December 16, 2015 Posted by Matt

On par three holes, choose your club carefully.  Many players simply look at the distance from the tee to the green when selecting their club for a shot.  However, there are several other factors you need to consider when selecting which club to hit.  Look for elevation.  Are you hitting uphill?  Any uphill green will require more distance which means you need to take more club.  Are you hitting a downhill shot? If so, you will need less club than what you would normally hit from that distance.

You also need to check which direction the wind is coming from.  If you are hitting into the wind you will need to take a longer club.  If the wind is behind you, you’ll need a shorter club.

Finally, look at the green and assess any trouble areas.  Is there water? What about bunkers?  If there are trouble areas right in front of the green take a little extra club.  You’d rather go past the pin and have a longer putt then end up short in a hazard or a bunker.  If the trouble is in the back of the green, take a little less club.  You’d rather be on the front of the green than over and in trouble.

If you consider all the factors above and choose your club carefully on par three holes, you will improve your scores.

December 15, 2015 Posted by Matt

Selling Your House? 5 Reasons You Shouldn’t For Sale By Owner

In today’s market, with homes selling quickly and prices rising, some homeowners might consider trying to sell their home on their own, known in the industry as a For Sale by Owner (FSBO). There are several reasons this might not be a good idea for the vast majority of sellers. Here are five of those reasons:

1. There Are Too Many People to Negotiate With

Here is a list of some of the people with whom you must be prepared to negotiate if you decide to For Sale By Owner:

• The buyer who wants the best deal possible
• The buyer’s agent who solely represents the best interest of the buyer
• The buyer’s attorney (in some parts of the country)
• The home inspection companies, which work for the buyer and will almost always, find some problems with the house
• The appraiser if there is a question of value

2. Exposure to Prospective Purchasers

Recent studies have shown that 89% of buyers search online for a home. That is in comparison to only 20% looking at print newspaper ads. Most real estate agents have an internet strategy to promote the sale of your home. Do you?

3. Results Come from the Internet

Where do buyers find the home they actually purchased?

• 44% on the internet
• 33% from a Real Estate Agent
• 9% from a yard sign
• 1% from newspaper

The days of selling your house by just putting up a sign and putting it in the paper are long gone. Having a strong internet strategy is crucial.

4. FSBOing has Become More and More Difficult

The paperwork involved in selling and buying a home has increased dramatically as industry disclosures and regulations have become mandatory. This is one of the reasons that the percentage of people FSBOing has dropped from 19% to 8% over the last 20+ years. The 8% share represents the lowest recorded figure since NAR began collecting data in 1981.

5. You Net More Money when Using an Agent

Many homeowners believe that they will save the real estate commission by selling on their own. Realize that the main reason buyers look at FSBOs is because they also believe they can save the real estate agent’s commission. The seller and buyer can’t both save the commission. Studies have shown that the typical house sold by the homeowner sells for $210,000 while the typical house sold by an agent sells for $249,000. This doesn’t mean that an agent can get $39,000 more for your home as studies have shown that people are more likely to FSBO in markets with lower price points. However, it does show that selling on your own might not make sense.

Bottom Line

Before you decide to take on the challenges of selling your house on your own, sit with a real estate professional in your marketplace and see what they have to offer.

Are you considering selling your home in Naples? Call me today and I’ll provide a FREE market analysis for your home.

About Matt Klinowski
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December 15, 2015 Posted by Matt

Tee it up while learning.  When you are making a swing change or putting into practice something that your pro has taught you in a lesson, always tee the ball up.  Even if you are hitting a pitching wedge or nine iron, tee the ball up in practice to make it easier to concentrate on the change that you are making.  You will be able to make better contact, so you can focus on your new move or posture without worrying about striking the ball well.  Make learning as easy as possible by using training aids and anything that helps you hit the ball better in practice.  You will make progress faster using this way of practicing.

December 14, 2015 Posted by Matt

When a homeowner decides to sell their house, they obviously want the best possible price with the least amount of hassles. However, for the vast majority of sellers, the most important result is to actually get the home sold.

In order to accomplish all three goals, a seller should realize the importance of using a real estate professional. We realize that technology has changed the purchaser’s behavior during the home buying process. For the past three years, 92% of all buyers have used the internet in their home search according to the National Association of Realtors’ most recent Profile of Home Buyers & Sellers. However, the report also revealed that 95% percent of buyers that used the internet when searching for a home purchased their home through either a real estate agent/broker or from a builder or builder’s agent. Only 2% purchased their home directly from a seller whom the buyer didn’t know. Buyers search for a home online but then depend on an agent to find the actual home they will buy (53%) or negotiate the terms of the sale & price (48%) or understand the process (60%). The plethora of information now available has resulted in an increase in the percentage of buyers that reach out to real estate professionals to “connect the dots”. This is obvious, as the percentage of overall buyers who used an agent to buy their home has steadily increased from 69% in 2001.

Bottom Line

If you are thinking of selling your home, don’t underestimate the role a real estate professional can play in the process.

View Guide to Selling Your Home

About Matt Klinowski
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December 14, 2015 Posted by Matt

A good golf swing will feel as if you are hinging your wrists up 90 degrees once you finish your takeaway.  To get this feeling in practice, take your left pinky finger off of the grip as you hit some shots with your pitching wedge.  This will free your left hand to make the hinge motion that is important for getting the club in the correct position at the top of the swing.  Hit several balls this way until you can feel a good hinge in your wrist, then return your pinky to the grip and keep the feeling.  With enough practice and instruction you will be able to develop a good golf swing.

December 13, 2015 Posted by Matt

FEATURED LISTINGS IN NAPLES FLORIDA GOLF COMMUNITIES

Colliers Reserve – 1065 Barcarmil Way – $1,345,000

Single Family Home

3 Beds, 3.5 Baths

3,684 Sq. Ft.

Built 1994

Private Naples Golf Community – Equity Membership

(More about this property) – (More about Collier’s Reserve) – (View all listings in Collier’s Reserve)

Lely Resort – 9106 Sahalee Ct – $1,075,000

Single Family Home

4 Beds + Den, 3.5 Baths

3,400 Sq. Ft.

Built 2006

Naples Golf Community with 1 private golf course (The Classics) and 2 public golf courses (Mustang and Flamingo)

(More about this property) – (More about Lely Resort) – (View all listings in Lely Resort)

Lely Resort – 7630 Palmer Ct – $999,000

Single Family Home

3 Beds + Den, 3 Baths

3,037 Sq. Ft.

Built 2005

Naples Golf Community with 1 private golf course (The Classics) and 2 public golf courses (Mustang and Flamingo)

(Contract Pending) – (More about Lely Resort) – (View all listings in Lely Resort)

Shadow Wood (Bonita Springs) – 9750 Bay Meadow – $875,000

Single Family Home

3 Beds, 3 Baths

3,152 Sq. Ft.

Built 2003

Private Bonita Springs Golf Community – Equity Membership

(More about this property) – (More about Shadow Wood) – (View all listings in Shadow Wood)

Treviso Bay- 199 Edgemere Way S. – $674,900

Single Family Home

3 Beds, 2 Baths

1,643 Sq. Ft.

Built 2016

Private Naples Golf Community – Bundled

(More about this property) – (More about Treviso Bay) – (View all listings in Treviso Bay)

Wyndemere – 199 Edgemere Way S. – $474,500 (Price Reduced)

Single Family Home

3 Beds, 3 Baths

2,613 Sq. Ft.

Built 1988

Private Naples Golf Community – Equity Membership

(More about this property) – (More about Wyndemere) – (View all listings in Wyndemere CC)

Vanderbilt Country Club – 8661 Gleneagle Way – $459,900

Single Family Home

3 Beds, 2 Baths

1,746 Sq. Ft.

Built 2000

Private Naples Golf Community – Bundled

(More about this property) – (More about Vanderbilt CC) – (View all listings in Vanderbilt CC)

 For more information about listings in Naples Florida, contact Matt Klinowski.

About Matt Klinowski
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December 12, 2015 Posted by Matt

Don’t be fooled by tricky landing zones.  Many times, golf course architects will tempt you to hit a long drive to a landing zone that looks perfect for your approach shot.  Be careful to look at the landing zone for trouble.  There may be bunkers, water, heavy rough, or severe slopes near the target.  Many par five tee shot landing zones will punish you if you miss slightly.  A better way to play this hole is to use a fairway wood or hybrid to land short of the trouble area, and then hit a longer club toward the green.  You will most likely make a better score time after time by not taking the bait to hit a long, straight drive.

Foreclosure Inventory Drops As Economy Improves

Some Highlights:

• Foreclosure Inventory has dropped year-over-year for the last 4 years (48 months).
• Only 3.4% of US homes are in serious delinquency.
• 29 states have a foreclosure inventory rate lower than the national average.
• For more information contact NaplesGolfGuy, Matthew Klinowski at 239-370-0892

Begin Your Naples Property Search

So, if you’re ready to begin your search for your southwest Florida Luxury home or condo, we encourage you to explore our website to find information about communities in the area.  If golf is your game, we specialize in golf community real estate and would be happy to help you navigate the more than 150 different golf communities in our area.  If you prefer a more direct approach, we will provide a list of properties that meet your criteria and/or communities that meet your needs.

Also, if you are considering new construction, remember the contractor’s real estate agent represents the builder’s best interest, not yours.  There is no cost for you to have an agent represent you. In fact, we may be able to help you save money and negotiate for extras which the builder may not let you know about.

Lastly, we will handle all contract negotiations for your property from offer to close!

December 11, 2015 Posted by Matt

Home Prices in Florida – What does the past year look like?  What about the present?  Where are we headed over the next 12 months?

CoreLogic released their most current Home Price Index last week.  In the report, they revealed home appreciation in three categories: percentage appreciation over the last year, over the last month and projected over the next twelve months.  Here are state maps for each category:

The Past – home appreciation over the last 12 months

Home prices in Florida have appreciated 8.5 percent over the past 12 months.

The Present – home appreciation over the last month

Home prices in Florida have appreciated 1 percent over the past month.

The Future – home appreciation projected over the next 12 months

Home prices in Florida are expected to appreciate 9.3 percent over the next 12 months.

Bottom Line:

Homes across the country are appreciating at different rates. If you plan on relocating to another state and are waiting for your home to appreciate more, you need to know that the home you will buy in another state may be appreciating even faster.

For more information about home prices in Naples, Florida contact Matt for the latest market information.

About Matt Klinowski

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December 11, 2015 Posted by Matt

One way to improve your putting is to putt one-handed during practice.  On the putting green, begin your practice by hitting five putts with your right hand only and five putts with your left hand only.  You will develop a feel for controlling the putter with a smooth motion, since it will be difficult to become quick and jerky using one hand.  When you place both hands on the grip as you normally do, your hands will feel as if they are melded together and work as one unit.  This drill is often used by many PGA and LPGA touring professionals.  Always putt one-handed to begin your practice and it is a great way to improve your putting during the round.