Hello from Naples!
In April Nicola and Jeff celebrated the completion (well almost) of a big home improvement project. Their old lanai included a fenced in pool and standard brick pavers. They had the fence, the pavers, the old pool tile and coping removed. They installed a beautiful turquoise glass tile around the pool and had it acid washed. Then they had 24×24 light colored marble pavers installed and the same material was cut for the new coping around the pool. A footer was poured and the lanai was enclosed with a screen. Then an outdoor kitchen was installed (with the exception of the grill because it is on backorder). An electric Storm Smart hurricane screen was added. New landscaping, outdoor lighting and furniture finished off the project. It has been a work in progress since October 2020. The Wakelin’s are delighted with the finished product, it feels like the size of their home increased by 50% and the new lanai has been getting much more use than the old one. With the improvement, they are looking forward to enjoying their Riverstone home for many more years to come.
Here’s an Interesting Article from Florida Weekly: One Bite makes big difference for pizzerias in Southwest Florida
We have a great story to share which also becomes our restaurant review for the month for all you fans of great pizza and Dave Portnoy!
“A few pizza joints in Southwest Florida are reaping the benefit of a surprise visit last week by Dave “El Presidente” Portnoy, the founder of Barstool Sports and its popular One Bite pizza reviews. “I’m crisscrossing this whole state and somehow we identified like five places to go to on the way back from Boca Grande,” Mr. Portnoy said during an April 21 stop in Bonita Springs, before heading south to North Naples and finally East Naples on his perpetual quest to answer one of the most-asked questions everywhere: Where’s the best pizza in town?
Mr. Portnoy’s legions of fans on multiple digital and social media sites hang on his every bite as he eats his way across the country, sampling and rating slices of large cheese pizzas from mostly tiny pizzerias. One bite. Then another. Everybody knows the rules.
Mr. Portnoy posted another video Monday night from Industry Pizza & Slice Shop, 2075 Pine Ridge Road, where he gave a 7.7 rating to “The Plain Cheese” pizza, which is anything but plain. It has three cheeses: mozzarella, caciocavallo and shaved Parmesan. “This seems like kind of fancy pizza,” he said. “This is almost artisan pizza.” Industry Pizza co-owners Chris Jones and Henrik Lagergren are having “fancy” T-shirts made to capitalize on Mr. Portnoy’s visit, which puts Naples on the pizza map, Mr. Jones said. “It’s a big deal,” he said.
After initially choking on garlic crumbs atop the gourmet pie, Mr. Portnoy had kind words to say about what he called “a special occasion pizza.”
“This is super-good stuff but you can’t eat it every night. So, you’ve got to take that into account. This is almost like a cuisine. This is like, again, a pizza that I would expect to see entered into a contest to win. It’s got a lot of flair,” he said. “It’s very good, though. I put this in the artisan category. I bet they have a big pizza background.”
Mr. Jones, who launched Industry Pizza in 2019 after LowBrow Pizza in 2018, is an award-winning, classically trained chef with an impressive culinary background at country clubs and resorts.
“It’s very good stuff, just different,” Mr. Portnoy said. “Again, you’re not going out after this. Don’t even think of going out after this. You’re in, you’re watching ‘Matlock,’ you’re going to bed, red wine. Very good pizza, though.”
In Mr. Portnoy’s honor, Mr. Jones plans to add “El Presidente” pizza to the menu. It will have everything Portnoy looks for in a pizza: just cheese, extra charred, crispy and extra well done with very little flop.
After Industry, Mr. Portnoy traveled about 7 miles south to LowBrow Pizza & Beer, 3148 Tamiami Trail E., which just celebrated its third-anniversary last week. LowBrow’s wood-fired pies frequently top local picks.
Although he rarely scores Neapolitan-style pizza above 7, Mr. Portnoy awarded a 7.1 to LowBrow’s Maggie, short for Margherita pizza. While Industry and LowBrow have the same owners, they have totally different pizza, he noted.
While at LowBrow, Mr. Portnoy bought a T-shirt and a $750 painting of baby Yoda eating a slice of pizza that was painted by local artist Esau Rodriguez. “Suddenly, I have art in my new Miami house,” he said.
A huge fan of “Star Wars” and “The Mandalorian,” Mr. Jones has already commissioned the artist to create another baby Yoda painting to hang in the pizzeria.
Official April 2021 Climate Data at Naples Airport:
April 2020 |
YTD 2020 |
April 2021 |
YTD 2021 |
Normal YTD |
|
Rainfall in inches |
2.76 |
5.35 |
1.67 |
3.25 |
8.69 |
Record High April Rainfall |
7.73 (1997) |
||||
Record Low April Rainfall |
0.00 (1970) |
||||
High April Temperature |
94 |
90 |
|||
Low April Temperature |
60 |
51 |
|||
Record High April Temperature |
95 (1965) |
||||
Record Low April Temperature |
39 (1971) |
Temperatures in April were just about normal for the month. The normal average max temperature in April is 83.2 and we recorded 84.5. Rainfall was well below normal again in April, the lakes and ponds around Naples are looking low. May begins the rainy season, so let’s hope for a few downpours.
Book Review: “The Firekeepers Daughter” by Angeline Boulley
Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley is a thrilling and stunning debut novel that is part crime fiction and part coming of age.
Daunis Fontaine is 18 years old born to a Native father and a white mother. She’s already seen a lot of heartbreak in her life with the recent passing of her uncle and her grandmother having a stroke, but she’s really handling it quite well.
Daunis has a half-brother (through their father) who she is very close to, her best friend Lily, and her family and friends. Through a series of interesting events, she witnesses a murder and becomes a confidential informant in order to bring justice and safety to her community.
The author also grew up with a Native father and a non-Native mother in a location near the setting of her novel, so she’s able to paint an authentic picture and highlight the ongoing issues that Native communities face including Indigenous women.
I loved Boulley’s writing style while still bringing very serious issues to the forefront. I really enjoyed reading about the culture, traditions, ceremonies of Native Americans. The author’s note in the end was truly eye-opening.
Here are a few reviews on Amazon:
“What a journey I’ve been on in this book. It was hard to put down and I often found myself engaged into the story longer than I meant to be – causing late meals and late bedtimes! I’ve learned so much. This book weaves in Indigenous culture & traditions, a crime mystery, and the strength of women. While I do love a good crime novel, it is the way Angeline Boulley shines a light to educating the reader about Indigenous communities, culture, language and traditions.”
“This book was just amazing, pure and simple. It follows Daunis, an Ojibwe teenager, as she works with the FBI to investigate a lethal new drug, all the while managing her own grief and emotions. The book is YA, but on the upper edges of the genre, and reads as a standalone mystery novel.”
“If I had to describe this book in one word, it would be “beautiful.” This book is just phenomenal. I typically don’t read contemporary fiction (I’m admittedly a fantasy reader), but I devoured this book in one sitting.”
Restaurant Recommendation: Hyde N Chic, 923 Creech Rd. Naples
Nicola has been following Chef, Andy Hyde for a few years now on social media and has been interested in trying his restaurant, so when Jeff asked where she wanted to go to celebrate her April birthday, Hyde N Chic was her first choice. Chef Hyde was born in Ghana and raised in Germany and the US. He has worked at a three Michelin-star restaurant and under Chef Gordon Ramsay. His tasting menu blends international flavors of Africa, Europe and America. The dinner was an amazing experience. Chef Hyde is just as talented an artist as chef, his plating was delightful! It was a unique experience because customers let their server know the type of food they are interested in and the Chef selects the courses. Nicola and Jeff are pescatarian so their meal was seafood and vegetarian focused. They started with an amuse bouche of dual caviars followed by oysters, a wild mushroom strudel, West African spiced shrimp, Panamanian hearts of palm cacio e pepe, Chilean Sea Bass and Ghanian Sweets. Chef Hyde greeted Jeff and Nicola personally, as he did with all diners that evening, proving that his personality is just as enchanting as his food. If you are interested in an exceptional fine dining experience with a personal touch then you need to visit Hyde and Chic!
Here are a few recent reviews on Trip Advisor:
“Absolutely AMAZING… This tiny hidden gem of Naples is a foodies dream, the flavors that the Chef brings to the plate is unmatched, service was definitely 5stars and the wine paring was the best I’ve had in a long time.”
“European dining in Naples Florida…As a member of the Chaine des Rotisseurs I was truly impressed with the food. The mushroom strudel was a delight, followed by mouthwatering sea bass, the braised short ribs did not disappoint. I loved the dessert as well. Wine paired well with the courses and our server was very good as well…If you want an amazing dining experience this is the place …. Thank you Chef Andy for a delightful and delicious experience.”
Naples Real Estate: Here are the April 2021 Naples/Bonita market statistics.
For the first four months of 2021, there were 8,320 closed home sales in all of Naples and Bonita. This compares with 4,883 closed sales for the same period last year. Sales have continued to surge into the spring. YTD home sales are up 70% from last year.
Here’s an interesting table comparing the first four months of 2021 to last year:
Closed Sales |
Total |
Under $300,000 |
$300,000 to $700,000 |
$700,001 to $1,000,000 |
$1,000,001 to $3,000,000 |
Over $3,000,000 |
YTD April 2020 |
4,883 |
1,950 |
2,042 |
329 |
441 |
121 |
YTD April 2021 |
8,320 |
2,635 |
3,678 |
729 |
989 |
289 |
Difference |
+3,437 |
+685 |
+1,636 |
+400 |
+548 |
+168 |
% Change |
+70% |
+35% |
+80% |
+122% |
+124% |
+139% |
Every category we measure is significantly ahead of last year at the end of April. Real estate sales continue to be strong. Realtors in Naples are saying they’ve never seen a resale market like this…an extreme seller’s market.
The inventory of available property remains down from last year and continues to decrease. As the following table shows, the level of inventory varies by price point:
Naples Home Supply as of May 7, 2021 |
Total |
Under $300,000 |
$300,000 to $700,000 |
$700,001 to $1,000,000 |
$1,000,001 to $3,000,000 |
Over $3,000,000 |
Homes Sold Last 12 Months |
20,204 |
6,695 |
9,043 |
1,599 |
2,226 |
641 |
Average Number Sold per Month |
1,684 |
558 |
754 |
133 |
186 |
53 |
Total Available for Sale |
1,275 |
268 |
487 |
141 |
241 |
138 |
Months of Supply May 7, 2021 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
We saw housing inventory fall again this month, falling by 22% to 1,275 homes. The supply of homes has declined every month since last July. Currently the average monthly supply is less than 1 month. It is hard to believe how little inventory we have in Naples. This is the lowest number in more than 20 years. Most Realtors consider that a six-month supply of homes is neither a buyers’ nor sellers’ market, so this is truly a sellers’ market. For comparison, the high point of available existing home inventory was June 2007 when there were 11,601 listed in the MLS system for Naples and Bonita!
One market factor that is affecting real estate availability is a shortage of labor and building materials. Prices have skyrocketed. For years, the price of 1,000 board feet of lumber has generally traded in the $200 to $400 range. It’s now well above $1,000. (One board foot is 12x12x1 inches, and the average new single-family home takes about 16,000 board feet of lumber to construct.) A new house that would have cost $10,000 in wood to get off the ground a couple of years ago now costs $40,000 worth of wood — assuming, that is, you can even get your hands on the lumber. According to industry reports, 71% of contractors surveyed are facing at least one material shortage. Lumber was the most-cited material shortage (31%), followed by steel or electrical supplies other than copper wire (11%) and lighting supplies (10%).
Kensington Real Estate:
Kensington is the golf course community where Rae and Fred live. Golf and Social memberships are available at Kensington, although none is required to buy here. As of May 7, 2021, there are only 3 active listings in Kensington. This is 1 more than last month. Here’s a look at the MLS market in Kensington as of May 7, 2021:
Type of Property |
Number |
Lowest Price |
Highest Price |
Average Price per Sq. Ft. |
Avg. Days on Mkt. |
Estate Homes |
1 |
$1,995,000 |
$1,995,000 |
$559 |
44 |
Villas |
0 |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
Coach Homes |
2 |
$579,000 |
$699,000 |
$264 |
8 |
Total |
3 |
There have been 59 closed sales in the past 12-month period. At this average selling rate of 4.9 properties per month, the 3 homes listed represent less than 1month of inventory on average. Kensington is a seller’s market. There is 1 Estate Home and only 2 Coach Homes on the market. As of May 7, 2021, there are 2 sales pending and 5 sales pending with contingencies in Kensington.
Riverstone Real Estate:
Riverstone is the community where Jeff and Nicola live. Riverstone has numerous amenities available for residents to enjoy. You can spend days swimming and relaxing at the community resort-style pool, playing tennis, taking a fitness class or socializing in the community’s private clubhouse. Here’s a look at the MLS market in Riverstone as of May 7, 2021:
Property |
Number for Sale |
Lowest Price |
Highest Price |
Avg. Asking Price Per Sq. Ft. |
Avg. Days on Market |
Riverstone |
3 |
$629,000 |
$1,550,000 |
$308 |
23 |
Here’s a breakdown of what’s currently on the market thru MLS:
|
|
$500,000 to $599,999 |
$600,000 to $699,999 |
$700,000 to $799,999 |
$800,000 to $899,999 |
$900,000 and Over |
Number for Sale |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
Average Price per Sq. Ft. |
NA |
$302 |
NA |
NA |
$311 |
Average Number of Days on Market |
NA |
7 |
NA |
NA |
32 |
Available inventory is 3 less than last month. As of May 7, there were 3 active listings, 5 pending sales and 15 pending sales with contingencies. The MLS system lists 93 homes sold in the last 12 months. With average monthly sales at 8, this means that there is less than one month of inventory at Riverstone…a sellers’ market, for sure.
Give us a call if we can help with any real estate questions you have at 239-398-0028 (Rae) or 239-451-9351 (Nicola).