Ruth the Realtor

10/29/2026

From an empty lot to a “Welcome Home” sign in four months. 🏡

These buyers came to me wanting a second home in Southwest Florida — a place to slow down, escape the cold, and actually use the amenities they were paying for. BeachWalk by Manasota Key gave them exactly that.

It started with the lot selection. We walked the available homesites, talked through orientation and views, and matched them to the plan that fit how they wanted to live. From there I stayed on the build — tracking progress, checking in on milestones, and making sure every decision along the way was one they’d be happy with years from now.

Four months later, the home is finished, the punch list is closed out, and the keys are in hand.

What sold them was the lifestyle: a tropical saltwater resort pool with lap lanes and a heated spa, five tennis courts, ten pickleball courts, six bocce courts, the Capri Club with a state-of-the-art fitness center, a lakeside boardwalk, and High Tide Bar & Grill right in the community. And it’s about two and a half miles from Manasota Key beaches.

Building new construction from out of state takes trust — and a lot of coordination. That’s the part I handle.

Four months, one lot, one beautiful new home. Congratulations to my buyers!

Thinking about a new build or a second home on the Gulf Coast? Let’s talk.

29111 Coral Harbour Dr, Englewood, FL

Ruth Hillestad
Palm Paradise Realty Group
SL3520789
239-710-0535

10/10/2026

This home is officially PENDING in just 9 days 🤩

Getting a home to “pending” takes more than a sign in the yard—it takes preparation, positioning, and a lot of behind-the-scenes work.

From the first walkthrough to the final signature, the focus stayed on one thing: connecting the right buyer with the right home.

Thinking about making a move of your own? Whether you’re buying or selling, the market rewards preparation.

📍4230 Glasgow Ct, North Fort Myers, FL 33903

Ruth Hillestad
Palm Paradise Realty Group
SL3520789 (FL)
239-710-0535

10/09/2026

NEW PRICE: $314,900!

10/03/2026

OPEN HOUSE 🏡 1 to 3 PM TODAY

Set on a third of an acre in the Lochmoor neighborhood, and no HOA. This one is anything but cookie cutter.

✨ 3 bedrooms plus a den, 3 baths

✨ Vaulted ceilings with architectural beams, plus a built-in bar in the great room

✨ Kitchen with granite counters, stainless steel appliances, and a gas stove

✨ Pass through window opens to the lanai bar, perfect for entertaining

✨ Lanai with room for a hot tub, plus a firepit overlooking open green space

✨ Large primary suite with walk-in closet and walk-in shower

✨ Split floor plan with private guest quarters

✨ Two newer AC units, newer roof, and newer water heater

✨ Flood policy transferable at closing

Close to the Del Prado and Pine Island corridors, US 41, and downtown Fort Myers. About 30 minutes to RSW and Fort Myers Beach.

Come see it today from 1 to 3 PM. I would love to show you around.

📍 4230 Glasgow Ct, North Fort Myers, FL 33903

Ruth Hillestad
Palm Paradise Realty Group
SL3520789
239-710-0535

10/01/2026

Set on a third of an acre, this home feels spacious inside and out and is anything but cookie cutter. No HOA—no fees, no restrictions, just the freedom to enjoy your home your way. From the moment you arrive, the front courtyard creates an inviting entry and a natural spot to greet guests.

Inside, the living room soars with vaulted ceilings and architectural beams that add character. The kitchen is built for both everyday living and entertaining, with granite countertops, plentiful cabinetry and counter space, stainless steel appliances, and a gas stove. Large windows overlook the lanai and pool area that open to pass food and drinks through to the counter bar just outside.

The flow continues outdoors, where the lanai offers plenty of space to add a hot tub. Sit by the firepit and take in views of the open green space beyond. Between the built-in bar in the great room, the pass-through kitchen window, and the generous outdoor living areas, this is an easy home to gather in or enjoy quietly.

This home offers three bedrooms plus a den and two and a half bathrooms. The split floor plan places two bedrooms and a full bathroom on one side, creating separate, private quarters that can be closed off with double pocket doors. The den works beautifully as an office, flex space, or even a fourth bedroom if desired.

The large primary bedroom includes a walk-in closet and an ensuite bathroom with a walk-in shower. A generously sized in-residence laundry room provides plenty of storage. Two fairly new AC units, a newer roof, and a newer water heater mean the big ticket items are already taken care of. The home's NFIP flood policy can be carried over to the buyer at closing—real peace of mind and meaningful savings on a major carrying cost.

Conveniently located in the Lochmoor neighborhood, this home is close to plenty of shopping and restaurants nearby with easy access to US 41 and downtown Fort Myers and just a thirty minute drive to RSW and Fort Myers Beach. Don't miss this one—book your showing today!

📍North Fort Myers, FL

Offered at $435,000

Contact me with questions or to schedule a private tour!

Ruth Hillestad
Palm Paradise Realty Group
FL SL3520789
239-710-0535

Photos by: True Perception Images

10/01/2026

Welcome to this nearly-new home built in 2023, offering 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, and 1,662 square feet of thoughtfully designed living space on a generous half-acre lot, located out of a Special Flood Hazard Area (Zone X).

Step inside to an inviting open floor plan with split bedrooms for added privacy. The great room welcomes you with a spacious living area that flows seamlessly into the dining room and kitchen, the perfect layout for everyday living and entertaining. The kitchen is a standout, featuring an island, stainless steel appliances, white quartz countertops, a spacious pantry, and plenty of countertop and cabinet space.

Durable laminate flooring runs throughout the home for a clean, cohesive look. The primary suite offers a large walk-in closet and an ensuite bathroom complete with a private water closet, double sinks, and a large walk-in shower. The second bathroom, serving the other two bedrooms, also features double sinks and a large walk-in shower. Built for peace of mind, this home includes impact-resistant windows and doors. Enjoy Florida living from the screened front porch or the lanai in the back—all on a half-acre lot—there’s plenty of room for a pool and so much more.

With its newer construction, spacious open layout, and half-acre setting, this home is ready for its next chapter.

📍Lehigh Acres, FL

Offered at $330,000

Contact me with questions or to schedule a private tour!

Ruth Hillestad
Palm Paradise Realty Group
FL SL3520789
239-710-0535

Photos by: True Perception Images

09/27/2026

Sneak peek! 👀 Coming Soon!

Staging isn’t just about making a home pretty — it’s about helping buyers see themselves living there. And this one was a labor of love. No AI was involved in the staging of this home! 😂

When I walked into my seller’s home, her book room was packed floor-to-ceiling with an incredible collection — she’s a serious reader, and I wanted to honor that. So instead of stripping it away, we gave it a new purpose:

📚 Book room → home office. We moved her desk (which was awkwardly sitting in the dining space) into the book room, moved one bookshelf with all of her favorites into her bedroom, and boxed the rest for the move. Next, we moved the large lounging chair from the “book room” to the living room, freeing up space for her new home office.

🛋️ Zoned the great room. We created separate living and dining areas — picked up a budget-friendly dining table and chairs on Facebook Marketplace to help buyers visualize family dinners in the space.

🪟 Polished the windows. Swapped the tacked-up curtains for proper rods and drapes — a small change that makes a huge difference in photos.

🖼️ Fresh, clean slate. We cleared the walls of family photos and countertops of clutter so buyers can picture their own family, their own gatherings, their own life in this home.

The result? A bright, open, move-in-ready home that’s ready for its close-up. Sometimes staging means reusing what you have — sometimes it means adding a few finishing touches. Either way, it’s the difference between a house and a home buyers can’t wait to call their own.

I don’t just send a photographer to your home and hope for the best. I take the time ahead of time to make sure your home looks its absolute best. In this competitive market, every detail matters.

Want to be first to see it? Call or text to get on the list for the exclusive first look.

Ruth Hillestad
Palm Paradise Realty Group
FL SL3250789
239-710-0535

09/27/2026

From soaking up the sunshine in total privacy to exploring the nearby Gulf beaches, you’ll make unforgettable memories at this Rotonda West vacation rental! Book a tee time for an early morning round, then cool off in the sparkling pool or head over to Manasota Key’s beaches. Ready to reset? Pour a glass on the patio and toast to the perfect day in paradise. Treat yourself to the ultimate Florida getaway! 🏝️

Stylish Home Near Beaches & Golf in Rotonda West!

09/16/2026

🤔 BUY OR RENT? The math every seller needs to see.

Take this home: 4 bed / 2 bath, 1,734 sq ft, No pool, built in 2007 on NW 21st Ave, listed at $359,000 and on the market for 157 days.

Now add the local numbers:

Median household income in Cape Coral: ~$78,100–$85,600/year (U.S. Census QuickFacts)

Median sale price: ~$350K–$380K depending on neighborhood — current median list price is $390K (Realtor.com, July 2026)

To buy this home: 3% down at today’s ~6.76% rate runs roughly $3,000/month — principal, interest, PMI, taxes, and insurance (before any maintenance). That’s 42–46% of the median household’s gross income.

Realtor.com’s own estimate for this property: $2,463/mo before PMI. To rent a similar home: about $1,897/month — just 27–29% of that same income, with ~$3,800 to get in vs. $20,000+ to buy. That’s a ~$1,100 monthly gap — and buyers do this math before they ever book a showing.

Here’s where this meets inventory: when list prices outrun what local wages can carry, homes don’t sell — they sit. This one has sat 157 days. Late last year the Cape Coral–Fort Myers metro had 4.6 months of supply vs. a 2.7-month national norm, with roughly 1 in 3 listings cutting price (HousingWire, Nov 2025). That pressure is still here: homes now take 94 days to sell, and 18% of listings carry price cuts (Realtor.com, July 2026).

The hard truth for sellers: the market isn’t rejecting your home — it’s rejecting your price. Overpriced homes don’t sell, they just age into stale listings and add to inventory. Then they sell for less than they would have on day one. Pricing right from the start is the strongest marketing strategy in this market.

What do you think — Buy or Rent? Vote below 👇

09/12/2026

Ever driven past one of these and wondered what’s going on?

This is what an incomplete spec build looks like in Southwest Florida—concrete block walls up, and that’s it. No roof. No stucco. No windows. Just a shell of a home that was started and never finished.

Why are we seeing more and more of these? It’s the aftermath of the building boom that went sideways:

🔹 Builders overbuilt during the 2021–22 migration surge. Spec homes went up at record pace across SW Florida.

🔹 Then the market shifted. Mortgage rates jumped, buyers vanished, and demand cooled fast. SW Florida became one of the most challenged homebuilding markets in the country.

🔹 Costs ate the profit. Materials, labor, and insurance premiums—which spiked hard after several hurricane seasons—made finishing these homes not worth it for many builders.

🔹 Builders walked away. Without a contract on the property, many stopped sinking money in. Some handed the keys to lenders or sold as-is. The result? Concrete skeletons sitting on prime lots. For the right buyer, that’s an opportunity.

Investors: A home that’s just blocks and a slab often comes in well below market. You bring the contractor and the vision; finish the build, close out permits, secure the Certificate of Occupancy and you’ve got a finished home at a fraction of replacement cost. Flip it, rent it, or hold it.

These are sold strictly as-is. Every buyer does their own due diligence on permits, measurements, and CO status—but that’s exactly what makes them a deal for someone who knows what they’re doing.

Ready to turn a block of concrete into a finished asset? I’ll show you the incomplete builds available in your price point and walk you through every step—from due diligence to closing.

Ruth Hillestad
Palm Paradise Realty Group
SL3520789
239-710-0535