What are the Top Ten Reasons Naples FL is a Good Place to Live?

As a longtime Naples resident, I’m often asked, “Is Naples a good place to live?” Or perhaps you are wondering, “What is the weather like in the summer?” or “How expensive is it to live in Naples?”  I’m sure you have several other questions you are wondering about if you are considering moving to the Naples area.

Maybe you are just starting your search or looking for a good place for a second home.  Or are you preparing for retirement and you are thinking about relocating to Florida?  Why would you choose Naples over Sarasota or the east coast?

Southwest Florida – Bonita Springs, Naples, and Marco Island are known as Florida’s Paradise Coast.  Who wouldn’t want to live in Paradise?

Top Ten Reasons to Live in Naples Florida

I have to say, it was a challenge to stick to just the top ten reasons to live in Naples. There are so many phenomenal reasons to consider Naples for your dream home, vacation home, second home or forever home. Here are just a few:

10.  Beaches– With more than 30 miles of soft, white sandy beaches there’s plenty of room for everyone to find the perfect spot.  Naples beaches are some of the best in the world and have been repeatedly ranked in Dr. Beach’s Top Ten USA Beaches.  Most recently Barefoot Beach Preserve was ranked #2, and Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park was ranked #9 for 2015.  Unlike many communities, the beaches and beach access are all public and easy to get to.

9.  Safety & Low Crime – How safe is Naples, FL?  Collier County (Naples) has the lowest crime rate for a metropolitan area in the state of Florida and 15th lowest in the state with only 1,771 crimes per 100,000 people.  Lee County (Bonita Springs, Estero & Ft. Myers) is ranked 34th in the state for the lowest crime rates.

8.  Shopping – Naples, FL offers a vast array of shopping options.  Historic districts in Downtown Naples such as Fifth Avenue South and Third Street have boutiques, antiques, jewelry shops, and outdoor cafes all within walking distance of the beach.  Waterside Shops is a beautiful, upscale shopping destination with luxury retail stores such as Nordstrom, Saks, Hermes, Gucci, and Tiffany & Company.  Looking for a bargain?  Head to Miromar Outlets in Estero.

7.  Arts, Culture and Music – Whether your passion is paintings or sculptures, symphonies or rock bands, Broadway or one-man shows, Naples offers a plethora of opportunities to appeal to the widest variety of artistic tastes. There are over 75 galleries and artist studios in the area, over 500 artists and entertainers call Collier County home and more than 1,000 arts and cultural events are scheduled annually in the county, and many of them are free.  From world-class performing and visual arts at Artis—Naples (formerly known as The Philharmonic Center for the Arts) to Fine Art Festivals in Downtown Naples there is something for everyone.

6.  Healthcare –  Naples is ranked the 2nd healthiest city in Florida according to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation 2015 Health Rankings.  We are fortunate to have access to excellent healthcare.  There are four hospitals located throughout Collier County including two locations for NCH and two for Physicians Regional.  Lee County has two hospitals, Lee Memorial and Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida.

5.  Outdoor Activities – Golfing, boating, fishing, Everglades adventures, and airboat rides!

Boating Lovers! With a range of salt, brackish and freshwater not easily discovered elsewhere, Southwest Florida touts a boatload of options for boating lovers. Offshore cruising and fishing, beachfront landings, back-bay, and river cruising, sightseeing charters and just about any other marine fun you can think of is in the boater’s backyard. And, with a subtropical climate that affords year-round opportunities and a wide range of scenery, Southwest Florida truly is a boater’s paradise unlike any other.

Golfers Paradise!  There are 70 Naples Golf Communities with a total of 97 golf courses and if you look at the entire southwest Florida area we’re approaching 150 golf courses!  With so many courses in one area, I’m sure it won’t surprise you that Naples is known as the “Golf Capital of the World”.  Whether you are an experienced golfer or just took up the game, there is a golf course for you in our area.  In fact, there are likely to be multiple communities in Naples, Bonita Springs or Estero that will fit your lifestyle and skill level.

4.  Dining – Naples, Florida, has been named by Conde Nast Traveler as one of America’s Best Food Cities for the past two years.  Foodies can take advantage of the many distinctive dining options throughout the Paradise Coast including fresh-off-the-dock seafood at waterfront cafes, sophisticated cuisine at five-star restaurants and numerous locally-owned, independent restaurants.

3.  Weather – Naples weather has an average air temperature of 77 degrees Fahrenheit.  We enjoy tropical weather year-round with more than 300 days of sunshine per year.  Average highs ranging from the mid-’70s to mid-’90s and average lows from the mid-50’s to the mid-’70s, depending on season. July, August, and September are the hottest months.  The best weather is from November through May when we enjoy less humidity.

2.  Low Cost of Living – At first glance, it may seem like Naples would be an expensive place to live.  While the price of homes may be higher than first anticipated, the property tax rate is only 1.2% of your properties value which is the 3rd lowest tax rate in the state.  Additionally, we are one of the few states without a state income tax.  The sales tax rate in our area is only 6%.  The property tax rate in Bonita Springs is just about twice the rate in Naples, however, it’s still much lower than many communities throughout the country.

1.  Atmosphere – Naples FL has repeatedly been voted one of the “happiest places in the United States”.  The people are friendly and easy going. Palm trees line the streets, sunsets are spectacular, the views of the gulf coast are incredible.  Every day feels like you are on vacation.  Naples is truly paradise.

Visit Naples and experience all we have to offer, once you do, I’m sure you will agree it is one of the best places in the world to live.

If you are interested in exploring real estate in Naples, let me help you start down the path of owning your own piece of paradise.

 Single Family Homes for Sale in Naples, Florida:

• Less than $250,000
• $250,000 – $499,999
• $500,000 – $749,999
• $750,000 – $999,999
• $1,000,000 – $2,499,999
• $2,500,000 – $4,999,999
• $5,000,000 – $9,999,999
• More than $10,000,000

About Matt Klinowski ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

November 27, 2015 Posted by Matt

Look for a bail out area.  On difficult holes, the golf course architect will often give the player a bail out area.  If, for example, you have a shot over water to a pin that is placed near the hazard, look for an area where you can land your ball safely and then pitch or chip to the hole on your next shot.  Sometimes, you will be able to find bail out areas for your tee shot or lay up shot on par five holes.  Examine the hole to see how you can play these difficult holes as safely as possible.

November 27, 2015 Posted by Matt

Naples is way up top! #5 Best Cities in Florida for Families.  One more great reason to live in Naples Florida!

When most people think of Florida they are probably picturing a warm sunny paradise with palm trees and white sandy beaches.  In addition to our warm weather climate, Florida is also the fourth largest economy in the U.S., the second largest job creator behind California and of course the state with the world’s most famous theme park – Disney!  As a result, Florida has developed a reputation as on of the best states in which to raise kids.  Which also makes it a great place for grandchildren to visit or live.

As you can imagine there is a wide variety of places to live in Florida and some areas are more conducive to family life than others.  In an effort to help families find the most livable cities in the Sunshine State, WalletHub compared 115 Florida cities using 21 key metrics across four key dimensions:

1.  Family Life & Fun
2.  Education, Health & Safety
3.  Affordability
4.  Socioeconomic Environment

Top Ten Best Cities in Florida for Families

1.  Parkland, FL
2.  Oviedo, FL
3.  Winter Park, FL
4.  Palm City, FL
5.  Naples, FL
6.  Weston, FL
7.  Wesley Chapel, FL
8.  Cooper City, FL
9.  Rockledge, FL
10.  Palmetto Bay, FL

View the full list….

Start your home search:

• Single Family Homes for Sale (Naples, FL)
• Condos for Sale (Naples, FL)

November 26, 2015 Posted by Matt

Beware of the slicers grip.  Many teaching professionals can tell if a player will slice the ball by simply looking at the player’s grip, without ever watching one swing.  The grip is vital to getting the clubface square at impact.  Most players who slice will have their left thumb directly on top of the handle, so it points straight down the shaft.  This type of grip will not allow the face of the club to close at impact, and the open clubface will create a banana ball.  Place your left thumb so it is off to the right of the handle, allowing you to see two knuckles when you look down.  This move is called strengthening your grip (see strong grip below).  It will allow you to square up the clubface at impact and get rid of that slice!

November 25, 2015 Posted by Matt

According to the October 2015 Monthly Real Estate Market Report by The Bonita Springs-Estero Association of Realtors, Bonita home sales declined during the month of October when compared to the same time last year.  Closed single-family home sales decreased 27.7 percent to 73 units from October 2014.

New listings in Bonita Springs also decreased, falling 8 percent to 138 units from the same period last year. The median days properties were listed prior to sale decreased 20 percent from October 2014 to 28 days.  There were a total of 415 active listings in October of this year.

Closed sales for the condo and townhouse market also experienced a decrease during October falling 29.9 percent to 54 units. The median days on the market decreased 64.8 percent to 19 days over the same period last year.  View the full market report BonitaEsteroRealtors.com.

Bonita Home Sales Year-Over-Year

Are you interested in market details for a specific community?  Call or email me and I’d be happy to provide you with the latest statistics.

Matt Klinowski – Golf Community Real Estate Expert – 239-370-0892

November 25, 2015 Posted by Matt

What is the difference between players who putt well and those who putt poorly?  A great putter gathers information on their putts in a logical process and focus in on rolling the ball to make the putt.  Many will actually visualize the ball rolling along their line and dropping into the hole.  The poor putter concerns himself with mechanics such as grip, stance, and length of backswing.  One golfer is committed to making the putt, while the other is caught up in the process, not the outcome.  Leave your mechanical thoughts on the practice putting green, and commit to your target when you are on the course and you will become a great putter.

November 24, 2015 Posted by Matt

In the Naples area, single family home inventory rose 4 percent in October, according to the 2015 Market Report released by the Naples Area Board of Realtors (NABOR).  The number of single  family homes currently on the market increased from 2,128 in October of last year to 2,210 single-family homes in 2015.  On the flip side, the condo market inventory dropped 7 percent in the Naples area.

Overall, pending home sales decreased 11 percent from 911 homes in October of 2014 to 807 homes in October of this year. Additionally, closed sales increased 1 percent from 9,746  to 9,828 for the past 12-months ending October 2015.

Finally, the median closed price increased 14 percent from $265,000 in the 12-months ending October 2014 to $302,000 in the 12-months ending this October.  To view the entire report, visit www.NaplesArea.com.

Single Family Home Inventory Year-Over-Year

Are you interested in market details for a specific community?  Call or email me and I’d be happy to provide you with the latest statistics.

Matt Klinowski – Golf Community Real Estate Expert – 239-370-0892

November 24, 2015 Posted by Matt

What if you have a difficult bunker shot where the ball is below your feet and you are standing above it in the grass?  With good technique, you can pull off this shot even though it is difficult.  First, widen your stance and bend down to the ball by flexing your knees and not bending from your waist.  In this way, you will use your lower body to support the swing.  Keep your lower body still and stay down to the shot while you swing.  Aim to the left and use a good arm-and-hands swing to power the ball out.  When possible, practice this difficult bunker shot, as it will come in handy when you face it on the course.

November 23, 2015 Posted by Matt

Use a pitching wedge instead of a sand wedge to pitch near the green.  If you try to pitch your ball with a sand wedge, you will need to carry the ball in the air to get near the hole, and then hope for spin to stop the ball.  This is a risky shot that is better for touring professionals.  Use a pitching wedge to get the ball onto the green and land it on a predetermined spot.  Allow the ball to roll about two-thirds of the way to the hole after landing.  In this way, you will remove the guesswork as to whether your ball will spin to a stop or roll well to the hole.  Practice this pitch shot from different distances near the green in order to develop a good feel for it.

November 22, 2015 Posted by Matt

In terms of economic potential, Naples ranks highest of any small metro area in Florida, according to a new study by the Federal Reserve of Atlanta.  The Fed studied 244 small cities throughout the country and released their City Economic Dynamism Index this week.  The Naples and Marco Island metro area ranked first out of 11 small cities in the state of Florida and nationally we came in ranked 25th.

The study looked at metro areas with a population between 50,000 and 500,000.  The index looks at 14 different factors to determine economic dynamism in four different categories:

1. Demographics
2. Economics
3. Human Capital
4. Infrastructure

According to William Lambe, senior community and economic development adviser with the Atlanta Fed, and the author of the study, the Naples and Marco Island areas are on an upward trajectory.  After reviewing data from government sources from 2005-2013, among the indicators cited by Lambe contributing to Naples high ranking:

• Population grew by 8.5 percent
• Employment in the labor force grew by 8 percent
• Employed residents 25 years or older with college degrees grew by 5.4 percent

Nationwide, the small cities which showed the most growth potential shared one or more common characteristics:

• Being a “lifestyle” destination that depends on tourism and second-home ownership, with attractive weather and quality of life.
• Area includes a university or research hub
• Cities that benefited from exporting oil and gas
• Home to military bases

The highest ranking metro area in the country was the Salisbury, Maryland metro area, which is home to five colleges and near Atlantic and Chesapeake Bay beaches.  Ranking second and third, respectively, were the rich oil towns of Odessa and Midland, Texas.

Being ranked at the top of the list for economic potential is one more great reason to live in Naples FL year-round or part-time.

Are you considering relocating to Naples?  Or perhaps your looking to purchase a second home, let me be your guide.

Start your home search:

• Single Family Homes for Sale (Naples, FL)
• Condos for Sale (Naples, FL)

Matt Klinowski – Golf Community Real Estate Expert – 239-370-0892