Greg Snow - Southwest Florida Real Estate Expert provides real estate services to Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Sanibel and Captiva Islands

While we wave so long to this first decade in our 21st century, and we shiver in southwest Florida for one last day this week, it has been one challenge to understand how our local real estate market was once the fastest appreciating in the U.S., then one of the leaders in foreclosures, to where we be on 12/28/10(my daughter Jordan is 17 today :). Southwest Florida is really a wonderful place to visit, live, work, play, and enjoy life. Great weather (usually), affordable pricing, plethora of recreational choices, no state income tax, and strong medical assistance make those cold days in the North alot better watched on the TV here. Come on down.

Beginning 1/1/11 :), 10,000 baby boomers will reach 65 every day (in 69 I was 21) and thoughts of retirement will dance mostly in their heads and hearts, not in their reality. With over 11 million home owners being upside down in their homes, and many boomers are among this 11 million people, getting here with any funds to live on will have to wait. The waiting will depend on unemployment decreasing, home values rising, economies abroad strengthing, inflation and deflation being held in check, and the circle of our lives returning to gentler times. Nearly 3 out of 4 boomers file for early retirment at 62, and their pension plans have mostly been staggered by stock market and real estate falls unforseen by my generation.

My family welcomes 2011 and the people of our area who make our paradise a guaranteed 7 or 11, unlike the pair of dice used by many in the first decade of this century. Happy NEW YEAR!