Bonita Springs Florida Central

Neat as a pin and Clean as a whistle! This Two bedroom/two bathroom ground floor "Devonwood" condominium home has been barely lived in. It's offered turnkey furnished, too!

Enjoy a western exposure from your lanai with views of the golf course. Pinecrest at Stoneybrook condominium homes offer covered parking and additional storage. This home also has a front screened entry lanai.

Stoneybrookis a golf community, but the golf membership is not bundled. The community center offers tennis, skating, swimming, bocce, tot lot playground and tons of activities. Stoneybrook is only minutes to FGCU, Southwest Florida International Airport - RSW and the white sugar sand beaches of Bonita Beach. Be sure to take the visual tour to see this beautiful home and all of the Stoneybrook amenities and features.

Tour the Stoneybrook amenities package HERE

To learn more about Stonebrook of Estero Florida or the Estero Florida Real Estate Market call

Chris Griffith, Keller Williams Elite Realty  239-273-7430

About the area:  Estero Florida is located on Florida's gulf coast approximately 115 miles due west of Fort Lauderdale, Florida and approximately 125 miles due south of Tampa, Florida.  Located just north of Bonita Springs, "The Gateway to the Gulf", community activities are largely based upon water sports and water access.  Many rivers and canals run through Estero and lead boaters and fishermen to the Gulf of Mexico via Estero Bay. 

Located in southern Lee County, Estero has only 21 square miles of land within it's boundary lines.  The local postal zip code is 33928.

The schools of South Lee County include, elementary, middle, high school and a Charter School teaching K-8.  Read Also: Bonita Springs Schools.  The Lee County school system is based on the "School Choice" program - families may apply to the school of their choice and are not mandated to have their child attend the school closest to their home.

Public transportation in the Bonita Springs area is provided by LeeTran Systems.  A separate Trollee Systemprovides access to Bonita Beaches, Estero Island and Fort Myers Beach.

The local airport is Southwest Florida International Airport - RSWlocated in S. Fort Myers Florida, minutes from Estero.

Local Hospitals include: Fort Myers Community Hospital, Lee Memorial Hospital, Cape Coral Community Hospital, Naples Community Hospital and (coming soon) The Cleveland Clinic.

Local attractions and pass times include:  Bonita Beach, Barefoot Beach, Mound Key, Koreshan State Historic Site, Germain Arena, Everglades Wondergardens, Naples Zoo, Coconut Point Mall and the Bonita Springs Skate Park.

For more information about Bonita Springs, Florida and Lee County also visit:

• The Estero Chamber of Commerce
• The City of Bonita Springs
• Bonita Springs Chamber of Commerce
• Lee County Florida
• Lee County Property Appraiser
• Lee County Tax Collector
• Lee County Clerks Office
• Lee County Sheriff

Dining in the Bonita Springs area includes a mix of locally owned and frachise restaurant establishments. 

Locally Owned/Operated Restaurants Include:

• Sushi Thai
• The Toucan Grille
• Dolly's Produce Patch
• Wylds Cafe

National Franchise Restaurants Include:

• Roy's
• Ruth's Chris Steakhouse
• Outback Steakhouse
• Carraba's Italian Restaurant

If you'd like to know more about Stoneybrook and the Bonita Springs & Estero, Florida areas call:

Chris Griffith, Keller Williams Elite Realty, Inc.  239-273-7430

Additional Featured Listings:

• Colonial Oaks Estero Florida - Single Family Home
• 9261 SPRING RUN BLVD #2406, Bonita Springs, Florida - Spring Run at The Brooks
• 9033 Spring Run Blvd., Bonita Springs, Florida 34135
• Addison Place - The Colony - Villa Home
• 8950 COLONNADES CT E #816, Bonita Springs, Florida 34135
• San Mirage - FGCU Housing - Bonita Springs Florida
• Village Walk - Bonita Springs - Oakmont
• 14675 Ferrara Court, Bonita Springs, Fl 34135
• Sabal Palm - Grandezza Estero, Florida
• Bonita Springs - Gulf Access via Boat Ramp Homesites

Not more than an hour after I explained to someone that "I can fall down a flight of stairs and stand up with three listing contracts stuck to my back" did I receive two different phone calls about two different listings. 

Supposedly well meaning "family members" of  Bonita Springs home owners called me.  Naturally, both of these calls were made by a real estate agent/family member.  One of which is a spankin' new licensee, still wet behind the ears, the other a near self proclaimed hot-shot I can't even find in GOOGLE.  They each claim that they're looking out for the best interest of their family member.  It seems to me that the primary interest these agents have is getting the most bang (advertising) for the buck and ... oh yeah, a referral fee of course. 

If they were looking out for the best interest of their family member, they would gather factual information to help inform and educate them, not shop for an agent to BUY THE LISTING and spin their wheels.  I don't write checks to market homes that won't sell!

I'm the first person to be grateful for a referral.  I look at them as an incredible opportunity that I may not have had if I didn't get it by referral.  What I do mind is the lack of regard for my professional opinion about the market, the property values and my ability to price real estate to sell.  I'm up to my eyes in Bonita Springs real estate.  I'm out there working the market every bloody day.  So when somebody asks me for my advise I expect them to listen, at least a little.  They ASKED for help, I didn't call them.

Sellers of Real Estate and Licensee Family Members of Sellers, Listen up:

• I don't care (neither does an appraiser care) what the house next door is "listed for".
• I don't care (neither does an appraiser care) what the homes in the neighborhood were listed for last year, last week or in 1995.
• I don't care and (neither does the next appraiser care) WHAT the owner paid for it.
• I don't care (neither does an appraiser care) that the owner "wants to break even" - what an owner will "clear" on a house doesn't determine it's value.
• I don't care (neither does an appraiser care) if you chase a ghost price, just count me out of the hunt.
• I don't discount listing fees so you can get a referral and I can work my butt off selling an overpriced listing.
• I don't care if you hold your breath until you pass out, I can't change the market and I'm not going to try to change it with your homes listing price.

Plain and simple, an appraisal is an appraisal.  If a home isn't listed and correctly priced, it will probably not sell in a competitive market.  If it were to sell, it will probably not appraise.  That's when the deal falls apart.  Count me out of your equation and let the next agent "buy" your listing. 

Although you'll probably not read or hear about it from the press.  There is confirmation of the market upswing by real estate economist Hank Fishkind. 

Good news just doesn't sell papers now, does it.  Don't get upset with the outlink.  It's not to my outside blog but the Florida Assn. of Realtors website.  Have a good weekend Floridians! 

Hank Fishkind says the other economists are wrong and that housing markets are now on the slow upswing.  Let's hear it for Hank - the stand up economist that's speaking his mind!

He calls the negative news about the housing market blown out of proportion, and says that, outside of Miami's condominium market, the state's housing markets hit bottom months ago and are now on a slow return to normalcy.

Continue reading the story at Planet Realtor.

Also read: South Lee has some good real estate news to share

Accidentally, I started a little project the other night.  I was digging around the supplemental pages of one of my template sites the other day, modifying some of the "stock" verbiage and adding local information.  I grabbed the first paragraph of several of the items for buyers and sellersand threw it in the search bar for blogs on Active Rain.  I figured there was going to be plagiarism, but not as much as I found.  After an hour of flagging posts I grew weary and quit.

Most of my email is filtered, almost every REALTOR and mortgage broker that has sent me an eFlyer or spam is already in my junk mail folder.  I just hate that crap, anyway.  Every once in a while a new one slips through or a someone I KNOW sends me something.

Today, I received a newsletter about referrals, how to ask for them and ideas to generate them. I saved it for after my run to read, in case there was anything ground moving.  Well, I sat down this morning and half way through it I copied and pasted a paragraph and threw it in the Active Rain search bar.  Well, GUESS WHAT ... Yeah, others have submitted it as original material.

***My Challenge To You ***

Then next time you get a newsletter in your email and consider it junk mail, recycle it. 

• Test it and help clean up the system. 
• Take a paragraph out of the newsletter and search the Active Rain Blogs. 
• Flag the posts for plagiarism if they're using stock text from newsletters or supplemental sites.
• Throw the junk mail away and breath deep - you've saved many cyber trees and cleaned up the Active Rain forum!

Not sure if a property has a CDD or not?  What's a CDD? Can the public find this information?

• What's a CDD

A Community Development District (CDD) is a local, special purpose government authorized by Chapter 190 of the Florida Statutes as amended and is an alternative method for managing and financing infrastructure required to support community development. CDD's possess several powers as a legal entity, such as the right to enter into contracts; the right to own both real and personal property; adopt by-laws, rules and regulations and orders; to sue and be sued; to obtain funds by borrowing; to issue bonds and levy assessments.

CDD's provide a mechanism for the financing and management of new communities, which is consistent with the local governments' development procedures and regulations. They represent a major advancement in Florida's effort to manage its growth effectively and efficiently.  The community development district may impose and levy taxes or assessments, or both taxes and assessments, on the property.

These taxes and assessments pay the construction, operation and maintenance costs of certain public facilities and services of the district and are set annually by the governing board of the district.
These taxes and assessments are in addition to county and other local governmental taxes and assessments and all other taxes and assessment provided for by law.

• Where Can The General Public Find CDD Information?

In the Bonita Springs and Estero areas information can be found in one location if you know there is a CDD on a property:  

http://cddswf.com/datasearch.asp  

Occasionally, the CDD isn't managed locally.  Information about whether a property has a CDD or who the "out of area" manager is can be found on the Lee County Tax Collector's website:  http://www.leetc.com/.  After the "Real Property Tax Detail" loads, click "Tax Detail" and you will get the page highlighted in the illustration. 

The CDD will be listed in the section of the tax detail titled Non Ad Valorem Taxes if there is a CDD.

In the example there is a CDD called:  STONEYBROOK COMMUNITY DEV DIST which is located in Estero, Florida.  Click the CDD name and it will launch the contact information for the management company.  You can write or fax the organization for payoff balance information.

For more information about Bonita Springs CDD and CDD Disclosures contact Chris Griffiith, Keller Williams Elite Realty 239-273-7430

Village Walk is located just 20-25 minutes to Southwest Florida International Airport, only 10 minutes to Coconut Point Mall and near many find dining and shopping establishments.

Village Walk of Bonita Springs is located on East Bonita Beach Road.  A community by Divosta homes, Village Walk offers the security of a gated community with the quality of a Divosta home.  Storm resistant, solid built concrete walls, storm/securityshutter panels, central vac and attention to details has advanced Divosta Homes to a leader in Customer satisfaction.

Village Walk of Bonita Springs Town Center is nearing completion!  Just the final touches and it's ready.  The Town Center will feature the following amenities for homeowners Village Walk:

• Fitness Center
• Resort and Lap Pool
• Tennis Courts
• Basketball and Bocce Ball Courts
• Restaurant
• Post Office
• Bank
• Beauty Salon
• Gas Pumps
• Car Wash
• Much More!

In addition to Town Center, Village Walk offers walking paths with bridges and miles of terrain, for walkers, runners or bike riders to use and enjoy.  Village Walk of Bonita Springs features an attractive 24-hour guardhouse entry, also.

If you have questions about Village Walk or homes in Village Walk call:

• Chris Griffith, Keller Williams Elite Realty
• 239-273-7430

There is a style of home to fit anyones needs in Stoneybrook in Estero, Florida.  Your choices:  Condominiums, attached villas and single estate homes.  Perfectly located 3 miles East of I-75 in the heart of sunny Estero, Florida.

• Stoneybrook is close to shopping, dining, schools, parks, library and entertainment.
• The community is built out - no construction traffic.
• A relaxed community with many amenities.
• Beautiful lush landscaping, water and nature views.
• Public golf course on site with optional membership to the Stoneybrook Golf Club.

Stoneybrook is minutes from many of SW Florida's favorite conveniences which include SW Florida International Airport, Gulfcoast Towne Center Mall, Miromar Outlet Malls, the new International Design Center, Germain Arena and only 20 minutes to the white sugar sand beaches of Bonita Springs and Bonita Beach.

In addition, the new Estero Community Park and Dog Park is only 4.5 miles away.

Stoneybrook currently offers resale homes US Home. 

• Condominium homes in Stoneybrook are priced from the high $100,000's with square footages that begin at 1,160 sf of living space, with car port parking.
• Attached villa homes in Stoneybrook are priced from the mid $200,000's with square footages that begin at about 1,300 sf of living space, with two car garage and optional pool.  Villas without pools can be retro-fitted with a swimming pool in the future.
• Single family homes in Stoneybrook are priced from about $300,000 with square footages that begin in the 1,500's and go up to over 4,100 square feet, depending upon the model/floor plan.

Take a tour of the Stoneybrook of Estero amenities:

Basketball Court, Clubhouse, Community Center, Fitness Center, Library-Reading Room, Gated, Home Owner Association, Playground, Manned Gatehouse, Sport Court, Swimming Pool, Tennis Court, Tot Lot, Volleyball Court, Bocce Courts, Horse Shoe Pits.

To learn about additional communities in Estero Florida read also:

To learn more about Bella Terra or Estero Florida Real Estate call Chris Griffith - Keller Williams Elite Realty 239-273-7430  www.bonitaspringsagent.com

I saw this on the news this morning. It has absolutely no value except for the laugh factor.  Apparently, in the Philippines prisoners have dance class.  The "female" lead is a little creepy but the rest is hysterical.  I don't think you can get a group of high school kids to do this, this well.  I wonder if it's therapeutic and there is less violence because they can "express" themselves...

Do you suppose Michael Jackson has seen or heard about this?  LOL

Highland Woods Golf and Country Club - St. Andrews Verandas - The popular and coveted Abbey Floor plan with a picture perfect view of the fairway & nearby lake.

This a a large Abbey end unit, bright and open with vaulted ceilings and plant shelves. The decor is neutral with tile in the halls baths, laundry and rear lanai. The back lanai also has roll down, electric security storm shutters. This condominium home is offered turnkey furnished and comes with a bundled golf membership to the Highland Woods club and course.

St. Andrews Verandas condominiums each both front and back screened lanais, 1 car detached garage and access to community pools. Highland Woodsis located just minutes to the white sugar sand beaches of Bonita Beach and the new Coconut Pointe Mall in Estero. The airport is only approximately 20 minutes away. Great access for a part time residence, rental or second home. Golf memberships are transferable to tenants, too. Tenants in place for February & March 08! Offered at $374,900 Click Here:  Printable Flyer

The community of Highland Woodshas long been a popular second home destination due to it's affordable fee structure, low dining minimum and no CDD!

Highland Woods Golf and Country Club is a secure, gated community in the center of Bonita Springs Florida.  Highland Woods offers 18 holes of golf in a "bundled" structured membership.  Every homeowner is a golf member at the country club. 

Additional amenities and conveniences of Highland Woods include:

Home prices in Highland Woods range from the low $200,000's to just under $1,000,000.

About the area:  Bonita Springs Florida is located on Florida's gulf coast approximately 115 miles due west of Fort Lauderdale, Florida and approximately 125 miles due south of Tampa, Florida.  Known as "The Gateway to the Gulf", community activities are largely based upon water sports and water access.  Many rivers and canals run through Bonita Springs and lead boaters and fishermen to the Gulf of Mexico. 

Located largely in southern Lee County, Bonita Springs has only 35 square miles of land within it's city lines.  The local postal zip codes are 34134, 34135, & 34133.

The schools of South Lee County include, elementary, middle, high school and a Charter School teaching K-8.  Read Also: Bonita Springs Schools.  The Lee County school system is based on the "School Choice" program - families may apply to the school of their choice and are not mandated to have their child attend the school closest to their home.

Public transportation in the Bonita Springs area is provided by LeeTran Systems.  A separate Trollee Systemprovides access to Bonita Beaches, Estero Island and Fort Myers Beach.

The local airport is Southwest Florida International Airport - RSW located in S. Fort Myers Florida.

Local Hospitals include: Fort Myers Community Hospital, Lee Memorial Hospital, Cape Coral Community Hospital, Naples Community Hospital and (coming soon) The Cleveland Clinic.

Local attractions and pass times include:  Bonita Beach, Barefoot Beach, Everglades Wondergardens, Naples Zoo, Coconut Point Mall and the Bonita Springs Skate Park.

For more information about Bonita Springs, Florida and Lee County also visit:

• The City of Bonita Springs
• Bonita Springs Chamber of Commerce
• Lee County Florida
• Lee County Property Appraiser
• Lee County Tax Collector
• Lee County Clerks Office
• Lee County Sheriff

Dining in the Bonita Springs area includes a mix of locally owned and frachise restaurant establishments. 

Locally Owned/Operated Restaurants Include:

• Sushi Thai
• The Toucan Grille
• Dolly's Produce Patch
• Wylds Cafe

National Franchise Restaurants Include:

• Roy's
• Ruth's Chris Steakhouse
• Outback Steakhouse
• Carraba's Italian Restaurant

If you'd like to know more about Highland Woods and the Bonita Springs, Florida area call:

Chris Griffith, Keller Williams Elite Realty, Inc.  239-273-7430

Additional Featured Listings:

• Colonial Oaks Estero Florida - Single Family Home
• 9261 SPRING RUN BLVD #2406, Bonita Springs, Florida - Spring Run at The Brooks
• 9033 Spring Run Blvd., Bonita Springs, Florida 34135
• Addison Place - The Colony - Villa Home
• 8950 COLONNADES CT E #816, Bonita Springs, Florida 34135
• San Mirage - FGCU Housing - Bonita Springs Florida
• Village Walk - Bonita Springs - Oakmont
• 14675 Ferrara Court, Bonita Springs, Fl 34135
• Sabal Palm - Grandezza Estero, Florida
• Bonita Springs - Gulf Access via Boat Ramp Homesites

It's only an hour to cross the Alley.   The do-able day trip to see something new, do something new or just go someplace new to people watch.  I crossed the swamp yesterday, just for kicks & giggles, and to meet a friend. 

What I like about the east coast of Florida is the highways.  You see almost anything and everything.  First, a storm front was moving in which was totally cool.  I just love when you see the rain coming.  Then I caught this lawn mower piggy back on a car.

Before anyone gets worried, I was a passenger when I was taking the photos.  Not like the Ka Ka truck incident. 

I have questions, many questions:

1. Who does this? 
2. Who takes their lawn mower for a ride? 
3. Who would take a picture of something this stupid and think it's funny?
4. Who wouldn't drive an hour for entertainment like this?

Later, on the way from the indoor go-cart track to a sushi restaurant called Wasabi Cafe, this is the front that rolled in.  Isn't it awesome?!

By the way, Wasabi Cafe was awesome.  It's in an average looking stip plaza but it's just so cute inside. Plus, the sushi was great!