Update on Pine Island Florida Foreclosures and Shortsales

While Pine Island has not suffered as badly in the real estate down turn as much of the rest of southwest Florida, there are still some foreclosures and shortsales here.

So far this year, foreclosures and shortsales have represented about 23% of sold homes on Pine Island. Right now, there are 5 foreclosed on homes offered for sale through the MLS, 4 of which are waterfront homes. The median asking price is $365,000. Some of these are luxurious waterfront pool homes. There are 2 condominiums that are foreclosed on in the MLS, offered at a median price of $199,200. There 15 homes offered as shortsales. The median short sale price is $239,000. There are 9 lots offered as short sales.

Here is a photo I took at the Baypoint Road tropical fruit market this morning, this Belgian horse is out for a drive. My more real estate information "straight from the horses mouth" contact me, Erika Foye, Real Estate Broker for All Island Realty, Inc. at erikafoye@embarqmail.com or go to my real estate website: http://www.pineislandhomesandland.com/

Pine Island Sales Statistics 2nd Quarter 2009

Sales of real estate on Pine Island really picked up during the second quarter of 2009.

Bokeelia: 18 inland homes sold/median price $139,000.

4 water front homes sold/median price $375,000.

1 water front condominium sold for $225,000.

9 home sites sold/median price $15,000.

3 manufactured homes sold/median price $52,500.

St. James City: 2 inland homes sold/median price $207,500.

13 water f ront homes sold/median price $310,000.

1 condominium sold for $180,500.

18 water front manufactured homes sold/median $143,500.

7 home sites sold, median price $19,500.

Matlacha: 5 Water front homes sold, median price $224,900.

1 Manufactured Home sold for $85,000.

For more information about Pine Island real estate sales, go to my real estate website: http://www.pineislandhomesandland.com/. Or email me, Erika Foye, at erikafoye@embarqmail.com

July 4 on Pine Island, Florida

Here is the 4th of July cake my daughters, Greta and Sheena, and I made yesterday. Recipe: One box angel food cake mix, make cake, cover with whipped cream, make stars and stripes from blueberries and strawberries...tastes great. Pine Island had its annual July 4 parade down our main street and there were various cookouts and fireworks around the island...we had a quiet day just chilling out by the pool. For more information about Pine Island and Pine Island real estate, contact me, Erika Foye, at erikafoye@embarqmail.com or www.pineislandhomesandland.com.

Summer Days on Pine Island

I hope you like the new "header" photo on my blog. This is a photograph of the Bokeelia fishing pier overlooking Charlotte Harbor I took this morning. We've had a lot of rain this week but that is great for cooling things off a little, and making everything grow like crazy. Here is a picture of a bird of paradise just growing by the side of the road. I'm getting reports of good fishing from some of my clients though I haven't had time to go out fishing much lately, I hear snapper and redfish are biting. Look for second quarter Pine Island real estate statistics in my blog next week. For more information about Pine Island Real Estate, contact me, Erika Foye, accredited buyers representative and real estate broker for All Island Realty, Inc. at erikafoye@embarqmail.com or http://www.pineislandhomesandland.com/.

Mango Season on Pine Island, Florida

June, July and August are the peak of tropical fruit season on Pine Island. There are many varieties of mangos, different types ripen at various times in the summer. Here's a photo at a mango grove in Bokeelia. To buy mangoes directly from the growers trees, the most mangoes are grown in Bokeelia. . .try up to Cubles Street, Caloosa Drive or Barrancas Road, it's likely you'll find a roadside stand selling mangos.

The Pine Island tropical fruit market at the corner of Baypoint and Stringfellow Road is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday. They also sell lychee, jackfruit, organic vegetables, tropical flowers and sometimes fried fish sandwiches. Pine Island's steamy summer weather is ideal for enjoying tropical fruit fresh from the grove, straight up or over icecream.

Pine Island Florida Publications

Hello on-line readers. There are also some paper publications that cover Pine Island. Our weekly newspaper is The Pine Island Eagle (http://www.pineisland-eagle.com/) A new monthly paper publication that focuses on boating and fishing all around Southwest Florida, but often has features about Pine Island is Nautical Mile (http://www.nauticalmileenterprises.com/) Also their website http://www.destinationpineisland.com/ claims it is the only Pine Island visitor guide. Finally don't forget to email me, Erika Foye, at erikafoye@embarqmail.com to sign up for my free quarterly paper newsletter Pine Island Times that focuses on the Pine Island lifestyle and real estate information. I hope to have my newsletter Pine Island Times on line soon. I am an accredited buyer's representative and specialize in helping buyers of real estate on beautiful Pine Island, Florida.

Rainy Days on Pine Island

We've had rain almost daily for the past two weeks, making it hot and sultry on Pine Island. Puddles have formed on the golf course, making it ideal feeding ground for the heron. The weather hasn't deterred the real estate market, I've been busy showing and writing some contracts. There were 3 lot sales and 10 home sales the past two weeks on Pine Island ranging from a simple cottage on one acre selling for $69,000 (a foreclosure) to a large bay front pool home for $885,000. The median sold price was a nice two bedroom, two bath home across from the library, which sold for $155,000. Two of the ten sales were foreclosures. The market is in transition, there are fewer and fewer distress sales (foreclosures or shortsales) and we are returning to more stable market conditions.

For more information about Pine Island real estate, contact me, Erika Foye, at erikafoye@embarqmail.com. I am an accredited buyer's representative and am up to date on the local Pine Island real estate market and local financing options.

Affordable Housing Down Payment Assistance Program

While taking continuing education classes this week, I learned about programs administered by the Florida Housing Finance Corporation, whose mission is "to ensure that all eligible Floridians obtain safe, decent, affordable housing that might otherwise be unavailable to them". There are several different programs which may provide down payment assistance of up to $10,000; 100% financing and affordable interest rates (6 to 6.5%) for eligible home buyers.

You do not have to presently be a Floridian to qualify, but you must intend to make the home your principal residence. Single buyers earning up to $42,500. may qualify, two person households (marriage is not a requirement) may earn up to $72,840. and qualify. For more information, email me, Erika Foye, real estate broker and accredited buyer's representative and visit the website http://www.floridahousing.org/ There are a number of homes or condominiums for sale on Pine Island that qualify for this program. I took this photo of a Royal Poinciana tree in full bloom on Bokeelia today.