I will use this opportunity to provide all interested parties with information they might find of value and interest.

In financial news: Fed Reserve Chariman Bernanke speaking via satellite to an international monetary conference in Spain indicated the Fed is unlikely to lower is benchmark Federal Funds Rate any further. He also added that, barring a rise in inflation, they probably won't rasie rates either; until there is more stabilization in home prices.


In the real estate market in Ft Myers and Cape Coral there is some exciting news, finally. Single family house sales continue on an upward trend. Sales in 2008: Jan 338, Feb 445, March 501 and April 809. Condo sales in Jan 122, Feb 181, March 234, April 351.  All signs indicate that buyers are realizing what good deals there are out there and making offers on them. There will probably be a year of incredible buys as more properties hit the market in what seems to be a tremendous buying opportunity. This is southwest Florida after all and properties are selling well below pre-boom proces in some cases.

As that sage analyst, Ben Stein said recently on TV: you make money by buying when others are panic selling. this is such a time. No matter where baby boomers finally settle SW Florida is going to get its share and right now they can pick up future retirement homes at amounts that are below cost replacement. I recently closed a house with access to the Gulf for $148,000. The stories of good deals are endless but remember: all of this is cyclical so don't delay if you are thinking of jumping in the water is fine.