Tuesday, February 28, 2017

BAYFRONT OF NAPLES NEW CONSTRUCTION LAUNCH PARTY


BayFront of Naples 

NEW CONSTRUCTION LAUNCH PARTY IS MARCH 2ND, 2017 FROM 5-7PM AT 492 BAYFRONT PLACE

Come join us for cocktails and appetizers and learn about the project! 
Call Mike Shoaff at 239-298-9903 to  RSVP.

Available Residences Starting At $995,000 Up To 1.3m +


Bayfront Condo Sales


Find more condo sales in BayFront at http://www.napleshomesearcher.com/


When you're ready to start your search for your dream home in Naples Florida contact Mike Shoaff @ RE/MAX - Voted Top 10 Realtors in Naples, Fl





Collier County ranked No. 6 on a national list of the "Best Places to Get a Mortgage."

SmartAsset, a New York financial technology firm, did the study and rankings, based on four factors:
·         overall borrowing costs;
·       -   ease of securing a mortgage;
·        -  cheap property taxes;
·         - low annual mortgage payments.

It was the third year for the study.

"This is the first time Collier County has made the national Top 10. However, this is the third year in a row they have ranked in the Top 10 for Florida," said A.J. Smith, personal finance expert and vice president of content at SmartAsset.

Collier ranked eighth in Florida in 2016 and fourth in both 2015 and this year.
"Collier County's ranking was likely helped by the fact that they outperformed the national averages in each of the study's categories," Smith said.
SmartAsset bases its rankings on $200,000 loan after a 20 percent down payment, Smith said.
SmartAsset looks at expected costs over the first five years of the mortgage.
The ease of getting a mortgage is determined by comparing the ratio of mortgage applications to mortgage originations in each county.
Annual mortgage payments are based on the average mortgage rates in each county.
Based on those criteria Collier County had a loan funding rate of more than 61 percent, five-year borrowing costs of $77,755, annual property taxes of $9,920 and an annual mortgage payment of $14,639.
With home prices rising, Collier County has a shortage of homes under $300,000, so the quoted costs for a mortgage and property taxes might differ widely from the information generated by SmartAsset.  Also, the county sees a lot of cash buyers.
Florida counties were well-represented on this year's list:
» Sumter County is the top-ranked spot to get a mortgage in the U.S., beating the national averages in every category.
» Three Panhandle counties are in the top 10 nationally: Walton, second; Okaloosa, fourth; and Santa Rosa, eighth.
» Indian River County cracked the national list at No. 10.
Lee County ranked 15th in Florida and 32nd in the U.S.
More information on the study can be found at smartasset.com/mortgage/mortgage-rates?year=2017#us.

BEST PLACES TO GET A MORTGAGE 

Rank     County                     Loan funding    5-year borrowing    Property tax    Annual mortgage                                                                      rate                         costs                                           payment
1         Sumter, Fla.                 71.58%                 $77,755               $12,615            $14,639
2         Walton, Fla.                 60.97%                 $77,755                $ 7,156            $14,639
3         Jackson, Mo.               65.05%                 $76,189               $18,131            $14,857
4         Okaloosa, Fla.             61.75%                 $77,755                $ 9,665            $14,639
5         San Mateo, Calif.         67.92%               $77,171                  $ 9,085            $14,688
6         Collier, Fla.                  61.31%                $77,755                  $ 9,920            $14,639                  
7         San Francisco, Calif.   66.61%                $77,171                  $ 8,842            $14,688
8         Santa Rosa, Fla.         60.67%                $77,755                  $10,213            $14,639
9         Washington, Ore.        67.35%               $76,700                   $15,292            $14,830 
10       Indian River                 62.36%               $77,755                   $11,749            $14,639
           Nationwide                  57.89%               $77,762                   $13,744            $14,808
Source: SmartAsset
Search for your Naples Home or Condo visit: http://www.napleshomesearcher.com

Monday, February 27, 2017

Fort Myers vs. Naples: Whose Nightlife Is Better?

BY JUSTIN PAPROCKI AND STEPHANIE DAVIS | PHOTOGRAPHY BY REAGAN RULE | Gulf Shore Life
Were in Southwest Florida we tend to stick close to home when it comes to a night out. Naples people stay in Naples. Fort Myers people stay in Fort Myers. This creates a certain rivalry between the two. You’re either a Fort Myers person or a Naples person. So that got us thinking: Putting all allegiances aside, where is the best nightlife, exactly?
We dispatched two writers to answer that question. Stephanie Davis is known as the Downtown Diva in Fort Myers. Senior Editor Justin Paprocki haunts Mercato, Third Street South and everything in between. The catch: Neither really visits the other city that often.
So, we sent the two on a night out in each city. Here’s what they found.

Naples

A night out in Naples feels a little different from a night out in a lot of other cities. Afterall, there aren’t that many places where you can play luxury car bingo on an otherwise low-key November night. (Lamborghini? Got it. Porsche? Got it. Bentley? Bingo!) But don’t get too wrapped up in stereotypes. Yes, there’s a lot of wealth here. Yes, it gets flaunted. But look beyond the glitz and glam and you’ll find some great little bars and eateries that will make for an excellent night out.
For our nightlife adventure, we planned on hopping around a bit in Naples. Unfortunately, the hot spots are spread fairly far apart. Alas—if you’re barhopping in Naples, best to bring a DD (or download the Uber app).

Blue Martini, Mercato

JP: We started the night at Blue Martini because of its great happy hour. It’s half off all drinks from 4-8 p.m. daily. We got there and the dinner crowd had hogged the back patio. Luckily, the bar area was fairly free. The feel is definitely lounge-like—low lighting and an extensive cocktail list. Later on, it would be crowded—which is great if you’re single and looking to mingle. Neither of us is in that particular demographic anymore, so we scooted before the band started on the stage right behind the bar.
The nice thing about Mercato is that if you’re not into the scene in one bar, another is just steps away. Burn by Rocky Patel is a cigar bar with a great cocktail menu. TAPS is a nice place for craft beer and apps. The list goes on. Just be prepared to struggle to find parking, especially in season.
SD: I’ve been to Mercato two or three times since it opened, and while I enjoy the variety, I can never completely forget the fact that, technically, I’m visiting a shopping center. Not only that, if you’ve got a million dollars (give or take), you can actually live at Mercato. It’s like a manufactured town with a parking garage. That said, if I lived there, I’d never leave. I’d wake up at noon, slip down to one of the eateries under my condo for mimosas, then get my nails done at the salon, do some shopping, then go to happy hour, dinner, the movies, dancing, and then get back on the elevator to go to bed. My liver and my wallet would likely take a beating, but it could be a fun change of pace. During our recent visit, Blue Martini was a fine spot to start the evening, and since it was early-ish, there was an older demographic enjoying the half-price happy hour. Even at 6 p.m., the atmosphere was festive.

Paradise Wine, Paragon Pavilion

JP: Across the way from Mercato is another burgeoning hot spot. Paradise Wine just opened a little more than a year ago and right alongside came Inca’s Kitchen and Tacos & Tequila. It’s a great spot to grab dinner at one place then a drink at another.
What makes Paradise Wine unique is its setup. It’s a bar with a full-scale wine shop inside. Pick out a wine and the bartender will open it for you without a corkage fee. The vibe is laid-back. Most people were gathered outside this night, relaxing on the comfy sofas and chairs. Inside, The Mark Vee Band was playing and couples were up dancing. We chose to sit outside at the bar for a glass of wine but could have easily grabbed a table inside to watch the festivities.
SD: Not only can you drink, you can shop for wine, beer and liquor—Paradise Wine sounded like paradise, indeed! This was my first visit, and although it too was in a shopping center/strip mall, I warmed to it fairly fast. I found more variety in the clientele than at Blue Martini—I saw a couple with a stroller, some more mature folks, some younger ladies enjoying a girl’s night out. Paradise Wine felt like the perfect little neighborhood wine bar—plus, the menu featuring small plates looked yummy.
Looking to live in the center of North Naples? Find your dream home or condo at www.napleshomesearcher.com

RipTide Brewing, 987 Third Ave. N.

JP: Southwest Florida is experiencing a craft beer boom. By our count, there are 16 craft breweries in Lee and Collier counties. RipTide, tucked off a side street in Naples, opened a little more than a year ago. You’d probably pass it on your way to Third Street South or Fifth Avenue South. But our photographer for the evening, Reagan Rule, suggested we give it a shot. It was a great surprise. Walk in and the first thing you notice (aside from the large silver drums used for brewing) is the crowd. It’s a young crowd. And that’s not “Naples young” (meaning 40s and 50s) but “young young” (meaning 20s and 30s). I got a 16-ounce glass of the Rip Tide Paddlepuss Blonde Ale. Not only refreshing, it was also only $5. A steal. After some time at the bar, we wandered out back and watched a game of cornhole under the clear night sky.
SD: We found the millennials of Naples—and they’re at RipTide Brewing (also in a strip mall, sigh). Finally, man buns and handlebar mustaches—a nice change of scenery. I’m not a beer drinker (like, ever), so the bartender asked me if I like coffee—which I do—so she hooked me up with a glass of their house-brewed “Totch” Brown, which tasted like a chocolate/coffee milkshake. It was not only delicious but also kept me from ordering a very unhip Diet Coke. RipTide was a bit brightly lit for my tastes, but when you’re in your 20s, lighting isn’t something to be overly concerned with. I’ll bet this place will be hopping (Get it? I know, I’m old) around spring break.
Looking to live near downtown Naples? Visit us at www.napleshomesearcher.com

Bar Tulia, 462 Fifth Ave. S.

JP: No trip to experience nightlife in Naples is complete without a walk along Fifth Avenue South. So many bars, so little time. Usually, streets are packed with locals and tourists popping in and out of establishments or grabbing a drink on the outdoor patios. We ended up in Bar Tulia, which has a great reputation for cocktails. I had the Basilica—bourbon, Aperol, Carpano Antica with a burnt orange peel. I usually don’t go for orange-y flavors, but this one was rich and smooth and hit the spot.
The room itself is small and narrow, but featured a good energy. Young and old, lots of couples and small groups of friends. Some were eating, but this is the type of place I’d go for a cocktail after dinner—perhaps at the neighboring Osteria Tulia.
SD: I’m a big fan of Fifth Avenue South and sometimes wish there were a high-speed train that could transport me from downtown Fort Myers to downtown Naples for variety’s sake. I do love the twinkly lights, the shiny cars and the chance of stumbling onto a fashion shoot for a glossy magazine. Fifth is posh—and most refreshing of all, there are no strip malls. Bar Tulia was a delight—filled to the brim with folks of all ages chatting, laughing, eating and drinking. And speaking of drinks, cocktails are truly an art at Bar Tulia. The bar menu was fancy/rustic/hip—think fried pig ears, Wisconsin cheese curds and octopus carpaccio. Me? I went for a nice, normal cheese pizza.
Final thoughts
SD: I’ve ventured to Naples for nightlife a handful of times over the years, and every time I do, it’s like going to a different country. It’s definitely a tale of two cities; just an hour apart, but socially so different. But, I don’t mean that like it’s a bad thing. I think most of us feel at our comfiest when we’re wining and dining close to home in our own neighborhoods, where we’ll likely run into friends and the bartender knows our name. In Naples, unless you stick to Mercato or Olde Naples Fifth Avenue South or Third Street South, you’re going to end up driving around. So if, like me, that is decidedly not your thing, I recommend getting a hotel for the night and making a mini-weekend of Naples nightlife. And if you intend to drink (especially those deliciously strong mixes at Bar Tulia), cab it or Uber it—that way, you can relax and enjoy all the variety that Naples has to offer.

Fort Myers

There was a time—not so long ago—when downtown Fort Myers was so dull that you could practically see tumbleweeds blowing down First Street. In the mid-’90s, there were a couple of dive bars, two or three restaurants that catered to lawyers who lunch, very limited retail space and barely a pinch of culture. For most folks in Lee County, the only reason to venture downtown was for a court appearance, and that’s rarely a positive experience. But, it all changed in the late ’90s and early 2000s, when developers and entrepreneurs saw potential in some of the 100-year-old buildings, Florida Repertory Theatre made its home in the Arcade, and the City of Fort Myers invested in beautifying the River District. These days, there’s a sparkling nightlife scene that draws the happy-hour crowds and the late-night revelers. Friday nights are particularly festive, as each Friday of the month is an event—Art Walk, Music Walk, Mystery Walk and even Pet Walk (basically happy hour for dogs). Keep in mind, though, on most Friday nights, some streets in the neighborhood are blocked off for bands and vendors, so parking can be a hassle. So, we met outside of downtown and took the free River District trolley (score one for Fort Myers—public transportation).

The Bacchus Room at Prime De Leon, 33 Patio De Leon

SD: When the owners of Spirits of Bacchus lost their original space at the corner of Bay and Hendry streets last summer, most thought it would be the end to one of downtown’s longtime favorite watering holes. But you can’t keep a good bar down, so with the same employees and Cheers-like atmosphere, it moved up to the second floor of the Prime De Leon restaurant. With a cozy inside bar and an expansive outdoor balcony bar, it offers the perfect views for people-watching or enjoying a band playing in the patio. It was so busy on the balcony the night that we were there that our biggest challenge was finding a table. Luckily, we did, and enjoyed cocktails and a great post-sunset view.
JP: This was a good place to start. The streets were starting to get crowded from Music Walk, so up top was a nice way to look down on all the festivities. Pretty nice when you can kick back on a rooftop bar and still enjoy the music from down below. Oh, and four drinks cost only $26. I do live in a state of sticker shock down in Naples when it comes to prices. Naples has its spots, but overall, I feel like a night out in Fort Myers is a better fit if you’re on a tight budget.

The Barrel Room at Twisted Vine Bistro, 2214 Bay St.

SD: We strolled through the crowds about a block away to the Sky Bar in an effort to get a view of the river, but it was packed—no place to sit and not even enough floor space to stand. So we exited stage left to the Barrel Room next door. The Barrel Room is a welcome new addition to the River District with live jazz and blues, an extensive cocktail list, and food that you can either order off the house menu or from The Twisted Vine next door. There was a $5 cover for the band, but we ventured in and enjoyed a bite to eat and cocktails in a relatively quiet atmosphere. A nice break from all the hubbub in the streets.
JP: Barrel Room was small but a great place to hear a jazz combo. The room was fairly narrow, bringing your attention to the stage. The crowd appeared to be there for the show. There was some small talk, but it didn’t drown out the band. By the way, this was real jazz with long stretches of improvisation—not the soft R & B or Motown covers that sometimes get passed off as jazz around here.

The 86 Room, 22 Patio De Leon

SD: A visit to The 86 Room feels like stepping back in time to the Fort Myers of the 1920s with its speakeasy vibe, silent movies projected onto one wall, and vintage cocktails like the Sidecar, the Bees Knees, the Pimm’s Cup and more. A favorite of neighborhood residents, hipsters and theater folk, The 86 Room really gets going as the night wears on—an excellent spot for a tasty, old-fashioned nightcap.
JP: I sat on a piano stool and looked over a menu consisting of mint juleps, old-fashioneds and similar classics. The 86 Room went all in for the retro vibe. It could have been tacky, but I thought their attention to detail made it work—from the bartender’s throwback look to the funky chandeliers. I could have spent the evening just watching the silent movies projected high on the wall. But it’s hard to sit still in Fort Myers for that long.

World Famous Cigar Bar, 1502 Hendry St.

SD: Hoping to squeeze in one last stop, we popped into one of my favorite old haunts, the Cigar Bar, which just celebrated its 20th anniversary downtown (there are also newer locations at Gulf Coast Town Center and in Cape Coral). The bar is smoke-filled and masculine, with heavy leather furniture and animal heads mounted on the wall. The ultimate man cave, the Cigar Bar is warm and welcoming, and just as you order your drink, you realize that the last trolley runs at 11 p.m. and you’re about to turn into a pumpkin. We darted out, grabbed Reagan, and miraculously hopped on the last trolley out of downtown. As usual, a Friday night in the River District is never dull.
JP: I wish we could have spent more time here. It was a laid-back bar without a lot of stuffiness. I could imagine myself living in downtown Fort Myers and making this my neighborhood bar, as my companion for the evening once had.
Final thoughts
JP: Fort Myers does have a totally different feel compared to its neighbor down south. But that’s not Naples’ fault. Fort Myers has history behind it. It makes for a different night out when the streets are brick and the buildings have 100 years of stories in them. I enjoyed Fort Myers for its eclectic crowd and diverse bar scene. If you don’t mind a crowd, Music Walk or Art Walk would be a great time to go to really gauge what Fort Myers is all about. There’s little pretense here. I felt comfortable in just about any bar—as long as we could find seats—dressed fairly casually. In the end, it’s hard to say which is better. It just matters what your taste is—or what type of fun you’re looking to have. I live in north Naples, so either end of Southwest Florida is fairly accessible. I can easily see myself replicating this little experiment every month. With two short drives, I can have two totally different nights out. Perhaps we should consider ourselves lucky.
Looking to find a home or condo in North Naples? Visit us at http://www.napleshomesearcher.com/

Collier County home sales up, prices down to start 2017

Collier County's median home price dropped in January compared with a year ago, but an overall increase in sales encouraged analysts trying to gauge the 2017 real estate market after a rough 2016.

The median — the price that divides half the homes that sold for more and half for less — fell 8 percent in January to $314,000, compared with $340,000 for the same month a year ago, according to a monthly report released Friday by the Naples Area Board of Realtors.

The NABOR report tracks sales by the Realtor association's members in Collier County, excluding Marco Island, and includes mostly resales, not new-home sales.

"I don't think it's down that much to be scared of, and I think we'll see those numbers start to come up," said Kathy Zorn, broker/owner at Florida Home Realty.

Overall, according to the report:


    • Pending sales were up 9 percent to 924 in January, compared with 847 a year ago.
    • Closed sales were up 6 percent to 603, compared with 571 in January 2016.

That represents a turn-around of sorts from 2016, when overall sales fell by nearly 13 percent to 8,510 homes, down from 9,751 in 2015, according to NABOR's year-end report last month.

NABOR reported January was the first time both overall pending sales and overall closed sales were on the rise at the same time since March 2015.

"January was off to a good start," said Mike Hughes, vice president and general manager for Downing-Frye Realty.

The increase in closings in January likely was a result of buyers signing contracts after Donald Trump won last year's bitter presidential election, Hughes said.

An increase in pending sales bodes well for carrying momentum through the tourist season, particularly in the market between $300,000 and $2 million, where sectors posted increases between 20 percent and 37 percent in January compared with January 2016, said Zorn.

"This will set the trend for the confidence in our marketplace, and consumers will be returning to the closing table," she said.

The overall increase in sales was driven by a 14 percent increase in condo sales; the 34112 and 34113 ZIP codes led the way with a 47 percent increase in sales from 49 in January 2016 to 72 in January 2017.

Overall, according to the report:


    • The median sales price for condos dropped to $265,000, or about 5 percent, but dropped by just 2 percent to $467,000 in the market above $300,000.
    • Single-family home sales dropped by 7 percent overall to $397,000, and by 9 percent to $510,000 in the market above $300,000. 

The inventory of homes and condos available for sale stands at almost 6,400 homes, up 26 percent from almost 5,100 homes a year ago in January.

That might indicate asking prices are too high, analysts said.

It also means buyers have more to choose from, Hughes said.

"Personally, I look at it as the glass is half-full," he said.

Hughes said a booming stock market could work against the Collier real estate market, which has a lot of cash buyers. Cash buyers might want to leave their money in the market rather than take it out to buy a home or condo, Hughes said.

"It can be tough to pull it out when the market is hot," he said.
Naples Real Estate
Find your Naples home or condo at: http://www.napleshomesearcher.com/

Thursday, February 23, 2017

Plans approved for $50M park in Golden Gate Estates

Plans for a new $50 million park in Golden Gate Estates were approved by Collier County commissioners on Tuesday.
The park will be built on a 150-acre tract of land next to the Collier County Fairgrounds, near the intersection of Oil Well and Immokalee roads.
Urban sprawl in Collier County is pushing east, meaning more people, especially young families, are moving into the area.
“When we moved onto our street, there were like four houses,” said Charlotte Elliott, who’s lived in the area for 20 years. “Now there’s like 30-something houses.”
Elliott says kids need a community park like the one approved by county leaders, “they definitely need somewhere out there for the kids to keep them out of trouble.”
The county planned on building the park a decade ago, but the plans were put on hold because of the recession. Some of the park’s amenities include walking trails, a splash park, swimming pool, basketball, baseball and tennis courts.
“I think it’s gonna be good for kids, good for families,” said Dean Coffin, “but people are used to quiet living on that end of town and I think this is gonna compromise their privacy.”
Meanwhile, homeowner Jojo Sayers says park is just too expensive, “government spends too much money as it is.”
Yet with the area of Collier County continuing to grow, commissioners say now is the time to act and Elliot agrees.
“We need that out there for the kids,” Elliott said.

Crews will build the park in phases, the first one will most likely begin sometime next year.
____
Home sales are up in Golden Gate Estates while other parts of Naples slows down. 
To find more info on homes in the estates visit http://www.napleshomesearcher.com/

Monday, February 20, 2017

Naples tops list as the least-polluted city in America

Take a big breath, Naples.
The city tops realtor.com's list of the least-polluted cities in America.
To determine where the air is pristine and the water is safe to drink, the website ranked the 10 largest metros based on the following factors:
» Toxic chemicals released from factories
» Greenhouse gas emissions per square mile
» Number of Superfund sites per square mile
» Air quality, determined by the number of clear days in a year
» Water quality, measured by contaminants such as lead, copper and arsenic
Florida leads the way in air quality, and Naples is the cleanest city in the state, helped by its natural surroundings, which include the Everglades, Ten Thousand Islands and Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary.
"Collier County has more acres of protected lands than any other county in Florida," Renee Wilson, a spokeswoman for the Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, told realtor.com, pointing out that's mostly due to the wetland characteristics of the Everglades.
The No. 1 ranking didn't come as a big surprise to Dominic Pallini, president of the Naples Area Board of Realtors and broker/owner of Vanderbilt Realty of Naples.
"Our state and local government (Collier County) work hard to make Florida, Naples especially, the cleanest and safest place in the country. It makes Naples a prime location to purchase a home," he said in an email.
Ranking as the second-cleanest city? Salem, Oregon. Realtor.com tipped its hat to the state for becoming "the first in the nation to pass a law to phase out coal completely, requiring its largest utilities to supply at least half of their electricity from renewable resources, like wind and solar, by 2040."
In Salem, many residents bike or walk to work, and the city "didn't have a single day with bad air last year," according to realtor.com, which based that conclusion on data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
The third least-polluted city is also in Florida: Ocala, which realtor.com describes as "tucked in Central Florida's horse country" with "a glorious 673 square miles of vegetation" and offering "crystal-clear" water in Silver Springs.
Rounding out the top five cleanest cities: Anchorage, Alaska, at No. 4 and Santa Rosa, California, at No. 5.
Realtor.com points out that pollution in the U.S. has declined noticeably in recent years, adding that the nation's industrial plants released 25 percent less toxic chemicals in 2015 than in 2005. An EPA spokesman told the website the credit goes to green chemistry, better waste management and fewer facilities.
Topping the list of the dirtiest cities is Philadelphia, "where crude-oil trains chug through like clockwork" and "plumes of white smoke from oil refineries can be seen and sniffed from most residents’ backyards," according to realtor.com.
In the city, 13.4 million pounds of poisonous chemicals were released in 2015 by oil refineries, shipyards and auto manufacturers, the EPA reported.
For more information, see realtor.com/news/trends/most-polluted-and-least-polluted-cities.

The Rankings - Best and Worst

America's Top 10 cleanest cities
2. Salem, Oregon
3. Ocala, Florida
4. Anchorage, Alaska 
5. Santa Rosa, California
6. Ann Arbor, Michigan 
7. Eugene, Oregon
8. Little Rock, Arkansas
9. Salisbury, Maryland
10.Salinas, California
America's Top 10 dirtiest cities 
1. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
2. Los Angeles, California
3. Houston, Texas
4. New York, New York
5. Chicago, Illinois
6.  New Orleans, Louisiana
7. Reading, Pennsylvania
8. Salt Lake City, Utah
9. Baton Rouge, Louisiana
10. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Naples Home Sales Real Estate

Looking to find your home in Naples Florida? Visit Naples Home Searcher. com and start your home search. 

Saturday, February 11, 2017

Distinctive Communities presents final Olde Cypress sites

Naples developer Distinctive Communities has released for sale the final two home sites at Olde Cypress, offering buyers the last opportunity to build their dream home within this prestigious golf and country club in North Naples.
"When it was developed on undisturbed acreage off Immokalee Road in North Naples, Olde Cypress set the standard for a luxury golf course community with a reverence for its natural surroundings," said Terrilyn VanGorder, Realto® with John R. Wood Properties, who represents Distinctive Communities in Olde Cypress. "The P.B. Dye golf course presents the architect’s challenging golf within the framework of a pristine Florida setting. With that as an inspirational backdrop, Distinctive Communities purchased the remaining 19 home sites and named the area Wild Orchid, creating an intimate neighborhood of only 26 estate homes."
VanGorder says that four home sites within Wild Orchid were reserved during the down turn of the real estate market. Two of those sites have now been claimed by buyers.
"One of our buyers built a home using a modification of our DaVinci design, a beautiful four-bedroom plus study, four-bath home with 3,665 square feet of air-conditioned living space and 5,150 overall," she said. "The design takes full advantage of the home’s sweeping golf course views."
"A completely custom design was created by the Weber Design Group for the second site," VanGorder continued. "The talent and capabilities of Distinctive Residential Construction were called upon to create a unique, contemporary home that perfectly met the owner’s wishes and reflected the owner’s personal taste."
VanGorder said those are options that are available to buyers of the remaining two home sites.
"Buyers may wish to fulfill their dream and satisfy every whim with a completely custom design," she said. "Or they may choose to modify one of the designs in our portfolio for Wild Orchid."
Seven designs are available, ranging from a home with three bedrooms plus a study and three baths with 3,043 square feet of air-conditioned living space to a two-story home with four bedrooms plus a study, four full baths and two half-baths in 4,302 air-conditioned square feet. Pricing for the home and home site packages ranges from $1.3 million to $1.7 million plus.
"Each of the designs in the Wild Orchid collection has its own stunning architectural details, enhanced with the finest quality finishes," VanGorder said. "The homes include beautiful ceiling treatments with features such as beamed ceilings and tray ceilings accented with wide crown moldings, all achieved with flawless execution."
There is also an extensive list of standard features, including a custom designed heated swimming pool with paver deck and pool enclosure, a custom decorative front door, an automatic irrigation system, impact resistant windows and French doors and a custom landscape package. The kitchens feature Viking stainless appliances, granite counter tops, raised panel cabinetry and undermount sinks. A Roman tub, granite or marble counter tops and Kohler fixtures are a few of the features included in the master bath. A security system, pool alert system and an advanced home wiring connection center with telecom and video modules are also standard.
"These last two home sites at Olde Cypress offer a rare opportunity to become part of a very special golfing community," VanGorder said. "Olde Cypress combines challenging golf with a lifestyle that celebrates the natural beauty of Florida. And with Distinctive, buyers may enjoy it all in the luxurious home of their dreams."

Located at 7165 Treeline Drive off Immokalee Road in North Naples, Olde Cypress offers 18 holes of championship golf designed by P.B. Dye, a full service golf shop, PGA professional staff, a clubhouse with a variety of dining options, a complete social calendar, an expanded fitness center, a personal trainer on staff, four Har-Tru tennis courts, a director of tennis and exhibitions and clinics for all levels.
To find out about more homes for sale in Olde Cypress Visit our site at: http://www.napleshomesearcher.com/
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