NEWS & ARCHIVES

Heads up coffee lovers across the United States: today, September 29, is officially National Coffee Day. That means it's time to raise a cup and toast the habit that is, for many of us, an essential, mandatory elixer to making every day a good day. Now, you may like it black. With cream. With sugar. With your favorite flavors. Blended. Iced. Foamed. Single shot. Triple shot. And on a few occasions, with a name you can't pronounce or a combo of ingredients that might turn a no

Southwest Florida is a treasure trove of vibrant neighborhoods and charming towns. Each community here has its own personality, vibe, and unique features that make it stand out. Whether you’re thinking about moving, visiting, or just curious, you’ll find something special in every corner. Let’s dive into what makes these places tick! Discovering Local Community Features That Make a Difference. What’s the secret sauce of these communities? It’s all about the lifestyle, the env

Milissa Sprecher Realtor® of McCallion & McCallion Realty is proud to announce today the launch of a new campaign to help Sanibel Island sea turtles — while thanking her clients with a positive island benefit. Called “Nest Sweet Nest,” all buyers and sellers transacting with Milissa Sprecher Realtor® or Jackson Sprecher Realtor® will be the proud “owners” of a year-long Sea Turtle nest sponsorship through Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF). “There are a lot of wa

Attention Sanibel, Captiva, Fort Myers and Southwest Florida homebuyers who want to make a Florida home their primary residence: close on your home before December 31 to potentially take full advantage of a proposed expansion of the state’s homestead property tax exemption. Florida voters will decide Amendment 3, titled “Increased Homestead Exemption; Lower Cap on Increases in Non-Homestead Property Assessments,” in the November 3 election. The proposed constitutional amendm

Cayo Costa State Park is a remote, undeveloped barrier island in Southwest Florida accessible only by boat, making it one of the quietest and least crowded park destinations in the state. Cayo Costa is just north of North Captiva, and just moments from Cabbage Key and Useppa Island. A total of 12 rustic cracker-style cabins are available for rent but be on notice: No electricity No air conditioning Bunk beds Community latrine and showers No roads All that aside, look at all

Marcus Jansen, among the world's most celebrated modern expressionists, today announces pre-release opportunities exclusively for Art Museums, galleries and art lovers everywhere. Learn more at Counterpoint Book. WHY EXCITING? Counterpoint marks the first Marcus Jansen collections book under 100% editorial and creative control of Mr. Jansen. He has personally curated these works for their impact and personal meaning. In addition, this is the first Marcus Jansen collections bo

Buying a home for the first time is an exciting and important milestone for many Americans, but achieving that milestone is getting more difficult as prices and interest rates continue to rise. Last year, first-time buyers made up just 21% of the market, compared to the historical average of 40%. ​ People willing and able to invest in a house this year must balance what they want and need with what they can afford. Often, people begin searching for their dream home without a

Construction on Sanibel's new police station will proceed after the Lee County Board of Commissioners approved an agreement with the city to use a federal grant to fund the project. The department's office flooded during Hurricane Ian, Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton. "Everything that was ground level got destroyed," said Chief William Dalton of the Sanibel Police Department. The Board of County Commissioners awarded the $15 million grant from the U.S. Department of H

Expedia just dropped its second annual Expedia Island Hot List for 2026, a ranking that reveals the next big island vacation destinations that have been gaining momentum in recent years. Expedia used its own flight search data to compile its list of the 10 fastest-rising islands, and only one island in the United States made the ranking. And that island is none other than Florida’s very own Sanibel Island. Ranked No. 8 on Expedia’s Island Hot List, Sanibel Island was consider

Skyrocketing home values, local spending increases, inflation, and rising costs of providing local government services have significantly driven up property tax bills across the country, and Florida is no exception. Over the past couple of years, Florida taxpayers have voiced concerns about the affordability of owning a home. During this same time, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) has pushed the idea of amending the state’s constitution and completely eliminating property taxes on homes

Attention residential home sellers: Florida is the nation's "hot spot" for relocations the first half of 2026. In fact, Florida far and away leads the nation in 30% of all inbound searches nationwide, according to studies by MoveBuddha. The relocation agencuy studied almost 98,000 searches made through its Moving Cost Calculator January-June of 2026— with three out of every 10 inquiries Florida-based, the highest rate of any state. In addition, that surge in Florida searches

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas — in July. According to Lee County officials, property values are up and gaining momentum all across our coastal communities. And that's good news for everyone who's selling, as well as a call to action for would-be buyers. As of July 1, the following positive trends have been reported: Sanibel's property values are increasing faster than expected due to now-rapid rebuilding of the island. Initial estimates projected a decrease,