Kitson & Partners announced that sales have surpassed 900 new homes in Babcock Ranch, America’s first solar-powered town located just northeast of Fort Myers on Babcock Ranch Road/State Road 31.

Babcock Ranch recently commenced vertical construction at Crescent B Commons, the 82,640-square-foot Publix-anchored shopping center underway at a new entrance to Babcock Ranch about one mile south of the signature Babcock Ranch bridge.

Babcock Ranch began marketing new homes in 2017, with the first residents moving into the town in January 2018. Today, Babcock Ranch offers homes from nine homebuilders in seven neighborhoods.

Kitson & Partners created Babcock Ranch with respect for the natural environment and the philosophy that smart growth and sustainability work hand in hand. 

View Homes For Sale in Babcock Ranch...

London Bay Homes has announced the $18.5 million sale of its luxury 7,640-square-foot home on Admiralty Parade West in Port Royal, Naples.

A California-based buyer responded to the home’s sophisticated style and idyllic waterfront location, with views across Admiralty Bay to Keewaydin Island. The custom-built estate was born of a developer-led creative dream collaboration with Jon Kukk Architecture & Design, Michael Scott of Romanza Interior Design and Landscape Architect Christian Andrea of Architectural Land Design. The five-bedroom, five full and two half-bath home features a VIP guest suite, multifunction bonus room, and a pair of personalized studies.

View all Homes For Sale in Port Royal, Naples...

By Richard D. DeBoest

STUART, Fla. – Question: We live in a high-rise condominium. A growing number, but still much less than a majority of owners, want the association to install electric charging stations in our garages for all owners to be able to charge electric cars, if and when they convert to such cars. They do not view this as a change to common property requiring a vote but a change in technology for powering vehicles, much like adding internet capability in the common areas of the building which was approved by the board as a needed but rather inexpensive upgrade of our amenities.

They also view electric car charging stations as adding value to all units in the building. How should the board proceed in handling this issue? – P.T., Naples

We all want to be good neighbors. But when it comes to selling your home, it’s not just about “keeping up with the Joneses.” It’s about outshining them at every opportunity!

If you’re looking to sell your home fast and for the most money possible, you’ll need a strategy to set it apart from all the other listings competing for buyers in your area. That’s why we’ve outlined our proven, five-step plan for serious sellers. 

Use these five tactics to help your listing get noticed, win over buyers, and net a higher sales price than your neighbors!

September, 26 2020 - According to the Bonita Springs-Estero REALTORS® (BER), inventory challenges continue as buyer demand increases in the Bonita Springs and Estero residential real estate market. 

While the number of new listings has increased over this time last year, there is still not enough inventory to satisfy the current demand.  Also, as new listings came to market in July, the number of pending sales also increased compared to July 2019.  “Coupled with inventory shortages and increased accurate pricing, we’re also seeing a decrease in the days on market,” stated Dena Wilcoxen, 2020 BER President.  She added, “ And, the increase in pending sales indicates a shift in the market to more buyer demand; REALTORS® are now having to inquire about expired listings to keep up with the demand.”  In July 2020, pending sales increased by over 60% vs. July 2019. 

An inspection costs a few hundred dollars now yet could save buyers tens of thousands of dollars later. Still, bidding wars and an inspector shortage have stifled demand.

CHICAGO – The hot housing market is prompting an increase in waived home inspections. But while in the past it has been an option for buyer concessions, it’s now not always being done to make an offer more enticing in a bidding war.

In some areas, a home inspection must be booked weeks in advance because inspectors’ services are in such high demand – and buyers’ contracts may give them only seven days to get an inspection completed. The tight deadlines are prompting some buyers to waive the inspection – a potentially costly mistake.

Naples, Fl - September 18, 2020 - Summer Housing Market Momentum Expected to Continue into Fall

Closed sales activity in the Naples area housing market maintained steady momentum through August with a 35.2% increase in overall closed sales to 1,098 closed sales from 812 in August 2019.
According to the August 2020 Market Report released by the Naples Area Board of REALTORS® (NABOR®), which tracks home listings and sales within Collier County (excluding Marco Island), home buying activity in Naples during the last three months exceeded activity reported in the first three months of 2020, more typically known as our peak resident season.
Broker analysts reviewing the report predict this momentum, driven from more closed sales, more new pending sales, and more new listings compared to a year ago, will set the Naples area housing market up for continued positive performance into the fall months.

The market report showed August had the highest month-over-month increase in pending sales compared to any other month reported in 2020, with a 70.4% increase to 1,479 pending sales from 868 pending sales in August 2019.

Not surprising, homebuyers seeking single-family homes continued to tilt the scales in August as the report showed a 76.4% increase for this home category, while pending sales of condominiums increased 63.9%.
In comparison, this summer's closed sales have eclipsed our peak season's closed sales as there were a combined 3,133 closed sales reported during June, July and August compared to a combined 2,659 closed sales reported in January, February and March.

August's inventory decreased 29.1% to 4,174 properties from 5,887 properties in August 2019.

Ave Maria in Collier County continues to set sales records with its best month ever, reporting 60 new home sales in August.

Home sales more than doubled month over month for August and 24 new homes were reported in the first week of September, according to Cee Cee Marinelli, director of development for Ave Maria.
Announcing 309 new home sales year-to-date, the master-planned community has already surpassed its total sales for the entirety of 2019. Home sales were reported from the four residential builders in Ave Maria—CC Homes, Del Webb Naples, Lennar and Pulte Homes.

At its build-out, the town will include up to 11,000 residences, and 1.7 million square feet of retail, office and business park uses in its 4,000 acres.

Search for Homes in Ave Maria.

Annual sales of single-family homes in Marco Island were up 9.27% from 388 measured in August 2019 to 424 measured in August 2020, according to a news release.

Closed sales for the month of August increased by 48.65% in a year-over-year comparison. Pending sales were up by 109.09%. August inventory was down by 48.35% in a year-over-year comparison.
Annual sales for condominiums in Marco Island were up by 0.42%, and closed sales for the month of August were up by 21.43%.
Inventory was down by 6.23%.

View Marco Island Real Estate.

Naples, Fl – August 21st 2020 – Naples Housing Market Sees Summer Sales Surge

The July report shows consumer confidence is growing for both sellers and buyers in Naples this summer.

The Naples housing market experienced a continued surge in activity during July 2020, which resulted in a 57.3% increase in pending sales (homes under contract) for the month, compared to July 2019.

Closed sales during July increased 35.4% compared to July 2019 – greatly surpassing June’s closed sales activity following the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions. However, a decreasing supply of inventory, which broker analysts believe is caused by heightened home buying interest this summer, is making it difficult to keep up with the strong buyer demand.

The tapestry of out-of-state license plates on local roads may be an unfamiliar summer sight to local residents, but according to broker analysts reviewing the July 2020 Market Report released by the Naples Area Board of REALTORS® (NABOR®), which tracks home listings and sales within Collier County (excluding Marco Island), these visitors are here to do more than just golf and visit the beach this summer.

“A considerable number of buyers already looked at homes during season [January and February], prior to COVID-19 restrictions,” said NABOR® President. “They watched and waited during those months of restrictions and are now back to buy a home this summer.”

There were 15,634 showings during July, less than half the number of showings during June (36,912), yet pending sales increased which indicates that properties were purchased virtually, sight unseen. July’s pending sales spiked to 1,446 pending sales in July 2020 from 919 pending sales in July 2019.