Carla Bonten Realty Says SW Florida Real Estate Great Deal for European Buyers

The Southwest Florida real estate market remains attractive to European buyers with homes in all price ranges. Carla Bonten Realty specializes in helping international investors purchase their piece of the "Sunshine Riviera" with a staff that represents over 14 different languages.

Bonita Springs, FL, November 08, 2007 --(PR.com)-- While investment in the real estate market by U.S. home buyers has slowed down over the last eighteen months, Southwest Florida has become particularly attractive to buyers and investors from Europe. International real estate clients have become significant players in the area’s housing market – for good reason. Analyzing recent sales data, it was found that Europeans made up 58% of all home purchases by foreign buyers and 50% of European buyers came from the United Kingdom.

What makes the Florida market so appealing in this current market is that it provides real estate buyers the ability to have either a vacation or second home at a very affordable price. The lower prices seen today are comparable to those of 2001 and 2002.

With access to a mild climate, it is a most attractive area for retirement or vacationing while also providing the ability to generate rental income while owners are away. Southwest Florida boasts beautiful beaches, endless boating, world-class fishing, golf galore, parks, arts and entertainment, fine dining and shopping – the list of activities is as endless as your imagination. The area has blossomed into an upscale playground, where people retreat to relax in the sunshine.

Carla Bonten, owner of Carla Bonten Realty, Inc. was born, raised and educated in the Netherlands. Bonten has been in the real estate market since 1981 when she became a real estate investor in Europe and the United States and as an investor, she purchased both commercial and residential real estate. She has been in the real estate industry for the past twenty seven years buying and selling properties in the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Spain and the U.S. In 1998, she established Carla Bonten Realty to serve the diverse needs of American and European clients seeking to purchase, sell, rent and recently, even auction, their own piece of Southwest Florida’s “Sunshine Riviera.”

Bonten says, “In the many years I have been involved in real estate, I have never seen a better time to purchase than now. Prices have corrected and there is a lot of inventory available so it is possible to find anything you desire in all price ranges. Europeans can buy a lot of home for a fraction of the cost as the Euro gains strength.”

As the U.S. dollar continues on a weakening trend, international buyers interested in investment or vacation homes in Southwest Florida continue to benefit from low interest rates, high inventory, and low property prices. There are also new options in foreign exchange that make the conversion of funds faster and easier. With foreign currencies stronger against the dollar, Florida’s real estate market is quite affordable for Europeans.

Additionally, Florida is expected to remain the number one destination for at least the next ten years with demographic studies showing explosive growth continuing in Southwest Florida, according to the chief economist for the National Association of Realtors. Both Collier and Lee counties are expected to see a population increase that exceeds the overall growth throughout the rest of the state.

Travel to Southwest Florida is also more convenient with the recent opening of Southwest Florida International Airport, which offers twenty-four airlines providing nonstop service to 31 U.S. airports, as well as Germany (Düsseldorf and Frankfurt) and Canada (Toronto), while offering convenient connecting service to destinations worldwide.

When looking for property in Southwest Florida (Naples, Bonita Springs, Cape Coral, Ft. Myers, Ft. Myers Beach and Estero) finding the right realtor with the ability to represent their interests properly is of the utmost importance. If you are considering a real estate purchase in the area, you want expert help to guide your way, with someone that is familiar with both the European and U.S. markets.

Bonten says, “For first-time or veteran buyers, sellers or investors, Carla Bonten Realty, Inc. provides every client with highly qualified transaction representation, professionalism, and courtesy. Our staff includes many multilingual experts, bringing comfort and familiarity to their international clients with the ability to represent over 14 different languages and dialects including Dutch, German, Swedish, Polish, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Russian, French, Japanese, Flemish, Swiss, South African, and of course…English.”

For more information, contact Carla Bonten Realty, Inc. toll-free from anywhere in the U.S. by dialing 1-888-9BONTEN, from the U.K. toll-free at 0800-056-9544, from Germany toll-free at 0800-183-3609 or from the Netherlands toll-free at 0800-023-1181 or visit them online to www.carlabontenrealty.com

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Carla Bonten Realty
E Sue Huff
239-949-9122
www.carlabontenrealty.com
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