Cannot Be Duplicated!

Royal Harbor Treasure!

Undeniably, one of the very best waterfront values in all of Naples Florida!

This professionally decorated, custom home boasts over 4,200 square feet of living area and has 4 bedrooms plus a den and 4 full baths. Additionally there is a library, an exercise room, a craft or hobby room, and separate formal living room & dining room as well as a family room which opens from the gourmet kitchen to the beautiful outdoor Lanai, pool & spa and built in grill. All new impact curtains exceed the 2011 Dade/Broward wind requirements for a CAT 5 Hurricane. The 60' deep water dock will accommodate a large vessel and features direct gulf access...In minutes you will find yourself in Naples Bay, the Gulf of Mexico, or the wonderful backwaters of the 10,000 Islands! Please join me today, Sunday February 20th at my open house from 1PM to 4PM, at 2031 Tarpon Road in Royal Harbor, or call The Harris Peppe Team to arrange a private showing of this immaculately kept waterfront residence in one of Naples finest communities! Drastically reduced to under $2 million! 239.370.0574

Thank you, and make it a GREAT day!

The Naples Real Estate Blogger

Fabulous New Listing!

Immaculate 2 bedroom plus den, 2 full baths, first floor end unit with an attached garage. Tastefully furnished, this lovely coach home is being offered "turn-key" and offers a lovely, tropical view. There are nearly 1800 spacious square feet 'under air', and 2258 total square feet.

Click here to see a virtual tour!

The amenities of this amazing Tom Fazio designed golf course community includes tennis, a world class marina with direct gulf access and a water shuttle to a private beach on Keewaydin Island.

This is a wonderful opportunity to live in a gated, golf course community right on Naples Bay, and within a few miles of Naples downtown restaurants, shoppes, galleries and pristine beaches! Huge price reduction, motivated sellers! Call us now for your personal tour of this fabulous new listing. $325,000. 239.370.0574

Thank you and have a great weekend,

The Naples Real Estate Blogger

New Listing

The Old World Charm of Calabria has come to Naples Florida!

There's a beautiful new listing in Naples Florida that we are so excited to tell you about! Over 5,000 square feet makes this Mediterranean masterpiece one of the best values for its size, age and location in the always popular downtown Naples locale. Three spacious bedrooms, each with its own balcony, plus a den, 5 full baths, a private 2-car garage and private elevator all create a very livable, maintenance free home in the heart of Naples. Nothing has been overlooked...the architectural details are magnificent and are enhanced by the lush landscaping, charming courtyards with trellis and fountain and colorful gardens, all of which surround the pool, spa and water feature. You will feel like you are in another world in this romantic setting, yet you are only one block away from the fabulous shoppes and restaurants of Fifth Avenue South, and a short stroll to the pristine white sand beaches of Olde Naples. This perfect Naples lifestyle is waiting for you to call it home. Call today to preview, and you will see why we think Villas Calabria is such a wonderful opportunity! 239.370.0574 For a unique perspective of this wonderful residence please click here: VIRTUAL TOUR Thank you, and make it a great day, The Naples Real Estate Blogger

What a Difference a Day Makes

The difference between September 30th and October 1st is this: One day it still feels like summer, the next day you're trying to decide at whose house will you be eating Chistmas dinner...The pumpkin decorations have been out at the stores for weeks, but I was still able to avoid that "the holidays are upon us" feeling....Until today! Turning the calendar page over, and having it read "OCTOBER" does it to me every year....the end of the year is near...I've already volunteered to be on the office holiday party committee...I will be taking my grandkids to Party World tomorrow so that they can pick out their Halloween costumes...I purchased my Thanksgiving cards today, and should have them addressed by Monday--at which time I will begin writing my Christmas card list...Our end-of-the-year business gifts have been ordered, weeks ago, so that I can get them out in November and avoid the December rush! My husband, Sam, my friends and family, all know how [for lack of a better word] organized  I am...some may call it something else...It's OK, I've been called worse things...

Anyway, for those of you who share this characteristic with me, why not plan ahead for the coming season, and check out these two wonderful listings in Glen Eagle Country Club. Naples Florida hasn't been this affordable in years! Click HERE and HERE to view the virtual tours of these wonderful, affordable condos located just minutes to downtown Naples...the beaches, the world class shopping, the gourmet restaurants, fabulous galleries and live theater, all only a few miles away! Under $200,000 never looked so good!

For additional information about these two condos, or other properties for sale in Naples golf course communities, please call The Harris Peppe Team today! 239.370.0574

Thank you, and make it a great October!!

The Naples Real Estate Blogger

Naples Real Estate Statistics for August 2010

Is it possible that I am calculating the August real estate sales data? --Hard to believe it is already the 1st of September. Holiday decorations are already adorning the stores...kids are back in school...football pre-season has begun...We're working on our 2011 business plan and marketing budget! Where has 2010 gone? Never mind that...where did the entire decade go?

Typically, this is the quietest time of year in Naples--August figures reflect that. 

Pendings are down approximately 15% comparing August 2010 to august 2009.

The calculations below are based on the 12 months ending August 31st, 2010.

Facts and figures are derived from data obtained from the local multiple listing system: 

• New listings taken August 2010: 1,336. Priced at or above $1 million: 126
• New listings taken August 2009:  1,213. Priced at or above $1 million:  79
• Pending sales August 2010: 798. Pended listed at or above $1 million: 29
• Pending sales August 2009: 951. Pended listed at or above $1 million: 42
• Closed sales August 2010: 547. Closings that were listed at or above $1 million: 34
• Closed sales August 2009: 592. Closings that were listed at or above $1 million: 34
• Closed sale finance trends: 149 of the 547 closings got some type of conventional financing, whereas 398 of the 547 closings were cash transactions.

Here is a list of the Average Residential Sold Prices in specific GEO areas where we do most of our business, as of August 31st, 2010, comparing the past 12 months to the previous 12 months:

• NA 05 Crayton Area Aug 2009-Aug 2010: $850,310 vs prior 24-12 months: $970,272
• NA 06 Old Naples Aug 2009-Aug 2010: $1,058,244 vs prior 24-12 months: $1,048,758
• NA 07 Port Royal/Aqualane Aug 2009-Aug 2010: $5,177,272 vs prior 24-12 months: $ 4,216,020
• NA 08 Royal Harbor Area Aug 2009-Aug 2010: $507,638 vs 24-12 months: $711,573

Here is a list of today's current inventory in these GEO areas and other pertinent facts:

• NA 05 Crayton Area:  Current Inventory: 603 active listings. Closings in the past 12 months: 433. List Price to Sale Price percentage ratio: 89% Average Days On Market: 253.  
• NA 06 Old Naples:  Current Inventory 272 active listings. Closings in the past 12 months: 150. List Price to Sale Price percentage ratio: 91%.   Average Days On Market: 210. 
• NA 07 Port Royal/Aqualane:  Current Inventory:  108 active listings.  Closings in the past 12 months: 55. List Price to Sale Price precentage ratio: 86%. Average Days On Market: 277.
• NA 08 Royal Harbor Area:  Current Inventory: 198 active listings. Closings in the past 12 months: 90. List Price to Sale Price percentage ratio: 91%. Average Days On Market: 228.  

Basic economics state that supply and demand create value. The inventory is down for 7 consecutive months in Naples. Here are a few other factors that are influencing our present real estate market.

• Decreasing property values.
• An oil spill which effected 82 of the over 1,200 shoreline in the state of Florida.
• Historically low interest rates.
• Unemployment.

In some cases, sellers are beginning to hold tighter to asking prices, while buyers are still looking for sellers to be more negotiable. Each offer must be considered individually, as even within the local market in Naples, there are communities that continue with unusually low activity, while others have a much shorter *absorption rate. *As an example, GEO area NA 22 [south of Immokalee Road, and West of CR 951] has a 97% List price to Sale price percentage ratio, a current inventory of 349 active listings and 390 clsoings in the past 12 months. Obviously, if you have a questions about a specific GEO area, please call us directly at 239.370.0574.   

Keeping all of this in mind, The Harris-Peppe Team continues to stay busy. Our website http://www.naplesrealestate.com/ has contributed to nearly 50% of our closings YTD. We have been successful in all price points, but especially the high-end market in the past few months.    Although we do expect a quiet couple of months ahead, this is when we "sharpen the saw", and optimistically anticipate all the potential in the coming season.

~Have a safe and happy September, and remember...if you know anyone looking to buy or sell in Naples Florida, please let us know. A personal referral is one of the highest compliments we can ever receive!

Thank you,

The Naples Real Estate Blogger

All the Bells and Whistles

Lovingly care for Key West style single family home located at the quiet end of a picturesque street in desirable Royal Harbor. Spacious Great Room features 18' cypress tray ceilings and rich crown mouldings. The fabulous pool area with waterfall leads you out to the lushly landscaped backyard and right down to your private dock with direct Gulf access! Do you want to see 'all the bells and whistles'? Click HERE for photos and a virtual tour of this magnificent residence! Call the Harris-Peppe Team today to set up an appointment to preview this home, or for a complete list of all the waterfront homes in Southwest Florida! 239.370.0574 Thanks, and make it a great day!

Slow and Steady

The headline reads, "Economists: Slow recovery on tap", but when you read further, much of today's front page article in USA Today is much more promising than not...Although 63% of the economists say the recovery is slow and gradual, Two-thirds say existing home sales have hit bottom! Bill Cheney, chief economist at MFC Global Investment said that since both the housing and car markets fell so sharply, both have the "potential to generate some large percentage increases". I think everybody is trying to remain cautiously optimistic. Housing remains front and center...Florida went into a recession nearly a year ahead of the rest of the nation...both resales and new home sales last month exceeded everyone's predictions, rising 11%. Here in Naples we are seeing so many positive signs, including pending sales up 99% in June '09 vs June of 2008; and closed sales for that same comparison up 38%! Inventory is down, Average days on the market are down. The pent-up demand for real estate is becoming more and more evident as buyers are looking for well priced properties in good locations; price being the first consideration...."buyers" being the optimum word! Internet leads so far this month have exceeded February, typically our busiest month for inquiries...and our phones are ringing. Unemployment, a big factor in the recovery, is expected to hit double digits by the end of the year, but here's some interesting information: Did you know that unemployment for those with less than a high school diploma is already hovering around 14% ? With at least a college degree, less than 5% unemployment... here in Naples unemployment rose to 8% recently, due primarily to the decline in housing permits which peaked in late 2003...and for those tracking, fell 86% since that point in time. Luckily Naples remains very attractive to those who have always gravitated to the area...High income retirees from the Northeast & Midwest and foreign nationals from both Canada and Europe. Even though those high-end earners took a beating in many cases, the home they would have paid $3 million for a few years ago is now listed below $2 million...and they're back here now looking for these good values and making offers....knowing that "slow and steady" wins the race! For information on what The Harris-Peppe Team thinks are some of the best buys in today's market, please call us. We hope to hear from you soon, and we look forward to earning your business. Have a great week!

The Biggest Net

I've written a lot of posts about the size of the net that Coldwell Banker casts to ensure our listings are exposed to the most prospective buyers around the world...Just this week at The Tech Tour that I attended in Estero I learned that The Harris-Peppe Team listings are posted on over 350 websites. I can't imagine any other brand with that kind of dominance on the Internet! Chip & I have three very active websites. All designed to cater to a specific market segment. Our Luxury Properties are featured on our NaplesPreviews.com site. This site lists our team's listings as well as all listings in the Naples area priced at or above $1 million dollars. We have another website, NaplesRealEstateEtc.com which allows every single listing in the entire state of Florida to be posted. These are categorized by city, from Apalachicola to Zephyr Hills and everything in between! Our most popular site is NaplesRealEstate.com. In fact, last month we tracked over 247,000 organic visitors on this site. Content is changed regularly, so you'll want to bookmark this site by making it a favorite and come back to visit it often. Approximately 50% of our business is generated from this website. We have experienced unparalleled success due primarily to this commitment of promoting our web marketing, a powerful organic web presence as well as an unmatched level of customer service. Selecting the right real estate agent and team is crucial. It makes all the difference in the world; and in our case, the "world" is exactly what sets us apart! Coldwell Banker has over 105,000 agents worldwide in 3,600 offices, in 47 countries. Our sales volume last year in the U.S. and Canada alone topped $225 Billion dollars! If you want your Naples home or condo exposed to the best and biggest demographic of buyers, please call The Harris-Peppe Team at Coldwell Banker Previews International today. 239-370-0574 (direct). We look forward to earning your business and hope to hear you soon!

A Place to Hang Your Heart

Looking for a place to hang your hat? Beautifully renovated, from top to bottom; come see why we think this lovely villa in Windstar Country Club is one of the best buys on the market in Naples Florida! Wide open floor plan with soaring ceilings and a breathtaking lake & golf course view...this 3 bedroom residence boasts over 2,300 square feet of air-conditioned living area plus a garden-side lanai and a private 2 car garage. The newly designed kitchen features top-of-the line appliances, high-end cabinetry and granite. The spacious Master bedroom opens to a private courtyard and has a wonderful new en suite bath with separate tub & shower, double sinks and a private water closet. Warm hickory floors and custom painting throughout creates an inviting ambiance rarely seen in most Florida villas in this price range. Best of all, you are just steps away from your own privacy garden which leads directly to a very large pool & entertainment area. The amenities at Windstar are incomparable--a brand new club house plus a masterly designed Tom Fazio golf course for the avid golfer. The community also features a world class, deep-water marina within its gates, making it the only golf course community in Naples right on Naples Bay! A boat shuttle will take you and your guests to a private island for a day of sunning and shelling on one of the prettiest beaches you'll ever find. Windstar is also an Audubon approved neighborhood with one of the lowest densities of any golf course community in SW Florida! This is true Florida living at its best, and we are certain once you see this (click here for virtual tour) magnificent home, you'll want to hang your heart here forever! For more details or for a personal tour of this property, please call The Harris-Peppe Team at 239-370-0574.

Inventory Down. Sales Up!

It's the first day of a new month and a new quarter. We completed our month-end reports yesterday and we are also carefully reviewing the year-to date statistics in each of the markets that we are most active. We found a few interesting conclusions based on data from our local MLS that I thought I would share. Keep in mind, these findings are inclusive of all geographic areas in Naples. Certain market segments are holding there own better than others, and indeed, certain areas are quite active and showing strong signs of leveling off. More than just a few local real estate gurus are predicting we may be at or near the bottom.

• Residential Sold Listings peaked in June of 2005 with three subsequent spikes in the next 3 years in March 2006, May 2007 and May 2008. The most recent peak in May 2009 marks the first time since September 2005 that closings in the Naples MLS exceeded 700 units!

• Residential Pending Sales By Month, which is typically the best barometer for determining what is happening "now" shows a marked improvement when tracking pendings June 2005 through to the present. The average number of pending per month over the past four years has been 475, but in April and May of this year we exceeded 1000 each month!

• Residential Median Sold Price Per Month indicates the "middle" (half sold above this price, half sold below) from June 2005 to May 2009 at $352,006. However, if all listings priced at $300,000 or less are taken out of this equation, the Residential Median Sold Price By Month dramatically becomes $515,718. (keep in mind, 4 years ago you'd have been hard pressed to find any listings priced under $300,000 in Naples Florida. Today approximately 40% of our inventory is listed under $300,000).

• When duplicating this same search, but only going back 12 months to June 2008 another interesting result occurs. The Residential Median Sold Price By Month hit a low of $175,000 last month. However, once again when we eliminate all closed sales of listings priced below $300,000 from the search criteria the median price for this date range is back up to $517,371.

• Currently, Naples MLS inventory is down to under 9,000 Residential Active Listings. Just one year ago, in June 2008, we had a 33.76 month supply in inventory. But, when we take our current inventory and chart it with the current 12 month trend of pendings and closings we calculate that as of June 30th, 2009, we have a 20.79 supply in months of Active Residential Listings.

There is a strong demand for well priced listings; today's buyers are looking for value. Interest rates have remained stable. ~and We feel very lucky to be selling real estate in Naples Florida. Chip & I have had a good 1st and 2nd quarter. Year-do -date pendings and closed sales exceed 2008.

Please don't hesitate to contact us should you have any comments or questions concerning the current state of the real estate market here in Naples Florida. The Harris Peppe Team is happy to provide you with details about any specific communities or condominiums. We hope to hear from you soon and look forward to earning your business. Please call us anytime at 239-370-0574 direct. Thank you...have a super month!

Million dollar views!

Today I want to share with you one of the best buys in a perfectly maintained building along Gulf Shore Blvd. located on the bay with easy beach access across the street at The Moorings private beach. This remodeled 2 bedroom condo offers dazzling gulf and bay views, new impact windows, professional on-site management, fitness room, over-sized pool and docks available! Best of all, this home is priced below $500,000! You're just minutes from the downtown area where all the Olde Naples shoppes and restaurants beckon you! This is a true Florida lifestyle. Check out the virtual tour and call us if you'd like a personal tour of this property today! 239-370-0574 Thanks and have a great day!

Two Homes for The Price of One!

This is a wonderful opportunity to purchase two beautiful homes in Naples Florida for the price of one! The 3 bedroom main home is a well maintained ranch style residence featuring a split bedroom design, formal living room, a step-saver kitchen which opens up to the family room with vaulted ceiling and an oversized screened porch. There is a refreshing below ground pool surrounded by magnificent landscaping. The cottage style guest house offers two bedrooms plus two full baths, a 2-car garage and a perfectly outfitted granite and stainless kitchen. In addition the cottage boasts a huge screened lanai for hours of outdoor living. All this is located in the prestigeous area of Logan Woods on over 2 acres! Call today to see this fabulous buy! 239-370-0574 ~or For additional photos, a virtual tour and other listing information please visit our website at http://www.naplesrealestate.com/

House-Spouse magnet

This may well be one of the weirdest real estate blog entries ever, but I felt it was worth the time for those ladies out there looking for a husband...okay, don't laugh, but here goes. We have a cute little condo listed in a neighborhood and price point that we do not normally handle. The mom of the owner is a real estate agent in another Florida city and found us on the Internet. Given her daughter's situation I decided to take the listing myself hoping that someone would do the same for one of my kids. I promised her I would take care of her daughter as though she were my own kiddo. I know it gave her a good sense of comfort knowing my years of experience. Well, never did we think a year ago that the market would have continued it's downward spiral and at such a pace...This lovely little condo is a super buy, located just a few short miles to downtown Naples and all the wonderful amenities Naples offers. Further, it boasts a spacious bedroom plus a den, covered parking, cute furnishings, in-home laundry, a wonderful community pool, a nice park-like setting, golfing nearby and best of all...are you ready for this? The last two ladies who owned this condo moved in single and met their husbands shortly thereafter. Now, this might be pushing the envelope, and of course I cannot make any guarantees, but thinking outside the box is my specialty and in this crazy market I figured, what did I have to lose, right? Oh, by the way. This sweet little condo is priced at $100,000 even. Call us if you're interested in the details or check it out yourself on our website: http://www.naplesrealestate.com/

Say "hello" to a good buy!

Call today to see this lovely home perfectly situated on a peaceful preserve. Unbelievable opportunity to own a 3 bedroom single family home with a 2 car-garage, private pool and spa, intensely furnished turnkey and brand new carpet! This great community is a friendly neighborhood with quiet winding streets, sidewalks and cul du sacs. There's a world class clubhouse offering fabulous amenities including a huge swimming pool and excellent tennis facility. The gate house is fully manned and adds security and always a warm welcome! Come see why we think at only $349,000 this is one of Naples Best Buys! Call soon...this wonderful opportunity will not last long! 239-250-4370 direct.

Front row seats!

Imagine yourself in these front row seats...Stunning bay views of magnificent sunsets, dolphins jumping, yachts cruising by, pelicans and eagles soaring over pristine waters...

This is where your dreams will come true! Call The Harris-Peppe Team to preview this rarely available and one-of-a kind bayfront residence. Beautifully redone; this multi-level 3 bedroom 3 bath townhouse is tastefully furnished and INCLUDES a 30' deeded dock with direct access to the Gulf of Mexico, a 2 car garage and private bayside deck! The top floor romantic master suite has a private balcony with wet bar, microwave and refrigerator. Video Tour Call today, you won't be disappointed! The "best seats in the house" are waiting just for you!

239-370-0574