New from Regler Real Estate...

Join us for a SW Florida New Year's Eve Celebration in Downtown Cape Coral! Here in sunny SW Florida we are  always  looking for any excuse to get outside and celebrate, and there is no excuse like New Year's Eve! Alright, so... there is also the Tour de Cape in a few weeks. And the Burrowing Owl Festival in February. And the Taste of the Cape in March. And the Cardboard Boat Regatta. Then in April there's... well, like I said - any excuse!

Lately, has the newspaper mentioned cheap airfare?  Now is the time to find out! With daily flights in and out of our 3 nearby airports, there's never been a better time to dip your toes in the water and see what SW Florida is all about. See for yourself how inexpensive it can be to fly into  Fort Myers ,  Naples , or  Punta Gorda! You've got to stop wishing, got to go fishin'.  Or shell-hunting. Or golfing. Or boating. Or beach-bumming. Or any of the myriad of options for fun in the SW Florida sun! Don't let cabin fever get the best of you. Come for a visit! But be warned - you may never want to leave. There is a heaven for you, and it does have a beach attached.  As if you needed an excuse (and in case you missed all the hints)  Margaritaville has come to Fort Myers Beach!  Just opened and now booking, Margaritaville offers 254 rooms as well as multiple bars and grills, a coffee shop, a retail shop, a robust exercise facility, and a spa! Come on...

If you were asked to choose between being "book smart" and being "street smart", what would you choose? Is it better to have a wealth of lived experience to draw from, or is it better to have an arsenal of up-to-date information at your disposal? For the most qualified real estate professionals, the answer will always be "why not both?" They understand that there is no substitute for experience when it comes to understanding their clients' needs and strongly negotiating on their clients' behalf to get those needs met. They  also  understand that the real estate industry is complex and ever changing, and that they will need to keep educating themselves in order to keep up if they want to provide their clients with the best service possible. An Experienced Professional There is only one way to gain experience, and I'm fortunate to say I have that in abundance. (Have a look at my ever growing  list of satisfied clients .) But why only learn from m...

The holidays are upon us once again! We're so excited to be spending a cozy Thanksgiving with our family this year. For those who are visiting friends and family for the holiday, allow me to offer a refresher in Southwest Florida Holiday Dinner Etiquette. If you're a new arrival, please read these rules carefully. If you're a seasoned Floridian, tell me what I've missed! Wear Appropriate Attire Labor Day has come and gone, so be sure your flip-flops and sandals are a suitable fall color such as yellow, orange, or brown. If you have a holiday sweater, feel free to throw it on over your swimsuit. Bring along a t-shirt as well, though; you'll want something more comfortable when the temperature reaches the high 70s. Finally, festive sunglasses must be Thanksgiving themed. Save the Christmas themed beach gear for December! Be a Welcome and Welcoming Guest Guests should never arrive empty handed. Consider bringing along some extra sun-block or pool towels for out-of-town...

Choosing Your Perfect Home Last week we reviewed the steps to take before beginning the search for your next home. This week, we're focusing on the search itself. Before going any further, you'll want to be sure you've laid the groundwork we talked about last time. Have you made your budget? Have you identified your requirements? Do you know what your dealbreakers are? Great! Let's get started... Find a Real Estate Professional I'm sure this sounds a bit self-serving coming from, well, a real estate professional. And of course I believe I would be a wonderful choice to assist you. But no matter who you select, it is vital that you have someone in your corner who knows what to look for and what questions to ask. Working with a qualified and experienced  buyer 's agent means there will be one person who accompanies you through the entire process, and whose only goal is to assist you. They will sift through available homes to identify those that meet your requirem...

Before You Begin Depending on why you've entered the market, finding the perfect new home may feel like an exciting adventure or an overwhelming task. Often it can feel like both! Visiting the first few homes is exciting - a game of "imagine if" that you can play as you picture yourself in each home. But that novelty fades fast. If the search goes on too long, it can become just one more thing you have to do on the unending list of to-do's we all have. It doesn't need to be difficult! With just a little preparation, and the assistance of a qualified real estate professional, you'll be able to quickly narrow your search to exactly the right homes. Even better, you'll know exactly what to look for when you visit them. Make a Budget First, determine what you are willing to spend in total. This process can look different for each person. The amount might depend on the sale price of your current home, the amount you have in savings, or your regular monthly inco...

What Is the Real Reason You Want To Move Right Now? If you're considering selling your house right now, it's likely because something in your life has changed. And while things like mortgage rates play a big role in your decision, you don’t want that to overshadow why you thought about making a move in the first place. It’s true mortgage rates are higher right now, and that has an impact on affordability. As a result, some homeowners are deciding they’ll wait to sell because they don’t want to move and have a higher mortgage rate on their next home. But your lifestyle and your changing needs matter, too. As a recent article from  Realtor.com  says: “No matter what interest rates and home prices do next, sometimes homeowners just have to move —due to a new job, new baby, divorce, death, or some other major life change.” Here are a few of the most common reasons people choose to sell today. You may find any one of these resonates with you and may be reason enough to move, even t...

  As winter approaches, I've put together a few reminders about how to prepare ourselves and our homes for the coming winter. Let me know if there is anything I've missed! Winterize Windows   - As night-time temperatures descend into the low 70s, take the time to check your window screens for holes. When you're lying in bed at night enjoying the gentle gulf breeze through your open windows, the last thing you'll want is a stray lightning bug landing on your nose! Stock Up On Supplies   - Don't be caught with an empty pantry when refugees (or, rather, "visiting friends and family") begin to arrive. Make sure your poolside bar is well stocked, your grill has enough propane in the tank, and your beach bag has plenty of extra towels and sunscreen. Locate Warm Clothing   - It is unpleasant to imagine the unthinkable, but it is possible we could experience the icy winds of winter. Temperatures as low as 68 or even 65 degrees have been known to happen. Spend an a...

...and what you can learn from their experience. I think most of us have known at least one person for whom the process of selling their home was long and frustrating. Perhaps it was a beautiful home in a beautiful neighborhood, one that left you scratching your head and trying to imagine why it did not sell immediately. The truth is, selling your home shouldn't be difficult - particularly in today's market and with the right real estate professional to assist you.  A qualified and experienced agent will provide the guidance you need to avoid these common obstacles that likely caused problems for your friend: Did they limit potential buyers' access to their home? One of the biggest mistakes you can make when selling your house is restricting the days and times when potential buyers can tour it. Being flexible with your schedule is important when you're selling your house, even though it might feel a bit stressful to drop everything and leave when buyers want to see it. ...