The Gary Cardillo Group

Your Punta Gorda Waterfront Specialists

You are here: Home / The Gary Cardillo Group’s Blog

Thanksgiving from a Different Perspective

by

With summer long gone and the last vestiges of fall colors still on the trees, my friends and I embarked on our daily walk through the woods. No longer did we have to avoid the hot summer sun and stay in the protective shadows cast by the pine trees and giant oaks, we could now explore paths we hadn’t taken in months, and the sights were amazing. The colors that fell across the tranquil ponds were like a painting too beautiful to describe. Deer grazed by water’s edge, squirrels were gathering up acorns and rabbits scampered through the leaves without a care in the world. With each one of our furry friends there to greet us each day, it was a sight we came accustomed to and one we called home.
Feeling adventurous we decided to take a different path this day and before we knew it our surroundings had changed dramatically. No longer were we in the warm embrace of the forest, we were in a concrete jungle. There were horns honking, people yelling at each other and yard signs all over the place. As I stepped off the curb one of my friends pulled me out of the path of a speeding car where the driver yelled at me to watch where I was going. Visibly shaken my friends and I felt it was much safer to stay on the sidewalk where we came upon a small group of stores. There were carts full of fresh cut flowers, fruits and vegetables on display which gave us a sense of being home, until one of my friends decided to sample some of the fruits causing the store owner to chase us down the block with broom in hand.
At first we thought the ruckus we created caused people to stop and stare at us. We started to gloat, feeling somewhat like celebrities as we strutted down the sidewalk. However, our fame was short lived when we came upon a butcher shop and to our horror was a picture in the window none of us will soon forget.

“Do you see what I see?” asked one of my friends.
“See what you see,” I replied, “Did you read the caption below?”
My friend froze in his tracks as he read, “Come in for your fresh killed turkeys.”
“Do you think that happened to Tom last year and he wound up on someone’s dinner table?”
“That would explain why we haven’t seen him,” I replied, “I thought he just moved.”
As we contemplated our fate a tall shadow appeared over us in the form of a mustachioed butcher with cleaver in hand.
“Run for it” I yelled, as we sprinted back to our home in the woods.
“I used to look forward to this time of year,” another of my friends said, as he tried to catch his breath, “but why do they call it Thanksgiving?”
I replied, “For our sake I hope it is because it is only one day out of the year!”
With this being a year we won’t soon forget, we hope this Thanksgiving will be a time to reflect on the things we can be thankful for and appreciate the friendships and family we have along with the blessings we oftentimes take for granted.
We send our wishes to you and your family for a very Happy Thanksgiving.

-Your Friend the Turkey, Gary and Gail

Halloween and the Monsters Among Us

by

I couldn’t help but look back to this time of year as a kid growing up when we carved pumpkins and watched horror movies on Chiller Theater that left us so scared that every creak and sound we heard in our home had us diving under the covers somehow thinking we wouldn’t be seen by these creatures of the night. What Halloween would be complete without Frankenstein, The Wolfman, Dracula and a supporting cast of Ghouls, Mummies, Werewolfs, Ghosts, Witches and Vampires! After working ourselves into a terrified frenzy the thought of putting out the garbage that night was the last thing you wanted to hear your mom ask you to do. “Mom can’t it wait until morning, I really don’t want to be burned at the stake?”
We dressed up as our favorite creatures, sports heroes and celebrities. Guys dressed as girls, girls dressed as guys and we even dressed up like old geezers, which at that time anyone over 30 years of age qualified.
We freely roamed our neighborhood streets filling our shopping bags so full of candy it would take decades to consume, while keeping most dentists gainfully employed. And of course the ammunition of the day was a carton of eggs, cans of shaving cream, sticks of chalk and a sock full of flour. You never had to ask which home didn’t hand out candy, as the dreaded chalk mark on the sidewalk indicated no one was home and as a consequence for being so unthoughtful typically resulted in the owner being seen washing off the salvo of eggs from the night before.
It was fun trick or treating in disguise when no one knew who you were and the stories told the following day from that special Halloween night were priceless. It also gave us the opportunity to express ourselves in ways that were fun, carefree and creative. However, despite our unique way of expressing ourselves we seemed to bond a little bit closer.
This year has been a year of adjustment. For many it has been a year of despair and others a time of reflection. However, one thing I think we can all agree on is that it is a time when we are focusing on our differences rather than what has brought us together. Just like those horror movies we watched as kids that depicted creatures we knew not from where they came, today we are seeing different kinds of monsters who are tormenting us 24 hours a day.

Back then we could put our monsters back in the closet until the following year, the kind we are facing today think they are here to stay. They are dressed differently and walk amongst us both day and night. When we got scared we pulled the covers over our heads, today I hear kids say they don’t want to hear what is going on in our country or around the world as it sounds too scary.
I’m not sure how we got so off track, but when I think of so many wonderful things we have to enjoy that are found in community events, family and friends it seems like those are the things we need to take back out of the closet labeled “Taking for Granted,” and realize our fondest childhood recollections are within easy reach with lots of great memories still to be made.

While this year’s Halloween may be a little different, it can still be one that will be fun to enjoy and give us that emotional break we all could use. Just make sure you keep an eye out for those creatures in the night when you hear those terrifying words, “Honey, can you take out the garbage! 

 -Gary Cardillo

The Great Migration of 2020

by

Did you know, roughly 950 people move to Florida every day? We have seen this ‘unprecedented demand’ and the increase in luxury home sales as people in northern states are fleeing the larger cities amid the pandemic.
No longer are people looking just to escape the harsh winter weather in the north, we are seeing people moving south as a quality of life change. Most of the people moving in are from high-taxed areas like New York, Boston, California, and Chicago, according to the New York Times. What makes Florida so appealing is residents pay no state income or estate tax and receive a homestead exemption of up to $50,000 on a primary resident and a 3% annual cap on home assessments.
The sunshine state also grew more appealing with the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 which limited the amount of total state and local taxes that can be deducted on a federal income tax return to $10,000. Those living in densely populated areas and commuting via mass transit are now looking to move to areas outside the major metropolitan areas and avoid the close quarters that were inherent with train or bus travel. Families are fleeing cramped apartments and are looking for home offices, home gyms, larger kitchens for increased in-home dining and private pools. What we have noticed, is that people who have seasonal rentals, or who frequent the state, have snapped up permanent residences and turned their short-term stays during the pandemic into a permanent move.

During this time many discovered they could work remotely and with management seeing no drop off in productivity, employees as well as entrepreneurs started to relocate south to areas such as Florida and Texas. New contracts for single-family homes in Charlotte County were up 41% in August compared to this time last year. Single family homes are the “crème de la crème” vs condos and townhomes because most feel it is not only easier to social distance in a house, but weren’t quite ready to give up homeownership and downsize into a condominium.

Also, a booming housing market means more new homeowners – and a higher demand for new appliances such as refrigerators, dishwashers, washers and dryers. With more people staying at home and cooking, appliances are getting much more use requiring replacement, thus adding to manufacturers being backlogged to the end of the year. This pandemic has created a perfect storm for those looking to escape the high cost of urban living and unwittingly finding there are tax advantages and low mortgage rates to be enjoyed in areas with more desirable climates.  According to the latest trends, many of Florida’s gulf coast towns and cities top the list as the choice of many seeking a better quality of life.
One of those being our town of Punta Gorda. Punta Gorda is what so many people are looking for, a laid-back community where residents know one another, engage with one another and enjoy life together in a relaxed, harbor-side destination-the ideal getaway from the hustle and bustle of big city living. As always, we are here to answer any of your real estate questions and if you feel now is your time to make the lifestyle change you’ve been putting off, we’d be happy to show you our piece of paradise.
 -Gary Cardillo

Hear Ye, Hear Ye, the Real Estate Market is Booming!

by

The coronavirus pandemic doesn’t seem to be making the Charlotte County housing market sick. The market is seeing a surge in listings and buyers continue making offers.

With inventory levels so low, if there was ever a time in which to sell your home, this would be it! As of July, the median is 49 days on the market, a trend that is 9 days less from last year, and I see it moving lower in the next few months. Looking at sales of homes over the last year, the market in our area is highly active. In July of 2019, there were 345 homes sold in our area where for July 2020 we had 488 sales. Recently Punta Gorda was in the top 3 cities for people who are relocating to Florida. A lot of interest in our housing market is coming from people relocating from the north looking to escape the harsh winter weather and high taxes, but with concerns from this pandemic are looking to move to areas with less congestion where they can work remotely and avoid mass transit. With the influx of those moving to the area competition is fierce which has resulted in the median price of homes rising to $237,450. So not only are our sales looking good, but the price of our homes are attractive as well. Homes valued in the $250,000-$350,000 range are the most popular among buyers right now.

With mortgage rates at record lows, some buyers who are self -employed are having a harder time qualifying due additional qualifying guidelines stemming from the impact of the pandemic. Others are challenged in trying to get pre-qualified fast enough in order to submit offers quickly on what has become a very limited supply of inventory. Buyers shopping for a home in our area should first get pre-approved so they know what they CAN buy. Second, you need that pre-approval or proof of funds letter as sellers don’t want to tie up their properties for those who can’t qualify. In short, get pre-qualified and if you see a house you better act on it. If you are someone who has a hard time making up your mind now is not the time to just be looking. Homes have hit the market and are immediately going under contract when priced well and buyers are trying to make their offers very attractive in order to outbid their competition.

An article I read recently, “More Buyers Nix Inspections as Bidding Wars Heat Up”, a Redfin agent study found that almost one in five offers (19.9%) waived the inspection contingency to make their offers more attractive. This study was done with agents in select major US markets. The previous year it was 13.2%. Although, I understand why some are doing this I do feel this is a major part of home buying not to skimp on.

Our local newspaper mentioned how single family home permits in Charlotte County were on the rise with 216 permits were issued for the month of July which is up over 189 from the same time period a year ago. The value of the permits were $58.5M which is a $9M jump over the previous two July’s. This also represents a 14.3% jump year to year which runs from October to September. 1,791 single family home permits have been issued representing a 22.7% increase over 2019 year to date, and we still have 2 months to go. Total permits account for $487.9M, more than 2019 with 2 months to go and Charlotte County has outpaced the rest of the state which had a 17.1% increase over 2019.

We have a good education system, good government and we offer a vibrant waterfront town with many medical options nearby and our crime is low. It is just a great place to live and why we love to call it home!

If you are looking to sell, do the following to help it sell sooner rather than later. If your house is cleaned, updated, priced right and has a pool/view your days on the market will be less. Buyers are looking for those recreational activities to keep their families busy as they work from home. And of course you can reach out to me anytime if you would like a free market analysis. As we say to all of our clients, “We will be there with you every step of the way.”
-Gary Cardillo

Good News for a Change

by

If you’re like me it seems every time you turn on the t.v. or pick up a newspaper there is nothing but negative news. If it isn’t the Coronavirus it is the political and racial divisiveness that is making front page news. The left is yelling at you “we want change,” the right is screaming “come to your senses.” Can’t I just be left alone? And let’s not forget about the stock market. I don’t know about you, but I don’t think any Disney World roller coaster ride has anything over the highs and lows we are seeing in the stock market.  One day it is up 800 points and the next day it is down 400. What is going on with this country we live in? Can’t we just go back to the way things used to be?Call me an eternal optimist, but for some time I decided to take a step back and take a look at things from a different perspective. Sure, I have my opinions, but what if I quieted down the entire minutia and got back to the basics of what were the most fond moments of my youth? What I found was without all the clamor the very things I held most dear I was having an opportunity to experience again.  I, too, got caught up in the rat race of everyday life and the simple things I thought of most I was now being given another opportunity to enjoy.
I was forced to slow down and savor each day and the friends we have made along the way . It was the same feeling I had after working in the “concrete jungle” of New York City and coming to Florida 21 years ago. It was like a breath of fresh air that afforded us a quality of life we didn’t have in New York because of the fast paced lifestyle. Unfortunately like most, we got so caught up with work and projects around the home we didn’t take the time to savor the life we found those twenty one years ago. However, the Coronavirus changed all that and we’ve not only had an opportunity to reflect on what really matters in life, but how fortunate we really are.
Closer to home in the smaller cities like Venice and Punta Gorda you are seeing the embrace of a community and a quiet enthusiasm that is translating into new developments and business. Once seen only as places to escape the cold weather up north, we are now seeing somewhat of an exodus from those looking to escape the high taxes and congestion for a better way of life.
I sat down to interview Mark and Leigh McCann who are Captains with Allegiant Airlines . In fact, Leigh is the most tenured Captain in Punta Gorda that has 38 Captains based here and 36 First Officers.  According to Mark and Leigh, air travel dropped in March, but came back in May and June very strong. Out of the 186 passengers the planes can hold, they were flying typically with 170 passengers and sometimes more!
Back in 2007 & 2008 when airlines were suffering from the downturn in the economy, Allegiant was the only profitable airline and up to this pandemic had 70 consecutive quarters of profitability. While the stimulus was supposed to keep the airline industry running through September, like many airlines, Allegiant had plans to furlough an estimated 30% of its pilots however, now there is not only no plans to furlough anyone, they are training new pilots.
Mark and Leigh continued by saying while other airlines are downsizing and pulling out of marginal routes, Allegiant will have an opportunity to pick up new routes and more equipment (planes). The attribute Allegiant’s success to tourist or pleasure travel, not business travel and said they have developed a loyal passenger base.
Turning our conversation to Sunseeker, Mark went on to say, we have a connection to this community, and for all the positives that Allegiant is doing for the community by bringing passengers from various points around the country to our area, the last thing they want is to be tied to a failed project.  He said while it was important to make sure the airline remained on solid ground during this time, which led them to delaying the development of Sunseeker , the 18 month delay was seen as a conservative estimate and that they hope to resume the project prior to then . He said as a company they are cautiously optimistic, but optimistic nevertheless!
Turning back to the real estate market and it’s upturn in activity, RE/MAX Harbor had 61 showings for the month of May, however that number dramatically increased in June to 458! Yes, people are still looking to move from the large cities where this pandemic has had them reconsider their routine of day to day activities. They are finding out what we’ve known all along…. “Quality of life.”  And it comes from moving to those smaller, quaint towns with a feel of community.
In speaking with those in the RV and marine industries, sales have increased dramatically and as one representative from a local marine company said, “We just can’t find any new or used boats to meet the demand.”And most recently, Punta Gorda was named #2 in  USA Today’s Readers Choice Awards for “Best Small Town Food Scene.” 
All this and more is why we love living in Southwest Florida and why others are choosing to do so as well. As we soar through 2020, all the ups and downs, I think something we can all agree that truly matters is our faith, family, sense of community, and stopping to focus on all the good around us.
-Gary Cardillo

About The Gary Cardillo Group

Gary Cardillo, Realtor While most people would like to talk about themselves, Gary and Gail have always put their clients first, and their diverse backgrounds have provided their clients an unparalleled level of service and knowledge throughout the past years.
  » Read More...

Read Our Blog