THIS IS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.

COMING UP, GETTING A SECOND OPINION FROM OVER 1000 MILES AWAY.

HOW TECHNOLOGY IS ALLOWING DOCTORS FROM THE LEADING CANCER INSTITUTE TO ASSIST CANCER PATIENTS IN FLORIDA.

IS THIS THE PERFECT TIME TO BUY A NEW HOME?

WE TALK TO LOCAL EXPERTS TO SEE IF THIS MIGHT BE THE PERFECT TIME TO CONSIDER PURCHASING A HOME IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

AND WRITING IN A BICYCLE BUILT FOR ONE.

HOW A LOCAL GROUP IS MAKING SURE EVERY CHILD ENJOYS DAILY PLAY BY PROVIDING A CUSTOM SET OF WHEELS.

I'M JENNIFER CRAWFORD, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

OVER 8 MILLION PEOPLE ARE ESTIMATED TO HAVE TAKEN PART IN MORE THAN 3300.

NO KINGS DAY PROTESTS OVER THE WEEKEND.

ALL 50 STATES AND EVEN PLACES IN EUROPE HELD RALLIES.

AND WHAT IS ONE OF THE LARGEST COORDINATED DEMONSTRATIONS IN RECENT HISTORY.

WCU WAS AT SEVERAL LOCATIONS ALL ACROSS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA AS PEOPLE VOICED THEIR CONCERNS WITH RECENT GOVERNMENT ACTIVITIES.

>> IM YOUN JOO PARK OF WGCU NEWS.

WE ARE BEGINNING OUR COVERAGE OF THE NO KINGS PROTEST AND RALLY MOVEMENT.

IMAN SAID ABOUT COMMUNITY PARK SUPPORTERS ARE DRIVING 5 WHILE HONKING IN SOLIDARITY.

WHEREAS OPPONENTS ARE PASSING BY AND HURLING INSULTS.

>> THIS MOVEMENT IS A WAY OF SAYING PEOPLE NEED TO BE HEARD.

WHAT WE SEE GOING ON IN THE COUNTRY.

WHAT'S AFFECTING ALL OF US?

OUR HEALTH CARE, OUR SECURITY, OUR CHILDREN.

BOY, SAYS NEED TO HAVE SOME INPUT IN THAT.

AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE PRETTY MUCH SHUT OUT ALONG THE ROAD OUTSIDE SANIBEL COMMUNITY, PARK, HUNDREDS OF PROTESTERS ARRIVED WITH HOMEMADE SIGNS.

>> THE WRITTEN WORDS TO GO ALONG WITH THEIR CHANCE AND MUSIC A PUBLIC PROTEST ON WHAT'S NOW CALLED SNOW CANYON STATE.

>> REALLY IMPORTANT.

>> TIME.

I THINK I'M JUST THOROUGHLY DELIGHTED WITH THE TURNOUT.

I THINK THEY'RE SO THAT JUST A REMARKABLE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE CONCERNED DIRECTION.

OUR GOVERNMENT CALLING IN THE PROTESTS STRETCHED ACROSS THE STATE.

>> THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE IN SARASOTA, THE NO KINGS 3 EVENT WAS BILLED AS A PROTEST RALLY.

ANDREW PEOPLE OF MANY DIFFERENT POLITICAL AFFILIATIONS WHO SETS THEY HAVE CONCERNS WITH HOW THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION IS HANDLING ISSUES.

THERE'S A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO COME OUT AND SHOW.

>> HOW MUCH WE NEED TO GET RID OF THIS.

KAREN, A AND SUPPORT EACH OTHER AND DOING IT.

>> AN UNOFFICIAL COUNT MADE BY THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF WOMEN AND THE SOUTHWEST FLORIDA COALITION FOR DEMOCRACY.

TAKES THE CROWD IN FORT MYERS.

65.

AND THEN SEE RAY WAS DRESSED AS A SUNFLOWER AND BLOWING BUBBLES BUT HAD A SERIOUS CONCERN.

>> PEOPLE AREN'T GOING TO THE DOCTOR BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD HEALTH CARE.

SO IT IT WAS A SUPREME.

>> ENGLEWOOD, HERE'S A LOOK AT WHAT THE NO KINGS PROTEST LOOKED LIKE FROM ABOVE PROTESTERS ALONG THE ROAD SHOULDER TO SHOULDER WITH SOME OF THEM SAYING THE GOVERNMENT HAS LOST THE IDEA OF CHECKS AND BALANCES BETWEEN THE BRANCHES KINGS THING.

THAT'S BASICALLY A STATEMENT AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT.

ONE.

>> WE HAVE A WE HAVE A >> UNDERSTOOD CONSTITUTIONAL REPUBLIC.

>> IN WHICH THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE CHECKS AND BALANCES, THERE ARE NO MORE CHECKS THERE.

NOR BALANCES FOR COMPLETE COVERAGE OF THE NO KEYS.

PROTESTS IN RALEIGH.

PLEASE GO TO WGCU DOT ORG IN SANIBEL ISLAND ON YOUN JOO PARK.

>> WGCU NEWS.

>> CANCER IS A LEADING HEALTH CONCERN IN FLORIDA WITH THE STATE HOLDING THE SECOND HIGHEST CANCER BURDEN IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.

THE FLORIDA CANCER DATA SYSTEM ESTIMATES THAT UP TO 145,000.

FLORIDIANS ARE DIAGNOSED WITH SOME FORM OF CANCER EVERY YEAR OVER 60% OF THOSE CASES DIAGNOSED IN PEOPLE AGE 65 AND OLDER.

AND AS WGCUS CARY BARBOR LEARNED SECOND OPINIONS CAN COME FROM ANYWHERE EVEN ALL THE WAY IN COLUMBUS, OHIO.

>> FLORIDA SAW AT LEAST 170,000 NEW CASES OF CANCER LAST YEAR, ACCORDING TO THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY.

THAT'S HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE BASED ON THE STATE'S POPULATION.

CAMERON RAFT MILLS, CEO OF THE JAMES CANCER INSTITUTE IN OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXPLAINS WHAT ACCOUNTS FOR FLORIDA'S HIGH RATES.

>> OUR CHANCES FOR HAVING CANCER INCREASE AS WE AGE.

AND FLORIDA HAS A DISPROPORTIONATELY OLDER POPULATION.

THE JAMES CANCER INSTITUTE OR THE JAMES MAY BE ABLE TO HELP.

>> DR ARREST MEL RECOMMENDS PATIENTS SHOULD ALWAYS GET A SECOND OPINION AND THANKS TO ADVANCES IN TECHNOLOGY THAT OPINION MAYBE FROM A DOCTOR IN COLUMBUS, OHIO.

FIRST OF ALL, PATIENTS SEEM TO KNOW THAT IT IS OK TO ASK FOR SECOND OPINIONS.

THIS IS YOUR LIFE THAT YOU'RE DEALING WITH AND YOU SHOULD HAVE THE FULL CONFIDENCE OF YOUR TEAM.

>> IT IS ALSO VERY MUCH OK TO EXPECT THAT THOSE DOCTORS.

>> ARE BOTH ON YOUR TEAM.

AND THAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS MORE THAN PEOPLE.

>> PROBABLY REALIZE.

I THINK THERE'S SORT OF A SENSE THAT THERE WILL BE SOME ANIMOSITY OR COMPETITION.

THERE USUALLY IS NOT.

AND THERE SHOULD BE.

>> PAUL PERRY OF NAPLES RECEIVED THE STYLE OF TREATMENT FOR HIS MULTIPLE MYELOMA.

THE GREAT THING IS I HAVE A LOCAL.

>> ON COLLEGES TO IS EXCELLENT.

HAVING ON COLLEGES TO OHIO STATE WHOSE EXCELLENT THE 2 OF THEM SHARE PATIENTS.

WE GO BACK AND FORTH BECAUSE OF THE MYELOMA.

3 YEARS AGO, I HAD A KIDNEY TRANSPLANT BECAUSE MY KIDNEY AND FAILED AND RIGHT THERE BECAUSE MY FLARED UP MY LOCAL DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY JUMPS IN AT THE MOMENT, ALL IMMEDIATELY UNDER CONTROL AGAIN, BUT IT WAS THE SHARING OF KNOWLEDGE AND THE JUST THE FLUIDITY WHERE IT GOES BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN MY PROVIDERS HERE AND THERE THAT WORKS OUT SO WELL.

>> DR ARREST MEL, WHO UNTIL RECENTLY WAS HEAD OF THE NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE, HOPES TO EXPAND THIS WAY OF WORKING.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO BE CHAMPIONS OF IS THAT A MODEL OF CARE?

THAT'S EXACTLY LIKE I DESCRIBE HAVING AN EXPERT, YOU KNOW, MYELOMA TEAM THIS, YOU KNOW, DEEP IN THE LATEST AND GREATEST OF MY LAW MUPPET ALSO HAVING GENERAL IS DON'T CALL JUST WHERE YOU LIVE.

WHO CAN BE THERE FOR THE DAY TODAY.

AND AND THAT THEY'RE NOT.

AND THAT ALL COMPETITION EACH OTHER.

YOU NEED THE REALLY FINAL 2, AN INDIVIDUAL.

>> PATIENTS SUCCESS, THE IDEAL SHE SAYS, IS TO GET PATIENTS THE RIGHT CARE AT THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME.

SHE SAYS THE MORTALITY FROM CANCER HAS DECREASED 30% IN THE LAST 30 YEARS.

THANKS IN LARGE PART TO ADVANCES LIKE THIS.

AND MEDICAL RESEARCH.

>> CRITICAL RESEARCH IS REALLY THE STANDARD OF CARE TODAY AND IN CANCER.

AND THAT'S NOT SAYING THAT, BOY, WE DON'T KNOW WE'RE DOING SO WE HAVE TO DO A TRIAL IS ACTUALLY SAYING THAT WE'RE AT A PLACE WHERE EVERYTHING HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE BETTER.

TODAY, WHETHER IT'S MOVING FROM TERRIBLE BUT TOXIC TO CARAMEL AND MORE TOLERABLE OR LEARNING HOW WE TAKE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT CURE AND MOVING INTO PREVENTION.

SHE SAYS THIS PROMISES TO HELP LOWER THE MORTALITY RATE EVEN MORE IN COMING YEARS.

>> THE FUTURE FOR EARLY DETECTION AND MANAGING CANCER PROACTIVELY IS REALLY BRIGHT AND VERY EXCITING.

>> FOR WGCU NEWS, I'M CARY BARBOR IN NAPLES.

>> FOR MORE HEALTH CENTRIC STORIES.

MAKE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR WEB SITE AT WGCU DOT ORG.

COMING UP AFTER YEARS OF UNCERTAINTY, THE LOCAL REAL ESTATE MARKET SEEMS TO HAVE STABILIZED SO IS RIGHT NOW.

THE PERFECT TIME TO CONSIDER SELLING YOUR HOME.

SO FAR, 2026 HAS BEEN A STABLE YEAR FOR SOUTHWEST FLORIDA'S RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE MARKET.

OVERALL INVENTORY HAS SLIGHTLY DECREASED AND HOME SALES ARE RISING.

EXPERTS SAY PRICES ARE COURSE CORRECTING COMPARED TO POST PANDEMIC INFLATED PRICES.

MORTGAGE RATES, HOWEVER, TICKING BACK UP TO A RECORD HIGH FOR 2026.

TO CLOSE OUT MARCH.

>> HOME SALES AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA ARE ON THE UP TICK COMPARED TO ONE YEAR AGO.

>> WE ARE NOW JOINED BY REAL ESTATE BROKER, AUTHOR AND PRESENTER OF MARKET TRENDS.

DANNY GRIMES FOR A LOOK AT THE STATE OF RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE.

DENIS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

YEAH, GOOD MORNING.

YOU PRESENTED SOME NUMBERS AT MARKET TRENDS OF THE LARGEST REAL ESTATE CONFERENCE IN THE COUNTRY OF ITS KIND RECENTLY HELD IN FORT MYERS.

INVENTORY HAS TIGHTENED UP A BIT.

AND FLORIDA IS HOUSING MARKET HAS SHOWN GROWTH EACH MONTH IN THE PAST 6 MONTHS.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE WHAT IS GOING ON IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA?

>> WELL, IT'S INTERESTING THAT MANY NEWS SOURCES LOOK FOR THE THE BRIGHT SPOT IN THE QUAGMIRE OF BASICALLY BAD NEWS.

AND SO THERE IS A REALLY BAD NEWS OR ILL SAY THERE IS JUST NEW.

SO I WOULD ADD SOME PERSPECTIVE TO IT.

YES, THE LAST 6 MONTHS BASICALLY HOME SALES MONTH OVER MONTH OR YEAR OVER YEAR FOR THE LAST 6 MONTHS HAVE BEEN GIRL GOING.

HOWEVER, OUR SALES WERE AT A 10 YEAR LOW.

SO WE'RE USING LOW NUMBERS.

SO WHAT THAT MIGHT MEAN IS WE'RE KIND OF ON THE RECOVERY.

BILL, LET ME EXPLAIN SOMETHING REALLY FIRST.

YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE STATE OF FLORIDA, HAVE THE NUMBERS BEHIND ME.

THE SALES ARE DOWN.

PRICES ARE DOWN IN THE STATE.

SO IT'S NOT LIKE SOUTHWEST FLORIDA'S ONLY ONCE OFFERING IN SPITE OF THE WALL STREET SAYING CAPE CORAL'S, THE WORST MARKET IN THE COUNTRY.

WE REALLY HAVE 2 STORIES, JENNIFER, IN EVERYTHING REVOLVES AROUND TIMING IN REAL ESTATE AND GIVE ME 30 SECONDS TO KIND OF EXPLAIN THIS.

YOU SEE DURING THE COVID YEARS IN THE SLIDE BEHIND ME, YOU CAN SEE THAT THIS IS THE PERCENT CHANGE IN OUR PRICES OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS.

AND WE HAVE THE EXPLOSION FROM 2020 21.

22, OUR PRICES WENT UP DRAMATICALLY.

AND YOU KNOW WHAT?

THAT PUT A LOT OF EQUITY IN CELLARS POCKETS.

AND THE GOOD NEWS IS FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ARE SELLING, IT'S STILL THERE.

ALTHOUGH CALL, THOUGH, SHRINKING SO IN SPITE OF THE SALES SLOWING SELLERS ARE STILL WINNING.

>> IF SOMEONE BOUGHT A HOME IN OUR AREA BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, YOU HAVE STATED THEY LIKELY HAVE SOMETHING I HAD NOT HEARD OF, BUT IT'S CALLED WINDFALL EQUITY.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT THAT TERM MEANS FOR HOME OWNERS AND HOW IT IMPACTS OUR MARKET TODAY.

>> I'M GLAD YOU ASKED THE QUESTION BECAUSE THIS IS AN IMPORTANT CONCEPT NATIONALLY AS WELL AS LOCALLY.

I MEAN, HOMES CAN BE AVERAGED OUT OF THE STANDARD UPWARD MOVEMENT OF AROUND 4%.

SO IN THE GRAPH BEHIND ME, I'VE GOT THE MEDIAN SALES PRICE OF LEE COUNTY.

COLLIER COUNTY IS VERY SIMILAR AND THAT RED LINE REPRESENTS THE 4%.

NOW, IF YOU LOOK BACK HERE BACK WHEN THAT WE HAD THE BUBBLE EQUITY WAS WAY ABOVE THE 4% LINE, WHICH MEANS AT THAT PARTICULAR TIME, SELLERS WOKE UP ONE PARTICULAR MOURNING WHEN THE MARKET WENT CRAZY AND THEY HAD SATCHELS AND SUITCASES FOR MONEY ON THEIR PORCH.

THEY HAD A WINDFALL OF EQUITY.

AND YOU KNOW WHAT?

THE SELLERS THAT SOLD DURING THAT TIME BENEFITED FROM IT.

AND THEN BASICALLY THE SAME THING HAPPENED HERE DURING THE COVID YEARS.

2021 22 OR WE'VE SEEN MEDIAN SALES PRICES GO FROM A BASE YEAR OF 2019 TO 2022 UP 70, 80 OR 90% AS YOU'RE WALKING OUT ON YOUR PORCH, JENNIFER AND HAVE IT ALL THAT MONEY LAYING THERE JUST BECAUSE YOU WOKE UP.

>> THAT'S A GREAT THING.

NOW, IF SOMEONE HAS HAD THEIR HOME ON THE MARKET FOR, LET'S SAY 60 DAYS CURRENTLY, WHAT WOULD BE YOUR ADVICE TO THEM IF THEY ARE TRYING TO SELL AND IT HAS BEEN SITTING.

>> WELL, OKAY.

SHOW.

>> THE ON ON THE OTHER SIDE, THOUGH, A MINUTE FOR EVERY YOUNG, THERE'S A YANG, RIGHT?

JUST BUT THERE'S WINDFALL EQUITY.

PRICES WILL THEN SETTLED DOWN AND GO BELOW THE 4%.

RON ONLINE, WHICH MAY CALL EQUITY IN OR SHOW.

SO IF THERE'S A SELLER ON THE MARKET NOW AND THEY PURCHASED PRIOR TO 2022 AND YOU'RE NOT SELLING, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO REPOSITION.

BUT THAT'S OKAY.

YOU STILL GOT A LOT OF MONEY LAYING ON YOUR PORCH, BUT THERE'S LESS EVERY DAY IF YOU PURCHASE.

AFTER 2022 EXCEPT FOR MAYBE A NAPLES, NAPLES.

LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

YOU MIGHT NOT BE MAKING MONEY.

SO IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO SELL.

BECAUSE IN TIME YOUR REAL ESTATE PURCHASE INVESTMENT WILL TRY TO BE A GOOD ONE.

>> AND ANY TIPS FOR BUYERS WHO MIGHT BE WAITING FOR PRICES THINKING THEY'RE THEY'RE GOING TO GO DOWN.

>> YES, WELL.

>> IT'S VERY THEY ARE GOING TO GO DOWN IN IN THE THE SALES ARE PICKING UP A LITTLE BIT.

PRICES ARE SETTLING DOWN.

I STILL THINK PRICES WILL CONTINUE TO SETTLE.

HOWEVER, THERE ARE GOOD BUYS IN THE MARKET RIGHT NOW.

I MEAN, GENERALLY SPEAKING THE BEST TIME FOR A BUYER TO BUY WHEN THERE'S SOME UNCERTAINTY IN THE MARKET.

AND IF WHAT, IF YOU DO THE NEWS?

SO THERE'S TONS OF UNCERTAINTY.

IF YOU IF YOU WAIT UNTIL THE MARKET CONTINUES TO HEAT UP AND I BELIEVE WE PROBABLY HIT BOTTOM WHERE EVERY DAY OR WEEK THAT GOES BY, IT BECOMES LESS ATTRACTIVE FOR ACQUIRED.

TAKE ADVANTAGE AND GET A BETTER BUYS.

SO STEPPING IN SOONER IS BETTER THAN WAITING FOR MOST BUYERS.

>> DANNY, THERE ARE NEW HIGH-RISE PROJECTS.

YOU HAVE RECENTLY ATTENDED SOME OF THESE GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONIES, I THINK FROM NAPLES TO FORT MYERS, WE WERE DISCUSSING THEM EARLIER.

HOW ARE THOSE PROJECTS GOING TO BE SUSTAINED?

WHAT WHAT WHAT IS MOTIVATING TO HAVE TOWERS AND HIGH RISES BUILT IN AREAS WHERE THAT KIND OF CONSTRUCTION FOR MULTI-FAMILY HOMES HAS NOT OCCURRED IN AT LEAST 2 DECADES.

>> WELL, YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT DOWNTOWN ONE IS GOING TO BE THAT NEW 20 SOME STORY BUILDING THAT THEY'RE GONNA BUILT.

WE HAVEN'T HAD A CRANE BUILDING A HIGH-RISE DOWN THERE FOR 20 PLUS YEARS.

AND I THINK THE TIMING IS PERFECT.

KNOW, AGAIN, THE CONDO MARKET IS THE SOFTEST PARKER.

WE HAVE THE HIGH-RISE MARKET IN LEE COUNTY IS THE SOFTEST OF THE CONDO MARKETS REALLY?

SO THE RETAIL SIDE, HOWEVER, WITH ONE BEING BUILT.

ONE DOWNTOWN IS AFFECTED BY THE TIME THEY GET ON A GUN UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

THE MARKET WILL BE ON THE UPSWING AND THEY WILL BE THE ONLY QUOTE, NEW PRODUCT ON THE MARKET.

I THINK YOUR TIME IS GOING TO BE GOOD.

NOW WHEN YOU GET DOWN TO COLLIER COUNTY, IT'S CRAZY.

I'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR 4 DECADES AND I WAS THE OPENING LAST NIGHT AND WHAT'S HAPPENING KIND OF AN EAST NAPLES, 8, NAPLES IS CHANGING THE 5TH AND 3RD WILL ALWAYS BE 5TH AND 3RD, BUT NAPLES IS GROWING EAST AND THERE'S SOME AMAZING THINGS HAPPENING WHERE THEY'RE TEARING DOWN THE EXISTING BUILDINGS THAT ARE PERFECTLY GOOD AND PUTTING UP MCMANSIONS, YOU KNOW, CONDOS THAT STARTED 3 MILLION TO GO TO 7 MILLION.

THAT ARE NO NOWHERE NEAR THE BEACH.

AND I'M THINKING, MAN, I WISH I WAS 25 OR 30 YEARS YOUNGER BECAUSE REAL ESTATE IS GOING TO GET REAL FUN HERE.

THE NEXT 10 OR 15 YEARS.

>> SO LOTS OF HIGH-DENSITY PROJECTS.

>> I GUESS IT BECAUSE THERE'S NO MORE LAND UNLESS YOU WANT TO GO FURTHER EAST TO THE GOLDEN GATE, ENTERS DEVELOPMENT OUT THAT WAY.

BUT STILL, PEOPLE WANT TO BE IN THAT BOAT DOWNTOWN 3RD 5003TH, ALTHOUGH THAT THAT IN SPOT IS GROWING.

>> DAN, IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU WANT TO SHARE ABOUT THE CURRENT STATE OF OUR RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE MARKET?

>> YEAH, THE ISSUE IS WE REALLY DON'T, JENNIFER, WE DON'T HAVE A DEMAND ISSUE.

I MEAN, PEOPLE WANT TO BE HERE.

WE HAD AN AFFORDABILITY ISSUE.

COSTS WENT UP.

PRICES WENT UP AND INSURANCE, ET CETERA.

AND SO PRICES ARE GOING TO SETTLE BACK DOWN INTO A FIND, FIND A NUMBER WHICH WILL BE MAJOR ABSORPTION IS.

BUT THE OTHER THING, PEOPLE STILL WANT TO BE HERE.

AND WHEN YOU YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THE STATES ARE FEEDER STATES AREN'T LOOKING REALLY THAT GREAT WITH SOME OF THE CHANGE IN THEIR POLITICAL ENVIRONMENTS TAX IN SITUATIONS.

PEOPLE STILL WANT TO BE IN FLORIDA.

WE OFFER WATERWORTH AND WAY OF LIFE AND PEOPLE ARE COMING IN.

OUR MARKET WILL HAVE ITS HIGHS AND LOWS BUT WILL HAVE AN UPWARD PATH.

>> OVER THE NEXT 10 OR 20 YEARS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

DANNY GRIMES.

>> AS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA, HOME SALES CONTINUE TO IMPROVE.

>> THERE IS ONE POTENTIAL WORRY THE ONGOING WAR IN THE MIDDLE EAST IN THIS PART OF OUR IN FOCUS BUSINESS COVERAGE.

WE ARE JOINED BY WGCU NEWS REPORTER MIKE WALCHER TO LEARN MORE.

THANKS FOR JOINING US ON SET MY CONCLAVE TO BE HERE.

>> YOU KNOW, PEOPLE IN THE INDUSTRY THAT I TALK WITH THE REALLY PINPOINT THE SALES PRICE IS COMING DOWN AS THE MAIN REASON THE THINGS ARE IMPROVING THEY ALSO SAY THAT SOME OF THE NEW HOME OWNERSHIP WAS THAT THE STATE PASSED 3 YEARS AGO HAVE NOT TAKEN EFFECT.

SO THE MARKET HAS FOUND SOME STABILITY.

SOME CLARITY BUT THEN WE COME TO FEBRUARY.

28, THE U.S.

AND ISRAEL STARTED BOMBING AROUND THAT COUNTRY COUNTERS WITH ATTACKS ON ISRAEL AND OTHER MIDEAST NATIONS.

THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ IS CLOSED, HOLDING 20% OF THE WORLD OIL DELIVERY GAS PRICES GO WAY UP, COST OF OTHER PRODUCTS DEPENDENT ON PETROLEUM COULD INCREASE SOON.

SO HOW DOES THAT AFFECT HOMES FOR SALE AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA?

WELL, THIS HAPPENS TO BE A BIG SELLING PERIOD AS SOME VISITORS ARE MAKING DECISIONS ON WHETHER TO BUY A SECOND HOME HERE OR EVEN MOVED TO THIS AREA FULL TIME.

WE TALK WITH JEANNE DRAFT.

SHE'S PRESIDENT OF THE BONITA SPRINGS ESTERO REALTORS ASSOCIATION.

>> THERE'S TENSION, OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE CONCERNS THAT THEY'RE DONE.

I DON'T HAVE ANY OF MY SELLERS CURRENTLY THAT ARE SO CONCERNED THAT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO SELL OR THAT THEY'RE WORRIED THAT THE HOUSE ISN'T.

IS IT GOING TO SELL BECAUSE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE AND THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENT, INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENT.

SO I THINK THAT WE'RE STILL MOVING WORST.

PEOPLE ARE STILL BUYING.

DO I LIKE THAT?

THERE'S A WAR GOING ON.

ABSOLUTELY NOT.

DO I THINK THAT IT'S GOING TO AFFECT REAL ESTATE IN SOME MARKETS?

YES, I DO.

IT.

I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO AFFECT REAL ESTATE SO MUCH IN OUR MARKET.

OUR MARKET IS IS A SPECIAL TYPE OF THE MARKET WHERE, YOU KNOW, WE GET A LOT OF SECOND-HOME BUYERS.

WE GET A LOT OF VACATION HOME BUYERS, INVESTORS, THINGS LIKE THAT.

THOSE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO WHAT THEY DO.

AND THEY'RE GOING TO LIVE THEIR LIFE NO MATTER WHAT'S HAPPENING OVER THERE.

>> AND MIKE, YOU SPOKE TO SELLERS.

WHAT ARE THEY SAYING CURRENTLY?

YEAH, WE'RE TRYING TO GET SOME PEOPLE TO GO ON CAMERA, BUT THEY WERE AFRAID.

THEY SAY THE WRONG THING OR MESS UP A DEAL, POSSIBLY.

THEY ARE CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC.

I TALK ABOUT 5.

SO I'M HERE AND SOME OF THOSE STATE, THEY SAY THAT THEY IF THEY WERE IF IF A BUYER REALLY WANTS TO BE HERE AND THEY HAVE THEIR FINANCING AND THEIR DREAMS ARE HERE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA, THEY'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH WITH THE SALE.

SO CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM, I GUESS IS THE BEST WAY TO PUT IT.

AND THAT'S GOOD NEWS.

PEOPLE WILL ALWAYS WANT TO COME HERE.

THEY WILL.

YES, THEY WILL.

THANK YOU, MIKE, SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> AS THE REAL ESTATE MARKET CONTINUES TO CHANGE, YOU CAN KEEP UP WITH ALL OF THE HAPPENINGS BY HEADING TO OUR WEB SITE AT WGCU DOT ORG.

AFTER THE BREAK, MAKING PLAYTIME ACCESSIBLE FOR EVERYONE.

LOCAL GROUPS ARE HELPING MORE KIDS ENJOY THE FLORIDA SUN, ONE BICYCLE AT A TIME WITH THE RETURN OF THE WARMER WEATHER COMES THE COUNTLESS WAYS TO ENJOY THE FLORIDA SUNSHINE.

BUT IF YOU'RE MORE OF A WOODSY PERSON, THERE IS ONE PEST.

YOU DEFINITELY WANT TO AVOID TICKS.

WGCUS TEDDY BYRNE LEARNED WAYS YOU CAN FULLY ENJOY A WALK IN THE WOODS THAT WORRYING ABOUT ANY BUGS HITCHING A RIDE.

>> NOW THAT THE WEATHER IS WARMING TICKS ARE ONCE AGAIN REEMERGING.

AND IF YOU LIKE TO SPEND TIME OUTDOORS, IT'S IMPORTANT TO KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR THE LITTLE CRITTERS SINCE TAKING CARRY LYME DISEASE.

>> SO THERE'S A NUMBER THINGS WITH 6 THAT ARE INTERESTING.

SO TICKS LIVE 2 TO 3 YEARS, RIGHT WITH MILDER WINTERS.

WE HAVE MORE OF THOSE TICKS MAKING IT ANOTHER YEAR, YOU KNOW, AND THEREFORE REPRODUCING, ET CETERA.

SO WE'RE SEEING THAT HIGHER TO 3RD.

>> DR CHRISTOPHER PUZZLE LEE IS AN EMERGENCY MEDICINE PHYSICIAN AT CLEVELAND CLINIC.

HE SAYS LYME DISEASE IS CARRIED BY DEER TICKS WHICH ARE COMMONLY FOUND IN WOODED AREAS OR PLACES WITH TALL GRASS SYMPTOMS OF A TICK BITE CAN VARY AND MAY INCLUDE A BULL'S EYE RASH, JOINT PAIN AND NERVE ISSUES.

DR BUSILY SAYS WHEN IT COMES TO PREVENTION, IT'S BEST TO KEEP YOUR SKIN COVERED.

WHEN OUTDOORS.

HE SUGGESTS WEARING LONG SLEEVES AND TALKING YOUR PANTS INTO YOUR SOCKS.

IN ADDITION, HE RECOMMENDS PERFORMING TICK CHECKS TWICE A DAY AND USING REPELLENT.

>> REPELLENTS ARE ARE VERY EFFECTIVE.

THIS SAME REPELLENTS NEWS FOR LIKE MOSQUITOES AND THAT DEET AT THE 20% CONCENTRATION SAFE FOR PREGNANT MOTHERS AND CHILDREN.

AND, YOU KNOW, APPLIED ISN'T EFFECTIVE REPELLENT IF WE DON'T LIKE THE DEET AND THERE ARE ALTERNATIVES.

>> DR BUSILY SAYS IF YOU DO FIND A TICK ON YOUR BODY, BE CAREFUL WITH REMOVAL ITS BEST USE TWEEZERS AND GET AS CLOSE TO THE SKIN AS POSSIBLE BEFORE PULLING IT OFF.

YOU DON'T WANT ANYTHING LEFT BEHIND.

YOU SHOULD THEN WASH THE AREA ANY CONCERNING SYMPTOMS SHOULD BE REPORTED TO YOUR PHYSICIAN.

FOR WGCU NEWS IM TEDDY BYRNE.

>> IT'S RECOMMENDED THAT SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN AND TEENAGERS GET AT LEAST 16 MINUTES OF MODERATE TO VIGOROUS ACTIVITY EVERY DAY FOR CHILDREN WITH MUSCLE DEGENERATION, ACTIVITIES LIKE RUNNING SWIMMING OR BIKING ARE EASIER SAID THAN DONE AS WGCUS CULTURE AND CONNECTIONS.

REPORTER ELISABETH ANDARGE LEARNED ONE LOCAL GROUP IS MAKING SURE THAT EVERY CHILD GETS THE CHANCE TO ENJOY A DAILY SESSION OF PLAY.

>> WE'RE STILL RODRIGUEZ IS AN 11 YEAR-OLD WHO LOVES SCIENCE AND IT'S VERY OBSERVANT.

SOMETIMES I COULD SEE MY COUSINS AND STUFF LIKE RIDING BIKES.

>> A REALLY FAST.

BUT I JUST CAN'T REALLY GO THAT FAST.

>> IF YOU LIKE THAT, ARE HE HAS DUCHENNE MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY, A GENETIC DISORDER THAT CAUSES PROGRESSIVE MUSCLE WEAKNESS.

RUNNING IS HARDER.

NOW.

>> JUMPING TO YOU'VE GOT TO BE SO MOST DAYS HE WATCHES >> UNTIL NOW, HIS MOTHER, DANIELLE, US RODRIGUEZ STANDS NEARBY AS MARCEL IS FITTED ONTO A BIKE.

>> JUST THE ABILITY TO JUST MOVE FREELY AND DO OTHER THINGS THAT KIDS CAN'T DO MY JOB AND RUN BASIC THINGS LIKE THAT.

HE'S NOT ABLE TO DO.

BUT RIDING A BIKE.

THAT'S SOMETHING NEW AND.

THAT'S THAT'S WHAT YOU CAN DO RIGHT NOW.

HE'S EXCITED.

>> PHYSICAL THERAPISTS MARTHA MAN CAN HAS WORKED WITH SOME OF THESE CHILDREN FOR YEARS.

SHE SAYS THESE BIKES CAN MAKE AN IMMEDIATE DIFFERENCE.

IT'S >> AN INCREDIBLE GIFT THAT THIS ORGANIZATION CAN RAISE THE FUNDS AND TAKE THAT BURDEN AWAY FROM THE FAMILIES.

SO THE FAMILIES CAN JUST SEE THEIR CHILDREN DO IT.

KIDS ARE SUPPOSED TO DO AND THAT'S RIGHT.

BIKES AND HAVE FUN.

>> A CUSTOM ADAPTIVE BIKE, LIKE MORE CELLS CAN COST AROUND.

3500 RARELY COVERED BY INSURANCE IN FORT MYERS TO NONPROFITS ARE WORKING TO CHANGE THAT.

THE DONATION FROM ROBBIE'S RIDERS AND GRANT THESE CHARITIES TOOK PLACE IN FRONT OF SANIBEL, CAPTIVA COMMUNITY BANK AND EACH ONE IS NOT ONLY FITTED FOR THE SPECIFIC CHILD.

EACH ONE IS FREE.

>> THEY SEE A INCREDIBLY EMPOWERED AND SO PROUD OF THEMSELVES BECAUSE THEY'VE SEEN SIBLINGS AND FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS RIDE BIKES AND THEY DON'T HAVE ONE.

AND SO NOW THEY CAN BE OUT THERE WITH THERE, THEIR LITTLE GROUP IN AND HAVE FUN ALONG WITH THEM.

SO THEY ARE SO EXCITED.

>> WE HAVE GOT KIDS LITERALLY.

IT SAID MOUTH.

THEY WILL GO BY THEMSELVES.

>> FOR JOHN JOHANNA MAN WHO HAS HELPED ORGANIZE THIS FOR YEARS.

THE FEELING NEVER GETS OLD.

>> THEY SAY.

YOU MEASURE YOUR LIFE.

BY THE NUMBER OF BREATH YOU TAKE.

YOU DON'T.

THE MEASURE YOUR LIFE.

BY THE NUMBER OF TIMES YOUR BREATH IS TAKEN AWAY.

>> FOR WGCU NEWS, I'M ELIZABETH ANDARGE >> ON THE NEXT PROGRAM PUTTING A DENT IN A MALE DOMINATED INDUSTRY.

WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE WOMEN THAT ARE IMPACTING THE WORLD OF CONSTRUCTION.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TO MAKE SURE YOU HAD TO WTC YOU DOT ORG, WHERE YOU WILL FIND ALL OF OUR STORIES HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.

LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU BACK HERE NEXT TIME RIGHT HERE ON SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

IN FOCUS.