According to the Research Institute for Housing America, all age groups think that now is a good time to buy. Positive home buying sentiment is measured by the % of households who agree that now is a good time to buy. See the chart to the left…
Is now a good time for you to buy in Southwest Florida? You bet it is!
To search for homes for sale in Naples, Bonita Springs or Estero, FL, click HERE!
The John R. Wood Realtors’ 2011 year-end market report is now available for your review! Get a comprehensive review of the 2011 Naples, Bonita Springs and Estero real estate markets. In summary, the number of closed sales in 2011 increased 5% over 2010, making it the fourth consecutive year to show an increase and confirming that the market recovery is well underway. Properties priced below $250,000 comprised 62% of the total market, a percentage that has remained consistent since 2009. Properties priced above $1,000,000 reached its highest level since 2007, with 706 closings, up 42% from the 2009 low with 498 closed sales.
Click on the image below for the full Report!
To search for homes for sale in Naples, Bonita Springs and Estero, Florida, click HERE!
According to recent reports published by the Naples Area Board of Realtors (NABOR), Annual Pending and Closed Sales Rise
Statistics compiled by NABOR show an increase in overall sales with inventory diminishing in Collier County (excluding Marco Island).
The available inventory declined 17 percent in 2011 with 7,581 available properties compared to 9,145 available properties in 2010. In the under $300,000 market category, the available inventory declined 21 percent to 3,771 properties in 2011 compared to 4,763 properties in 2010.
Every market category showed sale increases in both pending and closed sales with the largest increase in the $1 million and above categories.
The 2011 report provides annual comparisons of single-family home and condo sales (via the SunshineMLS), price ranges, geographic segmentation and includes an overall market summary. An overall summary combines the statistics for both single family and condominium properties. The statistics are presented in chart format, along with the following statistics:
For additional real estate market statistics, click HERE!
The John R. Wood Realtors’ December 2011 Market Reports are here! Our market reports cover Naples, Estero and Bonita Springs, Florida. As you’ll see from the reports, 2011 was a good year for Southwest Florida real estate! The number of closed sales increased in all price segments with the exception of those properties above $5 million, which remained stable.
To see the full reports, click on the links below! Don’t forget to look at our December 2011 Neighborhood Snapshot reports as well!
Neighborhood Snapshot December 2011
The John R. Wood Realtors’ marketing research department brings Southwest Florida the most up-to-date research and real estate statistics available! Be sure to visit our site to see all of our archived market reports!
According to an online article published today by the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), there are several recent indicators that suggest the real estate market is on the mend. Experts say that in 2012, recovery will center around a market stabilizing before entering a gradual, albeit very slow, recovery. However, the tone is optimistic and positive, more so than it has been for years in the housing market.
Here are some positive signs to track in 2012:
Home sales: Existing home sales are expected to increase 12 percent this year, following a 2 percent jump last year, Moody’s Analytics predicts. The signs are already showing: In November, pending home sales — a gauge for future home buying — reached its highest level in 19 months, NAR reported.
New-home market: Coming off of what could be considered the worst year for new-home building ever recorded, the sector is expected to bounce back this year. New-home sales and starts were already showing a rebound in the last few months of 2011. Moody’s is predicting that single-family housing starts will increase 37 percent this year, and new-home sales will soar 74 percent.
Housing stocks: Investors are starting to get optimistic about the possibility of a rebound too, and are turning to home builder stocks. These equities have recently outperformed the broader stock market and the S&P 1500 homebuilding index has increased 38 percent since mid-October, USA Today reports.
Consumer confidence: With mortgage rates at record lows and housing affordability high, about 71 percent of Americans say now is a good time to purchase a home. Also, more Americans are optimistic that home prices will rise over the next year — about 26 percent say prices will rise in 2012, an increase of 4 percent over the last survey, according to Fannie Mae’s December National Housing Survey
To search for homes for sale in Naples, Estero, Bonita Springs and Marco Island, FL, click HERE!
John R. Wood Realtors – The Symbol for Local Knowledge
Source: Housing Outlook Is More Upbeat, Consumers More Confident, Survey Says
John R. Wood Realtors are specialists when it comes to the luxury market. They know luxury buyers are different and need representation that fulfills their specific needs.
Quality service is a factor of course, but luxury buyers are often more educated about the market and are really dialed in and expect agents serving them to be equally as knowledgeable. A luxury home buyer will approach a firm with properties already in mind. He/she is looking at properties using the latest technology and tools and wants to discuss those findings.
Luxury buyers also know which firms are best to work with, as firms specializing in luxury real estate, such as John R. Wood Realtors, are aggressive and effective marketers and must be globally connected. As a member of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World, the Wood firm is affiliated with 700 agencies worldwide spanning 38 countries with 5,500 offices and 170,000 associates. It is also the exclusive Naples representative for Leading Estates (specializing in luxury real estate) and a member of the prestigious Realty Alliance (comprised of 65 largest, most prominent real estate agencies).
There is also a big focus on the broker firm’s web and social media presence. Luxury buyers are looking for a firm/agent who knows how to navigate the market using effective social media tools. JohnRWood.com’s traffic and popularity eclipse the two main Wood competitors, which has led to a position of web dominance in the local real estate marketplace. The brokerage also has sites that correspond to the five company trademarked publications. JohnRWood.com is also accessible for those using mobile devices to search for properties. Both individual Wood agents and the company use Facebook and other social media sites to market the properties represented. Wood listings also appear on the John R. Wood You Tube Channel. Few companies have utilized this tool as effectively as the Wood firm. Twitter, LinkedIn, Active Rain, and others are in use at John R. Wood Realtors in various formats.
If you’re looking for luxury real estate as a primary, vacation or second home, or as an investment, let John R. Wood Realtors assist you, as we have the most experience and success within the luxury market in Southwest Florida.
Find a John R. Wood Agent now!
To search for homes for sale in Naples, Estero Bonita Springs, and Marco Island, click HERE!
According to a recent study by Credit Sesame, which used National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) data for its findings, foreign investors are finding plenty of deals in the U.S. when it comes to real estate, and, as such, more international investors are flocking to key states to buy their piece of the American Dream.
Mexico is the top country of origin for foreign buyers purchasing U.S. homes, according this study.
The top destinations of foreign investors for U.S. real estate purchases are:
1. Florida: Thirty-one percent of all home purchases in that state are made by foreign buyers, with most coming from Cuba, Haiti, and Colombia.
2. California: 12 percent of all home purchases (most coming from Mexico, the Philippines, China, India, and Vietnam)
3. Texas: 9 percent of all home purchases (most coming from Mexico, India, Vietnam, China, and the Philippines)
To search for homes for sale in Naples, Estero, Bonita Springs or Marco Island, click HERE!
John R. Wood Realtors – The Symbol of Local Knowledge
Source: “Housing More Affordable Than Ever … for Foreign Investors,”
The Winter 2012 Digital Edition of John R. Wood Realtors’ Estate Lifestyles is now here!
Click on the image to see the best luxury home listings in Naples, Florida right now!
Recently, Freddie Mac released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey®, which showed mortgage rates at all-time record lows. Products covered in the survey were:
Highlights of the survey were:
According to Frank Nothaft, VP and Chief Economist of Freddie Mac, mortgage rates eased slightly this week to all-time record lows following mixed indicators in the labor market. Although the economy added 1.6 million jobs in 2011, which was the most since 2006, the unemployment rate remained historically elevated.
For additional information on mortgage rates, please contact your John R. Wood Agent.
To search for homes for sale in Naples, Estero, Bonita Springs or Marco Island, click HERE!
John R. Wood Realtors – The Symbol of Local Knowledge
Source: FreddieMac
According to an FGCU professor, Collier County’s economy is heading in the right direction for recovery but may take a little time. Director of Florida Gulf Coast University’s Lucas Institute for Real Estate Development and Finance Shelton Weeks says, “all of the economic indicators are pointing in the right direction” in a forum on Jnauary 4th.
In terms of economic development, having a high unemployment rate is both a bad thing and a good thing, Weeks said. In November, Collier County had an unemployment rate of 10 percent, down from 11.4 percent in September and 2.3 percentage points lower than a year ago, according to a report by the state’s Department of Economic Opportunity. Meanwhile, Lee County’s unemployment is 10.5 percent, which is better than September’s rate of 11.2 percent and down 2.7 percentage points from November 2010. The national unemployment rate was 8.6 percent in November.
When looking at an opportunity to open a business in Southwest Florida, employers look at the current situation and see a workforce that is ready and available to work, Weeks said. The downside for existing businesses is a lack of revenue because people are cautious with their money.
When speaking about new construction, Weeks said there is not a lot at this time, which is what is needed for the real estate market to clear. And with the real estate market trending down, Weeks said businesses may consider Southwest Florida because it’s more affordable. In addition, Weeks believes if FGCU graduates stay in Southwest Florida, it could also help attract companies to the area, he said.
The biggest concern is education. Moreover, the workforce is not meeting the needs of future employees and that is concerning when looking at growth.
John R. Wood Realtors – The Symbol for Local Knowledge
Search for homes for sale in Naples, Marco Island, Estero, and Bonita Springs, Florida!
71F, 21C
RSS 2.0 
