Happy New Year from Downtown Naples!

Happy New Year!

Season is in full swing! The activity on 5th Avenue South is wonderful...I love this time of year. The downtown calendar is filled with fabulous events. Click here to get a full calender of the Fifth Avenue South Naples Events!

My personal favorites are the Art Shows! The talent in this town is amazing! The first show, in January, slated for the 5th & 6th is located on Park Street off 5th Avenue South...Then another on the 12th, held in Cambier Park, is sure to please folks looking to buy fine art and crafts from some of the local artisans. There's something to please one and all: Big Band Jazz Concerts, Outdoor Movie Night at Cambier Park, Chalk Art on 5th, The Naples Players will be performing Barefoot in The Park, The Naples Daily News 1/2 Marathon on the 20th, The Martin Luther King Day Parade, and so much more! Don't forget to join us for The 5th Avenue South "Evening on Fifth", always on the 2nd Thursday of the month from 6:30 to 9:30. The restaurants and shoppes stay open and many offer terrific specials and great sales! Come on down to Fifth Avenue South and enjoy all the wonderful activities that our fair city offers. There's only one downtown Naples...and it's 5th Avenue!

Please stop in to The Coldwell Banker Previews International office at 550 Fifth Avenue South and say hello to The Harris Peppe Team! We have been selling The Naples Florida Lifestyle since 1981, and we look forward to meeting you and hope to earn your business.

Thank you, and make it a GREAT YEAR!!

The Naples Real Estate Blogger

How Do You Say, "Lanai?"

Many times, while getting to know a buyer's wants, especially when they are relocating to Florida from a northern home, the square footage needs differ greatly from what they originally specify to what they ultimately buy...People forget, or don't realize, what an intricate part of their home's living space the lanai [also known as a screened porch] becomes. Downsizing from a 4 or 5 thousand square foot home into less square footage may seem daunting to some, until they get here and begin to recognize the lifestyle that outdoor living provides throughout most of the year. Here in Naples people decorate their outside living areas with outdoor wicker & teak and other moisture resistant materials and create wonderful entertainment areas with 'summer' kitchens and bars, dining areas, TVs with comfortable seating arrangements as well as open air patio areas that incorporate the landscaping and lighting. Most rooms in a home open up to the outside and even in private yards, those without views, an outside environment can be created to incorporate the inside out and the outside in. Chip and I have coffee on our lanai almost every morning...we love to sit outside at the end of a long day and enjoy our evening meal together...we cook outside, watch TV outside...much of our home life revolves around our backyard.

So, the next time your real estate agent tells you that you cannot get a 3,000 square foot home in your price range, don't consider it "settling" for less--consider it opening up the possibilities to the true Naples lifestyle of outdoor living--Sometimes less really is more!

Please let us know if we can help you find a pretty lanai in Naples Florida where you can have your coffee each morning! 239.370.0574

Make it a great day,

The Naples Real Estate Blogger

Fun Summer Activities in Naples Florida

Well, here it is again already...the first day of summer, and I am about to write what has become my most popular annual blog post: Cool things to do in Naples Florida during your Summer vacation! But, whether you are here on vacation or not, the locals also love this time of year--less crowds, great sales, amazing restaurant specials...May I suggest a few activities that will surely make the long summer days and nights a bit 'cooler'!

How about summer golf? For 17 years, the South Florida PGA Golf Pass program has been providing golfers the opportunity to play on hundreds of local courses at discounted rates....only $48 per individual! Look for GOLFPASS on the menu bar on their home page.

Do you want to be entertained? The Naples Beach Hotel's 26th Annual Summer Jazz on The Gulf concert series kicks off on Saturday June 25th from 7-10PM on the resort's scenic Watkins Lawn (see photo inset) with a local favorite group, Pocket Change. Circle the dates for the other concerts on July 16th, August 20th and September 17th. Also, don't forget the Evenings On Fifth as they continue all summer on the 2nd Thursday of every month. There you will find a wide variety of musical entertainment, side walk sales and excellent restaurant promotions. Or, click on this link to see what is happening at The Phil.

If Art & Culture is your thing, how about a day wandering through the 15 exhibit halls at The Jay and Patty Baker Naples Museum of Art, or perhaps the beautiful von Liebig Center downtown? Peruse the galleries on Fifth Avenue, or gallery Row off Third. Another hidden treasure are the working studios and galleries of The North Naples Arts Alliance in the Pine Ridge Industrial Park....my personal favorites are The Rosen Gallery and Studio, and The Sweet Art Gallery.

Maybe getting closer to nature is what you are hoping to do...Did you know that Naples residents can go to the Naples Zoo for free on the first Saturday of every month? If you haven't been there lately, the bear exhibit is wonderful, as are the giraffes--but I absolutely love Monkey Islands (probably as much as my grandkids)! A favorite way to spend a morning this time of year is wandering the trails and boardwalks at The Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. Maintained by The Audubon Society, it is alive with color during the summer months...you might just get lucky enough to view the rare and breathtaking ghost orchids. Why not rent a jet ski or a boat for the day? The backwaters in Naples lead directly to The Ten Thousand Islands and some of the most pristine beaches and mangrove islands in the world. It's the Summer of Sharks at Rookery Bay. Kids 12 and younger get in free on Fridays when accompanied by an adult, for stories, crafts, live animals and much more. Call ahead for more details: 239.417.6310.

Don't miss the Fourth of July Parade from 10:00 a.m. to noon. The parade begins at Broad Avenue South to Third Street then marches down Fifth Avenue South. Get a good spot early...there's always a nice crowd in front of The Coldwell Banker Previews office at 550! Later that same day, the downtown fireworks is a show not to be missed. This tradition begins at 9 p.m. when a remarkable pyrotechnics display appears off the Naples Pier...set to patriotic music, it is one of the best shows I've ever seen...and what better setting than watching it from the beach as the rockets soar over the gulf waters! Call 213.7120 if you are interested in parking and shuttle info.

Last but not least, summer is a great time to buy Naples Real Estate...In fact, I think that might be the coolest idea of all! Please call The Harris Peppe Team today to get a list of some of the areas very best buys and excellent values. We would be happy to prepare a list specific to your needs and wants. We've been selling the Naples lifestyle since 1981 and we would consider it a privilege to assist you or someone you now with a Summer Sale in Naples.

Thank you and have a great summer! The Naples Real Estate Blogger

Just Saying "Thank You"

From the time I was old enough to hold a pencil in my hand I was taught the art of the Thank You Note. Even before I learned to write my own name, I learned how to write the word 'love'--the perfect salutation for the many notes I would write from a very early age to the wonderful friends and family to whom I wanted to show appreciation...Still to this day I send notes and cards...and I still think the 44 cents the post office charges to get a card from my mailbox to a friend's mailbox anywhere in the USA in just a few days is a bargain indeed for the joy it gives both me and the receiver.

Chip & I like to say 'thank you' in various way to the people who make a difference in our lives--both in our personal lives and in business. A few years ago we tried our hand at a Client Appreciation Party--a beautiful venue, caterers...The entire Harris Peppe Team was there to visit with the attendees, including my amazing mom who was assigned to greeting the guests. I don't think many people there were aware of my disappointment in the turnout, and it precluded me from organizing any such gatherings since...until yesterday! Last night Chip and I hosted the first, of what I believe will be many, Client Appreciation Sunset Cruises on the Ithaka! We comfortably included 5 couples, and hired our middle son Bobby to take care of all the serving details so that I could enjoy our wonderful company. I did all the cooking, which I love to do, and Chip of course captained the boat...The weather cooperated and we saw a magnificent sunset. All 12 guests were from the same general area, but some had never met, so new friendships were made. We all talked about how we met and our connections. We joked about my many hairstyles over the years. We talked about the real estate market, The Great Circle Loop trip that Chip and I completed last year, our children & grandchildren and we talked especially about how good life is in Naples Florida.

It is a deeply satisfying for me to realize that I have made a difference in their lives...they thank me all the time...yet, I continually want to find ways to let them know that I am thankful...not only for the business and referrals that they have given to me over the years, but absolutely without a doubt, I am most thankful for the relationships that I have made over the years. These are great friends...this is a great place to live...this is a wonderful career...and I am truly grateful.

Just Saying THANK YOU, and make it a great day!

The Naples Real Estate Blogger

Select Vendor of the Week

Koenig Art Emporium

It is with great pleasure that The Harris Peppe Team recommends Koenig Art Emporium and recognizes them as our select vendor of the week. In this day and age, when so many businesses are succumbing to larger, national stores, the personalized relationship between the "shop owner" and the consumer is rare to find. Dick Walbert first opened his doors here in Naples over 25 years ago. He offers a wide selection of well priced art supplies, as well as very competitive pricing for custom framing. His work is impeccable, and it makes me happy to know that I am a patron of a locally owned, family business. You can find Dick and his friendly staff at 985 Central Avenue near downtown Naples. Please stop by the next time you need a treasured work of art framed---or better yet, create one yourself with their vast selection of paints and canvases. Click here for a video and more contact information: KOENIG ART EMPORIUM

Thank you, and make it a great day,

The Naples Real Estate Blogger

"Recovery to Normalcy"

Today I had the distinct pleasure of being in the audience and listening to Dr. Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist for The National Association of Realtors. He spoke for nearly two hours. In addition to the 7 pages of copious notes that I took during his lecture, I will eventually have access to his power point presentation, as will all those who were in attendance. This will also include his charts and graphs, which I will share a link to at a later date. Some of this may lose a little bit in the translation without those graphs, but I will do my very best to post a few of his top talking points and statistics that I believe will be of interest. Although Dr. Yun's presentation was seamless, my recap likely will not be. Obviously, the seminar included many statistics and graphs charting the United States economy and Home Sales, but I will try to concentrate on those topics which will effect real estate values locally, here in Naples.

Here are a few:

• The present population of the state of Florida is approximately 18 million. This is projected to double in the next 20 years.
• If the pattern of new jobs created in Naples, as documented in the past 20 years, were to stay on its same pattern, not withstanding the short term fluctuation of 2008-2010, jobs in Naples will also double in the next 20 years.
• The "normal" migration to Florida, particularly the huge number of baby boomers, among them the more comfortably wealthy, will begin to increase again in 2011. [more people left Florida than entered in both 2008 & 2009-and 2010 was virtually even.]
• Newly built inventory in South Florida is at a 40 year low. New housing start permits in Collier County numbered about 1,000 per year for the last 3 years vs. an average of over 6,000+ in the previous 4 years.
• Currently, the cost of constructing a new home is higher than buying a newer resale. Buyers wanting newer homes will have to buy resales in most cases.
• Upcoming tighter mortgage regulations as well as the expectancy of home loan rates increasing in 2012 will prohibit some buyers without cash from purchasing.
• Nationwide, there have been no meaningful changes in Home Price Trends, they have gone 'sideways' for approximately 12 months. However there are some "wildcard" markets that may even see a 10-15% increase in prices after the 2008-2010 over-correction. Naples fits into this category!

Overall, the outlook was very bright for Florida, and specifically a recovery in Southwest Florida! Dr. Yun also touched on the influx of foreign buyers coming to Florida, consumer confidence levels, unemployment, business investments and commercial real estate, mortgage defaults and governments bail-outs.

Dr. Yun ended the seminar with two quotes, and this discussion: The countries in the world that prosper are those which encourage and support home ownership. He spoke from the heart of his own memories of his birth country, South Korea--the fact that the one true thing that separated the ideology of his homeland and North Korea was home ownership. He compared this to a current news maker and mentioned the fact that 90% of Egyptians do not have title to their homes. He said he believed there had been two 'transformational' Presidents in our modern history...and these were the quotes:

"A nation of homeowners is unconquerable." ~FDR

"We will preserve the part of the American dream which mortgage interest deduction symbolizes." ~Ronald Reagan

Thank you for your time. Make it a great day,

The Naples Real Estate Blogger

Select Vendor of the Week!

This week The Harris Peppe Team is pleased to feature Naples Boat Charters as our select vendor of the week. Captain Jim Albert will take up to six passengers on board his 33' Sea Ray Sundancer: Maritime Lady, to see beautiful sunsets, dolphins & eagles, luxury homes and gorgeous yachts in Naples Bay. Captain Jim is a USCG licensed & insured Merchant Marine Captain who pilots The Naples Princess, and has also piloted the US Navy submarine, USS Benjamin Franklin. Captain Jim provides hourly, half-day and full-day excursions. Click on his website link above for additional information, or to book your next private charter here in beautiful Naples Florida!

There are so many wonderful activities to do and see in Naples Florida, but if you are visiting and you leave without seeing Naples by water, you've missed the best views in town!

Thank you, and make it a GREAT day,

The Naples Real Estate Blogger

October in Beautiful Naples Florida!

October is a very special month in Naples Florida. [I know, every month is special in Naples Florida--it's true] Summer is winding down, we are all busily getting ready for the influx of "snowbirds"... There are a lot of fun activities going on around town. The weather is near perfect-- not too hot...not too cool...It really is a great time of year to be in paradise! I found a couple of links that I wanted to share with calendars of events. Downtown Naples Calendar Naples Halloween Activities October Events and Happenings