What is PREVIEWS?

Coldwell Banker Previews International 

Celebrates 80th Anniversary!

 Coldwell Banker Previews International is happy to celebrate its 80th anniversary this month. Paying tribute to the legacy started in 1933 by the PREVIEWS founder, Henderson Talbot. Talbot was a real estate agent with ties to Hollywood who introduced the use of motion picture to market his high end listings. Imagine his vision, utilizing film, allowing international buyers the ability to "preview" exclusive listings around the world!  Coldwell Banker has always been ahead of the curve in marketing luxury homes. To read the full article about this milestone click here: PREVIEWS.   

For information about the Previews market in Naples Florida, please contact us today. 239-370-0574.

Thank you and make it a great day!

The Naples Real Estate Blogger

Coldwell Banker Previews International Announces the 30 Top Luxury Agents in Florida!





The Florida Top 30!

 

Chip Harris and Michele Peppe were recently recognized by Coldwell Banker Previews International as being in the top 30 agents in the state of Florida for Luxury Homes sales. Recognized as a world leader in the marketing of exceptional properties, Coldwell Banker Previews International handles on average over $70 million in luxury home sales every day! Coldwell Banker represented 5 of the 10 priciest homes in the U.S. in 2011. The most expensive celebrity property in the U.S. listed at $150 million was sold by Coldwell Banker Previews International. Previews works with more celebrities, dignitaries and affluent buyers than any other Florida real estate firm. Chip & Michele are both Certified Previews Specialists. Together they boast over 50 years selling the Naples luxury lifestyle to satisfied buyers as well as representing some of the most beautiful properties in Naples Florida. Can you find them in the photo above? [click on photo to enlarge]

Please contact them directly if you are interested in a luxury home experience. 239.370.0574  ~Also, their web dominance includes a website catering to the high-end market and provides lists of all million dollar plus properties in Southwest Florida. Log onto: Naples Previews for additional information. 

Thank you for being a part of Chip & Michele's success!

The Naples Real Estate Blogger

22 Shopping Days 'til Christmas!

Have you made your "list" and checked it twice? As any of you who know me well know, I am a list maker...I have lists for everything!

1. The everyday "To do" list
2. The "I never go to the Grocery Store without a" list
3. The Books I want to read list
4. The Birthday and anniversary cards for the month ahead list
5. The Things that need to get done around the house list
6. The Guests attending our Christmas parties [yes, I'm having more than one party] list
7. The What to cook at each party list
8. The Christmas gift list...card list...

Well, you get the picture. It comes from being a first born, organized, sometimes compulsive, cannot say "no", overachiever...lists are what keep me sane! I actually like lists. When I get a little behind, I've even been known to put things on my lists that I've already done...gives me a sense of accomplishment..."check!" ~Have you seen the commercial on TV lately of the woman who goes to the check out and asks the clerk if he can read anything on her list and he says, "No, there's a line through everything."...and she smiles and gives him a "Boo-ya"!

Anyway, I know a lot of you reading this like lists, too. In fact, one of the most requested blog post suggestions I've gotten recently is for me to post lists of what's selling and what I think are some of the best buys around Naples. So here's a short recap of what happened in the market in November, and what is currently for sale in some of the neighborhoods where The Harris Peppe Team lists and sells:

• There were a total of 231 single family homes and 243 condos that closed in Naples in November 2011. Down less than 1% over the same time period a year ago.
• Of those 474 closings, 89 were listed as "Short Sales"...that's about 18%
• 43 of the 89 short sales were priced below $300,000!
• 98 were listed as "foreclosures"...about 20%
• 91 of the 98 were priced below $300,000!
• There was a total of 33 closings priced at or above $1 million
• 3 of the 33 were short sales, and only 1 was a foreclosure!
• There was a total of 20 single family homes that sold last month in NA 04 to NA 08 [this includes but is not limited to Pelican Bay south to Port Royal along the beach and includes Old Naples, and the Royal Harbor Area as well] 3 of the 20 were short sales. There were 49 condo sales in these same areas, and only 2 were short sales.
• Presently there are 67 single family homes for sale in Old Naples [NA 06]. Only 9 are listed below $1 million! The least expensive home for sale in Old Naples as of this writing is priced at $549,000
• There are 139 condos listed in Old Naples starting at $109,000 for a 1 BR/ 1 BA on up to a luxurious villa for $2,550,000
• There are 102 homes for sale in NA 05 [Crayton Road corridor]. With just a handful priced below $500,000, on up to a waterfront home boasting 5,400 sf built in 2004 with an asking price of $5,250,000.
• One of the hottest neighborhoods is NA 15, the area between US 41 and Goodlette Road, which showed a 7% improvement in the past 12 months as compared to the previous 12 months. Presently there are 46 single family homes available. 15 of the 46 are listed as short sales, and 36 of the 46 are priced below $300,000.

Well, that's my list for the day--I hope it helped you get a better picture of what is happening in some of the areas in Naples Real Estate. Please call us if buying a home in Naples is on your list! 239.370.0574

~And remember, Naples is usually Santa's last stop!

Thanks, and make it a GREAT day,

The Naples Real Estate Blogger

*Data is derived from the Naples multiple listing system, SunshineMLS and is deemed accurate but not guaranteed.

The Language of Luxury

Chip and I took two new listings this week. In each case we were up against our 2 main competitors in the Naples Luxury Real Estate market. In both instances, the sellers selected The Harris Peppe Team because of Coldwell Banker's global reach, our technology and Internet presence, and the networking capabilities of Cartus Corporation, which manages the relocations of more than 140,000 customers annually.

Why do International Homebuyers choose Florida? *31% of all international homebuyers who purchased in the United States in the past 12 month chose Florida as their top destination. The reasons given are: Ease of ownership, Value, Location, and Lifestyle. In Florida, Coldwell Banker has 4,600 sales associates which are highly trained to help buyers find Florida properties that match a purchaser's investment, rental and vacation needs. Collectively, our associates are in 83 offices statewide, they speak 100 foreign languages and they connect with nearly 100,000 Coldwell Banker agents worldwide.

Our Internet presence is unmatched in the industry today. In addition to the 350 websites on which we feature our listings, we also have access to a 'rapid response' device known as Leadrouter, we are the most 'followed' real estate company on Twitter, and we've received over 25,000 visitors from 99 countries on our blog! We have partnered with REALTOR.com, Trulia, Zillow and Yahoo Real Estate, the four leading real estate search websites. To top it all off, sellers who list with us get their home showcased on Naples Real Estate.com, our very own website, on which you can search all active listings in The Naples multiple listing system!

If you or someone you know is thinking about selling a home in Naples Florida, you owe it to yourself to interview Chip Harris & Michele Peppe. The Language of Luxury sums it up best, "To the extent that incumbent market leaders rest on their laurels, do not stay focused or do not keep up with technology, market leadership is up for grabs for any real estate marketing professional with a superior proposition and the right brand strategy." We are dedicated to providing old fashioned service combined with state of the art technology. We look forward to hearing from you soon, and hope to earn your future business.

Thank you and make it a great day,

The Naples Real Estate Blogger

*according to the National Association of Realtors-2011 profile of international buying activity.

A Reflection of Supply and Demand

The Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate offices in Naples and Bonita Springs Florida recently had the honor of having Cindy Carroll as a guest speaker at their joint monthly business meeting. Cindy is a State-Certified Residential Real Estate Appraiser who I happen to go back with to the days when we were both picking up our kids at the same day care. In other words, she's been around the block a time or two, and her knowledge of the market is unsurpassed. Cindy shared with us some market statistics, some of which I found to be absolutely stunning. As a point of clarification, the dates noted, being referred to as the "date of survey" indicate closed sales in the 12 months prior to the survey date.

Here are a few examples of a reflection of supply and demand in the Naples Residential Real Estate from Carroll and Carroll:

• Aqualane Shores: Peaked at years supply in April 2007 with 3.63 years. Had only 7 closed sales the 12 months prior to July 2009, and presently has 43 active listings, 21 closed sales from May 2010-May 2011, and a current absorption rate of 2.05 years.
• Olde Naples/Single Family Homes: Peaked at 3.2 years supply in December 2008, presently has 77 active listings, down from the peak of 116 in April 2007. Today's absorption rate is just under 1 year.
• Olde Naples/Condominiums: Inventory peaked in April 2007 with a 4.6 years supply. As a comparison, There were 74 active listings in February 2005 and 172 closed sales in the 12 months prior to that date. Currently there is a 1.48 year supply.
• Port Royal: As far back as the survey was taken Port Royal has maintained approximately a 2 year supply. Absorption rate was 2.7 in June 2003, it was 2.35 in October 2008, 2.21 in April 2010, and currently with 61 active listings the years supply is 1.49 with 41 closed sales in the past 12 months.
• Royal Harbor: One of the most astonishing statistics comes to us from the Royal Harbor area. In April 2007 the years supply was 9.6 years! With 48 active listings at that time and only 5 closed sales in the 12 months prior to that date. Closed sales in Royal Harbor peaked in 2004 with 44 closings. Currently there are 38 actives, 27 closed sales in the past 12 months, and a 1.41 years supply-An amazing recovery!
• Moorings, Park Shore & Coquina Sands/Single Family Homes: The years supply in this area peaked in April 2007 at 3.7 and currently has one of the healthiest absorption rates at 1.07 years supply, 115 active listings, 34 pending, and 107 closed in the past 12 months!
• Moorings, Park Shore & Coquina Sands/Condominiums: Similar to the single family homes west of 41, the condos currently have a 1.29 years supply, and peaked in April 2007 with approximately a 2 1/2 year supply.
• NA 15: This is the area between 41 and Goodlette Road. Single family homes available was at a shortage in November 2010! Currently there is a .56 year supply, with only 39 active listings and 70 closed sales in the past 12 months. Three years ago this zone peaked at 3.5 years supply.
• Several other areas have seen shortages and a balances between supply and demand, they are: Golden Gate City currently at .28 years supply, Lakewood at .57 years supply, Naples Manor at .20 year supply, and Golden Gate Estates which had a shortage of inventory in November 2010.

Cindy shared several other communities with us, and I have information about Pelican Landing, Pelican Bay, Bonita Bay, The Vineyards, Quail Creek & Quail West, Pine Ridge and the Vanderbilt Beach areas. If you would like details about a neighborhood not mentioned in this blog post, please call The Harris Peppe Team today. 239.370.0574 We would be happy to do a no-obligation evaluation of either an area where you are thinking of investing or a home that you presently own.

Thank you, and make it a GREAT day!

The Naples Real Estate Blogger

The Real Estate Industry is Pro-Consumer

As a follow-up to my most recent post about how the real estate industry is so "pro-consumer", I'd like to share some ideas about the other occupations directly effected by a home sale from start to finish. I have thought about this a lot since Ron Phipp's talk here in Naples last week, and the idea that an average of 147 entities are involved in each and every real estate transaction is a pretty amazing fact! I started to piece together the timeline from the point of taking a listing through to closing...Here are a few of the people and businesses that benefit from this economically:

In addition to the support staff on my team, and at my office...I then make keys, call the sign company, photographer, virtual tour company--sometimes a carpet cleaner is called in, a house cleaner, a painter, a landscaper, a stager...the person who draws the floorplan, the printer, the advertising outlets and all their staff members...Contracts are accepted then the file gets turned over to inspection companies: pest inspection, mold inspection, radon, structural inspector and his or her assistants, airconditioner, roofer, pool inspector, seawall & dock contractor...a mortgage rep, a title company or attorney and their support staff and underwriters...wind mitigator, insurance agents and their staff, home watch services, furniture stores, movers...not to mention the closing gifts and the shops where they are purchased and their staff, the client appreciation dinners and those that cater and serve...the gift certificates and thank you notes...Is it any wonder at all that REAL ESTATE and housing is indeed the driving force behind a successful and flourishing economy?

I would love to hear from you if you are an individual whose job benefits from the real estate industry. Please comment on this blog post, or email me directly at michele@naplesrealestate.com. Your input is very important to me, especially if you live in Southwest Florida and think that The Harris Peppe Team should consider your services to assist our customers. Currently we have a 'Select Vendor' list featured on the menu bar on the home page of our website at www.NaplesRealEstate.com as well as a concierge list on our Naples Previews Luxury Website.

Thank you, and make it a great day!

The Naples Real Estate Blogger

Reduced, Re-listed and Ready for Offers!

With our selling season fast approaching, The Harris-Peppe Team has listed and relisted several wonderful waterfront properties; all priced to reflect today's prices and to encourage offers! Call us today to schedule showings at one of these fine homes: 239.370.0574

• Once in a lifetime opportunity to own a 3 bedroom, 3 bath bayfront townhome which includes a private deck at the waters edge, perfect alfresco dining. Also includes a deeded dock and direct gulf access! Imagine yourself in 'front row' seats to all that waterfront living in Naples Florida has to offer. Tastefully updated, plus a private 2-car garage, and a lovely community pool. Aggressively priced at $1,250,000. Click HERE for additional views of this magnificent home.

• Take advantage of this unbelievable opportunity of owning a home on one of Naples most unique waterfront streets! You actually own BOTH sides of the street, with 80' of waterfront on both sides with depths that would accommodate large boats! Fabulous bay views both west and south, yet water is protected from wakes! Build your dream home, or enjoy the existing home with recently updated granite kitchen, wood-burning fireplace, and refreshing private pool. Reduced to $1,499,000. Click to view this waterfront home !

• Another bayview beauty! No detail has been overlooked in this custom built residence! This 4 bedroom home offers expansive views, private dock, a gourmet kitchen with walk-in pantry, bamboo and marble floors, a master suite with sitting room that overlooks Naples Bay, a billiards room, vanishing edge pool, sauna, impact glass and shutters, plus so much more! The furniture is also negotiable! Check out the virtual tour of this magnificent Naples home and call us for your private showing today! Presently being offered at $2,295,000.

• Attention to those seeking perfection! Located on prestigious Kingfish Road, this custom five bedroom home has been lovingly cared for by the original owner! From the moment you walk in the front door you are greeted with spectacular Naples bay vistas from every vantage point! The features are countless, and include custom cabinetry, granite, saturnia marble, electric screens, plantation shutters, elevator, fireplace, a 90' dock with Trec decking, plus a protected slip with a 16,000 pound lift! The list goes on and on! Click here to gain a unique perspective of this waterfront home! Asking $3,499,000.

To see Naples the way it was meant to be seen: by water, please call us today! We believe it is so important, before purchasing a waterfront property, that you include a tour of Naples waterfront properties by boat! We will happily take you for a sunset cruise and help you to discover the many gulf access channels and inlets that make living on the water in Naples Florida so magical!

Thank you, and make it a great day,

The Naples Real Estate Blogger

Mansion In The Sky

Naples Beachfront

Le Ciel Park Tower offers one  of the most prestigious addresses along Naples eminent Park Shore beach.  Spectacular views of both the Gulf of Mexico and Venetian Bay from this 14th floor mansion in the sky!

Three spacious bedrooms, 3 full-baths, an updated kitchen with stainless appliances & granite, brand new gorgeous hard wood flooring, Bahama shutters, and an expansive screened terrace with built-in BBQ...Imagine yourself watching the magical sunsets from almost every vantage point in this amazing home...steps to the white sand beaches, meandering promenade & beach-side parks, and just a short stroll to all the fabulous shoppes and fine dining waterfront restaurants at Park Shore's Venetian Village.

Le Ciel Park Tower also boasts 24/7 gated security, a magnificent gulf-front social room, state-of-the-art exercise room, 2 Har-Tru tennis courts, 2 resident guest suites, a beachside pool & spa, chickee area & grills! Owners can lease or purchase a boat slip at the nearby Venetian Bay Yacht Club. Everything is available here for the most discriminating buyer looking for an incomparable Florida beachfront lifestyle!

For a virtual tour of this home click HERE. For additional information, or to arrange a private showing please contact The Harris-Peppe Team today! 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

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.