Golf Course Living in Naples Florida

Posted on May 19, 2012 by Alysia

Open House Sunday, May 20 from 1-4 p.m. 

Nestled within Naples Lakes Country Club, a premier, gated bundled golf community in Naples Florida, just minutes from the area’s desirable white sand beaches, is this fabulous two bedroom plus den coach home treating you to wraparound views of the lush landscape, the serene lake, and the 18-hole Arnold Palmer signature golf course.

Boasting over 2,000 square feet of luxurious living, this Naples condo lives like a model with upgrades galore, including beautiful window treatments, plantation shutters, exquisite lighting fixtures, electric hurricane shutters, and a security system.

The master suite with its huge wardrobe, choice of soaking tub or walk-in shower, and outstanding floor-to-ceiling views is a highlight as are the den which is tucked away behind double doors and the spacious and inviting guest quarters. The finishing touches are a well-appointed kitchen open to the living area making entertaining enjoyable, a generous-sized laundry, and a two-car garage.

Asking price: $349,000
Bedrooms/Baths: 2+den/2
Year Built: 2001
Living Area: 2,030
Exposure: Southwest

Naples Lakes Country Club, located off Collier Boulevard, is a bundled golf community with 731 residences constructed by Toll Brothers. The 18-hole Arnold Palmer Signature Golf Course is the principal feature of this 490-acre gated community, which contains more than 200 acres of protected nature preserves and lakes. There is a convenient shopping center just outside the community, and a short drive will take you to downtown Naples, Naples beaches, and to Interstate 75.

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Live on the Beach in Naples Florida

Posted on May 16, 2012 by Alysia

Naples beach … it’s really what draws people to our posh town along the Gulf of Mexico.

Over the years here, I’ve heard Naples beaches referred to as “sugar white” with a softness not often found along other beaches in Florida or even around the globe. Coming from the Northeast and the dark sand beaches along the Atlantic Ocean, I agree, Naples’ beaches are amazingly soft and beautifully white.

Many folks from out of town come here searching for that ultimate beach getaway and Southwest Florida fulfills with its array of Naples highrises that line its shores.

Are you in the market for a Naples beachfront retreat? There’s quite a selection available in the $1 million and up category. Check out these homes where you can simply step outside onto the soft, white sand.

 

Posted in Beach, High-Rise Condo Living in Naples and Southwest Florida, Naples Beach, Naples Condos, Uncategorized, Waterfront Living | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Best Time to Sell in Naples May Be Now

Posted on May 10, 2012 by Alysia

If the idea of selling has crossed your mind, let’s seriously consider it for a moment.

Even though the summer quickly approaches, there continues to be strong buyer activity in the Naples Florida real estate market. Unfortunately for those Naples home buyers, selection is limited. The number of Naples homes for sale is at a 5-year low and, as a result, buyers are having problems finding a selection of homes that meet their criteria. And, when they do find that perfect home, it may be in a multiple offer situation.

Yes, Naples real estate is rebounding. No matter how minor that rebound may be, the fact is, it is rebounding, which is encouraging. As we saw last month, economists are predicting Naples home values may increase by 10% by year end. Plus, while interest rates remain at record lows, there’s still talk that we may begin to see some small upticks. Both of these factors put serious buyers in a precarious situation.

In effect, low-ball offers don’t work anymore. You can’t blame a buyer for trying to get a good deal, but in this market low-ball offers aren’t even being countered by the seller and in most cases a more realistic buyer is getting the home.

Today, offers close to the asking price will usually come in from a more realistic buyer if the home is priced correctly in the first place. What we are seeing now is more competition for Naples homes that are priced right and are ready to move into.

If you’ve been thinking about selling, call me to discuss your home’s potential in today’s market to attract serious buyers who truly want to buy.

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What is Your Perception of the Naples Real Estate Market?

Posted on May 4, 2012 by Alysia

Do you recall that just a few weeks ago the news media had us in an all-out panic about rising gas prices?

Yes, gas prices at the pumps were increasing at a rather rapid rate and the media was blasting headlines that summer could bring $5 per gallon at the pump.

I’m not saying that isn’t a possibility, but look at what’s happening now at the pump. Gas prices are decreasing and yet the news media is quiet. I did hear one teaser from a news outlet touting how much money we could potentially pocket this summer now that gas prices are doing down. I laughed, considering just a few weeks ago the news was all about how much money we would be losing, how our summer vacation plans would suffer, and how life as we know it would be over.

Melodramatic? Maybe. But I believe the news media lives and breathes by drama.

How easily do you get sucked into the media hype?

At the recently held Naples Economic Summit, John Tucillo, a chief economist with Florida Realtors, emphasized that while the Naples real estate market is experiencing a “mini-recovery” the perception by many is that Florida real estate is a disaster and the entire state is overloaded with foreclosures and short sales.

Newspaper, magazine, radio and TV headlines have a lot to do with that widely-held perception. The trick is in changing that perception.

The only way to do that is by talking to someone, perferably a knowledgeable Naples Realtor, who knows the local Naples real estate market.

It’s the same thing as reading the headlines about rising gas prices only to go to the pump and see prices decreasing. It’s always better to get the information first-hand.

I don’t necessarily dismiss what the national headlines have to say, but I always stop to consider whether or not they are in sync with what I’m seeing every day on location.

Not sure what’s really happening in your neighborhood? Call me and I’ll do the research and fill you in.

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Economists Reveal Interesting Nuggets About Naples Real Estate

Posted on April 28, 2012 by Alysia

I recently attended the 2012 Economic Summit, a first-time event sponsored by the Naples Area Board of Realtors (NABOR). The panel of speakers included:

  • Lawrence Yun, chief economist and senior vice president of research for the National Association of Realtors
  • John Tucillo, a chief economist with Florida Realtors
  • Shelton Weeks, a real estate professor and director of the Lucas Institute for Real Estate Development & Finance at Florida Gulf Coast University
  • Doug Duncan, vice president and chief economist for Fannie Mae
  • Cindy Carroll, vice president and manager of the residential division at Carroll & Carroll Real Estate Appraisers and Consultants in Naples

The biggest nugget of news that came out of the Summit was the prediction by these economists that Naples home prices will appreciate by 10 percent by the end of 2012.

But here are some other interesting nuggets from the meeting:

  • We are at a 5-year high for monthly existing home sales outside of the tax credit period.
  • Sales are not as huge as they could be because people cannot get loans due to strict regulations.
  • There’s been an overall stable trend in home prices since the drastic fall in 2008 and 2009.
  • The United States is growing by 3 million people per year and we need housing to accommodate that growth. Small builders who would like to build and represent 80% of the construction market cannot get loans.
  • Housing starts in the U.S. are at their lowest since World War II.
  • Shadow inventory has been trending down. The so-called “tidal wave” is not developing, it is diminishing.
  • The financial industry has come “roaring” back; corporate profits are soaring. Most banks have plenty of cash to survive a period of distress, but they are not lending. They are uncertain about the legal environment as well as the lending regulation environment.
  • If banks returned to “normal” underwriting standards, home sales would likely increase 15% to 20%.
  • All cash deals are at a record high. Investors are concerned about inflation and as a result are buying real estate.
  • Every form of household wealth except home equity has been restored to pre-2007 levels.
  • The Florida population has begun to grow again.
  • Florida is the third fastest growing state in employment. Jobs have increased every month in 2011. It is more important to look at the number of jobs lost and created than the unemployment rate.
  • 225,000 private sector payroll jobs were added December 2011, January and February 2012.
  • Shadow inventory will be another property type for a few years to come but it will not disrupt the market.
  • January 2012′s tourist revenue was up 19% over January 2011 in Collier County; up 12% in Lee County; and up 24% in Charlotte County.
  • Pending sales in Collier County increased 14% first quarter 2012.
  • Inventory in Collier County decreased 13% first quarter 2012.
  • Overall median closed price in Collier County increased 27%.

“Everything happening in our market is very logical. We are recovering as we should,” said Cindy Carroll.

As Lawrence Yun pointed out, the potential positive is lending opens up. The potential negative is Washington policy.

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Think Naples Real Estate Is Still in the ‘Dumper’? Think Again.

Posted on April 18, 2012 by Alysia

This article in the Naples Daily News about Naples Economic Summit last Friday might make you think about buying your piece of Naples Waterfront paradise sooner rather than later…

Naples Home Prices to Appreciate by 10 Percent This Year, Economist Predicts

Naples homeowners can expect as much as a 10 percent increase in the value of their homes by the end of the year, a national economist told a packed house of Realtors at an economic summit held Friday in North Naples.

In fact, all the speakers at the 2012 Naples Economic Summit were optimistic about the real estate market in Southwest Florida.

Real estate is in recovery, locally and nationally, buyers have stepped up and prices are firming up, said Lawrence Yun, a chief economist and senior vice president of research for the National Association of Realtors.

Some of the hardest hit markets, including Naples, have been leaders in the recovery, he said. That has a lot do with their location.

“As you all know all real estate is local,” Yun said. “You can not pick it up and move it somewhere else.”

He predicted as much as a 10 percent appreciation in home prices by December in the Naples market over last year.

“This is not some wishful thinking,” Yun said, adding that he believed an over correction in the local market has pulled prices down too far.

While the markets in neighboring Lee County are recovering too, it’s not happening as fast because they saw more overbuilding during the boom years, he said.

Read the rest of the article here …

Posted in Advice for Buyers, Advice for Sellers, Naples Real Estate News | 1 Comment

Hot Air Balloon Festival a First For Collier County

Posted on April 17, 2012 by Alysia

If you missed the inaugural Balloons Over Paradise Festival this weekend, you missed a spectacular sight!

Of course, getting up before dawn on a Saturday to drive out to the Immokalee Regional Airport was no picnic, but it was so worth it once I saw the colorful balloons. Unfortunately, the winds were just elevated enough to keep the balloons grounded (and I think the same held true for Sunday, too).

Tons of Naples Florida residents and visitors turned out for the event, which continued throughout the weekend with music, food and activities. I’m already looking forward to next year!

 Photos by Alysia Shivers, Naples FL Realtor

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Naples•ism #11: Year-Round Naples Farm Markets

Posted on April 12, 2012 by Alysia

Naples•ism: All Things Naples Florida

One of my favorite things about Naples Florida living is year-round farm markets.

I love getting fresh veggies and fruits not to mention a selection of delicious treats and fun crafts every weekend throughout the year.

The funny thing is that during the winter months you can find these markets outside in the parking lots of shopping centers and churches, but come summer when it’s a bit more toasty and humid, they tend to move inside.

Some of my favorite stops include the Naples farm markets found at:

Granted, not all of these are year-round, but it’s still nice to enjoy the comfortable temperatures of Naples’ winter months shopping for fresh treats outside on a Saturday or Sunday morning. There’s no better way to start the day!

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Naples•ism #8: New York Style Bagels, Cookies & More

Posted on March 30, 2012 by Alysia

Naples•ism: All Things Naples Florida

It’s true … I write about food a lot. I can’t help it. There are so many places here in Naples that I swear we could eat at a different restaurant every night for a year and still not get to them all.

I do get excited when I see something from home and beings that I am a Jersey girl, I am fond of New York eats. Which is why I must tell you about Straight From New York, if you haven’t already discovered it yourself.

Tucked away in a small plaza just off Immokalee Road in front of the Quail Creek community, Straight From New York in Naples does it right … from bagels to muffins to cookies to chicken salad.

I have to admit, I’m not a huge bagel fan, but I understand from fellow Northeasterners that Straight From New York does them like they do in the great city it is named after. Personally, I go for the chicken salad and the bologna – yum! And I love looking at the cookie display. It reminds me of those big family gatherings where someone would inevitably bring a huge tray of Italian cookies covered in a rainbow of sprinkles.

So, if you’ve been desperately searching for the baked goods and the other delicious treats you know and love from the Northeast, stop in Straight From New York.

Posted in Delicious Naples Eats, Naplesisms, Restaurants, Things to do and see in Naples, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Closed Sales are up in February 2012; March Shows No Signs of Slowing Down

Posted on March 24, 2012 by Alysia

Closed Sales.  In this month’s Naples and Southwest Florida Market Report, closed sales priced above $1 million continue to rise with 49 closings in February compared to 42 closings this same time last year. During the first two months of 2012, median sales prices are at the highest level for the same period since 2008. Additionally, properties priced between $500,000 and $750,000 posted the biggest gains over prior year with a 30% increase over year-to-date 2011.

Pending Sales.  Regarding pended sales, February 2012 is the third highest on record for the month. The number of pended sales between $500,000 and $1 million is up 31% over first two months of 2011; the largest increase of any segment. 

Listings.  The number of new listings taken in February is the lowest for the month since 2005. On March 1, 2012, available inventory in the combined Naples, Bonita Springs and Estero market stands at 8,059 units (4,336 condominiums and 3,723 single family homes). This represents a 9.2 month supply based on the number of closings in the past 12 months.

To see the full February 2012 Naples Market Report including a detailed analysis, click here.

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