Best Homes 2012: Coolest Houses of the Year

Here's a fun look at the Coolest Homes of 2012!

http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2012/12/31/best-homes-2012-coolest-houses-that-topped-our-list-this-year/

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Shell Festival 2013 Theme

Seashells come in many sizes, shapes, and colors and with a multitude of patters. With this in mind, the Sanibel Shell Festival Committee has choose Color Your World With Shells as the theme for the 76^th Annual Sanibel Shell Festival March 7, 8, and 9. It is the major fundraising event of the year for both the Sanibel Community Association and the Sanibel-Captiva Shell Club. The well-known even, previously known as the Sanibel Shell Fair and Show, draws shell enthusiasts from across the Unites States, Canada and the Caribbean.

Festival visitors have the opportunity to purchase shells and intricate shell crafted items at the Shell Festival. Throughout the year, volunteers meet outside the Sanibel Community House to sort donated seashells, while inside shell crafters create elaborate floral bouquets and other shell craft items. These seashells and craft items will be offered for sale during the festival. The funds raised through these sales are used to support the Sanibel Community House.

It has been said that shell collecting is the second most popular collecting hobby after postage stamps. The Sanibel-Captiva Shell Club-sponsored Sanibel Shell Show is an integral part of the Shell Festival and it gives everyone the opportunity to see shells from around the world, as well as breathtaking artistic creations made entirely from shells and sea life that are entered in the Shell Show. There will be a special category in both the scientific and the artistic divisions titled Color Your World With Shells. A special award will be given in both divisions to the exhibits that best reflect the festival theme. This competitive show is open to all shell collectors. Membership in the Sanibel-Captiva Shell Club is not required.

While there is no entrance fee to attend the Shell Festival grounds, a donation is asked of those going inside the Sanibel-Captiva Shell Club-sponsored Shell Show. Funds raised by the Sanibel-Captiva Shell Club from the admission donations are given out in the form of grants to several local educational and conservation organizations including a scholarship fund to the University of South Florida.

For more information about entering an exhibit in the Sanibel Shell Show, go to www.sanibelcaptivashellclub.com/SanCap_shellshow.html 

Island Sun (January 25, 2013)

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Historical Village Live Auction Items

Live auction items at the Sanibel Historical Museum and Village’s February 5 fundraiser, It’s Paradise … Because, are varied enough to be on everyone’s wish list, and exciting enough to entertain everyone.

“Fire Chief Danny Duncan is offering lunch for four to six people with Sanibel’s firefighters right at the firehouse,” said Anita Smith, who is on the auction committee. “The lucky winners will have a tour of the firehouse, with demonstrations and conversations for children young and old.” (This prize must be booked on a Saturday.)

Another prize is an elegant evening cocktail reception with Larry Congress at his home. Ten guests will be entertained with his stories than range from working on the beach to founding the successful Congress Jewelers. The winner will also receive $1,000 in gift certificates to Congress Jewelers or the new Sealift by Congress.

Among the other items:

·         Dr. Bruce Neill of the Sanibel Sea School will host 10 to 14 people for a three-hour narrate cruise with him aboard the school’s boat, Ocean Tribe.

·         Catherine and Ed Anderson will host an Alaska seafood dinner for 12 at their home in The Sanctuary; the seafood will be flown in by their daughter Stephanie, who is a bush pilot in Homer, Alaska.

·         The Dunes has donated a one-year Social Membership and two golf lessons; the membership includes steep discounts on green fees.

“People and businesses have been incredibly generous, making our live auction one of the most exciting auctions around,” said Gail Garlinghouse, co-chair of the auction committee with Blair Wyatt. “I can’t wait to see the bidding take off.”

“We are so lucky,” Wyatt added. “So many people care about the Historical Village and are helping it continue to offer its charm and stories and education to all who come to or live in Sanibel.”

The fundraiser’s production will feature four of Sanibel’s treasured islanders and their stories presented in a unique and fun way. The afternoon will be highlighted with a little Sanibel history, a luncheon, plus the live and silent auctions.

The Sanibel Historical Museum and Village is open Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. It is located at 950 Dunlop Road (next to BIG ARTS). Admission is $5 for adults over 18; members are free. For more information, call 472-4846.

Island Sun (January 25, 2013)

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Housing Affordability Index to Set Annual Record for 2012

WASHINGTON (January 9, 2013) - With 11 months of data reported, 2012 will clearly go down as a record year for favorable housing affordability conditions, and a great year for buyers who could get a mortgage, according to the National Association of Realtors^®.

NAR's national Housing Affordability Index stood at 198.2 in November, based on the relationship between median home price, median family income and average mortgage interest rate. The higher the index, the greater the household purchasing power; recordkeeping began in 1970.

An index of 100 is defined as the point where a median-income household has exactly enough income to qualify for the purchase of a median-priced existing single-family home, assuming a 20 percent downpayment and 25 percent of gross income devoted to mortgage principal and interest payments. For first-time buyers making small down payments, the affordability levels are relatively lower.

For all of 2012, NAR projects the housing affordability index to be a record high 194, up from 186 in 2011, which was the previous record. November's reading was 2.5 index points below October, but up 1.5 index points from a year earlier.

Lawrence Yun , NAR chief economist, said home buyers are able to stay well within their means. "Although 2012 was highest on record, the excessively tight underwriting precluded many would-be homebuyers from locking-in generational low interest rates," he said. "Rising home prices and a gradual uptrend in mortgage interest rates will offset improvements in family income, but 2013 likely will be the third best on record in terms of household buying power. A window of opportunity remains open for buyers who can qualify for a mortgage."

NAR projects the housing affordability index to average 160 during 2013, which means on a national basis that a median-income family would have 160 percent of the income needed to purchase a median-priced existing single-family home. Conditions vary widely, with the highest buying power in the Midwest. Even in the West, where the regional index is lower, they typical family is well positioned in most markets.

NAR President Gary Thomas, broker-owner of Evergreen Realty in Villa Park, Calif., said the minor erosion in affordability conditions moving forward could be mitigated by bank and regulatory policies. "Clearer rules from the government regarding future lawsuits and buybacks of Fannie and Freddie loans could encourage banks to use their massive cash holdings to originate more loans," he said.

"A more sensible lending environment that makes it easier for other financially qualified buyers to get a mortgage would allow many more households to enter the market, boosting home sales as much as 10 to 15 percent," Thomas said.

The National Association of Realtors^®, "The Voice for Real Estate," is America's largest trade association, representing 1 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.

Home building surges 12%

By Emily Jane Fox @CNNMoney January 17, 2013

The pace of home building surged in December, as the market bounced back from the impact of Superstorm Sandy.

Builders started construction at an annual pace of 954,000 home last month, the Census Bureau reported, up more than 12% from November's pace. That's a nearly 37% leap from December of last year.

The reading smashed the 889,000 that economists surveyed by Briefing.com were expecting.

The Northeast saw a 19% increase in housing starts from November to December, as construction picked back up again after the storm put a halt to new building activity. Single-family housing starts also boosted December's strong reading, rising more than 8% from November.

Applications for new building permits, which are seen as an indicator of builders' confidence in the market, were little changed from November's rate. But the annual rate of 903,000 reported in December is up 28.8% from last year's level.

Thursday's reading is yet another sign of the housing market picking up steam, as record-low mortgage rates have spurred demand for homes. A recovering job market and a tapering off of foreclosures have also given the market a boost.

As distressed homes leave the market, that means that there are more buyers interested in purchasing fewer available homes. Home prices, in turn, have continued to rise, posting the biggest percentage gain in more than two years last month.

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Farmer Mike

Farmer Mike Clevenger offers patrons of the Sanibel Farmer's Market an array of fresh, local produce. After a freeze two years, Farmer Mike had to start over again and is excited to return to the farmer's market this year.

At Farmer Mike's homemade stand, patrons will find fresh strawberries, tomatoes, lettuce, eggplant and sweet onions. Among the most popular items are the big, beautiful yellow and red peppers.

"We love the people at Sanibel's farmer's market," said Holly Nelson. "It's exciting to share recipes with our customers."

At Farmer Mike's U Pick in Bonita Springs, there are cucumbers, squash, radishes, beets, onions, assorted herbs, cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower, and assortment of hot peppers, carrots, potatoes, bananas, mangos, avocados, watermelon, cantaloupe, oranges and grapefruit. U Pick is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays. It is located at 26031 Morton Ave.

Find Farmer Mike's fresh produce at Sanibel's Farmer's Market from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. each Sunday at City Hall, 800 Dunlop Rd.

Island Reporter (January 11, 2013)

The Sandbar is Making Waves in Sanibel's Resort Area; Tropical Setting Suits PocoLoco Well
by Anne Mitchell

Sanibel's dining scene just keeps getting better.

One new addition, The Sandbar at 2761 West Gulf Drive, reports brisk activity in the newly refurbished space, which now has an open kitchen and a fresh light and airy atmosphere.

Manager Brian Silveira said Monday, "Everything is great so far."

The location on West Gulf Drive, west of Tarpon Bay Road, makes this restaurant a niche-filler on this stretch of the beach-front area.

The Sandbar serves lunch and dinner and is soon to add breakfast to the lineup. Also, a small fish and meat market in one corner should be open by Friday, January 18, with selections such as king and snow crab, scallops, mussels, oysters, a variety of fresh fish and pork chops.

Executive Chef Teo Diaz offers two specials each night - one seafood and one meat - in addition to a varied menu that includes such dishes as Thai mussels, stone crab claws, salads, sandwiches, bronzed and blackened local fish, steaks and chops. There's also a children's menu for $5 to $6 with free drink refills.

An open kitchen showcases the culinary staff and adds to the casual atmosphere.

Silveira boasts of "the islands' friendliest staff" - and the crew certainly is outgoing and welcoming.

The Sandbar can be reached at 579-0235 or 579-0247. Hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. for lunch and 5 to 10 p.m. for dinner.

Besides a selection of coffees, drinks and frozen desserts, PocoLoco sells colorful, pop art ceramics by Romera Britto.

With its tropical atmosphere and parrot logo, PocoLoco - it means "a little crazy" in Spanish - fits seamlessly into its location in the lushly vegetated Jerry's Center, which the screeches of resident parrots and macaws startle and amuse visitors.

PocoLoco sells Love Boat Ice Cream, which is locally made just off-island and has had a following for decades, certainly for more than 35 years. The flavors say it all: Orange Creamsicle, Lemon Custard, Rocky Mountain Raspberry, Malt Whopper, Toffee Coffee, Gator Tracks and Mango are just a few.

Fine coffees and coffee based drinks, natural fruit smoothies and fresh pastries and sandwiches are also on the menu, which is hand written on colorful boards on the walls. You can order panini style grilled sandwiches too, such as Croque Monsieur, which originated in France.

The friendly face behind the counter the day I visited was Amy Wilmer but sometimes it's owners Susan and Paul Reynolds, longtime locals.

PocoLoco offers free wifi, which makes it a popular watering hold for laptop - and smartphone-toting types who can sit inside at the handsome granite-topped tables or outside on the umbrella-shaded patio area that's part of the garden-like shopping center. The parrots are in large cages dotted in and around the heavy foliage.

A pleasant surprise inside is the large selection of ceramics by noted pop culture icon Romero Britto. He has been described as one of the premiere artists of our time and the youngest and most successful pop artists of this generation.

The bold, vibrant designs, with elements of Cubism, are optimistic and likely to bring a smile to your face. At PocoLoco, the pieces include little bears, plates, mugs, book ends and teapots.

Embraced by the international community, Britto's paintings and sculptures are currently featured on five continents in more than 100 galleries worldwide, including Saatchi Gallery in London, as well as in private collections.

PocoLoco can be reached at 395-0290.

Island Sun (January 18, 2013)