VASARI GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB    BONITA SPRINGS FLORIDA

Frequently asked questions

Property tax estimates: Lee County (Ft. Myers, Bonita, Estero, Cape Coral) 1.5%-2% of assessed value and Collier County (Naples) 1.25% of assessed value. A 10 percent annual assessment cap for non-homestead property (this includes all non residents from out of state or out of country) was passed on January 29, 2008. What this means is that they cannot raise your assessment by more than 10% per year.  So your taxes cannot be raised by more than 10% per year if millage rate does not change.
Closing cost estimates: 1.5% of purchase price paying cash and 3% of purchase price with an 80% mortgage.
Real Estate prices: Generally higher in Naples, followed by Bonita Springs, Estero and Fort Myers.

Buying in a gated community or non gated community: We have many gated communities here in Southwest Florida. Fees are generally higher in gated communities. The higher end the community, the higher the fees.  In the larger master planned gated communities, a master homeowners association as well as a neighborhood association fee (condo or HOA) will be charged to the homeowner. Some master planned communities will have a CDD (Community Development District) This is a non ad valorem tax on your annual tax bill. This is to pay for the community infrastructure over a period of time There are many non gated communities here and crime and security has not been a problem.

Neighborhood Condo Fees: Condo fees typically run around $300 per month to as much as $600 per month. The fee depends on the community amenities offered and also the size of the condo and the units per building. The fee usually includes cable TV, outside building maintenance, outside insurance, lawn care, building reserves, management, common area maintenance. The condo owner will be responsible for the contents inside the walls and will need contents insurance.  This will run around $400-$700 per year.

 
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Neighborhood HOA Fees: Homeowner association fees typically run around $35 per month (no lawn service)  to as much as $200 or more per month (lawn service). The fee depends on the services included such as lawn care, trimming shrubs, cable TV, irrigation water.

Single Family Homeowners Insurance Estimate: For a 2000 square foot home, the annual premium will run around $1,200 to $1,900 per year.  Discounts will be given if the home or is equipped with  hurricane shutters or high impact glass, alarm system, tile roof.

Planning a trip?

If you view properties on the internet that you would like to see, plan a trip if you haven't done so. Once you arrive, I will take you out and show you your best opportunities based on your criteria, and help you through the total purchasing process. My customers tell me that after the purchase, that they are very satisfied with the simplicity and smoothness of the step by step purchasing process which I oversee on their behalf.
Most say it is the smoothest real estate transaction that they have ever experienced.

Short Sales: *Listings may include short sales.  Short sales are pre foreclosure listings and are contingent on the seller's lender (s) approving the purchase contract.  A short sale will have time constraints ( up to 180 days) with 3 possible outcomes.
1. Lender (s) approves purchase contract.
2. Lender (s) counters the purchase contract price and or terms.
3. Time given lender (s) by buyer to approve purchase contract expires and lender (s) does not respond

Due to the time constraints on SHORT SALES, I do not represent Buyer's in SHORT SALES.

Just a few notes: Weather: SW Florida is subtropical, meaning that the weather is warmer here than other parts of Florida that are north of here. This makes a big difference during season. (Jan, Feb, and March) So when you think you are getting a better deal in central and northern Florida, there is more to it than dollars. We have green grass and flowers year around.

Hurricanes: The last major hurricanes to hit Southwest Florida was Charley in 2004 and Wilma in 2005. Prior to these, Donna in 1960.  Charley went through Lee County and caused a lot of property damage. Most damage  was to roofs, landscaping and pool cages.  Wilma went through Naples and caused mostly landscaping damage, damage to roofs, and pool cages. Power outage was a major problem with both hurricanes, but the home damage was limited because many of the homes in the area are newer and were built to new hurricane codes and many older homes been retrofitted with hurricane shutters or high impact glass.

While you are away: There are many services offered in the area that cater to out of town homeowners, such as home watch, pool service, lawn service and concierge services. Many homes and condo's are vacant in the off season.