International Buyers

Chip Harris and Michele Peppe Cater to an International Clientele 

According to a recent article in Florida Realtor magazine; Florida, California, Arizona and Texas account for 53 % of all purchases by international buyers and have remained the top destinations for the past three years, with Florida leading the way.  Over the years Chip and I have sold homes and condos in Naples to a wonderful array of international buyers. They hail from Scotland, England, Ireland, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Portugal, Switzerland, Belgium, Vietnam, Columbia and of course, Canada.

The Naples News just published an article about our most recent success with international buyers. You can read the full article by clicking HERE.  The gentleman from Germany came to us as a direct result of networking within The Coldwell Banker Previews International family. We then brought in a collegue from our 5th Avenue office who speaks German fluently to assist us with the transaction. This turned out to be a winning combination! The other buyer is from Toronto, Canada, (we didn't need to bring in anyone to assist us with this sale as Chip speaks Canadian fluently, eh?) This buyer came to us directly from our award winning  website, to which we attribute approximately 50% of our business success in the course of a year. !

For additional information about how we can help make your international home buying experience more enjoyable and exciting, please contact us today. We have put together a team of real estate professionals including attorneys, lenders and homewatch services, who are all ready to make this a stress-free experience! 239.370.0574

Thank you and make it a great day,

The Naples Real Estate Blogger

Previews Luxury Symposium

Today, Chip and I attended the Previews Luxury Symposium. This is a continuing education program provided by the Coldwell Banker Southeast Region designed to give extensive, ongoing training to agents who work primarily in the listing and marketing of luxury residences. The Southeast region includes Dallas, Atlanta and Miami. This training is mandatory for us to be re-certified as Previews Property Specialists. There are approximately 12,000 Previews Specialists worldwide. Less than 1,000 in the state of Florida. It is an exclusive group of agents that make up less than 10% of the Coldwell Banker sales agents internationally. 

In addition to discussing The Power of Previews and building a personal brand, we were given several interesting luxury housing updates and recent facts about the affluent consumer.

Here are a few statistics that I found interesting:

• Across the nation, in the $10 million + price range, sales have increased approximately 60% YTD.
• More than half the sales in the state of Florida YTD have been cash transactions.
• Previews sales, defined as closings of listings priced at or above $1 million, in Florida's SW Region, comprised of communities from Sarasota to Marco Island, were up 19.7% YTD
• YTD, the list to sale ratio of Previews properties from the ORIGINAL asking price to the closed sale price was  -31%
• The top 1% of the affluent in the USA own 34% of the wealth.
• The top 10% are responsible for 50% of the dollars spent, and 70% of the margins in retail.
• If you earn $100,000 or more, you are in the top 16% in the USA.
• More than 80% of today's affluent were raised in the middle class.
• 84% of today's affluent still describe themselves as "middle class."
• Over 86% of today's affluent begin all their luxury purchases online.

Another fact that I was personally very proud of, when one of the guest speakers did a "Google search" and typed in "Luxury Homes Naples Florida", only one Coldwell Banker agent came up on the first page...that was me and Chip! In addition to this, during the seminar, the publisher of Unique Homes magazine, who was also one of our guest speakers, received a "Google Alert" which directed him to our website.  

Chip and I are dedicated to the real estate industry. This is more than just a career to us, it's our way of life...we continually update our marketing materials to reflect the current trends and we are committed to being the best we can possibly be. We understand the importance of all aspects of promoting properties; from print marketing campaigns to direct mail pieces, to Internet exposure, social networks and blogging! It is for that reason that we have affiliated ourselves with the world's leader in Luxury sales: Coldwell Banker, and why we feel privileged when a consumer chooses us to assist them with their luxury home sale or purchase. Thank you!

For additional details about the local luxury market in Naples Florida, please call us today. We look forward to hearing from you and hope to earn your business. 239.370.0574 direct

Thank you,

The Naples Real Estate Blogger

A Few More Recent Stats

Here is a smattering of statistics recently released by The Naples Area Board of Realtors that I think you will find very interesting:

• Pending sales up overall 28% in the last 12 months.
• Single family home pending sales are up 71% in the $1-2 million dollar price range in the past 12 months.
• Median closed sale price in the over $2 million price range is up 17% in the past 12 months.
• Single family home inventory dropped 4% from a year ago, and the condo inventory is down 9% as compared to a year ago.
• Condo sales are up 45% overall in the past 12 months.
•  The average "Days On The Market" for single family homes listed at or above $2 million dollars was down 33% from July 2009 to July 2010.

Here's an interesting fact from our office, Coldwell Banker Previews on 5th Avenue South in Old Naples :

• 70% of the closings were cash transactions in July.

The media inundates us with a lot of negative press, but these figures are very promising for a successful season ahead. It also looks like the luxury market is taking off, and the multi-million dollar listings will sell if priced correctly!

For additional information about these figures, please contact Harris & Peppe today. It would be our privilege to assist you in finding your new home in paradise. We hope to hear from you soon, and we look forward to earning your business.

Thank you,
The Naples Real Estate Blogger
239.250.4370

Plan Ahead!

It may only be August, but now is the best time to plan ahead for your winter vacation in SW Florida! Our Naples Rental Department is already heating up with a lot more inquiries than last year at this time...Reservations are being made now for the "2011 Season". Plan early to get the best selections!

We've got a great team of leasing agents at The Coldwell Banker downtown location. Just give us a call and we will set you up with the right professional to handle your rental needs. Whether you are looking for a one week get-away near the beach, or a seasonal rental to keep you out of the cold and snow all winter long, our staff has a great variety of homes and condos to reserve for you now! Golf to gulf, all price ranges...I know we can find you just the right home away from home in paradise!

Here is an example of a wonderful waterfront single family home, located about a half-hour drive to beautiful downtown Naples. It boasts direct gulf access, with a pretty view of Goodland Bay. Two bedrooms plus a den; this home will comfortably sleep 5-6 people. Two full baths, laundry facility, private pool, and a dock for boating & fishing--Intensely equipped to make your vacation fun and convenient! Click HERE for photos and a virtual tour! This lovely Key West-style cottage is also for sale with an asking price of $400,000.

We look forward to hearing from you soon! 239.370.0574

Naples Beaches Remain Clear

The article in today's Naples Daily News begins, "The infamous well is finally under control..." 

Our beaches are as beautiful as ever...summer tourists are flocking to the area as was obvious last night based on the great turnout at the monthly 'Evening On Fifth' street event...many of the downtown eateries were packed...and the shoppes on 5th Avenue South were bustling!

To read the complete article, click Emergency Official No Longer Worried About Oil Spill's Effects Here

This lovely photo was taken by 'The Naples Real Estate Blogger'

looking west just after sunrise over the Gulf of Mexico!

For details about the Naples Beach Area leading the way to the market recovery with strong summer sales according to a report recently released by the Naples Area Board of Realtor, please contact The Harris-Peppe Team today.  According to the report, "The median closed price for single family homes in the Naples Beach area increased 123%" in July 2010 as compared to July 2009! Wow!

We look forward to hearing from you. Please call us today! 239.370.0574  

  

Naples Previews Properties

What is PREVIEWS ?

In 1933, Coldwell Banker established the "Previews" brand, and became one of the leaders of Luxury Property in the real estate industry in the world. Currently we have a worldwide network of nearly 1,000 International offices located in 50 countries.  Coldwell Banker Previews International has a distinguished clientele including some of the world's foremost dignitaries, actors, musicians and sports figures. The Previews Marketing Program is recognized as one of the world's finest marketing programs in promoting luxury properties to a global audience. 

We have a 28% luxury market share nationwide--well over 200% more than our next closest competitor. 

Presently, Coldwell Banker Previews International represents the nation's top four most expensive listings which are priced from *$85 million to $ 150 million.  We handle an average of *$76.7 million in luxury home sales every day, and participated in 11,970 transaction sides of multi-million dollar homes in 2009. This equates to $22 billion in sales volume!

The downtown Naples 5th Avenue South office is an accredited Previews office. Many of the agents here at the 5th Avenue South office have gone through extensive, additional training to receive their Previews Luxury Home Specialist designation. Chip & I both have this designation. When Chip & I first learned that the company we previously worked for was being purchased by Coldwell Banker, we immediately purchased the domain name of NaplesPreviews in order to take full advantage of the luxury brand this name represents.  You can link to this site to do a luxury home search directly from our NaplesRealEstate.com

Here are some current local stats about the luxury real estate market in Naples Florida:

• 
  
  January 1st-August 1st, 2010 there were 441 closed sales of listings priced at or above $1 million.
• 
  
  January 1st-August 1st 2009, there were 295 total closed sales in this price point.
• 
  
  YTD 2010: 268 closed sales were of single family homes, 173 were condos. 
• 
  
  Highest closed sale YTD sold for $26 million. This was a single family home on the beach on Gordon Drive.
• 
  
  The highest closed condo sale YTD went for $8.9 million and it was located in Bay Colony.
• 
  
  118 of the 441 total closed sales were built in 2005 or newer.
• 
  
  274 of the 441 closed sales were in the "West of 41" corridor, NA areas along the beach and bay.
• 
  
  Presently there are 1,220 listings in the Naples MLS listed at or above $ 1 million, which equates to approximately a 24 month supply based on the 441 closed sales YTD.
• 
  
  664 active residential listings in the "west of 41" corridor, which equates to approximately a 16 month absorption rate in the $1 million+  price range. 

All Naples statistics are derived from SunshineMLS are deemed accurate.

For a complete list of today's best luxury buys in Naples Florida please log onto our Naples Previews Property site, NaplesPreviews.com today, or call us directly at 239.370.0574. We hope to hear from you soon, and look forward to earning your business.

*Editors of Unique Homes Magazine identified 314 homes for sale in the United States for $20 million or more.

*Data based on closed and recorded transaction sides of homes sold for $1 million or above for the calendar year 2009.