The Choice: Fund Retirement or College - 10/29/08 08:41 PM
Dave Owens is a respected advisor, speaker and active member of the real estate community in Naples, Bonita Springs and Fort Myers.  I wanted to share this information with all of you and see what your thoughts were on whether this was really a choice???
Naples, Bonita Springs & Estero Life
Garren Grup, REALTOR®, GRI...
Noteworthy Results in Naples, Bonita Springs, Estero & Fort Myers!


Via Dave Owens:
I don’t think anyone could have anticipated the economic crisis we are having today.  Financial decisions we never thought we would have to make are now are a fact of life.  I have many friends that are retirees and … (0 comments)

Another MUST SEE video - The Bet That Blew Up Wall Street!... from 60 minutes - 10/29/08 08:46 AM
October 26th, 2008New-age Bucketshops... the Financial Weapons of Mass destruction!
I have to say 60 minutes got it right AGAIN on Sunday night. A few weeks ago I published a video-blog on "Wall Streets Shadow Market" about the bundling and selling of mortgages and the so-called insurance that was used to assure investors they were safe.
This last Sunday they did a follow-up story titled "The Bet that Blew Up Wall Street". Many of my real estate colleagues, fellow bloggers and customers appreciated the explanations provided. This new peice was on what can best be described as the "side bets" about whether a companies stock price will … (3 comments)

Ghost & Goblin Safety Tips for Halloween! - 10/28/08 10:02 PM
The little ghosts and goblins in all of us enjoy the grandeur the end of October brings!  Trick-or-treating, dressing up for parties, and carving pumpkins all have some simple safety guidelines to be considered. This Halloween, make sure you consider the guidelines and by all means have a fun, enjoy yourself and be safe.
 
Safety Tips:
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recommends the following for kids who are trick-or-treating: Warn children not to eat any treats before an adult has examined them. Only purchase costumes, masks, beards and wigs that have the "Flame Resistant" label. This doesn't guarantee that … (0 comments)

City of Bonita Springs and Estero REALTORS® host Halloween in the Park! - 10/28/08 09:57 PM
Bonita Springs - Estero REALTORS® host Halloween in the Park!
Halloween in the Park
Mark your calendars... The Community Relations Committee and BEAR(Bonita-Estero Association of REALTORS®) in conjunction with the City of Bonita Springs will be hosting Halloween in the Park at the Riverside Park in Downtown Bonita Springs on Halloween. This free event is to provide a safe environment for children to trick or treat and for our REALTOR® community to "give back to the community". There is no cost to participate, a number of area real estate professional will bring candy to hand out to the little ones as … (0 comments)

Green Building in Southwest Florida? - 10/19/08 10:52 PM
 

I just read a very interesting blog by a Texas builder that got me thinking about "Green building" in the Naples area.  With our abundant sunlight and steady winds we haven't seen very much green building in our area.  Sure there are some properties with solar panels and additional insulation, but given the abundance of luxury properties throughout the area I'm very surprised we don't have more.  There are many more ways we could be using sustainability to increase the efficiency but very little is being discussed or implemented.
 
The main question Mike Michaud's blog posed, was in it's title... Green Sells, … (2 comments)

Hot Investment during this financial turmoil: - 10/18/08 10:49 PM
Some wisdom and investment advice in this down market gives all of us something to consider!
 
Garren Grup, REALTORDelivering Information with Noteworthy Results in Naples, Bonita Springs & Estero!
Via Danny Thornton:
We all need a little joke every now and then to laugh. My question to you is a simple one. Have you had your laugh today? If you have, did you help someone have their laugh today? It does not always have to be about doom and gloom. … (0 comments)

Naples, FL (Press Release) Pending Sales more than Double... up 106% - 10/16/08 09:50 PM
FOR IMMEDIATE Press RELEASE

EIGHT IS GREAT... When referencing 8 Months of Positive Sales Numbers!
Report Shows 106 Percent Increase in Overall Pending Sales


NAPLES, Fla.-October 16, 2008- For the eighth consecutive month, pending sales increased in the Naples area according to a report released by the Naples Area Board of REALTORS® (NABOR), which tracks home listings and sales within Collier County (excluding Marco Island).
"The greater Naples Area is seeing a double digit growth in all geographic areas in overall pending sales. The increase ranged from 47 percent in South Naples to as much as 244 percent … (1 comments)

(Humor) Top 10 Signs were in a Bear Market! - 10/15/08 08:24 PM
Top 10 Signs We're in a Bear Market!
10. Your 401k looks more like a 201k.
9. Instead of giving away toasters your bank is selling them.
8. Your secretary says "It's Hank Paulson on line 2"
7. Your mortgage shows up on eBay!
6. What you thought was your phone bill turns out to be your brokerage statement! (my favorite)
5. You need a bailout to pay the kids' allowance.
4. Your grandparents start referring to September as "the good old days"
3. You put 20 bucks into GM stock, and are named to the board.
2. The family dog … (19 comments)

Failure & Inspiration... A New Perspective! - 10/13/08 09:32 PM
When You THINK You've Failed ......... A New Perspective!
             Failure doesn't mean you are a failure... ...it does mean you haven't succeeded yet.
             Failure doesn't mean you don't have it... ...it does mean you have to do something in a different way.
             Failure doesn't mean you are inferior... ...it does mean you are not perfect.
             Failure doesn't mean you've wasted your life... ...it does mean you've a reason to start afresh.
             Failure doesn't mean you should give up... ...it does mean you should try harder.
             Failure doesn't mean you'll never make it... ...it does mean it will take … (8 comments)

You Call That a Bailout, THIS is a Bailout - 10/13/08 08:18 PM
Some recent updates I wanted to share on the Govenment(s) Bailout(s)!
Via Matt Heaton:
Boy, it's Monday and there is already a years worth of news to report on the bailouts, credit markets and the global economy.  The central banks the world game out of the G7 meetings with a real fire lit underneith them, some might say desperate and have been enacting financial measures almost hourly in an attempt to unstop the credit markets.  There seems to be a lot of throwing *#$ against the wall to see what sticks, if the markets don't react something that is announced, forget about it … (0 comments)

New North Goodlette Farmers Market to OPEN November 1st 2008! (Naples, FL) - 10/12/08 07:25 PM
A New Saturday Farmers Market on Goodlette Rd, just north of Pine Ridge Rd is set to begin November 1st!

Other Farmers Markets currently operate in Old Naples, off 3rd Street behind Tommy Bahamas Restaurant and another in Bonita Springs at the elementary school on Terry Street, just east of US 41 by Bonita Bay. 
The addition of this new Farmers Market will, like the others, only be held on Saturday and offer a nice addition to area residence in central Naples. 
 The Farmers Market will run from November 1st - April 29th from 8AM to 12PM.
Location: North Naples … (0 comments)

Sales up for ALL 9 Months YTD! - Naples, Bonita Springs, Estero - Housing Market Report - 10/10/08 08:24 AM
A news piece on NBC Nightly News that ran this week emphasized the incredible values that can be found in Fort Myers, Bonita Springs & Estero for buyers that have the means to purchase and are looking for great deals(video link below).  Sales are up 80% in Lee County! In addition to that report, the market report below shows the same trend in the Naples area as well as the historical numbers and the comments that provide some clarification for those that tend to glaze over when they see all the figures.
I believe the comments on the report speak for themselves.  The … (0 comments)

Sales up 80% in Lee County... Fort Myers, Bonita Springs, Estero Florida! - 10/08/08 09:19 PM
Affordable homes are again available and nearly everything is selling!
I've been reporting for months that there are great values to be had here in many of Florida's most sought after locations... Naples, Bonita Springs, Estero and Fort Myers.  Not just good or even great values but truly spectacular home buying opportunities!
What led me to this conclusion is the fact that many, if not most properties are below replacement cost.  Even if you could find a comparable location in terms of proximity to the beach, Fort Myers International Airport (RSW), shopping, dining and access to the gorgeous rivers, estuaries and bays that lead … (0 comments)

A MUST SEE for Everyone in Real Estate that missed the 60 Minutes program on Sunday! - 10/07/08 08:46 AM
I have to say 60 minutes got it right on Sunday night. The housing boom and economic downturn that followed has been blamed on just about everyone, from the consumers to those in the real estate and mortgage industries. Consumers were outraged at the six figure incomes that Realtors, mortgage brokers and title agents were making. None of these people were making $10 million dollars a year though!  That's right, $10 million a year and that wasn't even an executive position.
The video below is the single best explanation I've seen on the credit mess and why a national foreclosure rate of 6% is having such a devastating … (7 comments)

Launching my Naples Real Estate Profile for ActiveRain on Google! - 10/06/08 09:37 PM
Garren Grup, REALTOR, GRI  
  About Garren: Like you, I'm always looking for the best information and advice.  I want someone who's knowledgeable, honest and gives me the hard data to back up what they're offering.  Once that information is provided I want to analyze and even question it so I can make a timely decision and reward that person for their assistance.  I truly believe that honesty and integrity produces loyal customers and that's exactly what I pledge to my clients!
My business ties me strongly to my valued clients and my goal is to continue to extend you … (0 comments)

Restaurant proceeds to benefit the Harry Chapin Food Bank of Collier County - 10/06/08 06:47 PM
Naples Originals Restaurant Week! (Week long Charity Event)
Proceeds from this benefit the Harry Chapin Food Bank of Collier County
Support the locally owned restaurants and the greater community by taking advantage of the lunch & dinner specials available at the many great Naples restaurants, like The Dock at Crayton Cove, HB's on the Gulf at Naples Beach Hotel, EVOO Market & Bistro, The Tropical Reef, Bleu Provence or Ridgway Bar & Grill.
… (0 comments)

Bonita Springs, FL - SweetBay Grocery opens at The Brooks - 10/04/08 12:06 AM
Residents of The Brooks* will be pleased to see that the 37,500 square foot SweetBay grocery recently opened it's doors about a mile from the entry of their community.  SweetBay occupies barely less than half of the 80,000 square foot building at The Brooks Town Center which is at the northwest corner of Coconut Road and the recently openend Imperial/Three Oaks Parkway which is known as Livingston Road in Naples
The new Sweetbay grocery store opened in The Brooks at 7 AM on July 26, giving out pineapples to the first 1,000 customers and the pineapples were gone by 2 PM
SweetBay has 107 stores … (0 comments)

Florida Income Tax Benefits & Proposed changes to Property Taxes - 10/03/08 03:12 PM
FLORIDA TAX BENEFITS
STATE INCOME TAX: Florida is one of only a handful of states that has NO state income tax!• Proposition 1: On January 29, 2008 voters passed Proposition 1, a property tax measure making Florida one of the lowest taxed states in the nation. Here is a condensed explanation of current property tax laws and an additional law that is being proposed to the voters next month in the November 2008 election.
• Homestead Rule: If your Florida condo or home is your primary residence, you are entitled to a $50,000 Homestead deduction from the assessed value as determined by … (0 comments)

Top Four Myths about Credit... Revealed! (Part 4) - 10/02/08 10:03 PM
I wanted to continue with the Top Four Myths in the Top Ten seriesthat I will be blogging about to inform both customers and my colleagues about to help dispel some of the myths about credit. Improving and making the best of your credit rating has become increasingly important with the tighter lending standards. Don't let these obstacles get in the way of a home purchase!
Myth # 4 - Disputing a credit report is easy.  Any consumer can do it themselves???
Disputing a credit report is easy. Getting results from the credit bureaus as a layperson is amazingly difficult, complex, and … (0 comments)

 

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