Article in new Homes and Land magazne:
IT SOUNDED ALMOST COMICAL ...
by Marlene Smith-Graham
It sounded almost comical. Not so many months ago, this writer/real estate purveyor was called up to do an interview with WINK-TV about the U.S. Conference of Mayors Report which announced that as a result of all the knowledge imparted by some 360-plus mayors regarding their respective locales, Naples was expected to be number one in America for job growth. Are you joshing me? Naples? Job growth? (I would use “kidding”, but haven’t used “joshing” in a while which incidentally has a great historical story behind it from the 1800s.)
A quick internet search for USA Today showed, nope not joking, or kidding, or joshing.
Well the TV interview came and went, not much happened on Facebook, or in the local media in general, and so now came the thought that perhaps it was an aberration, a mistake, but at the very least Naples and Southwest Florida got a skosh of publicity out of it. That coupled with Bonita/Estero being highly touted a year earlier on the cover of “Where to Retire” magazine, and Hertz recently making Estero a world headquarters -- and what the hay – our media meter was running okay.
Add to that, recently run reports echoing the articles of 2003 or so naming us among the top places in America to appreciate; and Delnor-Wiggins and Barefoot Beach being named by Dr. Beach – whoever the heck that is – as two of the top ten beaches in America and wow, way cool, double cool! Once again, Southwest Florida in general was living up to its reversed version of the historic rule: What goes down, must go up. (As long as we aren’t talking stocks.) And if the “jobs thing” was an overstatement, so be it.
Then suddenly just days ago, we learned through the media and on-line that what we thought we basically already knew, but that had been largely ignored locally, and therefore must not be so true, was now being re-proclaimed with one Forbes headline: Naples, Austin Head List of Cities for Job Growth.
There it was again! But honestly it’s not like we really needed the sudden media anointing (as written by a true former member of the mainstream media). The fact is that Homes & Land and those of us who work the trenches in real estate everyday have known this all along. But it’s nice to have others reassured that we know what we are talking about.
The most excellent news, though, is when a place has “predicted” job growth, real or perceived, appreciation comes right along, as does enthusiasm, vibrancy, and the unearthing of future structures for the ages; and so, yes, right now in regard to the latter, it is time to once again point out the obvious: There is a boatload of new construction going on in the area.
From Treviso Bay, to Canopy, to Esplanade, to Naples Square, to Raffia Preserve, to Mangrove Bay and earlier player, Riverstone, and leftover players from the heyday now wrapping up and doing well, Lely Resort (the builders of which -- Stock Realty -- currently participate in an number of neighborhoods other than their own) and Veronawalk (with Pulte now launching their new game, Winding Cypress) and new Canadian player Minto (new to our area anyway) with their Isles of Collier Preserve, Southwest Florida real estate is getting more than interesting again.
The unearthing of these newest players, however, has taken awhile and so with demand up and inventory down, the re-sale market of more established neighborhoods has been storming upward from our approximately “January of 2011” bottom.
And as you continue or decide to participate in all this excitement, keep in mind while reading this article and other articles that new chapters are written every day. “New news” can be “older news” meaning “buyers” have less time to “think about it,” and more of an incentive to pick the brains of those in the trenches, your hard-working Realtor. The dance has started. Time to get your fancy shoes on and pick a partner. Have an agent you are currently working with – or are thinking about getting a new agent, or buying in a new community? (And, by the way, you can use an agent beneficially for that as well.) Well, stop thinking and start acting.
And for those geared to not trust the media or real estate agents who have a vested interest in proclaiming such messages, all of which is very understandable, keep this tale in mind: When the most skeptical of the skeptical (the accountants and economists) start buying, which if you do some research and you know the names, you will find is the case, you can be assured you’ve already missed the boat.
But wait, wait, wait, don’t throw away the oars. It’s actually okay to miss the earlier, smaller boat because ofttimes such rides tend to be boring and solitary, not to mention fraught with fear-generating waves destined to take their measure in Dramamine.
What is important is to not miss the cruise ship currently taking reservations to the great life of Southwest Florida. Extra port charges for not being an early bird will be softened by the more relaxed attitude of knowing the destination and direction of the cruise, and pulling away from the crowd of “Nervous Nellies” still at the dock waving you onward to your new and exciting adventure.
Editor’s Note: Marlene Graham is the author of the book “Headfirst Into America” about her family’s year-long travels through all 50 states, and a longtime journalist and noted travel writer. She is also the owner of Tropics Real Estate on 5th Ave. in Naples and has appeared on HGTV’s House Hunters show. As space permits, she will be bringing us future articles relating to both real estate and local travel and tourism. If you have suggestions for future articles or questions, you may contact her at marlenegraham@earthlink.net
IT SOUNDED ALMOST COMICAL ...
by Marlene Smith-Graham
It sounded almost comical. Not so many months ago, this writer/real estate purveyor was called up to do an interview with WINK-TV about the U.S. Conference of Mayors Report which announced that as a result of all the knowledge imparted by some 360-plus mayors regarding their respective locales, Naples was expected to be number one in America for job growth. Are you joshing me? Naples? Job growth? (I would use “kidding”, but haven’t used “joshing” in a while which incidentally has a great historical story behind it from the 1800s.)
A quick internet search for USA Today showed, nope not joking, or kidding, or joshing.
Well the TV interview came and went, not much happened on Facebook, or in the local media in general, and so now came the thought that perhaps it was an aberration, a mistake, but at the very least Naples and Southwest Florida got a skosh of publicity out of it. That coupled with Bonita/Estero being highly touted a year earlier on the cover of “Where to Retire” magazine, and Hertz recently making Estero a world headquarters -- and what the hay – our media meter was running okay.
Add to that, recently run reports echoing the articles of 2003 or so naming us among the top places in America to appreciate; and Delnor-Wiggins and Barefoot Beach being named by Dr. Beach – whoever the heck that is – as two of the top ten beaches in America and wow, way cool, double cool! Once again, Southwest Florida in general was living up to its reversed version of the historic rule: What goes down, must go up. (As long as we aren’t talking stocks.) And if the “jobs thing” was an overstatement, so be it.
Then suddenly just days ago, we learned through the media and on-line that what we thought we basically already knew, but that had been largely ignored locally, and therefore must not be so true, was now being re-proclaimed with one Forbes headline: Naples, Austin Head List of Cities for Job Growth.
There it was again! But honestly it’s not like we really needed the sudden media anointing (as written by a true former member of the mainstream media). The fact is that Homes & Land and those of us who work the trenches in real estate everyday have known this all along. But it’s nice to have others reassured that we know what we are talking about.
The most excellent news, though, is when a place has “predicted” job growth, real or perceived, appreciation comes right along, as does enthusiasm, vibrancy, and the unearthing of future structures for the ages; and so, yes, right now in regard to the latter, it is time to once again point out the obvious: There is a boatload of new construction going on in the area.
From Treviso Bay, to Canopy, to Esplanade, to Naples Square, to Raffia Preserve, to Mangrove Bay and earlier player, Riverstone, and leftover players from the heyday now wrapping up and doing well, Lely Resort (the builders of which -- Stock Realty -- currently participate in an number of neighborhoods other than their own) and Veronawalk (with Pulte now launching their new game, Winding Cypress) and new Canadian player Minto (new to our area anyway) with their Isles of Collier Preserve, Southwest Florida real estate is getting more than interesting again.
The unearthing of these newest players, however, has taken awhile and so with demand up and inventory down, the re-sale market of more established neighborhoods has been storming upward from our approximately “January of 2011” bottom.
And as you continue or decide to participate in all this excitement, keep in mind while reading this article and other articles that new chapters are written every day. “New news” can be “older news” meaning “buyers” have less time to “think about it,” and more of an incentive to pick the brains of those in the trenches, your hard-working Realtor. The dance has started. Time to get your fancy shoes on and pick a partner. Have an agent you are currently working with – or are thinking about getting a new agent, or buying in a new community? (And, by the way, you can use an agent beneficially for that as well.) Well, stop thinking and start acting.
And for those geared to not trust the media or real estate agents who have a vested interest in proclaiming such messages, all of which is very understandable, keep this tale in mind: When the most skeptical of the skeptical (the accountants and economists) start buying, which if you do some research and you know the names, you will find is the case, you can be assured you’ve already missed the boat.
But wait, wait, wait, don’t throw away the oars. It’s actually okay to miss the earlier, smaller boat because ofttimes such rides tend to be boring and solitary, not to mention fraught with fear-generating waves destined to take their measure in Dramamine.
What is important is to not miss the cruise ship currently taking reservations to the great life of Southwest Florida. Extra port charges for not being an early bird will be softened by the more relaxed attitude of knowing the destination and direction of the cruise, and pulling away from the crowd of “Nervous Nellies” still at the dock waving you onward to your new and exciting adventure.
Editor’s Note: Marlene Graham is the author of the book “Headfirst Into America” about her family’s year-long travels through all 50 states, and a longtime journalist and noted travel writer. She is also the owner of Tropics Real Estate on 5th Ave. in Naples and has appeared on HGTV’s House Hunters show. As space permits, she will be bringing us future articles relating to both real estate and local travel and tourism. If you have suggestions for future articles or questions, you may contact her at marlenegraham@earthlink.net
