March 30, 2016 Posted by Matt

Use the bounce on your sand wedge wedge shots to avoid fat shots.  So what does bounce mean? It means the back edge is higher than the lead edge.  The wedge is constructed that way to prevent the club head from getting stuck in the sand on a sand shot.  The same is true for pitch and chip shots.  Open the face of your wedge slightly so the bounce part of the sole will strike the grass as you swing through the ball.  This will prevent you from hitting fat shots.  To get the feel of this shot, take a few practice swings and feel the club glide through the grass before you step up to the ball.  You want to focus on making the same swing as your practice swing.  Try it out and you’ll see an improvement in your short game.

March 29, 2016 Posted by Matt

House Sold!

8241 Laurel Lakes Blvd. Naples FL 34119

Congratulations to Chrissi and Tom who sold their house in Naples Florida yesterday!  Wishing you all the best on your new adventure in Austin.  We’ll leave the lights on in Naples in case you decide you want to return.

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March 28, 2016 Posted by Matt

91.5% of Homes in the US have Positive Equity

CoreLogic’s latest Equity Report revealed that one million borrowers regained equity in their homes in 2015. The outlook for 2016 remains positive as well, as an additional 850,000 properties would regain equity if home prices rose another 5% this year. 

The study also revealed:

• 95% of homes valued over $200,000 now have a positive position
• 87% of homes valued under $200,000 have entered a positive position
• The 11.5% growth in home equity in Q4 marked the 13^th consecutive quarter of double digit gains

Below is a map showing the percentage of homes with a mortgage, in each state, that have positive equity. (The states in gray have insufficient data to report.)

Significant Equity Is On The Rise

Anand Nallathambi, President & CEO of CoreLogic, believes this is great news for the “long-term health of the U.S. economy.” He went on to say:

“The number of homeowners with more than 20% equity is rising rapidly. Higher prices driven largely by tight supply are certainly a big reason for the rise, but continued population growth, household formation and ultralow interest rates are also factors.”

Of the 91.5% of homeowners with positive equity in the US, 72.6% have significant equity (defined as more than 20%). This means that nearly three out of four homeowners with a mortgage could use the equity in their current home to purchase a new home now.

The map below shows the percentage of homes with a mortgage, in each state, with significant equity.

Bottom Line

If you are one of the many homeowners who is unsure of how much value you have in your home and are curious about your ability to move, contact me and I will help evaluate your situation.

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March 27, 2016 Posted by Matt

If you are hitting thin shots, or ones that strike the middle of the ball, it’s time to make some adjustments to your golf swing.  A thin shot is usually caused by swinging too hard.  Golfers tend to shift their weight to their back foot and then start their arms down too quickly.  The problem is your center never gets back over the ball.  To eliminate thin shots you need to make a slow transition between your backswing and your downswing.  If you slow down the shift between your back foot and your front foot you will be more centered at impact.  This will allow you to hit down and through ball, ultimately eliminating those thin shots.

March 26, 2016 Posted by Matt

On your longer approach shots, aim for a big target.  If you want to lower your scores aim for the middle of the green.  Once you get to within 100 yards, then you can start going after the pin.  By aiming at a bigger target, you’ll ease the pressure of trying to knock it close to the pin and you are much more likely to end up on the green.  You would rather be on the green with a long birdie putt than hitting it on the short side of the pin just off the green.  Focusing on the big target will also minimize your chances of getting into trouble near the green such as going into a bunker or even worse a water hazard.

Golden Gate Home Just Listed!

$264,900

4538 30TH AVE SW

Huge South facing pool deck, completely fenced in yard, two car garage and move in ready! Pool deck measures 25X50 and is stamped concrete, very easy to maintain! Excellent floor plan with no wasted space. No neighbors on the opposite side of the street. This home has been very well maintained and when you’re done unpacking, you can relax on your South facing very private lanai!

Contact Matt to schedule a private showing of this beautiful Naples Single Family Home!

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March 25, 2016 Posted by Matt

Do you shank your chip shots and pitch shots? One of the most frustrating shots in golf happens when a player shanks a shot.  Unfortunately, this happens quite often.  Even worse, once it happens the first time, it is likely to happen multiple times! On short shots, a shank is usually caused by poor balance.  Is your weight on your heels?  If it is, you are shifting your weight onto your toes as you strike the ball.  You end up striking the ball with the hosel instead of the face of the golf club.  To get rid of the shanks, when you set up, flex your knees and put your weight on the balls of your feet.  Your weight should remain there throughout the swing. If you make this small adjustment you will eliminate those dreaded shank shots!

March 24, 2016 Posted by Matt

Beware of back pins.  If you are playing a hole that has a pin located at the very back of the green, be careful about your club selection.  If you go over the green, it may be very difficult to get the ball up and down, as most greens are sloped from back to front.  A good rule of thumb is not to go after back pins.  Use the yardage for the center of the green rather than the back.  This way, you will get safely on for a putt rather than having to hit a tricky chip or pitch shot if you go over the green.  Even if you have a longer putt you’re better off two putting than trying to get up and down for par because you decided to go for one of those back pins.

2016 February Market Report – Naples Florida

Good news for buyers! Based on statistics from the Naples February Market Report recently released by NABOR (Naples Area Board of Realtors) inventory is up for both single-family homes and condos.  February 2016 saw a decrease of 16.8 percent in single family homes sales for Naples as compared to a year earlier. Single Family Home sales increased 0.4 percent from 18,078 to 18,159 this year for the entire state of Florida.  According to Brad O’Connor, chief economist for NABOR, the decline in closed sales in our area is largely due to lack of inventory in the lower price ranges.

The good news is the overall inventory has increased significantly since this time last year, up 27 percent.  With rising inventory and an 8.4 months supply of properties on the market, Naples has shifted to a buyers market.  Lee county is a more balanced market with a 5.4 months worth of supply of inventory.  So is the rest of the state which also has 5.4 months worth of inventory on the market.  A balanced market will have four to six months supply of inventory.  The lower end is more advantageous for sellers and the higher end is better for buyers.

Overall pending sales decreased 22 percent and closed sales decreased 23 percent compared to the same time last year.  However, if you look at the performance of the market for the past 12 months the change in the number of closed sales was minor.  There was only a 2 percent decrease in overall closed sales from 9,791 to 9,595 ending in February 2016.

Activity was strongest in the condo market between the $300,000 and $500,000 price level.  Closed sales were up 21 percent.  At the same time inventory increased 54 percent at this price category.  With the additional inventory coming onto the market, buyers will have more to choose from than they had during this same time last year.

Another bright spot was the the median closed price in the $2 Million plus category. The median price increased 13% for the 12-months ending in February of this year.

February Market Report Highlights Year-Over-Year:

• Overall pending sales decreased 22 percent from 1,280 units in February 2015 to 993 units in February 2016.
• Overall closed sales decreased 23 percent from 672 homes February 2015 to 518 in February 2016.
• Average days on market decreased 15 percent from 93 days in February 2015 to 79 days in February 2016.
• Overall inventory increased 27 percent from 4,406 units in February 2015 to 5,577 units in February 2016.
• Overall median closed price increased 8 percent from $315,000 to $340,000 in the 12-months ending February 2016.

View Full Report – NABOR February 2016 Market Stats

Are you interested in market analysis for a specific community? Do you plan to buy a home in Naples, FL?  Or perhaps Bonita Springs?  Let me be your guide.

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March 21, 2016 Posted by Matt

Before you hit your tee shot, look at the pin position.  Good golfers are always aware of where the pin is placed on a hole before they tee off.  Depending on where the pin is located on the green, simply aiming down the middle of the fairway may not be the best option.  For example, if the pin is tucked on the right side of the green with a big bunker immediately to the right of the pin, then the smart way to play the hole is to aim down the left side of the fairway.  Then when you hit your approach shot you will have plenty of room to hit the ball to the middle or left side of the green away from the bunker.  If you were to hit your tee shot down the right side of the fairway, you will then have a difficult approach shot that will require you to carry the bunker and leave little room for error.  Be mindful of the pin position before you hit every shot and you will improve your scores.