proposed Homestead exemption and portability

I spoke with Abe Skinner the Collier appraiser last week and was updated on this latest taxing issue of portability in the Homestead exemption. This is how it was explained to me.
If you are moving up, this means buying a more expensive home, and if you you have at least 500,000 in homestead savings then you can carry all of it (up the the half million) with you on your next home. Naturally if you have less say an accumulated 375,000 in assessed value minus your taxable value then you carry only that forward.
BUT...If you are moving down you do not carry all your savings. There is a formula you use to determine how much of your savings you can port. Those people thinking they can then go from a home where they are saving 500,000 in taxable value and buy a lesser value home and get this reduction are wrong. They will not take 500,000 with them, only a portion will transfer. I think that is based on the percentage of assessed value to the actual value.
I am sure this will be explained as we near the deadline to vote. Still so far this has been misleading.
If you are in Royal Harbor or Naples Waterfront areas and are homesteaded getting the 3% annual raise max then you move down this will most likely effect you.

Royal Harbor area Dredging
At the Dec. meeting the idea was brought up to have Royal Harbor do its dredging project separate from Golden Shores and Oyster Bay. This might be cheaper and quicker for Royal Harbor than doing the project as originally proposed, as there is more rock removal in the northern canals and they are also tied up in the legal dredging over the Yacht Club and Naples Bay Resort. This singular project would be under maintenance of the old 1991 permit. More on this later.

East Naples taxing district , Royal Harbor area

Royal Harbor area Dredging

I have the maps from the Royal Harbor, Oyster Bay and Golden Shore dredging project on a disc. It shows the canals and the proposed waterway along the western shore of Royal Harbor and on down to the Sailing and Yacht club. It shows the proposed spoil islands created with the dredged fill.
More information on this is coming to residents in Royal Harbor through the association newsletter but let me inform you all here that the money already collected by the East Naples Taxing district has been already been spent doing the survey. This project prices out over 4 million dollars and officials and representatives from the area are now seeking additional funding to supplement the taxing district.
This extended project will require a new “permit” from the state and will expand on the old permit which just involved the dredging of the canals.
The project is necessary as the canals, last dredged in 1991, were never cleared of rocks. New technology will now allow this to happen and this will allow residents access to the home based docks 24/7 and not just with the tide permitting. For a boating community this will greatly increase desirability of the lots and also will increase value.
The plan is to start this project when the permits are obtained. Of course all this is subject to funding. We will follow this closely and let you know what is going on. The taxing district is meeting next week so more then.

Water restriction in Naples Waterfront

Did you know that 70% of the potable water used in Naples is for landscaping? That 60% of the water use in the county is for watering landscape? We are not going to run out of drinking water if we can cut back on the landscape use.

When we get into watering restrictions in mid December you are going to see some watering on regular days and wonder how they are getting away with that. Probably what is happening is they are using recycled water. This is still permitted and for a good reason. We need to keep water flowing down into the ground and replenishing the aquifer. If the aquifer gets too low, sea water could seep into it and that water intrusion would have a tendency to get bigger and would ruin the aquifer. That would be catastrophic. We would then be out of water forever.
When the once a day water restriction starts I was told that there will be no warnings given and the fines could be up to $500 each incident. Out of town residents will NOT get a pass. This is serious business and in December watering is scheduled at this time to be only Saturday and Sunday mornings between 4 am and 8 am. I already hear people complaining about lack of pressure etc if everyone waters at the same time. If things do not improve we may see no watering in Jan or Feb.

Marco to appeal anchoring case

It was announced this week that the Marco Island council will appeal the ruling in its now famous anchoring law/restrictions case. I suppose it needs to be appealed and carried up the ladder to higher courts but to me, a boater, it seems a wasteful use of energy, time and money. I truly think that the residents of Marco Island who are pushing this case are way off base. If you did not want boaters anchoring in front of your house then you should not buy a property bordering on the anchorage. Using health and welfare of residents as an excuse to limit free usage of the waterways does not seem to me to be truthful. If the residents of Marco Island are so concerned about pollution etc why are they so against the sewer projects now underway?
The eyes of the Nation are watching this case very closely and hopefully boaters will continue to prevail. Here in Royal Harbor, Naples, most residents I talk to feel the same as I do.

Royal Harbor may get entrance street enhancement

Sandpiper Street may still get makeover
I was told today that the City is considering continuing the landscaping updates from US41 down to Bluepoint ave for 2008. This will make the drive off 41 as you turn down Sandpiper much nicer and more asthetic. It should enhance Snail Bay and the situation there where there is now parking on the grass. It will also update the little bridge that covers the little swail run off from Naples Bay resort into Snail Bay. This is a project that the Royal Harbor Homeowners association is directly steering. You can call them for current updates.
Lastly you see the 41/Sandpiper signage and entry features are well underway. Yippie

Posted by Terry and Rhonda at 5:36 PM

Marco Island loses anchoring case

Marco Island has lost the first legal battle in its anchoring laws. Check this web site for up tyo date information on it. If you are a boater this is good news for you.
http://www.cruisersnet.net/index.php

Hopefully this will be the end of these local restrictive laws and people whop are buyuing homes on the water will realize that they are not purchasing the water with the lot.

picture is Factory Bay anchorage at Marco Island

Council selects Bill Moss as new City Manager

We met Bill Moss at the Sugden Theatre reception for all the final six candidates. All I knew of him at the time was he was in Marco Island, and I was thinking that is not a good thing, since that community seems like it is in turmoil. I was very pleasantly surprised after talking to him for a few minutes. He looked good and spoke well and was certainly one of the top candidates. As you know, he was selected and I am confident he will be great for Naples. He is a boater and I do not think he favors the controversy that is plaguing Marco Island. His resume is good and some of the people I have talked to in Royal Harbor have spoken to friends that live in North Myrtle Beach where Bill came from before Marco. They speak very well of him. I was also told that the style of government in Marco is very different than the one here in Naples. We have an elected Mayor and they do not. This means the City Manager is always on the HOT SEAT in Marco.

My FAVORITE REALTOR joke

My favorite REALTOR joke
John Doe wanted to see a home Realtor X had listed. It was under construction and as luck would have it while showing the property, John fell through a plywood floor and got a nasty cut on his leg by a nail sticking out of a 2x4. Realtor X wanted him to go to the emergency room but John declined and went about his normal business. The next morning John noticed a red area around the cut but went to work anyway. By night time when he got ready for bed, there was swelling and by morning the red streak up the leg was prominent. He finally called and got a doctor appointment for that evening. The doctor gave him pills and a shot but 3 days later the leg was really swollen and John was admitted to the hospital. The following day he went into surgery to have the leg removed.
Now, the interesting part. The surgeon, by accident, messed up and removed the wrong leg. John awoke in the hospital room to find this out. He immediately was rushed back to surgery and had the correct leg removed. He was devastated and called his attorney who promptly filed suit against the Realtor, the contractor, the home seller, the hospital, the doctors and anyone who had anything at all to do with his now pathetic condition.
The trial was long and drawn out and finally at the end all were surprised at the verdict…
The Judge threw out all charges stating the plaintiff “did not have a leg to stand on”. See, REALTORS have a sense of humor!

Naples City Manager Dr. Lee farewell party

Rhonda and were invited to the city's farewell party for Dr. Lee, the city manager, at city hall last evening. The city council members and many of the city staff some friends and community citizens were there to say a fond farewell to Dr. Lee. In his short 4 years here in Naples he gave greatly of himself and his talents toward making this community better and the crowd at the gathering was there to exprss their appreciation.
With his wife at his side Dr. Lee remarked that he felt mixed emotions on leaving but felt his career had led him to this point.
There was no doubt that the crowd assembled felt a loss at his leaving. He has made many friends here and has been a shining example of the type of individual needed for this job.
Most there that I talked to felt we would be hard pressed to find another person that can do the job as well and still be as well liked as Dr. Lee.
All wished him a fond farewell.

Speed Zone 30 MPH in channel

I have been told that the Naples police are now enforcing the speed zone laws to the letter of the law. You may go 30 mph in the channel but beware; once you go out of the channel you are to decrease to idle/slow speed. If you are leaving your canal do not kick up to plane until you reach the marked channel or you may get a ticket. I know of several instances where people have been stopped and word is, warnings are not going to be issued but tickets will be given.
Also I have noticed an increase in policing in the waterways. Even boats without markings but with armed officers and lights on the top are stopping boats for a variety of reasons. There are the Naples Police, the Sheriff Dept, Fish and Wildlife, Coast Guard, Coast Guard Auxiliary and others out there, so keep all your safety gear handy. Lifejackets, a throw device, whistle or horn, fire extinguisher and current registration are the items they will request to see. Children age 5 and under must be wearing a life vest. If you are fishing, everyone in the boat better have a fishing license. If they ask for your driver’s license be prepared for a ticket.

Naples Waterfront dredging in Royal Harbor area

Taxing Distric meets to review Royal Harbor area dredging plans
The East Naples Taxing district met today at city hall and reviewed the results of the engineers hired to survey and estimate the dredging of the canals and Bay on bordering Royal Harbor, Oyster Bay and Golden Shores. I attended the meeting and learned that the cost is estimated at over 4 million dollars.This is to include dredging the canals, removing rock where needed, dredging paths from the along the shore channel in the Bay to the main channel .These access channels are to be approximately where they are now at the North and South ends and a center channel at the Chesapeake/Bluepoint canal exit. Canals will be dredged in the middle leaving 10 feet on the side that the homeowner may wish to contract to be dug or not.A possible use for the spoil was discussed rather than trucking this out. It was suggested that an environmentally positive approach might be to develop 2 spoil islands in shallow areas already in the Bay. These are located in the now no wake zone in the North end of the Bay.Reasons to do this are to increase animal and vegetation life. To filter out fresh water and slow the progress of it as it enters the Bay. Also it would be cost effective. This is in the "planning Stage".Those working on the project are seeking other avenues of revenue but so far the taxing district is alone in this.The committee sent the plan back to the engineers asking for more information on costs and ideas for other funding. A homeowner survey of the area will take place to try and confirm the whereabouts of the Rocks in the canals.We hope the Royal Harbor homeowners association will take an active part in the planning of this program. There will be more on this later. Terry Forshier.. www.terryandrhonda.com

Naples Bay Waterfront fishing

Fishing in Royal Harbor and the canals off the bay is good.
I actually have caught Tarpon off my dock here in Royal Harbor. I have also caught snook, jacks, sheephead, snappers, catfish and several other varieties. It is amazing what the net ban has done to replenish the fish in the bay and canals. Every year in the spring large 3- or 4- foot snook start swimming in and around the canals. These giants do not want to bite, but they are an awesome sight and for a time were not around. In-shore fishing is great fun, especially if you have timid fishermen (kids, etc.) who are not looking forward to going way out in the Gulf. Lots of great fishing abounds here.

If you would like to know more about fishing just ask at the Naples Library on Central Avenue in Old Naples about their fishing seminars. They use a local captain who will show you many things such as how to rig your rod, how to anchor your boat, how to select good spots, and the best times to fish for the best chance of success. It is free.

Beach Access

Beach Passes

As a homeowner in Naples, you can get a beach parking sticker for your car. Go to City Hall just south of Fifth Avenue. You need a tax bill, library card or drivers license. This bumper sticker lets you park in “special” resident spots and makes access to the beach easier. These are still FREE.

Boating and Sailing opportunities in Naples Waterfront area

Boating and Sailing

Naples has several yacht clubs. Most are invitation-only clubs and you must be invited to join by a current member. Here are the web sites you can open to get up-to-the-minute information on these.

Naples Sailing and Yacht Club… http://www.nsyc-naples.org/ Phone: 774-0424
This club is invitation-only and you must be recommended by a member. A new clubhouse has just been built. The club is seeking permission to expand their dockage out into Naples Bay to accommodate more yachts. This is a popular club with Royal Harbor residents so your new neighbor may well be a member. Ask around.

Naples Yacht Club…… http://www.naplesyc.org/ Phone: 262-6648
This is an invitation-only club. There is a waiting list because it is very popular. The web site has good information on it.

Gulf Coast Sailing Club (GCSC) …… http://gulfcoastsailingclub.org/
This club does not have a club house, and is composed of sail boaters mostly. They have races, monthly meetings and guest speakers and are open to everyone. Their dues are $50/ year at this time. GCSC also has events with a Marco Island sailing group, Sailing Association of Marco Island (S.A.M.I.)...a similar group, and with the group in the Ft. Myers area, the Caloosahatchee Marching & Chowder Society. This is an active and fun group known for their antics.

Naples Sailing Center… http://www.naplessailingcenter.com/
A volunteer youth sailing center located on Naples Bay. Check the site for more
information. I know several volunteers live in Royal Harbor and help with
this. You can see the kids sailing the little optimist prams in the bay on most days.

There are other cruise clubs in the area for power boaters, but I was unable to find websites for them. Naples Cruise Club and Marker 40 are two with which I am familiar. These clubs have get-togethers and cruise their boats (mostly powerboats)
to various coastal marinas where they visit, have planned activities and sightsee. They are also invitation-only clubs but have many residents in this area as members.

Naples Bay Water Quality

This rainy season has been a lot less rainy than last year. This is actually better for the Bay. Last year city and county officials found that the Bay was getting up to 200 million gallons of fresh water a day at times from the streams that empty into it. (900 million gallons reported at one day one time)
The Gordon river was the worst offender and if you were here last year and on the water you had to have noticed the many islands of weeds that were everywhere in the bay and up into all the canals. It was a real problem. Naples even sent out small boats with teams of men to scoop up the debris and haul it out of the canals. At the time I heard one city official report that 80% of the bays oyster beds, 90%of the sea grass and 70% of the mangroves had been lost in the previous decade. A plan is now in operation to reverse this trend and recover the Bay.
This plan include the creation of "holding ponds" up river from the Gordon river all the way across pine ridge road. These will be behind the Zoo and along Goodlett Frank and they will be a series of ponds, each feeding the next and filtering out debris and cleaning the water before it reaches the Bay. There is also a study and plan to pond an area in the Davis, US 41, and Airport triangle and running that accumulated water into Haldman's creek. Then a plan to divert some water directly into Rookery Bay. Lastly there is a plan to take the Green area off Broad St in Old Naples Aqualane area and put a series of filtering ponds there.
Besides ponds there are other ideas including more rip rap walls, planting and aerating alread existing ponds them makeing them less stagnant and now even trying to pass water retention systems on every new home that is built.
Things are getting better. I see more fish in my canals and the water might be a little more clear. (or maybe that is wishful thnking.) AS I learn of more I will pass it on.

Boat Thefts in Naples

Stolen Boats from Royal Harbor and Aqualane in Naples

This summer there were at least 2 boats I am aware of that were stolen off the canals in Naples. (One in Royal Harbor and one in Aqualane.) Both these boats were alike. They were 36 foot Yellowfins and each had on 3 large outboard motors. There were also several failed attempts to steal boats. All this happened in the matter of a few weeks. At the same time the Sheriff’s department and Highway Patrol had confiscated several boats that were being transported on the highway. These were all found by alert police. These boats had some unusual thing about them. One had a boat being pulled by a car too small, one had been overloaded and was found to have lots of gas and supplies on board. Others found special add on gas tanks had been added etc etc. Several of these boats were being pulled by cars that were also stolen. Their drivers in many cases were found to have no identification and to be here illegally.
There was a lot of speculation as to what was going on. Most I talked to thought these boats were to be used in smuggling people from Cuba to the US on this side of the Florida Peninsula. . In fact we had several cases of this from Sanibel on down to Marco. The arrivals told authorities that their plan was to go out around the Dry Tortugas on the trip up from Cuba and then up the Gulf a hundred miles or so and then East to land further up the coast. They had been told this would take them past the Coast Guard patrols. Evidently it worked. Also they were in very fast boats, like the kind stolen. These would outrun the coast guard and the TV even had a scene from a helicopter of a boat outrunning a coast Guard Cutter and making it to land.
Then a few weeks ago I was told that one of the stolen boats from here was found in Cancun. What was it doing there? Last night on the late news the newscaster reported that the new smuggling plan is to go from Cuba to Mexico. (Cancun) then fly to the border and then cross legally to the US at the border. This way the Cuban refugees comply with the “Wet Foot Dry Foot” law allowing them sanctuary in the US.
As much as we all complain about things here in the US think how much worse it is if so many people are willing to risk so much be here. I think Tony Blair said it best ..”the true worth of a country is measured by how many people want to get in…”
PS, stepped up patrols on the water and roads have seemed to stop these thefts for now.

Hamilton Harbor

I was out in my boat this weekend and noticed that the permanent channel markers for the entrance to Hamilton Harbor are now in. This must mean that the dredging from the bay into the back of Bayshore park area is complete. This is where the ramp is located for launching and loading trailerable boats.
There is also a "pretty well along building" at the entrance to the little canal feeding the rampp. I have not talked to anyone about this but would assume this would be part of the marina. (maybe the gas dock) I will investigate further and post when I find out.
This marina will make it a lot easier for boats cruising to the Keys to stop, refuel and spend the night. Then get an early start for the 100 mile run to Marathon, Key West or the Tortugas.

Royal Harbor Area Waterfront Sales

ROYAL HARBOR Real Estate market report

To date in 2007 there are 7 closed homes in this area, 6 in the Royal Harbor subdivision and 1 in Golden Shores. Although this is not a lot compared to earlier years when 40 some homes would sell in a year it is about what sold all last year. There were also 12 condos reported sold.

All the condos were waterfront and either had deeded docks or dock space available. From a generalized overlook it appears selling prices for the properties selling are at the 2003- 2004 levels. This is before the big surge in prices when the run up was like a buying frenzy. Back then we saw homes sell multiple times in one year , each seller making one or two hundred thousand dollars on the deal.

Nationally the housing slump is well documented with many TV newscasters, Real Estate prophets etc all having a say. Here in Naples our sales have slowed but certainly not stopped. People are out there looking for deals. People still want to retire in the sun with clear skies, clear blue water and soft seas. We have all that in Naples. I showed lots of people homes last season and many were literally talked out of buying by the media, the waitress at the diner, the gas station clerk, the parking attendant and on and on. Many of these people are now starting to re-contact me and are seriously thinking of coming down to purchase.

With Royal Harbor prices and sales bringing up the bottom of the Naples Bay area housing market it is a great time for end users to purchase. Many sellers have found their homes are now entering the third year on the market and have not had a bid on them. These people are ready to deal. Friends and colleagues I talk to say they expect the market to start cooking again this fall.
Today is Sunday at 11 am and I have had two calls on listings this morning already. A good sign.

Enforcement ofSlow Speed Zones on Naples Bay

The local water Police in Naples Bay have stepped up their enforcement of the slow speed zones in Naples Bay. Several residents I know have been stopped recently for going over 30 MPH out of the designated channel. This means that as they left their canal and enterd the Bay they "kicked up" speed and went on Plane before entering the marked channed that goes throught he center of the Bay. Police are now enforcing the letter of the law here so as soon as you leave the channel you must slow down ofr face a ticket. Slow speed on my boat is 1300 to 1400 RPM on the tac. If you do not have a taack then it means the bow of the boat is not rising as you motor and little or no wake will be present. (there is oftern disagreement over what is slow speed)
As side notes, you may be going the proper speed and be passed by one of the Naples Charter boats that is steaming along at a speed you think is too fast. I have asked the officers about this and their reply was that these charter captains get "extra " slack in enforcement. The reason given was they are making a living at this and they are hesitant to ticket them. When I then asked the officer if this was not a double standard he only shrugged. (this was a year ago at a meeting).
So far residents are getting warning tickets but I am told that real $$ tickets will soon be given. If the officer asks for you drivers license you are about to be written up.
Be sure you have the proper saftey gear on your boat too. More on this later

Naples Bay mooring field opening stalled

A Naples City official affirmed this week that the mooring field around the City Dock is still in limbo. The problem is that the State wants to approve the opening of the field but with the stipulation that no other anchoring will be allowed. The city has taken the stand that this is not what boaters want and that the Bay is not under State control it is a free waterway and anchoring should be allowed. It appears that this is similar to the big problem that Marco Island is having with anchoring.
For Real Estate information please vivit my web site at www.Terryandrhonda.com

Royal Harbor canal dredging update

I talked to Mike Bauer yesterday regarding the dredging of the Royal Harbor canals. Specifically about removal of the rocks in the canals. These rocks were not removed in the 80'ies when the last dredging took place. Todays "science" will allow the removal or chipping out of these. The engineering studdies and the actual sounding of the canals has taken place and the city has now petitioned for the permits. These may take up to a year or more. This project will be funded by the East Naples Taxing district. (this means residents will be taxed over a period of time to pay for the project) This is good news for owners in Royal Harbor, Oyster Bay and Golden shores. This means larger draft boats will be able to access the canal system at other than high tides. This will increase waterfront Real Estate values in this area.