Naples, Florida is one of the nicest places to live in the U.S., which is reflected in home prices for this very desirable city.
House prices in Naples are fairly high, especially for the Gulf Coast, with a handful of standout mansion sales that have raised awareness of the value of real estate in this beautiful city.
Read on, and we’ll look at some of the home price numbers and trends, explanations for why real estate in Naples is so hot, and share some tips for getting a home mortgage in Naples, Florida.
Naples Real Estate, By The Numbers
While home values in Naples, Florida haven’t rebounded to their pre-housing crash levels, they have been rising steadily since 2010 and are projected to rise in the future.
According to Trulia, the median sales price for homes in Naples for July 15 to October 15, 2015 was $285,000. And the average listing price for Naples homes for sale on Trulia was $714,951 for the week ending October 28.
Real estate prices in Naples, Florida are likely to continue to rise, as last year’s home values rose about 10%. While prices may not spike as rapidly in the future, they are predicted to keep rising.
Explanations for High Home Prices
There are a number of “soft factors” that make Naples, Florida a great place to live, which has resulted in higher home prices.
Pristine beaches on the Gulf Coast are filled with enough white sand to satisfy any beach lover. In 2005, the travel channel named Naples the best beach in the country.
Recreational opportunities also abound. With more than 80 Golf Courses, Naples is the self proclaimed “golf capital of the world,” and anyone who has had the opportunity to play through a full 18 holes at one of the championship courses couldn’t argue.
Additionally, there is a vast amount of protected land near Naples, contributing to great hiking and wilderness watching. One of the biggest and most impressive reserves, the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, sits on 11,000 acres, and also sports a 2.5-mile long boardwalk to give visitors easy viewing of birds and other wildlife. In addition to Corkscrew, Everglades National Park, Big Cypress National Preserve, Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge, Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge, and Picayune Strand State Forest are all near Naples. The combination of beautiful beaches, beautiful protected nature reserves, great recreation opportunities, and well-developed and affluent residents all makes Naples a very desirable place to live, which is reflected in home prices.
Getting a Home Mortgage in Naples, Florida
With property prices projected to keep rising, now is a great time to get into the Naples market and buy a home. And when you do so, there’s a good chance you’ll want a mortgage to finance your home. So, here are some thoughts to keep in mind about getting a mortgage in Naples, Florida.
#1 Get Pre-Approved for a Mortgage
Real estate agents, in general, require their clients to be pre-approved or pre-qualified for a mortgage before showing them homes. Also, homeowners want to show their homes to people who already have the approval for financing. So, the first step in looking for a home and getting a mortgage is to become pre-approved.
To get the process started, simply contact a loan officer. You can be pre-qualified in just a few minutes, which will enable you to start shopping for a home with a Realtor. Then while you look for a home you can work on the process of being pre-approved for a mortgage.
#2 Watch For Predatory Lenders
Florida is well known as a premier real estate destination. But unfortunately, that level of notoriety has inspired numerous predatory and dishonest lenders to set-up shop in the Sunshine State.
Check that any loan officer you work with is licensed in Florida, and check their reviews online at websites like Zillow, Yelp, and the BBB.
If you would like this information for Marimark Mortgage and the owner, Mary Catcher, here are the links:
- Marimark Mortgage, LLC NMLS ID: 248318
- Mary Catchur NMLS ID: 247859
- Zillow Reviews
- Yelp Reviews
- BBB A+ Rating
#3 Shop For a Mortgage That’s Right For You
Just like buying a car or a house, you should shop for a mortgage and understand whether a loan originator is in a position to look out for your best interests.
Loan originators and mortgage brokers like Marimark Mortgage act as an intermediary between you and the lending institution. They shop a number of lenders to find the best mortgage for you and your particular circumstances. Other loan originators can only offer their company’s mortgage products. Their job is to provide you with a mortgage offered by their employer, and not to shop other lenders for the best deal.
So we always encourage homebuyers to shop for a mortgage. In so doing, homebuyers become educated about mortgages, and learn a great deal about which mortgage products could work best for them.
Get Started
Marimark Mortgage is a licensed mortgage lender/broker based in Tampa, Florida, offering mortgages in Florida, Virginia and Pennsylvania.
Whether you are buying a home or refinancing a home, or just need information to get the process started, we would be happy to help you. Please get started by filling out our Quick Application, or contact us direct.
The Marimark Mortgage Newsletter will keep you informed with important events in the mortgage industry that could impact your finances.
We especially focus on ways to save money on your current and future mortgages. And, we continually share the information we share with our clients, because we believe informed consumers are the best consumers.
Real estate agents, and other professionals in the industry, will receive an ongoing wealth of information that will help them serve their clients.
