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The 2007 year end Lely Resort real estate market statistics report for both homes and condominiums are listed below. Lely Resort is an upscale gated golf community that includes an amenity rich, sophisticated and luxurious style of living and is considered one of Naples' premier communities.

Lely Resort offers 54 holes of truly championship golf designed by Robert Trent Jones, Lee Trevino and Gary Player with two traditional and expansive country clubs. And, the new 20,000 square foot Player's Club & Spa includes amenities that range from luxurious massage therapy, steam saunas and spa, to state of the art fitness and tennis centers with a resort style pool and artificial beach. For residents convenience and enjoyment, there is also a movie theater and…

The 2007 year end Pelican Landing real estate market statistics report for both homes and condominiums are listed below. Pelican Landing is an upscale gated golf community with excellent amenities and is considered one of Bonita Springs' premier communities.

Pelican Landing distinguishes itself by being the only community in the area to own a private barrier island on the Gulf of Mexico. The island includes a 32 acre beach park that residents have daily access to via a community run boat shuttle service. Residents can also opt for membership in the Pelican's Nest Golf Club. Its two 18 hole Tom Fazio designed golf courses are considered by many as some of the best available here in Southwest Florida.

Pelican Landing Sales Data

Pelican Landing Home…

Two things are for sure in 2008 for the mortgage lending industry; higher borrowing costs and more government regulations. While many say these are the necessary reforms needed to deal with the mortgage debacle of 2007, we see them as the consequences of an industry unwilling to regulate itself. The problem is, the only ones who will truly pay for an industry that ran amok, are the people looking to borrow money to buy a home.

So, in order to right the ship, here are some of the things that will happen, or, are proposed to happen to the industry in 2008. Some are sound changes and should be welcomed. Others are onerous or shortsighted as are most new regulations when the government has to intervene to correct abuses in the marketplace.

Higher Mortgage…

Congress quietly amended the IRS rules governing capital gains taxes on real estate in its final session of the year. The news will come as welcome relief to those who have lost a spouse and face the dilemma of having to sell their home quickly in order to keep their $500,000 exemption.

Under the old guidelines, a surviving spouse had to sell their home by the end of the year in order to keep their entire $500,000 tax exemption intact. While in most cases, they still would not owe any capital gains taxes because they inherit the property under what is known as a "stepped up" basis, many widowers still felt pressured to have to deal with selling their homes during their time of grief.

Under the new rules, surviving spouses will have two full years to sell…

President Bush signed into law today a new measure to provide tax relief for homeowners facing foreclosure or bankruptcy. The bill eliminates federal taxes due from homeowners who have had mortgage debt forgiven as part of a foreclosure or the renegotiation of a loan on their primary residence. Currently such debt forgiveness has been treated as taxable income.

The bill arose in response to the current mortgage crisis and is anticipated to reduce taxes on strapped homeowners by $650 million. "When you're worried about making your payments, higher taxes are the last thing you need to worry about," Bush said at the bill-signing ceremony. With some 2+ million adjustable-rate mortgages scheduled to reset through 2008, the new law will be a nice holiday gift…

As we predicted, lawyers representing a group of Florida homeowners filed a lawsuit against Palm Beach County officials challenging both existing and proposed state property tax laws. Even though they have been blocked before by the lower courts, attorney's from Alabama and Florida are at it again, alleging Florida's real estate tax laws including Save Our Homes and the proposed "portability" portion of the New Tax Relief Amendment discriminate against recent homeowners.

The new lawsuit is seeking class action status and argues that these tax benefits are “tilted unfairly” to the financial gain of long-term property owners “to the adverse economic disadvantage” of those who have recently purchased a home in Florida. The 37-page complaint specifically…

The January thru September Bonita Bay real estate sales statistics for both homes and condominiums are listed below. Bonita Bay is Bonita Springs premier gated community and is a highly sought after place to live. Encompassing 2,400 acres, Bonita Bay is also the flagship community of the Bonita Bay Group here in Southwest Florida. More than half the community is devoted to open space, including three Arthur Hills-designed golf courses and 12 miles of biking and walking paths. In addition, residents enjoy three waterfront recreational areas within the community and a private beach park on the Gulf of Mexico. They are also eligible for membership in the Bonita Bay Club, which has two clubhouses, an 18-court tennis and swim center and a new fitness facility.…

I can hardly put into words (at least not publicly) of how sick I am of some of the mortgage and real estate crowd who are taking the new government rate freeze plan as another opportunity to bash President Bush and the Investors who hold the paper on those loans. What a bunch of sad sacks they all are. Anyone with half a brain can see right through their so called criticisms and understand that all they are really doing is showing their true partisan agenda. And just what is that agenda? Simple, blame the Bush administration for everything that happens. How politically correct they all are. Then, just to show how progressively minded they are too, they bash the greedy investors, who are going to lose money no matter what happens as we move forward.

Now,…