Rink2Reef

This week’s blog discusses an important community project named Rink2Reef to build reefs throughout Southwest Florida! Florida Gulf Coast University has begun a program using donated hockey sticks to build reefs to restore oyster habitats. FGCU is taking donated hockey sticks, cutting them down, and stacking them in a “Lincoln Log” structure. The sticks are made of a carbon composite material, so they don’t break down easily in the water. “Why oysters?”, you may wonder. Well, approximately 400 oysters can grow on a single structure, and each oyster filters about 50 gallons of water per day. That means that just one of these recycled structures can facilitate cleaning 20,000 gallons of water per day!  This method of reef building is also being taught to local community volunteer groups to encourage similar projects.

If you would like to know more about land or homes in the local area be sure to make an appointment with Southwest Florida Dream Builders and save a spot for your dream home today!

Cheeseburger In Paradise

This week’s blog covers 21 lesser known activities that is good fun for both our locals and vacationers alike. Did you know that Venice Pier is Sarasota County’s only Gulf-front fishing pier? Did you know that you can sign up for a boat tour of Cabbage Key, where Jimmy Buffett is said to have written “Cheeseburger in Paradise”? Catch a Brave’s game, rent a paddle boat down the Myakka, or enjoy a walking trail and picnic! Our area is chock full of little-known nooks and crannies to enjoy. Take a look at the below article for more incredible ways to appreciate or hometown.

If you would like to be referred to as a “local” in our future blogs instead of a “vacationer”, be sure to make an appointment with Southwest Florida Dream Builders and save a spot for your dream home today!

Eco Tours and 24 Hour Beach Cam

This week’s blog is about some of the upgrades that Englewood has been preparing since our last busy season. The first article is about Englewood beach’s new 24-hour webcam. As part of a statewide grant, Englewood Beach Live Cam brings our sandy shores directly to the consumer while allowing visitors the opportunity to view and enjoy the beaches in advance of their vacation. The second article is about Englewood’s “Riding the Wave” eco boat tour. You’ll learn about our local ecosystem and natural environment from a certified Florida naturalist as you cruise along with a friend in your own private catamaran seeing manatees, dolphins and over 50 kinds of birds. The below article also has a video to watch with a tour guide interview!

Englewood has been preparing lots of fun improvements for our next season, and it is creating a lot of buzz! If you would like to know more about land or home building in Southwest Florida, be sure to make an appointment with Southwest Florida Dream Builders and save a spot for your dream home today!

Buyers Beware; Work Force Getting Bare

This week’s blog discusses shortages in the labor market, specifically construction. Current projections show an approximate shortage of 350,000 workers. What does this mean for those of us in the market for a new home? This means buyers need to be cautious about which building company they choose to hire. Some builders will hire “fly-by-night” subcontractors that were scraped together because of worker shortages in the current construction market. Southwest Florida Dream Builders has worked with the same subcontractors for an average of 10 years. We are a local, family owned business working with like-minded companies to build your quality custom home.

If you would like to know more about land or home building in Southwest Florida, be sure to make an appointment with Southwest Florida Dream Builders and save a spot for your dream home today!

Pre-hurricane Safety on Construction Sites

This week’s blog discusses the preparations that builders make during impending hurricanes. From strapping down block and wood to securing heavy equipment, there is a lot of work that goes into these measures! During a serious weather event like a hurricane, wood and block can be picked up by the wind and create dangerous projectiles that can threaten the surrounding neighborhood. Our company surveys potential hazards at each and every job site to maintain the safety of workers and the neighboring area.

If you would like to know more about land or home building in Southwest Florida, be sure to make an appointment with Southwest Florida Dream Builders and save a spot for your dream home today!

Cost From Coast To Coast

This week’s blog discusses misconceptions that some of our customers have when traveling to Florida from their state of origin. The article shows, with some great pictures and explanations, what a 2,500 sqft house costs around the country. From $6.1 M home in Wainscott, NY to $135,000 home in Cherryfield, ME, there is a huge variety in prices for houses of the same size! The square footage price on these homes ranges from $54 per square foot to $2480 per square foot! This differential can be attributed to state and county building codes, price of the location, and countless other variables.

If you would like to know more about land or home building in Southwest Florida, be sure to make an appointment with Southwest Florida Dream Builders and save a spot for your dream home today!

Nitty Gritty on Grove City

This week’s blog is about the history of one of our most charming neighborhoods, Grove City! Grove City was originally platted in 1893, when the town was made up of fisheries, cattle ranchers, and lumber mills. After a couple investment false starts, the area finally began to develop into what we know today in the 1950’s and 60’s. In fact, there are still some of those historic houses for sale, today! With incredible diversity in this community, there is an area for everybody.

If you would like to know more about land or homebuilding in Southwest Florida, be sure to make an appointment with Southwest Florida Dream Builders and save a spot for your dream home today!

Building Influx in Florida

This week’s blog covers an article about a recent Lending Tree survey, where Florida was rated as the No. 1 place that Americans are moving to. Out of all mortgage requests made during the study, 9.1% were for homes in Florida. Moving companies that worked with out-of-state home buyers reported that 12.4% of all of their requested destinations were for Florida.

Many of our out-of-state buyers may not know the variety of regions that Florida has. So, the article breaks down some of the largest regions and what they have to offer. With the Jacksonville area’s “affordability rapidly diminishing”, and Southwest Florida’s “stronger growth in the affordable, $200,000 to $400,000 range”, it is well worth buyers’ research.

If you would like to know more about land or homebuilding in Southwest Florida, be sure to make an appointment with Southwest Florida Dream Builders and save a spot for your dream home today!

Local Chamber of Commerce

Englewood is a uniquely situated town, split between Charlotte and Sarasota counties. The Englewood Chamber of Commerce is in place to bridge the divide and provide information/resources to local businesses, residents, and tourists. The Chamber of Commerce website is a great place to check out local events for anyone in the Englewood area. It provides events for fun things to do with kids, professional training for businesses, and everything in between.

Our local leadership has some great events and great people invested in making Englewood the best little beach town in Florida. Invest in our home in the best way that you can, by making Englewood YOUR town. Make an appointment today to build with Southwest Florida Dream Builders and make your dreams a reality.

Putting The Brakes On Climate Change.

Southwest Florida government leadership are working together to create the Southwest Florida Regional Resiliency Compact to combat the effects of climate change across county lines. Leaders of Lee, Collier, and Charlotte counties have decided to engage the Southwest Florida community in the problem and the decision-making process — while using scientific practices to analyze the region’s vulnerability to the effects of climate change. Leaders from Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade and Monroe counties created the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact to tackle climate-related issues ten years ago and have met success in their proactive lawmaking.

Our local leadership cares about preserving our region for you, your grand-children, and your great grand-children. Invest in our town in the best way that you can, by making Englewood YOUR town. Make an appointment today to build with Southwest Florida Dream Builders and make your dreams a reality.

Bigger Beach, Better Beach

The Englewood Florida Chamber of Commerce has just released the latest update on their upcoming beach renourishment project, saying that the dredge equipment will be staged on/around the beach immediately following the end of Turtle Season (October 31st).

Work on the beach will be after WaterFest Boat Races, which are scheduled for November 22nd – 24th, according to the update. We can expect sand to be pumped onto the beach from offshore sandbars into the construction zones.

According to the first article, “The sand will be the consistency of mud. These zones are expected to be 100-200 feet in length and stretch from the dunes to the water. Tractors will spread the accumulated sand within the construction zone. One a zone is completed (1-2 days), the zone will move down the beach another 100-200 feet,”.

The Wikipedia article below is an explanation of beach nourishment/renourishment. The advantages include widening the beach and reinforcing protection of beachside property. For those concerned about the local sea turtle nesting population, the Wikipedia states “…nourishment can provide more/better habitat for them, as well as for sea birds and beach flora. Florida addressed the concern that dredge pipes would suck turtles into the pumps by adding a special grill to the dredge pipes.”

The completion date is currently set for March 31, 2020. This is yet another reason to take the dive and move to our sunny beach town by building with Southwest Florida Dream Builders!

Build To Rent On The Rise

The market for single-family housing, built to market as a rental is growing very quickly across the nation. In one year, 2017 reported 37,000 homes built-to-rent with 2018 reporting 43,000 homes. 2019 is projected to be even higher, with nation-wide builders like Lennar stating that investors are pouring billions into build-to-rent properties. According to investment firms cited in the article, “while the huge millennial generation is aging into marriage and parenthood, not all of them want nor can they afford to buy a home.” This presents a huge opportunity to investors. So, if you are looking to invest with a healthy return, consider build-to-rent with Southwest Florida Dream Builders.

Rich History, Long Story

Below is an article outlining some of the rich history that Englewood has collected, since it’s inception in 1925. From the Great Depression causing the town to be unable to pay $50 charter tax, to a $1.25 million installation of a central water system, Englewood has seen it’s highs and lows. Did you know that we had only one traffic light until 1972? How about Merchant’s Crossing being built in 1989? For this, and may more historical landmarks, take a look! This is yet another reason for you to be excited to move to Englewood.

Beautiful Town, Beautiful Birds

For any wildlife enthusiasts that are interested in moving to Southwest Florida, below is a recent article concerning man-made nests for the local osprey population. Southwest Florida is known for their large birds-of-prey population. In the Englewood area, we are fortunate to observe osprey, bald eagles, red-shouldered hawks and many other species. This is just another exciting reason to take the plunge and move to this area year-round. For anyone who would like to see the multitude of birds gracing our town, a second link will have the Southwest Florida bird populations. In fact, Southwest Florida Dream Builders has a bald eagle that loves to fish right in the backyard of our model. Make an appointment today to come take a look!

New EOC and Hurricane Procedures

With the advent of hurricane season, Sarasota county has announced the building of a new Emergency Operations Center (EOC) for weather events. Along with the new EOC, Sarasota counts has revamped emergency procedures for residents of Englewood, North Port, Venice, and Sarasota. The county has tripled it’s staff for emergency situations, and added communication and utilities control operations from within the new EOC. Also, a new Medical Needs Program provides individuals, their spouses and children and a designated caregiver transportation to an evacuation center. County emergency personnel would like to remind us that keeping a battery-operated radio is integral to communicate information regarding operations during these types of events. Southwest Florida Dream Builders is a family-owned, local business that would like all of our Englewood area families to stay informed and safe this hurricane season. Next year, you’re on your own, though.

Licensed or Not, it matter A LOT

Sarasota county made headway on rooting out unlicensed contractors working in the area last week. The three-day operation resulted in 17 arrests and a total of 21 felony charges and 15 misdemeanor charges.

“These arrests serve as a strong reminder to always do your research before selecting someone to work on your home or business,” commented Sheriff Tom Knight. “Consumers are exposing themselves to financial and physical risk by allowing these people to enter their home unlicensed. Not only does this pose a threat to consumers, it also directly effects legitimate business owners doing the right thing and operating within the parameters of the law.”

Southwest Florida Dream Builders always hires licensed and insured sub-contractors that we have been partnered with for up to 13 years. As a customer shopping for their dream home, know that you will receive quality work from reliable professionals with our team.

Even More Reasons to Build in Florida

Looking for unique beaches visit all around Florida? Look no further! The 20 best beaches in Florida are all compiled here for your trip planning pleasure. Many of our Southwest Florida beaches made the list, with Siesta Key ranking prominently for it’s unique landscape. Boasting the finest quartz sand beaches in the world, a recent $20 million renovation, and a sprawling 40-acre state park, there is a lot to see. Visiting our local Manasota Key and Boca Grande beaches is a hit with vacationers and locals alike. If taking in the rich history and majestic landscape of Florida year-round is a dream of yours, consider building with Southwest Florida Dream Builders to join in the fun!

The Florida Focus

The CEO of one of the nation’s top homebuilding conglomerates sat down with “Mad Money’s” Jim Cramer, yesterday. TRI Pointe Group’s Douglas Bauer expressed a positive outlook for the rest of the year, and a 19% surge in profits in the first quarter of 2019. Now in its 10th year of business, the CEO said they’re focused on the southeast part of the country to continue to grow its market share. In particular, Florida and Texas will be focused on. So, what does this mean for us in Southwest Florida? There is no indication that the rising housing market will be slowing down, in the near future! The time to visit our model to discuss building your Dream Home is now!

Good Eats In Englewood

Sarasota Herald-Tribune wrote a charming piece on Englewood restaurants! This goes to show some of the attention that our pleasant town is getting around Southwest Florida. From waterside grills to European style bistros, Englewood’s variety has fans flocking from all around Florida. Come check out what makes this such a great area, and while you are enjoying the local flavors, make an appointment with Southwest Florida Dream Builders to discuss your Homebuilding opportunities!

Beach Tips

After last summer’s beach time being taken up by red tide, and this winter sharing the crowded beaches with our annual vacationers, it may be time for a few beach tip reminders. Many locals have been in Englewood for a long time, but the break in Gulf visits may have left some of us the confidence without the practice. Below is a link for some healthy habits to take up, either for our snowbird friends/neighbors, or for ourselves. Remember to stay hydrated and keep our beaches clean. This is Southwest Florida Dream Builders wishing you safe fun in the sun, for this year and the next.