Naples Florida
Real Estate
Newsletter
                                                                                          July  2003

Pete & Karen Smith

Pete... Downing-Frye Realty, Inc.             Karen... Vineyards Properties, Inc.
      petesmith@comcast.net                           karen@vineyardsproperties.com

______________________________________________________________________

Market Conditions...  The season started out slow, but quickly improved as the war came to an end.  May and June have been good months and in the under $300,000 price range, it's almost business as usual.  The higher priced homes and condos are starting to show signs of life, but the pace is still not as good as a couple years ago.  The inventory levels are still quite high in the higher priced homes and condos.  Many of the homes and condos that were priced over $1,000,000 3 to 5 months ago have been reduced in price. 

Southwest Florida International Airport...  The $386-million midfield terminal will have 25 gates and should open in 2005.  An additional $52-million will be spent for security equipment.

Bayshore Drive...  The Bayshore Drive area will get a new addition soon.  A gated community known as Botanical Place will be offering condos from $150-250,000.

30 Year rates are about 4.5%    and    3 Year ARMs are about 3.5%

Collier Property Values...  In 2002, property values in the county were up almost 16%.  The values went from $49.6 billion in 2001 to $57.6 billion in 2002.  New construction in 2002 amounted to $2.2 billion.


Backwater fishing...  Now that the waters are warmer, snook fishing is great. (catch and release)   Fishing the many bays behind Keewaydin Island or fishing the Ten Thousand Islands will produce good results. 


Bellagio...  If you want great Northern and Southern Italian classics, this would be the best new restaurant in town to try out.  It is located at Bayfront Place.  Try the tiramisu.

     Passenger Traffic is up...  The Southwest Florida International Airport traffic has recovered from last year's sluggishness.  Not only has it recovered, but it is setting new records.  For the first half of the year traffic is up over 10% from last year, while nationally traffic is down.  Over 3 million people have passed through the gates thru June.

Irresistible Villa...   All those special touches make this villa irresistible
Crown moldings, modern colors, wonderful view, private pool and spa.  Wide open floor plan, lots of windows.  Electric shutters.  Gated community.  Detached villa.  3 bedrooms, 2,505 s/f of living area.  2 car garage.  Membership in country club available.  $ 519,000

The " Lemonade Girl "....   A little girl in Old Naples made the national news when she set up her lemonade stand and was sited by the city for not having a permit.   A neighbor turned her in.   The city was quick to solve the problem by issuing the permit, but not before the press got hold of the story.  She was even on the " David Letterman Show ". 

Goodlette-Frank Rd....   The long overdue widening of Goodlette-Frank Rd. north of Pine Ridge Rd. is now under way.   Congratulations to the County.   They recognized a flawed widening plan even after the construction was well under way and they have increased the originally planned 4 lane section to 6 lanes. 

Rich King...   Naples Radio talk show host Rich King passed away June 21st after a
battle with pancreatic cancer.  Rich King was loved by many and will be missed.

At the end of June, a black bear had to be tranquilized and removed from a neighborhood near Naples High School.  A few years back a bear was in Port Royal.  Many are being spotted in Golden Gate.

 

 


                       Pete Smith                        Selling Naples Real Estate
                Broker - Salesman                                       for 20 years
                Downing-Frye Realty
                       239-304-1150                              Naples largest Realty office
                   cell: 239-370-2783                           $1 Billion in sales in 2002
          e-mail: petesmith@comcast.net
         www.naplesfl-real-estate.com                      " I build my future
   www.petesmithnaplesrealestate.com                 into every sale "

                       Karen Smith                       
                       Realtor                                           The Number 1    
              Vineyards Properties                                    Top Salesperson
                        239-353-3393                                                in the Vineyards
   cell: 239-860-6018  eve: 239-304-1150      
 e-mail: karen@vineyardsproperties.com        
www.petesmithnaplesrealestate.com/vineyards.htm

 

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search site by clicking:
www.naplesfl-real-estate.com

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click:
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