Naples Florida – The Fountain of Youth

Naples Florida – The Fountain of Youth

Those of us who have lived here in Naples, Florida have always enjoyed our good clean air, warm temperature, and cool breezes. Since we have no other industry other than tourism our air quality is rated among the best in America. Known as a quiet healthy environment for young families and retirees, and practically everyone in between, Naples and nearby Marco Island has just been named by AARP Magazine as the second best area for life expectancy. With a life expectancy of 80.97 years Naples and Marco are listed just behind Ames, Iowa as the next best place to live the longest.

Why is Naples/Marco rated so high? I think we can attribute many factors to this. With our fantastic winter weather, seniors are much more inclined to enjoy outdoor activities, whether its golfing, tennis or just walking they can do it all year round. Even in the hotter summer months, the local mall Coastland Center opens its doors early for the walkers. The summer evenings are spectacular for cool, breezy walks on the beautiful white sand beaches. With the sand packed down, it makes for easy walking unlike the east coast of Florida, where the darker sand is soft and not as easy to walk on.
Also, as we look at the top 8 areas listed by AARP, it is noticeable that each share something in common. There are no big cities. Less stress living in smaller towns seems to be a factor in longevity. Among this list as well, we don’t find industrial towns, where air pollutants are causing health concerns in the industrial areas.
So are we surprised that Naples/Marco is rated so high, no not really. After all, the reasons mentioned above are why we moved down here in the first place.
Kaye Homes, a local home builder has sold over 3,000 homes to families and retirees, who have at some point relocated largely from larger industrial cities. The clean environment, the abundance of year round amenities and less stress make the area a great place to live, raise a family and spend active retirement years. If interested in relocating and building your dream home please visit www.kayehomes.com or call 239 455 1007.

Naples, Florida Ranked in Top 10 Places to Live

Naples, Florida Ranked in Top 10 Places to Live

The Naples/Marco Island area has just been named by AARP Magazine as one of the top 10 best places to live in America, and the only Florida location so designated. The magazine listed many reasons for this honor, one being number 3 in having the most sunny days per year, 264 days of Florida sunshine. Residents of this beautiful area enjoy year round activities and amenities that are second to none. Just get a parking pass, and enjoy easy parking at any of the area’s magnificent white sand beaches. If golfing is your game, we are number 2 in the nation for golf holes per capita, with many public as well as the country’s most elegant private country clubs. There are 134 art galleries, 5 star hotels, elegant waterfront restaurants, world class fishing and boating and a distinctive Neapolitan attitude to enjoying life.

The magazine sites the health and activity of the residents as a factor. Exercising and less people smoking provide for a healthier population. 80% of the area is designated open space with. Cultural activities abound with the Naples Philharmonic Center for the Arts, bringing in world-class entertainment. Naples/Marcos’s Southwest Florida location also provides easy access to other popular Florida locales. Within an easy 2 hour drive is Miami, Ft. Lauderdale and Sarasota, and just beyond is Orlando, Tampa and the Florida Keys.

All this and more is why every year the area sees amazing growth. If you are interested in relocating to this wonderful paradise and looking for a new home, please visit www.kayehomes.com or call 239 455 1007 to discuss your future plans with a New Home Counselor at Naples’ largest locally owned homebuilder Kaye Homes. Kaye Homes has built over 3,000 homes in Southwest Florida since 1985, and is the 2008 winner of the prestigious Custom Home Pacesetter National Award.

Move to Naples and Save Money..Take a Staycation

That’s right, because when you live in Naples, Florida you can take a “Staycation” Why bother getting on a plane, paying thousands of dollars to go to a tropical island “Vacation” when you live in paradise. Wherever you live in Naples you are just minutes to the most gorgeous beaches, with sugary white sand, compacted for great evening or early morning walks. The sunsets are magnificent and romantic. We average 264 days of sunshine per year, there are fine waterfront restaurants, and cultural events to enjoy, that we usually are too busy with our day to day lives to enjoy. Be a tourist in your own town.
How many people spend thousands of dollars to come to Naples/Marco each year to relish in the beauty and beach of the Gulf waters? If you really feel like getting away, check into one of our local hotels, on the gulf and really feel like you’ve traveled hundreds of miles.

On your Staycation you will see another side of this paradise you usually don’t, you’ll see Naples from the perspective of the vacationers. My wife and I recently were deciding where to go on vacation, just a short long weekend somewhere. While walking on Naples’ pristine beach enjoying a wonderful sunset, we were talking about where to go. As we looked out onto the shimmering sunset filled hues of the warm Gulf waters, we saw dolphins leaping playfully…we looked at each other and said, “Why are we going to spend the money, find a place for the dog, travel via plane, and go through the airport hassles, when we have this”.
After all we just wanted a relaxing, stress-free weekend on a beautiful beach in a lovely town with no schedule and no commitments. As long as we don’t answer the phones, we have it all right here in Naples.

So, next time your thinking of going away for a short weekend, maybe save yourself a bundle and stress and just stay home and enjoy your town. If you live in Naples its pretty easy to get away from it all, right here in town.
That’s why it is such a good idea to live here in Naples and buy a new home from Naples’ largest and award winning local builder, Kaye Homes. Visit www.kayehomes.com and find your Staycation home now. Make your backyard a pool and spa paradise with outdoor cooking facilities giving yourself the opportunity to enjoy your Staycation even more. Call a Kaye Homes sales representative for more information 239 455 1007.

June Sales Blooming in Naples, Florida

June Sales Blooming in Naples, Florida

When there is good news regarding the real estate market we are going to shout from the highest rooftop, or maybe just write a new blog. The Naples Area Board of Realtors just released their June numbers and there are some very positive signs that the Naples real estate market is coming back and consistently showing signs of improvement.
1. Pending sales increased 60% in the greater Naples Area. There were 301 pendings in June, 2007 and a very strong 484 in June of this year.
2. In the $300,000 and below category, sales were up 58% compared to June, 2007.
3. Overall inventory is down 7% - Any decrease in inventory is seen as a major breakthrough for the builders, because as inventory goes down, prices will go up.
4. For the fifth consecutive month pending sales are up and inventory is down. Some areas are seeing increased sales of over 150%
5. Here’s a remarkable number – Single family home pending sales for June, 2008, for homes priced under $300,000 are up a whopping 537% over June of last year. Sales are up an amazing 253% over the same period. Buyers are looking for bargains and they are still to be had in Naples, but probably not for much longer.
6. Even the category of higher priced homes, priced from $1 – 2 million were up nearly 8%.
So, although there is still a lot of inventory available in the Greater Naples Area, there is a lot of activity, and July numbers are looking very positive so far.

Kaye Homes, a single family custom home builder in Naples, has seen a shift in the market, with buyers realizing that the local builders have lowered their prices as low as they can go and are jumping in the market, they also realized that with the inventory shrinking, so is their choice of available homes.

Kaye Homes has lowered their base pricing on their brand new Showcase Homes, starting from the low $200s. This is a great time to buy as prices are low, there is still availability in the market and Kaye Homes is also offering some very interesting incentives and financing packages for homebuyers. To find an exceptional value and quality built home please visit the Kaye Homes website at www.kayehomes.com or call 239 455 1007, or visit one of their two model centers. Homes are priced from the $200s to over $2 Million.

Naples Housing Market in Recovery

Naples Housing Market in Recovery

Robert Toll, CEO and President of Toll Brothers, one of the nation’s top custom home builders appears to have been correct, when he said ‘Naples, Florida is back”. Last month on Jim Cramer’s CNBC program Mr. Toll stated that Naples is the “One Ray of Hope” in the housing industry giving the Southwest Florida crown jewel an A- grade, while the rest of the country is mired between an F+ and F-.

One well known and in Naples a very well respected real estate firm has reported outstanding numbers for the first three weeks in June, 2008. As of Friday, June 20, the number of contracts they have received to their accounting department is 92. Analyzing the numbers it appears that All the various price range markets are all doing well. This is a welcome change from previous months when we didn’t see these consistent numbers.
Here is the breakdown of the different markets and how many contracts for each: Under $250,000 – 33 contracts
$251,000 - $500,000 – 33 contracts as well
$501,000 - $999,999 – 16 contracts
Above $1,000,000 – 10 contracts.
These statistics are from one of the largest agencies, but one of many, so it appears that June may be another excellent month for Southwest Florida. As you can see by the numbers above, the daily contracts for this company is over 4.5.

Realtors are busier and so are some builders, as confidence in the Naples, Florida market has grown with solid numbers, and with testimonials, such as Mr. Toll’s being broadcast nationally to the American homebuying market.

Kaye Homes, a locally owned Naples builder has seen the confidence of the homebuyer changing over the past few months. Buyers that were sitting on the fence seem to be slowly jumping off and taking advantage of price reductions and guarantee incentives. They’re inventory has been sharply reduced as prices are at a very attractive level for brand new move in ready homes.

For more information regarding these tremendous values or to build the dream home you’ve longed for visit www.kayehomes.com, or call 239 455 1007. Two model centers are open daily in Naples.

Lot Sales Are a Sure Sign of a Rebound

Lot Sales Are a Sure Sign of a Rebound

“Show me a sign”, is what Jim Carrey kept pleading for in the first part of the 2003 hit movie, Bruce Almighty. Well, it looks like the housing market in Naples, Florida which had been pleading for signs as well has indeed received another sign that things are definitely getting better. Lot sales. In Naples not only lot sales are a sign and the purchase of “Teardowns” are way up, which in this upscale market is the same as a lot sale. A teardown in Naples is a home built primarily in the 1970s, with limited square footage, approximately 1,500, with outdated features and amenities. The home will be torn down, and a new home built. These sales which do not appear as lot sales are sold for lot value. The typical Naples homebuyer looks for a home with the newest features, granite countertops, marble flooring, much more square footage, media rooms, island kitchens with top of the line appliances and much more natural light. Thus on the same lot where there once stood a 1978, two bedroom, two bath home, you will find a year later a two story 4,000 square foot, 4 or 5 bedroom, 4 bath, plus den, plus media room, gorgeous new home.

Another very positive sign is not just that the number of lot sales and teardowns has increased it is important to note who is purchasing. Not only private parties, that are purchasing to build their dream home, but many builders, who held off buying for two years have now jumped back into the market to build spec homes. Specifically, the very attractive area, a corridor known as West of U.S. 41, within a stones throw of the Gulf of Mexico, has displayed a huge upswing in lot and teardown sales.

Kaye Homes, a local family owned Naples homebuilder since 1985 knows the Southwest Florida housing market better than anyone. Kaye Homes purchased four lakefront lots within this popular corridor of real estate. They are currently designing plans for a new homeowner who has purchased one of the lots, and the other three are sure to go quickly.
For more information about these homesites and other building opportunities in Naples, Florida please visit www.kayehomes.com, or call 239 455 1007.

Lot Sales Are a Sure Sign of a Rebound

“Show me a sign”, is what Jim Carrey kept pleading for in the first part of the 2003 hit movie, Bruce Almighty. Well, it looks like the housing market in Naples, Florida which had been pleading for signs as well has indeed received another sign that things are definitely getting better. Lot sales. In Naples not only lot sales are a sign and the purchase of “Teardowns” are way up, which in this upscale market is the same as a lot sale. A teardown in Naples is a home built primarily in the 1970s, with limited square footage, approximately 1,500, with outdated features and amenities. The home will be torn down, and a new home built. These sales which do not appear as lot sales are sold for lot value. The typical Naples homebuyer looks for a home with the newest features, granite countertops, marble flooring, much more square footage, media rooms, island kitchens with top of the line appliances and much more natural light. Thus on the same lot where there once stood a 1978, two bedroom, two bath home, you will find a year later a two story 4,000 square foot, 4 or 5 bedroom, 4 bath, plus den, plus media room, gorgeous new home.

Another very positive sign is not just that the number of lot sales and teardowns has increased it is important to note who is purchasing. Not only private parties, that are purchasing to build their dream home, but many builders, who held off buying for two years have now jumped back into the market to build spec homes. Specifically, the very attractive area, a corridor known as West of U.S. 41, within a stones throw of the Gulf of Mexico, has displayed a huge upswing in lot and teardown sales.

Kaye Homes, a local family owned Naples homebuilder since 1985 knows the Southwest Florida housing market better than anyone. Kaye Homes purchased four lakefront lots within this popular corridor of real estate. They are currently designing plans for a new homeowner who has purchased one of the lots, and the other three are sure to go quickly.
For more information about these homesites and other building opportunities in Naples, Florida please visit www.kayehomes.com, or call 239 455 1007.

The Truth About Hurricanes and Naples, Florida

Okay, the hurricane season is upon us once again. June 1st marked the beginning of the 2008 season. The media is in a frenzy with reports on preparedness, and what ifs. I assume this is good for ratings, anyway it is at least a pause from the political primaries and stories we have been inundated with over the past few months, however we need to keep in mind that hurricanes although, they do appear somewhere every year and you never quite know where, the chances of striking in Naples, Florida this year is very slim.

Yes, Naples was visited by Wilma in 2005. Wilma caused some damage, mostly to trees, some roofs and pool cages, but very little structural damage to any buildings and no flooding. Hurricane Charley, passed by 40 miles north and caused little damage, mostly trees again. Prior to those two the last hurricane to pass within 30 miles of Naples was Isabell in 1964, forty years prior. Again, very little damage to the Naples area as the storm came ashore south of the city.

A website, www.hurricanecity.com lists the most susceptible cities to hurricanes, from one to fifty, one being the most likely place to get hit. Naples was rated,”fifty”. So the prospect of Naples getting hit, being located on the Southwest corner of Florida is very low. That doesn’t mean we wont prepare and tune in the Weather Channel when the occasion arises, and there is obviously no guarantee, but I like our chances. We Floridians love comparing hurricanes to tornadoes, and how lucky we are, that if a hurricane does come close we have days to prepare, unlike with a tornado many times they have just minutes.

Plus with all of the new hurricane proof regulations in the new building codes, hurricane damage to homes has been greatly reduced. Some custom builders like Kaye Homes, based in Naples even go beyond the required codes and add their own stricter requirements and as Kaye does, even add a generator to the housing features, in case of an emergency.

For more information regarding the standard hurricane resistant features in a new home today visit www.kayehomes.com. Kaye Homes is a family owned, award winning business, building over 3,000 homes in Southwest Florida since 1985. Homes range in price up to $3 million, with starter and move in ready homes available from the $200s.
Call 239-455-1007 for more details.

To The Rescue…Southwest Florida Homebulder Takes Over to Finish Home for Family

To The Rescue…Southwest Florida Homebulder Takes Over to Finish Home for Family

Homeowners who are building their dream home all have in common the excitement of seeing their dreams become reality. The thrill of each stage, from clearing the land, pouring the slab, the walls starting to go up, etc., is something everyone looks forward to. Keeping on schedule and on budget are concerns, but most builders are dedicated to these commitments. There are times however in a down market like many areas are in, a builder can no longer go on. So, what to do? Your home is half finished, your builder just went out of business. Your dream home seems a dream again, even a nightmare, and not a reality. Enduring the heartache of these tragic circumstances are not easy to overcome. So, what to do? There really is only one option, find a reliable builder you can trust to finish building your dream home.

This is what happened to The Wiggins family in Southwest Florida. Their initial builder had gone out of business leaving them with a huge problem. How do we select a builder who we can trust to finish the job. They did their homework, including the 5 tips commonly used finding the ideal builder. 1. Solicit referrals 2. Research area home builders 3. Research the home buying experience of previous customers. 4. Tour model homes and homes under construction. 5. Read all documents thoroughly. The Wiggins’ family selected Kaye Homes to complete their home. Kaye Homes is currently building in the same area, and the family was able to view their home building process in the different stages. This was a major plus as it shows that the builder is certainly a viable company, busy with new homebuilding even in a down market. The research they did also told them that the company has extensive experience building over 3,000 homes since 1985. Mr. Wiggins also commented that Mr. Kaye and his staff’s pure diligence and Experience is what persuaded him to select Kaye Homes. The home will be finished in a few months and the Wiggins family will finally after much heartache and concern finally be in their new home.

For more information regarding building your dream home with Kaye Homes, please visit www.kayehomes.com or call 239-455-1007.
Kaye Homes, a Naples, Florida based builder builds custom homes up to $3 million, plus a collection of beautiful “build to suit” homes priced from the $300s. Immediate occupancy homes are also available priced from the $200s to $600s.

Southwest Florida Continues to See Signs of the Housing Market Improving

Southwest Florida Continues to See Signs of the Housing Market Improving

As the saying goes, “all politics are local.” The same can be said for the housing market. Every market is unique. Each with its own set of issues, economy and demographics. Lawrence Yun, chief economist with the National Association of Realtors sees an increase in home sales on a year-over-year basis. “Today’s data also reflects something I have not seen over the past two years,” states Yun, “a substantial rise – to the tune of 20 percent or better.”

Two of the areas where Yun sees hopeful signs are San Diego and Ft. Myers, Florida. Both markets have seen increased activity and sales due to buyers jumping into the market looking for bargains. Based on fundamentals, Yun continues, “The affordability conditions essentially match that of 10 years ago. Prices are higher today, but so is income, and at today’s historically low mortgage rates, and with improving conditions just recently with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac things are looking brighter”.

Patrick Newport, an economist at Global Insight, observes “Right now a lot of people are staying away because they don’t want to buy an asset that might lose value right away.”A Ft. Myers, Naples, Florida builder Kaye Homes has the solution to that problem. A local builder since 1985, Kaye Homes is guaranteeing the purchase price of a new home for up to 1 year. So, if someone purchases a home today and the value does drop, they will refund the buyer the difference. Its a win/win situation. The buyer buys at what everyone thinks is the rock bottom price, but just in case the Southwest Florida market turns again and the home is appraised lower than the purchase price by the time they move in Kaye Homes will give them a check at closing.

To learn more about the Kaye Homes guarantee programs visit www.kayehomes.com. Move In Ready homes are now available from the $200s.
Custom Homes in Naples’ and Ft. Myers’ best neighborhoods are priced up to $3 million.
For more information call 239-455-1007

Naples, Florida the “Green Jewel” of Southwest Florida

Naples, Florida the “Green Jewel” of Southwest Florida

Naples, Florida, a beautiful town in the heart of Southwest Florida is making great strides to become a “Green” example for other cities. In many ways this pro-green hamlet has already started to distinguish itself as a community that is concerned about the environment, preserving its natural beauty and providing a safe and healthy environment for its residents.

The damage to our waterways, caused by runoff, nationwide can be severe. Researchers from the Oak Ridge Natural Laboratory in Tennessee report streams and other waterways throughout the U.S. are losing their ability to filter excess nitrates from fertilizers creating dead zones where algae blooms and depletes the oxygen. Many communities have already begun to answer the challenge of saving our waterways.

The Naples City Council has adopted an ordinance regulating fertilizers that contain nitrogen or phosphorous. With stormwater runoff a major source of pollution, the new ordinance will provide specific guidelines for applying fertilizer. This will minimize harmful effects on the environment and the natural waterways and lakes.

As per the Naples City Natural Resources Division the ordinance includes the following standards:

1. Fertilizers that contain nitrogen or phosporous cannot be used during the local rainy season, June 1 – September 30.
2. Nitrogen content must have at least 50% slow release nitrogen 3. Fertilizer will not contain more than 2% phosphorous. 4. Will not be applied at a rate greater than 1 pound per 1,000 square feet. 5. Will not be applied more than 4 times during any one calendar year. 6. Will not be applied spilled, or otherwise deposited on any impervious surfaces or within 10 feet of any waterbody.

Local Naples homebuilders and lawn and landscape professionals have already started to “go green” using green materials and products to secure that the future of Naples will thrive as a beautiful environment for all to enjoy.

If you are thinking of building a new home in Naples, Florida and thinking of building “green” visit Kaye Homes, Naples award winning homebuilder of 3,000 homes since 1985, online at www.kayehomes.com or call for more information at 239-455-1007.

How Will the Presidential Election Affect the Housing Market?

How Will the Presidential Election Affect the Housing Market?

The November elections will bring change to the political landscape. Whether a Democrat or Republican wins the election for president, there will be a change in the White House. We Americans are an optimistic people, and always look at change as a positive. We are a half glass full population that will always gladly and generously give the benefit of the doubt. We look forward to change, sometimes just for the sake of change, but always with wide-eyed optimism.

What will the change bring? Many people are hoping that out of the election, whomever wins will bring optimism and confidence. That’s exactly what’s lacking in the housing market today, confidence. Prices are at a four year low, interest rates are down, there is a glut of product out there, yet many people remain on the fence. What are they all waiting for? Most seem to waiting for a collective confidence that the housing market has stabilized, and prices have hit rock bottom. Timing a purchase of a new home at rock bottom can be a little tricky and lucky, so if the collective view of the market is that we are close to rock bottom, we may already be there.

So confidence, optimism and hope are the keys. Whether a Republican or Democrat is elected it should provide the nation with a new positive consciousness. To use two baseball analogies, sometimes a team just needs a change, a shot in the arm, so a new manager is selected. And fans, especially Cub fans are the perennial optimists, as they always seem to be patient and wait, and wait, and wait for another championship. This could be the year.

One area of the country has already seen the wait come to an end. The Naples, Florida market is back. At least thats is what President and CEO of Toll Brothers, Robert Toll has stated on national television. Confidence is back and sales are showing that buyers in Naples are optimistic about the future of the homebuying market.

If you are interested in purchasing a new home in the Naples market visit Naples’ award winning builder, Kaye Homes at www.kayehomes.com. Whether you are looking for a multi-million dollar custom home, or looking to build, or perhaps ready to move right in to a brand new select home, from the $200s, Kaye is the builder of choice in Southwest Florida. For more information call 455-1007.

Naples, Florida Housing Market is Back!

Naples, Florida Housing Market is Back!

“There is one ray of hope” in the real estate housing market today and that is Naples, Florida. On the Jim Cramer, Mad Money television program this week president and CEO of homebuilder Toll Brothers, Robert Toll, stated that Naples is back, and rated the Naples Housing market an A-, while the report card for the rest of the country is somewhere between an F- and F+. Mr. Toll continued to say that the Naples market has already bottomed out and is moving up.

This came as fantastic news for the Naples homebuilding and real estate specialists. Stuart Kaye, president and CEO of Kaye Homes, a locally based homebuilder in Naples since 1985 stated that this is certainly welcome news, especially from someone like Robert Toll, and on a national news format. The Naples market has already witnessed this change in the market place, as sales have been increasing for the past few months, but the exposure of comments like these and Mr. Toll’s well known grading system has to give the market a big boost. What this means is that inventory is decreasing, and we all know when that happens, prices go up.

Mr. Kaye states that he has been running a new advertising campaign for the past two months - New Hope for Homebuyers – and is thrilled that Mr. Toll has stated that Naples is the “One Ray of Hope”. “With inventory down and prices going up, we have certainly turned the corner”, stated Mr. Kaye. He also assured homebuyers that even though the Naples real estate market is back and prices rising, there are still many wonderful values in Southwest Florida.

If you are thinking of purchasing a new home in Naples visit www.kayehomes.com - With custom homes priced up to $3 million and starter and move in ready homes available for immediate occupancy priced from the $200s, Kaye has a home for everyone. Two model centers are open daily, for more information and buying incentives call 239-455-1007.

Ambassador Program – An Outreach Program for Homebuilders

How do you reach new homeowners? That is the million dollar question. If any marketing guru pocessed the definitive solution to this ever present problem, they would rule the advertising world. The truth is there doesn’t exist a silver bullet. There are many types of methods and media opportunities to reach the next homebuyer. The more traditional methods we all know, newspaper, magazine, television, radio, direct mail, etc. More recently the internet has become huge with online ads, listings, blogs, etc.

Still we must think outside the box, with outreach programs, during these challenging times. Going under the assumption that there are homebuyers out there that are either sitting on the fence or some just not realizing they can actually afford to buy in today’s highly incentive competitive market, outreach, or guerilla warfare tactics is certainly a viable approach.

Kaye Homes, a local Naples, Florida based builder has just installed a new outreach program, which seems very “out of the box” but is really a just different take on the oldest and most productive form of marketing – Word of Mouth. For years they have, as nearly all builders relied on their existing clients to generate more business. Within certain guidelines they are compensated for their generosity.

Kaye Homes has established an “Ambassador Program” which takes this concept a step, maybe a few steps further. They have recruited a number of ambassadors, these are people that are familiar with the homebuilder, such as suppliers, subs, business associates and Kaye customers of course. Their job is to go out in the market and provide their co-workers, friends, etc. with information regarding the purchase of a new home.

The prospective buyer may not be looking in the paper, or online searching listings, so this is a great way to reach them, and with a personal endorsement, it is an effective marketing tool. Of course the Ambassadors are compensated for their efforts. It is really very simple and cost effective to the homebuilder as well. As part of the entire marketing budget this type of one-on-one marketing is key to success, and in today’s slower economy it is an essential way to get your message out.

Kaye Homes is a Southwest Florida, award winning homebuilder, building custom homes throughout Naples and providing quality, value homes available for immediate occupancy as well. With Move Right In homes priced from the $200s to the $600s and custom homes up to $3 million Kaye Homes is the area’s largest local homebuilder, building over 3,000 homes since 1985. For more information visit www.kayehomes.com or call 239-455-1007, or visit one of two model centers in Naples, Florida.

What Goes Down Must Come Up – Pending Sales Way Up in Southwest Florida.

Good news has hit the Naples and Bonita Springs housing market. It seems that this could be the turnaround all Southwest Floridians have been waiting for. There is of course still some concern and we shouldn’t get too excited just yet, but this is excellent news and it does appear that the area has turned the corner.

Pending sales have reached their highest level since August 2005, almost 3 years ago. There were 853 pending sales in April compared to just 354 only 4 months ago. Since December 2007 the number of pending sales has increased significantly each month.

Comparing April 2008, there was a 30% increase in pending sales from April 2007. Since the Naples and Bonita Springs market was one of the first to feel the housing decline, it only seems natural that the area would be one of the first to see an increase.

There is more good news for Southwest Florida as well. Sean Snaith, director, Institute for Economic Competitiveness at the University of Central Florida has concluded with his study of the area that the greater Naples market will experience very strong growth in average annual wage and will be one of the few areas to experience positive housing starts, in the years to come.

Over the entire state, more than 300,000 people will move to Florida, with 175,000 additional jobs. Florida will receive over 80 million domestic and international visitors with many expecting to consider purchasing second homes.

If you are looking to relocate to Naples, Florida find your next home at www.kayehomes.com. Kaye Homes is an award winning Southwest Florida homebuilder who since 1985 has built over 3,000 homes. Custom homes available up to $3 million, plus move in ready, value packed homes available from the $200s. Two model centers are open daily. For more information call 239-455-1007.

Naples Florida -- One of the Best Places to live.

Two days ago I blogged about Naples, Florida and how it is such a wonderful place to live and raise a family. With its near perfect weather, pristine beaches and clean air, Naples is regarded as one of the best places in the United States to live.

Today, a very interesting study was published by the American Lung Association. It’s the State of the Air 2007 air pollution city and county ranking. Naples lies within Collier County at the southwestern tip of the Florida peninsula. Most of Florida is rated fairly good. There are a few areas that are rated poorly for particle pollution. The Tampa area, Sarasota and Tallahassee were given “D” ratings and each had 8 days of Orange alert ozone days. This level is not high when compared to Los Angeles or Pittsburgh, but they do rank as the highest in Florida. Among the best with an “A” rating and no alert days whatsoever is Collier County, where Naples is. This is an excellent report, but not surprising. I lived in Los Angeles (before there existed any smog control) and also Manhattan for many years. One of the reasons I moved to Naples was the great air quality and overall clean environment it has. When you take a deep breath, it just smells of clean air, nothing else. While ozone particles in many of our large industrial cities and poorly rated cities will cause adverse health effects, and it is even worse for children.

Children spend more time outdoors than adults. They breathe in more air due to rigorous outdoor activities, thus more pollution being taken into their lungs. They exercise outdoors far more than adults. A child’s airway is much narrower, thus causing more irritation, which puts them at greater risk for asthma and other breathing problems.

Now that I have convinced you to move pack up the family and move to Naples, you should look for your next home at Kaye Homes’ Naples premier home builder at www.kayehomes.com or call them at 455-1007. If you’re in a hurry to get out of Dodge, they have a selection of Move- In- Ready homes that you can call your Naples home tomorrow

Where Can You Find the Best Value Today?

Where Can You Find the Best Value Today?


There are three types of buys to make on a new home, a new builder inventory home, an existing home and a new construction home. Which one offers the best value? There is no definitive answer. Markets change, availability changes and location are all key factors.

It will vary from town to town, deal to deal. The condition of the home buying market is a huge factor. In a slowdown market like we have today, you may find wherever you are located, that the best value is most likely a brand new existing home. These inventory homes are costing the builder daily to maintain. They are willing to negotiate price far below what they would have wished to sell the home for originally. They may even sell the home at a loss, to stop the bleeding. In most cases these are very nice, brand new homes, which have been sitting for a year, but no one has occupied these homes and they do have the latest features, which could include even energy efficient appliances. Many builders will be willing to work with you regarding financing incentives, such as low down payments, a low interest rate, and even provide other incentives hoping that the incentives will drive the buyers.
Kaye Homes, a Naples, Florida based homebuilder has sold 50% of their inventory homes this year with new homebuyer incentive guarantees. It’s a win/win for the buyer, as Kaye will guarantee the selling price for one year. If after one year the value of the house decreases the owner will be reimbursed. They are also offering up to 23% off today’s market value, plus some financing incentives to help the new homebuyer.
So, this is one area where the best value is certainly an inventory home. They are brand new, but not customized as you probably would if building new, but with the savings, you should be able to customize as you wish, and still be way ahead.
For more information regarding Kaye Homes’ Showcase Homes available for immediate occupancy, and custom homes, visit www.kayehomes.com or call 239-455-1007

Resale is Just a Fancy Word for Used

Resale is Just a Fancy Word for Used

Its all in how you package the product. The magic of words and its implications, they can be manipulated, misinterpreted and misused. The various industries have their own jargon, catch phrases and taglines. Sometimes they can be transferred to other industries, sometimes it fits, but for some odd reason it just doesn’t usually work that well. That’s probably due to the consumer’s conditioning. A great example of this is what we now call a car that someone else enjoyed before you bought it, its pre-owned. If we try to cross-market that concept to the housing market, it doesn’t seem to work. Have you ever bought a pre-owned home? All pre-owned cars at one time were called “used” and a used car dealer was considered a bottom feeder in the sales chain. Somehow they sound a little more honest calling themselves a pre-owned dealer. I recall, when I was quite a bit younger, a joke going around. Someone would be offered ABC gum. Doesn’t really sound too bad, except ABC meant Already Been Chewed, so it was “used” gum.
The word “used” has really never been a term commonly found in the housing market. Gee, I wonder why. Would you rather purchase a “resale” home or a “used” home? Would you rather purchase an “existing home” or a “used” home. Almost anything sounds better than a “used home”. Since we have “new homes” why don’t we have “old homes”? Now that sounds as bad as “used”. Resale, it seems is the word of choice. Maybe because within the word “resale” is the word “sale” and somehow that translates to getting a better deal.
Kaye Homes, a Naples, Florida based homebuilder is starting to use the phrase “Used Home” when prospects are making an attempt to compare a brand new Kaye Home with a “Resale”, the new home counselors at Kaye Homes will say, “You are trying to compare a brand new Kaye Homes with all of today’s state-of-the-art features and upgrades with a “Used Home”. Then when warranties are explained, and various other issues the “Used Home” that seemed like such a great buy isn’t as wonderful as they thought.
I have “used” up my time and need to move on, but if you are looking for a “New” home visit Kaye Homes at http://www.kayehomes.com/ or call 239-455-1007. They have a great selection of new homes ready for immediate occupancy and a collection of wonderful custom homes

Naples, Florida – A Great Place to Raise a Family

Naples, Florida – A Great Place to Raise a Family We’ve raised three in paradise. Well, one is just about done, soon to be a junior at Naples High School, but the other two are off on their own, one raising his own family and the other finishing up his final year of college. They never really appreciated growing up here in Southwest Florida, they took the beach and perfect weather for granted. “There’s nothing to do here, I’m bored”, they would complain from time to time. I remember saying the same thing around their age, and I grew up New York and Los Angeles.
Anyway, for a sports minded family, the sports leagues and activities never end. From the YMCA basketball leagues, Little League baseball and softball, to Optimist Soccer, gymnastics, golf, swimming, dance, volleyball, etc. until they reach high school and start their activities there, there is never a dull moment for the kids. The incredible weather make outdoor sports an all year round activity. Mixed in with boating, fishing and water skiing, there is more to do here 12 months of the year to keep the kids outside, not playing video games. And there’s the beach, and the kids love it, from when they were small learning how to swim, then later learning to skim board and then just the place to hang out.
The air is very clean, with our only industry being tourism, there is no pollution, and with the community behind a green movement, the waterways, lakes and Gulf waters are kept clean and free of pollutants. Pretty idyllic, and clean, I moved here from New York City, so the contrast in street litter was and still is 180 degrees. We just don’t have litter.
Finally, its safe. We shouldn’t but we still do. We leave the house unlocked when we go out. Crime is not something we really think about. Of course there is some crime, but it feels like the 50s here most of the time. Its just a laid back, safe, great environment to raise a family and pursue your dreams.
If you are looking to move to Naples, Florida, and looking for a new home, Kaye Homes is the builder of choice that will guarantee your dreams come true. With a wonderful selection of custom and move-in-ready homes available, Kaye Homes, Florida’s Builder of the Year, has the perfect home and location for your family to start building your memories now. Visit Kaye Homes at http://www.kayehomes.com/ or call 239-455-1007.

There is Hope for the American Dream

There is Hope for the American Dream Some couples don’t realize their dream of home ownership is easily within their grasp. Most everyone is still interested in the American dream of home ownership. Raising the kids in the family home is still something that most newly married couples strive for. It’s a sign of success, however modest the home is, it is theirs. In today’s slow economy and housing market, the dream doesn’t go away, it just seems harder to realize, and many people who would be in the market to buy, don’t think they can. Some have given up and delayed their dream, others just don’t realize that the dream is there. One of the problems homebuilders have today is reaching prospective buyers that don’t realize they are prospective buyers. They have just concluded, falsely that they can not afford to purchase a new home, and continue to rent. Instead of creating equity and satisfying their American dream, they are just throwing money away. Local homebuilders, as well as local, state and national programs are assisting homeowners today with down payments and other financial incentives. If this group of prospective buyers, becomes aware of these programs and sees the logic in purchasing a new home today, due to markdowns and other incentives there could be a rush to buy. A Naples, Florida based homebuilder, Kaye Homes is offering additional incentives that should make this unsuspecting buyer beware, and that’s guarantees. They are guaranteeing the purchase price, so that if the value of the home drops after purchase they will, in cash, rebate the buyer. If the buyer becomes unemployed for no reason of their own after home purchase, Kaye Homes will pay their monthly mortgage payment for up to 9 months. For more information regarding the Guarantee Programs and view the 2008 Collection of new homes, visit Kaye Homes at www.kayehomes.com, or call 239-455-1007 and ask about what local, state and national programs are available. Kaye Homes also has a wide selection of new homes ready for immediate occupancy.

By the Numbers, They Don’t Always Give You the Right Impression

Numbers are a very funny thing. They can be flipped and flopped and adjusted and interpreted in so many ways. What would we Americans do without statistics, polls, percentages or lists. They can be deceiving, they can change opinions and perceptions, and its usually just the way we look at them. For instance, take the unemployment rate. Today in the United States unemployment is at around 5%. We would of course all love for it to be 0, but looking on the brighter side, the glass is half full side, not the glass is half empty side, the employment rate then would be 95%. For some reason that doesn’t sound quite as bad. Now lets look at the foreclosure crisis. And it is a crisis for anyone going through that process, and we all feel sympathetic to those involved. We have all heard the statistics being thrown around on the nightly and cable news, foreclosures are up 50% there, 30% here, etc. One statistic not being discussed in the media is what percentage of homebuyers are in foreclosure. By the sound of the feeding frenzy of the main stream media you would think 20, 25 or perhaps 30% of U.S. homeowners are going through the foreclosure process. The actual percentage of U.S. homebuyers going through foreclosure is just 1%. That means that looking at the glass half full, 99% of all American families are keeping up with their mortgage payments. Will it rise during 2008, most likely yes, but lets keep it in perspective, and hope it starts to taper off very soon. Kaye Homes, a local Florida builder based in Naples, Florida has noted confusion with today’s homebuyer. Numbers are being thrown around left and right by builders, 20% off, Save $30,000, and on and on. Kaye notes that the buyers are very savvy and are asking the right questions. They want to know if the 20% that a builder is offering is from the inflated past pricing or off today’s current market value. A great question to ask, and Kaye Homes suggests that all homebuyers beware of the language builders are using. All prospective homeowners should do their homework and be sure that even with advertised discounts, the value may not be the best, so shop around and ask questions. The numbers being quoted may not appear to be what they really are. Kaye Homes is an award winning Southwest Florida homebuilder, building custom homes and starter homes for over 22 years. They currently have a list of Move In Ready homes, with great savings and incentives, along with their new Guarantee Programs that make Kaye Homes a leader in the industry, supplying their homeowners with the best possible quality and value. For information about your next home visit http://www.kayehomes.com/ or call 239-455-1007.

Checking Your Homes Value Can Lead to a Fun Trip Through Memory Lane

Checking Your Homes Value Can Lead to a Fun Trip Through Memory Lane Recently researching for a blog I was writing about home values, I ran across a number of websites that will give you the value of a home you are interested in. You simply enter the address and within seconds you have the home’s value. It is pretty amazing and helped with my research project, but I am sure like many of us tooling around the internet, we become victim to distractions. And how easy it is to be distracted by these sites. I was looking at Zillow.com to check the value of a property I am interested in. Well, one thing lead to another and I was entering an address, where I spent my formative years. We moved out west from New York in 1960, along with countless other families seeking warm weather and a booming area. My parents selected a brand new ranch home in the San Fernando Valley. The property was once owned by movie star legends Barbara Stanwyck and Robert Taylor. It was a tract of land carved out of their ranch. Their home was a short distance away for awhile, but they soon sold out to big development. But I do remember seeing the home, and how my mother would tell me every time we passed who lived there, etc. etc. The price I recall for our modest, but brand new home was around $24,000 plus a pool which at that time was to the best of my recollection $2,000. I was only 7 at the time, but these numbers seem to have stayed with me as did the address. I enter the address and lo and behold the house pops up, a hybrid aerial, but very detailed. And the memories came flooding along with the warm feelings of youth and innocence. There was the pool we swam in almost daily for the 6 years we lived there, and the mound where my dog would bury potato chips after licking the salt from each wet and wilted chip. There were our neighbors’ houses. On one side was a character actor, although dead now for many years, I still see him every so often on vintage movies or an old episode of Twilight Zone. And on the other side lived the brother of Cubby, the youngest mousketeer from the original Mickey Mouse Club. Living there was the best of times,it was the longest we ever lived in one house, and the memories are with me forever. Anyway the house is now worth $500,000 and still, at least from the overhead looks very nice. After tearing myself away from the old neighborhood, I got back on track and finished my blog. It was a very enjoyable trip to much simpler times. If you are looking to create those future memories for your family visit the website of an award winning builder, Kaye Homes of Southwest Florida, www.kayehomes.com They can help you select your dream home today and start building your family’s dreams of tomorrow. Naples, Florida is the perfect place to raise your family. Its safe and offers its lucky residents clean air, fantastic weather and gorgeous beaches, and Kaye Homes is the perfect homebuilder to make your dream a reality.

“V” is not for Valor, but Value

“V” is not for Valor, but Value Yes, the V-word is perhaps the most important word in any real estate market, but especially in a slower market, as we are experiencing today. Value, more than location is the most important aspect of a housing purchase. Value is defined in the dictionary as “relative worth, merit or importance.” Value is the sum of all the parts of a real estate decision, which involves, location, price, size and quality. A 10 million dollar home can either be a good value or a bad value, it depends on the different factors. The same can be said for a $300,000 home. A $300,000 home on the beach in the United States is most likely an incredible value, where as a 10 million dollar home in an old tired neighborhood could be one of the worst values of all time. I am sure you’ve heard the phrase, location, location, location. In reality the worth of a home is value, value, value. Location is certainly one of the key ingredients, but you can have a good location and a bad value. Appraisers have a list of criteria that enables them to place a value on the home, beyond comparable solds listed in the same neighborhood. I recently asked an appraiser what are the red flags to look out for when shopping for a new home. What adds value to a home and what decreases value. One of the keys is square footage, even if it is an empty room square footage as it relates to other homes in the neighborhood is very significant. Of course the location is important, as comparisons are made to homes within the same neighborhoods. He said if you are looking to purchase a single family home absolutely do not buy across the street or next to multi-family. Today you can check your current home’s value or a new home you are interested in on a number of websites such as Zillow, HomeValueHunt and HomeGain. So, if you are looking for an existing home, this is a great way to start your search For information on brand new existing homes ready for immediate move-in, in the Southwest Florida market, visit the Kaye Homes website at www.kayehomes.com . Kaye Homes has been building homes in the Naples/Ft. Myers market since 1985. They have won numerous awards including a 2008 Pacesetter Award for excellence. Every home built by Kaye Homes is a quality home, where value is paramount, whether you are looking for a million dollar custom home or a $300,000 home.

LAND H0! Why Buying Land is Still a Great Investment

Even in a slow economy and sluggish real estate market, there is still a very sound place to invest, and one that nearly all investors small or large will benefit. The investment of course is land. To quote Mark Twain, “Buy Land. They’re not making any more of it.” Historically land has always been a safe investment, whether purchasing a single homesite or commercial property. Where traditional investments such as stocks and bonds have a historical trend yielding between 4 and 8%, land investors have realized returns of more than 200%. Purchasing a homesite to build on is far less risky than any other real estate purchase, plus it provides a much more flexible approach to reaching that goal of home ownership, and building the home of their choice as opposed to a home someone else built for their family. Also, when purchasing a homesite, the financial terms are typically much more attractive. Kaye Homes, a Naples, Florida based homebuilder is offering large wooded homesites in Naples up to 3 acres in size with some interesting incentives if the buyer chooses Kaye to build their home. They are offering up to 15% down credited to the cost of the new home, they will credit interest paid on financing, and provide low financing. The risk factor comparing a homesite purchase to other real estate opportunities, such as commercial real estate, is very low. Many experts are saying now is the time to invest in land. Whether you plan on building right away, or letting the property grow in equity to build later or to sell, this is a great time to buy land. For information regarding the purchase of a homesite, or homesites in Naples, Floirda visit www.kayehomes.com or call 239- 455- 1007. If you are thinking of building visit the Kaye Homes website for the new collection of 2008 homes.

Population still heading down to Southwest Florida

While heavy rains, flooding and even late March snowfalls continue to plague the Midwest and Northeast, Florida is enjoying perfect weather. Temperatures in the high 70s and low 80s have been the norm nearly all winter, with very low humidity and lots of sunshine. Is it any wonder, Florida continues to be America’s favorite destination. Southwest Florida has enjoyed a 30% population increase according to the latest national census figures, just released, between 2000 and 2007. Projected growth is expected to increase at a steady pace. Florida has the 4th largest population of any state in the United States today. You think climate may be a factor? Of the top 100 fastest growing counties in the U.S. 92 are either Florida counties, or other southern counties, and the remainder are in the west. Interesting, Kaye Homes a Southwest Florida builder, based in Naples, has seen a change in their website traffic. Excluding Florida traffic counts, 4 out of the top 5 are visitors from the Northeast (New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts). This is a significant change. Historically visitors to Southwest Florida were primarily from the Midwest, the Interstate 75 corridor (Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Illinois). Visitors to Florida’s east coast primarily came from the Northeast, along Interstate 95. This is a very positive and somewhat surprising trend. And what it tells us is that people want a quieter, cleaner, more pristine environment, which is found in the Naples area. Traffic in the Ft. Lauderdale and Miami areas is very congested and folks are just tired of the hustle and bustle of big city life. Southwest Florida offers a very distinctive option to people relocating to the Sunshine State. What all the data is showing is that Americans are still looking for sunshine, a clean, healthy and safe place to live. For more information about Kaye Homes, a custom homebuilder in Naples, Florida please visit http://www.kayehomes.com/ or call 455-1007, to view your next home.

On the fence think of buying a home.

Still sitting on the fence waiting for prices to drop…even further? Although many markets have seen prices drop significantly, most experts agree that additional drops in home prices will not be terribly significant, and in fact some markets have seen prices increase. Yet, many future homebuyers are still sitting on the fence waiting for prices to decrease even more and are not ready to jump in right just yet. They just don’t feel confident in the housing market and are afraid that after they purchase, the value of the home will go down. A Naples, Florida based homebuilder, Kaye Homes has come up with a solution. They are offering a “Price Guarantee”. It is a form of value insurance. Here’s how it works. If you sign a contract today to build your new home with Kaye Homes with a purchase price of $350,000. Within the time your home is permitted and built, if your appraisal comes in lower than your original purchase price you get the difference back. So if the approved appraisal at the time of occupancy, which is usually from 9 months to 1 year comes in at $340,000 then you will get back $10,000. Kaye Homes is showing a significant amount of trust in the Naples housing market. They feel pricing has hit rock bottom and equity will once again start building. Another program Kaye Homes has just introduced for those fence sitters is the Employment/Disability Insurance program. If you become disabled or lose your job (unless due to cause) Kaye Homes will pay your mortgage payments for up to 8 months on one of their new homes. To learn more about these Kaye Homes “Get off the Fence” programs and about your next home visit http://www.kayehomes.com/ or call 239 455 1007.

THE BEST TIME TO START BUILDING EQUITY IS TODAY

That California home you purchased for $26,000 in 1970 may be worth $12 Million. That’s right, as crazy as that sounds, if real estate appreciation continues for the next 38 years as it did for the last 38 years that is exactly what that home will be worth. We saw an increase of 2,165% since 1970. Weathering all types of economic storms, recessions, inflation, stock market lows, wars, higher unemployment, higher mortgage rates, there was still this incredible real estate increase. It is truly amazing, but experts see no reason why this trend wont continue. Comparing the costs of other items such as gasoline, in 1970 a gallon of gas was just 36 cents, and we all know where we are headed today, to $4 per gallon. Also, the median household income in 1970 was $8,730 and today we are nearing $50,000 per family. As Naples, Florida custom homebuilder, Kaye Homes, states, “If someone is thinking of buying, don’t wait, you can start building that equity today. The Naples real estate market has been one of the hottest markets for the past 20 years, and there is no indication that will change any time soon, it’s a great time to buy”. According to the past and projected increases, the home mentioned above we were talking about will increase nearly $6,000 per week, or $300,000 per year. Pretty amazing. So, if you wait, you may be missing out on these huge increases. Home prices do not go down and stay down. There are certainly corrections being made currently, but any more decreases are insignificant compared with the significance of increased equity. Voted Florida’s Best Builder, Kaye Homes is Southwest Florida’s largest locally owned homebuilder. Since 1985, Kaye Homes has built over 3,000 homes for satisfied customers. With two model centers in Naples, Kaye Homes continues to provide unequaled value and quality for today’s homebuyer. Our Personalized Homes present the finest custom luxury homes, priced from the $600s to $2 Million. Our Performance Collection of Homes personifies value for the first time homebuyer and more price conscious buyer, priced from the $200s to $500s. Plus we have a wonderful selection of Showcase Homes ready for immediate occupancy priced from the $200s to $800s. For more information and to find your next home please visit us at www.kayehomes.com Or call 239 455 1007.

CONSUMER CONFIDENCE IN FLORIDA IS UP

The US Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) is issued monthly and is the measured degree of optimism on the state of the economy that consumers are expressing through their activities of savings and spending. The Federal Reserve looks at the CCI when determining interest rate changes, and it of course it will affect stock market prices. Nationwide, February’s CCI fell 12.3 points. With this in mind it is very good news for Florida indeed that the University of Florida Survey Research Center found that consumer confidence in the sunshine state rose 4 points. The Center believes the rise is due to the passage of the stimulus package that will result in payments to a majority of Florida households as well as the passage of the property tax amendment that was supported overwhelmingly by 64 percent of the voters. Stuart Kaye, president of Kaye Homes, a Naples, Florida based homebuilder believes that one of the key factors in the real estate turnaround is consumer confidence. While the rest of the nation is showing a drop in consumer confidence, Florida showing a rise in confidence says quite a lot about the strides being made to confront the current market situation. Buyers who have been waiting on the sidelines should feel more comfortable now with this very positive news, the 25 percent property tax savings amendment and the stimulus package, and with prices stabilizing they should be jumping into the market at greater regularity. With interest rates declining as well, Florida homebuilders should be seeing a rise in sales as we head into the summer months. Voted Florida’s Best Builder, Kaye Homes is Southwest Florida’s largest locally owned homebuilder. Since 1985, Kaye Homes has built over 3,000 homes for satisfied customers. With two model centers in Naples, Kaye Homes continues to provide unequaled value and quality for today’s homebuyer. Our “Personalized” Homes present the finest custom luxury homes, priced from the $600s to $2 Million. Our “Performance” Collection of Homes personifies value for the first time homebuyer and more price conscious buyer, priced from the $200s to $500s. Plus we have a wonderful selection of “Showcase” Homes ready for immediate occupancy priced from the $200s to $800s. For more information and to find your next home please visit us at www.kayehomes.com or call 239 455 1007.

FLORIDA HOMEOWNERS WILL SAVE 25%

A property tax relief plan advanced through the state legislature this week designed to reduce property taxes for Florida Homeowners by 25 percent. Carlos Lacasa, a Florida commissioner sponsored a measure that would give all residential properties, including second homes and rentals a lower tax rate by 25 percent. Nearly two identical state constitutional amendments were proposed, each reduces the property tax by the same 25 percent. Lawmakers are debating the two measures, Mr. Lacasa’s and John Mckay’s, which repeals some sales tax exemptions. Mr. Lacasa’s amendment proposal which seems to be the favorite among lawmakers does provide relief to businesses, second homes and other properties that do not qualify for homestead exemptions given only to primary homes. Stuart Kaye, president of Kaye Homes, a Naples, Florida based homebuilder indicated that this legislation is the path we need to take given the current real estate market slowdown. Many homebuyers are not familiar with the new amendments being advanced in the Florida legislature, which will save them a significant amount of money. The Florida real estate market needs a boost, and this is certainly one piece of legislation that will provide a sense of comfort to the real estate market. If a prospective buyer is confident that their property taxes will decrease and they will save a significant sum of money, that alone should help the entire Florida real estate market make a considerable dent in the number of listings. Voted Florida’s Best Builder, Kaye Homes is Southwest Florida’s largest locally owned homebuilder. Since 1985, Kaye Homes has built over 3,000 homes for satisfied customers. With two model centers in Naples, Kaye Homes continues to provide unequaled value and quality for today’s homebuyer. Our “Personalized” Homes present the finest in custom luxury homes, priced from the $600s to $2 Million. Our “Performance” Collection of Homes personifies value for the first time homebuyer and more price conscious buyer, priced from the $200s to $500s. Plus we have a wonderful selection of “Showcase” Homes, ready for immediate occupancy priced from the $200s to $800s.For more information and to find your next home please visit us at www.kayehomes.com or call 239 455 1007.

BEWARE OF THE DANGER OF FORECLOSURES

Due to homeowners stretched to the limit with risky loans and a slow resale market, home foreclosures have dramatically increased over the past few months. Once a viable source for real estate investors and homebuyers to take advantage of lower pricing, foreclosures have become a risky proposition at best. The purchase of a foreclosed home may appear to be an attractive investment, but upon close examination, what may have looked like the “Buy of the Century” can be very troublesome and full of unexpected problems. Looking for a foreclosure in the neighborhood or area you desire can be a problem and the house itself may not be what you really need. Are there enough bedrooms, bathrooms, etc. Why settle for a house that is really not the home that suits your family best on the assumption you will save thousands of dollars, when in fact you may be able to purchase the perfect home for less. Most buyers think that the price of a foreclosed home is much lower than comparable homes. In fact a study by First American Real Estate Solutions found foreclosed homes sold for about 15 percent less than comparable homes and in some areas sold within 5 percent of full market value. In today’s competitive market, many builders, such as Kaye Homes, a custom home builder in Naples, Florida are offering incentives on new homes even greater than 20%. Kaye Homes is finding customers would much rather own a brand new home at the same price, or near, as a foreclosed home. With a new home, guaranteed from the builder, the homeowner is purchasing peace of mind as well as the home of their dreams. With a foreclosed home, in most cases, the builder is long gone and out of the picture, so repairs come out of the buyer’s pocket. Many foreclosed homes have been neglected for some time, and will require thousands to restore to its original condition, thus making its purchase not the bargain it appeared to be. In a challenging market like today’s you may be far better off buying a new home from a reputable builder in your area, at the builder’s discount than taking a chance on a foreclosure that may present many unwanted surprises. Voted Florida’s Best Builder, Kaye Homes is Southwest Florida’s largest locally owned homebuilder. Since 1985, Kaye Homes has built over 3,000 homes for satisfied customers. With two model centers in Naples, Kaye Homes continues to provide unequaled value and quality for today’s homebuyer. Our “Personalized” Homes present the finest in custom luxury homes, priced from the $600s to $2 Million. Our “Performance” Collection of Homes personifies value for the first time homebuyer and more price conscious buyer, priced from the $200s to $500s. Plus we have a wonderful selection of “Showcase” Homes, ready for immediate occupancy priced from the $200s to $800s. For more information and to find your next home please visit us at http://www.kayehomes.com/ or call 239 455 1007.

HOW WILL A GREEN HOME MAKEOVER MAKE YOUR HOME WORK BETTER?

HOW WILL A GREEN HOME MAKEOVER MAKE YOUR HOME WORK BETTER? “Going Green” with your remodel will add value, save you money on utilities, enhance your health and the environment as well. Kaye Homes, a Naples, Florida based homebuilder has witnessed an increase in the past year, with homeowner’s desire to remodel, and to add green elements to their home makeover. Americans spend more than $300 billion yearly on remodeling, so why not remodel smart. The makeover team at Kaye Homes is busy answering questions on how to make their homes more energy efficient and enhance the beauty and value of the client’s home. 80% of homeowners agree that homes do not meet their environmental expectations, and 96% say they are willing to pay more for a home with green features. Here are five reasons they suggest a green makeover. Install energy efficient appliances from washing machines to dishwashers to water heaters. The most efficient new appliances use 50% less energy, they are durable and can last longer as well. Over a period of time the savings will be substantial. By replacing lighting fixtures and bulbs, new programmable thermostats, that control temperatures for different times of the day, and many other innovative features your makeover will enhance your home’s comfort and value. Whether you intend to remodel the entire house or one room at a time, the experts will suggest where to start and what materials to use, from non-toxic paints and sealants to natural flooring and quality insulation. There are many materials on the market today that green makeover specialists can use to increase efficiency and the quality of life Remodeling green is good for you. By using non-toxic materials, with good ventilation, and designing the remodel to maximize fresh air and natural light as well, you will increase the air quality inside your home, which can help prevent molds and allergens. It’s a good thing to do. Remodeling is an opportunity to create a home that enhances the environment. By allowing the experts the choice to use environmentally responsible products you can protect forests, wildlife and air and water quality. And for every gallon of water or kilowatt-hour of electricity you save, you reduce the amount of carbon dioxide entering the atmosphere. Kaye Homes expects remodeling and green remodeling specifically to increase significantly over the next year as homeowners are looking to invest in their home and wish to save money as well on energy bills with a more efficient home. Voted Florida’s Best Builder, Kaye Homes is Southwest Florida’s largest locally owned homebuilder. Since 1985, Kaye Homes has built over 3,000 homes for satisfied customers. With two model centers in Naples, Kaye Homes continues to provide unequaled value and quality for today’s homebuyer. For For more information to help you with your makeover, please visit us at www.kayehomes.com or call 239-455-1007.

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA KITCHEN MAKEOVERS BECOMING MORE POPULAR

The kitchen has always been the most popular and first area of the house homeowners begin the makeover process. With new advances in eco friendly kitchen technology, new countertop materials and lighting advances homeowners are turning to their local homebuilders to provide the best building materials, appliances and technology when renovating their kitchen. Kaye Homes, a Naples, Florida based builder has witnessed a much higher demand in the makeover market in their Southwest Florida location, and find homeowners willing to invest in their home by improving the appearance and workability of their kitchen. Lighting is a big part of the kitchen makeover. From general lighting to specific task lighting, a well designed lighting plan makes the use and enjoyment of any kitchen a much brighter undertaking. According to the U.S. Department of Energy 41.5% of a home’s energy consumption is from the kitchen, lighting, refrigeration and cooking. So by reconfiguring your kitchen lighting you can significantly reduce energy bills. There are 5 ways to dramatically improve your kitchen lighting. General Lighting – General lighting needs to be bright enough to ensure safe movement throughout the kitchen. Recessed lighting will wash the entire kitchen with a soft, comfortable light. A dimmer switch can be installed to create a softer light and balance the natural light with electric light that will also save on energy bills. Countertops – Most of the work within the kitchen occurs at the counters. Much of this can be in shadow, due to cabinet placement and the individual working in the kitchen. You will minimize shadows by placing more light in front of you and to the sides. Under cabinet lights are the preferred way to light countertops. Island lighting – Islands present an interesting lighting challenge. The preferred way to light an island is with recessed overhead fixtures. Another alternative design, depending on the islands shape and size, is hanging one or two pendant lights over the area. Sink - One of more recessed fixtures should be located over the sink, to provide direct overhead lighting for cleanup and food preperation. Recessed lights work well here, as they can be directed very specifically to light the sink. Cooktop – The cooking tasks require their own light source as well. If you have a range hood that is located above your cooktop or range, the light that is located within the hood may not be sufficient, so adding a recessed fixture to the ceiling to provide direct light down onto the cooking surface is recommended. For other lighting such as display lighting, there are many options your makeover specialists can help you with, whether you need back lighting or front lighting to properly light your displays. Kaye Homes has noticed that their home makeover clients all have different needs and cooking habits, so that all kitchen renovations are customized for each client. When building a new home, it is a good idea to discuss with the builder how you can maximize your kitchen lighting and save energy at the same time. Voted Florida’s best builder, Kaye Homes is Southwest Florida’s largest locally owned homebuilder. Since 1985 Kaye Homes has built over 3,000 homes for satisfied customers. With two model centers in Naples, Florida, Kaye Homes continues to provide unequaled value and quality for today’s homebuyer. Our Personalized Homes present the finest in custom luxury homes, priced from the $600s to $2 Million. Our Performance Collection personifies value for the first time buyer and more price conscious buyer, priced from the $200s to $500s Kaye Homes has a wonderful selection of Showcase Homes available for immediate occuapancy, priced from the $200s to $800s For more information to help you find your next home, please visit us at www.kayehomes.com or call 239-455-1007.

Name Your Price... For A New Home

Name Your Price…For a New Home The “Name Your Price” phenomenon began with William “Captain Kirk” Shatner extolling the advantages of using a new website, Priceline.com to acquire cheaper airfare for travelers. Who would have predicted its enormous success? A once unthinkable concept, “ Pay What You Want,” has blossomed into a huge enterprise, with many other sources following their lead. Travelers arrive at their desired destinations at a cost far less than conventional purchasing. The concept has focused on the travel business, airfares, and hotels, for the most part, however, there have been attempts at “Naming Your Own Price” with products, food and gasoline as well. What is for certain is that the phenomenon is here to stay, and customers love it. So, what’s next for the “Name Your Price” services…How about a new home! That’s right, one of Florida’s premier homebuilders, Kaye Homes, a Naples based builder of over 3,000 homes is starting a new program with their distinctive Showcase Homes that can save buyers tens of thousands of dollars. Families and investors will be able to name their price on available new homes. Kaye Homes believes the customer knows what they want and the payment they can afford, why shouldn’t they have the power to have the house they want at the price they want. Just name a reasonable offer and if accepted by the bank, a beautiful brand new home is yours and ready for immediate occupancy. Kaye Homes will test the concept and may consider expanding the program to their “Build On Your Lot” homes and homesites as well. This is a win-win opportunity for the builder and the homeowner. Kaye Homes will sell more homes and the buyers will save more money. These fabulous move-in ready, Showcase Homes, by Kaye Homes range in size up to 3,000 square feet of living space. Three and four bedroom homes are available, many on estate size homesites up to 2.5 acres, with features like swimming pools, custom cabinetry, granite countertops and much more. The “Name Your Price” concept was first created to save travelers hundreds of dollars on their vacations. Now it appears that with Kaye Homes, a homebuyer could save tens of thousands of dollars on a new home. Sounds like a very interesting concept. What does a homebuyer have to lose? Just make an offer. Declare your “housing freedom” and “Pay What You Want.” Visit on of the Kaye Homes Naples model centers today. Pine Ridge Rd. (White Blvd.) and Collier Blvd. (CR 951) – 239-455-1007 Or 910 Oakes Blvd. At Vanderbilt Beach Rd. – 239-597-0700 Or visit online at www.kayehomes.com

Nearly 70% surveyed say likely to remodel this year!

To Remodel, Buy New, or Stay Put Poll: Nearly 70% surveyed likely to remodel this year At Kaye Homes, we believe you need to balance economics with quality of life. While the cost of housing cost is a major consideration, the extent that a make-over, remodel, or new home makes sense should be considered in light of your enjoyment as well as how the investment will affect the future value of your home (when the time comes to sell). Part of our job is to discuss the options in light of your needs and budget, and recommend the most prudent direction. We’ll be discussing how to weigh remodeling verses building new in upcoming blogs. In the meantime, if you have any questions, feel free to call me at 239 304-3304, xt. 215. Southwest Florida home pricing has already adjusted down significantly. This is a phenomenal time to consider a new home. I recently came across some interesting statistics relating to this topic that you may find interesting below. According to a recent poll by ServiceMagic.com Despite concerns with the housing market, more than two-thirds of Americans said they would complete a home improvement project in 2008, ServiceMagic, an online marketplace that connects consumers with prescreened and customer-rated home service professionals, found that 69 percent of those surveyed would improve their home this year, while 31 percent said they would likely go through with a home improvement after some careful consideration and possibly a delay. Some 65 percent said that if presented with the option they would "stay and improve" their home, compared with 26 percent who would "just stay" without improving. Only 8 percent would choose to move. Approximately 59 percent of poll respondents said they have a home improvement project planned for 2008. But as the poll revealed, 31 percent of respondents will consider current economic conditions when deciding on whether to proceed with planning a home improvement project. That 31 percent breaks down like this: § 21 percent say they will likely postpone their project § 7 percent say though pausing to consider, they'll likely proceed with their plans § 3 percent say they're abandoning their plans all together And of those who say they plan to postpone their next project: § 7 percent say they'll wait 2-3 months § 17 percent say they'll wait 3-6 months § 46 percent say they'll wait 6-12 months § 30 percent say they'll wait 12-plus months The poll data was collected through an 11-city survey conducted by ServiceMagic.com, with 2,162 consumers responding.

FIVE GREAT REASONS TO BUY A NEW EXISTING HOME

In today’s real estate market, there can be many unknowns involved with the building of a new home. We would all love to build our dream home in our dream location, but today, you can get more for your money buying a completed, brand new home, and quickly build equity. Finding a new “Move Right In” existing home may just be the best option today, and here are 5 reasons why…

1. Price – You may just find the “Value “ of the year. Builders are anxious to sell, at a lower price and with incentives. Many are looking to “unload” their inventory…and that is to your advantage. Interest rates are attractive today, and builders are combining that with some very exciting financial packages, with no money down, etc.
2. Location – There are many brand new homes in many wonderful locations ready for immediate occupancy. Kaye Homes, based in Naples, Florida has an inventory of beautiful new homes, all prices, sizes and locations, ready to move right in. You can choose the home you desire, in the neighborhood that best fits your needs, close to work, school or shopping.
3. Hassle-Free – Just move right in. Purchasing a home ready for you and your furniture takes the hassles right out of owning a new home, avoiding any aggravation from prolonged delays.
4. What you see is what you get – No surprises, no mistakes, no problems. All the guess work and imagining if this color works, or which cabinets or what color tile to select is gone. With a new Move In Ready home ready to move into, you have less headache and more time for yourself and your family.
5. Under builder’s warranty – Purchasing a new builder’s home as opposed to purchasing a “used” home from a private owner you own the homebuyers warranty, a major plus if anything happens to need repair.

This really is a great time to be in the buying market. We at Kaye Homes will try to make your homebuying experience as hassle-free and rewarding as possible. Voted Florida’s Best Builder, Kaye Homes is Southwest Florida’s largest locally owned homebuilder. Since 1985 Kaye Homes has built over 3,000 homes for satisfied customers. With two model centers in Naples, Kaye Homes continues to provide unequaled value and quality for today’s homeowners. Kaye Homes has a wonderful selection of Showcase Homes, ready for immediate occupancy, priced from the $200s to $800s, and build to suit homes priced up to $2 million. For more information to help you find your next home, please visit us at www.kayehomes.com, or call 239-455-1007

Kaye Homes Cheers as Voters Overwhelmingly Pass Amendment to Cut Property Tax!

On Tuesday, January 29, 2008, Florida voters went to the polls and by a wide margin passed Amendment 1. This amendment gives Florida homeowners a much needed tax relief program that will save homeowners $9.3 billion in the first 5 years. This is the second time Florida homeowners received reduced tax breaks. Phase 1, passed by the Florida legislature last year will save taxpayers up to $15 billion over the next 5 years. More tax relief is on the way with a proposal in the state legislature to limit annual taxes to 1.35 percent of a property’s value. We, at Kaye Homes applaud the citizens of Florida for taking part in this election that passed meaningful legislation to ease the tax burden of our homeowners. The amendment not only puts money in the pockets of current homeowners, but also makes it much more attractive to homeowners considering relocating to tax friendly Florida. When a homeowner decides to purchase a Kaye Home in the $500,000 range, they will pay reduced taxes on a home of that value, now but far less due to newly passed amendment. From the office of the Florida Governor, Charlie Crist, here are the benefits Your homestead exemption doubles to $50,000 When you move you can take Save Our Homes tax protection with you. Effective the beginning of 2008, an owner of a home worth $300,000 who currently pays taxes on only $150,000 (because of SOH) will now keep those savings and pay taxes on about $350,000 if they move up to a home worth $500,000. This creates a substantial savings for the move up market. If you are a growing family and need a larger home, or just ready to move up to a larger home, this is the time to do it. Moreover, who better from than Naples’ award winning homebuilder Kaye Homes? Voted Florida’s Best Builder, Kaye Homes is Southwest Florida’s largest locally owned homebuilder. Since 1985, Kaye Homes has built over 3,000 homes for satisfied customers. With two model centers in Naples, Kaye Homes continues to provide unequaled value and quality for today’s homebuyer. Our Personalized Homes present the finest in custom luxury homes, priced from the $600s to $2 Million. Our Performance Collection of homes personifies value for the first time buyer and more price conscious buyer, priced from the $200s to $500s. Kaye Homes has a wonderful selection of Showcase Homes, ready for immediate occupancy, priced from the $200s to $800s. For more information to help you find your next home, please visit us at www.kayehomes.com or call 239-455-1007.

How Does the latest Federal Interest Rate Cut Help the Southwest Florida Real Estate Market?

In a bold and surprising move early Tuesday morning, the Federal Reserve cut the benchmark interest rate by three quarters of a percentage point. The largest cut since 1984 and the first “surprise” cut since 2001, this bold move lowers the federal lending rate to 3.5 percent. The question on everyone’s mind is… “How does this help me?” Specifically for the Naples area housing market, excitement is rippling through the community as lower interest rates for mortgages and lower credit card rates will allow visitors to enjoy all that Southern Florida has to offer. Kaye Homes New Home counselors here are in constant contact with our preferred lenders to maximize the advantages for our homebuyers. The initial impact will be to jumpstart Kaye Homes home sales during high season, January through April, when our northern neighbors head south. Our “snowbirds” love the 80-degree winters and active outdoor lifestyle. Many families decide to relocate permanently and escape snow shoveling and freezing temperatures forever. Many are in Southern Florida looking for their second or retirement home. The Fed’s positive action on Tuesday may be just the incentive buyers need. This is an excellent time to purchase your new home, and since Tuesday it is even greater, because buying your new home will cost you less than it did prior to the rate cut. Kaye Homes has a fine variety of homes available from the $200’s to $2 million. No matter what your price range, lower interest rates can save quite a bit off your monthly mortgage payment. You can move into a brand new Southwest Florida home for as little as $642 per month. Now with the new reductions, prices may go even lower, providing value and savings for the entire line of Kaye Homes, including Kaye Luxury Homes. Everyone will save. Voted Florida’s Best Builder, Kaye Homes is Southwest Florida’s largest locally owned homebuilder. Since 1985, Kaye Homes has built over 3,000 homes for satisfied customers. With two model centers in Naples, Kaye Homes continues to provide unequaled value and quality for today’s homebuyer. Our “Personalized” Homes present the finest in custom luxury homes, priced from the $600s to $2 Million. Our “Performance” Collection of Homes personifies value for the first time home buyer and more price conscious buyer, priced from $200s to $500s. Plus we have a wonderful collection of “Showcase” Homes, ready for immediate occupancy priced from the $200s to $800s . For more information and to find your next home please visit us at www.kayehomes.com, or call 239-455-1007