photo mosaic of Naples, Florida pier, Bayfront, Bayside, dolphin jumping, magenta orchid, water birds silhouetted against the sunset
Shops. Entertainment. Schools. Hospitals. What’s new for SWFL in 2026?

Shops. Entertainment. Schools. Hospitals. What’s new for SWFL in 2026?

Phil Fernandez | Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News

  • Construction is starting on The Carnelian Hotel and Sterling’s Club in Naples, with a planned opening in early 2027.
  • The development is part of a larger transformation near Waterside Shops, which will also welcome an RH Gallery.
  • Nearby, the Eddie V’s restaurant is anticipated to open in Spring 2026.

Construction officially begins this week on the Sterling’s Club and The Carnelian Hotel as the Naples transformation at Pine Ridge Road and U.S. 41 continues.

The pair are on track to welcome guests in early 2027, just steps from the evolving Waterside Shops. That center has considerable ongoing redevelopment of its own with one Friday Jan. 23 arrival and the closing sale of a major store we’ll tell you more about in today’s In the Know. We’ll also be answering a related reader question.

Read on naplesnews.com to find out What’s to know.

Do you want a home to come to in southwest Florida on or near to Sanibel and Captiva? Contact David at David@DavidFlorida.com or 239-285-1086.

Home prices are increasing in Naples, Florida. Here’s how much.

Home prices are increasing in Naples, Florida. Here’s how much.

USA TODAY Network

Newly released data from Realtor.com for October shows that potential buyers and sellers in Collier County saw higher home sale prices than the previous month’s median of $570,000.

The median home sold for $580,000, an analysis of data from Realtor.com shows. That means October, the most recent month for which figures are available, was up 1.8% from September.

Compared to October 2024, the median home sales price was up 3.6% compared to $560,000.

Realtor.com sources sales data from real estate deeds, resulting in a few months’ delay in the data. The statistics don’t include homes currently listed for sale and aren’t directly comparable to listings data.

Here is a breakdown on median sale prices:

Looking only at single-family homes, the $700,000 median selling price in Collier County was down 1.4% in October from $710,000 the month prior. Since October 2024, the sales price of single-family homes was down 2.1% from a median of $715,000.One hundred twenty-seven single family homes sold for $1 million or more during the month, compared to 96 recorded transactions of at least $1 million in October 2024.

Read on naplesnews.com for Condominium and townhome prices and more

Buying or selling a home in the Naples – Bonita Springs area? Contact David at David@DavidFlorida.com or 239-285-1086.

Top 10 most expensive homes sold: Naples property tops December 2025 list

Top 10 most expensive homes sold: Naples property tops December 2025 list

Mark H. Bickel | Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News

The Top 10 most expensive homes sold Collier County in December 2025. Data provided by Royal Shell Real Estate.

1. 2426 Indian Pipe Way, Naples

  • List price: $16,500,000
  • Sold price: $16,500,000
  • Neighborhood/Development: Grey Oaks
  • Year built: 2025
  • Days on market: 788
  • Amenities: Clubhouse, Community Pool/Spa, Golf Course, Private Membership, Tennis Court, Private Pool/Spa, Built-In Grill, Deck, Fence, Outdoor Fireplace/Kitchen
  • View: Golf Course, Lake
  • Size: 9,712 square feet

Read the full article with property photos 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.

Port Royal house closed for $35M in November. No. 1 on most expensive list

Port Royal house closed for $35M in November. No. 1 on most expensive list

Mark H. Bickel | Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News

These are the 10 most expensive homes sold in November in Collier County.
Data provided by Royal Shell Real Estate.

1. 3373 Rum Row, Naples

  • List price: $37,500,000
  • Sold price: $35,000,000
  • Neighborhood/Development: Port Royal
  • Size: 8,377 square feet
  • Year built: 2025
  • Days on market: 0
  • Amenities: Bayfront, Boat Dock/Lift, Private Pool/Spa, Built-In Gas Fire Pit/Grill, Fence, Outdoor Kitchen
  • View: Bay

Read the full article with property photos 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 3,200-home rural village

Collier commissioners unanimously approve new 3,200-home rural village

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

With a unanimous vote, Collier commissioners approved a new rural village.

At a meeting Dec. 9, the board greenlighted the new village, known as Horse Trials.

The development is planned on nearly 1,218 acres on the north side of Oil Well Road, west of State Road 29. It’s the eighth village or town the county has approved in the environmentally sensitive Rural Lands Stewardship Area (RLSA).

The stewardship area, adopted nearly 20 years ago, encompasses 185,000 acres around Immokalee, east of Golden Gate Estates, with the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge to the south and the Okaloacoochee Slough State Forest to the north.

The voluntary RLSA program allows developers to build higher-density towns and villages on property with lower conservation value in exchange for preserving the most environmentally sensitive land through a credit system.

Read the full article about Horse Trials Village, and learn more about the RLSA program on naplesnews.com.

These 4 amendments outline how Florida could reduce property taxes

These 4 amendments outline how Florida could reduce property taxes

Brandon Girod | Pensacola News Journal

 

Florida has taken another step forward toward partially eliminating property taxes after the House State Affairs Committee voted along party lines on Tuesday, Dec. 2, to potentially move forward with four constitutional amendments that seek to cut property taxes.

 

All four of the proposals are aimed at providing financial relief for homestead properties to varying degrees. One proposal, HJR 201, would exempt homestead properties from all ad valorem taxation, with an exception of school district levies. Another proposal, HJR 209, takes a different approach by offering higher tax deductions for homestead properties with qualifying home insurance.

 

Florida’s fight against property taxes still has several hurdles to face. The proposals that moved forward on Tuesday must still be approved by the Ways and Means committee, pass through the Senate and reach a 60% supermajority vote during the 2026 midterms before they can go into effect.

 

Take a look at each of Florida’s amendments to cut property taxes here.

Buying or selling a home in the Naples – Bonita Springs area? Contact David at David@DavidFlorida.com or 239-285-1086.