Three years ago Naples, Florida couldn't buy a positive real estate market article.  Naples, Florida was once tagged "Most Overvalued Real Estate" market in countless articles across the country and perhaps world.  It was unbelievable!  One day we were negotiating deals within minutes of properties hitting MLS to trading "end of the world" articles with colleagues like kids trade baseball cards.  It felt like we were Homecoming Queen in the Fall only to find out in the Spring we couldn't even get a date to Prom. 

I distinctly remember when the first negative article came out.  There didn't seem to be an ounce of proof of a cooling market.  Buyers were still busy buying and properties were still appreciating.  I remember thinking what courage that writer must have...I wonder what he's smoking???!!!

Then two more negative articles hit the presses...and then the most horrible headlines started hitting....IN DROVES!  Boy, did I learn the hard way about how fast a real estate market could rise and fall.  I guess a large part of that had to do with the fact that I had never really seen a rise and fall of that magnitude in a real estate market that was followed on a National level.  Let's face it, not a lot of people know or care about little ole Granbury, Texas (where I started my real estate career). 

The next few years were challenging.  Not just on a career level but on a "keep your enthusiasm up" level and "don't freak out when you're stepping over all the dead bodies" level.  No, I wasn't really stepping over dead bodies but when word started hitting town about all the real estate companies that were closing and all of the people I knew who were exiting the business...the scene from Gone With The Wind when Scarlet was walking through the war zone always came to my mind.  Yeah, I know...sometimes I can be over dramatic but I would venture to guess that most if not all of my colleagues and clients would give me an A for keeping my happy face on during those times. 

So you can imagine my surprise when the first positive Naples, Florida real estate article hit the market.  People within the industry shared the news as if it were a first born child.  Because so much of Naples is contingent upon the real estate market, people outside the market couldn't help but be excited about the high five we received from CEO, Robert Toll with Toll Brothers when he said "Naples Was Back" on May 16, 2008.  I remember thinking...well, I know I've had a great season...but I think it's sexier right now if you bash us.  Afterall, don't you know we ARE the Paris Hilton of real estate!

Mr. Toll stood alone for a few more weeks perhaps even a few more months before another positive article hit that had real impact.  Of course it was only to be followed with another peppering of negative flack that couldn't necessarily be proven...especially since the Naples Area Board of REALTORS stopped reporting the sales data to the State.  You gotta think about it for a minute.  It wasn't because the Board was trying to hide anything.  It was more like, if you're not going to be responsible enough to report the whole story, we're not going to give you anything to report at all...night night!  DISCLAIMER:  Please understand this is only my take on the matter and not necessarily shared by anybody who voted to stop sharing data on the board and if that opinion was shared, I certainly wouldn't know anything about that...wink wink.

Then another positive article and higher sales numbers are proven and more positive reporting and...look what was reported just an hour or so ago now:

Naples ray of sunshine in housing market, analyst says

by Laura Layden~Naples Daily News

OMG~Has anyone seen my sparkling gold stilettos?  I've been dancing all year but if that's not an invitation to prom, I don't know what is....hmmm what do I wear???? 

I do think some thank you's are in order!

(Please read in Oscar fashion as I feel like I have just received an incredible honor)

I would first like to thank God.  (Isn't God always first?)

Secondly, I'd like to thank all of those sellers out there who were brave and smart enough to listen to their REALTORS and reduced the prices on their listings.  I'd also like to thank those sellers out there who knew they weren't serious about selling and chose to take their properties off the market.  We couldn't have done it without you and hope you have moved on with your plan and are very happy!

Thirdly but equally important to all those sellers, I'd like to thank all those buyers who braved the seas of inventories we had to offer and went against everything you were hearing in the media, friends and family members and perhaps even business colleagues who still bought.  Your courage was insurmountable and you have no idea how many families you kept afloat during that time.  WE APPRECIATE YOU and hope you are enjoying your properties!

Next, I'd like to thank my fellow REALTORS and colleagues.  Without your brave and straight forward discussions with your clients...seller's may not have reduced their prices as fast keeping our market at a price that would not sell.   Because you were so customer service oriented, you handled your buyer's needs and requests and helped your buyers identify and purchase real estate in our market.  GOOD JOB!  YOU GUYS ROCK!  A special thanks to those I worked directly with....you guys worked your tails off right along side with me.  I appreciate you!!!

Vendors...thanks for helping us with all the tools to market and being there for us when we needed you. Without that title work, inspections, appraisals and legal advice, we would be nowhere without all of you!

LASTLY:  A word of caution.  Just as it is stated in the most recent article.  We are probably not completely out of the woods yet. 

• Agents...keep providing the great service you're providing.  Be sharp and don't take your buyers and sellers for granted!
• Buyers...make informed purchasing decisions!  Allow us to do your homework for you so you have all the information you need to buy or if need be, hold.  If you don't have an agent yet, give me a call.  I can help you determine if now is the best time!
  
• Sellers, this is not a time to be over optimistic.  Keep your prices realistic because it is your pricing that has caused us to reap the rewards of the latest positive influx of activity.  Now is not the time to test the market.  Listen to the professional you hired to help you sell your property and if you don't have one, feel free to give me a call.
  

Best Regards,

Your Naples Smart Girl!

One thing that never ceases to amaze me is how we connect with our clients or maybe the "thing" that makes them remember us.  In my 12 years of doing real estate, I've had some awesome clients come my way through all sorts of obscure reasons.  If you're good at what you do and you care about your customers, you learn to expect repeat and referral business and if you're somewhat decent at marketing and branding, you can expect to see business off those two avenues as well.  I've had a great mix of both.  It's always an honor and a privilege to be called upon again by a past customer and even more of an honor when they send someone they care about your way but I guess I still get a real charge when a stranger calls because of something I've done through my marketing and branding. 

Here are some career examples so far:

• I had a lady almost physically run into me in a gas station parking lot when she saw my magnetic car sign because she was in the middle of a divorce and needed an agent to help her sell her house who didn't have any prior ties to either her or her husband so they both would think they got a fair analysis.  She hired me on the spot...as I was filling my tank.  I don't drive around with those silly magnets on my car anymore...probably because they wouldn't be as effective on a Mercedes as they were on a Tahoe...actually I don't use them anymore because someone close to me would probably kill me for messing up the paint. :) BUT...I have entertained the idea of putting big pink polka dots on my car.  Tell me how long it would take for that to get around town.

• I was called one day from a gentleman who lived down the street from me who asked if I would talk with him about listing his property.  I went over to his house and talked with him and his wife about what I thought I could do for him.  Without hesitation they both signed the listing agreement and thanked me for coming by.  Puzzled about how easy the appointment went I turned around as I reached the front door and asked..."by the way, why did you hire me"?  He pointed to a stack of about 30 postcards I had sent of all the properties in the neighborhood I had listed and sold and replied, "did we have a choice"?
  

• The reason for the post is due to the latest example.  A couple of months ago I previewed and took video of a listing for a client I was working for.  The owner was very nice and we chatted briefly as I went through the home.  I left my card with the owner, completed the video for my client but as it turns, they ended up purchasing somewhere else. Fast forward 3 months.  I received a call from a man who said, "uhm, yes is this the girl with the pink and white business cards"?  I hesitantly replied, yesssssss....wondering how he knew what color my business cards were but didn't know who he was asking for.  He continued by saying...oh yes, my property has expired and I'd like for you to come over and tell me what you think you can do if you had the listing.  Me completely perplexed said, ok, let's start with how you know what color my business cards are.  He laughed and explained, well, you were over at my house awhile back and you gave me a card but I lost it so I remembered you worked for John R. Wood, called your company and asked for the lady who had the pink and white business cards.  The lady on the phone didn't know who you were and I remembered that you said you sold a house on another street so I asked her to look up who the selling agent was on that property and that's how I found you. 

Can you imagine going through so much trouble to find one person when there are only about 4,000 other people in the same town doing the same attempting to do the same thing?  I feel completely honored that he went through so much trouble to find me.  Do you think I won't do everything in my power and a little more to make sure that guy has such an amazing experience when he lists his property with me?  It's funny how it all works out and of course, it helps when you have a strong brand...it also helps if you don't have as strong as a brand as you need but you attract strong willed people who are willing to put the puzzle together to find you anyway. He also mentioned "the lady on the phone" said that was the second time in a week somebody had asked for the lady with the pink and white business card....DRAT

So for the rest of you that remember getting that pink and white Naples, Florida Realtor's business card but you can't remember who she is or her phone number....it's me!  Now you know...so pick up the phone or click on my email address and let's get rolling!

Best Regards,

Your Naples Smart Girl!

It appears people are getting better deals in Pelican Bay Naples, Florida this summer compared to last year at this time which is historically the best time to purchase in the neighborhood.  What does that mean for the season to follow?  Time will certainly tell.  Here's the latest happenings in Pelican Bay:

ACTIVE PELICAN BAY LISTINGS:

Current Listings: 304
High: $17,700,000
Low:  $320,000

PENDING PELICAN BAY LISTINGS:

Current Pending Listings: 33
High $16,500,000

CLOSED PELICAN BAY LISTINGS:

Total closed in '08:  171
Total closed last 12 months: 226
Average sales price= 94% of list price
Average time on the market= 208 days

What do all the graphs mean?  There's definitely a slow down in Pelican Bay right now but one of the important points is the fact that the differences between list price and sales price is not that far off.  Prices are falling in Pelican Bay which is awesome for those who have been waiting, waiting, waiting.  But, you need to understand.  Coming in with the mindset that you're going to negotiate 20% off list prices will only result in a broken heart.  Yes, there are deals to be had but those deals are still not easily identifiable on MLS and require at least pre-negotiation activity before you know for sure what sort of discount (if any) you may recognize.  Don't be surprised if there isn't much negotiating room. I just made calls for a client last week and was not eagerly received by the listing agents who held the listings.

I do believe time is running out on bigger negotiations as 4th and 1st quarter sales are typically much more expensive than 2nd and 3rd quarter sales due to the increased traffic and peak selling season. 

See More information about Pelican Bay:

Pelican Bay Communities
Pelican Bay Homes
Pelican Bay Condos
Peican Bay Deals

For additional answers are information about Pelican Bay or Naples, Florida real estate, feel free to contact me direct!

Best Regards,

Your Naples Smart Girl!

The source of this real property information is the copyrighted and proprietary database compilation of SunshineMLS, LLC.
Copyright 2002-2008 SunshineMLS, LLC. All rights reserved. The accuracy of this information including, but not limited to,
any information about the size or area of lots, structures, or living space, such as room dimensions, square footage calculations,
or acreage, is not warranted or guaranteed. This information should be independently verified if any person
intends to engage in a transaction based upon it.

Between balancing new business, taking some much needed vacation and working on my website, I just noticed, it's been a LONG while since I posted here.  Blogging activity will pick up sometime in the next month or so but I didn't want you to think I've fallen off the face of the earth. 

I love being ready for a new selling season and signs of our next season are already starting to appear.  Ask lots of Naples agents and they might be sure to shake their heads "no" due to the slow traffic many have been noticing lately.  Is it the economy, is it the heated up tropics...is it a bird..a plane.  Na, I doubt it.  It's a silly thing called "September".  It's not what we consider our hottest most productive selling month but it does give everyone here a chance to be in tip top condition to rock and roll when the "it's time to start selling" gun goes off.

Ok, that's all for now but you're welcome to stay tuned on my other Naples Florida blog as well and check out all of the fabulous Naples, Florida properties we have to offer in the meantime.

Best Regards,

Your Naples Smart Girl!