Naples Florida Real Estate

A Full Circle Of Naples Real Estate Experience.

Shannon Lefevre, PA (John R. Wood REALTORS Inc.) — Mon, 21 May 2012 14:49:55 -0700

Hello Naples Fans! I'm here to announce I have completed my first full circle of experience in Naples real estate and it only took me 9 years and 10.5 months. There's something to be said about experience and fortunately for those who put in the time and effort, there's a real payoff. It's still the one thing that can't bought or acquired through gaming a system in fact....it can't even be gained through just showing up. You have to be in it to get it. So that's why the few agents who "can" include on their business card, "selling Naples real estate since 200BC".

I used to see all sorts of lingo like that in the old newspaper advertising and used to think, so what! Just because you've been here for that long doesn't make you a great real estate agent. I must admit I was jealous of all that inside intelligence those agents had and sort of I guess maybe bitter because in my defense, I would've gladly gotten here sooner had I known Naples existed before I did...But, now that I have that full real estate cycle successfully under my belt, I get it and now, I'm one of "them".

How do I know I have the full circle in my pocket? I'll tell you exactly how the market was when I started selling here in 2002. We had just dealt with that whole 9-11 tragedy and many of the other agents around town were very detailed about their stories about how miserable the market was for Naples after all that happened. By the time I got rolling here, the market had somewhat recovered and after awhile the large tone of the buyer prospect base was if I had to sum it up in one word, regretful. They were regretful that they did not purchase when pricing was low. I met several people who felt like that. They all streamed into town as they often do at the beginning of season and describe in detail that deal they had seen the year before and didn't pull the trigger. Many went back to where they came from only to be largely disappointed when they came back down. Some bit the bullet and paid more for similar Naples homes and condos they found of interest. Some lost their window of opportunity all together.

The Naples real estate market moves very quickly here. I'll never forget the day I was walking through the lobby of my office and overheard a young couple who were looking at a huge map of Collier County. She said, I can't believe there isn't one house on this whole map we can afford. I was in the parking lot of our office by the time I thought to myself...didn't you know that before you came here??? How did you not get on the internet to do some peeking around before you got on that plane, forgetting that not everybody shopped for real estate that way then.
Then the Naples market went into that crazy feeding frenzy where buyers bought everything even if it didn't make sense no matter what you said to try to talk them down. The best example from that time is the argument I had with a lady who was planning her arrival the day before Hurricane Wilma was supposed to hit...do you know it took 4 separate conversations with her to get her to cancel her flight...shesh. There's several other turns in the natural real estate cycle as many of you know already and I won't bore you with all the details here but I want you to know:

Where Naples Is Now ~ This Is Important.

Pricing has already started to go up in many Naples luxury neighborhoods and listing inventory in some locations is ALARMINGLY low meaning pricing is going up.

Here's a snapshot from Trulia last week:

While it is customary for new listings to slow down this time of year it sure as heck isn't customary for pricing to go up or for the number of price reductions to go down.

This is the time of year when sellers mourn the loss of their successful negotiation they were hoping for during high-season. The average listing price went up over 1% in a week...the second week of May...WHAT?

Sales are up 16% for the month of May compared to the first 21 days of May last year. Up 19% compared to 2 years ago during the same time.

The reason why I think this is SO important is because I was completely bewildered by the amount of people who seemed to be so caught off guard about the price increases Naples recognized back then. How do you find yourself priced out of a market? I remember thinking to myself, had I been working with you last year, you would've bought because I would've told you it was going to go that way. I guess I always assumed agent were giving potential buyers a heads up.

Just last week I showed 3 units in Pelican Bay with what should be considered a fabulous Gulf view under (a certain price range). I only showed 3 because that was really all there was...I didn't even know that myself until I offered to find more product for my customer only to be equally blown away at the lack of inventory currently available. It had been a month or so since I'd been nosing around in that exact product and now...not much was left.

Of the three available, one was a smelly dog (hard to believe), the second was an ok deal and the last, an outstanding deal. I do not expect this one to be around for too much longer. Contact me direct if you want more information about any of those 3 because after these I expect this to be it.

Earlier this year you could purchase beachfront in Bay Colony for $1,325,000. Now it's $1,975,000 That prices some who were looking earlier this year completely out of the market unless something more affordable hits the market between now and next season.

I sadly have discovered that now there are probably 5 customers who will be among the group who will come back sometime within the next several years and say, "we should've bought that one...". It honestly makes me sad to come to this realization. Was there something more I should've said or maybe did I say too much? Maybe I'll just write a blog post to the rest of you in hopes of preventing more of this in the future.

So while it may not have been a first priority for you to come and see what's available right now, it might be best financially for you to make a plan and get down here. Of course you can always purchase site unseen as well and we'll make the process as easy as possible should you identify something you like.

If you want to come down and look for yourself, PLEASE let me know in advance so I can do my best to accommodate you.

For more questions on Naples real estate or to simply get the ball rolling give me a shout or shoot me an email direct.

Serving my purpose through content rich informaton about Naples, Florida real estate!

Best Regards!

Shannon Lefevre, PA
Your Naples Smart Girl!
239-595-6223
www.ShannonLefevre.com

“The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of John R. Wood Realtors.”

Olde Naples Florida Market Update 5/8/12

Shannon Lefevre, PA (John R. Wood REALTORS Inc.) — Tue, 08 May 2012 11:09:49 -0700

Olde Naples is in an under-supplied inventory situation but I am not seeing a typical trend here! With 183 closed sales during the past 12 months and 33 Olde Naples listings currently under contract, you would think prices and negotiations would be changing more in favor for the seller....but that's not what numbers are showing...

Olde Naples sales are up 17% compared to the year before and inventories have since not only stabilized but are tilted slightly towards an under-supply which means negotiations should be tightening and pricing should start going up but look at these results:

During the past 12 months:
70 Olde Naples Homes have sold (20% increase over 12 months prior)
113 Olde Naples multi-family properties have sold (14% increase over 12 months prior)
Avg. list $/sq. ft. multi-family SOLD= $349 (down 4% from 12 months prior)
Avg. sold $/sq. ft. multi-family= $318 (down 2% from 12 months prior)
Avg. list $ to sales $ ratio for Olde Naples multi-family = 91% up 1%
Avg. market time for Olde Naples multi-family SOLD is now 308 days
Avg. list $/sq. ft. home SOLD= $628 (down 10% from 12 months prior)
Avg. sold $/sq. ft. home= $554 (down 23% from 12 months prior)
Avg. list/sales $ ratio for Olde Naples Homes = 88% (down 8% from 12 months prior)
Avg. market time for Olde Naples Homes SOLD is now 223 days (down 43%)

12 months prior:
58 Olde Naples Homes sold
99 Olde Naples multi-family sold
Avg. list $/sq. ft. multi-family= $362
Avg. sold $/sq. ft. multi-family= $327
Avg. list $ to sales $ ratio for Olde Naples multi-family = 90%
Avg. market time for Olde Naples multi-family 292 days
Average list price per square foot home SOLD= $696
Average sold price per square foot home= $684
Average list price to sales price ratio for Olde Naples Homes= 95%
Average market time for Olde Naples Home was 319 days

If you made it through the numbers you can see there's been quite a bit of movement in Olde Naples during the past 24 months and even though product is selling there are still several signs that show now is an excellent time to be purchasing. The reason why is because there's proof of plenty of movement and not a whole lot of pricing increases or negotiations tightening so you can easily see proof of value without having to "pay for it" if you will.

The summer is a perfect time to try to negotiate an Olde Naples deal because of these 3 reasons:

1. Many sellers believe they may have missed their best shot to sell since many people who come down for season have since gone back to where they came from.

2. The odds of competing with another buyer on an offer (while still possible) may not be as probable which means you may still have a shot at a good negotiation.

3. If you do it between now and October, you will probably capture the seller's attention since they may not be expecting you and the opportunity to not hold the property through the summer months might be an attractive point to the seller convincing them to negotiate with their best intentions now.

If you've made a conscious decision to purchase during the off season buyer beware. You aren't the only one here purchasing right now and to come in with no strategy with the concept that you're the only one here doing what you're doing may end up biting you in the tail.

You want an excellent negotiation strategy even now if you're purchasing in Olde Naples or for that matter, anywhere in Naples. You have some excellent points to discuss and I've found if you present those points in a tasteful manner, you can often come to a successful negotiation.

Contact me when you have your travel plans arranges so I can assist you with gaining access for viewing and allow you the most optimum opportunity for a successful negotiation!

PS~Happy Mother's Day to all of my Mommy Naples Real Estate blog readers! You have a special gift, and beautiful job. Bless you.

Serving my purpose through content rich informaton about Naples, Florida real estate!

Best Regards!

Shannon Lefevre, PA
Your Naples Smart Girl!
239-595-6223
www.ShannonLefevre.com

“The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of John R. Wood Realtors.”

Naples News Choice Awards ~ Voting Now!

Shannon Lefevre, PA (John R. Wood REALTORS Inc.) — Tue, 01 May 2012 12:02:00 -0700

Hello Naples Friends,

It's time for the Naples Daily News Naples Choice Awards! This is your chance to get online and vote for all of your favorite Naples Florida businesses and entities including your Naples Real Estate company and your favorite Naples Realtor...

Vote Here!

If we've worked together and/or you're enjoying my Naples real estate blog and would like to show your appreciation, please take the time to vote! It only takes a moment!

Serving my purpose through content rich informaton about Naples, Florida real estate!

Best Regards!

Shannon Lefevre, PA
Your Naples Smart Girl!
239-595-6223
www.ShannonLefevre.com

“The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of John R. Wood Realtors.”

Park Shore Naples Update 4/24/12

Shannon Lefevre, PA (John R. Wood REALTORS Inc.) — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 13:06:05 -0700

Park Shore is another Naples beachfront location that has seen some good buying traffic this year despite the warmer temperatures and with 9 months of inventory presently on the market. Sellers have a bit to be happy about...

If 12 months of inventory is considered stable (which it is here in Naples) then 9 months of Park Shore inventory means we actually have a bit of an over-demand if you will. When inventories shrink, demand increases and before too long pricing starts going up as a matter of fact, they have bumped slightly north in Park Shore already.

Park Shore sales this past 12 months over the 12 months prior are up a whopping 15% with an average sales price per square foot increasing about 4%. Sellers are tightening their position as well coming in at nearly 91.5% of list price when last year they averaged right at about 90%.

If you're a Park Shore home owner: You'll be happy to know there's less than 6 months of inventory listed of your product. That means now is a terrific time to put the home on the market. Even if season is over, you should know your competition is less, the folks (even though there are fewer of them) are much more serious about purchasing this time of year and if you wait til next season, many of your neighbors who have been thinking about selling might decide to hop on the market too leaving you considerably more competition in October.

If you're a Park Shore home buyer You should consider getting into the habit of reviewing the Park Shore homes for sale on a daily basis. Yes, not many will hit the market between now and October but when they do, I'll bet if they're priced well they will go fast and you don't want somebody elses leftovers to choose from. If the thought of reviewing the Park Shore home listings everyday is too much for you to consider, give me a shout. I'll be happy to watch the market for you and alert you of anything that might work for your objective.

If you're a Park Shore high-rise owner: Your market is considered technically level. Yaae! You'll want to make sure you're pricing your property right according to building, stack and condition. If you've recently remodeled, you might be happy to see what your condo is now worth. If you're condo needs remodeling, you'll want to stage your property before going on the open market. I can help with that too! Call me today so I can assist you!

If you're a Park Shore high-rise buyer: You more than anybody else I'm referring to in the Park Shore blog post has some room to negotiate and be selective. Not only do you have some nice choices still on the market but with the right agent, you might even find some gems that aren't currently on the market. You have some good negotiation points to discuss but like the other buyers here, you'll want to pull the trigger now or this summer because you might find some serious competition coming into fall and winter.

If you're a Park Shore mid-rise owner: Congratulations! There's less than 5 months of inventory on the open market now. Depending on the condition of your unit you may be surprised to hear what your property is now worth. It would not be silly to put your property on the market today especially if you're priced and conditioned to compete!

If you're a Park Shore mid-rise buyer: Be diligent. With so few on the market I wouldn't be surprised at all if there won't be competition for new stuff that hits the market. You would be best off if you reviewed what was currently on the market for a match and work out a compelling negotiating plan of which I can assist you. If you've been looking and are waiting for the perfect place, review the inventory often or request a specialist to do it. You'll want to strike as soon as possible to give yourself the best shot of acquiring the property.

If you're a Park Shore low rise owner: There's a shortage of inventory in your segment as well. (Just under 8 months). You may get a little more for your unit or it may be that you don't have to negotiate as heavily as you may have had to during the past most recent seasons. Condition is important so if you haven't remodeled, by all means stage. If you don't know what that means, call me. It could make a very big difference in your market time, your net value or both.

If you're a Park Shore low rise buyer: There's still alot of "cheap" stuff on the market. Here's your cue. Other locations around town are selling out of their entry level inventory and you still have some opportunity to formulate a plan here. I would encourage you to do that now rather than wait til season because if the snow starts blowing early this next year, I think we're going to see higher than normal buying traffic.

If you are a Park Shore Villa owner: This inventory is just slightly under level. Since there's so few of you, it should be easy to rule the market if you and your agent create a successful selling strategy. Because many people don't readily think of Park Shore villa, you'll want an agent who knows how to address the special attributes of owning a villa in this location because you're competing heavily with locations like Pelican Bay and Olde Naples for those eyeballs and eventually dollars.

If you're a Park Shore Villa buyer: Hi all 3 of you. Just kidding. So far this year there have been 9 of you. There's some nice product left but not much so the good news is you won't have to waste days and days seeing it all. It should make decision making pretty snappy. Because of the short list of options, I would see if there's something that will work for you now because I can't guarantee that there's going to be something fantastic this time October or whenever the snow starts to fly which ever comes first. I can help you with your negotiating plan so call me today and I'll help you get started!

Well Naples friends, that concludes my brief Park Shore Naples update. If you have any questions or you want to get started buying or selling your Park Shore property, contact me today!

Serving my purpose through content rich informaton about Naples, Florida real estate!

Best Regards!

Shannon Lefevre, PA
Your Naples Smart Girl!
239-595-6223
www.ShannonLefevre.com

“The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of John R. Wood Realtors.”

Bay Colony Naples Florida Update 4.23.12

Shannon Lefevre, PA (John R. Wood REALTORS Inc.) — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 13:33:21 -0700

It appears the tables have turned in favor of the sellers for Bay Colony Naples Florida this year. With barely over 9 months of inventory buyers were found scrambling for the best Bay Colony choices this year and some were simply not happy about it.

As an example I received a call from a lady earlier this season who sounded exasperated about an experience she was going through with her husband. They had just tried to purchase a Bay Colony beachfront condo and had lost the deal because they ended up in a competing situation and lost. They felt like maybe they had been slighted and wanted to know my opinion about what was going on in the Bay Colony market.

Yes, it did heat up quite considerably this year and some buyers found they had lost their negotiating power. In fact I had buyers who simply decided not to purchase this year because he's hoping if the election doesn't go well, they'll have more power next year. He's not the only one who felt that way, I had two buyers who are hoping if taxes go up considerably next year, some Bay Colony sellers may decide to sell which will push inventories up a little and give buyers the negotiating power they've grown accustomed to during the past several years.

Current inventories are light and even though we had a ridiculously mild winter up north, many buyers still have their eye on acquiring Bay Colony property which is a strange phenomenon in itself. Not that we don't sell property when it's nice up north...we just don't sell alot of it. As an example, there were 7 properties in Bay Colony that went under contract in April last year (when many were experiencing record snow falls. There are currently 7 Bay Colony properties under contract so far this April). Demand is increasing. Period.

The other point that has me a little worried for future Bay Colony buyers is we have sold almost all entry level Bay Colony properties. As an example, for just under one million, you can acquire a Bay Colony condo. That is the lowest priced unit to get into Bay Colony, it has been at that price for awhile.That one is located in Mansion La Palma (if you like tennis, you will LOVE Mansion La Palma). If you want beachfront in Bay Colony now you're going to have to bring nearly $2,000,000 to make it happen. The lowest priced unit on the beach this season was $1,350,000 those days might be over for awhile. Another example is located within the Bay Colony home statistics. The lowest priced home in Bay Colony was on the market for $2,695,000. Now the lowest priced home is $4,495,000. Clearly those numbers now price some of the Bay Colony prospect base out of the market and I won't be surprised if I start to hear grumblings about how somebody should've pulled the trigger when they could've.

As a matter of fact, I received a call exactly like that on a a ridiculous deal that took place in Pine Ridge earlier this year. Now those people with a specific set of requirements have no options left but to build...in comparison, building a condo on the beach in Bay Colony...not an option.

That's why I think there's still traffic in Bay Colony and why I think we'll continue to see sales through the off season.

Now is a good (not terrific) time to be purchasing in Bay Colony because you do have some obvious talking points but obvious talking points are just part of the ingredients to a successful Bay Colony negotiation. I encourage you as a potential Bay Colony buyer to be strategic. I can help you identify the perfect Bay Colony property and help you prepare a terrific negotiating strategy but it may take some tenacity on your part to get it done. Also, I don't know many people who enjoy Christmas shopping in July just as it can be tough to get fired up about purchasing in Naples when you're thoughts about Naples have been mentally tucked away like last season's sweaters but....if you think there's going to be any good negotiating this next fall if inventories or low and we get colder quicker (since we seem to be on this 1 to 2 months in advance weather pattern anyway)...you might guess again. Because if the snow starts blowing say in October AND we don't have a great deal of inventory AND the election goes the way many of us hope....it will be tougher than you might have guessed.

Call me and let's get started today so that by the time all that other silliness starts to happen, you have the perfect Bay Colony place to rest your smart self!

Serving my purpose through content rich informaton about Naples, Florida real estate!

Best Regards!

Shannon Lefevre, PA
Your Naples Smart Girl!
239-595-6223
www.ShannonLefevre.com

“The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of John R. Wood Realtors.”

Naples Smart Girl's Naples Real Estate M.O.

Shannon Lefevre, PA (John R. Wood REALTORS Inc.) — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 15:03:55 -0700

Hello Naples Friends,

I've noticed there seems to be a common thread with many of the Naples real estate customers I've worked with this season that begins with a bit of perhaps...bewilderment.

The first phone call starts out with something like:

Hi, this is _______ we've been using your Naples real estate website and we're thinking about buying and wanted to call you first...
Hi this is _______ we're in town and saw these properties on your site and wanted to see if you're available...
Hi we're not sure if we want to purchase or not but we're considering doing something in Naples Florida can we meet...

While I get many calls and/or emails every year there seems to be a little more uncertainty about how it all actually comes together.

As an example, I worked with a F A B U L O U S couple this past week. After initialing the last initial on a contract they had successfully negotiated, she expressed how mystified she was that she could call at the beginning of the week to request a "let's get acquainted" meeting and at the end of the week she's going home with a fully executed contract to purchase a fantastic Bay Colony condo.

Friends, I am highly trained to hear your every detail when describing what it is you want to accomplish when you speak of purchasing your Naples real estate desire. I can competently point you in the best direction possible to help you locate the exact property that will best fit your wishes within your budget if it exists and can quickly assess if your goals can be reached. What I mean by that specifically is sometimes what people want in Naples real estate and what they're prepared to spend don't always match up. If the budget is a little off, I can accurately prepare you for what adjustments need to be made to get you where you will be most happy. Sometimes that means Naples isn't for you. Most of the time it means Naples will fit perfectly and I can cut out what could be a great deal of wasted time.

It used to be that people wanted to spend hours and hours, days, months, years to find the perfect Naples property to purchase. Today with the help of the Internet, it doesn't take nearly that long and provided you're able to help me visualize the prize, in many cases I can take you straight there.

Many of my customers today would like to spend maybe a day or two to identify a Naples property they can be excited about and consider it a bonus when they can spend the rest of their time in Naples doing something fun like playing golf, hitting the beach or maybe a little shopping. Because I'm able to quickly identify your needs and wants and have productive conversations with you so you can best understand the "lay of the land" if you will, you're able to accomplish a great deal in a short amount of time. That's just another benefit you receive when working with me and another example of my continued commitment to make buying and selling Naples real estate super easy and fun.

Even though Naples is now technically in "off season" there are still quite a few people in town looking and purchasing. I want to take care of you. Please help me help you by giving me plenty of time to clear my schedule for you when you come to town and I will do my best to help you reach your Naples real estate objective.

Serving my purpose through content rich informaton about Naples, Florida real estate!

Best Regards!

Shannon Lefevre, PA
Your Naples Smart Girl!
239-595-6223
www.ShannonLefevre.com

“The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of John R. Wood Realtors.”

Naples Real Estate Update 2/12

Shannon Lefevre, PA (John R. Wood REALTORS Inc.) — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 05:50:02 -0700

Here's my latest Naples Florida real estate update! There's some exciting points going on in Naples this season. Lots of good news for Naples property owners and positive insight coming from local and national entities regarding the health of the Naples real estate market! You'll want to call me to assist you with your every Naples Real Estate need!

Serving my purpose through content rich informaton about Naples, Florida real estate!

Best Regards!

Shannon Lefevre, PA
Your Naples Smart Girl!
239-595-6223
www.ShannonLefevre.com

“The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of John R. Wood Realtors.”

Breakwater at Pelican Bay ~ 760 Bentwater Circle #203

Shannon Lefevre, PA (John R. Wood REALTORS Inc.) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 00:14:53 -0800

Hello Naples Fans!

I just listed a super cute 3+den in Breakwater at Pelican Bay. Pricing is similar to those offering considerably less so you'll want to move quick! Breakwater at Pelican Bay is located in the northern section of Pelican Bay and is a short stroll to the Pelican Bay fitness center and the North Station beach tram pick-up. The Publix Market place grocery store is also just a couple of blocks away as well.

What makes this unit so great is the fact that even though it is priced similar to units in Breakwater only offering 2 bedrooms, this floor plan is a full 3 bedroom plus den, 2 bath and 2+ car garage. A lake and lushly landscaped view makes this price almost unbelievable but when you pair the above features with the fact that this building is one of the best buildings in Breakwater, the value is impossible to deny. The reason being that 760 Bentwater Circle #203 sits a few buildings away from the Breakwater clubhouse and pool but far enough away from Vanderbilt Beach Road so traffic is not a concern.

Lots of light with a sunny southeast exposure, super vaulted ceilings to allow for an even more expansive feel and fun character make this a great place to call your winter retreat.

Here's a short Iphone video I took for you to sneak a peek:

For more information call me direct or vist my Naples Florida Real Estate website!

Serving my purpose through content rich informaton about Naples, Florida real estate!

Best Regards!

Shannon Lefevre, PA
Your Naples Smart Girl!
239-595-6223
www.ShannonLefevre.com

“The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of John R. Wood Realtors.”

Naples Real Estate VIP

Shannon Lefevre, PA (John R. Wood REALTORS Inc.) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 22:30:59 -0800

Hello Naples friends! Are you tired of getting vague or incomplete information on tremendous Naples real estate deals and other meaty information about the Naples Florida real estate market? Quite frankly, I'm exhausted posting half baked information because I don't have permission to blog or post about listing information I know you really want to be alerted about. Unfortunately the way our Naples Area Board of Realtors works, I'm unable to do that without permission from the listing agent and ultimately the listing company. Because I primarily find these terrific deals in the Naples luxury market, the odds of getting permission from the companies who handle these listings is near impossible BUT I have found a way to alert you should you be interested in knowing the exact details of what I uncover through my day to day activity in the Naples market.

There's two ways you can become a Naples Real Estate VIP.

You can email me direct with your name and email address to be included on my weekly Naples Real Estate VIP newsletter.
You can friend me on Facebook, supply your name and email address in a direct message to me and I will add you to the secret Naples Real Estate VIP group to receive up to the minute updates of terrific deals and other meaty, inside Naples real estate information.

Comparatively, if you like the vague messages I deliver here in my blog or on my public Naples Florida Facebook group, by all means, stay posted. But if your a detail hound who finds themselves with no time to decipher what exactly I might be talking about, sign up today!

Serving my purpose through content rich informaton about Naples, Florida real estate!

Best Regards!

Shannon Lefevre, PA
Your Naples Smart Girl!
239-595-6223
www.ShannonLefevre.com

“The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of John R. Wood Realtors.”

Naples Florida videos

Shannon Lefevre, PA (John R. Wood REALTORS Inc.) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 21:53:56 -0800

Hello Naples fans!

As some of you may remember, I'm exploring the vast world of video and trying to figure out how to incorporate it in to my site her to make your Naples experience that much better. While doing some research at a tech conference I'm currently attending, I found some Naples related videos I thought I'd share with you.

Here's one of my favorite restaurant, Trulucks:

Here's one of Waterside Shops, one of my favorite places to shop:

Venetian Village...this one is kinda funny:

Finally one of Naples beaches:

This is just to warm you up. I'll be tip toeing into the world of video shortly and providing you some fabulous Naples tid bits for your enjoyment.

In the meantime, stay warm and if you have any Naples real estate needs, I'm happy to assist!

Serving my purpose through content rich informaton about Naples, Florida real estate!

Best Regards!

Shannon Lefevre, PA
Your Naples Smart Girl!
239-595-6223
www.ShannonLefevre.com

“The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of John R. Wood Realtors.”

Naples Florida Ridiculous Deal Alert!

Shannon Lefevre, PA (John R. Wood REALTORS Inc.) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 09:36:40 -0800

Hello Naples Friends!

Every once in awhile I come across something I think is a deal of a lifetime. I found one of those magnificent Naples deals last night. This home is located just a couple of miles from the beach and very close to Waterside and Mercato shopping and dining districts. It features over 12,000 square feet of living space and was built in 2005. The interior detailing is some of the best I've seen in Naples. If you can afford an exquisite home between 3 and 4 million call me ASAP. I think this home is worth ALOT more than it's current price as it has just been drastically reduced. This is NOT my listing and I do not have permission to print specific details about this property publicly. This is why you need to contact me direct if you are interested. You should call if you have a serious interest but you can always email me if you are just slightly curious.

PS~ 3 more days til Naples real estate high season! Are you ready?

Serving my purpose through content rich informaton about Naples, Florida real estate!

Best Regards!

Shannon Lefevre, PA
Your Naples Smart Girl!
239-595-6223
www.ShannonLefevre.com

“The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of John R. Wood Realtors.”

The Gift Of Naples Florida

Shannon Lefevre, PA (John R. Wood REALTORS Inc.) — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 10:22:29 -0800

I hope everybody finds themselves this morning with some shiny new Holiday memories! As I reflect on my own memories one that stands out is a phone call I received around 7:00 on Christmas Eve. Clients who purchased a home in Grey Oaks in November were in town and on their way to the airport to pick up their two children to celebrate their first family Christmas in Naples. I could hear the excitement in her voice when she told me of their arrival and how they were going to spend their time in Naples this year. She thanked me again for helping them find what they think is the perfect place to make some terrific family memories.

I marveled over the generosity of her phone call and I'm so glad she shared her anticipation with me. That in essence, is what I really do when I sell Naples real estate. Of course people look for the perfect location, the right decor etc. but ultimately SO many of my clients are in pursuit of the perfect Naples experience.

Whether it's an active lifestyle they desire or perhaps a chance to relax on one of our Naples beaches, we can easily accomplish nearly everybody's wish and when you need a Realtor who can not only find the floor plan and amenity package you are after but they can also imagine your vision of what the real accomplishment entails, call me. I know how to do that too.

PS~ Did you know the official Naples real estate high season shot gun start occurs on January 1? :) Hope to assist you this year!

Serving my purpose through content rich informaton about Naples, Florida real estate!

Best Regards!

Shannon Lefevre, PA
Your Naples Smart Girl!
239-595-6223
www.ShannonLefevre.com

“The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of John R. Wood Realtors.”

Naples Luxury Real Estate Update

Shannon Lefevre, PA (John R. Wood REALTORS Inc.) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 13:07:29 -0800

Hello Naples Fans! I just attended a contract seminar presented by one of the best real estate attorneys in Naples. He shared best practice points on how to protect buyers and sellers from some of the gruesome pitfalls he's seen so far this year. Also in the audience were about 45 of the other top agents in town. This is an invite only seminar which means this type of information is not readily available to just any agent and yet another reason why you want to list and buy with a Naples Realtor who:

is properly connected
knows the contract
knows how to protect their client
has their finger on the Naples real estate pulse

While I was there I took the opportunity to have Kevin quickly describe the Naples real estate market through his eyes. The most stand out thing he had to say was that he wasn't seeing too much golf course community sales right now but that Naples beachfront was on fire. This lead me to do some further research of my own to quantify his remark. $1,000,000+ pending properties are up 45% during the last 30 days compared to this time last year. This is GREAT if you're a Naples luxury real estate seller, not as great news if you're a Naples luxury real estate buyer. As an example 5 Olde Naples homes listed over $1,000,000 have gone under contract during the past 30 days. That's significant considering that's 7% of the current Olde Naples single family home market. Naples beachfront is doing well by the way. As an example 3 Contessa at Bay Colony units have gone under contract during the last 30 days. That's 42% of the current inventory in that building sold in 30 days. Several other Naples beachfront sales were documented as well.

If you're a Naples luxury buyer: Please know this year you are not alone and while cash will usually always speak louder than a mortgage contingency, you will want to act when you see something you like compared to waiting around til the end of season to pull the trigger. I saw a few people last year attempt this and they lost.

This does not by any means signify that we're at the stage in the market where you need to pay full price or over list in almost all cases. This does mean that you will want to behave a little more aggressively to avoid competing with another buyer and be a little more strategic about your negotiations than you've needed to during the past several years to make the best attempt to get your deal done.

If you're a Naples luxury seller: and your property is located on the beach you're in a great spot to make something happen this season provided you don't get too carried away on pricing. The object of the game is to price well, be exposed properly and be prepared to negotiate the best terms possible for you. If you price your property well, the odds of getting two buyers competing for your property at the same time are much better this year. This can be a great way to get the most for your unit if handled well. That's why you want to list your property with an expert who knows not only how to put your property in MLS but can also enthusiastically help you negotiate the best terms. If you're not located on the beach, let's talk about your scenario on a case by case basis. Many of you will still have good news to hear.

Here's something else I found interesting. For the first 12 days of December last year there were 208 properties that went back on the market. Those are properties that had been withdrawn off the market and went back on and properties that were under contract, the contract terminated and then they went back on the market. This number is usually higher during a poor market and lower during a stable market. This year during the same time frame that number is down 42%. Another sign of market stability.

On a side note I want to mention how difficult it can sometimes be to explain a topic that's so inconsistent with the rest of the world. Naples real estate is rarely on the same playing field as so many other markets and has a history of not conforming to what is happening with real estate with the US market as a whole. We were one of the first markets to cool and appear to be one of the first markets to recover. We are happy and consider ourselves fortunate for this. If you have not been following me for long you will be happy to know I am an agent who values true transparency. That's why you'll see actual sales data on my website to help you better understand the Naples market. I do this in an effort to win your business which by the way is my goal. That's why I am so interested in helping you achieve your goal.

Please help me help you by making appointments in advance. It bums me out when I can't assist you personally!

I hope you enjoyed my Naples luxury real estate update. Please contact me direct when you're ready to dive in!

Serving my purpose through content rich informaton about Naples, Florida real estate!

Best Regards!

Shannon Lefevre, PA
Your Naples Smart Girl!
239-595-6223
www.ShannonLefevre.com

“The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of John R. Wood Realtors.”

Naples Real Estate Market Update 12/12/11

Shannon Lefevre, PA (John R. Wood REALTORS Inc.) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 16:10:45 -0800

As you can see there is some REALLY GOOD news for the Naples Florida market! Here's the latest Naples area real estate update from our fabulous C.F.O., Dottie Babcock. As you can see there are still terrific buying opportunities in Naples and there's also places where inventories have leveled and are even in an under-supply scenario.

Inquiring minds are always asking me what's going on with the Naples real estate market. While I do believe we saw a bit of a successful pre-season, I along with all of my super intelligent Naples real estate colleagues agree that it is too soon to know for sure. I always ask every agent I know at least one Naples real estate question in my constant quest to have a my finger on the pulse of the market...the question lately has been: What do you think will happen this season...??? What I have found is the most successful agents in town say they don't know yet which is interesting because I haven't formulated my answer either. We all watch our own set of indicators but I haven't seen anything consistent or compelling enough to place my bet. Neither have they.

If I were in the Naples market to buy a house right now: I would probably focus on locations where the market hasn't leveled if I could get what I want...if I couldn't get what I want in a market that was still over-supplied with inventory, I would want me in my corner helping me with my 5 point negotiation strategy. If you're a buyer considering purchasing Naples real estate, give me a shout and we can discuss this strategy in detail.

If I were considering selling my Naples real estate: I would concern myself with the current inventory in my Naples neighborhood and make my decision based on that. If my home was located in a location where the inventory was level or under-supplied, I would go forward with intelligent pricing and enthusiastic advertising. If my home was located in an area where inventory is oversupplied I would consider the reasons why I wanted to sell. If I really wanted to sell regardless, I would price well and come up with a 5 point strategy to compete against my competition. That strategy might include points like:

1. Best Location
2. Best Priced
3. Best Looking
4. A compelling compensation package
5. Purchasing perks

Then I would market the fool out of it and be excited to negotiate. For more details about how to get your Naples property sold fast, call me direct!

Best Regards,

Shannon Lefevre, PA
Your Naples Smart Girl!

Serving my purpose through content rich informaton about Naples, Florida real estate!

Best Regards!

Shannon Lefevre, PA
Your Naples Smart Girl!
239-595-6223
www.ShannonLefevre.com

“The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of John R. Wood Realtors.”

Naples Real Estate Embraces Cyber Monday!

Shannon Lefevre, PA (John R. Wood REALTORS Inc.) — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 11:23:01 -0800

In the spirit of Cyber Monday, I wanted to take a few minutes to explain purchasing Naples real estate site unseen. I can actually hear some of you gasp as you read this but it's not that uncommon and not as scary as you would think with some of the technology we use and the professionals who can assist you through the adventure.

If you're new to Naples and/or purchasing property, the odds of this being a viable opportunity for you may not be as strong but so many of you have mastered the ability to identify what type of Naples real estate you want to purchase. Many of you use my Naples Florida real estate website as a valued resource for that purpose and ultimately many of you have acquired several properties in countless locations which means much of the mystery in purchasing real estate is non-existent at this point. You pull from your experience, you know how to identify key professionals to help you with the process and you move forward. This post is probably geared more for you.

The experience is quite simple. You find what you think you want to take a stab at and usually I go in, shoot some video, send the file to you for your review, I speak with the listing agent and then we formulate a negotiation plan. Today you can even send me most of the terms of the contract via my website by clicking this button:

This submit offer button can be found on each listing on my site and can help simplify the whole purchasing experience. So in the spirit of Cyber Monday, I hope you'll click around my Naples real estate site, find something you like, make me shoot a video for you and let's see if we can negotiate a terrific deal for you...afterall...Christmas is just 27 days away and I'm willing to bet there have been some very good boys and girls this year.

Best Regards,

Shannon Lefevre, PA
Your Naples Smart Girl!

Serving my purpose through content rich informaton about Naples, Florida real estate!

Best Regards!

Shannon Lefevre, PA
Your Naples Smart Girl!
239-595-6223
www.ShannonLefevre.com

“The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of John R. Wood Realtors.”