In 2006, all was going downhill when it comes to real estate. Many properties were foreclosed – pushing the real estate business on its knees. As was experienced, many homeowners were forced to sell their homes and many developers have been pushed to have most of their developed properties foreclosed or put on the market – even when no one was buying at that time.

Now, the beginning of the year 2014 shows signs of a comeback for real estate companies and investors. Lee County real estate sales have risen up again. With prices rebounding, it shows a promising outcome for those in the real estate business. A lot of homebuyers and investors are buying properties all over the county.

The most recent example is the rise of the 32-story Oasis. This

The wire sculptures, crafted by Michael Gard are surely one of the main attractions at Art Fest in Fort Myers. They certainly draw a lot of attention, given the fact that they actually light up. His dancers float freely in thin air, illuminating the night with their graceful lights.

Gard began his wire creations as a 17 year old in London. Created on accident, while bending wire around a rock, he became curious with his accidental creation. He then decided to expand upon it and create different, more sophisticated works of wire art. Gard feels that his niche is pretty secure considering not a lot of people make wire art. He also mentioned that it was an easier and cheaper material to work with.

The light was a new development. Gard explained that

There is plenty to do this season in Fort Myers, Florida. Between the fairs, shows and other community events, there is plenty to keep a person busy almost every day. Here are just a few of the events taking place this weekend:

Wings of Freedom

The Wings of Freedom air show set to take place at Page Field this weekend is highly anticipated. There will be dozens of planes on display. Attendees are highly encouraged to sign up for ground tours, or even schedule a flight in one of these majestic, war hero aircrafts. The Event lasts from Friday, January 31st until Sunday, February 2nd.

Florida Sportsman Expo

This Saturday, February 1st is the Florida Sportsman Expo. There will be vendors as well as a myriad of hunting, fishing, angling, boating

Water – the most abundant resource on the planet. We take it for granted. It keeps us healthy, cleans our food, clothes, and our bodies.

In Africa it is said, "Water is life". However, in Africa many people have little access to clean water. They have to walk miles to a community well. Often, the water is tainted and unclean. And unclean water can lead to sickness, infections, blindness and even death. In Africa alone, 345 million people lack access to safe water (http://water.org/water-crisis/water-facts/water/). That represents the entire population of the US. Imagine not being able to provide clean water for your family.

At Equity Realty, we have partnered with World Vision to combat the inequity in Africa. The irony is there is plenty of

If you’re in the process of looking for a new home, or have owned a home before, you know just how valuable good saving habits can be. Putting your excess cash away responsibly can put you in a position to give yourself the best in a new home, condo, or apartment, and the money can be put toward anything – a higher down payment or monthly payment so you pay it off quickly, furnishings, rent or utilities, the list goes on and on. Plus, the comfort of your savings is invaluable when things around the home inevitably break or fail.

But despite the fact that recent economic upturns have given more and more people the opportunity to save money, reports still show that just 24% of Americans have a decent savings cushion. To get you back on track to being

According to a recent RealityTrac report, North Fort Myers has been identified as one of the top-15 retirement hotspots in the country, as well as being an ideal place for real estate investors to focus on for long-term value creation. 

RealityTrac analyzed factors such as the percentage of residents who were above the retirement age, rental capitalization rates, and home appreciation. With numerous popular communities available throughout the city, North Fort Myers is quickly becoming the most popular place in Florida, if not the nation, for both Northerners escaping winter’s chill as well as permanent residents who are looking for a relaxing, tropical lifestyle year-round.

If boating is your passion, you’ll fit right in. Bordered by the cool

Ever heard the expression “It was love at first sight”? 

Well, if you want a step up on the competition when you sell your home, you’re going to want to make people fall in love with your home as soon as they see it. First impressions are invaluable, and getting a possible buyer’s experience started off on the right foot can make all the difference. Here are some ways to give your home’s curb appeal a makeover:

• Begin with the curb

Because it’s usually located right at the curb, your mailbox is the first thing someone will see when they pull up to your home. What kind of condition is it in? If it’s old, falling apart, missing numbers, or suffering in any other way, consider giving it a quick facelift, even if it’s as little as new numbers

In a competitive housing market, you need every advantage you can get. So when you’re selling your home, why rely on just a small, plastic sign in the front yard and an unobtrusive newspaper ad on page seventeen? In this age of technology, there are more and more ways to get your home’s listing public every day. Here are some little-known (and affordable) ways to grab this tech bull by the horns, and sell your home fast.

• Create a virtual tour

There are a number of websites out there that will put together a virtual tour of your home based on pictures you send in, but they’re time-consuming and expensive. Instead, simply grab the closest video camera you can find, hit record, and start walking around. Go through each room and point out

Buying a home is a strange thing – it can simultaneously be the most exciting, nerve-wracking, daunting, and relieving things you’ll ever go through – and it’s something that nearly everyone has to do.

But if you’re approaching your first time buying a home, fear not – we’ve compiled a list of simple tips for you that will keep you on the right track and give you and edge over the competition when you finally find that dream house.

• First things first: Get a good agent

Buying a home requires you to handle quite a bit of money (it’s usually the single most expensive thing anyone ever purchases) and it’s all going to be invested in something fairly permanent. This is a time to leave pride on the table, and enlist the help of an experienced and

Ever had a problem arise in your home? If you’ve owned a home for longer than 45 seconds, the answer is probably yes. Homes are notorious for their various failings and go-wrongs, so you’re bound to come across an issue eventually. And if you’re like most people, you’ll be tempted to just save the money and take care of the problem yourself.

Unfortunately, when something in your home goes south, it’s easy to compound the problem by trying to take up a project that’s too much for a casual do-it-yourselfer. Take a look at the tips below, and you’ll be a step ahead the next time you set out to fix up your home.  

• Don’t forget the permits

Unless you’re doing a simple project that can be done in a day or two (painting, wallpapering, that sort of