Real Estate Briefs
Longtime Southwest Florida sales coach
launches Royal Palm Realty
Bringing more than two decades of sales training experience, Realtor Sal Di Stefano has announced the opening of Royal Palm Realty, an independent business serving Lee County’s residential real estate needs. With a team including his daughter, Calee, and local entrepreneurial Realtor Suzanne Grady, Di Stefano has positioned his company to thrive in the competitive Southwest Florida marketplace based on its in-depth knowledge of the region, mastery of the art of negotiation and multi-generational perspective.
Having lived in southwest Cape Coral for 25 years, Di Stefano began investing in local real estate with his father in 1983 and has witnessed the development of the region as it weathered numerous economic ups and downs. As a Realtor, his extensive background as a sales trainer gives him a unique edge in negotiations for homebuyers looking for the best home for the best price and for sellers intent on getting a premium price per square foot. His experience includes 20 years in frontline client contact and training roles as a national corporate sales training director and senior account executive for a major publishing company and as an entrepreneur in the customer service-intensive restaurant industry in Wisconsin.
As sales associate in Royal Palm Realty, Calee brings a fresh perspective on customer service, social media marketing and communication that appeals to the preferences of a younger generation of sellers and buyers. A recent Johnson and Wales University graduate and Bishop Verot alum, the expertise that comes with her hospitality management degree informs her understanding of the factors affecting the diversity and vitality of Southwest Florida’s unique economic climate.
Having served as president of Fiddlesticks for two years, and being the first woman elected to that position for a high-end country club in Southwest Florida, Grady offers valuable in-depth knowledge of golf club and gated communities along the Daniels corridor and surrounding areas including waterfront properties like Gulf Harbour. In addition to her negotiation, sales training, site selection and development background, Grady is well known for her long-lived and iconic regional business enterprises, Shrimp Shack Restaurants and the Juicy Lucy’s chain of 33 restaurants.
Royal Palm Realty is a multigenerational independent business dedicated to making the buying and selling of a home in Lee County, Florida an enjoyable experience. It consistently exceeds expectations for value and a comprehensive understanding of local market conditions. Realtors Sal Di Stefano and Suzanne Grady, longtime Southwest Florida residents and investors, have teamed up with Calee Di Stefano to provide unparalleled service and advocacy on behalf of buyers and seller of every generation. Visit royalpalmrealtyllc.com for a free home valuation or more information. Call (239) 281-8111, email sales@royalpalmrealtyllc.com or visit 1222 S.E. 47th St., Unit 307, in Cape Coral.
American Brokers Realty
Group supports Toys for Tots
The holiday season is fast approaching, and American Brokers Realty Group is again getting into the gift-giving spirit by sponsoring the holiday charity, the Marine Toys for Tots!
Now through Dec. 13, American Brokers Realty will be accepting toy donations for the program that supports local children who are less fortunate than others. All toy donations will be delivered to the Marine Toys for Tots on Dec. 14.
This is the fourth year that American Brokers Realty Group has participated in the Toys for Tots program.
To make this year even bigger, American Brokers will donate one toy for every donation made at its office to increase the amount of toys for our local children in need. In addition, all individuals who make their donations at the American Brokers Realty office will be entered into a drawing to win a special gift.
Dropping off any new, unwrapped toys to the Toy Collection Box inside the American Brokers Realty Group office at 2323 Del Prado Blvd. S., Suite 9, Cape Coral, on the northeast corner of Del Prado Boulevard, S., and Veteran’s Parkway. Hours of operation are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday.
The drawing will take place Friday, Dec.18, and the winning donor will be contacted by Dec. 21.
American Brokers Realty Group is a full-service real estate and property management company that also handles annual and vacation rentals. The company was founded by broker Dick Hughes in 1984 and serves Lee, Collier and Charlotte counties. For more information, call 239-772-2500.
114 single-family house permits
pulled in county in October
During October, contractors pulled 114 permits to build single-family houses collectively valued at more than $23 million in unincorporated Lee County and the Village of Estero. That compares to 118 permits issued in September and 75 issued in October 2014, according to the Lee County Department of Community Development.
Also during September, a single multi-family project, a duplex valued at more than $200,000, was permitted, compared to 722 in September and 8 in October 2014. The multi-family permitting in September included 444 units at Emerson Village, located west of U.S. 41 near the intersection of Michael G. Rippe Parkway and another 168 units at University Village just south of the Florida Gulf Coast University campus
General commercial activity was valued at about $1.7 million for 12 permits, compared to nearly $51 million in September and nearly $53 million in October 2014.
Lee County Community Development issued 3,955 permits of all kinds in October.
Lee County Community Development oversees planning, zoning, development and building services, environmental review, building inspection, and code enforcement for the unincorporated areas of Lee County.
To learn more about the department and its services, visit www.leegov.com/dcd/.
Model in Cascades community
available for viewing
Express Homes of Southwest Florida invites the public to tour the professionally decorated model at Cascades, a gated community in the golf community of River Hall, just east of downtown Fort Myers. Seven value-priced home plans are available in this upscale active-adult community, many backing up to preserves and lakes, with prices starting at $184,990.
The single-story homes in Cascades range from 1,542 to 2,319 square feet of living space, offering three bedrooms, two baths and a two-car garage. The homes in Cascades are enhanced with a tile roof, paver driveway and many energy saving features as part of Express Homes’ commitment to building affordable, quality homes. Each home in Cascades comes with an automatic irrigation system for its fully sodded yard with professionally designed landscaping.
With the purchase of a membership, homeowners can enjoy the Signature Davis Love III golf course within the 2,000-acre master-planned community of River Hall. Cascades offers a fitness center complete with Hammer Strength equipment, free weights, and a Pilates and yoga room. A heated junior Olympic pool offers year-round fitness and relaxation.
For an appointment to tour the model and community, call sales agent Joe Stulb at 239-210-8276. Visit drhorton.com/swfla for more information.
Express Homes, a D.R. Horton Company, is one of the nation’s leading homebuilders for affordable homes. Headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, Express Homes has locations in 44 markets and 14 states. For more information, visit our website at www.expresshomes.com.
Owen-Ames-Kimball earns Best Commercial Contractors Project
at Lee BIA Summit 2015 Awards
Owen-Ames-Kimball Company was recently recognized at the 2015 Lee BIA Summit Awards for Best Commercial Contractors Project for the 2014-2015 year. Lee BIA Summit honored the company for its outstanding level of success and professionalism in commercial building, planning and design of the Waterman Broadcasting studio expansion project.
The project included an 8,000-square-foot tilt-wall addition to the existing studio facility and demolition of the old studio space and atrium. Interior improvements included a renovated lobby with new staircase and elevator, a new studio, an open-plan newsroom, edit booths, a new videographers’ office, green rooms, office space, an employee break room and restrooms. The project also included improved power, HVAC and fire suppression systems and a renovation of the former studio space for production and marketing staff. The work was completed as Waterman Broadcasting continued its normal business operations.
Owen-Ames-Kimball Company has provided premier general contracting, design-build and construction management services in Southwest Florida since 1982. OAK’s Florida operation is an affiliate of its parent company located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The Florida operation has offices in Collier, Lee and Charlotte counties. The Lee County office is located at 11941 Fairway Lakes Drive in Fort Myers. Learn more about OAK at www.owen-ames-kimball.com.
Tickets available for 16th Annual Southwest
Florida Real Estate Outlook Conference
The Southwest Florida Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) District will present the 16th Annual Southwest Florida Real Estate Outlook Conference Thursday, Jan. 21, from 7:30 a.m.to noon, at the Harborside Event Center, 1375 Monroe St., Fort Myers.
Early bird rates are $40 for members, $50 for non-members and $60 at the door.
You can register at http://bit.ly/1PV33VR
For more information or sponsorship opportunities, contact Bev Larson at 239-281-1290.