All About Naples Florida

  Have you visited the shoreline of Vanderbilt Beach lately? Well I did this morning.  I was on my usual walk.  I was checking for sea turtle nests ( it is that time of year) and I was quite impressed to see the progress occuring with the new waterfront project Moraya Bay Beach Tower.  Although it is not very pretty to look at right now it will be a spectacular beach tower when it is completed. 

Currently it looks like this.

If you look carefully you will see there is not a lot of developement to the left- that is correct because that is Wiggins Pass State Park.  Which is terrific because you are basically the last building on the beach! 

This luxury tower will not only offer full service private beach club with gourmet dining, fitness area, private resident entry, private foyer elevator entry, under building parking 2 spaces per residence, smart wired for technology, beachside pool, plaza level amenities, and the amazing Gulf of Mexico sunsets and marine life.  Don't be suprised to look out on the beach and see a school of Snook, dolphin, or a manatee lazily drift on by. 

Another plus for this fabulous residence is that you can simply walk down the beach and eat out!  For some different dining experiences you can try brunch at La Playa, a little further down have dinner or supper at The Turtle Bay Club, and head to the Ritz for after dinner drinks beachside.  Feel the need to shop well Mercato and Whole Foods will soon be right at the end of Vanderbilt Beach Rd and just a short drive down the road are the upscale shops at Waterside.  Nordstrom's is coming soon and Starbucks is a nice treat at Barnes & Noble. 

Well besides all of these great ammenities the most important thing to remember is that these residences are selling fast.  Prices start at $3.2 and go to around $4.8.  An added feature to this tower is that there are only 8 residences per level.  The levels are Garage Level, Plaza, third - 10th Floor, and Penthouse.  Last check there were only 4 Penthouse levels left.... All units are between 4100 and 4500+ sq feet in size.   Don't wait ;you don't want to walk down the beach someday and look up and say " Geez I really should have bought one of those at Moraya Bay.  "  I don't want to have to tell you" sorry they are sold out!"  Call me and I'll get you the information you need today.  Oh and this is what the beach in front looked like this morning as I walked by....and yes I did see a lot of Snook, 1 Manatee, and two Sea Turtle nests!

Well I just got the greatest email about the Naples Harbor Yacht Club and an Open House event Coming soon.  This Luxury member owned Yacht club is in a terrific location and offers amazing ammenities. Apparently if you are a member of Yacht Club of America YCOA you have reciprocal priviledges, in addition some features are  longer launch hours, restaurant, fitness, sauna, boat services, fueling,  pool, security, and so much more.  Why not bring take a closer look... WE are in the greatest area for Yachting. Whether you head to the Keys, Useppa, Boca Grande or take advantage of the best fishing in the world (Ten Thousand Islands), summer pricing in Naples is always great! As always I am happy to get you information on this great new project!

Need something interesting and different to do in Naples this weekend? 

 In this day and age who doesn't like to do something that is FREE??? Well the Naples Botanical Garden is undergoing a metamorphis so to speak... in the meantime prior to their big redevelopment admission is FREE.  Wed- Saturday from 10 a.m - 4 p.m. and Sunday 12- 4 until May 31st. 

Not only is free admission open to the garden but to the Butterfly house as well as the Mosaic Gardens, and Florida Uplands Preserve.

The new and improved Botanical Garden will be open in the fall of 2010 and will offer 160 acres of Tropical Delight! Remember the garden will close June 1st.  If you would like to participate in a real life before and after, head over to the Botanical Garden this weekend.  See the before...and head out to lunch ( with all the money you saved on this free activity. 

Mark your calendars next March 29-31 2009 NAR's Resort Symposium will be held in Naples Florida at the Naples Grande Beach Resort.  This is an excellent opportunity to spend time networking, getting your business some exposure ( sponsorships available) , attending a class or two on  " Resorts and Second Homes", a property tour, reception and more. 

The enrollment is limited to 400 so register early.  If you are thinking of coming and are unfamiliar with the area I am happy to answer questions or you can gather lots of information from my website www.Floridahmz.com 

Please note that our local board Naples Area Board of Realtors is holding two core courses for RSPS designation before and after the symposium. More information on the courses is coming.  Just think you could come to fabulous Naples and be 3/4 of the way to your RSPS designation while enjoying an amazing symposium at a great hotel.  ( The Spa is great - see my previous post review).  If you are a Naples Area Realtor this is also a great opportunity for us all! 

Summer Jazz will begin again this year at  The Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club. This is the  23rd Annual "SummerJazz on the Gulf" and it is also a FREE event. 

 You can watch the gorgeous setting sun over the Gulf  while listening and relaxing to some soothing Jazz.   "SummerJazz on the Gulf" will kickoff on June 21st and is a treat for locals and visitors alike.  Every concert is held on a Saturday evening one time per month.  The Jazz begins at 7 p.m and ends at 10 p.m.   

The schedule is as follows

June 21 The Mike Macarthur Group :

July 19  Loungecat

August 23 Women's Blues Revue

 September 13 Stacey Knights Group.

Another Freebie is the parking just down the road at Lowdermilk Park (remember they have bathrooms at the park).  A FREE trolley will run you back and forth.   Chairs/ blankets are welcome but NOT coolers.  You can call 239 261 - 2222 for more info

Food and overnight hotel package specials will also be available so why not come down listen to some music and check out the local neighborhoods for your own Naples Home?

  Here in Naples Florida the data continues to look promising as to an improvement in the number of home sales pending ( double digit increases!) .  The local board of realtors ( NABOR) continues to publish it's reports and contribute sales data to the Naples Daily News ( who published an article on the front page this past weekend).  The numbers are showing that April has been the busiest month of the year so far. 

A plus for home buyers is that Naples is now more affordable than ever and if you thought you might like to have a place here either making the move as a full time resident ;or finding a place to rent out or relax at throughout the year now may be the time.  There are still well priced properties and they don't last.  Remember  Realtors® have their fingers on the pulse of the market so if you want to know what is going on use a Realtor®.

In case you haven't noticed I like dogs.  Pictured below are  my dogs. Three are Pembroke Welsh Corgis and one is a Jack Russell ( pictured below) .  He is not your typical Jack Russell and is actually very different physically from what you see here in the states for Jacks.  His father was brought over from Australia and his mother from England.  He is not jumpy or yippy and is a stout brave hearted little dog.  The Corgi's are homemade and I have their mother pictured below  The two in my marketing materials are brother and sister, Pub and Derby. 

Mosby

Sadie ( Mom)

Now I have to thank Sharon Leigh for doing the graphic design work on this for me.  She was pleasant to deal with quick professional and reasonable.  Thanks Sharon!  She is helping me with some other projects as well.  Check her out  Oh yeah and I met her on you guessed it AR.

Anyway the point of all this before I got sidetracked talking about my doggies was to share with you another dog resource here in Naples Florida.  Naples Dog Magazine  . This weekend they are having a BIG DOG meet in great on Sunday the 18th at Cambier Park from 11 - 1 p.m.  ( Remember to clean up after your pooch and sorry Big Dogs this time only) There is a 15lb weight limit - which technically qualifies all my corgis and with their big dog personalities  they would fit in but I really don't like them to get stepped on we'll see maybe I'll bring them over for a visit.  

 It's a great magazine with all kinds of contests, photo opportunities if you have a photogenic pooch and it's fun to find out what is going on and where.  Finally I am working on a dog friendly file of properties that I keep ready for those who are moving with their dogs leading the way.  If you know of some special dog friendly places please feel free to share them with me.  I love to hear from other Naples Dog Lovers. 

The Moorings, an area that runs along the Gulf of Mexico and 41 here in Naples is showing some interesting activity.

Leeward ( New Construction)

In April of 2007 there were 8 closed sales, in May of 2007 2 ,and in June of 2007 3 closed sales.  The next month that showed an increase in activity was July of 2007. 

This year in April of 2008 there have been 5 closed sales, May is reflecting 2 so far and there are 10 homes with contracts, 8 of those pending.  According to local MLS data it appears the average price is inching it's way back up and that sold properties are on the increase.  If you have been sitting on the fence maybe it's time to get off and come  have a look.  

As a member of the Professional Development Committee part of my job is to get the word out.... so if you are a realtor in need of 11CE credits or would like to get your ABR Accredited Buyer Representative Designation you are in luck!  Not only do you get to check out beautiful Naples Florida but you can get your designation at the same time!

This two day course will be offered in August on the 14th and 15th.  Registration forms are available here. The class will be held at our real estate board office at 1455 Pine Ridge Rd. in Naples Florida 34109.  If you have further questions please just contact me through my website.  Why not make it a long weekend, mini vacation and at the same time improve yourself and your business.  Statistics from NAR do show that realtors with designations do make more money....

.  Vanderbilt Beach Sunset

Well the news is better... the Naples Area Board of Realtors has released it's most current report dated April 18th.  The big news is that pending sales for March increased ... this has caused the most market activity in the Naples area in 31 months. 

One example is in  Olde Naples   has 8 homes with contracts ranging in list price from $890,000 to $3,595,000.  Another example is a golf condo that I listed in January and had a cash offer on within 2 weeks.  It has recently closed.

The deals are being scooped up and I have had a couple of customers miss out.  They were nervous about getting back in the market and when they returned sadly the property they were interested in was SOLD! 

Our Naples market seems to be getting some national attention as well due to some positive comments made by Toll Brothers CEO and Chairman Robert Toll to Jim Cramer on Mad Money.

As for the current buyers that are here and looking and yes season may be past but they are here.... we all notice one thing they mean business.  I am happy to report that the serious buyers are out.  Remember there is more money to be made in a down market and I always love it when someone tells me geez in 2001 I could have bought in Naples and I didn't.... Don't miss a great opportunity to get your own piece of paradise....