Questions About the Home Buyers Tax Credit

Here is an article that was published yesterday by RISMEDIA which answers the 'Top 4 Questions Home Buyers have about the Tax Credit'. Click HERE for link. For additional information, the Federal Housing Tax Credit Website can be accessed by clicking here HERE. As always, thank you for stopping by and taking the time to read our Naples Real Estate blog. We hope you will call us when you are ready to list or sell in Naples Florida. 239-370-0574

Naples is the Place to Be!

One of my co-workers just forwarded me an article that appeared in the New York Times over the weekend that I wanted to share! You don't just have to take my word for it...I've known for a long time that Naples is paradise...so, Here's what the Times had to say about our beautiful little city!

Read it HERE!

Florida Leads Big-Boat Market Rebound!

As recently reported in Soundings Trade Only magazine, there's a rebound happening in the boating industry and Florida, particularly Southwest Florida, is taking the lead! The first few months of last year saw very low sales volumes, but by mid-year big-boat brokers saw sales that surpassed the monthly units for all of 2008. By the last quarter of 2009 Florida brokers led the big-boat sales, which "bred guarded optimism about 2010." This optimism hasn't been so guarded in Naples as there was a record turnout in attendance at the recent Naples Boat Show, and many left as new boat owners! "In a good year we sell maybe one or two boats and plant a few seeds" reported Pete Kostuk, yacht broker with Galati Yacht Sales here in Naples. "This year we sold all four display boats in the first two days which included two buyers we'd never met before." He added, "Boaters may not be going as far or as fast, but they're still buying boats"! *pictured are some of our favorite passengers onboard Ithaka!

Older inventory, which brought sales down the past couple of years, is being absorbed and dealers are now introducing new models. Values on trade-ins are also becoming more acceptable as folks in the market to either 'buy up' or 'trade down' are taking advantage of the new inventory. Everyone agrees that it's a good time to buy a boat in Naples Florida, just as it is a great time to buy a waterfront home! Call us today for a list of all the waterfront best buys! 239-370-0574

Thanks and happy boating!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Happy St. Patrick's Day from me and Chip.

~In honor of the occasion I thought I would post one of my favorite Irish blessings, and appropriately, it is a

Home Blessing!

May these walls be filled with laughter,

may it reach from floor to rafter.

May the roof keep out the rain,

may sunshine warm each windowpane.

May the door be open wide

to let the good Lord's love inside.

There are wonderful activities already underway here on Fifth Avenue South in beautiful Naples Florida...there's a line up at Paddy Murphy's, and at McCabe's Irish Pub as well. The entire street is brimming with folks decked out in green...and there's just the right amount of sunshine popping through the clouds after an afternoon of showers to make a rainbow fairly certain!

Real Estate Predictions

I thought this was interesting enough to share....384 real estate markets across the United States are being tracked by CNNmoney.com. Check out the predictions for your city/area by clicking on this LINK. For detailed information about Naples Real Estate please call me or my partner, Chip Harris today! 239-370-0574 Thanks and make it a great day!

Location, Condition, Price, Marketing

Location, condition, price, marketing...these are the four items that determine how quickly a home will sell. A seller controls 3 of the 4! Take these two cases as an example:

1. A home in really poor condition, in an inferior location, will still sell if it is marketed properly and priced well.
2. If your home is in good condition, in a nice location, and if it is marketed correctly, but is still not selling: then the only factor that needs to be addressed is price.

Today's buyers are smart. They examine every detail before making an offer on a property, including the listing's history. How many price reductions, and how long a home has been listed weighs heavily on how close to the asking price an initial offer will come in...Pricing is crucial right from the start! Homeowners that stick to a price in the hopes of having more "room to negotiate" are eventually going to cut their price or follow the market down...and they usually end up negotiating a lower contract price than if the home was priced right to begin with.

In addition to all the other items that we are dealing with today, we also need to factor in the foreclosures and short sales that are dramatically effecting prices. Experts suggest, 'put your home on the market at the right price, and if it doesn't sell in the first 30 days, cut the price so you won't be caught in a downward spiral of price reductions'. Testing the market just isn't a good strategy anymore.

Well priced listings are selling in Naples Florida! Call us today for a list of our best buys! 239-370-0574

Writer's Block?

The most successful blogs are those which are written consistently. Regular, interesting entries...thought provoking posts...informative, catchy, entertaining...I read blogs often. I subscribe to several. I know a few bloggers that I believe should actually write books...they are really great writers. Their use of whirling words paint pictures in my head...I am mesmerized by their ability to describe simple things like planting an herb garden or cooking a souffle or shopping with a child with such imagery that I look forward to each and every one of their posts. ~I also enjoy 'professional' blogs about politics, music, movies, real estate & business...but not as much!

Lately I've had a bit of writer's block...The truth is, I can think of dozens of things to write about every single day...but I have been a little preoccupied with...well, with...selling and listing real estate! I have all good intentions, but frankly, by the end of the day I am pretty much beat and can't wait to just call it a day....Writing my real estate blog has dropped down on the list of priorities these past few weeks. Now that the intense influx of snowbirds has leveled out, and I am getting myself back into a schedule of sorts (yeah, right!), I am hoping to blog more regularly. Many thanks to my loyal fans who have gone so far as to pick up the phone and call me: "Where are you?...Is everything ok?" Yes, I am fine...It's just that it's season, and no matter how many years I have been doing this (29 years the end of this month~Whew!), I never seem to manage to pace myself...I am very happy that day light savings time is coming early this year (remember, Saturday, March 13th...spring ahead). I am looking forward to maybe getting home before dark...ah, wouldn't that be nice?

So, it may not really be 'writer's block' after all, but just a case of 'Busy Real Estate Agent-Wife-Mom-Mimi-Daughter-Volunteer-Artist'...not necessarily in that order. Stay tuned for tomorrow's post...I cannot guarantee whirling words, but I at least feel consistent coming on!

A Welcome Addition!

Welcome Suzanne Novita!

I think everyone here at the Coldwell Banker Previews office in Naples was thrilled this morning at our weekly sales meeting to be introduced to the newest member of the Fifth Avenue team, Suzanne Novita! Suzanne comes to us from the Coldwell Banker office in Delray Beach. She recently relocated to Naples so that she and her husband could be closer to family. Her primary duties will be real estate leasing and property management. She was highly recommended by her broker at Coldwell Banker on the east coast of Florida. Suzanne has strong organizational, technical and interpersonal skills. Her background and credentials are stellar, and I know she will be a great asset to our office. Welcome aboard Suzanne! The Harris-Peppe Team and the entire sales team and support staff are so happy to have you here in Naples. Best of Luck!