Real Estate Directory

Finding the Perfect Retirement Community

The numerous Retirement communities in the Fort Meyers areas are neighborhoods made up of people who are nearing or have already reached retirement age living in private residences. In fact, so many people are still working in retirement communities that we are calling them active adult communities instead. Many active adult communities now offer computer training right along with arts and crafts.  It's very quiet -- your neighbors are of an adult age that there are no "wild" parties anymore or loud music at late hours.

Adult communities in South Florida give you innumerable opportunities to do the things you've always wanted to.   As Florida homebuilders are building more retirement communities and discovering what features boomers want making them more appealing, more boomers are considering retirement at active adult retirement communities.

Here are some ideas and questions to ask as you begin your research:

• Choose an Area: First thing decide where you would like to live by region, state and then city.
• Make a list of your wants and needs:  What are your hobbies and can you pursue them there.
• Decide on your budget: Do you wish to purchase or rent.
• Is there transportation for residents? Is there a shuttle bus?
• Where are the grocery store and major shopping: Is there a shopping center and mall located nearby.
• Emergency Services and Hospitals: Are you close to medical facilities?
• Security Services: Does it exist?

After you answer these few questions and you have an idea on which way to go, contact Scott Breener at Brenner Realty for expert asssitance in chooing the right retirement community for you.

Existing Home Sales Are Up?

What happened to the Bubble?

The National Association of Realtors reported Thursday that that sales of existing single-family homes and condominiums rose by 5.2 percent in February to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 6.91 million units. This despite the predicte 5 % drop compared to last year.

The prices of homes sold in February rose to $209,000 for the nationwide median.That was 10.6 percent above the median price in February 2006.   

Economists believe that both new and existing home sales will dip by around 5 percent this year as rising mortgage rates cuts into demand.

But mortgage rates seem to have perhaps stagnated because of a drop in inflation. But Lereah said all indications so far were pointing to a gradual slowdown in sales to a more sustainable pace.

By region of the country, sales rose by 19.2 percent in the Northeast and were up 11.1 percent in the Midwest and 5.1 percent in the West in February. Only the South showed weakness last month with sales there dropping by 2.5 percent from the January pace.

Lereah said sales activity at present was really a "tale of two cities" with some of the hottest markets showing declines while some medium priced markets still posting strong sales gains.

He said that sales were down by double-digit levels in such hot sales markets as Phoenix, Fort Lauderdale and San Diego. He said, by contrast, sales were up by double-digit amounts in aeas such as Indianapolis, Albuquerque and Houston.