Happy New Year Naples Florida Fans!

I'm going to be bold and say the 2011 Naples Florida real estate season has already kicked off.  Although many don't think it really starts until January, many of my colleagues are agreeing they are busy and they're not just busy, they're writing contracts that are working out!  The good news looks like it may be leaning a little more towards the sellers this year for the first time in several.  I don't think we're at the point of raising prices in most Naples luxury communities although there are signs of some increase around town but I do think if you are a buyer, you probably need to get busy. 

There are two reasons why I really think now might be the time to buy. First, I'm not seeing the level of inventory increase as I have during past pre-seasons and I am seeing more buyers inquire for product that is either very low or non-existent and the shortage of supply can only mean one thing....STABILIZATION.

While there are still some Naples communities with an oversupply of inventory, stabilization is occurring more each day throughout Naples in many price ranges and pockets throughout. It will become increasingly more difficult to negotiate going forward into season but there are still plenty of sellers out there with a definite plan to sell so roll your sleeves up and lets get started!

Another factor to consider is recent buyer behavior.  Mindset for purchasing Naples real estate is considerably more positive, optimistic and defined this year compared to a grumpy/wishy-washy and indecisive group the last few years.  Be prepared to at a minimum have company while doing your searching this year as many of your friends and neighbors already have the same idea.  The snow does NOT hurt our activity in Naples LOL!  I'm already seeing signs of people losing out on properties as well.  Please don't look at property today and think you have several months, weeks or days to decide if you want to pull the trigger. If it is a deal, you could easily miss out this year. Some already have.

Another HUGE trend I'm seeing are people waiting until the last day they're in town to schedule appointments with our team and don't have a preplanned appointment.  You may be disappointed if we cannot arrange short notice showings especially on luxury properties my friends so please call us in advance so we can serve you!

For those of you who have signed up to receive my Naples blog, THANK YOU! I appreciate you!!!

I hope everyone has a safe and fabulous 2011! Now let's go buy some Naples real estate!!!

Best Regards,

Shannon Lefevre, PA
Your Naples Smart Girl!

Prepare For Naples Real Estate Today For The Wants Of Tomorrow!

Many of us have either heard or been  a part of horrible real estate buying experiences and while much of that responsibility may be on the part of the agent.  Some of that, believe it or not, may be on the part of the buyer.  Here are some tips to accomplish the most on your next Naples real estate purchasing experience.

Contact me as early as possible with as much information as possible.  The more I know, the better I serve. I'm able to compile a ton of information for you before you so we don't have to do very much fact finding by the time you get here.  While some of what I learn about you happens during the viewing process, I have found the more I know you, the more I know what you'll be purchasing thus leaving more free time for you to do things you really want to do.  It used to be that people came to look at real estate for days, weeks and even months.  Most of my clientele really doesn't want to spend a lot of time anymore and would prefer to hang out on the golf course or the beach.  We can do that if we're prepared.

The other thing about planning early (especially between December-April) is that I have a better chance of getting you in everything you want to see.  Many people are in residence during this time of year and simply won't drop everything to accommodate your showing.  Sounds funny but Naples is the land of enjoyment and you know as well as I do nobody enjoys having to change entertaining or relaxing plans because of somebody else's inability to plan ahead.  Most sellers assume if you're expecting to see something without notice means you are not a serious buyer.  You know as well as I do that's not always the case. Besides, do you really want to buy something that "is acceptable" or do you want to buy the best out of all currently available options?  Many Naples luxury properties require a 24 hour notice and although we call to see if we can make exceptions, the odds are probably less than 50% sellers will accommodate ESPECIALLY if they're in residence.  Help me help you get into everything that interests you!

It's ok if you don't exactly know what you want to buy.  I'm at a point in my Naples career that if you talk (or type) long enough, I can usually identify what you will like before sometimes you can.  I know it sounds funny but just yesterday I met with some people who thought they were looking for one type of product that seemed entirely out of their price range but after a few minutes discussing their overall objective, we discovered we could easily accomplish their goal.  My community intelligence coupled with whatever partial vision you may have can help you get the Naples property you will LOVE!

Of course things come up or we get crazy ideas on the spur of the moment. For that reason I'm spending everyday implementing new ways to make purchasing Naples real estate easier for you.  Knowing some of you, "last minute arrivals" are out there and being prepared for you is one of our focuses that puts our team ahead of the rest. 

We're ready for you even when you aren't so give us a shout.  While I may not be working with you personally, I now have a whole team of skilled, proven professionals who are prepared to respond when you need us.

Best Regards,

Shannon Lefevre, PA
Your Naples Smart Girl!

Choosing Naples Real Estate Wisely.

I showed a high rise condo in Pelican Bay yesterday to a fabulous family looking to accomplish a lot of square footage with a Gulf view for a good price.  They were similar to many of my clients who are already familiar with where they want to purchase and by the time they called me, they had already been clicking around on my Naples Florida real estate website and had identified two properties in Pelican Bay appearing to fit their needs.  Unfortunately one was already under contract. 

After showing the unit, it became evident that while they though the unit was priced well and offered enough space...it may be difficult to resell in the future.  That coupled with a few other concerns regarding how they intended on using the property made them hesitate writing an offer.  I won't go into details here as to why but let's just say there's compelling evidence to suggest when they're ready to do something different down the road, there may be other options where their investment will do better.

When you're working with me, I'll give you all of the details you need to make the smartest purchasing decision possible.  Even if you decide to purchase property that might have some additional risk involved, at least you know about it and that risk won't become a surprise when you decide to sell.  It's called an educated purchasing decision. Something you won't have the luxury of when working with an agent who simply can't offer inside intelligence.  This is one of the biggest attributes that separates the superior agent from the inferior one.

For more information regarding the Naples real estate market, contact me direct!

Best Regards,

Shannon Lefevre, PA
Your Naples Smart Girl!