June 15, 2009

• Home Sales Up In Collier County

  Report Shows 10 Percent Inventory Reduction
  NAPLES, Fla.-June 12, 2009- May home sales in all Naples geographic areas showed a substantial increase over 2008, according to a report released by the Naples Area Board of REALTORS
  ® (NABOR). The report, tracks home listings and sales within Collier County (excluding Marco Island).
  Overall pending home sales in the greater [...]

April 29, 2009

• 19th Annual Taste of Marco Huge Success!

  This past weekend a who’s who of Marco Island eateries provided grazing-sized portions of some of their most special dishes. Food vendors hustled to keep up with demand, and all proceeds benefited the Marco Island YMCA. Longtime Marco Island entertainer Miles Loud took the stage, providing vocals of hits from the 50’s and 60’s. Loud [...]

March 1, 2009

• Naples Residential Sales up 41%!!

  It looks like the worst is over for the Naples real estate market. Based on the following numbers, our market has significantly improved, which is positive news for buyers who may be sitting on the fence, waiting for the market to bottom out.
   
  The following represents the number of closings reported in MLS as of 2/28/2009:
  Residential: [...]

February 16, 2009

• Naples Real Estate Sales Increase Dramatically in January

  In January 2009, the highest number of pending sales since 2005 was reported in a report released by the Naples Area Board of REALTORS ® (NABOR), which tracks home listings and sales within Collier County (excluding Marco Island). Overall pending sales, which are a key indicator of buyer activity, increased 85 percent year-to-date in January [...]

• Naples Happenings and Business

  Tastings—A Wine Experience in Gulf Coast Town Center gets my vote for the current under-the-radar gem. This is a popular meeting spot for everyone from college students to faculty members, wine aficionados to young professionals. Hidden behind Miller’s Ale House, it’s a quiet sophisticated oasis, with very good food, priced right!
   
  Proprietor Jennifer Wadsworth is friendly [...]

• The Fallout of America's Buying Binge

  For many consumers, the jig is up. After years of supersizing our houses, cars, meals and closets, Americans’ buying binge seems to be over. Hung-over and remorseful consumers’ overindulgent days may be behind them. Personal consumption this year might fall to levels not seen since 1942, some economists predict. Personal savings are on the rise, [...]

January 30, 2009

• Consumer Confidence In Florida

  Consumer confidence among Floridians inched up one point to 68 in January despite worse than expected holiday retail sales and the state being tied for 10th place in the percentage of unemployed workers, a new University of Florida study finds.
  The makeup of the results was quite different from last month, with perhaps the biggest change [...]

January 13, 2009

• Famous Murano Glass Creations Store Opens On 5th Avenue In Naples

   
  A love of Venice and the glasswork created by the artisans of that region was the inspiration for the opening of Murano Glass Creations located on famous 5th Avenue South in Naples.  Murano Glass  Creations aspires to offer the treasures of Venezia to Naples glass collectors, interior designers, luxury real estate agents, general public.
  The Murano Glass [...]

January 7, 2009

• Downing Frye Realty Takes Top Honors

  Downing-Frye Realty, Inc. takes top honors for the most sales in Naples for the 9th straight year!!
  According to Mike Hughes, managing broker, the Naples Broker market share report for 2008 shows that once again, Downing-Frye has closed the most transactional sides of all the local offices. Congratulations to all of the dedicated agents who have [...]

January 5, 2009

• Naples City Council Plans to Overhaul 5th Avenue Lighting

  Naples City Council informed Fifth Avenue South business owners, that an overhaul of the downtown lighting system would be a priority for them  in the coming year.
  But when those lights will be installed, and how much it will cost the city, is up in the air.
  The street, Community Redevelopment Director Russ Adams said, is dark, especially [...]

December 22, 2008

• NAMB Sues HUD Over RESPA Final Rule

  The National Association of Mortgage Brokers (NAMB) filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) after it issued the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) Final Rule issued November 17, 2008.
  NAMB, with the support of Baker & Hostetler LLP and the Federal Policy Group, argues that the Final Rule [...]

December 8, 2008

• Central Florida Industrial Construction Up 19.4%

   Construction of new industrial projects has been the most active sector in the local commercial real estate industry lately, but the sector is expected to slow next year.
  Nearly 1.66 million square feet of industrial space, which includes warehouse and distribution centers, was built in Central Florida during the first nine months this year. That’s 19.4 [...]

November 29, 2008

• Naples Business Markets Water Bottles Made from Plants

  It seems green is everywhere.
  Hotels, cars, restaurants. They’re all “going green,” and becoming more eco-friendly.
  But what about those water bottles you drink out of every day? Most end up in the landfill, where they take 700 years to even start breaking down.
  Keystone Water Co. LLC,, a water bottler headquartered in Naples, hopes to help douse [...]

November 23, 2008

• Vance Publishing Expands Business with Naples based MediaBrains

  Magazine publisher Vance Publishing has expanded its relationship with Naples-based MediaBrains, business-to-business online directory advertiser.
   MediaBrains will build and manage the Online Industry Directory for the publisher’s Furniture Style title. The companies had previously worked together on the Modern Salon magazine.
  The directory is an online buyer’s guide that provides a comprehensive list of products and services. [...]

November 20, 2008

• Naples City Council Approves New Art Gallery

  There will be music with art.
  Naples City Council this morning approved a live entertainment permit for Six Degrees Exhibition, a new art gallery at 1100 Sixth Ave. S. The permit will allow the gallery to have up to three performers to play indoors from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. The performances are [...]

November 6, 2008

• Serefex Corp. in Naples drops off Nasdaq’s OTC Bulletin Board

  Serefex Corp. in Naples will no longer trade on Nasdaq’s Over-the-Counter Bulletin Board.
  With its subsidiary, W.P. Hickman Systems Inc., filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, the company has moved to the pink sheets and will trade under the symbol SFXC.pk.
  In a statement, Serefex President Brian Dunn encouraged shareholders to visit the company’s Web site at [...]

November 3, 2008

• Nordstrom's to Open at Waterside Friday

  Mannequins got dressed up, display shelves got drilled and walls got dabs of paint as construction workers and employees scurried to put the finishing touches on Nordstrom’s first store in Naples on Monday.
  The two-story, 77,000 square foot store — set to open on Friday — may be smaller than usual. But there’s no shortage of [...]

October 28, 2008

• Naples Alliance of Local Restaurant Owners

  There’s no doubt that finding a restaurant with the owner in the kitchen or at the door will likely result in a delicious meal and a pleasing environment.
  There’s just no substitute for an on-site owner who cares about the food he or she is serving and making sure the patrons are being treated in the [...]

June 24, 2008

• Naples Florida Estates Fire Fund Raiser on June 28, 2008

  Please join us for this special event to raise funds for the unfortunate families who lost their homes in the Estates fire. The cost is just $20.00 per person and includes food, beer or wine and entertainment. It will be held at 2555 Tamiami Trail. To learn more about this affair, please call 239-263-7254.

June 4, 2008

• Luxury Hotels Offer Fun and Unique Perks and Packages to Attract High-End Guests

  More hotels are offering new amenities beyond the complimentary shampoo bottles, chocolates on the pillow, wine and fruit baskets in an effort to appeal to business and leisure travelers. Check out some of the exciting packages now available:
   

  Last year the Ritz Carlton entered into an agreement with DaimlerChrysler’s Mercedes-Benz, in which guests are allowed the [...]