Naples Florida Real Estate: Southwest Florida Real Estate Today

Today there are 6,317 sales in Southwest Florida. Transactions are up 39% compared to last year!
Last year on this day there were 4,530.  Transactions were up 26% compared to 2008!
2008 on this day there were 3,571.  Transactions were up 5% compared to 2007!
2007 on this day there were 3,372. Transactions were down 28% compared to 2006!
2006 on this day there were 4,314. Transactions were down 100% compared to 2005!
2005 on this day there were 8,649. 

I receive calls from Naples buyers questioning what's going on in the Naples Florida market and while numbers tell a story, buyer and seller behavior always tell a more interesting story.  Buyers are alot more open this year to purchasing Naples Florida real estate.  They also are depending more on local statistical data and local Realtor knowledge compared to the last few years when they were defending their low ball, angry, preconceived notions with articles about the nationwide market or other Florida locales that had nothing to do with Naples.

Current Naples buyers are more interested in luxury lifestyle, amenities, weather and attributes specific to Naples.  This on top of easier negotiating is why I believe sales are up. The last few years people were looking for the lowest prices across several Florida markets. While pricing in Naples is lower today and it's easier to negotiate, Naples has never been most competitive in this arena. 

Naples Florida sellers are different this year too.  During 2004-2006 many sellers were nearly impossible to negotiate with because they knew they had hot product.  It took several years for some sellers to face a new reality.  For the last few years many sellers still had the urge to list higher than fair market value and hesitated longer to reduce their property to fair market value levels.  They also rejected lower offers and negotiating was difficult.  Today they have a much more honest picture of property value and have become very fair when negotiating making it possible to really get the ball rolling on Naples sales. 

Naples Florida real estate inventories are shrinking as a result which is one of the best signs you can get for creating a healthy real estate market!

If you're interested in purchasing or selling in Naples, contact me direct!