According to the National Association of Realtors, 74% of all home buyers begin their search on the internet.  That number is expected to increase.   My client who purchased his condo last week in Cap Ferrat found me that way.  He emailed me the first time in January and closed by February 9th.  That's why it's so important to have a compelling website.  So this time you get to tell me what it's all about.  How did 3 people today find my site from Waterloo?  How is it that over 3% of my traffic comes from Saudi Arabia?    How did you find my site?  Was it through a search engine or some other form of marketing?  It never ceases to amaze me what I hear and it's important to know so please shoot me a quick email and tell me how you found me and if you think I'm doing a good job or if I can provide something else you haven't seen yet....thanks in advance for helping me out!

That's the question that seems to be on everybody's minds right now.  According to the open house report last weekend, traffic seems to be picking up in some areas while other areas are still showing weak traffic signs but what's more interesting than that is the temperature of the buyers.  Enthusiasm about purchasing is definitely increasing.  In my own showing results people are talking terms and contracts now more today than they have in the past several months and properties that are listed for the right price are really starting to see some fantastic traffic.  A fellow colleague of mine reported receiving an offer earlier today on a waterfront unit he has listed in the Royal Harbor area and although it wasn't a full price offer, it was still intelligently written.  Results of that offer are still under way but this is the first offer he has seen on this unit in quite some time.  A Gulf access property I have listed on Creekbend Dr. in Bonita Springs has seen an incredible increase of activity as of late.  I'm really surprised it's still on the market considering it's a large home with Gulf access and one of the lowest priced per sq./ft. homes available in the area.  Don't forget to check out other waterfront homes and waterfront condos currently available. 

So what's going on?  Buyer confidence is on the upswing and those deals are staring to go under contract.  Just last Friday I closed a  Cap Ferrat unit in Pelican Bay.  It was listed for $1,895,000 and sold for $1,850,000.  The next one available was on the market for $2,075,000 but just in today is a unit on the 5th floor for less that $1,600,000.  That sounds like a ridiculous deal and the pictures look great so if you're interested, give me a call. 

Web traffic right now is better than it's ever been at least on www.ShannonLefevre.com This is usually an indicator of what's to happen in the next 30 to 45 days although one Naples fan who's been coming here for the last 20 years just emailed me today to let me know they're coming in town as early as tomorrow and want to purchase a home between $500,000 and $800,000.  Another gentleman from Michigan is fed up with the snow and wants to find something in the $500,000 range.  There's definitely no doubt that weather is a huge catalyst for our market in Naples.  So don't be left in the snow and grab your deals while you still can....after all.  Once those seller start figuring out that they don't have to negotiate as much...they won't.

Crime in Naples?  This may be the least discussed subject there is about Naples.  I've lived here and have sold real estate since 2001.  I can count on one hand how many people have asked me about the crime rate here.  Although Naples isn't perfect, I think the "powers that be" have done a great job keeping crime down.  What's the worst statistic?  Thefts!  Why?  Because alot people don't lock their doors.  I'm not saying that nobody locks their doors but because so little happens down here people have a high sense of security.  Not that Naples residents need to panic.  Taking really simple precautions can make all the difference in the world....I mean really simple precautions like "locking the doors".  A few years back there was a group of thieves who were trespassing into gated communities around dinner time.  They would hang out around the golf courses and watch property owners leave their home to go to dinner.  The burglars known as the Dinner Set Gang would rob houses because property owners had left everything wide open.  According to the Naples Daily News, they were hitting areas all over South Florida but were captured a few years back.  I heard once from a police officer that burglaries are more abundant in gated communities because the owners there are more inclined to not lock their doors.  So why an article like this on a real estate website?  I love this town and want to help protect her and her people.  Besides selling property with a crime index of hardly nothing makes my job easier too.  Make it easy on yourself and her employees.  If you would like to know more crime statistics in your area, don't ask your Realtor, that's not what they do.  Call your local police station....No do not use 911.  Call the office line.  In Naples the number is 239-213-4844 or go to www.naplespolice.com (They even have their own website...NEAT!)  They'll know more than anybody and they'll tell you the facts....just the facts.  Regardless, it's the simple stuff that really counts....lock your doors...wear your seat belt...drive the speed limit (that goes for you guys going to slow too-some of us still have some place to be) and don't forget to call your favorite Realtor!  Have  a great day!

Crime in Naples by Year
Type	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005
Murders	0	0	1	0	0	0	0
per 100,000	0.0	0.0	4.8	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Rapes	2	2	6	4	4	4	4
per 100,000	9.5	9.5	28.6	19.1	19.1	19.1	19.1
Robberies	28	16	22	20	13	15	4
per 100,000	133.5	76.3	104.9	95.3	62.0	71.5	19.1
Assaults	67	58	45	52	37	39	32
per 100,000	319.4	276.5	214.5	247.9	176.4	185.9	152.6
Burglaries	184	154	141	266	183	125	101
per 100,000	877.2	734.2	672.2	1268.1	872.4	595.9	481.5
Thefts	810	768	760	718	866	759	615
per 100,000	3861.6	3661.3	3623.2	3423.0	4128.5	3618.4	2931.9
Auto thefts	59	49	35	43	35	30	16
per 100,000	281.3	233.6	166.9	205.0	166.9	143.0	76.3
Arson	0	1	0	1	3	3	0
per 100,000	0.0	4.8	0.0	4.8	14.3	14.3	0.0
City-data.com crime index (higher means more crime, U.S. average = 325.2)	346.1	298.5	295.9	327.9	301.1	264.2	200.9

Graph Provided by www.Citidata.com