Naples, Bonita Springs & Estero Life

North Naples Farmers Market to start for 2009-2010 Season November 21st

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:42:01 -0600

The Saturday Farmers Market on Goodlette Rd, just north of Pine Ridge Rd is set to begin again November 21st and has been expanded to include Artwork!

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 Art & 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 21st - April 17th from 7:30AM to 2PM.

Location: North Naples United Methodist Church
6000 Goodlette Rd.
Naples, FL 34109

View Larger Map

To learn more about the Art & Farmer's Market or obtain a vendor's application, visit The Market at 6000 Goodlette-Frank Rd. contact 239-398-8623

Garren Grup, REALTOR®, GRI, CDPE...

Noteworthy Results in Naples, Bonita Springs, Estero & Fort Myers!

The Children's Museum of Naples - Fun & Cheap way to Contribute

Mon, 12 Jan 2009 21:31:26 -0600

The Children’s Museum of Naples is realizing the dream, and breaking ground January 24^th!!!!

Many have been wondering how to support this dream, and I have a simple, cheap(yes, cheap!!) way you can support it in the beginning stages and it is:

BUY A DUCK!!!! ONLY $10 (click on the link below in the poster, and my collegues team is called Mimy’s Lucky Ducks)

On January 17^th, there will be 10,000 yellow rubber ducks dropped into Venetian Bay at The Village for a race and a lucky few will be winners of some FABULOUS prizes, and ALL monies raised will benefit the capital campaign of the Children’s Museum of Naples....Will be a great day: great fun for family and friends...COME check it out!!

View Teams & sign up inder Mimy's Lucky Ducks Here

Garren Grup is a Real Estate Consultant, REALTOR®, GRI...

Noteworthy Results in Naples, Bonita Springs, Estero & Fort Myers!

View Naples Beachfront Estate Homes Here

Best Wishes in the New Year!

Thu, 25 Dec 2008 10:13:40 -0600

May 2009 be better to all than 2008!

I wish all of you the best in the New Year! Better times await. 2008 has been a learning experience for everyone. Let's start 2009 with a positive attitude and wipe the 2008 slate clean so that nothing holds us back!

To your success every day throughout the New Year,

Garren Grup at BuyUpNaples.com

Housing Market Report... Year to Date - Naples, Bonita Springs and Estero - Florida

Sun, 21 Dec 2008 22:04:19 -0600

While it's not all sunny for the Holidays in the North and Northeast... There is some positive news to report!

The November Year-to-Date Report for Naples and Bonita Springs Florida is out! The market report below shows the sales trend in the Naples area as well as the historical numbers and comments that provide some clarification for those that tend to glaze over when they see all these charts and figures.

I believe the comments on the report speak for themselves. The market continues to increase in the number of sales over the same month in the prior year because of the roll back in pricing which has caused the dollar volume to be lower. To the dismay of many of the buyers in the market a recent study found a very small handful of waterfront or beach homes that were either short-sales, foreclosures or bank owned.

CLOSED SALES

• YTD November closed sales units up 19% over same period 2007. Volume is down 9%.

• YTD closed sales under $250,000 continue to dominate the market, showing a 121% increase over same period 2007. Not a big surprise however considering the lack of sales in this price range in 2007.

• Closed sales for the month of November are up 10% over November 2007.

• Median sales price is down 22.5% from November 2007.

PENDED SALES

• Pended sales in November are up 44% over prior year period.

• 64% of newly pended sales are represented by properties under $250,000.

LISTINGS

• New listings taken year-to-date November are down 6% over prior year.

• Active listing inventory on December 1, 2008 stands at 13,873 in the combined Naples, Bonita Springs, Estero markets (7,141 single family homes and 6,732 condominiums). This represents a 6% decrease from December 1, 2007.

**Trouble viewing?... See the full PDF Document of the November Year-to-date Report

Garren Grup is a Real Estate Consultant, REALTOR® and GRI...

Noteworthy Results in Naples, Bonita Springs, Estero & Fort Myers!

View some of the Best Values in Naples Here

View Naples Beachfront Estate Homes Here

English & European buyers can access Gulfshore Blvd. Homes in Naples at www.NaplesBeachfront.co.uk

Vanderbilt Beach, Pelican Bay, Barefoot Beach, Park Shore, Port Royal, Aqualane Shores, Old Naples.

*Use the links above to view listings in a specific area/city or create your own search Here.*

**Stay Tuned.... On or about January 15, 2009, we will be publishing the annual report on the state of the market and where it might be going from here!

This report represents the combined Naples, Bonita Springs, Estero market.

Disclaimer: All information from Sunshine MLS. Accuracy is deemed correct but not warranted.

Naples Beachfront Condo Sales- Twelve year History's

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 20:37:42 -0600

Naples Beachfront Condo Report - Historical Prices, Number of Units Sold & Price per Foot

Below at the link is a twelve-year sales history of Gulfshore Boulevard Beachfront and Bayfront condominiums. The reports include only condominium product, on the beach, from the Beach Club north through LeParc, and from Charleston Square north through Venetian Cove on the bay. Beachfront and Bayfront properties were analyzed separately and are reflected in separate reports. Buildings in this area vary significantly in terms of size, age and amenities, so take this into consideration when looking at annual averages.

The following three reports are provided for each area:

(1) Average Sales Price by Year

(2) Average Price per Square Foot by Year

(3) Number of Closed Sales by Year

All figures are annual except for 2008, which shows performance year-to-date through the third quarter. Although the highest number of sales on both beach and bay were recorded in 2004, Average Price Per Square Foot peaked in 2006. Price Per Square Foot on the beach is down 18% from its 2006 high, while this bayfront measure is down 25% over the same period.

Available beachfront inventory on December 1, 2008 stands at 268 units. During the twelve months ending November 30, 2008, there were 157 closed sales, indicating just slightly over an 18 month supply. Buildings with the largest selection of available unitsinclude Aria, Gulfside and Lausanne, each with 12 units available; Bay Shore Place (15); and Savoy and The Terraces, with 13 available properties in each building.

On the bay, 88 units were for sale on December 1, 2008. During the previous 12 months, there were 30 closings, giving this area approximately a 2.9 year supply at the current sales rate.

Both beachfront and bayfront areas offer some attractive purchase opportunities for individuals buying for personal use and longer term holding periods.

Consult your local knowledge expert, Garren Grup for information on specific buildings in which you may have an interest.

***Trouble viewing? ...See the PDF Report

**Trouble viewing?... See the 4page PDF Report of Historical Prices, Number of Units Sold & Price per Foot

Garren Grup is a Real Estate Consultant, REALTOR®, GRI...

Noteworthy Results in Naples, Bonita Springs, Estero & Fort Myers!

View Naples Beachfront Estate Homes Here

English & European buyers can access Gulfshore Blvd. Homes in Naples at www.NaplesBeachfront.co.uk

Vanderbilt Beach, Pelican Bay, Barefoot Beach, Park Shore, Port Royal, Aqualane Shores, Old Naples.

*Use the links above to view listings in a specific area/city or create your own search Here.*

Top 7 Myths on Credit and the Correct Answers! (Part 7)

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 21:20:23 -0600

Number 7 Myth of the Top Ten on Credit... and the Correct Answers!

I wanted to continue with the Seventh Myth in the Top Ten series on credit that I have been 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! Find out the onformation you should know before trying to repair or improve your credit report.

Myth # 7 - I can create a totally new credit file by getting a federal tax ID number or changing a few numbers on my social security number.

This fraudulent scheme has proven to be complex, difficult and illegal. Lying on a credit application is a criminal offense and with the linking of computer systems it is virtually impossible to get away with. It is in your best interest to hire adequate representation and face the music by confronting the credit bureaus armed with the rights congress has granted you through the consumer protection laws.

Myth # 6 - The credit bureaus are a branch of the government, infallible, or otherwise above reproach.

The credit bureaus are publicly traded companies in business to impress stockholders. They are not government agencies. In fact, they are one of the most heavily regulated industries. The strict regulations stem from a public outcry of abuses and mistakes. A recent survey by an independent research group revealed that 70% of credit reports contained mistakes or errors. The prevalence of errors has lead to consumer protection legislation that allows consumers to challenge the bureaus and force the removal of inaccurate, outdated or unverifiable information.

Myth # 5 - The credit bureau allows me to submit a 100-word explanation as to my side of the story. Creditors will read my statement and take it into consideration.

No known creditors consider the information submitted in you're statement. This statement only verifies some of the negative items on your report. The 100-word explanation should be the first thing deleted from your credit file.

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 infuriating. The Federal Trade Commission receives more complaints against credit bureaus than any other type of business. In February 2000 the 3 major credit bureaus paid a fine of $2.5 million dollars for ignoring consumers requesting information regarding their file. Remember the credit bureaus are primarily interested in protecting their profits. Investigating consumer disputes consumes these profits. Short of sparking a mass number of lawsuits, the bureaus do everything in their power to impede your progress with credit restoration. Restoring your own credit is like repairing your own transmission or representing your self in court; it is possible, but you have to be willing to invest the time to learn the processes, assume the risks of your inexperience and realize that it will probably take you longer and you probably will be less effective then the correct professional.

Myth # 3 - There are items such as bankruptcies, foreclosures, and tax liens that are impossible to remove from the credit report.

There is no type of negative listing that has not been removed from a credit report - thousands of times.

Myth # 2 - If a negative item is successfully deleted from my credit report, it will just come right back on my report.

The credit bureaus have cleverly spread this myth through the news media and government agencies. In truth, the credit bureaus will often temporarily delete a negative listing if they have not heard from the credit grantor for 30 days since an item has been disputed. Should the credit grantor submit verification a week or two later, it will be re-inserted. (This is called a soft delete.) Most of the time the creditor simply fails to respond and the negative item is permanently deleted. If the creditor verifies the item the account may still be deleted later in the process as the challenging process is intensified.

Myth # 1 - When I pay off a past-due account, such as a charge off or a collection account, it will show "paid" and no longer be negative.

It is difficult to fully restore your credit without paying your outstanding debts. However, paying off a debt can actually hurt your credit. Negative items on your credit report are allowed to stay on your credit report for a maximum of seven (7) years, except for bankruptcy that can stay for up to ten (10) years. This 7 or 10-year clock begins ticking at the date of last activity. Making a payment represents new activity and restarts the clock. When paying an outstanding debt, you will change the account status to paid collection, paid charge-off, satisfied judgment, or paid ‘was x days late". This is still considered very negative and appears as though you had to be strong-armed by the credit bureau to pay the account. It is almost always prudent to have a professional help so as to not further damage your credit by trying to do the right thing.

Spring Run at The Brooks, FL... Community Bulletin

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 21:26:28 -0600

Spring Run at The Brooks offers a full family golf membership, 4 tennis courts, fitness center, clubhouse pool, dining in the Grill Room and more! An extensive Clubhouse expansion has just been completed. Residents also have the option of joining The Brooks Commons Club. The Commons Club offers various levels of membership that include a beach club on Bonita Beach, a state-of-the-art fitness facility and exceptional cuisine served at Rosie Spoonbills.

Clubhouse AnnouncementsWednesday, November 5th

Be on the lookout for your Employee Recognition Wooden Nickels & Club Directory Books to be arriving in your mailbox soon!

Due to lack of space during season, only members are permitted to sign up for Game Night. No guests please!

Spring Run is pleased to offer you access to a FREE INTERNET SERVICE which will make your seasonal relocation easier and more enjoyable.

Carpool For Tournaments

Cold Snap Hits Course Hard

Read our Departmental Mission Statements

Now Available: November Newsletter, November Calendar, and October Board Minutes

Note - Logging in is not necessary to view the Announcements

Social Events Schedule
2008/09 Social Event Schedule
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Jukebox Music Trivia Night
Thursday November 6th
@ 5:00 PM
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10 Yr. Anniversary/Welcome Back Party
Saturday, November 8th
@ 6:00 PM
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Employee/Member Golf Tournament - Morning and Afternoon Tee Times - Are you signed up?
Monday November 10th
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SRWGA Spring Run Women's Golf Association Opening Day
Tuesday November 11th
8:00 AM Shotgun And Luncheon
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Spring Run Texas Holdem Poker Tournament
Monday, November 17th
@ 5:00 PM
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Golf Clinics
Want to learn more about golf or improve your swing. Sign up in the Golf Shop for one of our clinics.
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New GPS Units from Golf Buddy
Why not give it a try? Stop by the Golf Shop beginning next week and take one out to demo!!!
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Tuesday, November 11th, 2008
Game Night Authentic Latin Buffet

Thursday, November 13th, 2008
Prime Rib Buffet

Tuesday, November 18th, 2008
Game Night
Western Open Range Buffet

Thursday, November 20th, 2008
Italian Roman Buffet

Tuesday, November 25th, 2008
Game Night Pacific Polynesian Buffet

Thursday, November 27th, 2008
Thanksgiving Buffet Brunch

Spring Run Golf Club . 9501 Spring Run Boulevard . Bonita Springs, Florida 34135
(239) 992-3811

Garren Grup, REALTOR®, GRI...

Noteworthy Results in Naples, Bonita Springs, Estero & Fort Myers!

Spring Run at The Brooks... Welcome Back Party - November 8th

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 18:52:38 -0600

10^th Anniversary / Resident Welcome Back Party

Spring Run Clubhouse

Saturday November 8^th2008
6PM to 10PM

Garren Grup, REALTOR®, GRI...

Noteworthy Results in Naples, Bonita Springs, Estero & Fort Myers!

Top 6 Myths on Credit and the Correct Answers! (Part 6)

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 18:40:40 -0600

Number 6 Myth of the Top Ten on Credit... and the Correct Answers!

I wanted to continue with the number Six Myth in the Top Ten series on credit that 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 # 6 - The credit bureaus are a branch of the government, infallible, or otherwise above reproach.

Myth # 5 - The credit bureau allows me to submit a 100-word explanation as to my side of the story. Creditors will read my statement and take it into consideration.

Myth # 4 - Disputing a credit report is easy. Any consumer can do it themselves???

Myth # 3 - There are items such as bankruptcies, foreclosures, and tax liens that are impossible to remove from the credit report.

There is no type of negative listing that has not been removed from a credit report - thousands of times.

Myth # 2 - If a negative item is successfully deleted from my credit report, it will just come right back on my report.

Myth # 1 - When I pay off a past-due account, such as a charge off or a collection account, it will show "paid" and no longer be negative.

GET OUT and VOTE... Today!

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 10:17:09 -0600

I voted this morning, the lines were short and the process was smooth and quick.

You can make a difference in this historic Presidential race!

Voting Tip: Sort through the legislative babble and confusing wording on issues and ammendments on your local news website to make sure that your "Yes" & "No" votes really counts the way you want them to.

Most of all, show that you care about our country and it's future. Be a proud American, you live in the greatest country in the world!

No excuses.... Get out and Vote!

Roll Back the Clocks! - Time Change, The First Day of Fall and soon Winter!

Sat, 01 Nov 2008 16:35:08 -0500

You may want to roll back your clock tonight before you go to bed!

It seems like we just had the first day of Fall as I discussed in my blog The first day of Fall is not just a day!; the time change is goes into effect tonight and were all going to have to turn back our clocks 1 hour at 2AM on Sunday morning. This week it was sooooo cold from the Northeast all the way down through the Bahamas it's hard to believe it's October. It felt like a Winter day in February here in South Florida!

Daylight savings for 2008 will end this Sunday on November 2^nd, 2008 at 2AM. Really I think of it as Saturday night. In any case, last year, congress signed a law enacting the new daylight savings time schedule effective from 2008 on. Daylight savings will now end on the first Sunday in November. Until last year, Daylight savings during the Fall used to end one week earlier on the last Sunday of October. The start of Daylight Savings was also changed from the first Sunday to April to the second Sunday in March. As a result of this change Daylight Savings is now one month longer than it used to be.

Arizona and Hawaii are the only two states in the US that do not observe Daylight Savings since Indiana recently passed a law implementing Daylight savings.

PS- The first official day of Winter begins December 21^st, 2008 for the next 3 years.

Garren Grup, REALTOR®, GRI...

Noteworthy Results in Naples, Bonita Springs, Estero & Fort Myers!

Naples Farmers Market to OPEN November 1st on North Goodlette Rd! (Naples, FL)

Sat, 01 Nov 2008 16:01:07 -0500

A New Saturday Farmers Market on Goodlette Rd, just north of Pine Ridge Rd is set to begin November 1st!

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 United Methodist Church
6000 Goodlette Rd.
Naples, FL 34109

To learn more about the Farmer's Market or obtain a vendor's application, visit www.NorthGoodletteFarmersMarket.com to download an application or contact Merida Hines-Tyler at 249-9480

Garren Grup, REALTOR®, GRI...

Noteworthy Results in Naples, Bonita Springs, Estero & Fort Myers!

The Choice: Fund Retirement or College

Wed, 29 Oct 2008 20:41:57 -0500

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 are force to make do with extreme hardship because of the correction in markets and high inflation. Many of the economic trends that we are seeing today have not occurred in 60 plus years. As of writing this article, domestic construction levels are at their lowest since 1945 and in Florida where I live, unemployment is at a staggering 9.2%.

No one is feeling the financial crisis as much as the families. The decision of where to spend their precious resources is harder than ever. As families do try to save, where do the dollars go, retirement or college for the kids? The costs of higher education have double and tripled the inflation rate the last few years. Saving for retirement has changed dramatically. When our parents grew up typically they were covered by pension plans that usually guaranteed them benefits during retirement. It was little easier back then because parents could focus on saving for college. Usually the retirement was taken care of by the Company. Unless you work for municipality, those days are over. In 2007, the Investment Company Institute reported that nearly two thirds of all retirement savings came from contributions from workers rather than employers. Our countries changing demographics now have many older parents that are forced to use retirement savings to pay for college costs. Please know I don' advocate using your retirement dollars to pay for your childrens education. I believe that college is an investment in their future, and they should participate.

It is not an easy decision but a little planning can go a long way now. Parents cannot count on last minute saving ideas.   There are some options. Below I have listed some ideas to save for college and retirement.

·         Start early, in either case goals will be so much more obtainable the sooner you start.

·         I think the old rule of thumb with retirement still holds true, for retirement plan on saving 15% of your current pretax salary annually

·         Use automatic deductions and salary deferrals to fund retirement and make the process as easy as possible

·         For college planning, try and save 75% of projected costs with the difference coming from student loans, scholarship or students work

·         Always take tax advantage saving plans like IRAs and 401k for retirement and Coverdell/529 plans for college savings. It is hard to beat the tax free growth these plans offer.

·         Consider Self Directed Retirement Plans, and take control of your assets. Don’t let a unknown mutual fund manager control your future. Recent statistics show - 43% of Americans spent more time planning their most recent vacation than they have spent planning for retirement and 28% spent more time watching reality TV in the last month than they have spent planning and preparing for retirement over the last 10 year. Don’t be a statistic.

·         Balance your portfolio, as you start saving typically savings will go in to growth assets, and move to more secure income producing assets as you get closer towards your goals. By staying in growth assets early, you will minimize your tax affect for assets not in preferred savings accounts.

Splitting the saving pie is now more a juggling act than ever. Remember it is never too late to get started.   I always think that saving for college and retirement are just like the old Nike ad – Just Do It.

Dave Owens, CPA, CES is the managing member of Entrust IRA SWFL, a firm that specializes in 1031 exchanges and Self Directed Retirement Plans.

Another MUST SEE video - The Bet That Blew Up Wall Street!... from 60 minutes

Wed, 29 Oct 2008 08:46:03 -0500

October 26th, 2008

New-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 go up or down, also known as a credit derivative or credit default swap because these bets could be made without actually owning the stock, similar to betting on a football game.

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. The shift seems to know be shifting to Congress, Wall Street, the SEC and even former President Bill Clinton for his downsizing of government and goal of expanding home-ownership.

Their is no reason whay a national foreclosure rate of 6% is having such a devastating effect on the economy when 94% of homeowners are making their monthly mortgage payments. The downfall of these large financial institutions was because they made so many side bets they didn't keep track of or save the money for that they had to pay out on the insurance policy (side bets) that had been made on everything from stocks, to mortgage defaults, to the decline of Wall Streets solvency. Just Today CNBC reiterated that out of 80 million mortgages less than 6 million were behind or not paying their mortgage. I know the numbers don't add up but NOT everyone has a mortgage!

So, where did all the money go? ...It was paid out to the super-rich that had made some of these bets and exacerbated the downturn while destroying some of the largest institutions on Wall Street and triggered payoffs that made these bettors "fantastically richer" at the expense of these institutions, their shareholders, and nearly everyone whether they were invested in Wall Street or not. The video below is the single best explanations of where all the money went and why we should have known better. These explanations serve to inform us about what has going on below the surface of Wall Street and the Federal Government and why more government oversight is needed. These side bets effected everything from shareholders to employees of every company that has been adversely affected by the slowing economy, job lay-offs. Yet the speculation continues and is likely the cause of the ballooning and plummeting gas prices. Just today Volkswagen increased by more than $100 per share, up 86% in a single day while at the same time the DOW finished up almost 900 point which was the largest one-day gain in history!

The video below & article on CBS.com is aptly titled The Bet that Blew Up Wall Street:

See my previous video blog Wall Street's Shadow Market

Garren Grup, REALTOR®, GRI...

Noteworthy Results in Naples, Bonita Springs, Estero & Fort Myers!

Ghost & Goblin Safety Tips for Halloween!

Tue, 28 Oct 2008 22:02:27 -0500

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 an item wont catch fire, but it indicates that it will resist burning and can be easily extinguished.
* Avoid costumes with baggy sleeves or billowing skirts.
* Make sure costumes are light and bright enough to be clearly seen by drivers.
* Decorate costumes and candy bags with reflective tape that will reflect in a car's headlights.
* Make sure children carry flashlights so they can easily see and be seen.
* Don't outfit children in costumes that are too long and could cause them to trip and fall.
* Dress children in sturdy shoes that fit well. Shoes like high heels should not be part of a child's Halloween costume.
* Use face paint or makeup instead of masks, to ensure good vision and easy breathing. If you choose to use a mask, make sure it fits securely and has eye-holes large enough to enable full vision.
* Secure items like hats and scarves so that they wont slip over children's eyes.
* Make sure that accessories like swords and knives are made of soft, flexible material.
* Young children should always be accompanied by an adult or an older child.
* Warn children not to run out from between parked cards or across lawns, where they could run into things like clotheslines and ornaments.
* Only allow children to go to homes where the residents are known and have outside lights on as a sign of welcome.
* Warn children to never enter homes when trick-or-treating.
* If you are expecting trick-or-treaters, remove anything that could be an obstacle from your lawn, steps or porch. Keep candlelit jack-o'-lanterns away from landings and doorsteps where costumes could brush against the flame. Keep indoor jack-o'-lanterns should away from curtains, decorations, and other furnishings.

You should always know the route that your children will be taking if you aren't accompanying them on their trick-or-treating adventure. It's also a good idea to make sure they have dinner before going out to collect treats& this will lessen their temptation to start digging into their candy before you've had a chance to inspect it.

Adults who are dressing up for Halloween should also choose costumes that fit securely, allow full vision, and aren't likely to catch fire and, if you're going to a party, be sure to choose a designated driver in advance.

If your holiday celebration includes pumpkin carving, have children draw faces on their pumpkins, and do the carving for them. Pumpkin carving can be dangerous even for adults, especially when it's done with a regular kitchen knife. Special pumpkin carving kits are easily available around Halloween, and they include saw-like knives that cut through pumpkin rind more easily and are less sharp than regular knives.

Have a Safe & Happy Holiday!

Garren Grup, REALTOR®, GRI...

Noteworthy Results in Naples, Bonita Springs, Estero & Fort Myers!

City of Bonita Springs and Estero REALTORS® host Halloween in the Park!

Tue, 28 Oct 2008 21:57:33 -0500

Bonita Springs - Estero REALTORS® host Halloween in the Park!

Bonita Springs-Estero Association of REALTORS®

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 they enter our "Happy Halloween World" of fun, games,and prizes. This is a great way to celebrate safely and take part in a fun filled community event that's sure to be a big hit with the little ghosts and goblins!

When: October 31, 2008, 6:00-8:00pm

Where: The Pavilion at The Riverside Park in Bonita Springs (on Old 41 at Pennsylvania Ave).

Who: Everyone in Bonita Springs, Naples & Estero... especially the kids!

Directions: US 41 to east on Terry Street (at Bonita Bay entrance), then south on Old 41 and you can't miss it!

Ghost & Goblin Safety Tips for Halloween! from the CPSC, Consumer Products Safety Commission Here

Have a Safe & Happy Holiday!

Garren Grup, REALTOR®, GRI...

Noteworthy Results in Naples, Bonita Springs, Estero & Fort Myers!

Green Building in Southwest Florida?

Sun, 19 Oct 2008 22:52:34 -0500

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, or does it?

I think the costs are coming down so fast and the technology is improving so quickly that a lot of people have a hard time justifying the expense. Appraisers are caught in the middle because like other technology, how do you value "green technology" that reduces costs when it improves and decreases in value every 12 months! Look at the rate of return on a kitchen and the technology & costs is fairly stable.... It's just not worth what you put in it as far as resale.

On new construction how do you value it at a price greater than the cost of savings on a monthly basis amortized of 10 years(if you're to give it the life of other commercial equipment)?

I believe that striking the right balance of cost, energy savings and any available tax credits is going to be the key to valuation and feasability for most homeowners.

Some homes are being built in the area that meet the Florida Green Building standards. Learn more Here

Anyone with thoughts on Green construction, I look forward to your comments!

Garren Grup, REALTOR®, GRI...

Noteworthy Results in Naples, Bonita Springs, Estero & Fort Myers!

Hot Investment during this financial turmoil:

Sat, 18 Oct 2008 22:49:40 -0500

Some wisdom and investment advice in this down market gives all of us something to consider!

Garren Grup, REALTOR

Delivering 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.

Naples, FL (Press Release) Pending Sales more than Double... up 106%

Thu, 16 Oct 2008 21:50:49 -0500

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 in Central Naples" stated Brett Brown, Managing Broker of Miromar Realty of SW Florida.

According to some members "The average days on the market has decreased 17 percent for Single family homes, indicating that sales are continuing to increase."

The report which provides annual comparisons of single-family home and condo sales (via the SunshineMLS), price ranges and geographic segmentation also includes an overall market summary. The statistics are presented in chart format, along with the following analysis:

 Overall pending home sales in the greater Naples Area, which includes Naples Beach, North Naples, Central Naples, South Naples, East Naples, Immokalee and Ave Maria, increased 106 percent, with 481 in September 2008 compared to 234 in September 2007.

 Overall pending home sales for properties less than $300,000 saw a 264 percent increase with 320 in September 2008 compared to 88 in September 2007.

 Overall home sales increased 50 percent with 361 in September 2008 compared to 240 in September 2007.

 Single-family pending home sales increased 173 percent overall, with 319 in September 2008 compared to 117 in September 2007; Pending sales of single-family properties of less than $300,000 were 202 in September 2008 compared to 27 in September 2007, a 648 percent increase.

 Single-family home sales increased 50 percent overall, with 209 in September 2008 compared to 139 in September 2007.

 Overall condo sales increased 50 percent, with 152 in September 2008 versus 101 sales in September 2007; and pending condo sales under $300,000 increased 93 percent with 118 in September 2008 compared to 61 in September 2007.

The $300,000 and below market has been leading the way and is now driving sales to higher priced properties. "Pending sales are up 22 percent in the $500k and above market from September 2007 to September 2008, and the numbers of homes sold are up as well" stated Tom Bringardner, President of Premier Properties.

"The activity in the higher priced properties demonstrates that the increases in the $500k and above market are now driving the sales" said John Steinwand, President of Naples Realty Services.

To view the entire September report, go to BuyUpNaples.com

The Naples Area Board of REALTORS® (NABOR) is an established organization (Chartered 1949) whose members have a positive and progressive impact on the Naples community. NABOR is a local board of REALTORS® and real estate professionals with a legacy of nearly 60 years serving 5,000 plus member-customers. NABOR is a member of the Florida Association of REALTORS® and the National Association of REALTORS®, which is the largest trade association in the United States with more than 1.3 million members and over 1,400 local boards of REALTORS® nationwide. NABOR is structured to provide programs and services to its membership through various committees and the NABOR Board of Directors, all of whose members are non-paid volunteers.

Updated numbers on Naples, Bonita Springs & Estero combined will be posted next week to see how the Lee County sister communities to Naples faired in comparison.

Garren Grup, REALTOR®, GRI...

Noteworthy Results in Naples, Bonita Springs, Estero & Fort Myers!

(Humor) Top 10 Signs were in a Bear Market!

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 20:24:44 -0500

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 asks for a severance package. (as long as he doesn't think he's getting medical!) :)

And the Number One sign that it's a bear market:

1. Your copy of the Wall Street Journal starts coming with an air-sickness bag.

**I heard this on CNBC yesterday and just couldn't resist posting it. I realize we, our family, friends and colleagues are experiencing painful times and I thought a little humor would help lighten the mood.

Failure & Inspiration... A New Perspective!

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 21:32:55 -0500

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 a little longer.

Failure doesn't mean you have been a fool... ...it does mean you had a lot of faith.

Failure doesn't mean you have been disgraced... ...it does mean you were willing to try.

Failure doesn't mean you have accomplished nothing... ...it does mean you have learned something.

Remember......Even monkeys fall off trees.

You Call That a Bailout, THIS is a Bailout

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 20:18:10 -0500

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 and announce something different.

Lets start with the US

An updated bailout plan has been reported by the Wall Street Journal that is significantly different in many ways that what was submitted in approved by Congress.

$250B of the money will be used to purchase equity (preferred stock) in over 2,000 banks in the US, which essentially is a partial nationalization of our banking system. Preferred stock will be purchased immediately in the top 9 banks which the FED and Treasury just finished meeting with. Some of the banks were reportadly not to happy with the plan but didn't have a whole lot of choice in the matter. I suspect most of this will likely go to small number of choosen banks (Citi, BofA, Goldman, Morgan) into which most of the smaller banks will be consolidated over time.

The FDIC expected to temporarily lift the insurance limits for non-interest bearing bank deposit accounts.

The FDIC will insure all new FDIC preferred debt issued by banks and thrifts. This basically means that if I'm a big fund and I want to invest $5B into Mr. Bank, the FDIC will insure my investment. The idea is to try and jump start external recapitalization of the banking system, by insuring the investments of big investors.

We've also got a report from Saturday in Bloomberg that Fannie and Freddie (recently nationalized) have been instructed to purchase $40B in under performing mortgage bonds (mainly subprime and ALT-A) off banks balance sheets each month. In effect this is additional debt being purchased by the US government off above the $700B authorized by Congress. The three plans above are easily going to require additional government borrowing of several trillion dollars. Again, where is this money coming from? I believe the current policy actions are almost guarenteeing a bond market crash and double digit interest rates in the near future.

Now onto Europe

Germany commits $681B to bank bailouts, given our GDP is 4.3x theirs, that is the equivilent to the US doing a $2.4 Trillion bailout. On a side note if you think our banking system is in bad shape the German banking system is so levered, a mere 2% drop in bank asset value wipes out the net worth of their banking system.

Britain nationalizes the Royal Bank of Scotland and HBOS, and there are discussions about nationalizing utility and transportation companies if things get any worse.

The French commit about $480B to bank bailouts, given our GDP is 7x theirs, that is equivilent to the US doing a $3.4 Trillion bailout.

The Dutch commit $200B to bank bailouts, lets see 1/20th our GDP so, that's like them doing a $5 Trillion bailout

Spain is committing $100B, so at a GDP 1/12 ours so, that's similar to us doing a $1.2 Trillion bailout

There's some other ones in there to, but that is an absolute ton of money being thrown around, money that quite frankly that doesn't exist. Either the collective central banks are bluffing and hoping that the credit markets will unstick without having to follow through, or a ton of new worldwide debt will need to be issued. Supply and demand again says long term interest rates worldwide are probably about to do a rocketshot northward. Here's a hint, you can't borrow your way out of a debt crisis.

Did they unstick?

Despite all of these additional bailouts over the weekend in Europe, LIBOR and the TED Spread barely came down, meaning the credit markets did not unstick themselves to any material degree. The US bond markets where closed today so it's hard to get a good read on things, but tomorrow morning should be very telling.

New North Goodlette Farmers Market to OPEN November 1st 2008! (Naples, FL)

Sun, 12 Oct 2008 19:25:20 -0500

A New Saturday Farmers Market on Goodlette Rd, just north of Pine Ridge Rd is set to begin November 1st!

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 United Methodist Church
6000 Goodlette Rd.
Naples, FL 34109

To learn more about the Farmer's Market or obtain a vendor's application, visit www.NorthGoodletteFarmersMarket.com to download an application or contact Merida Hines-Tyler at 249-9480

Garren Grup, REALTOR®, GRI...

Noteworthy Results in Naples, Bonita Springs, Estero & Fort Myers!

Sales up for ALL 9 Months YTD! - Naples, Bonita Springs, Estero - Housing Market Report

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 08:24:56 -0500

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 market continues to increase over prior year month. There is good reason to expect that this will continue despite the economic turmoil. In fact, we are already beginning to see investors and users viewing real estate as a sound investment for these uncertain times. With prices substantially off their 2005 - 2006 highs, many opportunities await the astute buyer.

***Trouble viewing? ...See the PDF Report

See my review of the news piece at http://naplesbeachfronthomes.activerain.com/

See the NBC Video piece Here

Garren Grup, REALTOR®, GRI...

Noteworthy Results in Naples, Bonita Springs, Estero & Fort Myers!

*Use the links above to view listings in a specific city or create your own search Here.*

Sales up 80% in Lee County... Fort Myers, Bonita Springs, Estero Florida!

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 21:19:50 -0500

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 out to the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico the cost to duplicate these properties would be significantly higher than both the current list price and eventual sales price!

This evening on NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams they aired a piece by Michelle Kosinski appropriately titled "Reversal of Fortune". Michelle, in looking at some of the prices wondered if the prices she was seeing were typos? That's exactly what everyone thought 3 years ago... for the exact opposite reason! Three years ago the demand in the market was so red hot that it drove prices well beyond the affordability of even above average buyers that were purchasing for the long term or as a second(winter or vacation) home.

View the video "The Flip side of Foreclosures, Affordable Homes" at the link Here.

See the current, historical and sales numbers by price point... Here (for August) or come back for a future link to our September numbers which I will be posting shortly.

September Market Report - Updated... Here

*Use the links below to view listings in a specific city or create your own Here.*

Garren Grup, REALTOR®, GRI...

Noteworthy Results in Naples, Bonita Springs, Estero & Fort Myers!