Hurricane Ian Failed to Upset Naples Housing Market’s Resilience Naples, Fla. (October 21, 2022)
The impact of Hurricane Ian, as witnessed on the last two days of September, is not reflected in the September 2022 Market Report by the Naples Area Board of REALTORS® (NABOR®), which tracks home listings and sales within Collier County (excluding Marco Island). Given this, September’s data showed a predictable pattern of slow closed and pending sales with a slight increase in inventory, which is traditionally the case in historically stable Septembers. While the report captured activity prior to Hurricane Ian’s arrival, broker analysts who reviewed the report on October 18th are confident Naples’ recovery will be swift and the resiliency of its home values will be protected.
“There is indeed significant loss, yet the full scope of [the hurricane’s] impact was limited to a specific area along the coast and tributaries [in Collier County],” said Budge Huskey, CEO, Premier Sotheby’s International Realty. “Such an event always brings with it a rebuilding boom, and most people will make the decision to restore and improve rather than exit the area. It’s remarkable how quickly progress is being made each and every day.”
Mike Hughes, Vice President and General Manager for Downing-Frye Realty, Inc., added that “Unlike Hurricane Irma, Hurricane Ian was not a severe wind event so roughly 80 percent of the county was not severely affected except for landscaping debris cleanup.”
Not surprising, several broker analysts said there has been an increase in buyer interest for homes in communities east of U.S. 41 since the storm. Adam Vellano, a Naples Sales Manager at Compass Florida, remarked that, “Some homes have been withdrawn from the MLS, some have been terminated, but there’s also been a steady flow of new listings in these last two weeks.”
Obviously, some properties in Naples that experienced damage from the hurricane will come off the market because they will need to be assessed by insurance adjusters and undergo repairs. But unlike harder hit Lee and Charlotte counties, very few properties in Collier County were destroyed.
A considerable number of businesses and properties that experienced the storm’s surge were swift to recover. Major area attractions like the Zoo, popular restaurants and golf courses have already reopened. Vellano added, “If you visit our popular shopping districts today, you’d be hard pressed to recognize we had a major hurricane event two weeks ago.”
Indeed, our county’s hurricane building code standards and quality craftsmanship by local builders helped to greatly reduce the amount of major structural damage in the area. Additionally, drainage improvements to the City and County’s stormwater infrastructure and new flood prevention management ordinances attributed to Naples’ quick recovery efforts.
Read the full September 2022 Market Report
David will be happy to help you find your new home in the Naples area. Contact David at David@DavidFlorida.com or 239-285-1086.
August Report Shows a Healthy Housing Market
Naples, Fla. (September 23, 2022) – Indications that the Naples area housing market is transitioning to a balanced market became more evident during August as both inventory and days on the market increased. According to the August 2022 Market Report by the Naples Area Board of REALTORS® (NABOR®), which tracks home listings and sales within Collier County (excluding Marco Island), overall inventory increased 71.3 percent to 2,140 properties from 1,249 properties in August 2021. Of the homes on the market during August, 35.8 percent of them (766) experienced a price decrease and the overall list price received for the month slipped slightly to 96.4 percent from 99.2 percent in August 2021. Broker analysts say these factors are attributed to seller and buyer behaviors that resemble a healthy market environment.
While overall closed sales for August decreased 36.7 percent to 669 from 1,057 in August 2021, it increased 5.6 percent compared to July’s closed sales. Historically, closed sales and pending sales (homes under contract) in August do not outperform July’s closed and pending sales. But this year is different. “Pending sales in August
increased nearly 20 percent [19.2%] compared to July,” said Bill Coffey, Broker Manager of Amerivest Realty Naples. “This means that people wrote more contracts in August, but we will be tracking to see if this becomes a trend.”
Jeff Jones, Broker at Keller Williams Naples, commented, “There are many opportunities for buyers. The market is healthy, inventory is up, demand continues and prices are realistic. Also, with rents skyrocketing, the option to buy is more desirable.”
The overall median closed price continued to increase in August, up 30.7 percent to $575,000 from $440,000 in August 2021. “There were only 31 single-family homes and 79 condominiums under $300,000 on the market during August,” said Mike Hughes, Vice President and General Manager for Downing-Frye Realty, Inc. In August 2019, there were over 1,400 properties on the market under $300,000. But with so few available in the lowest price category today, Hughes remarked that “we should expect the median closed price to continue to stay high as long as the high-end market continues to stay very active.”
While looking at new listings reported in August, Molly Lane, Senior Vice President at William Raveis Real Estate, commented that, “We are on par with new listings compared to pre-pandemic levels in August 2019.” There were 850 new listings in August, a 16.9 percent decrease compared to 1,023 in August 2021. Jones responded that “buyers should be aware that new listings don’t just come from new sellers entering the market, but also from existing inventory where the home’s list price was decreased or from sales that were pending but fell through and went back on the market.”
The NABOR® August 2022 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 2022:
Click here to read the full August 2022 Market Report
Get in touch with David for all your real estate needs in southwest Florida – Email or call David@DavidFlorida.com or 239-285-1086.
July Home Sales Return to Prepandemic Levels
Naples, FL (August 23, 2022) – Naples housing market experts reviewing the July 2022 Market Report by the Naples Area Board of REALTORS® (NABOR®), which tracks home listings and sales within Collier County (excluding Marco Island), confirm the data reflected familiar activity levels akin to prepandemic summer months. Historically, closed sales in Naples during summer months trend around 800 sales a month. But during the last two years, summer sales were well above 1,000 closed sales a month. This July, overall closed sales decreased 43.4 percent to 662 closed sales from 1,170 closed sales in July 2021. For perspective, in July 2018 and 2019, there were 774 and 829 closed sales, respectively. The current level of activity is what market experts expected in a postpandemic summer and consider it a sign that we are on a path back to a balanced market.
Additional indications in the July report that support this shift is the number of pending sales. As such, overall pending sales decreased 33.8 percent to 751 pending sales from 1,135 pending sales in July 2021. The tempering of closed and pending sales, which began in June, is producing one very welcome result: an increase in inventory. In July, inventory rose 87.6 percent to 2,429 properties from 1,295 properties in July 2021 (there were 5,200 properties in inventory during July 2019).
Starting in the fall of 2020 and continuing into this past spring, the Naples housing market experienced remarkable sales activity that was fueled by a frenzy of home buying by those seeking the ideal Naples lifestyle. However, as pandemic pandemonium diminished, broker analysts predicted a slow, gradual return to a balanced market would occur in Naples.
Market experts reviewing the July report say buyers should not expect home values to drop dramatically. While year over year price growth is trimming, demand is still high, and inventory is still not at prepandemic 2019 levels. The median closed price in July increased 16 percent to $545,000 from $469,950 in July 2021; it decreased 9.8 percent from $604,000 in June.
The NABOR® July 2022 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 2022: 
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Babcock Ranch is the 10th fastest-selling master-planned community in the United States, based on mid-year rankings by prominent real estate consulting firm RCLCO. Babcock Ranch jumped 4 spots since the end of 2021, when it claimed No. 14 on RCLCO’s annual list of the 50 fastest-selling master-planned communities in the country.
The July 18 announcement follows several milestones at Babcock Ranch with total home sales now exceeding 2,220 and over 1,700 homes closed. The town will soon introduce new neighborhoods, builders, amenities and facilities, including the opening of Babcock High School and the Field House in August.
Babcock Ranch, America’s first solar-powered town, debuted on the RCLCO list in July 2020 and has risen steadily in the rankings, which are based on total new home sales in master-planned communities across the country. Babcock Ranch began marketing new homes in 2017 and welcomed its first residents in January 2018.
Babcock Ranch was created by Kitson & Partners with the philosophy that smart growth and sustainability work hand in hand. Half of the town’s footprint is set aside as greenways, parks and expansive lakes, providing recreation and scenic backdrops for Babcock Ranch’s homes and the Founder’s Square downtown district. Built to Florida Green Building Coalition standards, homes emphasize energy and water conservation, innovation and have a full gig of fiber-optic connectivity.
Babcock Ranch continues to explore higher environmental standards in homebuilding with the recent introduction of its newest neighborhood – Innovation Way – with seven showcase homes serving as a testing ground and living laboratory. National homebuilders Lennar, Pulte Homes and D.R. Horton are evaluating the possibilities for a new wave of homebuilding solutions, implementing cutting-edge technology, new materials and construction practices to create the most energy-efficient, water-preserving and health-forward homes on the market. Florida Power & Light Company will analyze energy efficiency throughout the testing period.
Babcock Ranch was named Master Planned Community of the Year by the Lee Building Industry Association for a second consecutive year in 2021.
Homebuilders offer more than 50 home designs ranging from 1,120 to more than 4,000 square feet. Homes appeal to young millennials, families, empty nesters and retirees, with base prices ranging from the upper-$200,000s to over $1.5 million.
Babcock Ranch recently unveiled plans for Midtown, the newest chapter in the town’s development, celebrating outdoor recreation and the natural landscape with more places to live, work, play and connect with nature and each other. Midtown’s first phase will introduce eight new neighborhoods, new builders and a thoughtfully designed next-generation town center for waterfront dining, offices, shops and apartments within seven scenic acres of green space. The new Curry Creek Park, a 3.5-mile linear park, leads to Midtown, offering 50 acres of unique pocket parks, pavilions and event lawns for picnics and community events, gardens, play areas for adults, children and dogs, and untouched preserves and wetlands.
For more information about Southwest Florida’s new hometown contact David. Email or call David@DavidFlorida.com or 239-285-1086.
One Naples is a one-of-a-kind resort-style residential community coming soon to Naples at Vanderbilt Beach.
Proudly presented by Stock Residences, the luxury condominium division of STOCK, One Naples offers an incomparable setting, magnificent gulf and bay view residences, refined amenities and exclusive concierge services.
In October Stock Residences will announce the launch of an inspired partnership between One Naples and an established, world-renowned luxury brand representing the gold standard in branded residential living. This ideally crafted collaboration will be the perfect fit for One Naples and its Owners, adding prestige, expertise, and exemplary benefits to complement an elevated lifestyle, concierge services and elite property management.
One Naples entices Owners with the pairing of boutique living within a well-curated and elevated lifestyle. Owners will enjoy boating from a multi-slip marina on Vanderbilt Lagoon, luxurious pools and cabanas, fire pits, bike paths, and quick access to Vanderbilt Beach. The Park at One Naples is a lush, beautifully landscaped park with walking paths, covered shade pavilions, bocce ball and a dog park, and One Naples residents will also have the convenience of a café and deli.
One Naples has a magnificent array of luxurious amenities, including 28,000 square feet of marvelous indoor amenities. Owners enjoy a wonderful restaurant with indoor and outdoor dining, private theater/golf simulator, separate kids club/game room, private Guest Suites, card room, boardroom, a wellness-inspired spa with steam, sauna and treatment rooms, and a state-of-the-art fitness center.
There are 22,000 square feet of extraordinary outdoor amenities. The dramatic curvilinear elevated resort pool is surrounded by a see-through glass-like edge. The beautiful lap pool design features the illusion of cascading water, creating a water wall backdrop. Adjacent to the lap pool, cabanas are positioned for magnificent sunsets.
The Bay Residences have their own private rooftop experience, with pool, sundeck, grilling stations and cabanas with breathtaking views of Vanderbilt Lagoon. Additional amenities include an Owners-only social lounge to enjoy cocktails with friends and neighbors against a backdrop of stunning bay views. Bay residents also have a private concierge to assist with a variety of personal arrangements.
Tower Owners enjoy proximity to the magnificent offerings on the 3rd floor amenity level, with 50,000 square feet of extraordinary indoor and outdoor amenities. There are also rooftop amenities exclusively for Tower residents, with luxurious seating, stunning sunset views, lounge areas, beverage service and a variety of refined amenities. Tower residents enjoy the convenience of valet parking as well as elevated concierge services. Whether it’s a private chef for a dinner party, spa, dining or theater reservations, or professional housekeeping services, every request is handled with exceptional care and consideration.
Stock Development newsletter | July 26, 2022
Contact David to stay informed about the upcoming luxury new construction condos at One Naples. Email or call David@DavidFlorida.com or 239-285-1086.
Residents of Babcock Ranch have now welcomed more than 1,700 owners, ready to embrace a healthy new lifestyle focused on wellness, sustainability and a sense of community.
New families, retirees and young professionals have discovered how special life is in America’s first solar-powered hometown. The first residents were welcomed in 2018. Over 700 of the town’s total closed sales have occurred since July 2021. Babcock Ranch has surpassed over 2,100 home sales and is the 14th fastest-selling community in the nation.
Babcock High School will welcome its first students for the 2022-23 school year. The 43,000-sq.ft. state-of-the-art secondary school is almost ready for the August 8th bell. The two-story high school is on the town’s education campus close to the K-8 Babcock Neighborhood School. The high school features 26 classrooms, science and technology labs, administrative offices, a media room and multiple assembly areas. The 40,600-sq. ft. Field House is on schedule, featuring two gyms, a fitness center, cafeteria, and men’s and women’s locker rooms. It will also serve as an emergency storm shelter for up to 1,343 occupants and provide community programs and rental venues for private functions.
Babcock Ranch is a 17,000 acre planned community in southeastern Charlotte County and northeastern Lee County, Florida.
For more information about homes in Babcock Ranch contact David – Email or call David@DavidFlorida.com or 239-285-1086.
