Hello from Naples!
Rae and Fred have had an interesting time with their master bathroom since moving into their new condo in April. In May, the home watch service for the downstairs neighbor (who was in Maine for the summer) discovered that there was water penetrating the downstairs unit in the master bath shower area. After analyzing the situation with a contractor, it was determined that Rae and Fred’s shower drain was leaking. To fix the leak, the shower floor needed to be dug out and the drain replaced. At that point they decided to renovate the entire master bath. After several false starts with various contractors, a neighbor recommend All in 1 Drywall and Painting. Octavio, the owner, has excellent sub-contractors who handle electrical, plumbing, and tile. He has his own crew for drywall and painting. The new bathroom is almost complete, and it looks great.
Meanwhile, the downstairs owner (who has been very patient and understanding throughout the ordeal) signed up with Serv Pro to remediate his unit. In addition to the shower leak, the air conditioning drain and a drain in the guest bathroom were also leaking from Rae and Fred’s condo to the downstairs unit. The big problem created by these other leaks was mold. Serv Pro has been working for several weeks to fix this issue and to replace drywall. It appears that they are almost through.
Big lessons: If you leave for the summer (or any extended time) make sure you have someone checking your home on a regular basis. Especially if you live in a downstairs condo unit. Regularly check all the ceilings in areas where there are sinks and bathrooms. Always have the air conditioner service providers check that the drainage system is working properly. As they say, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”.
Here’s an Interesting Article from Naples Daily News: SWFL on more national “best” lists
Yet more honors have come for Southwest Florida even as international travelers set foot in earnest today locally for the first time in 20 months.
Bienvenidos. Welkom. Herzlich willkommen. Karibu. Wamukelekile. Benvenuto.
You’ve come to the right place. Once again, the region is at the top of the heap for the best places to retire, this time coming from WalletHub’s financial analysts, which used dozens of metrics to reach the determination among the state’s cities.
Driven in part by the highest rating on most health care places per capita, Fort Myers landed second behind Sarasota, which also did well in that category and was ahead on activities, such as most fishing facilities per capita.
WalletHub, which released the new community data this past week and named Florida as the best state to retire earlier this year, relies on a panel of experts to advise it including sociology professor Dawn C. Carr, co-director of Florida State University’s Aging Research on Contexts, Health and Inequalities. “Because Florida is a draw for older retirees, we typically import wealthier, healthier older people from other parts of the country,” Carr said. “If anything, older Floridians provide a critical ingredient for our state’s economic vibrancy.”
Just before WalletHub reached its conclusions, online platform StorageCafé also put Southwest Florida at the top of its compilation of best places for snowbirds after an analysis of several factors including health care, parks, golf courses, internet speeds and crime. Venice and Naples claimed the No. 1 and 2 slots, respectively.
The latest comes on the heels of Southwest Florida receiving similar recognition last month from U.S. News & World Report on places for retirees. In a separate study, that magazine also found the area to be one of the best places to live overall.
SWFL’s crowded trophy case…
It’s been quite a year, well, decade, for national recognition for the various communities in the region including:
- Best beach town from Travel + Leisure magazine and WalletHub, which has bestowed this multiple times here;
- Best vacation spot for working remotely, based on Allconnect’s study of high-speed internet connections and other factors;
- Among theTop 5 for senior health by a cancer-fighting organization;
- Annually, at or near the top of well-being indexes put together by several groups althoughthe rest of Florida lost groundon that this year;
- 2020’s No. 2 of theBest Small Citiesby Resonance Consultancy, a specialist in the destination-branding industry; and
- One of a dozen “Great Places to Retire for Your Good Health” by Kiplinger magazine in 2016.
Official October 2021 Climate Data at Naples Airport:
October 2020 |
YTD 2020 |
October 2021 |
YTD 2021 |
Normal YTD |
|
Rainfall in Inches |
1.36 |
37.45 |
4.37 |
39.11 |
47.74 |
Record High October Rainfall |
17.52 (1951) |
||||
Record Low October Rainfall |
.05 (1977) |
||||
High September October |
93 |
91 |
|||
Low October Temperature |
72 |
68 |
|||
Record High October Temperature |
96 (2019) |
||||
Record Low October Temperature |
46 (2000) |
Temperatures in October were slightly above normal for the month. The normal average max temperature in October is 86.5 and we recorded 87.9. Rainfall was also slightly above normal in October and our rain deficit for the year is now 8.6 inches. We have little hope of making up the deficit as we are entering the dry season. The total average rainfall over the next two months is about 4 inches.
Book Review: “Paris in the Present Tense” by Mark Helprin
Jules LaCour is a septuagenarian musician who plays the cello. He has survived WWll, fighting in North Africa, the death of his parents, the death of his colleagues, the death of his wife but he does not want to survive the coming death of his grandson. Two-year-old Luc has leukemia and Jules would do anything to save his life. When asked to compose a piece of music for an American Insurance company it seems his prayers may have been answered, even if he rarely attends the synagogue or even prays.
The story is enthralling and provides a perfect vehicle for Helprin’s glorious descriptions of the city of Paris and life therein. Mark Helprin has written a superb book about love, loss, heroism, sorrow, music, and the lengths we go to for the ones we love. It is a very satisfying read, one that stays with you long after you have turned the last page. The characters are engaging and well depicted with the protagonist one you will embrace and with whom you will identify and remember long after the final page is turned.
Here are a few reviews on Amazon…
“This novel follows the life an aged cello player named Jules Lacour a cellist and teacher who is facing the end of his days and his life in Paris. And while there is intrigue, mystery, and all the plot points that have grown tired in contemporary fiction, this novel rises above all those expectations. Part of it is the nature of this older, wise protagonist and his vision of the world. But it also sits in the root of Helprin’s prose and his ability to position you in the most complex moments of life and find more than just plot point, but more.”
“I was first introduced to Mark Helprin’s writing with his exquisite “Ellis Island and Other Stories,” one of the finest collections of short stories that I have ever read. Reading his newest novel brings back the sensations of this first encounter, the need to read more slowly, the reluctance to miss the nuance and care woven into each sentence. At his best, Mark Helprin can leave you amazed at what can be accomplished with mere words. I believe he is at his best here and again provides that rare experience for the reader.”
Restaurant Recommendation: The Hangout 2360 Pine Ridge Rd. Naples
The Falisi brothers, who operate Two Guys Kitchen and Catering in the Naples area, have expanded their business with the addition of The Hangout by Two Guys, a local restaurant and bar. The Hangout’s 3,568-square-foot unit on the southwest corner of Airport-Pulling and Pine Ridge roads is near Bealls in a Naples retail center anchored by Target and Publix.
The Falisi brothers also continue to operate their original location of Two Guys Kitchen launched 2 years ago on Airport-Pulling in East Naples as well as their family-owned catering operation founded in 2015, which includes the Skyline by Two Guys in-flight catering service they started in 2018 for private jet departures at Southwest Florida airports.
The Hangout has 150 to 160 seats and serves lunch, dinner and happy hour specials in a neighborhood bar atmosphere, as its name suggests. “We are doing it for the locals here,” Larry Falisi said. “We are going to promote that fun atmosphere and a place to have a couple of drinks after work.” They hope to create a younger vibe to attract young professionals year-round with a local price point between the casual raw bars of Pelican Larry’s and Rusty’s and the upscale night spots of Cavo and Blue Martini, he said.
Here are a few reviews on Trip Advisor:
“Indoor and outdoor seating, even at the bar. We sat inside at the bar, watched some football, and ordered a Margherita pizza. The pizza was outstanding. Far exceeded my expectations, I would go back just for the pizza. Great crust, topped with quality ingredients. Friendly staff, and observant!”
“On two recent occasions I was at The Hangout by Two Guys for Happy Hour. The food was very good and everyone on the staff extremely accommodating to our group, Wine Tasters of Naples. The layout of the restaurant is spacious and unique for Naples. The location is central for everyone in Naples. This is a very welcome addition to the restaurant scene in Naples, FL. Do check this place out if you get the opportunity – you will not be disappointed.”
Naples Real Estate: Here are the October 2021 Naples/Bonita market statistics.
For the first ten months of 2021, there were 18,136 closed home sales in all of Naples and Bonita. This compares with 13,129 closed sales for the same period last year. Sales have remained strong, although the pace has slowed primarily due to lack of homes available. YTD home sales are up 38% from last year.
Here’s an interesting table comparing the first ten 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 Oct. 2020 |
13,129 |
4,878 |
5,784 |
885 |
1,249 |
333 |
YTD Oct. 2021 |
18,136 |
4,947 |
8,661 |
1,804 |
2,134 |
590 |
Difference |
+5,007 |
+69 |
+2,877 |
+919 |
+885 |
+257 |
% Change |
+38% |
+1% |
+50% |
+104% |
+71% |
+77% |
Every category we measure is still ahead of last year at the end of October. Naples real estate sales continue to be strong and although the pace is slowing, it is still a 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 Inventory as of Nov. 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 |
Number Sold Last 12 Months |
21,496 |
5,983 |
10,177 |
2,104 |
2,522 |
710 |
Average Number Sold per Month |
1,791 |
499 |
848 |
175 |
210 |
59 |
Total Available for Sale |
1,229 |
126 |
472 |
207 |
251 |
173 |
Months of Supply November 7, 2021 |
<1 |
<1 |
<1 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
Inventory fell last month by just over 2% to 1,229 homes. After 12 monthly decreases in a row, supply finally rose by 141 homes in July only to fall back again for the last three months. Average monthly supply for all homes is less than 1 month. It’s hard to believe how little inventory there is in Naples. Most Realtors consider a six-month supply of homes to be a balanced market. For comparison, the high point of available existing home inventory was June of 2007 when there were 11,601 listed in the MLS system for Naples and Bonita! There has been a slowdown in sales during the last two months. We believe the cause is simply a lack of inventory as time on market is still decreasing, closed prices are continuing to increase and the percent of list price to sold price remains high (homes are selling very close to asking price).
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. Golf memberships have sold well this year, and there is now a waiting list for the first time in the history of the club. As of November 7, 2021, there are no active listing in Kensington. This is highly unusual. There have been 59 closed sales in the past 12-month period and as of November 7, 2021, there are 2 sales pending and 0 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 November 7, 2021:
Property |
Number for Sale |
Lowest Price |
Highest Price |
Asking Price Per Sq. Ft. |
Days on Market |
Riverstone |
1 |
$1,499,000 |
$1,499,000 |
$359 |
202 |
Available inventory is 3 less than last month. As of November 7, there was 1 active listing, 4 pending sales and 3 pending sales with contingencies. The MLS system lists 90 homes sold in the last 12 months. With average monthly sales at 7.5, this means there is less than one month of inventory at Riverstone.
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).