Quote of the Day

"Be fearful when others are greedy, Be greedy when others are fearful." Warren Buffet In other words..."Buy Now!"

Vote YES Amendments 3, 4 and 6

Years ago when I first got into this business my dad gave me a bit of advice...He told me not to talk about politics or religion with my customers. My first broker told me the same thing...and the first big company I worked for even went so far as to prohibit us from placing bumper stickers on our vehicles or campaign signs on our lawns. It was part of the office policy manual. In this business, as in any business, once you commit to a side half the world might not want to do business with you anymore...and it doesn't seem to matter that on the flip side the other half might then be more likely to do business with you...Unfortunate, but true. I must admit, I have had a few occasions when it was fairly obvious after getting to know someone that I let my opinions known. I can count on one hand how many times in 27 years that has happened. Only twice have I misread their comments and been wrong and wished I could have retracted my comments...Both of those occasions happened in the past few months...Hey, what can I say? It's an interesting and exciting election. More exciting than ever because I am proud to say that my husband and partner Chip Harris is voting in his very first presidential election since becoming an American citizen in 2006! On November 4th Florida voters will be voting on more than just the next president. It's safe to say my opinion on the amendments regarding real estate probably won't be held against me. So, I am hereby expressing my support for three amendments:

• No. 3- Changes and Improvements Not Affecting the Assessed Value of Residential Real Estate.
• No. 4- Property Tax Exemption of Perpetually Conserved Land; Classification and assessment of Land Used for Conservation.
• No. 6- Assessment of Working Waterfront Property Based Upon Current Use.

Let me know if you have questions!

~and regardless of whom you are voting, get out there and vote! It is an honor and a privilege. Whether my vote cancels your vote or not, I hope you will call me for all your real estate needs because I'm a good real estate agent. Period! Thanks and have a great day!

Coldwell Banker 10-day Sale Results

The timing of the Coldwell Banker 10-day Sale nationwide could not have come at a worse time. After months of preparation and nearly 30,000 homes open across the country, news of the stock market plummeting on the preceding Friday kept most buyers away. Last Sunday's turnout was minimal at best; an average here in Naples of 1.2 visitors per open house. However, time heals all things...the market watchers know that what goes up must come down and what goes down must come up...and even just a short week later, the bad news bears couldn't keep the potential buyers away. Yesterday I had 5 separate parties through and everyone gave me the sense that there is pent up demand. Most seemed ready to find some good values. One buyer said, "I have been coming to Naples for over 20 years and I don't remember ever seeing this many good buys to choose from". Another interested gentleman explained, "The old adage of real estate, 'location, location, location' has now been replaced with, 'timing, timing, timing'." Yes, timing is everything now. ~and pricing is crucial. So, if you can find a well priced listing in an excellent location, the time to jump on it is now! As an example, the listing where I was sitting open yesterday is a brand new, never lived in, spacious 3 bedroom condo on the water with direct gulf access (no bridges). It comes with a private 2 car garage and a deeded boat dock. There are 6 units total in the building. The two top floor end units sold pre-construction for OVER $1.1 million! The remaining 4 units start at $699,000! You want value? This is it! I would be happy to provide you with a detailed search of ALL new, waterfront condos in Naples which include a dock...The next priced listing in MLS is asking $1,149,000! Once these 4 condos sell there may not be any other condos built 2007 or later listed under a million available! The seller is motivated and ready to consider all serious offers! Additional photos and a virtual tour of the property can be found on our website http://www.naplesrealestate.com/ Or call us today for a personal tour of The Azzurro 239-370-0574 If nothing else, the 10-day Sale did create some good activity...I had some great discussions with some really nice folks with whom I feel pretty good about doing future business. I understand an agent at our north office got an offer on their listing at the open house! Great news! ~and I am more convinced than ever that Naples is "under valued" (see a previous post)...the really smart buyers will be taking advantage of the amazing opportunites available to them here in paradise! Thanks and make it a great day!

NUMB3RS

I get a lot of calls from folks reading my blog asking that I continue adding more statistics. They say they enjoy reading the Naples Real Estate NUMB3RS...so, here goes: Year To Date: SunshineMLS, the southwest Florida multiple listing database, which includes (but is not limited to) Bonita Springs, Estero, Cape Coral, Ft Myers and Ft Myers Beach, Lehigh Acres and Naples (including Golden Gate and Golden Gate Estates) has reported the following numb3rs: Total Residential Listings taken: 32,885 Total Closed Sales: 6,357 Total Expired Listings: 18,717 When searching just the greater Naples area, the following numb3rs apply: Total Residential Listings taken: 15,530 Total Closed Sales: 3,822 Total Expired Listings: 8,208 Thank you again for all your calls. I truly appreciate hearing from readers directly letting me know what type of blog posts most interest them! Hope you're having a great day! See earlier posts for discussion regarding average sold prices, list to sell ratios and current inventory statistics. For a current evaluation of your home or condo please call or email any member of the Harris-Peppe Team today!

Poll Closed

Last week I conducted a survey on this blog and the results might surprise you. I asked readers to choose from the following answers when asked what they look for when selecting a real estate professional:

1. Market knowledge and success
2. Years of experience and designations
3. Easy to work with and trust
4. Marketing capabilities and company reputation

83% of those polled selected "Easy to work with and trust" , followed by "Marketing capabilities and company reputation".

Call the Harris-Peppe Team today to find out why our slogan is, "...the name friends refer to friends". We can be reached directly at 239-370-0574 or log onto www.NaplesRealEstate.com to do your own search on our consumer friendly website.

Thanks to all those who participated. There will be more polls in the future!

Naples Real Estate- More Good News

My vision when I began this blog was to do my best to report as much positive news as possible. Up to now, this has not been the easiest task...However, again this morning, the front page of the local section of The Naples Daily News reports "Naples see increase in home sales". The article goes on to say that, 'pending sales are up in all six geographic areas that the Naples Area Board of Realtors tracks'. As I have reported in previous blog posts, most of this increase can be tracked to the "under $300,000" price range...But today's article indicates that homes listed in the $500,000-$2 million price point have seen pendings up 22% when compared to the same period last year! This is NOT a flash in the pan, one month scenario...No, this is a trend! I remain clear on this message, there has NEVER been a better time to buy real estate in Naples Florida. ~and I have been selling the Naples' dream for over 27 years. Call today to get a more in-depth analysis of any of the areas where you might be considering making a purchase, or to obtain a competitive market analysis of what your home's current value is in this ever evolving market. Thanks and make it a great day! 239-370-0574 direct

Inquiries are Up!

We thought we might be seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, then last week's stock market plunged (in case you didn't hear)...and we had to take a step back again and make sure it wasn't an oncoming train! As it turns out, Monday saw the single largest gain in history on Wall Street...and (now here's the really good news)...our site has had record breaking inquiries in the past 48 hours! When asked by prospective buyers to do searches for properties under $500,000 I am amazed at the selection. Under $300,000 is the hottest market in Naples when just a few years ago one would have been hard-pressed to find anything in that price point. Tell us exactly what you are looking for; right down to the size, age, view and amenities and we will find it! Don't let this opportunity pass you by. Call us today. 239-370-0574 direct. We are looking forward to earning your business!

More Naples' Rankings

Today, www.NaplesRealEstate.com is happy to report some more interesting rankings about Naples that I think you will find interesting. There are 67 counties in the state of Florida. Collier County is the largest; in fact, it is the largest county land-wise east of the Mississippi River, a total of 2,305 square miles. More than 80% of Collier County is set aside as preserve lands! Naples was selected as #1 Best Small Art Town in America by author John Villani in his book, The 100 Best Art Towns in America. There are at least 150 galleries in the greater Naples area including Gallery Row in downtown. Also, The Travel Channel designated Naples as America's Best Beach in 2005. ~and Conde' Nast Traveler magazine named Naples in the best 20 beaches in America in 2006. Naples ranked # 22 Best Town to live in America by Forbes Magazine in 2008. Naples is currently ranked #2 for most golf holes per capita, but it is #1 when you count only private holes! ~and, at The Harris-Peppe Team, our customers are ALWAYS #1. Call us today so that we can tell you all about the amazing opportunites currently available here in paradise. 239-370-0574

Thought For The Day

Be Thankful for what you have, and you will end up having more- Focus on what you don't have, and you will never have enough.

Naples Real Estate Statistics

Here are a few interesting statistics: Currently in Naples there are 10,264 Active residential listings. 4,581 are priced under $300,000. 4,402 are priced over $1 million. 12% of the current residential listings in Naples are Short Sales. 81% of the short sales are priced below $300,000. The Average Sold Price in the past 12 months is $587,612. with a trend line decreasing from approximately $700,000. in October 2007 to just under $500,000 as of October 1st, 2008. The Median Sold Price in the last 12 months is $313,219. with a trend line decreasing from approximately $360,000 in October 2007 to $245,000 now. The number of units closed has increased 72% when comparing September 2007 through September 2008. This is great news! Keep in mind that Real Estate is local, and even within the Naples market certain areas have fared better than others. As an example: highrises along Gulf Shore Blvd. N. have an average sale price of $1,787,424 for the past 12 months. If you go back 24 months, the average is $1,869,732; a decrease of less than 4.5%. In contrast, you can use the area of Golden Gate Estates, where in some cases, certain NA areas have seen an average sold price decrease nearly 50%! You must be careful when reading reports that do a broad stroke of the entire Naples' market rather than specifically calculating each given area. Websites like Zillow.com, as an example, are often times inaccurate since they cannot make distinctions when doing an analysis. If you are either a buyer or a seller in the Naples area, please allow The Harris-Peppe Team an opportunity to do a comprehensive study of the area where you are looking to buy or sell. Let our experience assist you in making an informed decision in today's real estate market. *all info was received from the SunshineMLS system and is deemed accurate. Statistics based on activity in Naples Areas only.

Coldwell Banker 10-day Sales Event

In a market "plagued by a two year price slump", Coldwell Banker is asking its sellers to slash prices! We estimate nearly 30,000 sellers across the U.S. will reduce their list price during the 10-day sales event with the hope that it will increase activity. Click on this link to read the full story as seen in REUTERS yesterday 10/06/08: http://www.reuters.com/article/bondsNews/idUSN0228964320081006 Jim Gillespie, chief executive of Coldwell Banker, was also quoted in an article by The Associated Press last Friday, October 3rd, where he spoke of the nationwide promotion. This can be found by Google-ing "Coldwell Banker 10-day Sale." Jim has also been interviewed today on CBS Radio, CNNMoney, KCBS Radio, CNBC Power Lunch (click on: http://www.cnbc.com/id/15840232?video=879758184 ), Bloomburg and Brandweek. An article in Brandweek by Steve Miller can also be read in its entirety by clicking on this link: http://www.brandweek.com/bw/content_display/news-and-features/technology-finance/e3i3ccdd00902078c2443f98cab7e3c3b3c The Harris-Peppe Team will be participating in this event. Their sellers were very receptive to the price adjustments and are excited about the national exposure their properties are getting through the media coverage. Each of their listings will have special finance options in place to assist potential buyers looking for a mortgage. Addresses and times of the open houses will be posted again in a future entry. If you have any comments or questions please do not hesitate to call us directly at: 239-370-0574. Looking forward to seeing you there!

Keeping the Faith

When I began this blog I wanted to try to keep it as upbeat and positive as possible. You hear enough gloom and doom without me adding to in, right? ...and the truth is, it is my nature to look for the good in each person and in each and every situation... -Around the office, in my circle of friends, and in my family, I am known as "the happy one"...after all, I have survived a few potentially fatal diseases, so if given the choice between two phones to answer: on one line a doctor with a bad diagnosis, and on the other a banker with bad news about my finances...well, which phone would you rather answer? This simple exercise always helps me to "see" more clearly. It is times like these that help us to put things into perspective. We become smarter AND stronger! We learn to prioritize...to think outside of the box...we get VERY creative. Mostly, we remember the importance of appreciating what we have. Yes, it has become increasingly difficult for me to post "happy-grams" with all the headlines in the past week...Then in church yesterday the minister spoke about "Having An Abundant Life"...and it really struck a cord. It would seem that in times such as these, the words "abundance" and prosperity are out of reach. But, what if it is our own thoughts contributing to and creating these experiences? The thoughts we have become our reality. That is not some "far-out" opinion, but rather it is a fundamental truth based on the principle of the formative power of thought. Thoughts held in our mind produce results. Haven't you known two people going through similar experiences with two completely different perspectives? With two completely different outcomes? -So, what have you been thinking lately? I am fairly certain you've been thinking about bank failures, plunging stock prices, mortgage foreclosures, rising unemployment--it's no wonder the economic meltdown has gotten so many people so depressed...However, I am going to suggest that you, at least please just try to, spend the next 24 hours changing your thoughts. Thoughts create; you've heard this so many times in your life in so many ways...This is nothing new! "As a man thinketh in his heart, so he is." Indeed, we all have the potential to be happy, to be creative, in any given moment, in spite of the circumstances...It IS a choice. Chip wakes up every day and says, "Hey, I'm on the right side of the grass." It's a great way to start the day, with a grateful heart. There are so many opportunities available right now if only you look for them...Remember, your beliefs may be hard to change...they are formed by the papers you read, the news you watch, the friends whose opinions you respect and the lessons that your grandma taught you...Ah, but Faith...Faith can be unshakable. Our minister put it this way: "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Good thoughts, a positive attitude and a grateful heart. That is my wish for you today. Keep the faith!