Jay:  That was some good reading.  Unfortunately, I disagree with a lot you said.There are NOT 500k lots in Lehigh.  Lehigh is 16,000 total acres.  So if 500k lots were subdivided, not including easements, etc, the lots would be about 1/10 of an acre?  Trust me, there are not 500k lots in Lehigh.Yes, utitlity expansion can be put on your tax bill…[Read more]

Jay:  To install a well and septic system on a lot with no utilities costs about $10,000 to $12,000, not $25,000, however if you include soft costs such as impact fees and fill dirt, you are right around $20,000.  But remember, the well and septic goes in AFTER you initially put a "shovel" to the property.Also, to clarify, Cape Coral has just u…[Read more]

Jay:  Nice response.  I know that FL is one of the worst for foreclosure laws.  The judicial process is killer.  As far as being a 1st generation wholesaler / purchaser, yes, prices have gone up.  If you look back at my first posts, someone asked me how much duplexes in Lehigh were going for.  At the time, they were about $70,000 to $80,0…[Read more]

I think the entire international investment strategy is "buyer beware".  Fort Myers is no different than New Jersey.. New Jersey is no different from California, etc… You have good and bad ethics everywhere.  So this house in Fort Myers sold for $80k to a GB investors which included $45k in middle man fees?  Wow….I don't have anything else to…[Read more]

A stadium like this in a city that proportionately thrives on tourism IS a game changer.  Revenues are going to drastically increase with the Red Sox in addition to JetBlue putting vacation packages together.  The Red Sox have been here for years, but this new stadium is creating international hype and if you haven't seen how popular our area is d…[Read more]

Tonybao:Ummm…South Fort Myers….definately…that's an easy one.  Too easy

Also, this article is specific to the highest priced Florida markets.  It is laughable.  Florida is going to rely on low to mid priced housing for a long time.  I'm talking mid $100's to mid $200's.  Those areas are mid $200's and up.  Lee County:  Median Home Price is $98,000 +/- and adding jobs like crazy.  Unemployment has dropped faster here t…[Read more]

JayHinrichs-The Red Sox stadium will have next to zero effect on the housing market?  Wow..I'd love to get your reasoning for that.  If you look at revenues, last I checked, the Spring Training season brings in tons of jobs and money, about $75 – $100 million per season.  Then you have the full time season during the summer for minor league pl…[Read more]

My practice focuses on Lee County, ie..Cape Coral, Ft. Myers, Lehigh Acres.  Buying land in Lehigh is worthless right now unless you have money to put down and forget about for about 10 years.  Cape Coral gulf-access lots are better to buy, however a bit pricier.  Land in general in Florida is flat right now and probably will be for a couple of ye…[Read more]

Sparky-I live in Ft. Myers.  I'm curious, where are you looking at homes in the $50k range?  Off Palm Beach Blvd near downtown? Or off U.S 41 in North Ft. Myers?  Those are the only 2 areas where these home prices exist and was wondering what your strategy was.CHEEVES

Been here.  Area is ok, however as far as safety goes, it is pretty safe.  Puntarenas used to be one of the main seaports in Costa Rica but is now only a stopover.  Seafood is great there with plenty of good restaurants.  The only major deterrent I found was that you can't, or it is not advised that you swim in the ocean.  The water is cloudy / mu…[Read more]

There are dozens and dozens of scams on tax liens.  Be sure to work with an attorney.

I'm not giving you any more secrets unless you do business with me!  Glad you liked the videoes.  Anything I can do to help, let me know.

South Ft. Myers is 33919 and 33908.  In these area codes, I have been very aggressive at buying rehab homes.  Buy at $40-$50 per square foot and update them.  You will likely be adding about $10-$12 per square foot for updating, depending on extent of work.  Resale pricing has been $80-$105 per square foot.  So flipping is possible.  The most…[Read more]

Shillabeer:  Sounds like you have a good plan in place.  Just be careful with title issues on tax liens.  There are dozens of scams with those right now.Regarding the 20% vacancy in the area, this is just untrue.  At least in SW FL it is untrue.  The vacancy rate is lower than 10%, and you can see the explanation HERE.  See my comment on this…[Read more]

While it is good to know the state by state numbers, the worst is clearly over and if you are going to invest, you need to start looking into sub-market details.  For those looking at Texas, Dallas and Houston are WAY different.  If you are looking at Florida, Ft. Myers is WAY different than Miami area.  For instance, there is about 20% more sh…[Read more]

Over the last year, I have had many Australian clients.  I'd say 90% are adament that the AU housing market is "different", and that it won't suffer the way the U.S market did.  I hope it won't!  Geez, the U.S housing correction was terrible for anyone that owned a home, regardless of how much money you have.Admittedly, I know nothing about the Au…[Read more]

As an FYI to multifamily small and large apartment complex investors, this is where the market is trading at.Class-A:  4-6% Capitalization RateClass-B: 6-8% Capitalization RateClass-C: 8-10% Capitalization RateSW Florida is a hotbed for investors of apartment complexes.  Effective rents are going up the quickest in the country.  Rents expected to…[Read more]

JMCI :I love that area of Tampa.  I just brokered an apartment complex disposition / acquisition and investors love the area because of USF area.  Although I'm not a fan of buying single condos in FL at the moment, I like multi-family and single families.  I just bought an REO single family home and is working out really well.  Pro…[Read more]

As most know by now we are personally invested into Lehigh Acres.  With our headquarters in Ft. Myers, we have seen everything transpire, good and bad all around. XDREW, as I mentioned in my previous reply, you can really get lost in Lehigh if you are in the rural sections.  Lehigh by size is VERY big.  Most of our single family homes are in th…[Read more]