Naples Real Estate Blog

Here is the latest edition of Naples Tidbits, or more precisely, what’s happening in Naples, Florida.

• Sideline Joe’s is a new restaurant that just recently opened at 14700 Tamiami Square across from Bentley Village and next to Naples Tomato. Specializing in hotdogs and hamburgers, it’s a take off of the old baseball days.
• Naples has been named one of the “Top 25 Cities for Art” by American Style magazine. The story will appear in its June issue.
• Bonefish Grill has opened their latest restaurant at 1500 Fifth Ave. S. They specialize in market-fresh fish grilled over an oak-burning grill.
• It’s been announced that Books-A-Million will build a two-story, 26,000 sq ft bookstore at The Mercato and plans to open later this year.
• Southwest Florida International Airport celebrated it’s 25th Anniversary on May 14th. During the past 25 years, the airport has served nearly 110 million passengers.
• Both Publix’s food store and DaVita Inc., which is a dialysis center, will open early next year in the Town of Ave Maria.
• Sutter Roofing Co. has become western Florida’s installer of “Flexlight” solar panels. The panels are hurricane-proof. Sutter is a commercial and industrial roofing firm based in Sarasota with a branch in Ft. Myers and Naples.
• Emack & Bolio’s, a gourmet ice cream shop, has opened at 2355 Vandeerbilt Beach Road in Naples. The business also serves smoothies, chocolates and ice cream cakes.

Tags: Naples Tidbits // Add Comment »

Well, we had just a beautiful day here in Naples, Florida yesterday. Ruth and I were out scouting property when we came across these windsurfers and parasurfers down by the beach near the Naples pier. There were probably 8-10 parasurfers taking turns in riding the waves. Oh, to be young again.

Windsurfer near the pier. ©Rick Bethem

Parasurfer in Naples, Fl. ©Rick Bethem

Tags: Around Town // Add Comment »

This recently listed property in Naples, Florida is located in the Hemingway Place community. 4 Bedrooms plus Den, 4.5 Baths and over 4000 sq ft. It is being offered for $1,850,000.

MLS# 208003517

3 Grand Sand Dollar awards. One award for one-of-a-kind custom home under 3 million. The ultimate in German craftsmanship. Southern style Victorian home in gated Hemingway Place. Color theme carried thru out, Trey ceilings with rope lighting, solid Mahogany French doors pool with spa & waterfall and mosaic. Monlith poured concrete construction. Entertainment area. Wine cooler. Never lived in (owner will consider trade for finance) play ground, gazebo and 2+ acres of preserve.Theater/media/entertainment room. 1 Bar-B-Que. Never lived in…..

For professional advice on all aspects of buying or selling in the Naples Florida real estate market talk to Ruth Bethem, Broker-Associate, ABR,CRS,GRI at 239-777-7007, or toll-free at 877-777-7545. Ruth is a Top Producer with Downing-Frye Realty in Naples, FL.

Tags: Naples Real Estate // Add Comment »

 Remember real estate 101. Curb appeal is everything!

Tags: Bad Real Estate Photo Of The Day // Add Comment »

Sale Price: $1,195,000
Living Area: 2932 sq ft
3 Bedroom + Den, 3.5 Baths

MLS# 208002841

Rarely available, beautiful Courtyard Home designed by Granite Development blends the indoor and outdoor spaces to creat the perfect Florida lifestyle. The Monte Vista model offers an expansive OPEN design which includes 3 bedrooms plus study, 3.5 baths, living room with fireplace and wet bar, large kitchen/family room/breakfast room combination, very private lush/tropical pool/lanai area w/spa, SEPARATE GUEST HOUSE AND 3 CAR GARAGE! Generous use of architectural details both on the impressive exterior and interior, including volume/tray ceilings in most rooms and decorative art niches. The additional covered verandah, off the living/dining room and master bedroom, offers beautiful long golf course views. Total square footage is 4,739.

Tags: Naples Real Estate // Add Comment »

Kinda reminds me of the old arcade game where you throw the bean bag through the opening. Where’s the prize teddy bear?

Your submissions are welcomed. If you’ve seen a candidate for a Bad Real Estate Photo of the Day entry, mail the photo or a link to Rick@RuthBethem.com.

Tags: Bad Real Estate Photo Of The Day // Add Comment »

The Wall Street Journal report recently pointed out the benefits of buying a condo for your second home. If you want to get away for a vacation, the last thing you want to be doing is cutting the grass or cleaning out the gutters.

A new National Association of Realtors study estimates that sales of vacation homes in 2007 fell 31%, to 740,000, from 2006. But sales of condos dipped only slightly — down 2.8% — while sales of detached homes dropped 38%. The upshot is that condos cornered a substantially larger share of the vacation-home market last year: 29%, up from 21% in 2006.

Condos are selling better than single-family vacation houses for a number of reasons. They don’t require their owners to maintain lawns, trim shrubs, paint the exteriors or replace roofs — increasingly important concerns to an aging population. Condo communities also tend to offer amenities such as pools and clubhouses. And condos usually are cheaper to buy, and easier to resell, than houses.

Condo sales in Naples out sell the single family homes. If you’re interested in the Naples real estate market, then please contact Ruth Bethem, Broker-Associate, at ruth@ruthbethem.com or toll-free at 877-777-7545.

Tags: Naples Real Estate // Add Comment »

Old portrait photographers use to use a trick of putting vasoline over the lens to give the portrait that soft focus dreamy look. Well, as you can see this little trick as navigated it’s way to real estate photography too. Isn’t this a dreamy living room? 

Tags: Bad Real Estate Photo Of The Day // Add Comment »

We are pleased to announce that Ruth has successfully completed the Florida State Real Estate Brokers exam. Although she is now qualified to open her own company, she prefers to continue being a sales associate, therefore, she will use the Broker-Associate designation. Ruth and her team will stay with Downing-Frye Realty, Inc. here in Naples, Florida where she has consistently been a multi-million dollar sales associate and both a Top Performer and Top Producer. Education has always been an important component of Ruth’s real estate career. She previously received the Accredited Buyers Representative (ABR), Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) and the Graduate Real Estate Institute (GRI) designations. Attaining the status of a Broker-Associate is a major professional achievement. The credibility and the education will add to Ruth’s ability to expand her business in the Naples real estate market and to represent and serve her clients in the best way possible.

Contact Ruth Bethem, Broker-Associate, ABR,CRS,GRI Realtor® at ruth@ruthbethem.com or call her toll-free at 877-777-7545.

Tags: Naples Real Estate // Add Comment »

Alrighty now…I guess we got cable. Wahoooo! If you happen to be really, really skinny, you might enjoy this bedroom.

Tags: Bad Real Estate Photo Of The Day // Add Comment »