October 22, 2015 Posted by Matt

NaplesGolfGuy’s October 2015 Market Report will bring you up to date on the latest real estate trends in the Naples and Bonita Springs areas. August is traditionally a slow time of year for real estate transactions.  However a couple of market segments defied that logic as you’ll see.  Based on the Naples Area Board of REALTORS® (NABOR®) recently released August 2015 Market Reports, activity in the $2 million plus price category was impressive.  Overall pending sales rose 58% from 19 pending unites to 30 pending units when you compare August of 2015 to last year during the same month. Click HERE to view the full Market Report.

View Full Report

Additional market highlights for the 12-months ending August 2015:

 To learn more about the latest market statistics available for this year

View Naples Golf Guy’s October 2015 Market Report

Are you considering buying a home in Naples?  Or perhaps Bonita Springs.  Let me be your guide.

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

Start your home search now

October 21, 2015 Posted by Matt

Lee Memorial Hospital and HealthPark Medical Center rank in the top 5 percent of hospitals in the nation for joint replacement and women’s health, according to this year’s evaluation from Healthgrades. Overall Lee memorial health system hospitals achieved more than 39 awards in clinical excellence.

Every year Healthgrades evaluates hospital performance at nearly 4,500 hospitals nationwide for 33 of the most common inpatient procedures and conditions. Lee Memorial is the only hospital in Florida to receive America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Joint Replacement and the top 10 percent in the nation for Overall GI and Pulmonary Services in 2016. For more information, visit http://www.leememorial.org/awards/healthgrades.asp.

In working with many buyers to purchase a home in Southwest Florida, one of the key factors in deciding to move to Naples or Bonita Springs area is the access to excellent healthcare.  We are fortunate to have  2 hospitals in Lee County and 4 hospitals in Collier County.

LaPlaya Golf Club Renovation Complete

The six-month LaPlaya Golf Club Renovation has been completed.  The club underwent a $1 million renovation and rebuild over the past several months.  LaPlaya once again partnered with the original course designer, Bob Cupp, to upgrade the 18-hole championship golf course.  All 18 greens were resurfaced and reshaped.

In addition to the golf club, LaPlaya has a beach club which you can bundle with your golf membership.  The golf club is limited to 300 members which is a smaller membership compared to most clubs in the area.  As a result, it is easy to get a tee time whenever you want to play.

LaPlaya Golf Club originally opened in 2002.  It is a private golf club located in North Naples just north of Immokalee road.  Although this club is not part of a gated community it is nestled back in a quiet single family home neighborhood.

Are you considering buying a home in Naples?  Looking for a home near or in a golf community?  Let me be your guide.

View properties near LaPlaya Golf Club

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

October 21st, 2015 Posted by Matt

October 20, 2015 Posted by Matt

We are often asked why there is so much paperwork mandated by the bank when applying for a mortgage when buying a home today. It seems that the bank needs to know everything about us and requires three separate sources to validate each and every entry on the application form. Many buyers are being told by friends and family that the process was a hundred times easier when they bought their home ten to twenty years ago. There are two very good reasons that the loan process is much more onerous on today’s buyer than perhaps any time in history.

1. The government has set new guidelines that now demand that the bank prove beyond any doubt that you are indeed capable of affording the mortgage. During the run-up in the housing market, many people ‘qualified’ for mortgages that they could never pay back. This led to millions of families losing their home. The government wants to make sure this can’t happen again.
2. The banks don’t want to be in the real estate business. Over the last seven years, banks were forced to take on the responsibility of liquidating millions of foreclosures and also negotiating another million plus short sales. Just like the government, they don’t want more foreclosures. For that reason, they need to double (maybe even triple) check everything on the application.

However, there is some good news in the situation. The housing crash that mandated that banks be extremely strict on paperwork requirements also allowed you to get a mortgage interest rate probably at or below 4%. The friends and family who bought homes ten or twenty ago experienced a simpler mortgage application process but also paid a higher interest rate (the average 30 year fixed rate mortgage was 8.12% in the 1990’s and 6.29% in the 2000’s). If you went to the bank and offered to pay 7% instead of <4%, they would probably bend over backwards to make the process much easier.

Bottom Line

Instead of concentrating on the additional paperwork required, let’s be thankful that we are able to buy a home at historically low rates.

Next Steps

Are you considering buying a home in Naples FL?  Or perhaps Bonita Springs?  Let me be your guide.  In addition to helping you find your ideal home or second home, I am happy to provide recommendations for mortgage lenders who will walk you through the increasingly complicated purchasing process.

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

Is Buying a Home Cheaper than Renting?

In the latest Rent vs. Buy Report from Trulia, they explained that buying a home remains cheaper than renting with a traditional 30-year fixed rate mortgage throughout the 100 largest metro areas in the United States. The updated numbers actually show that the range is from an average of 16% in Honolulu (HI), all the way to 55% in Sarasota (FL), and 35% Nationwide!

The other interesting findings in the report include:

• Interest rates have remained low and even though home prices have appreciated around the country, they haven’t greatly outpaced rental appreciation. “In the past year, these two trends have made homeownership even more affordable compared with renting.”
• Some markets might tip in favor of renting if home prices increase at a greater rate than rents and if – as most economists expect – mortgage rates rise, due to the strengthening economy.
• Nationally, rates would have to rise to 10.6% for renting to be cheaper than buying – and rates haven’t been that high since 1989.

Bottom Line

Buying a home makes sense socially and financially. Rents are predicted to increase substantially in the next year, lock in your housing cost with a mortgage payment now.

Are you considering buying a home in Naples? Have you been renting during season and now you want to explore options for purchasing a home or condo in the area?  Or perhaps Bonita Springs? Let me be your guide.

Start your search:

• Single Family Homes for Sale (Naples, FL)
• Single Family Homes for Sale (Bonita Springs, FL)

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

October 19, 2015 Posted by NaplesGolfGuy

October 19, 2015 Posted by Matt

What if you are between clubs?  Often, you will have a shot where you cannot decide if you should hit a longer or shorter club.  If there is not trouble over the green, it is almost always a better idea to choose the longer club.  If you chose a seven iron, for example, rather than a six iron, you will tend to swing harder and become out of balance as you try to get more distance.  Take the longer club and swing smoothly, concentrating on solid contact.    As a result, you will hit more greens.

When you go to the driving range, try swinging easy with the longer club.  Also choke down on the club slightly which will cut the distance a little bit.  For example, if you hit your pitching wedge 120 yards and you hit your 9-iron 130 yards, if you choke down slightly on your 9-iron you should hit the ball 125 yards….which will provide a perfect solution for your shot that is between clubs.

October 18, 2015 Posted by Matt

Putt with a clear mind.  If you have ever tried a new putter, chances are that you will putt better immediately.  The reason for this is that your attention is on the feel of the new putter and not on the mechanics of your stroke.  If you are focusing on your stroke and how you move your hands and arms, you are not making a natural move.  It would be like thinking about your hands while you are driving your car.  Put all of your attention on your target and visualize the ball rolling along your line and dropping in the hole.  Once over the ball, repeat the visualization as if it were a little video for you to follow.  Think of the target and not the mechanics of how to get the ball there.

October 17, 2015 Posted by Matt

Before you head to the golf course, check your spikes.  Almost all golf courses now require soft spikes to help keep putting surfaces smooth.  Soft spikes, however, will wear down rather easily, and you can lose traction, especially when the ground is wet with dew or rain.  Check your spikes periodically, and change them several times during the season if you play fairly often.  Good traction is important for maintaining good balance and making a weight shift.  You may not notice that you are losing your balance from worn spikes, as it happens gradually.  Keep all of your equipment in working shape in order to play your best.

October 17, 2015 Posted by Matt

As we approach season you may be wondering where home prices are headed.  With inventory still being limited nationwide, home prices next year are expected to continue to rise.  In a year-over-year comparison, home prices are currently up an average of 4.3 percent nationwide.

Florida is projected for a greater than 6 percent increase in home prices next year.

Some interesting facts:

• 25 states are forecasted to achieve higher levels of appreciation in the next 12 months than already achieved in the last year.
• 25 state and the District of Columbia are forecasted to experience a slow in appreciation.
• All 50 states & D.C. are forecasted to achieve some level of positive price appreciation.

Even though each state is appreciating at different levels, you need to know the Cost of Waiting until next year to buy your dream home!

Since inventory remains low and interest rates are steady, now is a good time to purchase a home in Naples or Bonita Springs.  Wheather you are relocating to our area or purchasing a second home, let me be your guide.

Start your search:

• Single Family Homes for Sale (Naples, FL)
• Single Family Homes for Sale (Bonita Springs, FL)

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

October 16, 2015 Posted by Matt

You hit a great drive and you get to your ball and find it smack dab in the middle of a divot.  What rotten luck.  Now what?  When your nice drive ends up in a divot in the middle of the fairway, do not fret.  You can get a solid strike on the ball with the right technique.  The shot requires a steep, descending strike that catches the ball first and then explodes through the divot hole.  To learn this swing, place your ball in a divot hole on the range.  Roll up a towel and place it about eighteen inches behind  your ball.  Swing back then down and through to strike the ball while missing the towel.  This will force your club to make an upright back and down sing that will blast the ball out and up from this bad lie.