Naples Florida Real Estate Blog

Naples Real Estate Blog

Tuesday, January 31, 2006

Things look good for Florida: Consumer confidence in the U.S. rose for the second month in a row, going up 2.5 points since December, and is at its highest level in more than three years. And while expectations about the future fell marginally, consumers' opinions on current conditions rose 7.7 points. Florida’s Consumer Confidence rose 4 points in January, to its highest level in 6 months. This report came from the Florida Association of Realtors and the Consumer Confidence Survey, and can only bode well for the Southwest Florida real estate market.

Friday, January 27, 2006

Homes listed by discount brokers take longer to sell than those listed by full-service real estate brokerages and are 12 percent less likely to sell at all, according to a study by Penn State's Smeal College of Business and the University of Texas at San Antonio. And you can bet it is no different in the Southwest Florida real estate market.

Friday, January 20, 2006

Many of our finest golfing communities in Naples and Bonita Springs, such as Tiburon, Pelican Marsh, Fiddler’s Creek, Lely Resort, Mediterra, The Brooks, and Vasari, are in a Community Development District (CDD). A CDD is a local, special purpose government authorized by Chapter 190 of the Florida Statutes as amended and is an alternative method for managing and financing infrastructure required to support community development. CDD’s provide a mechanism for the financing and management of new communities, which is consistent with the local governments’ development procedures and regulations. They represent a major advancement in Florida’s effort to manage its growth effectively and efficiently. The community development district may impose and levy taxes or assessments, or both taxes and assessments, on the property. These taxes and assessments pay the construction, operation and maintenance costs of certain public facilities and services of the district and are set annually by the governing board of the district. These taxes and assessments are in addition to county and other local governmental taxes and assessments and are shown on your county tax bill.

Friday, January 20, 2006

According to the Wall Street Journal, at the recent International Builders Show in Orlando, suppliers mainly concentrated on the basics, and most products were billed as energy-efficient, customizable or hurricane-resistant. But there were some unique items attractive largely to homeowners who can afford the best and who hope to set themselves apart from their neighbors. New top-of-the-line products touted included leather-accented bathroom fixtures, a hearth-waterfall, a rotating bookcase that allows homeowners to conceal their televisions, a copper garage door and solar-powered blinds. However, many of the new products, both functional and decorative, came with a hefty price tag. You can be sure however they will be showing up soon in the Southwest Florida real estate market.

Tuesday, January 17, 2006

When searching Southwest Florida real estate on the internet, you are not alone. According to one of the largest surveys of real estate consumers ever conducted and released yesterday by the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®., "technology is transforming how Americans buy and sell homes in unexpected ways, including how they work with real estate salespeople and brokers". NAR's survey reports that "use of the Internet to search for a home has risen dramatically over time, increasing to 77 percent of buyers in 2005 from only 2 percent in 1995; it was 74 percent in 2004." Further, the survey shows "81 percent of buyers who use the Internet to search for a home ultimately purchase through a real estate practitioner." Whether it is a high or low rise condo, villa, or single family home, in Naples, Marco Island, or Bonita Springs, you can find it at www.chrisanddick.com

Friday, January 13, 2006

We would really like to assist you in your Southwest Florida Real Estate needs. If you have an interest in buying or selling a single family home or a condo, be it near the beach, in a golf course community, or anywhere in the Naples or Bonita Springs areas, let us know how we can help. Here are some questions to get us started working together. What is it that you'd like someone like us to help you solve or achieve in Southwest Florida? What are you looking for in Naples or Bonita Springs that you haven't found? What have you seen in the Southwest Florida marketplace that has particularly appealed to you? Who else, other than you, of course, is involved in this decision? What kind of a time frame are you working with on this Southwest Florida real estate project? How do you normally handle this type of real estate decision? How would you define an effective Southwest Florida real estate solution for your situation? What kind of budget range do you have for this project regarding Southwest Florida real estate?

Monday, January 09, 2006

There are many amusing stories about real estate in Naples and Bonita Springs, but not this one. It comes from Chuck Stuparits in Oak Brook, Il. "I had an appointment to show a vacant brick two-flat in a fast-appreciating area of Chicago. I met the client on a Friday and showed him the property, and he said he would like his partner to see it on Monday. When I returned on Monday, the partner was already there walking around the front of the property. When I walked over to him, he asked, "Where’s the house?" To my amazement, the house was gone. All that was left was the foundation. I called the police, and when the police officers arrived, they said it wasn’t unusual for someone to come by with a bulldozer and level the house and haul away the bricks to resell—a crime that’s hard to investigate or prosecute. My parting comment to the client was, "I guess you don't want to buy it?" Ironically, the property sold for more than asking price as a vacant lot three months later." Of course that last statement is certainly one that anyone involved in real estate in Naples, Bonita Springs, or Marco Island can relate to.

Saturday, January 07, 2006

Thanks to a tax-law change enacted years ago, contribution limits on retirement accounts have been steadily increasing. For 2005, you can put up to $4,000 into an IRA. Persons age 50 and older can contribute an added $500. The $4,000 limit remains in 2006, but older filers this year can contribute an added $1,000. Just make sure it is after you take care of your Naples real estate investment first!

Thursday, January 05, 2006

CONDOS. No longer just a cheaper alternative to the single-family home or a retirement option for boomers, today’s condo market is filled with an ever-expanding array of options. From ultra-luxury high-rise penthouses that rival million-dollar detached homes and hotel condominiums that let owners live like VIPs, the growing condo market offers a choice for every buyer. If you wish to live on a golf course and watch the "birdies" fly by, Naples has over 200 options for you in every price range. For the beach walker, Naples provides an endless supply of condos that will keep you walking and playing in the sand forever. Gulf front condos can be very pricey, however the 17 miles of beach is within a short drive for everyone in this part of SW Florida.

Sunday, January 01, 2006

Happy New Year to everyone. This is going to be a fantastic year here in SW Florida and we hope you will enjoy our blogs as well as the expert service you will receive when you buy or sell with Chris and Dick. If you have a specific topic you would like us to discuss, please just copy it into an e-mail and send it to Info@chrisanddick.com.

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