Naples on “Greatest Places to Retire” List

By: Laura Layden of the Naples Daily News & Stacey Leasca of Travel & Leisure Magazine.

Naples has made another A-list for retirees

The city is one of a dozen that Kiplinger, a business magazine, has named as Great Places to Retire for Your Good Health and Your Wallet. Accordingly, SmartAsset, a website that helps people connect with financial advisors, rates Naples as the best place to retire financially in the United States.

The list is based on data provided by Trulia and reviewing the taxes, the prevalence of medical centers, recreation centers, retirement communities, and other seniors along with the rating of quiet streets, trails, parks and golf courses. Naples comes out on top!

Contributing to the city’s high marks are these other top rankings:

The Naples-Marco Island metropolitan area ranked No. 1 in the 2014-18 Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, based on residents’ views about health, financial security, community and sense of purpose. Naples also earned a top grade from the American Lung Association for air quality.

The Kiplinger article recounts how Naples, now voted greatest places to retire, was a small fishing village when Bill Barnett, who is serving his fourth term as mayor, moved to the city in 1973. Back then Naples had a grocery store, two restaurants and a pharmacy, and “locals rejoiced when an Italian restaurant opened,” the writer states.

Now the city has two streets, Fifth Avenue South and Third Street South, lined with a dizzying number of galleries, boutiques, cafes and specialty stores.

“The growth has been fueled by a torrent of retirees attracted by miles of beaches, gracious homes and giant banyan trees. But you don’t have to be retired to like living here,” the writer states.

With all the evidence and support, many will start to take a considerable look at where they want to enjoy the ladder half of their lives. Throw in a strong economic growth forecast and you can count on Naples continuing to stay on the top of the lists.

10 Characteristics of a High Producing Seasonal Rental Property

Thinking about investing in Seasonal Rental Property?

Historically, investing in real estate has been the safest investment one can make. But what about in SW Florida? And, why do you say “Seasonal Rental Property?” Many people own seasonal rental property in SW Florida, because it does produce high rates of return. Throw in the amazing location and now you have assets that appreciate at a higher rate than average.

Click below for your FREE checklist of the Top 10 Characteristics of a High Producing Seasonal Rental Property.

10 Characteristics

Maybe you’re not from the area and not quite sure what “seasonal” mean. Don’t worry. It doesn’t mean that when it’s out of season that you will lose money. When we say seasonal, we simply mean that investors who own rentals in SW Florida during the months of November through April are able to charge 3-5 times more for their rental. Sounds fantastic right?

Now that you know why we call it seasonal rental property, how do you go about finding these amazing deals? Typically, your local real estate professionals will be able to find the seasonal rental properties that fit your criteria.

Top 5 Reasons to Hire a Buyer’s Agent

One, very important thing to understand when buying any property in SW Florida if you plan to rent it out at all in the future is the communities rental restrictions. With SW Florida having many condos and gated communities, the rental rules are abundant! The real estate agent you decide to work with will have all the rules and regulations as it pertains to rentals.

Now you know that you can add those high cash flowing assets to your investment portfolio with a seasonal rental property. And, you know exactly where to find your local real estate professional. Sounds to us like you’re well on your way to building that wealth you’ve always dreamed of!


Click below for your FREE checklist of the Top 10 Characteristics of a High Producing Seasonal Rental Property.

10 Characteristics

Naples couple builds, flies experimental airplane around Southwest Florida, up to Chicago

LEDE NDN 0515 PILOT COUPLE

Joan and Bob Zaleski knew they wanted to spend their retirement flying, but factory-built planes were too expensive. So, they decided to build one themselves.

Part by part, the do-it-yourself duo created a sleek two-seater Sling 2 experimental aircraft, designed byThe Airplane Factory.

It took two years, four months, and eight days for the married couple to build the plane from the ground up. They say it’s a tough feat to accomplish, especially in that time frame. Some people start and never finish.

“It was a piece of cake,” said Bob Zaleski, 66, a former pilot for American Airlines, as he sat inside the pilot’s lounge at Naples Municipal Airport, steps away from the hangar housing their shiny white, red, and charcoal plane.

While the experienced pilot did confess that putting a plane together was more challenging than not, he also said he felt confident in their ability. He flew for 40 years as a commercial pilot and was a licensed aircraft mechanic.

His wife, Joan Zaleski, 59, spent decades working in general aviation.

More: Sky high: Naples teen flies Cessna solo on 16th birthday

More: World War II veteran flies again in B-24 bomber brought to Naples

To understand why they embarked on this journey, you have to know their story.

The Zaleskis met in the late ’70s at a flight school in Chicago. She worked in the office, and he was a flight instructor. He taught her how to fly a plane when she was 19.

After tying the knot, they knew someday they’d have a plane of their own.

Most every summer, they would attend AirVenture, an annual air show, which attracts thousands of aviation enthusiasts to Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

“I would always come back from that pining for an airplane,” Bob Zaleski said.

They didn’t have a Sling 2 at the air show, so they flew out to California to take a ride in the model.

That sealed the deal. They would build a plane.

“We didn’t think about it for very long,” said Joan Zaleski. “We were off and running. We tend to fly by the seat of our pants. We never have much of a long-term plan.”

Originally from Illinois, the retired couple decided to sell their house and move down to sunny Naples in 2014.

“When we told our friends we were moving down to Naples and building a plane, they all thought we’d lost our minds,” Joan Zaleski said.

Her husband saw this as incentive.

“When you tell your friends something like that, well, you got to do it,” Bob Zaleski said.

The couple started the project in 2015, and spent at least 20 hours each week on the plane. They made sure to stock their work space with plenty of food, water and tools.

Joan Zaleski, left, and husband Bob Zaleski, right,

Joan Zaleski, left, and husband Bob Zaleski, right, pose for a portrait in their self built Sling 2 airplane at the Naples Municipal Airport on Thursday, May 10, 2018.  Olivia Vanni/Naples Daily
Naples retired couple builds, flies experimental airplane

Amateur-built aircrafts are built by individuals and licensed by the Federal Aviation Administration as experimental, according to the Experimental Aircraft Association.

Costs range anywhere from under $10,000 to more than $100,000, depending on equipment and performance. A new factory-built Cessna 172 would cost more than $250,000, according to the association.

The Zaleskis spent $105,000 on their plane, which is set up with the latest GPS technology.

The Zaleskis saved money, but at a price.

The plane was shipped to them in a kit, which included a manual, and thousands of parts and 14,000 rivets, or fasteners.

“In that moment I thought, ‘What did we do?'” Bob Zaleski remembered.

“It was a little intimidating,” his wife said.

Despite the difficult task ahead of them, they moved forward, putting in the time and making friends along the way at the airport.

Sometimes, those friends would chip in, especially when it came tougher jobs, like placing the wings on the aircraft.

“A lot of the male pilots were surprised I, as his wife, was out here with him. They said they couldn’t even get their wives to fly in the plane,” Joan Zaleski said.

The couple documented their project from start to finish on a Facebook page titled Hangar 1404, which was created solely for the project. The page has more than 500 likes.

When Bob Zaleski  turned on the engine for the first test flight, his wife, who stayed on the ground, took a Facebook live video to capture the momentous occasion for their family and friends.

She said she wasn’t really worried about her husband the first time he flew the plane.

“I was so excited,” she said. “I knew how we built the airplane, we know how it flies, and we did a lot of ground testing.”

Fast-forward to today, and the couple is flying everywhere. At least once a week. They’ve flown as far as Chicago for Thanksgiving, and around town. Sunset in Marco Island? No problem. The two just jump in the plane and take off, sometimes with their dog. The aircraft has some luggage space in the back.

Bob Zaleski said it’s pretty economical to fly their plane, which can travel up to 1,000 miles with one fill up of gas. As far as speed, they can go up to 130 miles per hour.

Now that they can fly, Bob Zaleski said he felt inspired to take it a step further and build a four-seater plane. But his wife was quick to say no.

“We want to be fliers, not builders,” Joan Zaleski said.

The couple hopes to fly for as long as they can.

“It’s so beautiful up there and really brings about our sense of adventure,” he said.

“It’s the ultimate freedom,” she added.

FULL ARTICLE

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Life at Mediterra on Livingston Road in North Naples is all about choices. Landscaped streetscapes, water features, a clubhouse that anchors the community’s amenity core, and luxurious residences set against golf course, preserve, and water views all speak to Mediterra’s award-winning history.

Whether dining at Mediterra’s grand 25,000-square-foot Mediterranean-style clubhouse, or at the community’s private Beach Club on Little Hickory Island, The Club at Mediterra’s menu choices appeal to those intent on maintaining a healthy diet. Under the direction of Carmen Mauceri, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America and winner of the American Culinary Federation Award of Excellence and Chef de Cuisine for a Presidential Dinner, the club’s dining options offer a varied menu with unique concepts that include a doctor’s orders menu with a selection of healthy items. The clubhouse is a favored gathering place for residents and offers both formal and informal dining, the Tavern outdoor lounge experience, and an outdoor open-air terrace with fire pits that overlooks the 18th holes of the community’s two Tom Fazio-designed championship golf courses.

A 24,000-square-foot clubhouse expansion scheduled to begin this year will expand the covered outdoor terrace and outdoor lounge areas that have become increasingly popular with residents. In addition, 7,000 square feet of existing clubhouse space will be enhanced as part of the initiative that is being undertaken without a member assessment.

Mediterra offers a variety of amenities designed to support an active, health-oriented lifestyle. The community’s Sports Club is adjacent to the clubhouse at Mediterra’s grand piazza. A fitness center, that was recently expanded by 3,000 square feet, is outfitted with state-of-the-art equipment and offers fitness classes ranging from aerobics to Zumba, wellness programs, personal trainers, aesthetic services, three spa rooms, and a swimming pool with a sunning deck and smoothie bar.

The club’s tennis program is acknowledged as one of the top programs in the country. Tennis facilities include a dedicated tennis pro shop and eight Har-Tru tennis courts, including a coliseum court and a spectator court.

Mediterra has also created a pickleball program that is overseen by Michael Baldwin, Mediterra’s director of tennis and pickleball and a USTA Certified Tennis Professional and ITPA certified pickleball Instructor. Three new pickleball courts with Laykold masters’ gel surface have oversized perimeter areas that allow each court to stand alone without interfering with play on adjacent courts. More than 600 members enjoy competing on the club’s bocce ball courts. Historically themed parks and water features that are unique to Mediterra are connected by nearly eight miles of walking and biking trails. Regularly scheduled group yoga sessions are held on the lawn in front of the clubhouse during the fall and winter seasons.

Consistently rated as one of Naples’ most prestigious golf communities, Mediterra showcases two distinctly different golf courses designed by Tom Fazio. Set against Mediterra’s tableau, the courses weave their way along lakes, wetlands, and nature preserves. Each course presents distinctive design characteristics and unique challenges for golfers of every skill level. Members also enjoy the benefits of the Golf Learning Center. Membership opportunities at Mediterra are limited to just 225 members per 18 holes, allowing for abundant tee times.

In addition to casual indoor and al fresco dining, the Beach Club offers an elevated swimming pool with an expansive sundeck and cabana service for beach chairs and umbrellas. Swimming in the pool or Gulf, and paddle boarding are favored exercise activities. As part of a recently completed renovation, the Beach Club’s bar area took on a sportier feeling with large screen televisions. It also morphed into a wine bar overseen by Mediterra’s two sommeliers. Carmen Mauceri oversees the Beach Club’s culinary team of executive chef Chris Fragolaand sous chef Shane Dorey both of whom are certified chefs de cuisine.

Mediterra is a place that continues to expand its amenity and new home choices to create a more relaxed approach to luxury living that reflects the preferences of homebuyers who crave livability, fun, and personal connections.

London Bay Homes, an award-winning homebuilder and developer in the Southwest Florida luxury home market for more than three decades, manages all new home construction sales and marketing for Mediterra. Purchasers of homes by London Bay are eligible to secure a full golf membership immediately rather than being placed on the membership waiting list as a Limited Golf Member  Nearly 60 purchase opportunities remain available in Mediterra. Available choices include London Bay’s new collection of furnished model homes, as well as home sites showcasing water and preserve views.

London Bay has transformed Mediterra’s residential product offering with the introduction of new neighborhoods showcasing single-family villa and estate model homes priced starting at $1 million with exterior architectural styles that pay homage to the community’s Mediterranean roots and open flowing interiors with captivating designs by Romanza Interior Design. Custom pools and outdoor living areas by London Bay’s Acquatico full-service pool and outdoor living design company overlook long-range water and preserve views.

The Mediterra Sales Center is at 15836 Savona Way, off Livingston Road, two miles north of Immokalee Road. Online at MediterraNaples.com.

FULL ARTICLE

https://yourswflrealestate.com/4189-2/

These Are the 10 Best Places To Retire in Florida

Fine Art Photos/Shutterstock

We crunched the numbers so you don’t have to.

By MARISA SPYKER

It isn’t exactly shocking to hear that among the states most popular with retirees, Florida is always at the top of the list—and rightfully so, with its balmy weather and beautiful beaches.

But 1,350 miles of coastline leaves out-of-state transplants with a big decision: where within the state do you choose to live out your best years?

SmartAsset, a personal finance company, has crunched the numbers so you don’t have to. According to a new report that takes into account taxes, healthcare, and quality of life, the best place to retire in the Sunshine State is Naples.

The charming Gulf Coast town on the southwest corner of Florida has long been a paradise for retirees (51 percent of the current population are seniors). In addition to the city’s rich cultural offerings, Mediterranean-inspired architecture, and gorgeous beach sunsets, Naples scored high marks for its relatively low tax rates, ratio of doctors’ offices per 1,000 people (28.4), and number of recreation centers per 1,000 people (9.7).

As one of our original Happiest Seaside Towns, we’re certainly not surprised the dreamy Florida town took top honors. Other coastal faves that made the cut? New Port Richey and Sarasota are among the most attractive Gulf towns for retirees, with seniors making up more than a quarter of the population in each city currently. On the Atlantic side, Stuart and Vero Beach are top spots.

See the full list below, and read more about the rankings here.

  1. Naples
  2. New Port Richey
  3. Orange Park
  4. Brooksville
  5. Stuart
  6. Vero Beach
  7. Inverness
  8. Venice
  9. Sarasota
  10. Sun City Center

Full Article

Three Bedroom Luxury Beachfront Condo on Marco Island

Discover paradise on Marco Island’s Crescent Beach. As you welcome your guests into this open-concept living space, they will fall in love with tropical views of white sandy beaches. This extraordinary beachfront condo offers you three bedrooms with private balconies and three baths. Host with ease in the entertainer’s kitchen complimented by granite countertops, tiled backsplash, wood cabinetry and extra storage in the large pantry. Enjoy your meals at one of two dining areas or dine on the balcony as you enjoy the gulf breeze and watch the dolphins at play. Retire your day to the large master sweet and get lost in sunset views off Marco Island’s Crescent Beach. The Duchess offers world class amenities including resort style swimming pool and spa, fitness center, clubhouse, BBQ and picnic areas, bike storage and tennis courts, Opportunity is knocking, now it’s up to you!

Huge Gulf Views Offered from the 17th Floor in Shipp’s Landing!

Get lost in huge views of the Gulf of Mexico! This meticulous condo nestled on the 17th floor in Shipp’s Landing offers an open floorplan with panoramic gulf front views from every room. Effortlessly prepare your meals in the kitchen equipped with granite counter tops, stainless steel appliances and wood cabinetry. Enjoy upgrades as you entertain in-style with a bar in the livingspace and plantation shutters throughout. You This highly desired community  offers a lifestyle that is incomparable to most with 3 waterfront swimming pools, spa, tennis courts, pickleball,  BBQ and picnic areas, bicycle and kayak storage, boat marina, social rooms, clubhouse and most of all… A private beach with tiki huts! The location is prime, as it is just around the corner from Caxambas Boat Ramp & Marina, and walking distance to Marco Island’s Crescent Beach! Don’t miss your chance on this Piece of Paradise!

VIRTUAL TOUR | MARCO MLS | NAPLES MLS

Post Irma Update!

 

Contrary to the reports, Southwest Florida is alive and well with the exception of a few areas. We are continued to be amazed by our area and the people that live in it! We are now 9 days post Irma and have assessed a good number of homes for our clients in Naples, Marco Island and Bonita Springs. It is amazing that the majority of homes have little to no damage.

Southwest Florida is an amazing place where the people pitch in to help their neighbors and our construction is built to withstand high winds. We are protected by mangrove wetlands that help with any surge. It is truly paradise!

Hurricane Irma: Florida residents, reporter help rescue dolphin on live TV

Hurricane Irma: Florida residents, reporter help rescue dolphin on live TV

Scott Marcusky
9:02 AM, Sep 11, 2017
1:15 PM, Sep 11, 2017

 

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MARCO ISLAND, Fla. — A dramatic rescue played out live on television Monday morning as Marco Island residents worked together to help rescue a live dolphin.

A reporter from sister station WFTX in Ft. Meyers, Florida joined the group as they lifted the dolphin up and carried it into the rough surf, where it managed to swim away after a brief struggle.

This was the second such rescue along the beach on Marco Island this morning.

Oversized Lot offering Big Water Views | PRICED TO SELL!

Wake up to island sunshine shimmering off the waterway from this waterfront home site boasting bayfront and longwater views, offering the highest advantage to island living. It’s all about location! With the ability to enjoy sunsets and sand in your toes daily, you will find Marco Island’s Crescent Beach just three blocks away. If you’re in search to build your piece of paradise…look no further!

 

MARCO MLS | NAPLES MLS | WEBSITE

Your Real Estate Choice

You have a choice when picking an agent to assist you with your real estate needs. Consistent Multi-Million Dollar Producers, the Bartos Group uses cutting edge real estate solutions and good, old fashioned hard work to deliver results for our clients from Marco Island to Fort Myers. Who You Work With Does Matter!

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