Jessi James - Real Estate

10/11/2026

PROTECT & SERVE. PROTECT THEM, TOO.

This is a long one but I feel it matters!!!!

HeeHaw. Bonnie. Clyde. Jameson. Apollo. Knox. Bart. Rip. Boomer. Farock. Taz.

Before I get into this, I want to make something very clear.

I have family and close friends in law enforcement, and I 1000% support the blue. I have tremendous respect for the men and women who serve and protect our communities. But that doesn’t mean I can’t have serious questions about certain incidents, policies, and accountability.

And I’m not approaching this from an uneducated perspective.

I have over 30 years of hands-on experience with horses and livestock, and 15+ years of experience in working dog breeding, handling, and IGP training and competition at the national and world levels. I’ve worked with animals of different temperaments, drives, and training backgrounds. I understand animal behavior, the risks involved in handling powerful animals, and the responsibility that comes with their care.

I also know animals can be unpredictable and dangerous. I’m not naive about that, and I’m certainly not suggesting an officer should put their life at risk to protect an animal. But I know enough to question whether lethal force was necessary in certain situations, whether animal behavior was properly interpreted, and whether the standards for caring for working K9s are adequate.

Supporting law enforcement and demanding accountability are NOT mutually exclusive. I’ve been following several incidents involving law enforcement and animals lately, and the more I read, the more frustrated I get.

There are two issues here that deserve far more public attention:

1. Law enforcement officers shooting privately owned animals under circumstances where the necessity of lethal force is disputed.
2. Police K9s suffering abuse, neglect, and preventable deaths while in the care of the very people entrusted with protecting them.

And there are some heartbreaking examples of BOTH.

WHEN THE ANIMALS BELONG TO PRIVATE CITIZENS

HeeHaw — Georgia 🫏

A miniature donkey. Barely a year old. In his own pasture. A PETTING ZOO ANIMAL.

HeeHaw was shot and killed by a police officer who was searching for a missing child. The officer claimed the donkey charged him and that an attempt to deter him with a Taser was unsuccessful.

His owner disputes that HeeHaw posed a threat.

An outside investigation followed, and his owner, Hannah Israel, filed a federal lawsuit challenging the officer’s actions.

I’ve worked with horses and livestock for decades. I understand that even small animals can be dangerous. But I have an incredibly difficult time accepting that shooting a one-year-old MINIATURE donkey in his own pasture was the only available solution. Was the animal actually charging? Was he approaching out of curiosity and excitement? Did the officers understand donkey behavior? What other options were considered?

And why should a privately owned animal lose its life because officers entered its pasture the owner was not informed of? - another whole topic of discussion: 🫪🙄

I want answers.

Bonnie and Clyde — North Carolina

This one hits especially close to home.

Lydia Nikac is a professional K9 trainer who called law enforcement because someone was breaking into her vehicle. When a North Carolina state trooper arrived, he shot and killed both of her highly trained dogs, Bonnie and Clyde.

The officer’s account of the threat is disputed. The troopers’ association maintains the shooting was justified self-defense, while Nikac challenges that account. The fight over access to the recordings has continued into 2026. On October 7, the North Carolina Court of Appeals upheld restrictions on public distribution of the footage. Nikac subsequently released video despite those restrictions.

Think about that.

You call the police because you’re the victim of a crime, and you end up losing two of your dogs.

I cannot imagine being in her position.

I’ve spent years training, handling, and competing with dogs. I think about Shelby, Fury, Tesla, and Aston. Any one of them could have been in a situation where an unfamiliar officer misunderstood their behavior. I know the time, money, discipline, trust, and emotional investment that go into training these animals. They aren’t just dogs we own. They’re our partners.

Now, are some animal encounters the owner’s responsibility? ABSOLUTELY.

If you’re expecting visitors, including law enforcement, SECURE YOUR DOGS whenever reasonably possible. Even a well-trained dog can behave unpredictably, and an unfamiliar person may not know how to interpret its behavior.

But that responsibility doesn’t eliminate an officer’s obligation to assess a threat and use reasonable judgment.

Jameson — California

In June, LAPD officers responded to reports of screaming at an apartment. The sounds reportedly came from people celebrating a basketball victory.
During the encounter, an officer shot and killed Jameson, the family’s dog. Police said the dog charged an officer. The family disputes that lethal force was necessary.

The family subsequently filed a federal lawsuit, and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass called for a review of LAPD policies concerning encounters with dogs.

Good. Review the policies.

But what happens after the review? What actually changes?

Two family dogs — Arkansas
In July, an officer shot two dogs while responding at a residence in Arkansas.

The owner disputed the officer’s account, body-camera footage was released, and the officer was subsequently reported to have been charged with first-degree assault. A criminal charge is not a conviction, and the circumstances deserve careful examination.

These cases are not all identical. I recognize that officers sometimes encounter genuinely aggressive animals, including dogs capable of causing serious injuries.

But what training are officers receiving to recognize animal behavior? What alternatives are they expected to consider before firing their weapons?
And who independently reviews these shootings?

NOW LET’S TALK ABOUT THE K9S SERVING LAW ENFORCEMENT

This is where my frustration reaches an entirely different level.

These animals are trained to work for law enforcement agencies. They track suspects, locate missing people, detect explosives and narcotics, and put themselves in dangerous situations alongside their handlers. They don’t choose their handlers. They don’t choose their living conditions. And they can’t speak up when something is wrong. They depend entirely on the people responsible for their care.

Apollo and Knox — Missouri

Apollo was an active police K9 who died after suffering severe malnutrition and dehydration. He weighed approximately 67 pounds at his previous veterinary visit. At the time of his death, he weighed just 41.6 pounds. Nearly 40% of his body weight gone. Another dog, retired K9 Knox, was also found in seriously neglected condition.

Their former handler, Derrick Durall, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor animal abuse offenses after originally facing felony charges.

His sentence included 15 days in jail, probation, and restitution.

FIFTEEN DAYS. 🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯 THESE ARE OFFICERS IF THE LAW RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEATHS OF OTHERE OFFICERS OF THE LAW!!!!!

One dog dead. Another seriously neglected.

How in the hell does an active police K9 lose that much weight without anyone noticing? Who was checking on Apollo? Who was reviewing veterinary records? Who was responsible for inspecting the animals’ living conditions? Was the handler the ONLY person responsible for their welfare? If so, there’s a much bigger problem.

Bart — Tennessee

Bart was a two-and-a-half-year-old sheriff’s K9 who died of heatstroke and severe dehydration after reportedly being left in an outdoor kennel without accessible water for approximately 36 hours. Temperatures reached around 101 degrees.

His handler resigned, and criminal and administrative investigations followed.

Thirty-six hours. Without accessible water. In that heat. How does that happen to a working dog whose entire life is devoted to serving a law enforcement agency?

Rip and Boomer — New Jersey

Two sheriff’s K9s died after being left in a patrol vehicle for approximately seven hours.

Prosecutors alleged the vehicle wasn’t running, the windows were closed, and the emergency heat-alert system wasn’t operating.

Their handler was criminally charged.
Two working dogs. One vehicle. Seven hours.
There should be multiple layers of protection against something like this.

And when those protections fail, the investigation needs to look beyond one person’s actions and examine the department’s safeguards.

Farock — Texas

Police K9 Farock died following a reported heat-related incident associated with his handler’s home.
The officer was fired and charged with felony animal cruelty. Another working dog dead. Another department investigating.

Taz — Indiana

An Indiana K9 handler was charged with animal cruelty and official misconduct after a witness reportedly provided video of inappropriate treatment of his dog, Taz. Thankfully, Taz survived and was removed from the handler’s care.

But what training methods are acceptable? Who is supervising handlers? What happens when someone witnesses inappropriate treatment? And how many incidents go unreported?

THIS ISN’T JUST A HANDFUL OF HEADLINES

Here’s something I found particularly disturbing.

A study published in Police Practice and Research examined 407 reported police K9 line-of-duty deaths between 2000 and 2023.

Heatstroke was the second-leading cause of death, behind gunfire. More than ONE IN FIVE of the recorded deaths were attributed to heatstroke.

And approximately 70.6% of those heatstroke deaths involved dogs being left unattended or mechanical failures.

Read that again.

These weren’t all dogs dying while apprehending dangerous suspects or working hazardous scenes.
A substantial number of these deaths involved circumstances that raise questions about supervision, equipment, and preventable risks.

The study covers recorded line-of-duty deaths, not every police K9 death in America. But its findings should concern anyone involved in operating a K9 program.

We spend substantial amounts of money acquiring and training these animals. Why wouldn’t we invest equally serious attention into keeping them healthy and alive?

SO WHAT NEEDS TO CHANGE?

I have a LOT of questions.

What training do officers receive in canine and livestock behavior?

What are the standards for using lethal force against privately owned animals?

Are officers trained to distinguish fear, curiosity, territorial behavior, and actual aggression?

When an animal is shot, who reviews the circumstances? Is there an independent investigation? Are the findings made public?

What standards govern police K9 housing, veterinary care, nutrition, hydration, and environmental safety?

Are departments requiring routine veterinary examinations, weight monitoring, and kennel inspections?

Are vehicle heat-alert systems tested regularly? Are there backup procedures when equipment fails?

Who is responsible for checking on these dogs beyond their assigned handlers?

And when abuse, neglect, or misconduct is established, are the consequences actually sufficient?

I’d like to see standardized animal-encounter training, documented reviews of animal shootings, meaningful independent oversight, mandatory K9 welfare checks, and public reporting of serious incidents and findings.

I don’t expect every encounter with an animal to be predictable. I’ve worked with animals long enough to know better. But understanding animal behavior, using reasonable judgment, and providing basic humane care should not be unreasonable expectations of trained professionals.

I also know there are outstanding law enforcement K9 handlers who love their dogs, train responsibly, and provide exceptional care. Those professionals deserve recognition, and their experience should help shape better standards.

This is NOT about attacking law enforcement. It’s about accountability. If a private citizen starves an animal, leaves a dog in a dangerously hot vehicle, or unjustifiably kills someone else’s animal, we expect an investigation and appropriate consequences.

Wearing a badge shouldn’t eliminate that expectation. I want officers to be safe. I want K9 programs to succeed. I want departments to have the training and resources they need. And I want animals, whether privately owned or serving alongside law enforcement, to receive the care and consideration they deserve.

HeeHaw. Bonnie. Clyde. Jameson. Apollo. Knox. Bart. Rip. Boomer. Farock. Taz.

Some died. Some survived mistreatment. Some cases remain disputed, while others have resulted in criminal charges or guilty pleas.

They aren’t all the same story. Together, they raise questions that deserve serious public attention.
I don’t want to keep reading about another animal being shot, neglected, or dying under circumstances that leave us wondering what could have been done differently.

And I don’t want their names forgotten as soon as the next headline appears.

PROTECT & SERVE. PROTECT THEM, TOO.

⸻

ARTICLES, COURT RECORDS & SUPPORTING RESEARCH

Privately owned animals

* HeeHaw — Georgia: WSB-TV: Officer’s account | Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Federal lawsuit
* Bonnie and Clyde — North Carolina: WRAL: Video released October 8, 2026 | NC Court of Appeals decision, October 7, 2026
* Jameson — California: ABC News: LAPD investigation | Los Angeles Times: Family lawsuit
* Two family dogs — Arkansas: News report: Body-camera footage and criminal charge

Police K9 welfare and neglect

* Apollo and Knox — Missouri: Police1: Former officer sentenced
* Bart — Tennessee: The Guardian: Heatstroke death and criminal investigation
* Rip and Boomer — New Jersey: Philadelphia Inquirer: Criminal charges
* Farock — Texas: KWTX: Officer fired and charged
* Taz — Indiana: WRTV: Handler charged

Published research

* Police K-9 Line-of-Duty Deaths and Heatstroke, 2000–2023 — Police Practice and Research

These sources include disputed allegations, pending litigation, criminal charges, and adjudicated cases. Charges and allegations should not be interpreted as findings of guilt.

10/06/2026

I went to the Cape Coral Chamber debate last night and honestly, my biggest takeaway from the candidates was pretty simple:

They love Cape Coral.

All of them.

Some were more polished than others. Some were more prepared. I agreed with some more than others. But I didn’t walk away thinking any of the people on that stage don’t genuinely care about this city.

We may all have VERY different ideas about what Cape needs. That’s okay. We’re different people. That’s kind of the point.

But I want to discuss the Amendment 3 presentation.

One of the arguments against it was basically that some of Florida’s poorer counties/cities governments could be financially devastated or go bankrupt if we cut property taxes.

Okay…

But the people who LIVE THERE get to vote too.

So if those people vote ‘YES’ to lower property taxes, why the hell am I supposed to vote ‘NO’ to protect them from their own decision?

Really. Explain that to me.

Because I know small-town America.

There are communities all over this country that don’t have giant city governments, massive departments and every service we’ve decided is absolutely necessary. Some towns have a handful of employees. Some have one cop. One stop light. I’ve LIVED in those small towns.

And somehow life continues.

Maybe those voters WANT the services and vote ‘no’.

Cool.

Maybe they’d rather keep more of their money and accept fewer services and vote ‘YES’.

Also cool.

That’s their choice.

What I don’t buy is this idea that the rest of us need to protect poorer communities from themselves because apparently they can’t possibly understand what they’re voting for. 🙄🙄🙄

If Amendment 3 creates a legitimate funding disaster for certain counties, SHOW ME.

⭐️Show me the budget.
⭐️Show me what can’t be cut.
⭐️Show me what actually happens when the money isn’t there.
⭐️And show me the plan for the counties that truly can’t absorb it. We have been told there are no safety nets in these cases…why?

Those are fair questions.

But don’t tell me I need to vote against tax relief because somebody three counties away might vote for the exact damn thing and their government doesn’t like the answer. Stop assuming small town Americans are uneducated and unable to decide for themselves.

They deserve to have their vote count the way it’s intended…period.

10/05/2026

OOPS! How I Accidentally Became an Investor — Part 4

The Cape Coral house… and how I might actually lose money on this one. 😂

I bought my Cape Coral house in January 2025, fully furnished.

I knew about the UEP when I bought it. I did my homework. At the time, my section wasn’t expected to start until somewhere around 2035. I knew it would eventually be something I had to deal with, but being roughly 10 years out, it wasn’t a major concern.

Then about a month after I bought the house, City Council voted to move my section up.

Well… s**t. 😂

Fast forward and now the Cape Coral market is correcting and now we’re watching Amendment 3 and trying to figure out what THAT could mean for property owners on the near future and what the cumulative effects will be.

None of that was part of the plan when I bought this house.

And that’s exactly why I wanted this one to be the last property I shared in this series. The other investments I’ve talked about worked out pretty damn well for me. This one? I genuinely don’t know yet.

I could make money. I could break even. I could lose money.

That’s real estate.

And there are a LOT of Cape Coral property owners sitting in the same position right now trying to figure out what the hell makes sense. Sell? Stay? Rent it? Wait? What will the UEP actually cost? What happens with property values? What does Amendment 3 change?

I’m right there with you.

I’m a Realtor, but I’m also a homeowner looking at my own house, my own money and my own options trying to figure out what makes the most sense.

Sometimes you can do your homework, run the numbers and make a perfectly reasonable decision with the information you have — and then the circumstances change.

So for now, this is where Oops! How I Accidentally Became an Investor ends.

Unless I get myself into another investment property with a DSCR loan… which is entirely possible. 😂

But writing this series made me realize something: I have a LOT of real estate stories that aren’t mine.

I’ve been doing this since 2017. I’ve helped buyers, sellers and investors through deals that were easy, deals that absolutely were not, properties with problems, weird situations, great investments, questionable decisions, negotiations that went sideways and transactions where we had to figure things out as we went.

Those are probably the stories worth telling next.

The stuff that actually happened. What the problem was. What we did about it. How it turned out. And sometimes, what I’d do differently now.

Because after almost a decade in real estate, I’ve got stories. 😂

09/29/2026

OOPS: How I Accidentally Became an Investor — Part 3

I found my next property through an auction company, but the exposure was almost nonexistent. No MLS, no Facebook Marketplace, no real advertising campaign and not even an opportunity to preview the house before auction day. I had done enough research to know I was interested anyway.

Auction day came while I was sitting on Siesta Key Beach. I had recently taken a job that deployed me around the country assisting municipalities, so my dad went to the auction for me. We had already discussed the property and my numbers, and at $235,000 we were the highest bidder. At that price, I knew it was an absolute steal.

The seller decided not to sell.

Dad managed to get me her phone number, so I called her directly. Two weeks later, I flew back from Florida with financing lined up and comps in hand and toured the property privately. I offered $340,000 with $10,000 toward closing costs, no inspection contingency and no appraisal-gap guarantee. I also made the purchase contingent on selling my existing house. I was already preapproved without selling, but I wasn’t willing to put myself in a financial bind just to make a deal happen.

During negotiations, the seller’s sister—a retired real estate agent from Pennsylvania—questioned whether I could actually pull it off. Public records incorrectly showed that I’d purchased my existing house for $141K instead of $180K, so from her perspective the numbers didn’t make much sense. How was I going to sell that little house and have enough money to comfortably buy this one?

I told her, essentially, trust me. I know what I’m doing. She reluctantly did.

Now I had to sell Muse.

Muse was about 900 sqft, 3 bed/1 bath on a 1/2 acre. I hadn’t done some massive renovation since buying it—paint, a six-foot privacy fence while preserving the farm view, a rock garden, asphalt millings on the driveway, kitchen flooring and a few appliances. I cleaned it up, cut and edged the grass, took my own wide-angle photos with my iPhone and lightly edited them in Photoshop.

Then I skipped the MLS entirely and put it on Facebook Marketplace. I listed at $260,000 and was willing to cooperate with a buyer’s agent if one brought me a client. Within a week, I had a buyer. We negotiated to $250,000, exactly where I wanted to be, with no inspection and no appraisal needed.

In December 2023, I sold Muse and purchased the new property on the exact same day. I went from my tiny cute home to roughly 1,600-square-foot home with an oversized 2-car garage, detached shop and 2 unrestricted acres. It was a substantially better asset I believed had much more long-term potential.

Then the appraisal came back at $370,000.

My contract price was $340,000. Remember when I told the seller’s sister to trust me? 😉

That appraisal confirmed what my own research had already told me: I bought well.

But buying well didn’t solve another problem. My job required me to travel constantly, and I didn’t want this house sitting empty while the bills kept coming. So I decided to experiment with mid-term rentals.

I made the minimum stay 30+ days and rent the house as a fully furnished 2bed/1bath while keeping my master suite, basement and detached shop private.

Since December 2023, the house has been essentially 100% occupied by traveling professionals. After the mortgage, utilities, lawn care, snow removal and the other expenses I cover, I average roughly $700 a month in positive cash flow.

There’s another number from these two transactions that I’m particularly proud of: $34,800.

That’s the real estate commissions that wer never charged. I didn’t take a commission selling Muse, and I didn’t ask the seller of the property I purchased to pay me one either. Could I have structured things differently and made money as the agent? Absolutely. But I wasn’t trying to maximize what I could earn from the transactions. I was trying to maximize what I could accomplish with them.

Somewhere along the way, I realized that’s really the investor mindset I’ve developed almost by accident. Find opportunities other people overlook, know your numbers, understand the risk, don’t spend money just because that’s how something is normally done, and when all the moving pieces have to come together—execute.

But what I’m most proud of isn’t the appraisal, the cash flow or even the $34,800. It’s the trust. A young couple bought Muse, the seller sold me her property, and I was in the middle handling my own interests in both transactions. Everyone knew what they were agreeing to, everyone was treated professionally and respectfully, and all three parties walked away happy.

I may not be the highest-producing Realtor. I don’t drive the flashiest car or own the fanciest house. But put me in a complicated transaction with real money on the line, competing interests and a lot of moving pieces, and that’s where I’m good.

This deal proved something to me, even if only to myself: I know how to recognize an opportunity, manage risk and execute when it matters.

And then I bought in Cape Coral in 2025.

That may actually turn out to be the investment where I lose money. 😂 Because sometimes you can do your homework, make a good decision with the information you have, and circumstances change anyway.

But that lesson is still unfolding for the next chapter. It should be named “REAL ESTATE DRAMA” 🤣

OOPS: How I Accidentally Became an Investor — Part 4.

Nestled on two private acres, this single-level home offers a perfect blend of tranquility and convenience. Featuring a two-car attached garage, hardwood floors throughout, and ample natural light, the space feels open and welcoming. The third bedroom is thoughtfully set up as an office, complete wi...

09/28/2026

09/28/2026

🏁🏁🏁**This isn't just a home — it's a NASCAR pioneer's workshop.** 🏁🏁🏁

⭐️Mountain View Area of Hickory, NC⭐️

Ralph Earnhardt, Ned Jarrett, their sons, Fireball Roberts, Bobby Isaac. All names etched into stock car racing history. All of them stood in this very shop, wrenching alongside the former owner — a man who lived to be 98 and spent a lifetime building, racing, and breathing Hickory's racing culture. That's not a fun fact. That's the foundation this property was built on.

Welcome to 3.3 acres of privacy, character, and straight-up racing lore on a quiet dead-end road in Hickory's Mountain View area. Two parcels. One incredible story.

The main home is full brick — 2 bedrooms, 2 full baths — with custom solid wood kitchen cabinetry hand-crafted in the early 1980s. You don't build cabinets like this anymore. You just don't. A glass-door sunroom off the carport welcomes you home and floods the space with light.

**Then you walk into the shop.**

25'x35'. Working wood stove. Electricity. Water. Engine hoist. A 300-gallon air compressor. All of it conveys. But the real centerpiece? You're standing where NASCAR pioneers once stood. You can feel it. If these walls could talk, they'd tell stories from the early years of stock car racing — when men built cars by hand and raced them on Sunday.

The basement offers a walk-out area with storage and a working sump pump. The second home at 5273 Harris Farm Rd is included in the acreage — not used for occupancy, but it adds serious value to this two-parcel package.

**Modern updates? We brought those too.**

Brand-new 14 Series 2-ton heat pump installed 9/10/2026. New Honeywell WiFi thermostat. 10-year transferable warranty. Because even a piece of history deserves to be comfortable.

Acreage. Privacy. Craftsmanship. And a garage with a backstory that'll stop your friends mid-sentence.

This is your new home. Come write the next chapter.

Listed at $425k. Message me for further details.

09/26/2026

🏁🏁🏁**This isn't just a home — it's a NASCAR pioneer's workshop.** 🏁🏁🏁

Ralph Earnhardt, Ned Jarrett, their sons, Fireball Roberts, Bobby Isaac. All names etched into stock car racing history. All of them stood in this very shop, wrenching alongside the former owner — a man who lived to be 98 and spent a lifetime building, racing, and breathing Hickory's racing culture. That's not a fun fact. That's the foundation this property was built on.

Welcome to 3.3 acres of privacy, character, and straight-up racing lore on a quiet dead-end road in Hickory's Mountain View area. Two parcels. One incredible story.

The main home is full brick — 2 bedrooms, 2 full baths — with custom solid wood kitchen cabinetry hand-crafted in the early 1980s. You don't build cabinets like this anymore. You just don't. A glass-door sunroom off the carport welcomes you home and floods the space with light.

**Then you walk into the shop.**

25'x35'. Working wood stove. Electricity. Water. Engine hoist. A 300-gallon air compressor. All of it conveys. But the real centerpiece? You're standing where NASCAR pioneers once stood. You can feel it. If these walls could talk, they'd tell stories from the early years of stock car racing — when men built cars by hand and raced them on Sunday.

The basement offers a walk-out area with storage and a working sump pump. The second home at 5273 Harris Farm Rd is included in the acreage — not used for occupancy, but it adds serious value to this two-parcel package.

**Modern updates? We brought those too.**

Brand-new 14 Series 2-ton heat pump installed 9/10/2026. New Honeywell WiFi thermostat. 10-year transferable warranty. Because even a piece of history deserves to be comfortable.

Acreage. Privacy. Craftsmanship. And a garage with a backstory that'll stop your friends mid-sentence.

This is your new home. Come write the next chapter.

09/25/2026

FSBO FRIDAY 🏘️

The headline says 4 bed, 4 bath. Plot twist: it’s a duplex.

At 2221 NE 15th Ln, that means two 2-bedroom, 2-bath units, each with its own garage and screened patio. One side is rented. The other is vacant. Asking $435,000.

First, find out what the occupied unit actually rents for, read the lease, and check the expenses and utility setup.

The house-hack questions: Would you live in one side and have the tenant next door help offset the payment? Could you live next door to your tenant—or absolutely not?

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/2221-NE-15th-Ln-Cape-Coral-FL-33909/2093347598_zpid/?utm_campaign=iosappmessage&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=txtshare

Clarity. Strategy.Results.

For sale by owner. Listing details should be independently verified.

This 2388 square feet Multiple Occupancy home has 4 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms. It is located at 2221 NE 15th Ln, Cape Coral, FL.

09/23/2026

OOPPPSSSS…I Almost Became an Investor — Part 2

After my divorce—and selling what I thought would be my forever home—I moved back in with my parents while I figured out what I wanted to do with my life.

Then COVID happened.

Suddenly, I was stuck.

I was stuck because of the pandemic, but I was also stuck working for a real estate team whose owner wouldn’t allow me to work—even while other agents were making money hand over fist.

Then Muse Street came on the market.

It was a quaint, 900-square-foot, 3-bedroom, 1-bath single-family home sitting on half an acre. Nothing extravagant, but it had potential—and it gave me somewhere to begin again.

I purchased it for $180,000, despite public records inaccurately showing that I paid $141,000.

To this day, I don’t know why the recorded amount is wrong—but I’ll explain in the next segment why inaccuracies like that matter.

I moved in and made it mine:

• Painted throughout
• Installed a six-foot privacy fence
• Used chain-link fencing across the back so I wouldn’t obstruct the beautiful farm view
• Replaced the kitchen floor—which turned out to be hiding three layers of linoleum 🥴
• Installed a reverse-osmosis system

It wasn’t a calculated flip. It was simply my home during a season when I needed somewhere to land.

Then, in December 2023, I sold it for $250,000 and rolled the proceeds into my next property.

At the time, I didn’t necessarily think of myself as an investor.

But looking back?

Oops…I was already becoming one.

Next: Why inaccurate public-record data matters—and what that incorrect $141,000 sale price later made it look like I had done.