Date Archives: December 2017

It seems that many New Year's resolutions are centered around diets, losing weight, and getting in shape; mainly, long-term goals that do not give most of us immediate results. Perhaps, we would feel a sense of accomplishment if we started the year with small obtainable goals centered around one of our most important lifetime investments,  real estate. Whether you own or rent a home, a substantial amount of your income goes to keeping a reliable roof over your head.  With that said, here are a couple of New Year's resolutions for homeowners and renters to consider in 2018...it's as easy as 1, 2, 3!

1. As an owner, review and renew your Homeowners Insurance – you might be missing out on some money-saving opportunities if you roll over your insurance year to year instead of reviewing your policy. The same applies for renter's insurance. It is always a good idea to look for any areas where you can shave a few dollars; these short-term, obtainable goals add up and lead to accomplishing long-term resolutions like becoming free and clear of debt.
2. Safety matters – ensure that you and your family are safe in the upcoming years by testing your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, check for radon and mold. If you rent, contact your landlord to do a safety check.  Addressing common safety problems mentioned above can also be costly and even worse become life threatening. Your resolution to get healthier may not have anything to do with eating greens; while it is recommended to eat veggies, your lack of energy could be due to something more serious like mold spores.
3. Get organized and de-clutter – plan a day to clean closets, cabinets, and storage space to make your home look nicer and you feel better.  Research indicates that messes cause stress, and stress is unhealthy for our minds and bodies.  Specific goals like organizing the garage lead to bigger objectives like "I'm going to stop stressing."   If one of your "stressing variables" is removed from you life, you are that much closer to living stress free.

All these steps above will not only improve your home, it will hopefully give you sense of accomplishment and a head start on long-term resolutions. Also, remember you local John R. Wood REALTOR®  not only represents you when you are selling or buying a home; for instance, if you are shopping around for Homeowner's insurance, they can make recommendations.  Real estate professionals can also help you be aware of potential hazards such as electrical safety issues, lead paint, or poor ventilation by referring you to a reliable inspector or resource, such as an electrician if knob and tube wiring is discovered.  A good real estate professional can also give you tips on getting rid of clutter, which leads to staging a home for market appeal. However, if you are putting your home up for sale, you'll be glad when you are well prepared to identify and address common issues like above before you list.  If you are a renter and/or  a prospective buyer, it pays to be aware of issues found in many homes so you don't buy a money-pit or worse, end up in an unsafe property.

Congratulations to this month's top performing agents. To learn more about these elite real estate professionals, please visit John R. Wood Properties website.

For some additional holiday spirit, check out the events below for the best in the dining and theater in Southwest Florida.  Happy Holidays!   FRIDAY

• Miracle on 34th Street at The Naples Players
• Southwest Florida Holiday Traditions at Palm Cottage

SATURDAY

• Twelve Days of Christmas Sing-a-long in Norris Gardens
• Holiday Nights at Edison & Ford Winter Estates

SUNDAY - CHRISTMAS EVE!

• Christmas Eve Golf Cart Parade at Isles of Capri
• Christmas Eve Dinner at The Ritz-Carlton, Naples
• Final show: The Book of Mormon at Artis--Naples
• Nutcracker's Final Curtain at Colonial Station

MONDAY - CHRISTMAS DAY!

• Christmas Feast on the Fly at Naples Grande Beach Resort
• Christmas Feast in Naples (list of restaurants open Christmas Day)
• Another Night Before Christmas at Off Broadway Palm

John R. Wood's offices will be closed December 22nd through 25th in observance of the holiday.  Please contact your favorite John R. Wood  REALTOR® directly for your private consultation.

MARKET REPORT for NAPLES, BONITA SPRINGS AND ESTERO   (Download the John R. Wood Market Report here). Closed Sales

• The number of closed sales year-to-date is up 3% over the the same period in 2016.
• Closed sales, priced above $2 million increased 22.5% through October compared to the same period in 2016 (424 vs. 346).  During the past 12 months, closings in this segment are up 20.9% over the prior period (457 vs. 378).
• Closings in November reflected the slow-down in September with 708 sales for the month compared to 829 in November 2016.

New Listings/Inventory

• Available inventory on December 1, 2017 consisted of 6,692 single family homes and condominiums, up from 6,537 units a year ago. This represents 6.7 months of supply based on the sales pace over the past 12 months.
• During the 12 months ending November 30, 2017 there were a total of 19,290 new listings added to the market, a decline of 5% from the prior 12 months.

Average and Median Sales Price

• Year-to-date average sales price for the area increased 3.8% to $535,864, up from $516,469 for the same period in 2016. Median closed price is up 5.1% to $326,500 vs. $310,000 in 2016.
• Average price of sales above $2 million remained static over the past 12 months at $3,723,987, an increase of less than 2%.

MAREKT REPORT for MARCO ISLAND Closed Sales

• During the 12 months ending November 30, 2017, the Marco Island area recorded 867 closings, an increase of 5% over the same period last year when there were 826 closings.
• Year-to-date 785 closings occurred compared to 779 last year.

New Listings/Inventory

• Available inventory on December 1, 2017 consisted of a total of 619 single family homes and condominiums compared to 758 at the same time last year. This represents 8.6 months of supply based on current absorption rates.
• During the 12 months ending November 30, 2017, a total of 1,303 new listings were added to the Marco Island market, down 11% from the prior 12 months.

Average and Median Sales Price

• Year-to-date average price of closed sales stands at $723,505 vs. $702,750 for the same period in 2016.
• Average sales price for the 12 months ending November 30, 2017 is $725,372, up 3.7% from last year's average of $699,774. Median price for this period increased 6.4% to $576,944.

December 15, 2017 (Naples, FL) – John R. Wood Properties has received an Excel Award for 2017 Best Television Commercial, for its 15-second spot featuring a dog who can tell time. Recognized as one of the most respected measures of excellence in the construction and real estate industries, the Excel Industry Awards honors companies who make contributions to the residential home building industry through superior, innovative, and creative sales and marketing. To be considered for an Excel Award, a company needs to demonstrate the same professionalism and dedication to the real-estate industry as the late John P. Hall. Mr. Hall is well-known in the housing industry for his achievements in marketing, his lasting contributions to the real estate industry in Florida, and his long-term dedication to the Florida Home Builders Association, the National Association of Home Builders Sales and Marketing Councils, and to the advancement of the Southeast Building Conference. Like Mr. Hall, the Wood company is renowned for its unwavering professionalism, industry knowledge, and commitment to the real estate industry. They have received other marketing and Excel awards, including 2014 trophies for Best Newspaper Ad, Best Logo Design, and Best Overall Advertisement of a Marketing Program. "The commercial is meant to convey to our audience that timing in real estate is crucial," said Phil Wood, President of John R. Wood Properties. "As an example, our professionals can help sellers market their home at the proper time to maximize their return, and to transition to their next lifestyle choice." In the commercial, a cute dog is relaxing on the bed in the master bedroom, but then looks at the clock and realizes it is 5pm. He immediately goes running to the foyer, just as the homeowner opens the front door. The dog jumps joyfully into her arms at the end of the ad. John R. Wood Properties is one of the most experienced real estate companies in Southwest Florida, locally and globally, with 60 years of industry and market expertise. JRW has fourteen offices serving Marco Island, Naples, Bonita Springs, Estero, Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Ave Maria, and Sanibel/Captiva Islands, with over 500 agents and staff across Southwest Florida. For more information about John R. Wood Properties, visit www.JohnRWood.com. Media contact -- Jodee Bennett, 239.631.2561

Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, begins tonight, Tuesday, December 12 and ends on Wednesday, December 20, and John R. Wood wants to wish everyone a Happy Hanukkah! As with many holidays, food is an integral part of the celebration; and the potato pancake, or Latke, is eaten during Hanukkah to commemorate the miracle of the burning lamp. Following is a recipe for the perfect crunchy Latke: 3 pounds large shredded russet potatoes (4-6) 1 medium Vidalia, yellow, or brown onions (about 2) 2 large eggs 1/4 cup fine plain dried breadcrumbs 3 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt 2 teaspoons baking powder 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 2 tablespoons (or more) schmaltz (chicken fat; optional) 2-4 tablespoons (or more) vegetable oil Applesauce Sour cream The trick is to make sure to squeeze as much moisture out of the potatoes as possible with a paper towel. You'll have to repeat the process a few times, but the drier the potatoes, the crunchier the Latke. Use your hands to mix it all together, fry 'em up in schmaltz, and top them with sour cream and applesauce. BON APPÉTIT and HAPPY HANUKKAH from the family of John R. Wood Properties!

Old Naples Office - Rob Youngblood:

Rob comes to John R. Wood Properties with a unique and diverse background of work and life skills. Most of his career has been in the public eye, in many different forms, and around the world. He has worked as a highly successful TV, film, and stage actor; an Emmy Award-winning television host; a network news anchor; a television producer; a keynote speaker; a business consultant; and a media/communication coach.  Rob began his real estate ventures flipping houses and started combining his business and creative talents by working with real estate companies and professionals in their media, marketing, and branding.  His background is a perfect fit for the luxury real estate market in Southwest Florida.  Rob is a proud, single father to his young son, Evan.  Rob is a member of the Naples Area Board of REALTORS® (NABOR®).

Old Naples Office -- Angela Rizzi-Gayle :

Angela is originally from Pittsburgh and graduated from Jones College with a Bachelor of Business Administration.  She also earned her Associate of Paralegal Studies.  After college, for over twenty-four years, Angela lived in Miami and is an expert when it comes to the South Florida lifestyle.  As an entrepreneur specializing in promotional marketing and event staffing, Angela decided to apply her skillsets to the real estate industry and became a licensed REALTOR® in April 2016.  In her first year at her previous real estate company, she won several awards including, Bronze Award – Listings Taken in March and August 2017 and Bronze Award – Individual Sales in May 2017.   Angela is a pet lover and spends time with dogs and guinea pigs outside of work.  She also loves event planning.  Angela is currently a member of the Naples Area Board of REALTORS® (NABOR®).

For more information about John R. Wood Properties' real estate professionals, please visit our website at JohnRWood.com.