air and send it up the chimney. A gel fireplace insert is an eco-friendly option that produces a burning fire without gas, wood, electricity or even a chimney. It's also smoke-free and emits fewer allergens than a wood fireplace; some options crackle like the real thing. A basic model costs between $100 to $210; custom models go up exponentially from there. A case of gel fuel comes with 12 cans that burn for three hours each (about $35). TIP:  Use a slow cooker to infuse your home with a warm and cozy aroma. Even better, slow cookers are more energy efficient than electric ovens, typically using less energy than a light bulb.
4. Get plants. some indoor plants, like golden pothos and gerbera daisies, are practically adept at sucking up nasty VOCs - the vapors emitted from household cleaners, paints and dry cleaning. And since plants increase humidity levels, they help decrease household dust.
5. Vacuum while your thermostat is set to "fan on." This helps filter dust that gets kicked-up while cleaning. Just leave the fan on for about 15 minutes after you finish vacuuming and switch it back to "auto" afterward. HVAC blowers aren't intended to run all the time.
6. Change your HVAC filter every couple of months (monthly if you have pets) to prevent excess dust from circulating. TIP: Combat superbugs with copper. If you're planning to upgrade your kitchen or bathroom fixtures, consider classic and homey-looking copper or a copper alloy like brass. A three-hospital study in 2011 found that bacteria can only survive on copper for a few minutes, but germs can live on stainless steel for weeks.
7. Make your windows pane-fully clear. Clean glass not only lets more natural light into your home, it's a feel-good task, according to a survey by the American Clean Institute. When ACI asked consumers what clean surfaces make them happy, "gleaming windows" made the top five above a "spotless sink."
8. Ditch your window screens in the fall and winter. They trap dirty and can make your home appear darker inside and out. It's a good curb appeal booster, too.
9. Add an interior window to a room next to a sun-drenched space to take advantage of natural light. TIP: Paint chilly rooms, especially north-facing walls that typically get sunlight, in reds, oranges, or yellow - cozy colors that can actually help the room feel warmer, according to a Michigan State University study.

Source: House Logic

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The 4 Keys to Buying a Vacation Home

*I hope you find this article regarding Vacation Homes valuable. With nearly three decades of experience in Southwest Florida - specifically Sanibel, Captiva and Fort Myers - I can help you find the perfect investment to meet your real estate portfolio needs. Visit my website at www.teampetel.com and I'll help you find your perfect piece of paradise.
-John Petel

By Jodi Helmer

The second-home market is getting nutty, so follow these tips before making an offer.

Diane Daniel, 55, fell in love with Indian Rocks Beach, a small coastal enclave just south of Clearwater, Fla., after living there in her teens and 20s; she returns often to vacation.

"I have an emotional connection to that beach," says the freelance writer who lives in Durham, N.C. "A friend called it Mayberry with sunsets - and that's exactly what it feels like."

Daniel loves the area so much that she hopes to retire in the Indian Rocks Beach cottage on the Intracoastal Waterway that she and her partner just bought and currently rent out year-round. The couple also owns a two-bedroom condo in the area, purchased in 2007 and uses as a rental property during most of the year.

Second Home Sales Are Soaring

Daniel exemplifies today's vacation-home buying boom. Sales of second homes increased 10 percent between 2011 and 2012, according to the National Association of Realtors. During the same period, the median price for these properties went through the roof - up 23 percent, to $150,000.

In some popular vacation spots, the market is even crazier. Take the chi-chi Hamptons on New York's Long Island. There, the number of transactions soared by nearly 21 percent between the first quarters of 2012 and 2013, according to the Elliman Report, a real estate agency survey.

It's now not uncommon for buyers in sought-after destinations to find themselves in bidding wars, says Regina Tortorella, a real estate agent with Coldwell Banker Village Green Realty in upstate New York.

4 Tips for Vacation Home Buyers

If you're thinking about making an offer on a second home in this frothy market - perhaps a property that will become your eventual retirement place - here are four things to keep in mind:

1. Never forget that the key to vacation homes is location, location, location. Sure, this is a cliche, but that doesn't make it wrong. Before making an offer on a home, get to really know the area by visiting several times to explore the neighborhoods and check out the amenities.

Aside from exploring during peak seasons, Tortorella recommends spending time in there after the crowds clear out. "Different seasons bring different vibes to the area," she says. "Not only that, but some of the local stores and restaurants may only be open seasonally. You'll want to be familiar with what the area has to offer during the off-season."

2. Assess the property's true rental potential. Beaches and mountains tend to be the most desirable locations to pick up rental income when you're not staying in your vacation home, according to the National Association of Realtors.

If you think you'll want to turn a place you're considering into a rental property, check with the town and, if appropriate, the homeowners association, to be sure short-term rentals are allowed - before making an offer.

Be certain, too, that the home you're considering has the amenities renters expect.

Tortorella says that in the mountain resort area where she sells second homes, properties that double as vacation rentals must have hot tubs, fireplaces and mountain views to lure tenants. "These features help tremendously for getting the highest rental price and occupancy rate," she says.

3. Add up all the costs for buying and maintaining the vacation home. Mortgage rates are sometimes a big higher for second homes than primary residence, according to Walter Molony, economic issues media manager for the National Association of Realtors.

That's especially true if you'll be counting on rental income to qualify for the mortgage.

In that case, the lender will view your vacation home as investment property. Not only will you probably be required to pay a higher mortgage rate than normal, you may be asked to come up with a down payment of 25 percent of so, according to an article by CNNMoney's Sarah Max.

You'll have better luck getting vacation home financing through smaller regional banks, Molony says.

Renting a home to offset your costs will also mean paying additional fees, like the cost of professional property management. The manager who Daniel hired for her condo, for instance, charges 15 percent of the rental rate to market the property, process tenant applications, manage payments and maintain the place.

4. Before making a bid, sleep on it. Purchasing a vacation home is often the first step toward fulfilling a retirement dream. Too often, though, this emotional desire causes buyers to rush into making offers.

That's especially true in today's buyer-eat-buyer vacation home market.

"There is this feeling that you have to buy now because prices are low and mortgage rates are low," Venezia says. "But you don't want to be in such a rush that you jump in prematurely. You really want to take your time and do your due diligence."

So proceed with caution. You'll want to be confident that the home will not only suit your needs today, but in the future. It's a good idea to consider the age-friendliness of the property, since you may be living in a place for years from now when it might not be quite as easy to, say, handle flights of stairs.

Daniel and her partner made the decision deliberately and wisely. They carefully analyzed all the potential costs of owning vacation homes in another state as well as in Florida. Then, they waited for the right properties to hit the market before pouncing.

"We needed to know that no matter what happened, we could afford both homes," Daniel says. Now it's just a matter of time before they'll kick up their flip-flops in their ideal retirement cottage.

Source: Huffington Post

Tennis legend plans Sanibel visit for benefit event

Nick Bollettieri this year was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. His extensive career as a tennis couch includes developing many leading players, from Andre Agassi and Boris Becker to Maria Sharapova and the Williams sisters. The influential coach will be coming to Sanibel Island.

Bollettieri will be part of an exclusive tennis even from 9 a.m. to noon Nov. 1 at Beachview Tennis Club in Sanibel, where there will be a Round Robin with instruction by Bollettieri and his professional coaching team. Players registered for the benefit will receive a signed photograph with Bollettieri, as well as the chance to win a Lily & Co. Jewelers 14-karat gold diamond tennis racquet necklace. The event will benefit FISH of Sanibel.

The Sanibel Catering Company by Bailey's will provide a delectable brunch and the experts at R.S. Walsh Landscaping have donated their talent for a crisp landscape. Spectators will be surrounded by Round Robin, Q&A session with Nick Bolletieri and have the chance to win a sterling silver tennis suite (earrings and pendant) donated by Lily & Co.

The tennis even will be followed by a public "Chocolates and Champagne" book signing from 2-5 p.m. at Lily & Co., which is sponsoring the day.

Bollettieri will sign copies of his authorized biography, "Changing the Game," in which he hopes to inspire others to get into the game whatever it may be. There will be a 2-karat diamond tennis bracelet by Benny Sofer up for the raffle, too.

"It will be an unforgettable day," said Lily & Co.'s co-owner Dan Schuyler, an avid tennis player who has been coached by Bollettieri. "We are honored to have Nick visit Sanibel. He has been a prominent coach who shares his knowledge and passion for the game with those around him."

Bollettieri, a New York native, opened the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy on 40 acres in Bradenton, where he transformed the way tennis was taught at the elite junior level. Today it is the IMG Academy, which purchased NBTA nearly three decades ago. Bollettieri remains pivotal in the development of the academy and its programs.

Fine jewelry. Tennis with Nick Bollettieri. It's all for a good cause, too. Proceeds benefit F.I.S.H. of Sanibel-Captiva, Inc., a non-profit organization that positively impacts thousands of lives each year through its much-needed social services, including a food pantry. The Walk-In Center on Periwinkle Way is a designated United Way House, which helps the organization essential, cost-effective services for clients.

"We are grateful for the work F.I.S.H. does in our community," said Lily & Co.'s co-owner Karen Bell. "It gives those who live, work or visit our island access to much-needed services. It is our pleasure to assist F.I.S.H. in its mission of neighbors helping neighbors."

Voted "Coolest Jewelry Store" in the nation by INSTORE magazine, Lily & Co. Jewelers is housed in a historical building on Tarpon Bay Road, which has been re-purposed over the past century from at Baptist church to a school, bank and podiatrist's office. It has been refurbished once more in include the in-house Design Center, where guests will receive personal service from master in jeweler, Nicholas De Stefano.

For details and tickets, contact Dan Schuyler at 239-472-2888, or at dschuyler@lilyjewelers.com Beachview is located at 1100 Par View in Sanibel.

Study: Landscaping boosts home values up to 12%

Blacksburg, VA - Oct. 15, 2014

Upgrading a home's landscaping from average to excellent can raise its overall value by 10 percent to 12 percent, according to research from Virginia Tech.

Alex X. Niemiera with Virginia Tech's Department of horticulture found that a $150,000 home with no landscaping could fetch and additional $8,300 to $19,000 more once surrounded by plants that vary in color and size.

The value of landscaping different greatly from state to state, however. For example, the change in value from a home with no landscaping to well landscaped ranged from 5.5 percent in Louisiana to 11.4 percent in South Carolina. Michigan homes saw the biggest difference in landscaping appeal, with a home's value being increased by 12.7 percent.

"The most preferred landscape included sophisticated design with large deciduous, evergreen and annual color plants and colored landscape," according to Niemiera. Adding different plant sizes to a front yard, for example, can boost curb appeal, as well as mixing fruit trees and flowers for added color.

The survey found the following landscape elements most important:

• Design sophistication
• Plant size
• Diversity of plant material type

Survey results showed that relatively large landscape expenditures significantly increase perceived home value and will result in a higher selling price than homes with a minimal landscape," Niemiera writes in the paper. "Design sophistication and plant size were the landscape factors that most affected value."

Niemiera offers one reason why a boost in landscape can impact a home's value: "The resulting increase in 'curb appeal' of the property may also help differentiate a home in a subdivision where house styles are similar and thereby attract potential buyers into a home," he says. "This advantage is especially important in a competitive housing market."

Source: Florida Realtors

Sanibel Island could fly into top bird watching spot

Sanibel Island is known for world famous beach but could soon be nationally recognized for bird watching.

Sanibel is among 20 other destinations across the country in the running to claim the title, "Best Birdwatching Destination in the USA."

More than 245 species of birds call the island home, with the majority of them residing in and around the J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge.

The public poll is being conducted by USA Today, which currently has Sanibel at the number 2 spot behind Maggie Marsh, Ohio.

You can cast your voice once a day until November 10th.

CLICK HERE TO VOTE FOR SANIBEL ISLAND!

Not sure? Check out these great shots from around Sanibel.

Source: Wink News

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Rauschenberg exhibit to celebrate artist's birthday

Florida SouthWestern State College and lead sponsor Finemark National Bank & Trust announce the first solo exhibition of world renowned artist Robert Rauschenberg since his memorial at the Bob Rauschenberg Gallery in 2008 and the first installation in the more than a decade of his monumental 100 ft.-long Chinese Summerhall (1984) photograph.

Rauschenberg: China/America Mix is the artist's sixteenth one-man show at the College (since the Gallery was founded in 1979) and celebrates the 10-year anniversary of the Gallery's renaming and dedication in his honor.

The Rauschenberg: China/America Mix exhibition will open to the public from 7-9 p.m. on Bob Rauschenberg's Oct. 22 birthday, with musical performances by longtime friends Dickie Landry, Kat Epple and Sonic Combine.

Rauschenberg was born in 1925 and spent his most productive years at his Captiva studio.

A pre-opening lecture on "Rauschenberg in China" will be presented from 6-7 p.m. by distinguished guest, Dr. Donald Saff (founder of USF's Graphicstudio and Artistic Director of Rauschenberg Overseas Culture Interchange/ROCI).

Widely acknowledged as one of the most important artists of the 20th century, Rauschenberg is credited with pioneering the transition from European modernism to American pop art and was a local Lee County resident for nearly four decades. His effect still looms large around the globe, but this is particularly evident in China. Inspired by his 1982 visit to Jing Xian and his work at the ancient Xuan Paper Mill on his 7 [Chinese] Characters collages (included in this exhibition), Rauschenberg returned to China in 1985 to mount his Rauschenberg Overseas Culture Interchange (ROCI) exhibition at the National Gallery in Beijing.

Open to the public for less than three weeks, Rauschenberg's ROCI/China show attracted more than 300,000 visitors and is still considered a seminal cultural event. To this day, the most recognized Chinese artists acknowledge his great influence and broader impact in describing art in China "before and after Rauschenberg."

These events are open to the public, free of charge. The first-come, first-served seating for the 6 p.m. lecture is limited. For additional information call 239-489-9313 or visit RauschebergGallery.com/Facebook

SOURCE: Sanibel-Captiva Islander

Mortgage rates down for third straight week

WASHINGTON (AP) - Oct. 10, 2014 - Average U.S. Mortgage rates fell for the third straight week, making it more affordable to borrow money to buy a home.

Mortgage company Freddie Mac said Thursday that the nationwide average for a 30-year loan fell to 4.12 percent from 4.19 percent last week. The average for a 15-year mortgage, a popular choice for people who are refinancing, also declined to 3.3 percent from 3.36 percent.

The 30-year rate is down from 4.53 percent at the start of the year.

Rates have fallen even though the Federal Reserve appears set at the end of this month to end its monthly bond purchases, which are intended to keep long-term borrowing rates low. Yet Fed officials have indicated that they will continue to hold shorter-term rates at near zero levels unit there are signs of rising inflation.

Fed actions often influence the yield on the 10-year Treasury note, which affects mortgage rates. The 10-year note was trading at 2.32 percent at midday Thursday, down sharply from 2.41 percent a week earlier.

Mortgage rates are falling as the housing market has cooled off. Average price growth has slowed rising just 6.4 percent in August compared with a year ago, according to real estate data provider CoreLogic. That's down from annual average grains of as much 12 percent toward the end of last year.

Similarly, sales of existing homes also declined in August. Fewer investors bought properties, and first-time buyers have yet to return to the market, according to the National Association of Realtors.

Sales of new homes shot up in August, yet it remains below historic average, according to Commerce Department data.

To calculate average mortgage rates, Freddie Mac surveys lenders across the country between Monday and 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 rose to 0.5 point from 0.4 point last week. The fee for a 15-year mortgage remained at 0.5 point.

The average rate on a five-year adjustable-rate mortgage fell to 3.05 percent from 3.06 percent. The fee stayed at 0.5 percent.

For a one-year ARM, the average rate was unchanged at 2.42 percent. The fee held at 0.4 point.

Source: Florida Realtors

The controlled wildness of Sanibel, Captiva islands

Michael Billheimer hands me a jar of strawberry preserves as I leave his Lighthouse Cafe. "It's just a little taste of our island for you to take home," he said. Now THAT'S hospitality. The Lighthouse Cafe on Periwinkle Way on Sanibel Island is reputedly home to the best whole wheat blueberry pancakes in Southwest Florida. The cafe is small and cozy, and every available wall space is clad with framed photos or drawings of lighthouses from around the world, most of them sent by fulfilled customers. Just down the road, and by the beach fronting Gulf of Mexico, is the beacon of Sanibel, an authentic lighthouse - a landmark since 1884 when the entire island was a nature preserve.

The lingering "taste" I have of Sanibel Island and its smaller sister island, Captiva, is complex. There's a controlled wildness to it. On the one hand, the islands are spoltlessly clean; no buildings taller than the tallest palm tree; the roadways have no ruts; even the policemen who control the traffic (as there are no stoplights anywhere) are neat and courteous. Yet the mangroves, the beaches, the small inner islands are wild havens for multitudes of birds including white pelicans, alligators, tree crabs, dolphins and those permanently folded manatees. It's still a preserve, but accommodations have been made for humans: biking (on the 23-mile bike path), kayaking, sailing, swimming and sightseeing.

One evening I took a sunset cruise from McCarthy's Marina in Captiva. Just before the red ball dropped below the horizon, a trio of dolphins entertained us with their acrobatic leaps in the boat's wake. The eco-system in this part of Florida is so rich and so protected that most creatures thrive there with, dare I say, wild abandon.

Many of the two-legged creatures of the human persuasion who congregate along the seashore are searching for seashells in this world class seashell trove of over 400 varieties. If you can't find what you're looking for on the beach, the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum will satisfy all your mollusk and cephalopod cravings. (Positively no shucking allowed). They even have a computer with seashell recipes from all over the world that you can email to whomever you wish. (I sent a whole whack of them to friends.)

Down the road from the museum is the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife. This center offers a rare opportunity for visitors to witness the care for injured and orphaned wildlife. It's a great place for kids to play "vet" as they follow the cases of four animals from admission to release, live on video. From there I took a narrated tram tour of the J.N. "Ding" Darling Wildlife Refuge. Besides being one of the top bird-watching destinations in North America, I got a kick out of our well-informed and no-nonsense guide who, like an army squad leader, yelled out the Latin names of the critters we saw or were about to see from the horseshoe crab to the rare alligator sighting.

Charming arts and crafts stores dot the islands and cafes and bistros are a plenty. One morning I had breakfast in the sunshine at the Island Cow. If the Lighthouse Cafe was filled with photos, then the Cow practically mooed with its whimsical decorations and its "udderly" delicious menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner. However, for hands-down most visually interesting restaurant to eat at The Bubble Room in Captiva. Three floors of nostalgia, a bizarre cross between Hollywood and Christmas. I happened to be ushered to a table where my eating buddies were pint-sized figures of W.C. Field, Laurel and Hardy, Frank Sinatra and that presidential actor, Ronald Reagan. The desserts are piled high and are larger than life. I chose a modest but delicious carrot cake, partially because it was the smallest offering of the evening. Even at that, I couldn't finish it and Laurel and Hardy weren't interested in helping me.

During my four-day stay, I came "home" every night to Casa Ybel Resort. This award-winning resort has catered to families since the 1890s. I lounged on my private screened-in porch, (part of my one-bedroom suite) overlooking the gulf, and dined at their Thistle Lodge. The food was superb and the atmosphere quiet and romantic. What else does a gal need for the last night of a charmed vacation?

Source: MSN Travel

TODAY! Opening day of Sanibel's Farmer's Market - Sunday October 5th

Will we see you at the Sanibel Farmer's Market today?

Don't fall victim to this most common remodeling mistake

There's a reason for the proverb "measure twice, cut once," and these pictures prove it. If you double check your measurements, you can avoid common, and sometimes costly, clearance mistakes.

CLICK HERE to read the full article and see some mistakes you can avoid!

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