August 23, 2015 Posted by Matt

Do a wrist check to see where the problem lies.  To see if you are in a bad position at the top of your swing, simply swing to the top and take a look at your hands.  In a good swing position, your left hand will be flat and the right hand will be under the shaft.  If your wrists are cupped with your knuckles bending forward, you have the face open and will likely hit a slice.  If your wrists are bowed in the other direction, your face is closed and you will hit a hook.  A simple check could help you hit the ball straighter.

August 22, 2015 Posted by Matt

Set your putting distance by the length of your stroke.  To be able to hit your putts at different distances, it is easier to make a longer back and through swing rather than trying to simply hit the ball harder or easier.  You can use your back foot to measure how far back you should swing your putter as a means of creating a simple way to judge your distance.  If you take a normal stroke that goes back to your back toe and produces a thirty-foot putt, then you have a point of reference for all of your long putts.  Go beyond your toe for longer putts and short of your toe for shorter distances.

August 22, 2015 Posted by Matt

Once again SWFL tops the state!  Well at least that’s true for price growth for single-family homes in July.  Condos showed a slight increase in July, just not at the rate of single-family homes.  The median sales price for single-family homes in the Naples and Marco Island area rose from $325,000 up to $400,000 which was a 23.1 percent from July of last year.  The Cape Coral and Fort Myers area was close on our heals coming in second in the state.  Single-family home prices were up 17.2 percent, to $210,900 from $179,900.  Both areas were far ahead of the statewide single-family price growth rate of 8.1 percent.

Housing inventory continues to tighten.  Statewide, there was a 4.5 month’s supply of single-family homes in July, and a 5.3 month’s supply for town houses and condos. The rule of thumb is a 6-month supply is considered a benchmark for a balanced market.  The tight supply is good news for sellers.  It means they are getting prices closer to their asking price.

In fact, in July, sellers of single-family homes in Florida got 94.4 percent of their original asking price which is an increase of 1.2 percent from July of last year. Town house and condo sellers got 93.3 percent compared to 92.6 percent a year earlier, an uptick of 0.8 percent.

Florida Foreclosures

Florida, Maryland and New Jersey had the highest foreclosure rates in the country according to a foreclosure report recently released by RealtyTrac.  Florida foreclosures increased 16 percent from a year ago and as a result, the state remains among the nation’s top foreclosure rates for the fifth month in a row.  This follows 10 consecutive months of year-over-year decreases. One in every 408 Florida housing units had a foreclosure filing in July which is more than 2.5 times the national average.  Also, Florida properties repossessed by lenders increased up to 78 percent in July.

Florida foreclosures vary by county.  Collier county had one of the lowest foreclosure rates with 1 in every 963 housing units.  Lee county came in at 1 in every 593 units.

FL Foreclosures – Top 5 Counties

1.   Flagler  (1 in every 192)
2.   Okeechobee  (1 in every 251)
3.   Hernando  (1 in every 264)
4.   Gadsden  (1 in every 266)
5.   Clay  (1 in every 275)

Bottom Line:

If you’re looking for a focused and goal-oriented Realtor in southwest Florida who will help you achieve your Real Estate needs, please reach out to us directly. Additionally, if you are looking for a golf community expert or you are considering buying or selling a home, luxury home, vacation home, golf home or dream home, call or text us at 239-370-0892 or email Matt@NaplesGolfGuy.com

August 21, 2015 Posted by Matt

August 20, 2015 Posted by Matt

Golf Tip – If your ball comes to rest in the rough just off the green, you have several choices of how to play the shot.  If chipping or pitching would be difficult because of the heavy grass, you might try a putter pop.  You’ll need a good deal of green, as the ball will roll a lot.  Play the ball back in your stance and lean the shaft forward.  Lift the club up sharply and come down on the back of the ball.  Don’t make a follow-through but just hit the ball with the putter and hold it there.  The ball will pop up out of the rough and then roll a good distance.  This is a safe shot, as you will not chunk or skull the ball as you might with another club.

July Sales on Marco Island

It is almost the end of summer and it is time to recap July sales on Marco Island.  Real estate sales on Marco totaled $52 million in July compared to $44 million during the same month last year. There were 23 Single-family home sales for July down from 29 which is a 21 percent decrease versus the same time last year. Condo sales on Marco increased 15 percent going up from 40 units to 46 units.  Inventory saw decreases in both single-family homes and condos.  Single-family inventory dropped 1 percent, down to 264 and condo inventory stood at 243 in July, down 24 percent from the prior year.

For those interested in golf communities in the Marco Island area, there is only one 18 hole course which is the Island Country Club.  Just across the bridge towards Naples, there are a couple of additional golf communities to consider:

• Fiddler’s Creek
• Hammock Bay
• Rookery

August 20, 2015 Posted by Matthew Klinowski

New Construction in Mediterra

There are a limited number of Naples golf communities building new homes.  New construction in Mediterra was recently announced by London Bay Homes.  One of their new model homes is a villa called the Capriano.  This model home is now open for viewing at Mediterra (www.MediterraNaples.com). They also have a single-family model home in Lucarno, a neighborhood modeled after a European village. The model sold on leaseback prior to completion and is open for viewing through April 2016. The home has 4,402 square feet of living space, and the base price is from $1.175 million.

Mediterra is a luxury golf community in north Naples.  Very few Naples golf communities have more than one course.  Mediterra has two 18-hole championship courses designed by Tom Fazio.

In addition to new construction in Mediterra, the following golf communities are building new homes:

• Esplanade
• Fiddler’s Creek
• Golf Club of the Everglades
• Grey Oaks
• Lely Resort
• Quail West
• Talis Park
• The Quarry
• Treviso Bay
• Twin Eagles

Considering moving to Naples Florida?  Interested in buying a home in a golf community?  Whether you are looking for new construction or to purchase and an existing golf home or golf condo, I’ll be happy to be your guide.

August 19, 2015 Posted by Matt

August 18, 2015 Posted by Matt

We often talk about the financial reasons why buying a home makes sense.  The Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University performs a study every year surveying participants for the reasons that American’s feel are most important in regards to home ownership. Oftentimes, the emotional reasons people purchase homes are more compelling than the financial reason.  In fact the study identified the top 5 reasons home ownership is important and 4 of the reasons to own a home cited by respondents were not financial.

Top 5 Reasons Home Ownership is Important

1. It means having a good place to raise children & provide them with a good education

From the best neighborhoods to the best school districts, even those without children at the time of purchasing their home, may have this in the back of their mind as a major reason for choosing the location of the home that they purchase.  The value of your home will be higher if you are in a good school district which is important for resale value.

2. You have a physical structure where you & your family feel safe

It is no surprise that having a place to call home with all that means in comfort and security is the #2 reason.

3. It allows you to have more space for your family

Whether your family is expanding, or an older family member is moving in, having a home that fits your needs is a close third on the list.

4. It gives you control over what you do with your living space, like renovations and updates

Looking to actually try one of those complicated wall treatments that you saw on Pinterest? Want to finally adopt that puppy or kitten you’ve seen online 100 times? Who’s to say that you can’t in your own home? The 5th reason on the list, is the #1 financial reason to buy a home as seen by respondents:

5. Owning a home is a good way to build up wealth that can be passed along to my family

Either way you are paying a mortgage. Why not lock in your housing expense now with an investment that will build equity that you can borrow against in the future?

Bottom Line

Whether you are a first time home buyer or a move-up buyer who wants to start a new chapter in their life, now is a great time to reflect on the intangible factors that make a house a home.

Are you considering buying a home in Naples?  Matt Klinowski has been helping buyers find the ideal property for close to 15 years.

August 17, 2015 Posted by Matt

Your golf shoes are an important part of your equipment.  In golf, balance and stability are critical to a good swing.  If your golf shoes have worn spikes or the uppers are in poor condition, they may be hurting your game.  Soft spikes wear out relatively quickly if you walk on hard surfaces.  Re-spike your shoes periodically and always take time to clean off dirt and grass as you play.  Keep the uppers clean and dry to make sure they hold their support.  Change the insoles if they become worn.  Pay attention to your shoes and they will take care of you on the course.

August 17, 2015 Posted by Matt

One of the top websites for vacation rentals, Tripping.com, recently released its top 10 beaches list. There are two Naples Beaches in Top 10 and topping the list is Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park!

Naples FL Beaches ranked number one by Tripping.com

Here is what they had to say about about Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park:

This 199-acre state park just north of Naples is home to unspoiled, gorgeous beaches and an array of other outdoor activities. With a wide variety of plant and animal life, Delnor-Wiggins is a great destination for wildlife and plant enthusiasts, as well as watersport fans. Its clear blue waters are not only great to look at but perfect for swimming, snorkeling, and fishing. A plus: visitors can feel secure while relaxing in the waves knowing that lifeguards are on duty. Active beach goers can rent kayaks or take a boat at using one of the park’s boat launch. If you plan to stay on land, make sure to lookout for the beautiful shells that the tide carries to shore.

Naples was also represented by Clam Pass County Park, which took the number  three spot.  Tripping.com described Clam Pass as “a park that sprawls across 35 acres of mangrove forest and coastal dunes still inhabited by the smaller species of Florida wildlife.”

Read the rest of the list here!

Are you thinking about moving to Naples, Florida? Or what about Bonita Springs or Estero? See homes for sale in Southwest Florida at NaplesGolfGuy.com.