Cape Coral Real Estate News & Lifestyle

Are you curious about the canals in Cape Coral, Florida? Well, read on because our agent, Sarah Rothenberg, wrote us an article to go over the details.

Navigating Cape Coral's Canals:

Ahoy, Cape Coral water enthusiasts! Are you ready to set sail on a thrilling voyage through our city's diverse canal network? Hold onto your hats as we explore the three main types of canals that make Cape Coral a water lover's utopia.

Direct Access:

First stop, direct access aka sailboat access—the holy grail of waterfront living! Picture yourself cruising seamlessly from your backyard to the open waters of the Gulf, with not a bridge in sight to rain on your parade. These gems are the envy of all, commanding top dollar for convenience. Quick run times with no bridges to contend with, you can bring your sailboat or large powerboat to navigate these types of gulf access canals with ease and quickness. 

Gulf Access with Bridges:

Next on our tour are the gulf access canals with bridges. While these canals offer access to the vast blue beyond they are not created equally, the devil is in the details—How long to navigate to the river, what height restrictions will I encounter, and how deep is the canal?  All super important questions when looking to purchase waterfront property. Some routes offer swift passages, while others wind leisurely, requiring patience and time. It’s super important to understand where in the city you are and how long that trip will take if boating is a priority.

Freshwater Canals:

Last but certainly not least, lets drift into the tranquil realms of freshwater canals. Though lacking access to the salty seas, these waterways offer their own brand of charm. Imagine lazy afternoons spent fishing or kayaking amidst serene views, far from the hustle and bustle of larger vessels. Some of these canals may even lead to a chain of small lakes that make awesome low-key water fun.  Remember no access to the Gulf, if boating isn’t a priority and you are more interested in the aesthetics, it’s worth checking out as the price points can vastly differ from the Gulf access options. 

Choosing Your Canal:

With so many options to consider, how do you find the canal of your dreams? You reach to one of our team members to help you find the perfect canal front property for your specific needs. Check out this link to start your canal front home search, and as always please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions, we will happily help guide you to your new waterfront home. 

Cape Coral Restaurant Update

Awesome Bar and Hop recently organized a going away party for a restaurant called Nevermind in Cape Coral, which my husband and I used to visit frequently. They hosted a monthly event called Cult Carne, which we never wanted to miss. The restaurant had been serving daily lunches and dinners for years, and the owner and chef, Shannon Yates, unfortunately, passed away a couple of years back. Despite his passing, the restaurant continued to operate but eventually had to close down due to lease issues. However, after the NeverForget party, they managed to regain their lease and will soon be reopening at the same location. Nevermind, as it's now called, offers live music, and outdoor seating, and serves great food and cocktails. It first opened in 2012, bringing a new nightlife scene to Cape Coral's downtown dining experience. We are thrilled to see it will be back carrying on the same atmosphere we enjoyed before!

Article written By Eileen Woodham

Cape Coral Parks Update

Cape Coral, FL is set to welcome a new recreational gem: Crystal Lake Park. The park's master plan promises an array of amenities designed to cater to outdoor enthusiasts and families alike. At its heart lies a pristine 45-acre lake, adorned by a sandy beach offering a tranquil retreat. The park will be located at 4307 NW 36th st. near old Burnt Store rd.

Visitors can expect convenient facilities including restrooms, picnic shelters, and sun shelters for a comfortable outing. Adventure-seekers will be thrilled by the scuba diving area, fitness stations and playgrounds, while the hill overlook provides a picturesque spot to unwind.

For water enthusiasts, the park boasts both boat and kayak launches on its west side, seamlessly connecting to nearby canals. Accessibility is prioritized with ADA-compliant parking and pathways, ensuring inclusivity for all.

Safety measures are also in place with an emergency boat launch on the east side. With ample parking options including paved stalls and grass spots, the park will be ready to accommodate visitors year-round.

Crystal Lake Park stands as a testament to Cape Coral's commitment to providing quality outdoor spaces for its residents and visitors. As construction gets underway, anticipation for this natural haven continues to grow, promising endless opportunities for leisure and exploration. Crystal Lake Park broke ground on Feb, 23rd 2024 and is expected to be completed sometime in 2025. I can’t wait to see the area continue to develop and add so much outdoor fun for all of Cape Coral and it’s residents. To read more about Crystal Lake park and see all the exciting plans check out this link.

Written by Sarah Rothenberg

January 2024 SW Florida Market Stats

Our January 2024 numbers are in and we wanted to share those with you. These figures were taken from our local MLS.

Lehne Burger is located on 1232 Cape Coral Parkway E. It has been here for about 6 years and now. They are getting a second location in the Edison Mall right at the food court coming in February!  They are a family-owned restaurant open Monday to Thursday 11:30-3pm and 5-8pm, Fridays evenings are 5-9pm and the daily 11:30-3pm, Saturdays 11:30 to 9pm and Sunday closed.  (Please verify with the business for current hours)

50% Rule - what?

If you are currently living in SW Florida or considering a purchase here anytime soon you’ll want to understand what this means.

The 50% rule is a FEMA rule that basically states that if the repairs needed to the house are over 50% of the home’s value (depreciated/actual value - not market value is my understanding) then you may be obligated to bring the house up to current Hurricane Codes. 

What could this mean? Well, the exact information is still being worked on here in the City of Cape Coral. They have made a couple of posts about it but nothing seems to be official…yet.

However, this could mean that the house’s elevation needs to be raised to higher levels. Especially if the home was built many years ago it could be several feet below the current flood codes. Perhaps the house will need to be lifted and fill dirt put underneath or perhaps the house will have to be lifted with a stilt structure under it? Or maybe it would have to be completely torn down in extreme cases. 

The roof will most likely not just require a new reroof but most likely hurricane straps, additional brackets, and nails to be brought up to code. 

Understanding these figures before you begin work or take on a new project is critical. 

You can check with local permitting departments for information. At the present time, the city of Cape Coral is suggesting anyone with a home built prior to 1981 to wait until the information is made available to the public before making any repairs. They are suggesting a date of Dec 1, 2022. You can read the article here https://www.capecoral.gov/newdetail_T3_R683.php

Here is that current verbiage 

“The City of Cape Coral advises residents who own a home built before 1981 not to make repairs until December 1, 2022. 

The 50% Rule, a regulation of the National Flood Insurance Program, requires structures with damage exceeding 50% of their market value to be rebuilt consistent with the current flood elevation and Florida Building Code. The City doesn't want residents to pay additional costs to repair structures before determining whether it has received 50% or more damage.

Cape Coral’s City Council is expediting the approval of an ordinance that may remove regulations, to make it easier on the homeowner when determining calculations for the 50% Rule.”

You can also learn more at FEMA as well. Here is a link to a pdf https://www.fema.gov/pdf/floodplain/nfip_sg_unit_8.pdf

Here is a link to an article put out by the Florida Association of Realtors as well https://www.floridarealtors.org/news-media/news-articles/2022/10/sw-fla-owners-surprised-femas-50-rule

Please keep in mind that this is a time-sensitive post meaning the information contained in it may change. (Dated Oct 25, 2022) We will work to update this post as information becomes more available.

The Cape Coral real estate market is obviously increasing. I wanted to take a look at homes with gulf access as they are our most popular. 

This past year, in 2021, the prices in January were averaging $695,297 and by December 2021 they were averaging $908,070. This is a major increase over the course of 1 year. 

I went ahead and also pulled a report to show the past 10 years trends as well:

If you would like to invest in a Cape Coral Gulf Access home, we'd love to help you find the one!

Start your search now for your own beautiful Gulf Access home in Cape Coral, Florida.