Jim’s Newsletter-July 2011

Market Watch:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts: Brenda Fioretti, NABOR President, (239) 595-6219

Marcia Albert, NABOR Director of Marketing, (239) 216-4148

INVENTORY DECLINES 18.5 PERCENT

Report Shows Increase in Home Sales

NAPLES, Fla.-July 15, 2011- The housing supply in the Naples area has had a sharp decline during the past 12 months, according to a report released by the Naples Area Board of REALTORS® (NABOR), which tracks home listings and sales within Collier County (excluding Marco Island).

“Although the inventory has been consistently decreasing since November of 2008, the percentage decline of 18.5% during the past year is indicative of the rapidly escalating market,” said Brenda Fioretti, NABOR President and Managing Broker of Prudential Florida Realty.

Overall home sales continue a steady increase, resulting in the continuing reduction of available inventory.

Overall pending sales increased three percent in the second quarter of 2011 with 2,879 contracts compared to 2,807 contracts in the second quarter of 2011. The Naples Beach geographic area saw the most activity, where pending sales increased 23 percent with the posting of 537 contracts in the second quarter of 2011 compared to 435 contracts in the second quarter of 2010.

“The largest increase in pending sales for the second quarter of 2011 is in the Naples Beach area. This area continues to improve and as the volume of inventory declines it’s creating urgency for the serious buyer to purchase now, before the best properties disappear,” said Steve Barker, Supporting Broker with Amerivest Realty.

According to Phil Wood, President of John R. Wood REALTORS®, “Tear down sales should begin increasing because of the new construction shortage and the volume of sales activity in the Naples Beach area.”

Available properties declined to 7,208 at the end of the second quarter of 2011, an 18.5 percent drop from the 8,845 available at the end of the second quarter of 2010.

“The reduction in inventory and available properties that we are seeing in the resale market will encourage Builders to step up their new production to meet this demand,” said Kathy Zorn, Broker/Owner of Florida Home Realty.

The second quarter report provides annual comparisons of single-family home and condo sales (via the SunshineMLS), price ranges, geographic segmentation and includes an overall market summary. The statistics are presented in chart format, along with the following analysis:

 Overall pending sales for the 12 months ending in the second quarter of 2011 increased 6 percent with 9,950 contracts compared to 9,364 contracts in the second quarter of 2010.

 Single-family home sales for the 12 months ending in the second quarter of 2011 increased 5 percent with 5,127 sales compared to 4,881 sales in the second quarter of 2010.

 Single-family home sales in the $2 million and above category increased 56 percent with 64 sales in the second quarter of 2011 compared to 41 sales in the second quarter of 2010.

 Condo pending sales increased 6 percent with 1,383 contracts in the second quarter of 2011 compared to 1,308 contracts in the second quarter of 2010.

The June report provides annual comparisons of single-family home and condo sales (via the SunshineMLS), price ranges, geographic segmentation and includes an overall market summary. The statistics are presented in chart format, along with the following analysis:

 Overall home sales in the $1 million to $2 million price category increased 21 percent with 41 sales in June 2011 compared to 34 sales in June 2010.

 Single-family pending sales in the $2 million and above price category increased 100 percent in June 2011 with 22 contracts compared to 11 contracts in June 2010.

 Condo sales saw a 7 percent increase with 381 sales in June 2011 compared to 3256 sales in June 2010.

“The high end of the market continues to strengthen as pending and closed sales increase in the $1 million and above price categories,” said Wes Kunkle, Broker/Owner of Kunkle Realty.

To view the entire report, visit www.NaplesArea.com

Developer Confidence Increasing

Over the past month or so three Developers have extended/renewed their permits for three new large communities to be built. These three communities are all in Collier County and would total approximately 4,500 to 6,000 new homes. Another positive sign is the new construction in several existing communities in Collier County.

Madison Marquette has taken an ownership interest in four Naples, Florida retail properties, including Mercato, Crossroads Market, Neapolitan Way, and Midway Plaza. "Naples is an affluent market that is gaining strength and we are delighted to have acquired these well-positioned centers," David Brainerd, managing director of Investment at Madison Marquette, said in a statement.

Naples Area Happenings:

Tourism up 7.5% in May. There were 120,300 visitors in Collier County in the month of May, up from 111,700 a year ago. The economic impact was $108.9 million, up 10.8% from a year ago.

The Mangrove Café to Open by This Fall. As you recall, this popular Fifth Avenue South restaurant was suffered a gas explosion five months ago. The original building was able to be saved with extensive work from the roof down. The café owner Diane Amaral says work will begin immediately. The restaurant will be completely new inside, from the ceilings to the floors, the kitchen and bathrooms will all be new. Amaral estimates rebuilding costs will be about $650,000.

Southwest Florida International Airport traffic increased 6.4% in May compared to the same month the previous year. There were 587,633 passengers traveled through the airport this May. Year-to-date, passenger traffic is up 6.1% from the same period last year.

Naples Plaza, Park Shore Plaza, Freedom Square & Morse Shores Under New Owership. BRE Retail Holdings, Inc., an affiliate of Blackstone Real Estate Partners VILP are the new owners. The company acquired hundreds of neighborhood shopping centers in the U.S. with its purchase of Centro Properties Group, headquartered in New York. Include in the sale are 585 community and neighborhood shopping centers and retail assets, which total 92.1 million square feet in 39 states.

Local Cupcake Shop Goes On National TV. Sassy Cakes Inc. (www.sassycakesinc.com), a Naples boutique cup-cakery, owner Bayah Harrison and her assistant, Sara, will be featured on the third season of Cupcake Wars. Their episode aired July 5^th on the Food Network. Cupcake Wars is a reality show in which four chefs and their assistants compete against each other for a $10,000 prize. The teams are eliminated during three separate rounds. The first round is judged on taste alone, the second according to taste and presentation, and in the final round contestants must create a 1,000 cupcake display on which they are judged.

Cleava, Invented by Naples Woman, Gives the Illusion of a Camisole Without the Extra Layers. Michelle De Sousa no longer experiences wardrobe malfunctions, bulging layers and the need to constantly readjust her top. She solved these problems for herself when she invented the Cleava, a snap-to-bra camisole by BraNovations, the self-created line. De Sousa’s job in the construction industry required her to dress modestly. She now works full time managing her business in Naples. It comes in more than 40 colors and designs. The retail price is $19.95. http://cleava.com/

Denmark Flights Huge Success. All the flights so far have been sold out! Therefore, Southwest Florida International Airport plans to extend the offer in the winter and spring. The airport plans to offer two flights a week from December 19^th through March 2^nd. Southwest Florida International Airport is one of six airports in the U.S. offering 10-hour nonstop service to Denmark. http://www.comefly.dk/

NAPLES AIRPORT TO DISPLAY MILITARY ARTIFACTS

The City of Naples Airport Authority (www.flynaples.com) unanimously voted to provide space at Naples Municipal Airport for the Museum of Military Memorabilia. The museum is constructing display cases to exhibit photos, medals, flight jackets, uniforms, newspaper clippings and as many as 500 of the museum’s 10,000 artifacts. Aircraft models also will be showcased in the 900-square-foot space in the airport’s commercial service terminal along North Road.

RIB CITY’S GROWTH GARNERS NATIONAL RANKING

Restaurant Business magazine and MonkeyDish.com (www.monkeydish.com) recently ranked Rib City (www.ribcity.com) as the 11th fastest-growing restaurant chain. The Future 50 is an annual ranking of the top 50 fastest growing chains with sales of $25 million to $50 million. In 1989, father-and-son team Paul and Craig Peden opened the first Rib City in Fort Myers. Twenty-two years later, there are 13 Rib City corporate-owned restaurants in Florida and 16 franchise restaurants located across the country including Washington, Utah, Colorado, Missouri, Tennessee, Ohio, Illinois and Maryland.

New Retail:

Pikolinos Shoe’s Will Open its First U. S. Store in Naples this October. It will open at the Mercato. Pikolinos promotes itself as a business that aim for design, quality and originality. It boasts “comfort fashion,” rather than high fashion. The brand promises comfort because of the way the leather is treated. All Pikolinos shoes are made of vegetable leather. The material goes through a tannery in Spain, where it is treated with all natural products. The leather stays in the tannery for at least three weeks, resulting in a product that will form to your foot and last. www.pikolinos.com/us/en/default

New Restaurants:

Latitude is located at 2500 Vanderbilt Beach Road, Suite 1100, occupying the former space of Café Italia in Naples Walk shopping center. Chef Ross A. Peterson has solid credentials hailing from Hawaii and having experience in well-know restaurants like Syrah, Roy’s and Trilogy. Everything is made from scratch! Information 239-596-5600 or www.LatitudeNaples.com

Jana’s Little Prague Restaurant is open at 289 U.S. 41 South. The new Czech restaurant is owned and operated by Jana and Douglas Conte of Naples. Jana, a Czech chef, previously owned a restaurant outside the Czech Republic for nearly a decade. The new menu will be 20 percent lower prices than most other area restaurants.

Heidelberg Bistro is the new name of the former Bohemian Schnitzelhouse, at 835 Vanderbilt Beach Road, in the Pavillion shopping center.

Fit & Fuel Café opened at 819 Vanderbilt Beach Road in the Pavillion shopping center. The café is open 6:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. every day, features a full espresso bar and serves light morning fare and lunch items such as pastries, oatmeal, fruit bowls, salads, sandwiches and wraps.

Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt opened in Naples and will be the first of five new SW Florida locations. The California-based chain opened in the Boulevard Shoppes, 6355 Naples Blvd. across from the Hollywood 20 movie theaters in the same strip center with Redbrick Pizza. Menchie’s lets customers serve themselves any frozen yogurt flavors from a side selection and top it with any of about 50 items such as nuts, fruit, sprinkles, candies or hot fudge. You pay by the weight of your treat!

Update on Listings, Pending Contracts, and Closed Sales for June, 2011 vs. June 2010:

Bonita Springs & Estero Areas:

Year	2010	2011	Difference
Listings	2,205	1,668	-537
Pending Contracts	167	166	-1
Closed Sales	196	218	+22

Naples Area:

Year	2010	2011	Difference
Listings	7,730	6,014	-1,716
Pending Contracts	528	564	+36
Closed Sales	782	831	+49

Average Days On Market:

Second Quarter

2010= 176

2011= 186

During the past year, Naples continues to reduce its excess residential real estate inventory, with the housing supply dropping by 18.5% during the past 12 months.

The Naples MLS Area Recorded 831 Closings in June 2011

Distressed Sales Represented 40% of these Closings

Distressed Sales Are Foreclosures and Short Sales

Source: Naples Area Board of Realtors Multiple Listing Service

Jim's June 2011 Newsletter-Naples, FL

Market Watch:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts: Brenda Fioretti, NABOR President, (239) 595-6219

Marcia Albert, NABOR Director of Marketing, (239) 216-4148

SINGLE FAMILY HOME MEDIAN CLOSED PRICE JUMPS SIX PERCENT

Report Shows Overall Inventory Declines 14 percent

NAPLES, Fla.-June 17 2011- Momentum is picking up and summer is emerging as a season of strong sales according to a report released by the Naples Area Board of REALTORS® (NABOR), which tracks home listings and sales within Collier County (excluding Marco Island).

The overall available inventory decreased to 7,705 properties in May 2011 down from 9,006 properties in May 2010. “The decrease in inventory is having a positive effect on overall prices and is driving the median closed price up,” said Steve Barker, REALTOR® with Amerivest Realty.

The median closed price for single-family homes for the 12 months ending May 2011 increased 6 percent to $210,000 compared to $199,000 for the 12 months ending May 2010. The overall median closed price for single-family homes increased 15 percent to $242,000 in May 2011 compared to $210,000 in May 2010.

“With its strong market and rising prices, Naples is the exception to the two-thirds of the country experiencing real estate challenges, just as predicted by Dr. Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist of the National Association of REALTORS®,” said Phil Wood, President of John R. Wood REALTORS.

The May report provides annual comparisons of single-family home and condo sales (via the SunshineMLS), price ranges, geographic segmentation and includes an overall market summary. The statistics are presented in chart format, along with the following analysis:

 Overall pending sales increased 8 percent in May 2011 with 955 contracts compared to 887 contracts in May 2010.

 Overall closed sales increased 4 percent in May 2011 with 838 sales compared to 803 sales in May 2010.

 Single-family home pending sales increased 8 percent in May 2011 with 515 contracts compared to 477 contracts in May 2010.

 Condo sales increased 9 percent with 450 sales in May 2011 compared to 412 sales in May 2010.

According to Brenda Fioretti, NABOR President, and Managing Broker of Prudential Florida Realty, “The increase in sales is found in the traditional market, not short sales or foreclosures which now make up less than 30 percent of the properties sold.”

“For the 12 months ending May 2011, condo sales increased 19 percent and the $1 million to $2 million category had an astounding increase of 164 percent, with 18 more units sold for the 12 months ending May 2011 than in the 12 months ending May 2010,” said John Steinwand, President of Naples Realty Services.

To view the entire report, visit www.NaplesArea.com

Nearly three out of four American voters believe that it is reasonable and appropriate for the federal government to provide tax incentives to promote homeownership—a sentiment that cuts across partisan and regional lines across the country, according to a recent poll conducted on behalf of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). Further, an overwhelming majority of respondents oppose eliminating the mortgage interest deduction and would be less likely to support a candidate for Congress who wants to do away with this vital tax incentive.

SWFL FORECLOSURES DROP IN MAY

Foreclosure activity in Southwest Florida fell significantly in most areas, according to figures released today by RealtyTrac. Lee had 1,753 homes in foreclosure action, or one in every 208 houses, a decrease of 5.35 percent compared with April 2011 and a drop of 50.98 percent over May 2010. Despite the decline, Lee County posted the top foreclosure rate in Florida. Collier County had 277 homes in foreclosure, or one in every 701 housing units. This is a decrease of 22.84 percent over last month and 77.61 percent compared with May 2010.

Naples Ranked 7^th Most Coveted by International Buyers.

Here is the Top Ten:

1. Los Angeles

2. New York

3. Cape Coral, Fla.

4. Fort Lauderdale

5. Las Vegas

6. Miami

7. Naples, Fla.

8. San Francisco

9. Fort Myers, Fla.

10. Miami Beach

(Source: Trulia.com)

Naples Area Happenings:

Collier County Florida Leads Nation in Life Expectancy, according to the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, IHME, at the University of Washington in Seattle. Collier women live the longest in the nation, with an average life expectancy of 86, which is better than France, Switzerland and Spain.

SUCCESSFUL MEETINGS HONORS NAPLES BEACH HOTEL

The Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club

(/) received the Pinnacle Award for 2011 from Successful Meetings magazine. This marks the eighth consecutive year the resort has received the honor. The award is given only to hotels and resorts that represent the highest standards of excellence. The award is determined by votes from corporate and association meeting planners. Selections were based on overall service, meeting rooms and equipment, recreation facilities, quality of food and beverage, exhibit space, accessibility and social consciousness. The winning hotels and resorts will be recognized in the August 2011 issue of the magazine.

ACE Group Classic Champions Tour heads to Twin Eagles for its 25^th anniversary. The Champions Tour is part of the PGA providing past stars of the PGA to continue their playing careers once they turn 50 years old. The ACE Group of Companies has been its title sponsor since 1998.

The New Judge S. S. Jolly Bridge to Open by End of June. The old bridge will be for northbound traffic and the new one will handle southbound traffic onto Marco Island. The purpose of the $25.5 million federal stimulus project is to improve traffic flow and capacity.

It’s big, it’s red and it’s rolling in Naples and Fort Myers. RedCoach – a luxury motor coach service – has recently added stops in Southwest Florida.

With daily departures, the company is offering pickup and drop-off services in cities across the state and in Georgia. There are more than a dozen stops including Miami, Naples, Ft. Myers, Orlando, Tampa, Atlanta, Tallahassee, Gainesville, Lake Worth, Fort Lauderdale and Key West. The motor coach has 27 reclining seats, far less than most buses of its size. The seats recline up to 140 degrees and there are foot rests. All our buses have: ALL Leather First Class Seats - Wifi Onboard - 110v Power Outlets Onboard - JUST 27 Seats per Bus - LCD TV Onboard for Movies - Lavatory - GPS Monitoring - Reserved Seating. Besides the wireless Internet, there are power outlets on the motor coach so passengers can plug in their laptops, PDAs and other electronics. Traveling on RedCoach can be 40 to 82 percent cheaper than taking a plane. It departs from McDonald’s restaurant at the intersection of Davis Blvd. & Collier Blvd. Call 1.877.733.0724

Marco Island Maybe the “Most Beautiful” Town in United States. USA Today and Rand McNally sponsor the contest. It will be judged by a panel of travel experts and the Best of the Road* 2011 Rally Teams. Marco Island is one of six towns vying for the title. The winner will be announced on July 22^nd.

The 2012 Naples Winter Wine Festival (NWWF), named “Believe in the Magic,” will take place Jan. 27 to 29 in Naples. The three-day affair for 580 guests has captured national attention for its fundraising prowess and extraordinary auction lots. Under the auction tent, the festival has raised $94.5 million since 2001 for the Naples Children & Education Foundation. Festival ticket prices are $8,500 per couple and $20,000 for reserved seating at the same vintner dinner for two couples. For a schedule of 2012 festivities and information about the Naples Winter Wine Festival, visit www.napleswinefestival.com or call 888-837-4919.

OpenTable.com announces its selection of the “50 Great Outdoor Dining” Restaurants and Naples has 6 Winners!

· Baleen’s

· Campiello’s

· Handsome Harry’s Third Street Bistro

· MiraMare

· Tommy Bahama’s

· The Turtle Club

Two Charter Captain’s in Naples involved with making the movie, “Hangover II” in Thailand. Captain’s Lance & Harry Julian own and operate Cruise Naples at Naples Bay Resort. But that’s not all they do. They have scouted setup and managed some of the most memorable scenes made on water. Their latest adventure had them in Bangkok, Thailand for three months. Captain Lance says they had four major scenes in the movie but the biggest was the final scene. Cruise Naples is located at 1200 Fifth Avenue South, 239-263-4949, www.cruisenaplesflorida.com/

Kids Love Summer Vacation in Florida.

Interested in a summer family vacation without breaking your travel budget? Check out the surprisingly affordable Wii™ Are Family Summer Vacation Package that is being offered by the Hilton Naples Florida Hotel.

The special Wii™ Are Family Summer Vacation Package starts at just $114 per standard room or $229 for a one bedroom suite with a pull out couch in the Parlor. The Hilton Naples Hotel has no hidden costs or resort fees. In addition to accommodations in the beautifully appointed guest rooms, the Wii™ Are Family Summer Vacation Package includes: exclusive access to Wii™ gaming system in your own guestroom, exclusive access to board games in your guestroom, a large pizza on a night of your choice delivered to your room by a Hilton Naples preferred vendor, a Paradise Coast Preferred Pass Access Card which provides values and savings to many local kid friendly attractions. Complimentary garage parking, internet in guest rooms and bicycles are also available for Hilton Naples hotel guests. A complimentary beach package including round trip shuttle, beach chairs, beach towels and bottled water packed in a cooler are available. The Wii™ Are Family Summer Vacation Package is available through September 30, 2011, based on availability. Visit www.hiltonnaples.com/specials.php for details

New Retail

Francesca’s, a women’s apparel, accessories and gift store, has opened at Coastland Center mall. 239-652-5672

Hurley, a youth lifestyle brand rooted in surfing, skating, music and art and featuring men’s and women’s apparel, has opened at Miromar Outlets.

New Restaurants

El Morro Cuban Cuisine has reopened after about a year. It is located in the NE corner of Golden Gate Parkway & Santa Barbara Blvd. It was relocated in the same strip mall to accommodate a new, stand alone, CVS Pharmacy. El Morro Cuban Cuisine floor space has been expanded from 1,400 to more than 5,000 square feet. The revamped restaurant features a new, large menu. View the menu at www.elmorronaples.com/ The new restaurant will feature live shows and karaoke on Friday and Saturday nights. 239-353-4017.

Five Guys Burgers & Fries will open soon at the former Grecian Gardens at 3148 U.S. 41 East. This will be first freestanding Five Guys as the other three Naples locations are in shopping centers.

Fabulous Pita opened at 6434 Naples Blvd. # 404 in the Promenade at Naples Centre. That’s the spot between Moe’s and the former Shane’s Rib Shack. The fast-casual restaurant serves freshly made Middle Eastern, vegetarian and kosher-style food. Not a chain, it is locally owned.

The Olive Garden is being built at Coconut Point Mall. It will employ about 165 people and be about 7,400 square-feet.

Update on Listings, Pending Contracts, and Closed Sales for May, 2011 vs. May 2010:

Bonita Springs & Estero Areas:

Year	2010	2011	Difference
Listings	2,205	1,793	-412
Pending Contracts	167	158	-9
Closed Sales	196	227	+31

Naples Area:

Year	2010	2011	Difference
Listings	7,730	6,271	-1,459
Pending Contracts	528	548	+20
Closed Sales	782	881	+99

Average Days On Market:

May 2010= 165

May 2011= 179

The Naples MLS Area Recorded 881 Closings in May 2011

Distressed Sales Represented 30% of the 881 Closings

Distressed Sales Are Foreclosures and Short Sales

Source: Naples Area Board of Realtors Multiple Listing Service

Naples Area News, Real Estate & Trends

Newsletter-May 2011

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts: Brenda Fioretti, NABOR President, (239) 595-6219

Marcia Albert, NABOR Director of Marketing, (239) 216-4148

BEACH CONDO SALES SHINE

Report Shows Inventory Continues to Drop

NAPLES, Fla.-May 13, 2011- Condo pending sales in the Naples Beach area are leading the way according to a report released by the Naples Area Board of REALTORS® (NABOR), which tracks home listings and sales within Collier County (excluding Marco Island).

“Overall condo pending sales are up 6 percent. The Naples Beach area contributed significantly to the increase with a 43 percent rise in that area of condo pending sales from April 2010 to April 2011,” stated Kathy Zorn, Broker/Owner of Florida Home Realty.

There were 156 contracts in the Naples Beach area in April 2011 compared to 109 contracts in April 2010.

Naples Beach was recently recognized by national media as one of the top five most relaxing beaches in the world. It was the only beach in Florida listed on the “Most Relaxing Beaches” list.

“Overall pending and closed sales in the $2 million and above price range are increasing. Astute buyers recognize that this is a good time to buy in the luxury market,” said Steve Barker, REALTOR® with Amerivest Realty.

Pending sales in the $2 million and above price range increased 9 percent and closed sales increased 35 percent from April 2010 to April 2011.

“Traditional sales, those that are not short sales or foreclosures, continue to climb. They now make up 71 percent of the market, the largest percentage of traditional sales we have seen in two years,” said Jo Carter, President of Jo Carter and Associates.

The April report provides annual comparisons of single-family home and condo sales (via the SunshineMLS), price ranges, geographic segmentation and includes an overall market summary. The statistics are presented in chart format, along with the following analysis:

 For the 12 months ending April 2011, overall pending sales increased 2 percent with 9,839 contracts compared to 9,660 contracts for the 12 months ending April 2010.

 For the 12 months ending April 2011, single-family home sales in the $500,000 to $1 million price range increased 9 percent with 429 sales compared to 392 sales for the 12 months ending April 2010.

 Condo sales increased 7 percent with 1,114 sales in the first quarter of 2011 compared to 1,042 sales in the first quarter of 2010.

 The available inventory decreased 11 percent to 8,214 properties in April 2011, down from 9,239 properties in April 2010.

According to Mike Hughes, Vice-President of Downing-Frye Realty, “This is the first time in four years we have seen the overall inventory decrease to the 8,200 range. This is encouraging.”

To view the entire report, visit www.NaplesArea.com

COLLIER TOURISM UP 3.3 PERCENT IN 2010
The Naples, Marco Island, Everglades Convention and Visitors Bureau (www.paradisecoast.com) reported that visitation rose in 2010 by 3.3 present when compared with 2009. For the first quarter of 2011 tourism visitation is up 6.4 percent compared with the same period in 2010. March occupancy up 7% over last year and visitors are spending more. There were 203,000 visitors in March and contributed nearly $208 million to the local economy.

TPC Treviso Bay Golf & Country Club has a new owner.

It is reported Lennar was the buyer. The TPC golf course is open and we expect to see the Sales Center open again in the near future. It is located on U.S. 41 East in Naples. www.tpctrevisobay.com/

The Passenger Count in April at Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) (www.flylcpa.com) totaled 907,686, an increase of 11.6 percent compared with April 2010. This is the second largest monthly passenger count for April in the airport’s history. Year-to-date, passenger traffic is up 6.1 percent from the same period last year. The traffic leader in April was AirTran with 176,184 passengers traveling to and from Fort Myers. Rounding out the top five airlines were Delta, 165,211; JetBlue, 111,728; Southwest, 102,281; and Continental, 78,840. RSW had 9,998 aircraft movements (takeoffs and landings), an increase of 15.5 percent compared with April 2010. Page Field saw 8,094 movements, a 2.5 percent increase from April 2010.

SAVE THE DATE FOR THE C’MON GRAND DREAM OPENING GALA

The Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples (C’mon) will host a Grand Dream Opening Gala at 6 p.m. on Feb. 11 at the museum. The event will give an exclusive opportunity to explore the interior of the new museum where guests will have the occasion to play, learn and dream, as well as dine and dance at Collier’s much anticipated interactive museum. For more information, contact Shelia Davis at (239) 514-0084 or visit www.cmon.org

New Retail

Bloomingdales Heads to Miromar Outlets This Fall. The discount store will open in September and will be one of only seven in the country. Several tenants will be relocated to make room for the new 25,000-square foot store. It will be on the southwest corner of the mall along Corkscrew Rd.

Germain Takes Over DeVoe Dealerships In Bonita Springs. Germain will add Infiniti, Volvo and Suzuki franchises from DeVoe. Germain already sells Lexus, Toyota, Lincoln, Mercury and Honda.

Walmart is expanding its store at 11225 U.S. 41 N. to a Supercenter. It will be Collier County’s fourth Supercenter. Walmart’s strategy of one-stop-shop is possible at their Supercenters with the addition of groceries.

New Restaurants

Peace Love & Little Donuts is open and it isn’t your ordinary donut shop. It shares space with Wayne’s World BP station on the SW corner of U.S. 41 North & Golden Gate Parkway across the street from Coastland Center Mall. It makes little donuts! The little nuggets are approximately 60% the size of a normal donut. And that’s not all! The batter is different being made from three batters: sour cream, blueberry and devil’s food, your choice. What kind of toppings? The most popular doughnuts are raspberry lemonade and maple bacon doughnut. In total they make 32 different kinds of little doughnuts. 213-0188. Like Them on Facebook

Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches has opened its first Collier County store. It is located in Piper’s Crossing at Immokalee Rd & Airport-Pulling Rd. Jimmy John’s is a chain established nearly 30 years ago with more than 1,000 stores nationwide, including about 40 in Florida. The simple menu is anchored by varieties of 8-inch subs and giant club sandwiches. The shop has its own creations, from JJ Unwich, a low-carb lettuce wrap of any sub or club sandwich without the bun, to the JJ Gargantuan, which features “tons” of Genoa salami, sliced smoked ham, capicola, roast beef, turkey and provolone jammed into a homemade French bun and smothered with onions, mayo, lettuce, tomato and Italian dressing. Sandwiches are made with fresh ingredients and served on bread baked in-house every day. Delivery is available.

Olympia Dining, a Greek, Mediterranean and American restaurant, opened in the former Gemi’s Café at 2800 Davis Blvd. It is open all 3 meals. Call 732-5400.

Update on Listings, Pending Contracts, and Closed Sales for April, 2011 vs. April 2010:

Bonita Springs & Estero Areas:

Year	2010	2011	Difference
Listings	2,235	1,929	-306
Pending Contracts	227	218	-9
Closed Sales	273	317	+44

Naples Area:

Year	2010	2011	Difference
Listings	7,704	6,646	-1,058
Pending Contracts	937	725	-212
Closed Sales	930	938	+8

Average Days On Market:

April 2010= 181

April 2011= 190

The Naples MLS Area Recorded 938 Closings in April 2011

Distressed Sales Represented 28.8%, or 270, of the 938 Closings

Distressed Sales Are Foreclosures and Short Sales

Distressed Sales Have Been Declining the Past Several Months

Source: Naples Area Board of Realtors Multiple Listing Service

Who Hates Lovebugs?

No, we're not talking Disney's Lovebug.

Me, that's who and whole lot of other people too.

It's May in Florida when the temperature is moderate.

But there's something else in the air that's sticky and it isn't the humidity.

All you have to do to gain the Lovebug experience is motor on I-75 in Florida and before you can say OMG, you'll be seeing those pesky critters going SPLAT all over your windshield!

Their fleshy bodies flatten-out when they SPLAT and after a short while you're driving down the ole super-slab at 80 MPH blindfolded!

(Come to think of it, what is the difference between this and texting at 80 MPH, eh?)

Lovebugs can't be that bad, right?

OK, OK, what the heck are they and why do they call them Lovebugs?

Well, Wikipedia says, "The lovebug, Plecia nearctica, is a member of the family of march flies. It is also known as the honeymoon fly, kissingbug or double-headedbug. The adult is a small, flying insect common to parts of Central America and the southeastern United States, especially along the Gulf Coast. During and after mating, adult pairs remain coupled, even in flight, for up to several days."

Like, how bad can they be?

Here's some photographic evidence of Plecia nearcita!

Fortunately, our hate for the little Lovebugs goes away quickly as their life span is brief.

Unfortunately, that leaves we Florida residents driving defensively when Grammy takes the wheel!

Naples Area News, Real Estate & Trends

Newsletter-April 2011

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts: Brenda Fioretti, NABOR President, (239) 595-6219

Marcia Albert, NABOR Director of Marketing, (239) 216-4148

INVENTORY DECLINES EIGHT PERCENT

Report Shows Median Closed Price for Properties over $300,000 Increases

NAPLES, Fla.-April 15, 2011- Inventory continues on a downward trend according to a report released by the Naples Area Board of REALTORS® (NABOR), which tracks home listings and sales within Collier County (excluding Marco Island).

The available inventory declined to 8,762 available properties in the first quarter of 2011 down from 9,557 in the first quarter of 2010.

“The decline in inventory is a result of the slowing pace of properties coming to the market and the current inventory selling more rapidly,” stated Phil Wood, President of John R. Wood REALTORS®.

“Over the past three years, the months of inventory in the Naples area has continued to decline. In March of 2008 we had just under 38 months of inventory on the market for sale, and today we are hovering in a much healthier range of 12 months of inventory,” said Tom Bringardner, President/CEO of Premier Commercial, Inc.

The median closed price for properties over $300,000 increased to $575,000 in the first quarter of 2010 up from $525,000 in the first quarter of 2010.

“For properties over $300,000, the median closed price jumped 10 percent from quarter to quarter and 5 percent for the 12 months ending March 2011. Pending sale statistics suggest the median closed price will continue to climb,” said John Steinwand, President of Naples Realty Services.

The first quarter report provides annual comparisons of single-family home and condo sales (via the SunshineMLS), price ranges, geographic segmentation and includes an overall market summary. The statistics are presented in chart format, along with the following analysis:

 Overall pending sales saw an 8 percent increase, with 3,630 contracts in the first quarter of 2011 compared to 3,346 contracts in the first quarter of 2010.

 Single-family pending sales increased 6 percent with 1,763 contracts in the first quarter of 2011 compared to 1,667 contracts in the first quarter of 2010.

 Condo sales increased 7 percent with 1,114 sales in the first quarter of 2011 compared to 1,042 sales in the first quarter of 2010.

According to Mike Hughes, Vice-President of Downing-Frye Realty, “We may be seeing a glimpse of the kind of year 2011 will be. The statistics are encouraging and the sales activity continues to remain high.”

The March report provides annual comparisons of single-family home and condo sales (via the SunshineMLS), price ranges, geographic segmentation and includes an overall market summary. The statistics are presented in chart format, along with the following analysis:

 Overall home sales increased 5 percent to 936 sales in March 2011 compared to 890 sales in March 2010.

 Overall single-family pending sales saw a 6 percent increase, with 732 in March 2011 compared to 689 in March 2010.

 Condo sales saw a 17 percent increase with 525 sales in March 2011 compared to 447 sales in March 2010.

To view the entire report, visit www.NaplesArea.com

Collier County Florida retained its healthiest county ranking for second year in a row.

This number 1 ranking is attributed to the county’s lifestyle and improved access to medical care, according to an analysis by a leading private philanthropic organization. Lee County experienced a two-place drop to 23 among the state’s 67 counties.

Collier County Tourism up 4.3% in February over same month last year. The county saw nearly 162,000 visitors last month. Hotel occupancy rose 2.7%, while the average daily rate grew by 1.4% according to a monthly report by Research Data Services, Inc.

Nearly 51,000 visitors came from the Northeastern state, up more than 11 % from a year ago. Meanwhile, visitation from the Southeast increased 20.8% to 10,685. The county also saw more visitors from the Midwest, nearly 33,000, up 0.4% from a year ago. Visitation from Canada fell 26.1%, and it was down 14% from Europe.

JetBlue Airlines buys naming right to Red Sox’s spring home. JetBlue airlines, is the official airlines of the Boston Red Sox. The new spring training facility will be called, “JetBlue Park.”

Aalborg, Denmark, Nonstop service to SW Florida International airport begins 6/21st for five weeks. Flights every Tuesday operated by Comfly.

RSW MARCH PASSENGER TRAFFIC

The March passenger count at Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) (www.flylcpa.com) was 1,073,556, an increase of 7.7 percent compared with March 2010. This is the second-largest monthly passenger count in the airport’s history and the fourth time the airport has exceeded one million passengers in a month.

Island Walk Takes Top Home Honors. Island Walk community in North Naples received top honors in the 2011 Florida Communities of Excellence. It has 1,856 residences on 705 acres. It was a three category finalist, “Family Friendly Programs & Initiatives.”

New Retail

4 New Retail Stores Open in Gulf Coast Town Center Mall

· Forema Boutique-offers unique clothing, Big Budda handbags and accessories and is located by Zumierz.

· Mini’s Puppies Boutique & Grooming-offers select breeds including mini English bulldogs and teacup Chihuahuas. Located by Hallmark

· All That Glitz-sells fashion jewelry at up to 80 percent below retail prices. Accessories include fashion sunglasses, belts, scarves, handbags and wallets. Located next to Belks Department Store

· V Boutique- sells junior, missy & women’s special occasion and ready-to-wear fashions as well as makeup, hair services, handbags, accessories and gift items. . Located between St. Johns Outlet and Kilwin’s Chocolates.

New Restaurants

Yogen Früz-operates 1,200 stores in 25 countries. It sells frozen yogurt and smoothies. It is located next to Moe’s Southwest Grill

Update on Listings, Pending Contracts, and Closed Sales for March, 2011 vs. March 2010:

Bonita Springs & Estero Areas:

Year	2010	2011	Difference
Listings	2,336	2,047	-289
Pending Contracts	274	316	+42
Closed Sales	226	283	+57

Naples Area:

Year	2010	2011	Difference
Listings	7,961	7,156	-805
Pending Contracts	991	1,022	+31
Closed Sales	858	950	+92

Average Days On Market:

First Quarter 2010=172

First Quarter 2011=168

Source: Naples Area Board of Realtors Multiple Listing Service