Free eBooks

One of the most popular pages on our website has become the "FREE eBooks" page on NaplesRealEstate.com. We invite you to log on today and find the page listed in the menu bar on the left side of our homepage. Simply click on this link and you can download one, or all, of the four FREE eBooks listed below.

• How to Create the Perfect Retirement: Today more than ever, you are faced with a multitude of questions about your retirement years. This eBook offers great tips on planning, including 'What it takes to be ready for retirement, whether you have enough money to retire, what to do when you do retire, and fantastic retirement travel ideas.'
• A Guide to Establishing Florida Residency: Florida has attracted more retirees than any other state since the 1960s. This eBook covers a lot of what you need to know when deciding to make Florida your new home such as the difference between residency vs domicile, Florida taxes, motor vehicle information, voter registration and college residency requirements.
• The Florida Beach Book: If you love exploring Florida's beaches, then this is the book for you! It covers 350 beaches across the state, as well as maps, county overviews, pet policies, dog parks and handicap accessibility.
• How to Buy a Second Home in Florida: If you are interested in learning what you need to know about buying a second home in Florida, or a vacation property, then this eBook will be a great resource. Here you will discover what type of Florida home you should buy: condo vs single family home, the benefits of working with a real estate agent, the purchase and closing process in Florida, and tips on how to be an absentee landlord.

Please send us any suggestions on what other types of eBooks you would like us to feature on our Naples Real Estate website. ~And remeber, whether you are a first time homebuyer, or a prospect looking for a luxury home in Southwest Florida, The Harris Peppe Team is ready to assist you with all you housing needs! We look forward to hearing from you soon, and we hope to earn your future real estate business! 239.370.0574

Thank you and make it a GREAT day,

The Naples Real Estate Blogger

Exciting Adventures in South Florida

About 50 miles east of downtown Naples, heading through The Big Cypress National Preserve on Route 41, lies an adventure of a lifetime. Back behind Clyde Butcher's gallery, along Loose Screw Sanctuary Road, deep into the pristine swamp forest, the understated majesty of the 400 year old cypress trees and still dark waters call out to those brave enough to venture in...

For much of the 90 minute hike through the slough and ponds we walked in water up past our knees...unable to see below the surface...feeling our way with walking sticks...stepping over the hidden roots and submerged logs...at times waist deep in the cool murky waters.  [click on photo inset to enlarge] It was a wilderness that normally I would not venture out into, even in a kayak. Yet there I was, wading through my fears into the peacefulness of  this hidden treasure...There were 17 of us in our party plus Johnny, our guide. Included in the group was a retired couple in their 80's...a mom and dad with their 3 daughters ages 5, 6 and 7...at times the water so deep they had to swim across the ponds because it was over their heads! A middle-aged woman alone on her adventure because no one she knew would join her...And a beautiful, bald cancer patient conquering a fear which in my mind was a day in the park compared to the chemo treatments she's endured.  This was a last minute decision for me and Gina. We read in the Naples paper that this might be Clyde's last Labor Day "Muck-About"--we knew if we didn't do it this year, we may never get the chance again! During the entire walk I was thinking...there is nowhere else like this on the planet--how blessed am I to be experiencing this beauty, and to be doing so with my dear friend Gina.

Naples' beauty stretches out far beyond the white sand beaches and perfectly manicured golf courses...I would recommend this adventure to anyone and everyone who seeks to find a rare and untouched corner of our world.

For more information about The Big Cypress National Preserve, and Clyde Butcher's photography, as well as other information about Everglades Tours, Airboat rides and Kayaking in South Florida, please click on the links below:

http://www.clydebutcher.com/
http://www.swampexplorers.com/
http://youtube.com/naplesproperties


Thanks for reading!
Make it a great day,

The Naples Real Estate Blogger

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 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.

Short Sale Pilot Program

A national average tells us that less than 9% of short sales listed will go through to closing! One in every 173 housing units in Florida are more than 30 days late on their mortgage payment. Approximately 30% of the listed homes and condos are "distressed"...80% of those are "underwater", or in a short sale situation. An example of the huge learning curve that all of us in the real estate industry have had to deal with in the past few years: Florida's largest home loan mortgage company had 50 employees in their foreclosure department a year ago...now they have 1,400 employees in that same department! ~ Most lenders have inadequate staffing for the number of loans that are in default. Another large national lender had over 57,000 new short sale requests in February, 2010 alone in Florida! At that same time, the same lender only had 12 REOs (foreclosures) listed in Collier County (Naples). Obviously, the short sales far outnumber the foreclosures. We need to develop the best practices to expedite short sales and increase their closing success percentages! One of the greatest challenges we, as real estate professionals face, is managing buyer's expectations.  With such low success rates, we MUST find better ways to communicate with lenders, thereby creating more opportunities for today's buyers AND sellers!

In an effort to increase the service we provide, our Coldwell Banker affiliate: Sunbelt Title, recently implemented a pilot program and created a Short Sale Assistance Center. It is designed to help coordinate and facilitate communications between the seller, the Coldwell Banker listing associate and the lender throughout the short sale process. Eventually this will be a statewide program utilizing the Sunbelt Title branch offices around the state with the main assistant center located in Tampa, Florida. A Short Sale Packet has been designed to help streamline the process.

For additional information about Sunbelt Title Agency and their short sale program which is being offered to all Coldwell Banker listings that qualify as short sales, please call us today at 239.370.0574.  For a list of homes and condos for sale in the Naples area, you can register on The Harris Peppe Team website at NaplesRealEstate.com.

Thank you.

The Coast Is Clear

In Naples, the coast is clear!

The coast of Florida has miraculously been blessed with weeks of winds blowing mostly from the north and east, keeping "the spill" away...for now. This wind direction is the opposite of normal for this time of year!
(photo insert taken on 05/31/2010 between Naples and Marco Island-click on picture to enlarge)

Chip and I have not had many inquiries about the oil spill, but it did come up as a topic of discussion yesterday at our office's weekly business meeting. Coldwell Banker provided us with the following State of Florida LINK which will direct you to information about the Deepwater Horizon including live video feeds, trajectory maps and press releases. We were encouraged to make the link available to our customers. For buyers that might be hesitant to make offers on properties located right on the gulf front, a local attorney is working on an addendum that could become part of a sales agreement giving the buyer an opportunity to cancel a sale should oil end up on our beaches.  Another helpful site which is providing good information about our beaches is the VISIT FLORIDA site.   

Although the spill has not affected us directly, the magnitude of this disaster could ultimately affect every living thing on our gulf coast.  As reported yesterday on several social network sites, in response to mounting public pressure, the federal government decided that BP should carry the cost of constructing barrier islands along the Louisiana coast.  They will be paying over $360 million dollars for this project, which they will not be in charge of managing nor constructing.  BP has already provided $170 million to Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi and Florida. They have also paid approximately $42 million in compensation to people and companies affected by the spill.  For more information about the BP funding of the barrier islands and other related stories you can click HERE.  BP presently has 7 different projects underway working to stem the flow of oil. Over 13,000 workers on over 500 vessels are out on the water everyday working the spill. Let's all continue to keep these workers in our thoughts and prayers, and hope for a solution to this challenging situation soon. 

For additional information about Naples gulf front real estate availability for rent or for sale, please contact us today at 239.370.0574. Thank you.    

Photos of Paradise

Here's a link to some beautiful photos of Naples, Florida! If you have any photos of Naples that you would like to share, please send them to me in a jpg file, and we will feature them on our site! Michele@NaplesRealEstate.com CLICK HERE Thank you, and have a great weekend!