Naples Florida Real Estate: Naples Daily News Poll On SW Florida Real Estate Results:

One of my colleagues forwarded me a link to our local newspaper, the Naples Daily News which I coined a new phrase for (Naples Daily Blues) a couple of years ago when they decided to bash me, my colleagues our real estate profession and our local real estate market.  I finally decided to let go of the drama by discontinuing my advertising with the paper, my subscription and my voice on their blog.  Hey, if you're going to have a beef with a company who's hurting your business, it makes little to no sense to support it...right? 

Since the birth of the bashing they have on occasion reported something semi-positive and been somewhat accurate from time to time.  They still quote the same 5 people regardless of the fact that we have a sea of real estate professionals who could give them accurate and timely information so my true disdain for the paper has somewhat subsided.

Anyway, folks have continued to send me articles on occasion they deem "we know you hate the paper but you need to read this anyway" worthy.  In the latest forward titled, "Southwest Florida still caught in the foreclosure grip" By Laura Layden, tidbits of information regarding our areas foreclosure issues were enclosed along with a poll for the readers asking for their opinion on the real estate market.

Here's the question from the poll:

"With mixed news about home prices and new home sales, what is your opinion of the real estate market in SW Florida"?

Here are the choices and the results of the poll at the time of this post:

Don't listen to the naysayers, it's coming back.  135 Votes 14%

Some up, some down. It's location, location, location. 159 Votes 16%

I'm hanging in there, but optimistic. 137 Votes 14%

I'm hanging in there, but pessimistic.  37 Votes 3%

It's still on the downward curve. 211 Votes 22%

I have little hope of righting my boat (property) 22 Votes 2%

It's bad and will remain so. 235 Votes 25%

Keep in mine the poll is still live so results could continue to change.  I personally participated with my opinion and checked the "some up, some down" box.  I have all that data to show truth in that choice. 

I find it interesting to see what the consumer thinks.  Hey, it's all about perception and even if it's incorrect it does seem to be consumer behavior that fuels or cools a fire. It kinda goes back to what mom used to say, "If you're friends jumped off a bridge..."

If you break down the responses, I'm actually quite pleased.  Had they done this poll a year ago, I'm certain we would've had a much different and more negative response. If you look at each response we can uncover the basic premise of what people are thinking:

• Don't listen to the naysayers, it's coming back. Most Positive
• Some up, some down. It's location, location location.  Somewhat Positive
• I'm hanging in there, but optimistic.  Somewhat Positive
• I'm hanging in there, but pessimistic.  Somewhat Negative
• It's still on the downward curve.  Negative
• I have little hope of righting my boat (property)  Negative (although I would throw it out since it only got a 2% probably because few people knew what the heck it even meant"
• It's bad and will remain so. Negative

Had I read this poll two years ago I would've been upset with the paper because as you can see, there are more negative options than positive options but whatever.  That's about par for the paper.  So here's how I see it.

Roughly 44% of the market are either positive or somewhat positive about the market.  That's not bad!

Counting the rest of the percentages 52% of the market is somewhat negative to negative about our market. 

Yes, after adding up the percentages, the results do not equal 100%.  There were only 916 votes counted although it says there were a total of 936 votes...WELCOME TO FLORIDA...when's the next election???

Regardless of the discrepancies, it looks like our market is receiving almost half positive and half negative opinions.  Hey, at least our real estate market has a better positive rating than how most consumers feel about our overall economy.  Not bad even if there were more negative choices to choose from if I do say so myself!!!

Here's what I think:

Few people were happy last year.  We were gripping with a new reality that our market really was less than stable.  Sellers were angry, buyers were scarce and those who were nosing around seemed to have negative attitudes as well....not to mention the agent mentality.

This year buyer behaviors have been much more upbeat and positiveat least based off what I've seen and heard around town when I do my own personal polls with colleagues, clients, friends and acquaintances.

It's my experience that we had a good mix of buyers over the season who were once again really excited to be purchasing in the area....much more excited than last year. I've written 5 site-unseen contracts this year all of which have closed except for one which closes next month.  I didn't have any of those last year and although I asked...responses sounded much like, "girl, have you lost your mind"?

Many Sellers I've talked with have also had a change of heart going from angry and disgusted to at least aware that they aren't going to get the same prices they had once expected.  Hey, the first step is admittance and then making a decision based on the facts...should I stay or should I sell...

 So what's next?  Only God knows for sure but you can always seek the advice of a Naples Smart Girl!

Best Regards,

Your Naples Smart Girl!