Southwest Florida Real Estate News

Garren Grup John R. Wood, Realtors 239-289-8619 Garren@BuyUpNaples.com www.BuyUpNaples.com Click Below For the Neighborhood Health Report Click Below For September's eNewsletter

Some Good News! Recent business trends show that the general economy is starting to show signs of life. Truck and rail shipments are up three months in a row and the trade gap decline at a near record rate as exports showed surprising strength. On top of this retail sales rose for the second consecutive month. Most economists believe that the economy won't recover until housing shows firm signs of recovery. While signals that housing is mending are still faint, August was better than July in terms of sales. Some feel that the recent small uptick in interest rates will drive incremental buyers off the sidelines. Perhaps. Better is the news that unemployment appears to have finally peaked and as stated above there are signals that things are looking up, albeit only slightly. Courtesy of Real Trends Overall, the good news is that year-to-date closed unit sales through August remain 21.5% ahead of the same period for 2009. See the full August Market Report here. Profiles of some New Construction Developments & Homes in the Naples & Bonita Springs Area Here

Market Update July/2010 June/2010 May/2010 April/2010 Open Houses View all of John R Wood's Open Houses

Bridgewater Bay Their lifestyle amenities include a lap pool, a resort style swimming pool, tennis courts, billiards, state-of-the-art fitness center, business center, putting green, children?s play area & an extensive activity calendar with enthusiastic participation! Easy access to Livingston Rd, Airport & Vanderbilt Rd and all the shopping at Waterside, elegant & casual restaurants of The Mercato, world class golf courses & numerous white sand beaches. See more on this and other properties Here. Tropical living awaits! Thoroughly enjoyed by residents of all ages, Bridgewater Bay offers exceptional activities for all! A tropical lanai with walkout to the lake is just one of the features you?ll enjoy from this eclectically decorated 2 Bed+Den residence.

Website Links www.BuyUpNaples.com www.NaplesBeachfront.co.uk www.NaplestoBonitaSprings.com

234 Barefoot Beach Blvd $4,299,777

187 Topanga Dr Barefoot Beach $1,189,000

Cottages @ NaplesBay Resort $399,000

New Listings View all of SWFL's New Listings

Navona @ The Colony #1603 $569,777

508 Valley Drive $249,000

Spring Run at Coconut Point $179,000

Garren Grup | 239-289-8619 www.BuyUpNaples.com Call, Email or Connect with Garren to stay in touch & say hello! Request Additional Market Information, a Personal Consultation & Assistance when Considering your Next Move!

It's Finally Stonecrab Season in Florida!

October 23rd and 24th, 2010... It's Finally Stone Crab Season in Florida!

Their long awaited return is here and a new tradition, the Naples Stone Crab Festival is about to begin!

Much to the Florida stone crab claw lovers' delight, seafood markets and restaurants around the state will once again have this delicacy on their menus until the season ends on May 15.

Naples Florida is so excited about the season beginning that it's holding its first ever Stone Crab Festival on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 23 and 24, in and around the Naples waterfront at Tin City, Bayfront, Naples Bay Resort, The City Dock at Crayton Cove and more. There will be events and activities for the entire family. If you're lucky enough to be in Naples this weekend, come on out and enjoy the fun, and more importantly the delicious claws!

For a list of events & map, visit www.StoneCrabFestival.org/events.php

If you've never had the pleasure, here are some helpful tidbits about the Florida stone crab:

The bodies of the Florida stone crab are relatively small so they are rarely eaten, but the claws are large and considered a delicacy

Commercial fishermen only remove the crab's claws which actually regenerate

Claws are sold fresh or frozen and are available in several sizes based on weight, including medium (up to 3 ounces), large (3 to 5 ounces), and jumbo (5 ounces plus)

The general rule of thumb is that it takes one pound of crab claws to feed one person

Claws are usually served in the shell, typically on a bed of ice with a mustard dipping sauce. But they are also sometimes served hot with drawn butter and lime juice

The firm, sweet meat, which is extra lean, low in fat, and a good source of protein, tastes similar to lobster

***Profiles of New Construction Developments & Homes in the Naples & Bonita Springs Area Here

For more information, connect with Garren:



Please Feel Free to Call, Email or Connect with Garren for additional market information
or Search for Homes & Commercial properties at http://www.homesinnaplestobonita.com/

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Exceptional Consultation you can rely on in Naples, Bonita Springs, Estero & Fort Myers!

View some of the Best Values in Naples Homes and Naples Condos

View Naples Beachfront Estate Homes Here

English & European buyers can access Gulfshore Blvd. Homes in Naples at http://www.naplesbeachfront.co.uk/

Vanderbilt Beach Homes, Pelican Bay, Barefoot Beach, Park Shore, Port Royal, Aqualane Shores, Old Naples,

Vineyards, Bonita Beach, Pelican Marsh, Lely, Bonita Bay, Mercato at Vanderbilt Beach.

The Best Prices on Foreclosure properties in Naples & Bonita Springs can be seen Here.

The Best prices on Foreclosure properties on Fort Myers Beach Here.

*Use the links above to view listings in a specific area/city or create your own search Here.*

Lee County Commissioner, Enlightens and Communicates Tourism Efforts & Clean Beaches!

While the chances of some oil making it to the east coast remain high, their misfortune is Southwest Florida's gain! Some media outlets and reporters are whispering what experts and locals have been telling everyone for months... there's a "Less than 1% Chance of oil making it onto Southwest Florida beaches". Unfortunately, the local media has echoed similar sentiments on some broadcasts in recent weeks but without much impact on the National and International (tourists) viewers that some local business and hotel owners are trying to reach. They wish the National News would inform everyone that "Southwest Florida is Open for Business!" and the oil is only in the panhandle of Florida.

On Thursday July 8th, I had the privilege, along with a few of my colleagues to listen to a short presentation by Tammy Hall, the chairman of the Lee County Commission. Following our discussion she did a Q & A with about 12 of us. Tammy Hall was recently awarded the title of "Estero Chamber Political Person of the Year" for 2010. The information she shared about what the commission is working on varied from cutting spending to balance the county budget, thereby eliminating any property tax increases for the average property owner to instituting change to the states renewable energy credits to benefit companies like Algenol Biofuels who generates renewable energy from Algae. Commissioner Hall also touched on how state mandate prevented the use of tourism reserves for anything other than the new stadium for the Boston Red Sox spring training, a concert hall or similar type venue. She also spoke on tax benefits to lure businesses and diversify the job base in Fort Myers, Bonita Springs & Estero area as well as the print and TV advertising the tourism bureau recently embarked on as a response to the oil spill to let people know there was no oil on ANY Southwest Florida beaches. Her depth of knowledge and the things she is involved in are fascinating and I found it incredibly enlightening.


One of the most interesting comments made by Commissioner Hall in response to the misinformation out there and some jittery tourists was that "A new national conversation is beginning to circle that there is Less than 1% chance of oil coming onto the beaches of SWFL. This was some very welcome news to everyone in the room who has been repeatedly asked for weeks, if not months about the oil on our beaches, and repeatedly responding "There is no oil". One of my clever colleagues has been responding with, "The only oil on Southwest Florida beaches is Suntan Oil".

You can read my recent post on the Gulf oil spill and see video on How Southwest Florida will likely stay Oil Free HERE

See a profile of some New Construction Developments & Homes in the Naples Area HERE

For more information, connect with me:

Please Feel Free to Call, Email or Connect with Garren for additional market information.