I am a strong supporter of Tommie Barifeld Elementary School here on Marco Island.  Last night was our big fund raiser Derby on the Bay at the Villa Venezia.  Probably the most stunning home here on Marco Island and is listed for $12,900,000.  I was happy to help out, although my feet are not really happy with me today....Awhile back someone wanted ideas for a fund raiser - well let me tell you this was a hit!  Everyone dressed in their Derby best (I went for a 40's look others went with a more traditional look) there was a silent auction, a contest for best hat, and 6 races of 12 horses that people sponsored along with corporate sponsorship of each race.  Local dining venues did their part, providing us with all sorts of appetizers along with food that was prepared.  Several local stu... 10/01/2006

Marco Island, FloridaTen Best Things About Marco Island (totally my opinion -- others may disagree)You come over the bridge and your breath is taken away -- I have been dog sitting for a friend off the Island and it is amazing with the sun coming up and I can't begin to tell you how amazing it is.  No matter if it is your first time or 100th time... Just minutes from Naples, there are Galleries and cultural offerings all of the time....   White Sandy Beaches - the sugar sand here is the best I have ever experienced! Mackle Park  with lots for everyone to do, with a great walking path, and Kid's Cove! The Esplanade - has a great gathering place where you can enjoy a breeze at the Star Bar The Snook Inn - where you can gather with your friends and "watch the dolphins play at the Tiki bar"... 09/25/2006

Since my August Update, there have been a couple of new listings, no sales and no units have gone pending.  I have now broken out by builidng the information regarding the community: Year# of Units Active# of Units Pending# of Units Sold Average List Price Active  Average List Price Pending  Average List Price of Sold  Average Sold Price                   Shipps Landing I - As of 9/24/062007       2006300 $     914,167  $                -  $                -  $             -          Shipps Landing II - As of 9/24/062007       2006200 $     880,000  $                -  $                -  $             -          Ships Landing III - As of 9/24/062007       2006501 $     582,000  $                -  $     899,000  $   895,000          For a more in depth list of current sales and what is... 09/24/2006

Here is a link to my prior report on Mirage on the Gulf as of August 9th.  Since that report, a unit has closed in this building.  The unit listed for $1,249,000 and closed for 1,125,000 on August 11th.   There are currently 6 units for sale with an average list price of $1,164,000.  Which if you apply my pricing theory to this condo we are in alignment with what is going on in the market.  We have seen sales volume drop by 50% from 2005 and approximately an 18% decrease in average sales price.  Which again reflects that the market is making a correction in this building. YearPricing Theory - Going back to 2003 and applying a 15% increase per year of average sold   Mirage on the Gulf - As of 9/23/062007 $1,205,721.18 2006 $1,048,453.20 2005 $   911,698.44 2004 $   792,781.25 2003 $   77... 09/23/2006

This is the time of year people are looking to secure their rental properties for season.  So since a couple of people have asked me where to go, I thought I would share with the rest of you that this is a first class operation.  They make things right if they are wrong -- trust me I have been called to solve a problem or two over the years.  So if you are looking for your place to stay in Paradise, please check them out.  Oh and they have expanded to South Carolina too! My son's father runs a rather successful rental business here on Marco Island of homes.  There are many people who wish to purchase a home and then rent it out when they are not using it.  I tell you that it is a monumental task.  Especially since he now is located in Atlanta and several of the properties are here.   He... 09/23/2006

I have a beatiful home listed at 2031 San Marco Road.  Great larger property, newer construction pool home.  Priced right in the range it should be.  Everyone that has seen it loves it, and they really like the privacy in the yard.  Negative is that it is on San Marco Road, which is a busier street and we priced that in consideration.  So I decided to drill down to the numbers and take a look at historically what has happened in this community of Marco Island.  This area is off the main area of Marco on the way to Goodland.  There are areas that are protected forever wild.  Marco Island would have been a lot larger if much of this area was allowed to be developed.  Across the street is part of that protected area.What I found suprized me.  We have 3 months left in the year and we have a... 09/23/2006

There hasn't been much activity since my August Update.   Since I have been putting statistics together, I thought that this would be a good time to share the details of the past 5 years in this Boating Condo: Year# of Units Active# of Units Pending# of Units Sold Average List Price Active  Average List Price Pending  Average List Price of Sold  Average Sold Price Active Average DOMPeding DOMSold DOM% Change5 Year % ChangeCamelot2007            2006200 $     829,500  $                -  $                -  $             - 7500 157.81%2005  1 5 Year % Change Calculated over 4 Years  $     850,000  $   825,000   23174.60% 2004  2 $     492,500  $   472,500   5645.38% 2003  1 $     335,000  $   325,000   2261.56% 2002  1 $     337,000  $   320,000   75                 ** All statistical in... 09/21/2006

There hasn't been much activity since my August Update, so I thought I would give you a little historical information on the sales in this condo community.There have been no sales so far this year in this condo.  I have statistical information going back to 1997 sales on the MLS below:                         Year# of Units Sold Average List Price of Sold  Average Sold Price Sold DOM% Change      20052 $     895,000  $   880,000 5228.69%20046 $     694,500  $   683,833 6835.08%20034 $     516,975  $   506,250 8220.30%20026 $     435,833  $   420,832 1375.47%20011 $     399,000  $   399,000 515.82%20004 $     353,000  $   344,506 3119.93%19996 $     296,667  $   287,250 5028.41%19985 $     238,580  $   223,700 29-6.01%19971 $     252,000  $   238,000 81 Since 1997 we have seen an increas... 09/21/2006

Looking out the window of my office I see the Estuary leading to the Golf of Mexico and I am thinking, "This is really Paridise.  How can I get other people to enjoy it as much as I do."  The answer is simple, SELL more houses!  Come to Southwest Florida, there is truley no better place on earth. 09/14/2006

I am hosting the annual Tommie Barfield PTO Family Dinner Night.  This year we have added a fun twist with BINGO!   Come join all the fun! Friday, September 15, 20065:30-7:30pm at the TBE CafeteriaCost $5 includes pizza dinner, ice cream Sundays and Bingo Cards $3 gets you additional Bingo CardsPrizes for Bingo!Halloween Costume Sale!If you have any questions, please feel free to call me at (407)288-0017 or visit my website.  September 22, 2006   -- The school raised over $1,100 from this event!   Thanks to everyone that helped! This information is provided by Colleen Kulikowski, Realtor.  Colleen writes about the Florida lifestyle and Real Estate in Western New York. Celebration Florida Homes  Paradise Report Website  Marco Island Homes Western New York Real Estate & MortgageParadiseRe... 09/09/2006

Since my August Market Update, there has not been much activity.   I have though created a new format for all my anaylsis, and going forward will be using this format to do all of my market updates.Condo# of Units Active# of Units Pending# of Units Sold Average List Price Active Active Average DOM5 Year % Changeabsobtion rate         (in years)Apollo - 1 Bedroom500 $     590,960 10099.65%0.91Apollo - 3 Bedroom200 $   1,272,500 37259.05%2.00 Please feel free to visit my website at http://www.paradisereport.com/ and click on Activity Reports on the left hand side to view more detailed information on this and other properties in the Marco/Naples area.                        *** All Information is Gathered from the Marco Island Board of Realtors. ***  09/05/2006

The number vary greatly in the Homes for Sale/Sold on Marco Island.  It is important to remember that Marco Island is a 4x6 mile Island with a wide variety of homes here.  Marco Island was a master planned community built by the Mackle Brothers.  You see their influence throughout the Island, Mackle Park, Elkcam (Mackle spelled backwards) Circle and the many Deltona homes that are still here.  To read more about the Mackle Brothers and the beginnings of Marco Island, please read the following stories:Mackle BrothersTommie BarfieldEarly PioneersIsland Officially OpensThe Last Paradise - The Building of Marco IslandHere is the current activity on Marco Island:Condo# of Units Active# of Units Pending# of Units Sold Average List Price Active  Average List Price Pending  Average List Price o... 09/04/2006

My last post about lots was in July, and mainly focused on the various types of lots on Marco Island and what is going on generally.   I would like to take this post to delve deeper into the numbers.  First off for this discussion, I am only going to be talking about three distinct categories of lots on Marco Island -- Inland/Golfcourse, Water Direct and Water Indirect lots.   The following chart shows the number of lots that are Active, Pending and Closed since July 1, 2006.  The absorbtion rate was calculated on the prior 4 years sales, and is stated in # of Years it will take to absorb the current inventory.  Once must take into account that the number of sales in each of these categories is down siginficantly from last year, so the Absorbtion Rate can be a lot higher. AREAYear# of U... 09/04/2006

Since my August Update, there hasn't been any changes in this condo.   I do want to give you some additional information to think about:Since 2002 there has been an increase of 109.95%  in average sales price in this condoIf you look at the annual absorbtion rate of 1.25 over the past 4 years and apply it to today's inventory we have 3.2 years inventory for this condoAverage Days on the market for the 4 years prior to 2006 is 169 days, currently the Average Days on the Market for those listed is 97 days. ** All statistical information was gathered from The Marco Island Area Association of Realtors. **   This information is provided by Colleen Kulikowski, Realtor.  Colleen writes about the Florida lifestyle and Real Estate in Western New York. Celebration Florida Homes  Paradise Report W... 09/03/2006

Happy Labor Day!  Sussex on the Bay is centrally located with a nice selection of restaurants just across the street from the building, yet centrally located to everything on the Island.  The roadwork should be done before season and with that completed the street will be looking wonderful.  Any doubt just drive down S. Collier Blvd to see the major improvements that have been completd.There hasn't been any real changes since my July Update, but It is interesting that in 2002 that the average Sold price was #310,000 and right now the average list price is $553,333, as there have been no sales in 2006 I can only refer back to the 2005 sale which if you calculate is a 83.87% increase.  Not bad if you invested for the long term.   That is what Marco Island has always been good for, long te... 09/03/2006

Here is the latest statistical information for the Cozumel building in Cape Marco, for more information about this building please view my August Market Update. Year# of Units Active# of Units Pending# of Units Sold Average List Price Active  Average List Price of Sold  Average Sold Price Active DOMSold DOM% Change5 Year % Change20061203 $   1,980,667  $   1,865,000  $1,791,167 3522835.14%29.48%2005  8  $   1,760,625  $1,703,625  6283.16%2004  7  $   1,775,429  $1,651,428  249-9.63%2003  9  $   1,947,000  $1,827,444  22732.10%2002  2  $   1,443,000  $1,383,333  167Whether you are looking to buy/sell a lot, condo or home here on Marco Island Florida, I can provide you with the service you are looking for and the service you deserve.  If you would like more information on this Marco Islan... 09/03/2006

Of the condos that I watch on a regular basis, South Seas Resort seems to be one of the more active in the market at this time.   To see more information on the individual buildings please see my August Market Update.As of today here are the number of Active/Pending and Sold since January 1, 2006:Complex# of Units Active# of Units Pending# of Units Sold    South Seas East1212South Seas North312South Seas Tower 1612South Seas Tower 2714South Seas Tower 31027South Seas Tower 42614The average Listing Price for Active/Pending and Sold are:Complex Average List Price Active  Average List Price Pending  Average List Price of Sold     South Seas East $552,833  $575,000  $564,000 South Seas North $601,667  $549,000  $558,250 South Seas Tower 1 $844,567  $599,000  $734,000 South Seas Tower 2 $879... 09/03/2006

It is Labor Day weekend and it is time to get back to basics.  I have had some time to review some stats and thought I would update this Condo's activity report.  This complex has seen a decrease on Sold prices for the 1 bedroom units while 2 bedroom is standing strong in sales price.   Of the 27 active listings:17 are one bedroom units with an average list price of $339,083There are two one bedroom units pending and 6 units have sold since January 1, 2005 with an average sales price of $256,66710 are two bedroom units with an average list price of $448,560There are no pending and 2 units have sold since January 1, 2006 with an average sold price of $482,500Of Sold units Average Days on the Market for 1 bedroom units was 183 days and 2 bedroom units was 198 daysTo see additional informa... 09/02/2006

Labor Day is upon us and it is time to start thinking of season once again.  One of my favorite condos on Marco Island is the Gulfview.   It is popular beachfront condo which is centrally located right next to Marco Island's Resident's Beach.  You can read my previous messages August Update or July Update for more details and information on the Gulfview.  I will write different things in each of my posts on the Condo.  I have also spoken with several owners and done some research for them that I thought I would share here.There has been a lot of activity and I just thought that I would update you on that:There are currently 23 units that are for sale, no pending and nothing has closed since my last report.  There are two properties that were on the market that expired, terminated or wer... 08/30/2006

Currently there are 8 active units ranging in price from $749,000 to $1,149,000.  There have been no closed sales in 2006 and only two sales in 2005 which closed for $865,000 and $895,000.If this condo is not what you are looking for, please give me a call and I can assist you with finding the right property for you!      This information is provided by Colleen Kulikowski, Realtor.  Colleen writes about the Florida lifestyle and Real Estate in Western New York. Celebration Florida Homes  Paradise Report Website  Marco Island Homes Western New York Real Estate & MortgageParadiseReport@gmail.com(407) 288-0017  08/17/2006