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Ave Maria could add thousands of homes, sparking resident concerns

Ave Maria could add thousands of homes, sparking resident concerns

 Laura Layden | Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News

The town of Ave Maria could grow by more than 2,000 acres.

On May 7, the Collier County Planning Commission voted nearly unanimously to recommend in favor of the expansion.

A final decision will be made by county commissioners. A hearing is scheduled for June 9.

Ave Maria Development LLLP (Limited Liability Limited Partnership) has applied to add 2,042 acres to the town. To do so, it needs approval to expand the boundaries of the already designated stewardship receiving area (SRA) for development from 5,928 acres to 7,970 acres.

The expansion would allow for more residential and commercial development.

Barron Collier Cos. is the force behind the town, in partnership with Tom Monaghan, the creator of Domino’s Pizza and founder of Ave Maria University.

Ave Maria: A first for Collier County development
Ave Maria was the first SRA and town to develop under the county’s Rural Lands Stewardship Area, or RLSA, program.

The voluntary program allows developers to build more intense towns and villages on property with lower conservation value, in exchange for preserving more environmentally sensitive land, through a credit system. The program is designed to prevent urban sprawl, addressing state concerns about the protection of wildlife and wetlands out east, dating back to the 1990s.

Read the full article on naplesnews.com.

Are you seeking a home in the Bonita Springs – Naples, Florida area? Contact David at David@DavidFlorida.com or 239-285-1086.

Collier County development approved decades ago moves forward in North Naples

Collier County development approved decades ago moves forward in North Naples

Laura Layden | Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News

A planned housing development first approved more than 40 years ago in Collier County could soon take shape, but it could look different.

On April 28, Collier commissioners greenlighted amendments to the Imperial Lakes Planned Unit Development (PUD) in North Naples.

Originally approved in 1982, the PUD has been in waiting for the expansion of Veterans Memorial Boulevard, west of Livingston Road.

With the expansion still not completed, the developer has agreed to design, permit and build the western extension of the boulevard to the Seminole Gulf Railway to provide access to the new community.

New community could include a mix of housing options
The approved amendments to the PUD will give the landowner and developer, going under the name N.A. Realty Trust Inc., the option to build a mix of housing, including single-family and two-family homes, as well as other multifamily homes.

The developer could still build the original plan, which allowed for up to 430 multifamily homes in five-story buildings.

The long vacant site spans nearly 80 acres. It sits north of the private Imperial Golf Club and to the west of the Castlewood at Imperial community, near Aubrey Rogers High School.

Naples land use attorney Rich Yovanovich, who represented N.A. Realty Trust at the public hearing, said the developer had worked to limit the height and types of homes built in the corner closest to Castlewood to address residents’ concerns about the visual impact.

Read the full article on naplesnews.com.

Naples ‘house on the beach’ condo lists for $13.9 million

Naples ‘house on the beach’ condo lists for $13.9 million

Andrea Stetson | Special to The News-Press & Naples Daily News

Jeanna Wolfe’s spacious home has sliding glass doors that lead to a humongous lanai with a pool and spa overlooking the Gulf. That might not seem unusual unless you know that Wolfe lives in a condo.

“We didn’t want to be in a condo building, but this is like a house on the beach,” Wolfe stressed. “The terrace has stairs right to the beach. It really feels perfect for the person that wants a house on the beach, but the ease of a condo.”

It is the only one of the 19 condos in The Vanderbilt with its own terrace and pool and that terrace spans 5,793 square feet and includes the large deck with its pool, spa, outdoor kitchen, fire pit, sitting and dining areas and garden. That is almost as much as the interior which is 6,141 square feet under air. The entire property is 12,640 square feet.

“It was lived in by the developer of this building, and we met them and became friends, and we told them if you are ever going to sell let us know and that was 2012 and we have been here ever since,” Wolfe explained. “It is just our unique place. Nobody knows it exists. We have spent many years here and have loved it here.”

Wolfe’s beloved husband, Jeff, recently passed away and Wolfe now wants a change and is selling her dream home for $13,995,000.

Read more about how Jeanna and her husband enjoyed living in this lovely home, on naplesnews.com.

Ready to explore the most exceptional properties of Southwest Florida? Contact me today to begin your journey. Contact David at David@DavidFlorida.com or 239-285-1086.

Collier commissioners unanimously approve new village in rural area

Collier commissioners unanimously approve new village in rural area

Laura Layden | Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News

Collier commissioners approved a longtime citrus grower’s plans to build a new village in rural Collier County.

On April 28, commissioners voted unanimously in favor of allowing Fort Myers-based Alico Inc. to create a stewardship receiving area on land where the company has grown and harvested oranges for decades.

The designation as a receiving area will allow Alico to develop a more than 1,400-acre village, known as Corkscrew Grove East, off Corkscrew Road, near State Road 82.

The planning commission recommended approval to county commissioners.

The village could have up to 4,502 residences and nearly 240,000 square feet of commercial uses, including retail shops, restaurants and medical offices, along with at least 45,020 square feet of civic spaces, which could be used for schools, churches and emergency services.

The village will include affordable housing.

Read the full article on naplesnews.com.

 

NABOR Market Report | March 2026

NABOR Market Report | March 2026

Home Sales in March Highlight Market Strength

Naples, Fla. (April 24, 2026) – Brisk pending and closed sales activity in the Naples housing market during March (+15 percent and +26.7 percent, respectively) signal improved market conditions and confidence. Sellers who priced properties competitively for today’s market or were open to negotiation – especially in the condominium market – enjoyed swift sales in March. Broker analysts reviewing the March 2026 Market Report by the Naples Area Board of REALTORS® (NABOR®), which tracks home listings and sales within Collier County (excluding Marco Island), are confident price corrections that began last summer helped to accelerate the market’s momentum during Q1 2026 and anticipate strong home sales into Q2.

Values Hold Steady

Overall pending sales increased 15 percent to 1,394 pending sales from 1,212 pending sales in March 2025. Overall closed sales increased 26.7 percent to 1,054 closed sales from 832 closed sales in March 2025. Both pending and closed sales activity during March outperformed activity in any March since 2016, with the exception of 2021 and 2022.

Overall median closed price decreased 11.5 percent to $575,000 from $649,950 in March 2025. The median closed price in the single-family home market increased 2.4 percent to $771,950 from $754,000 in March 2025. Conversely, the median closed price in the condominium market decreased 11.5 percent to $430,000 from $486,000 in March 2025.

“The condominium market was struggling to find its footing after the onset of the mandatory inspections and reserve studies. But sales are improving in the condominium market as evidenced in the March Market Report. So those concerns appear to have been addressed and fixed,” added Cindy Carroll of Carroll & Carroll Appraisers and Consultants.

Entry Level Returns

Several brokers reviewing the March Housing Market Report remarked that the current mix of inventory provides ample choices across all price categories. The report also showed single-family homes in the $500,000 – $1.5 million price category command the highest inventory level compared to all other price categories reported.

“New listings are down slightly [14.1 percent/ytd], and this has put a governor on our inventory. That may be because some potential sellers are staying in their homes longer, especially since many locked in low interest rates before the rate rise began in 2022,” said Hughes.

The NABOR® March 2026 Market Report provides comparisons of single-family home and condominium sales (via the Southwest Florida MLS), price ranges, and geographic segmentation and includes an overall market summary. NABOR® sales statistics are presented in chart format, including these overall (single-family and condominium) findings for 2026:

NABOR Report March 2026 report chart

Are you seeking a home in the Bonita Springs – Naples, Florida area? Contact David at David@DavidFlorida.com or 239-285-1086.

NABOR Market Report | February 2026

NABOR Market Report | February 2026

Naples Area Board of REALTORS®

February Buyers Absorbing Inventory Rapidly

Naples, Fla. (March 20, 2026) – Buyers from the north and east descended on Naples in February resulting in a 55.9 percent increase in pending sales (homes under contract) compared to February 2025; and a 23.4 percent increase in pending sales compared to January 2026. Broker analysts reviewing the February 2026 Market Report by the Naples Area Board of REALTORS® (NABOR®), which tracks home listings and sales within Collier County (excluding Marco Island), remarked that agents were busy in February in both the resale and new construction home markets.

With the deadline for structural integrity reserve studies and milestone inspections on condominiums three stories or higher and over 25 years old if within three miles of the beach now in the rearview mirror (December 31, 2025), pending sales of condominiums in Naples during February rocketed up 82 percent to 714 pending sales from 392 pending sales in February 2025.

“Unlike many areas on the east coast of Florida, milestone inspections of condominiums that fell under the new state requirements in the Naples area revealed fewer issues because they were built well originally and have been maintained to a higher standard,” said a Broker.

Eyes on the Horizon

Overall closed sales in February increased 21.3 percent to 718 closed sales from 592 closed sales in February 2025. Not surprisingly, closed sales in the condominium market increased a remarkable 39.3 percent to 390 closed sales from 280 closed sales in February 2025. In comparison, the single family homes market had a 5.1 percent increase in closed sales during February to 328 closed sales from 312 closed sales in February 2025. The momentum for closed sales in the single family home market is expected to continue as pending sales in the single-family home market increased 33 percent in February to 600 pending sales from 451 pending sales in February 2025.

The overall median closed price in February decreased .4 percent to $647,500 from $650,000 in February 2025. Of the 6,447 properties in inventory during February, there were 2,104 price decreases recorded in the month. Increased pending sales activity in both January and February indicate sellers are following REALTOR® advice to price homes competitively for a faster sale.

The rush of sales is reducing overall inventory, which decreased 15.1 percent in February to 6,447 properties from 7,594 properties in February 2025. Not even a historically consistent level of new listings is helping to replenish what’s being sold. New listings decreased 13.5 percent to 1,527 new listings from 1,765 new listings.

New Builds Fill the Gap

“We are four years out of the top of the market and maintaining stability,” said Cindy Carroll of Carroll & Carroll Appraisers & Consultants, LLC. “Everything we are seeing today in the new construction market will only improve the resale market.”

However, according to Carroll, new construction of speculative homes in several desirable communities like Aqualane Shores, Royal Harbor, Vanderbilt, and Pine Ridge are oversupplied. “There are few homes under $10 million in Aqualane Shores. In fact, there is one and a half years of inventory in this community. And we’re seeing similar oversupply issues in pockets around Old Naples too.”

This isn’t stopping new home development in Naples though. Bone added that “construction by several developers on 14,000 new homes is slated to start in eastern Collier County in the next nine to 12 months. Being near the beach isn’t a driving factor in home sales for Naples anymore. Most of these new communities will be 30 miles from I-75.”

Closed sales of single family homes in eastern Collier County (34114, 34117, 34120, 34137) increased 19.1 percent in February.

The NABOR® February 2025 Market Report provides comparisons of single-family home and condominium sales (via the Southwest Florida MLS), price ranges, and geographic segmentation and includes an overall market summary. NABOR® sales statistics are presented in chart format, including these overall (single-family and condominium) findings for 2025:

NABOR Report February 2026 report chart

Perception vs. Reality

According to Mike Hughes, Vice President and General Manager for Downing-Frye Realty, Inc., “Some buyers are still sitting on the fence because they believe interest rates will go back down soon. But the reality is, if sales activity continues to reduce inventory at the rate we saw in January and February, then it’s likely these buyers will have less room to negotiate price when they do finally reenter the market. Plus, prices could also rise again because of the laws of supply and demand, so waiting and hoping for an incremental rate drop may not improve home affordability.”

Are you seeking a home in the Bonita Springs – Naples, Florida area? Contact David at David@DavidFlorida.com or 239-285-1086.