Ellie and Bob Bunting's Blog Posts

What’s in a name?  According to Shakespeare, “That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.”  It wasn’t that easy for the early developers of

 We spent the morning taking the Eco Tour at Babcock Ranch.  Although I have been living in SW Florida for over 60 years, this was my first trip to the ranch.  We had a wonderful time

Before 1921, the only way to access the island was by boat.  This limited development but did not detract people from taking a boat and enjoying a few days on the beach.  When the

Each day as I travel off the island, I notice more and more beach landmarks being demolished to make way for the Margaritaville resort. So far, the old Surf Club (Mermaid), the Pierview Hotel, Beach

We just spent the weekend cruising around Pine Island Sound, doing a little shelling and fishing with friends.  Although I have been here many times over the years, I never get tired of

We just got back from Crystal River where we spent a couple of days scalloping in the warm gulf waters between Crystal River and Homosassa. This was only my third attempt at diving for scallops as

 The BoomThe mid 1920s brought a boom to Florida as more and more Americans were discovering the wonderful beaches and clear waters surrounding the state.  America was experiencing

 The mid 1920s brought a boom to Florida as more and more Americans were discovering the wonderful beaches and clear waters surrounding the state.  America was experiencing prosperity, and

Will this hot market continue? With home prices continuing to deliver double-digit increases, some are concerned we’re in a housing bubble like the one in 2006. However, a closer look at the

What Do Experts See on the Horizon for the Second Half of the Year?As we move into the latter half of the year, questions about what’s to come are top of mind for buyers and sellers. Near

Camping at the LocksRecently, my husband and I took our motor home to the WP Franklin campground.  Located in Olga, the campground has 29 RV sites and 8 boat sites with 50 amp electric and

Are We in a Housing Bubble? Experts Say No.The question of whether the real estate market is a bubble ready to pop seems to be dominating a lot of conversations – and everyone has an opinion.

Buying a Home Is Still AffordableThe last year has put emphasis on the importance of one’s home. As a result, some renters are making the jump into homeownership while some homeowners are re

Have Your Day in the Sun by Moving Up This Summer [INFOGRAPHIC]Some HighlightsLonger days and sunny weather mean summer is upon us, and what better conditions than right now to upgrade to

Homebuyers: Hang in There [INFOGRAPHIC]Some HighlightsToday’s sellers’ market provides unique challenges—and benefits—for buyers.Current low interest rates won

What’s in a name?  According to Shakespeare, “That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.”  It wasn’t that easy for the early developers of

One of the earliest homesteaders on the island was a man named Hugh McPhie.  He arrived in America from Scotland in the late 1880s and, in 1899, McPhie was granted the third patent on the

1921--Unnamed Storm On October 17, 1921, a low pressure system was observed in the western Caribbean.  By October 22, a Cat 1 hurricane with winds of 81 mph had formed. One day later,

On September 2, 1953,  Ted “Carl” Smiddy was hitchhiking near Atlanta, Georgia shortly after being released from jail in Tennessee for breaking and entering and larceny. 

This week, the Mermaid Club is closing for good.  This iconic beach bar has been a staple in the community since the 1950s.  The history of the bar, however, dates back a few decades

Will the Housing Market Maintain Its Momentum?Last week’s Existing Home Sales Report from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shows sales have dropped by 3.7%

Don’t Sell on Your Own Just Because It’s a Sellers’ MarketIn a sellers’ market, some homeowners might be tempted to try to sell their house on their own (known

The Rosen Brothers, who developed Cape Coral, were masters of marketing.  Billed as a “Waterfront Wonderland” Gulf American Corporation embarked on an advertising campaign that

3 Reasons We’re Definitely Not in a Housing BubbleHome values appreciated by about ten percent in 2020, and they’re forecast to appreciate by about five percent this year. This has some

Will Low Mortgage Rates Continue through 2021?With mortgage interest rates hitting record lows so many times recently, some are wondering if we’ll see low rates continue throughout

Leonard Rosen was not a developer when he took the famous plane ride over Cape Coral.   Born and raised in Baltimore, Rosen and his brother, Jack operated an appliance store and an

Harney Point MassacreBetween 1816 and 1858 the United States Army faced off with the Seminole Indians in one of the longest and costliest Indian War ever fought in the United States.  Known as

5 Steps to Follow When Applying for ForbearanceIf you’re currently feeling the stress of affording your mortgage payment, or if you know someone who is, there’s still time to get help.

Recently, I spent the weekend in a cabin at Silver Springs State Park in Ocala.  After enjoying the famous glass bottom boat tours, we took a walk around the grounds where I came upon this

C. Case The early part of the 20th century brought more development as subdivisions were platted on Fort Myers Beach.  H.C. Case platted the first of these subdivisions in 1911. 

Long before Disney World, Silver Springs was one of the state’s most popular tourist attractions. In its heyday, the crystal clear waters of Silver Springs attracted more than one million

Every year, on February 14, couples around the world honor their sweethearts with candy and flowers.  Today's Valentine's Day customs go back hundreds of years.  Here are a few fascinating

A Trip Down the Trail Everglades City was designated as a Florida State Trail Town in 2019 by the DEP Office of Gateways and Trails.  Located 26 miles east of Naples and 60 miles west of Miami,

Buying a Home Early Can Significantly Increase Future WealthAccording to an Urban Institute study, homeowners who purchase a house before age 35 are better prepared for retirement at age.

 If you are cruising around the Ten Thousand Islands south of Marco Island, you might see six dome houses rising out of the water approximately 300 feet offshore from Cape Romano Island.

Last weekend, Bob and I set up camp at Myakka River State Park.  Just outside of Sarasota, this is one of the largest and oldest state parks in Florida.  The Myakka River is Florida&rsquo

 Thursday, October 10 through Saturday, October 12, the offshore powerboat races will be returning to Fort Myers Beach after a 13 year hiatus with “The Road Offshore.”  The

The 11-acre island known as Indian Key was the scene of two of the bloodiest massacres in Florida History. Visiting the island today (from Indian Key Fill) all you will find is a dock, a trail, a

CoreLogic’s Home Price Index (HPI) Report revealed,“National home prices increased 3.6% year over year in July 2019 and are forecast to increase 5.4% from July 2019 to July 2020.&rdquo

The Benefits of Growing Equity in Your HomeOver the last couple of years, we’ve heard quite a bit about rising home prices. Today, expert projections still forecast continued growth, just at a

Today is September 10, the anniversary of two hurricanes that affected Fort Myers Beach 47 years apart.  Heralded by some meteorologists as the “peak of hurricane season,” September

The next time you are heading south on US 1 in the Florida Keys, when you get to mile market 78,  look to your left, and you will see a small island sitting about three-quarters of a mile off

Like most people in Florida, I have spent the last week glued to the Weather Channel watching Hurricane Dorian.   Luckily, the West Coast was taken out of the cone over the weekend, but

One of the first restaurants on Fort Myers Beach was called Nettie’s. Located on the beach at the end of what is now Palermo Drive, Nettie’s was a popular place for sunbathers,,

We’ve experienced economic growth for almost a decade, which is the longest recovery in the nation’s history. Experts know a recession can’t be too far off, but when will this

Part II: Surviving the StormFor me, a third grader at Beach Elementary, September 10, 1960,  started off like any normal day.  The sun was out, the sky was blue, and the gulf breezes were

Part I:  The StormAs a kid growing up on Fort Myers Beach, I can recall many times packing our belongings and heading into Fort Myers because of a potential hurricane.  Luckily, most of

By September 1928, the real estate boom in Florida was beginning to fade.  The Great Miami Hurricane of 1926 had frightened many new residents when they realized how vulnerable their homes were

In the late summer of 1935, the citizens of the Florida Keys were in the depths of the Great Depression.   Key West, once a prosperous port city, had declared bankruptcy.  Residents

In October 1944, the world was at war and most people in SW Florida were more worried about German submarines than hurricanes.  After all, there had not been a major storm 1926;  they had

In honor of hurricane season, I thought I would research and write about some of the most destructive hurricanes to hit our area over the past centuries beginning with the Hurricane of 1921.On

Many studies suggest one of the main reasons for the inventory shortage in today’s market of homes for sale is that older generations have chosen to “age in place” over

According to CoreLogic, from 2006 to 2014 “there were 7.3 million housing foreclosures and 1.9 million short sales.” The hesitation some Americans feel after experiencing a

New Study Reveals One Surprising Reason for the Inventory ShortageThere has been a great amount written on millennials and their impact on the housing market. However, the headlines often contradict

The old swing bridge that served the island for over 50 years was built in Germany in 1927.  The bridge was brought to the United States in 1928 originally for use in Jacksonville. ,

Are Low Interest Rates Here to Stay?Interest rates for a 30-year fixed rate mortgage have been on the decline since November, now reaching lows last seen in January 2018. According to Freddie

When I was a kid, I remember coloring eggs for Easter, and as a mom, this was always an Easter tradition in our house as well. The history of coloring eggs in the spring started well before

At the end of the 19th century, Estero Island was nothing more than a fishing camp.   However, in 1894, a sawmill was built at the south end of the island and run by the Koreshan Unity.

In the 1920s, Florida became well known as a vacation destination, and Crescent Beach (as the island was known at the time) started to develop.  Tom Philn the 1920s, Florida became well

The first free public library on Fort Myers Beach was located in this small cottage owned by Clem and Lucy McGee.  The library was manned a few hours each day by volunteers and remained in this

Homebuyers Shouldn’t Worry About 2008 All Over AgainLast week, realtor.com released a survey of active home shoppers (those who plan to purchase their next home in 1 year

In 1912 the first hotel on Estero Island was built at the end of Pompano Street. At this time, the island was only accessible by boat. The guests would arrive by schooner and would dock at a pier on

On Thursday, April 4, the Friends of Lovers Key will sponsor the last sunset beach barbeque and acoustic concert.  The show will start at 5:45 and will include live music, a beach BBQ and a

I came across this picture recently and thought it might make an interesting subject for a post.  When I was young, this building was home to the “Cotton Shop” where you could

Do 46 Million Millennials Know They Are Mortgage Ready?Many have written about the millennial generation and whether or not they, as a whole, believe in homeownership as part of attaining the

What Credit Score Do You Need To Buy A House?There are many misconceptions about the credit score needed to buy a house. Recently, it was reported that 24% of renters believe they need a

Why an Economic Slowdown Will NOT Crush Real Estate this TimeLast week, the National Association for Business Economics released their February 2019 Economic Policy Survey. The survey

No Worries… Home Prices Coming in for a SOFT LandingHome prices have appreciated considerably over the last five years. This has some concerned that we may be in for another dramatic

 7 Things To Avoid After Applying for a Mortgage!Congratulations! You’ve found a home to buy and have applied for a mortgage! You are undoubtedly excited about the opportunity to decorate

During the “pink gold rush” of the 1950s, over 200 shrimp boats called San Carlos and Estero Islands their home port.  Hurricane Donna swept across the islands in 1960 destroying

Since this is Shrimp Festival Week, I am going to continue on the subject of shrimping for the next couple of posts.  I remember when I was a kid, my father would go to San Carlos Marina every

In 1949, “pink gold” was discovered in the Dry Tortugas off Key West.  This particular species of shrimp, known by its scientific name of Penaesus Duoranum,  is considered by