Golf and Gulf Estates

Residential fires take their toll every day and year, in lost lives, injuries, and destroyed property. According to the National Fire Protection Association, a home structure fire was reported every 86 seconds in the U.S. in 2014. Taking the time for some simple precautions, preventive inspections and concrete planning can help prevent fires in the home and can save lives should disaster strike.

• All electrical devices including lamps, appliances, and electronics should be checked for frayed cords, loose or broken plugs and exposed wiring. Never run electrical wires, including extension cords under carpet or rugs as this creates a fire hazard.
• Fireplaces should be checked by a professional chimney sweep each year and cleaned if necessary to prevent a dangerous buildup of creosote. Cresote can cause a flash fire in the chimney. Cracks in masonry chimneys should be repaired and spark arresters inspected to ensure they are in good condition and free of debris.
• When using space heaters, keep them away from beds and bedding, curtains & papers (anything flammable.) Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for use. Space heaters should not be left unattended or where a child or pet could knock them over.
• Use smoke detectors with fresh batteries unless they are hard-wired to your home’s electrical system. Smoke detectors should be installed high on walls or on ceilings on every level of the home, inside each bedroom and outside every sleeping area. Statistics show that nearly 60% of home fire fatalities occur in homes without working smoke alarms. Most municipalities now require the use of working smoke detectors in both single and multi-family residences.
• Children should not have access to or be allowed to play with matches, lighters, or candles. Flammable materials such as gasoline, kerosene or propane should always be stored outside and away from the house.
• Kitchen fires know no season. Grease spills, items left unattended on the stove or in the oven and food left in toasters or toaster ovens can catch fire quickly. Don’t wear loose fitting clothing, especially with long sleeves around the stove. Handles of pots and pans should be turned away from the front of the stove to prevent accidental contact. Keep all-purpose fire extinguisher within easy reach. Extinguishers specifically formulated for grease and cooking fuel fires are available and can supplement an all-purpose extinguisher.
• Have an escape plan. This is one of the most important measures to prevent death in a fire. Visit ready.gov for detailed information on how to make a plan. Local fire departments can also provide recommendations on escape planning and preparedness. In addition, all family members should know how to dial 911 in case of a fire or other emergency.
• Live Christmas trees should be kept in a water-filled stand and checked daily for dehydration. Needles should not easily break off a freshly-cut tree. Brown needles or lots of fallen needles indicate a dangerously dried-out tree which should be discarded immediately. Always use nonflammable decorations in the home, and never use lights on a dried-out tree.
• Candles add a festive feeling and should be placed in stable holders located away from curtains, drafts, pets and children. Never leave candles unattended even for a short time.
• Holiday lights should be checked for fraying or broken wires and plugs. Follow the manufacturer’s guidelines when joining two or more strands together as a fire hazard could result from overload. Enjoy indoor holiday lighting only while someone is home and turn them off before going to bed at night.

Buying a home can be an arduous process. Following this list of items before closing will make your move more manageable.

1. Book movers
Whether you want to hire a professional moving company, or just rent a truck and do the work yourself, make sure you book them as soon as you know your closing date. You don’t want to be stuck trying to find a friend with a pick-up truck at the last minute.

2. Call a locksmith
Of course you’re excited to get the keys to your new house, but you don’t know how many copies of the key the previous owners handed out to friends, family and neighbors. Make sure to book the locksmith as close to your move-in date as possible, so it’s one less thing you’re stressing about the first night in your new home.

3. Switch utilities over
This one is easy to forget about! Gas, electric and cable all need to be switched over to your new home. Be sure to make the calls at least two weeks ahead of time to play it safe.

4. Transfer home services
If you hire out any home maintenance services such as housecleaning, lawn mowing or snow shoveling, make sure to call each one to make sure they have your new address. You wouldn’t want them showing up to find that you’ve moved and have to still pay for the service at your old residence.

5. Hire babysitter/pet sitter
You likely won’t want to deal with unhappy children or a wandering dog on closing day. Consider leaving your kids and pets with a babysitter, friend or relative for a few days (ideally, during the actual move as well) so they can come home to a somewhat unpacked new place with their new sleeping areas already set up.

6. Start hoarding takeout menus
Chances are your kitchen won’t be unpacked enough to cook in your first few nights in your new home. Be sure to drive through your soon-to-be new neighborhood and collect up-to-date menus from local pizza, deli and any other delicious-looking takeout spots ahead of your move.

7. Clear your calendar
Closing day is not something to take lightly. Make sure your calendar is cleared of meetings and let your co-workers know that you might not be readily available. Make sure your phone is fully charged in case the closing lasts a few hours. If it’s a quick and painless closing, you’ll be happy your phone is charged to snap a celebratory “Got the keys!” pic for Instagram.

For the past few years, oil towns have dominated the ranks of the fastest-growing economies in America. Now that the energy boom is fading, a new leader is emerging: Retirement communities in Florida that are buoyed by a surge in baby boomers.

Naples, Florida, topped the list of metropolitan areas that are expected to see the most economic growth next year, according to an analysis of data in a new report from the U.S. Conference of Mayors prepared by IHS Global Insight. The economy there will grow 4.9 percent in 2016, according to the forecasts. The Villages, a sprawling senior community that has already been the fastest-growing city by population for two straight years, ranked third. The map below shows how metro areas in Florida made up half of the top 18 performers.

In 2014, the front runners consisted of mostly energy patch areas, many of which will probably end up as some of the worst-performing economies next year. Nowhere is the shift clearer than in Midland, Texas, which saw the best economic growth in the country in 2014 (11.9 percent) according to the report’s data.  The expectation is that it will rank dead last (3.2 percent contraction) in forecasts for 2016. Other areas that are also expected to struggle include Midland’s neighbor Odessa and Casper, Wyoming.

With these previous oil and gas hubs tumbling down the ranks, it makes room for Florida’s metro economies to take their places at the top of the list in 2016.

Other metropolitan areas slated for growth in 2016 include greater San Jose, California, which makes up the heart of Silicon Valley; Austin, Texas; and Provo, Utah.

— With Wei Lu.

Overall activity in the Naples area real estate market across all price categories remains steady, according to the First Quarter 2015 Market Report released by the Naples Area Board of REALTORS® (NABOR®), which tracks home listings and sales within Collier County (excluding Marco Island). Most notable in the report was the $300,000 – $500,000 price category for condominiums in which the overall closed and pending sales increased by double digits in the first quarter of 2015. Statistics show a recent shift in buyer focus from single-family homes to condominiums.

Broker analysts reviewing the First Quarter 2015 Market Report agree that a new trend may be emerging, as the report showed condominiums outperforming single-family home sales. As such, these analysts predict condominiums will see continued rise in activity moving into summer.

Looking for Naples Condos for Sale? Contact Christina Fischer today at 239.770.0007 and Christina@GolfandGulfestates.com!

As typically seen during the first three months of the year, cash sales are on the rise. In January, the 394 cash sales reported accounted for 70 percent of home sales transactions in the Naples area. The report also showed sales of foreclosed homes in January were at their lowest – 64 – since NABOR® began reporting home sales activity in July 2009 when foreclosures numbered 240. “Activity in the luxury home market continues to be the most impressive,” said a managing broker at a local brokerage house. According to the report, pending sales, based on signed real estate contracts, for single family homes in the $1 to $2 million category increased 53 percent from 36 pending sales in January 2014 to 55 in January 2015, while in the same price category in the condominium market, pending sales decreased 22 percent from 36 in January 2014 to 28 pending sales in January 2015. Not surprisingly, the inventory for condominiums in this $1 million to $2 million category had the largest decline too at 26 percent.

Looking for luxury golf and waterfront properties in Naples and Bonita Springs, FL? Contact Christina Fischer today!